The day fares well for our group. Morning mists waft through the port, sending cold shivers in our spine. It was especially colder for me because all I’m wearing right now is a tattered vest that barely covers my dense chest.
“Is everything set?” Carim asked. He’s covered with furs, from head to toe. A red scarf adorns his neck and wooled bracers are equipped on his limbs. He was right when he said the seas will be cold. I was too proud to show my youthful vigor to admit it, and look where it lead me? Shivering and chattering my teeth.
“Yes,” Aylwin replied. “You asked that thrice already.” Aylwin, on the other hand, is using a fat baker’s face for the whole duration of the travel. He said that stout people fare better in the skies. Their thick skin insulates them from the cold. When food stores run low, fat people are the last to die.
Finally, the large warehouse opened and Temerius came out of the door. Large wooden doors creaked open, revealing the large wooden ship behind them. It isn’t your conventional pirate ship that you’d see on movies. It’s shaped like a large drill with its tip pointing to the abyss below. Above the ship are an array of balloons decorated with crossbones similar to what Edward has. Cannon’s line the outer perimeter of the ship’s top layer, making it look like a top.
“That’s “The Chase”, Temerius’ ship,” Carim whispered. Carim took the lead and we followed with our horses and wares to the platform
“Carim, welcome aboard.” Temerius boomed with his hoarse voice. “Fancy seeing mah son in yer crowd. Is he messing wi' ye?”
“No, Temerius. He’s here to guide us.”
“Guide ye? Haw! He wid sooner cut yer throat than become a lowly servant tae th' likes o' ye.”
I stepped in, “N- Nay, father.” I coughed. Speaking in their accent is harder than I thought. “Carim is been um- good. Aye wull accompany them, father.” Temerius thinned his eyes and caressed his beard as he lowered his head and looked at me. I could smell his ale-breath and the chicken dinner he had fortnights ago. Does this guy even take a bath? Fuck, the smell.
"Is something wrong wi' ye th'day, laddie?”
“Nay, fulther. Bad morn, maybe.”
“Aye. Bad morning happens to the best of us.” Temerius pat my shoulders and greeted the others on this trip.
Carim told us that Temerius is on a ‘legal endeavor’ as of now and any pirating business is out of the question. On their breakfast this morning, Temerius is considering becoming a ‘Privateer’ for the Almarian Empire. This will allow him to continue raiding other pirates of their loot while having the empire’s support on his back. Carim’s timing was perfect as Temerius is suspecting a mutiny on his crew. They may agree when he proclaimed his plan but there are whispers behind his back calling for a new captain. If Carim could root out these traitors, Temerius is more than willing to give him a proper compensation. Knowing Carim, he accepted the deal and asked me and Aylwin to help him.
Aylwin was none too pleased. All he wants to do right now is wait for Almaria and visit his lost coven in the city. And besides, what can he do with an over bloated body. I, however, …