Maimun handed her back her refilled glass, which she sipped instead of gulping. “Order has broken down across the city,” the young captain said. “This was the fear of many when Deudermont and Brambleberry’s intent became apparent. Arklem Greeth was a beast, and it was precisely that inhumanity and viciousness that kept the five high captains, and their men below them, in line. When the city rallied to Deudermont that day in the square, even I came to think that maybe, just maybe, the noble captain was strong enough of character and reputation to pull it off.”
“He’s running out of time,” said Morik. “You’ll find the murdered in every alley.”
“What of Rethnor?” Maimun asked. “You work for him.”
“Not by choice,” said Bellany, and Morik’s scowl at her was quite revealing to the perceptive young pirate captain.
“I’m not for knowing what Rethnor intends,” Morik admitted. “I do as I’m told to do, and don’t poke my nose into places it doesn’t belong.”
“That’s not the Morik I know and love,” said Maimun.
“Truth be told,” Bellany agreed.
But Morik continued to shake his head. “I know what Rethnor’s got behind him, and knowing that, I’m smart enough to just do as I’m told to do.”
A call from the deck informed them that the last lines were about to be cast off.
“And you were told to return to Ship Rethnor this night,” Maimun reminded Morik, leading him to the door. The rogue paused long enough to give Bellany a kiss and a hug.
“Maimun will keep you safe,” he promised her, and he looked at his friend, who nodded and held up his glass in response.
“And you?” Bellany replied. “Why don’t you just stay out here?”
“Because then Maimun couldn’t keep any of us safe,” Morik replied. “I’ll be all right. If there’s one thing I know as truth in all of this chaos, it’s that Ship Rethnor will survive, however the fates weigh on Captain Deudermont.”
He kissed her again, bundled up his cloak against the deepening storm, and rushed from Thrice Lucky. Morik waited at the docks just long enough to see the crew expertly push and row the ship far enough from the wharves to safely moor then he ran off into the rainy night. When he returned to Ship Rethnor Morik learned that the high captain had quietly passed away, and Kensidan the Crow was fully at the helm.
They entered from the continuing rain in a single and solemn line, moving through the entry rooms of Rethnor’s palace to the large ballroom where the high captain lay in state.
All of the remaining four high captains attended, with Suljack the first to arrive, Kurth the last, and Baram and Taerl, tellingly, entering together.
Kensidan had assembled them, all four, in his private audience chamber when word arrived that the governor of Luskan had come to pay his respects.
“Bring him,” Kensidan said to his attendant.
“He is not alone,” the woman replied.
“Robillard?”
“And some others of Sea Sprite’s crew,” the attendant explained.
Kensidan waved her away as if it didn’t matter. “I tell you four now, before Deudermont joins us, that Ship Rethnor is mine. It was given to me before my father passed on, with all his blessings.”
“Ye changing the name, are ye? Ship Crow?” Baram joked, but Kensidan stared at him hard and elicited a nervous cough.
“Any of you who think that perhaps Ship Rethnor is vulnerable now would be wise to think otherwise,” Kensidan said, biting off the last word as the door opened and Governor Deudermont walked in, the ever-vigilant and ever-dangerous Robillard close behind. The others of Sea Sprite didn’t enter, but were likely very close nearby.
“You have met Luskan’s newest high captain?” Kurth asked him, motioning toward Kensidan.
“I didn’t know it to be an inherited position,” Deudermont said.
“It is,” was Kensidan’s curt response.
“So if the good Captain Deudermont passes on, I get Luskan then?” Robillard quipped, and he shrugged as Deudermont cast him an unappreciative look for the sentiment.
“Doubtin’ that,” said Baram.
“If you are to be the five high captains of Luskan, then so be it,” said Deudermont. “I care not how you manage the titles as of now. What I care about is Luskan, and her people, and I expect the same from you all, as well.”
The five men, unused to being spoken to in that manner and tone, all grew more attentive up, Baram and Taerl bristling openly.
“I ask for peace and calm, that the city can rebound from a trying struggle,” said Deudermont.
“One yerself started, and who asked ye?” Baram replied.
“The people asked me,” Deudermont retorted. “Your people among them—your people who marched with Lord Brambleberry and I to the gates of the Hosttower.”
Baram had no answer.
But Suljack did, enthusiastically. “Aye, and Captain Deudermont’s givin’ us a chance to make Luskan the envy of the Sword Coast,” he declared, surprising even Deudermont with his energy. But not surprising Kensidan, who had bid him to do that very thing, and not surprising Kurth, who offered a sly grin at Kensidan as the fool Suljack rambled on.
“My people are tiring and hurting bad,” he said. “The war was tough on them, on us all, and now’s the time for hoping for better and working together to get better. Know that Ship Suljack’s with you, Governor, and we won’t be fighting unless it’s to save our own lives.”
“My appreciation,” Deudermont replied with a bow, his expression showing as much suspicion as gratitude, which was not lost on the perceptive Kensidan.
“If you will pardon me, Governor, I’m here to bury my father, not to discuss politics,” said Kensidan, and he motioned to the door.
With a bow, Deudermont and Robillard departed, joining some others of their crew who had been stationed right outside the door. Suljack went next, then Baram and Taerl together, as they had entered, both grumbling unhappily.
“This passing changes nothing,” Kurth paused to remark to the Crow as he moved to leave. “Except that you have lost a valuable advisor.” He gave a little knowing laugh and left the room.
“I’m not much liking that one,” the dwarf behind Kensidan’s chair remarked a moment later.
Kensidan shrugged. “Be quick to Suljack,” he ordered. “Baram and Taerl will be even more angry with him after he so openly pledged with Deudermont.”
“What o’ Kurth?”
“He won’t move against me. He sees where this is leading, and he awaits the destination.”
“Ye sure?”
“Sure enough to tell you again to get to Suljack’s side.”
The dwarf gave an exaggerated sigh and thumped past the chair. “Getting a little tired o’ being telled what to do,” he mumbled under his breath, drawing a grin from Kensidan.
A few moments later, half the room where Kensidan sat alone darkened.
“You heard it all?” he stated as much as asked.
“Enough to know that you continue to put your friend in dire peril.”
“And that displeases you?”
“It encourages us,” said the voice of the unseen, the never-seen, speaker. “This is bigger than one alliance, of course.”
“The dwarf will protect him,” Kensidan replied, just to show that maybe it wasn’t bigger than his alliance with Suljack.
“Don’t doubt that,” the voice assured him. “Half of Luskan’s garrison would be killed trying to get past that one.”
“And if more than that come, and Suljack is killed?” Kensidan asked.
“Then he will be dead. That is not the question. The question is what will Kensidan then do if his ally is lost?”