“Takin’ a piss.”
Elaina waited, but not patiently, pacing and sighing and snorting and growling, all while Tanner’s court and Blu watched her through bemused eyes. When Tanner entered the brothel, still in the act of fixing his belt, he didn’t seem surprised to see his daughter. The infamous pirate wandered back to his alcove and picked up a mug from the table, draining it in one large gulp.
“Elaina,” Tanner Black said eventually, giving his daughter permission to speak.
“I’m looking for my quartermaster.” Elaina decided to skip the pleasantries. “No one has seen him in days.”
“Can’t keep track of ya own crew,” Blu said with a nasty smirk.
“Quiet,” Tanner said sharply, and the entire brothel seemed to obey the command. “Follow me.” He set off towards the brothel’s far exit, leaving Elaina to catch up.
Following him outside, Elaina couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Where is he, Father?”
Tanner glanced impatiently over his shoulder, but said nothing. He wasted no time mounting one of the wooden bridges that crossed from the brothel to another nearby tree house, and quickened his pace. Elaina had to all but jog to keep up with him.
After crossing two more bridges they came to a giant tree that had three houses attached to the outside, all connected by a platform. An old one-eyed man sat in a rickety chair outside one of the buildings, and it took only a moment for Elaina to recognise him as a retired member of her father’s crew. From a distance he looked as though he were simply sitting, watching the world go by below him, but with an old sword laid on the table next to him and a set of keys attached to his belt, it quickly became clear he was guarding the building.
“Ya lied ta me, Elaina,” Tanner said as he took the keys from the old man and slotted one into the lock.
Elaina had the sudden feeling that she didn’t want to know what was on the other side of the door. “No, I didn’t.” Her voice was shaking.
“That ship ya took was Acanthian.”
Her father was staring at her now, his eyes dark and accusing. Some things she could get away with lying about, others she couldn’t – and this was one.
“That what Blu told ya? Aye, it was Acanthian.”
“An’ it was protected by the Guild.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Elaina immediately knew the lie was a mistake.
Tanner Black threw open the door to the house, grabbed hold of Elaina, and dragged her inside. She didn’t try to resist; her father could easily overpower her, and Elaina knew he might punish her, but never would he do her any permanent harm. At least, she sincerely hoped that was true. Despite her belief in her father, fear flowed through her veins, and she couldn’t stop herself shaking. The blood rushing through her ears was as loud as a turbulent ocean.
Inside, the house was dimly lit and stank of the stale straw that littered the floor. The room was empty, but Elaina could just about hear a low moaning coming from the other side of a closed door. Tanner let go of Elaina’s arm and closed the door behind them. The house grew dimmer still, but there was a flickering shard of light coming from under the door to the other room.
Tanner opened it, and lantern light flooded out. Elaina could see her father clearly now, as he stood there, staring at her. Never one to be timid, Elaina wasted no time in striding forwards. The second room was smaller than the first and just as poorly maintained, but there was a single storm lantern hanging from the wall. Corin was lying on the floor.
Forgetting her company, Elaina rushed forwards. Corin was moaning softly. His shirt had been ripped open, exposing his chest, and there was barely enough of it left to qualify as clothing. His britches were missing, and Elaina saw them balled up in a corner of the room. Worst, though, were the serene smile on her friend’s face and the distant look in his eyes.
“Corin.” Elaina shook him by the shoulders, to no response. “Corin!” she shouted, but still received no reply.
“What did ya do to him, Da?” Elaina turned furious eyes on her father.
“Nothin’,” Tanner Black said, stepping into the doorway. He filled the space. “He did it to himself; I jus’ supplied the means. He begged for it. Oh, the things he said, the things he did. Were you aware your quartermaster is addicted to Lucy?”
There was no safe answer to that question, and Elaina knew it. If she admitted to knowing, she’d seem a sentimental fool for letting an addict serve aboard her ship. Feigning ignorance would make her appear an incompetent captain. She settled on sending a poisonous glare towards her father.
“The ship you took was under the protection of the Guild.” Tanner folded his arms across his chest.
Right then Elaina wanted nothing so much as to defy her father.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Tanner Black took two steps into the room and sent a heavy boot into Corin’s midsection. The man barely seemed to notice; his only response was a moan that sounded more pleasure than pain.
“What are you doing?” Elaina shouted, rising to her feet and positioning herself between her father and Corin.
“Punishin’ you for lyin’ ta me,” Tanner growled. “I already know the truth, girl. Ya quartermaster told me everythin’ ta get himself another fix.”
“Fine, they had protection. But we didn’t leave no one alive ta get back ta the Guild.”
Tanner shoved Elaina aside, and she staggered away. Before she could get back between the two men, her father sent another boot into the prostrate man’s side. This time Corin coughed and attempted to roll away, but Tanner put his boot on the quartermaster’s belly to stop him.
Elaina rushed forwards to push her father away, but stopped at the last second as she realised it would only make matters worse. There was only one way to get both herself and Corin out of this situation, and that was to appease Tanner Black.
“I know about the navy ship, girl,” Tanner spat. “Provides its own set o’ problems. Means that shit Morrass probably wasn’t behind Black Sands and Sev’relain.”
“What about Sev’relain?”
“Gone. Same way as Black Sands, by the sound of it. Sarth’s handiwork, but I hear Morrass thinks the Five Kingdoms is in on it too. Last fuckin’ thing we need is the Guild financing the whole shitting thing.”
Elaina felt her stomach curdle. Keelin had fled Fango, and it was possible he’d made his way to Sev’relain. It was possible he’d died there. “I’m sorry, Da,” she said quietly.
Tanner watched his daughter for a moment, his boot still firmly on Corin’s belly; by the looks of it he was pressing down fairly hard. The addict didn’t seem to notice; he was stoned long past any sort of conscious thought.
“I’m takin’ ya loot,” Tanner said eventually. “All of it.”
“What? Ya can’t, Da. My crew…”
“I can’t?” Tanner sent another kick into Corin’s side.
Elaina couldn’t fathom how he could do such a thing. Tanner had known Corin for as long as she had. They’d grown up together, served on The Black Death together under Tanner. Now he’d drugged Corin and was beating him. Elaina nodded, resigned.
“I’ll have it sent to Quartermain on your behalf.”
“Good.” Tanner removed his boot from Corin’s belly. “An’ you’ll be needing a new quartermaster.”
“What? Da, please…”
Her father had always been quicker than his size should allow, and his hand shot out and grabbed hold of Elaina. He dragged her out of the room, and she didn’t bother to struggle; it would have been useless.
“The boy will stay right here,” Tanner said as he dragged Elaina away. “Wouldn’t want ta deprive my crew of their new pet.” Elaina’s last glimpse of her best friend showed Corin lying motionless on the floor, with deep red swelling already starting to discolor his side and a stupid grin on his face.