The day dawns bright and clear, and the Reckoning sits at anchor in the green lagoon at Azora Cay. The surviving villagers, their ordeal ended, have come to see you off with grateful thanks. They don't have much, but offer meager gifts of food, sweet cakes and flowers to the Reckoning's crew..
Rhyll says, "Have the men off loaded our gifts to the villagers yet?" He had ordered that what ever supplies that could be spared be given to the ravaged people.
Baj looks at Rhyll askance, "It was done at first light, sir. As you ordered it." He leans in closely to Rhyll, "I took the liberty of having a case of the firewine delivered to Baron Lyndag as well, sir. You can never tell when a little favor might be remembered."
Rhyll nods in agreement and says, "Good thinking."
Baron Lyndag and his men remain on the shore. They have patrolled the island and found no traces of the curse. The Devourer plague began in a local cemetary, apparently, when one of the local boys was digging in an old grave, and spread from there.
The tall, leathery Baron grips Rhyll's forearm in friendship and good will.
Rhyll returns the gesture and says, "Well met, Baron Lyndag, I hope we will meet again!"
Lyndag seems a dour man, not given to smiles. He nods. "The Warrior watch over you. If you decide to ever fight in a real battle, come and see me. Plenty of work for fighters like you."
Baj bows to the Baron, "Go with the Warrior, sir." He turns and heads off to the longboat. Candra and some of her troopers wait near the longboat ready to push off whenever the Captain, Baj and Benning board.
Rhyll says, "May the wind be at your back and may the Triad smile on your wake. Farewell, Baron."
Merno bows to Rhyll. "You'll always find a safe port here, Captain, if you wish it. You and all your men." This is quite a thing to say to a pirate.
Rhyll winks and says, "Good luck to you and your people. We will make a point to stop on our return voyage, I look forward to seeing a prospering village here once more."
Merno says, "We will do our best, Captain."
Rhyll then waves and turns towards the long boat.
Baj takes hold of the longboat's prow. "Candra, get your crew aboard, as soon as the Captain is done with the niceties, I wish to quit this place with all speed."
Tully, the young seaman from the Queen Amoret, stands hesitantly near the villagers. He looks like he wants to approach Baj.
Baj catches the young man's eye and calls to him, "Lad, if you want to take the Oath, you had better get in the boat."
Tully slings his crossbow over his back and hurries to the boat. He helps Mera climb into the gently rocking longboat and nods to Talon with a grin.
Talon smiles back at the young sailor.
The villagers stand on the shore and wave at the departing pirates, wishing them well.
As the last man clambers aboard the longboat, Baj gives a mighty heave and jumps aboard over the gunwale as the boat drifts away from the shore.
Candra helps Baj shove the boat into the green water and then clambers into the boat as well. Candra and Erris slip oars into the water and paddle gently for the Reckoning. The tide is high, and the spring wind is blowing at the great ship's sails.
As the boat approaches the Reckoning, Vendig's voice booms down from the rail. "Ahoy, longboat! I hope me you all enjoyed y're little shore leave! About time y'got back here f'r some real work!"
Baj looks up to the maindeck, "I hope you are not standing about when there is a longboat full of hungry sailors arriving, Mister Vendig?"
Rhyll tips his imaginary cap and shouts back, "Well said my man, for soon we sail."
Vendig calls back, good naturedly, "Only them what works get fed, Mister Mirko! Not lollygaggers!"
Dacien leans over the railing. "All hands are ready to make sail, Cap'n! An'the sooner we be out o' here, the better!"
The crew answers back across the deck, signalling readiness for sail.
Rope ladders are lowered, and hooks to haul the longboat up the side of the Reckoning.
Candra takes one of the hook chains and fastens it securely, then offers the rope ladder to Rhyll and Baj.
Baj takes a strain on the ladder and holds it still for Rhyll.
Rhyll scoots up the ladder and onto the deck of the Reckoning.
In the foc'sle, Otho beams proudly at the carpentry his men have done. The usually foul-tempered carpenter claps Dernit on the shoulder in approval.
Baj follows Rhyll up the ladder to the main deck.
High above, the hung-over Deeshon calls, "She's a clear day, skipper, an' a fine one for sailin'!"
The rest of the longboat crew scramble up the ladder, in turn. Then the longboat is winched up from the sea and secured in its place on the main deck.
Baj says, "Dacien! Come and see me, now!"
Dacien drops the line he was coiling and trots back to the quarterdeck, "Aye, Mister Mirko?"
Baj rounds on Dacien, "Once we are under way, I want every hand busy. Every bight of line, every stitch of sailcloth, every square inch of planking will be in the best condition possible. Do you understand, Mister Nettleburr?"
Dacien backs away from the big Urag, confused, "Aye-aye, Mister Mirko. Was there sumthin I done to anger ye?"
Rhyll climbs up to the forecastle and turns to face his crew. He shouts out for all to hear, "Free Men of the good ship Reckoning! Once again you've made me proud and the envy of every Captain that sails the seas. I salute you one and all. We set forth today to a new challenge but more of that later. Be proud of yourselves as I am of you!"
The crew look from one to another, gladdened by their Captain's praise. "The Reckoning!" one hand calls, and the others echo it. "The Reckoning!"
Baj shakes his head, "Not you, Dacien, but you can be damned sure that the Firewing will be back for blood. I mean to see that the only taste they get is their own."
Dacien nods grimly and turns to give his attention to Rhyll's speech.
Rhyll says, "Master Revas, I assume you know the course I intend?"
Revas says, "Hain't been in them seas for many a year, sar. Kanda Reach, south by east it be!"
Dacien climbs swiftly into the rigging, calling out orders as he goes. The Reckoning is under full sail and aweigh in moments.
Koster calls to Rhyll, "Kanda Reach, sir? What do we prowl there for? No one goes there!"
Baj whirls on Koster like a wild cat, "Koster! I thought I had given you sufficient warning about questioning orders? Shall we resume the lesson?"
Koster holds up his hands in submission. "No, Mister Mirko! Just askin', is all."
Baj looks about the main deck, "If the Captain feels the need to explain his motives or plans to the crew, I am certain he will do so in his own good time. In the meanwhile, I see enough work for all hands. Do not make me point it out."
Koster sullenly goes back to his work, coiling rope lines into a pile. He mutters to himself, shaking his head.
Baj turns on his heel and heads below decks, "I will meet you in your cabin presently, Captain Rhyll."
Vendig knows what Rhyll's intent is. He puffs on his pipe and looks towards Koster. As Baj passes, he murmurs, "We're Free Men, Baj. Never would I second-guess the skipp'r, but Koster had a point. No prowlin' t'be done in the Reach."
Baj pauses a moment to glare at Vendig, "The Captain has made his plan, my job is to see it through. Koster has used up every bit of good will he ever earned."
Vendig puffs a cloud of smoke, calmly glaring up the big Urag. "Mine own's th'same as y'rs, lad. He's the Cap'n and where he leads, I folla. Any man says agin him's gotta deal w'me."
Baj relaxes a bit and gives the old Vulkah a grim smile, "It will get worse before it gets better, Vendig. We have to get the crew in line so they are ready for whatever happens. At least the Firewing is less likely to look for us in the Reach."
Vendig nods. "We'll deal with Draco and his lot if they pick a brawl w'us." He turns to bellow at Tully standing nearby. "You there, don't stand there oglin'! Work t'be done! Report t'Mister Dacien, you lout!" He recedes from Baj in a cloud of pipesmoke and curses at the hands as he makes his way aft to his usual place.
Tully has discarded his bluecoat, but he isn't quite used to the informality of life on a pirate vessel. He shambles up to Dacien, uncertainly, crossbow over his shoulder.
Dacien looks the young man over and sticks out his hand, "M'name's Dacien. Mister Nettleburr on formal occasions. Follow me and we'll get you settled in."
Tully grips the Tobon's forearm in greeting. "Tully. Formerly Seaman Tully of His Grace's Ship, the Queen Amoret."
Dacien says, "Welcome aboard the Reckoning, lad. Best ship on the Crimson Coast."