513 AV, Fall, 4th
The Drunken Fish, Baroque Bay, dusk
The Drunken Fish, Baroque Bay, dusk
The slaves had already lit the candles in the taproom by the time dusk had settled. There weren’t many, but enough to keep a minimum of light in the room. Meanwhile, the flames swirled as the remains of logs were crackling in the hearth. Avalyon observed it almost enthralled, the dancing fire red and then yellow and then orange, going up and down, turning right and left with its womanly curves, caressing the fireside with gentle touches. Despite being a creature born and raised in the sea, fire had always inflamed Avalyon’s soul. As Fall began and the nights were growing colder, each day more sailors and dockworkers sought the comfort of the hearth and warmed themselves near to the fire, with a glass of bear in hands. Those more open-handed had a slave at their laps, as they went on their mumblings of adventures, sea monsters, raids on ships, the women they had loved, their bastards and whelps…
”Eh, did’a hear me? One-eyed?”, said the gruff, half-drunken voice just across the table, ”I’m talking to ya, d’ya have seaweed down your ears?” The man’s hand grabbed the Sea Bastard’s right sleeve and shook it quite rudely, trying to get his attention.
Avalyon blinked as he moved his eyes away from the dancing flames and tried to adjust his vision, which seemed blurred from gazing at such lightness. An involuntary small tear was on the verge of coming from his eye, so he quickly rubbed it, to get a better view on his interlocutor. He was very thin, with sharp features and an aquiline nose which gave him the aspect of a corpse. Before Avalyon lost himself to the beautiful fire, they had been talking about employment. It had been more than 30 days since Avalyon had arrived at Sunberth and he was still looking for sailors who would want to sail with the Sea Bastard. There had been plenty of them interested, knowing the tales of his daring exploits and riches… the only thing was that he lacked a ship. And that mate, Jacky o’ Evis, had asked him about that before Avalyon turned his attention to the fireplace, trying to think on an answer.
”The folks are all saying that the ol’Twice-Lucky boy has no ship, eh? That’s true, by the sound of it?”, said Jacky, wine stench coming from his crooked mouth and creating an aura of alcohol odor that permeated the table. ”Ol’ Jacky, my good friend, it’s now Thrice-Lucky, after all I’ve survived a third disaster at the sea, which leads to your question!”, answered the fallen pirate, sardonic. ”If I have survived a disaster at the sea, that probably means that I’ve lost my ship. But I’m working to find another, I just need a good crew first. Are you with me?” Truth be told, he was feeling almost desperate to look for the likes of Jacky to crew a ship. And even if he had no ship, if he could gather a sizeable number of reavers, they could steal into a schooner in the black of night and seize it, heading into open ocean… but that was the sort of thing nobody need to know yet.
As always, he expected that his reputation would be enough to call men to his cause, after all, a deal was a deal for the Sea Bastard. However, Jacky o’ Evis burst laughing aloud. ”I’m with ya, surely… if ya have a ship and shiny gold, I’m with ya! If not, you’re a good joke’, hehehe. Now let me find a girl and a cask of ale. See ya aroun’, One-eyed., replied that damned imbecile.
Avalyon ground his teeth as he watched the man rise unsteady from his sit, walking in an unbalanced way towards the counter as he called out a round. ”Ya hear me, boys! A round for our ol’captain Avaly—yon Mare’! Our shipless captain! Ahoooy!”, Jacky flashed a grin as he raised his glass, letting ale fall on his clothes and on the counter meanwhile. Others followed him, to the Sea Bastard’s chagrin. You’ll see, you shall see., thought the embarrassed captain, grinding his teeth furiously as he glared at Jacky.
