29. Lirion
Ominous creaks and groans rose up from the wounded ship thanks to the kraken.
With the damage to the ship, there was no way they could safely reach Baza as they were.
One bad squall would sink them. They had to stop and make repairs but didn’t have enough wood on board to fix all the damage.
Rain kept some wood on hand for emergencies, and they could patch the hole enough to keep the ship from taking on water, but it meant a slow, limping trip into the nearest port.
Unfortunately, Strandby wasn’t an option due to Rain’s past. The town watch would be on them the second they spotted the red sails. And according to Rain, Loksi wasn’t any better.
The only “safe” port was a pirate haven.
Even the sight of Pirate Isles as they crawled to the docks was enough to raise an eyebrow or three.
Ships of all sizes were crammed in, some in better shape than others.
All species and genders roamed about the docks, with people hawking wares—including offers for murder.
Assassinations sold well to the right crowd.
The air was thick with the scent of smoking meat, various drugs in pipe smoke, and the salty brine of the ocean. Quite the cacophony in his nose.
Well, there were worse places. Lirion had been in a few, so he could speak from experience.
A sharp whistle sliced the air. Lirion turned his head to see why, only to find Rain waving him in closer.
Curious, he went up a level and came to a stop at the tub’s edge. “Yes?”
“I realize you’re a guest on board,” Rain started in his gentlemanly pirate manner, “but I wonder if I could call upon you for a favor.”
“If I can help, of course.”
“I believe you’ll be splendid at this. It’s just, I need to send someone in for more wood and various other supplies, as well as to handle the hiring of a few hands to carry all the goods.
Normally I’d send in Fenric, as he knows where to go, but it’s a bit much for one person to handle and he’s a grumpy cur right now.
Would you and Maxie go in with him? Smooth things over.
Maybe get us a good deal on the supplies?
” He smiled and winked, making it clear he was hoping Lirion might use just a bit of his charm to haggle the price down.
“That’s fine. For my information, what wood should we get?”
“Teak. Most of the ship is made out of it.”
Lirion knew little about boats. Mostly he knew how to stay on one without getting dog sick. “Teak, really?”
“Oh, teak is wonderful wood.” Rain’s eyes were on navigating the ship, as they were close to docking, but he expounded on this as he steered.
“It’s exceptionally durable, naturally resistant to water, decay, and even pests.
The perfect wood for shipbuilding. The frames of ships are made of oak, especially white oak, but we use teak for the hull and keel. ”
“I had no idea teak wood was so sturdy. I do know it’s expensive.”
“That’s rather why. People love to build out of it.” Rain pulled a purse out of his pocket and handed it over. “Don’t be afraid to haggle; the asking price is insane, and never what I actually pay.”
“Ah, good to know.”
“We’ll work on the ship and prepare for the patch while you’re doing that. Everything’s so jagged, we’ll have to square up the edges. Still, I hope by late tonight we’ll be done and can set sail again by morning. I know time is critical for your sister.”
Lirion blinked, almost flinching at Rain, his unexpected thoughtfulness sneaking past his guard.
Lirion normally kept people at arm’s length, emotionally speaking, but he found it almost impossible to do so with this group.
They were too charming, too kind, and a joy to be around. It made Lirion want to be friends.
Shaking the thought off, he smiled warmly at Rain. “I appreciate it. All right, we’ll be back soon with wood.”
The skelebabies were at work, going through the motions to dock the ship, and the second the gangplank was down, the group of three left. Maxie looked about curiously with the peppy energy of a puppy out on a walk.
“This is a pirate haven?” he asked, even as he turned his head to study something more carefully.
The skies had immediately cleared after Dead Man’s Curve, and the sun had returned to dry them all out, leaving Maxie’s head topped with a wild fluff of golden-brown curls as if he were a puffy dandelion.
Their days in the sun had turned his skin into a dark olive complexion that beautifully set off his wide, curious golden eyes.
His soft, gentle demeanor and proper language tended to make Lirion think of him as a younger brother in need of protecting and coddling.
Yet, there was something about seeing him striding along, his head up and shoulders straight, that Lirion was finally able to see him as an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old young man ready for adventure.
He wasn’t a little boy, and Lirion wasn’t the only one who needed reminding of that.
“So much so it’s known as the Pirate Isles.” Fenric kept right in step with Maxie, a weather eye on him like a parent would a young child. “Listen, there’s only two rules here. First rule: You start something, no one’s going to come to your rescue. So don’t start something.”
And yet, despite the beauty of the youth before him, Lirion found himself craving the rugged good looks of a certain devilish rogue with his crisscrossing scars, crooked smile, and captivating, green-rimmed golden eyes.
The allure of the young man was nice, but Lirion preferred the strength and devilry of Fenric.
Maxie gave a serious nod. “Okay. What’s the second rule?”
“Gravity.”
Lirion snorted. “That’s rather accurate. Only law that can’t be broken is the law of gravity.”
With a small cant of the head, Maxie asked, “You’ve been here before, Lirion?”
“A time or three. Usually because the ship I was on had an issue, like now, and we needed a place to stop. It’s a very transient place. Most do not linger.”
“The ones who do have something very wrong with them,” Fenric muttered under his breath.
“Also, everyone tends to mind their own business,” Fenric continued. “Bounties are useless here. The kings of Moorwood and Cotra are content to leave the Pirate Isles alone so long as the lawless don’t leak into their domains.”
Normally, people who had nowhere else to go were the ones who chose to live here.
Those with too many bounties on their heads or who had reached the very bottom of the barrel chose to eke out a living here.
It wasn’t a place meant for sustained living.
There were limited trees and plants. Few edible things grew here, and everything had to be shipped in.
Which was why the teak wood would be much more expensive here. Rain had been right to request some bargaining, as the price would be outrageous. They had no real choice in the matter. There was too much ocean to cross to get to the mainland that wouldn’t offer them trouble.
Fenric knew where to go. He led them through the narrow streets, but never so quickly that he outpaced his companions.
Fenric was very much the protective type, and it was on display now.
He kept an eye on both Lirion and Maxie at all times, and if someone else got too close, he’d shift to block their access.
A time or two, his arm would snake out, bringing Lirion in closer or maneuvering him subtly away from some danger, all while tossing dark looks at the fools insane enough to leer at Lirion.
Never in his life had he been protected like this.
People didn’t think to safeguard him. He wasn’t important to most after the sex was over.
This experience was wholly unique, and if they hadn’t been in such a crowded, dangerous place, Lirion might have dragged him away to reward him for being so kindhearted.
Sadly, he’d have to wait until later tonight, but the reward was going to happen.
Finally, they arrived at the back side of the island. Lirion could see why Rain had sent two more people along to help, as that was a good distance to walk while balancing wood on your shoulder.
The yard was very well stocked. There was firewood for sale in one chained-off pen—no mistake, even that would be stolen if not locked down—and stacks and stacks of wood under roofs with open walls. Different types and lengths were available, and the freshly cut wood smelled heavenly.
A large man with a rotund build and balding dark hair gave them a once-over before his mouth split into a wide grin.
He threw out his hands and boomed, “Welcome! Welcome! We’re having our big summer blowout sale!
New deliveries of goods arriving every day.
You need wood? We got wood! All the wood you could ever need!
Teak! Oak! Cypress! Maple! You like bamboo?
We got stacks of fresh bamboo straight from Haugesand bamboo forests. Perfect for what you need.”
“Teak wood,” Fenric responded without missing a beat. “Ten footers, a dozen boards.”
“Ship?” the salesman inquired, his smile not wavering one bit.
“Yes.”
“All right, come pick your boards.” He turned, leading them deeper into the yard.
Mischief seized Lirion, and he leaned in closer to Maxie’s ear. “Puppy, I think you should bargain with the man for our wood.”
Maxie blinked up at him, uncertainty seeping into his expression. “Me?”
“You’ll do splendid. Just do what I taught you last night.”
Fenric leaned in, eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why? What did you teach him?”
Lirion had no intention of answering his question. He chivvied them along, following the man. “Fenric, did you say we needed a dozen? I thought it would only take four more boards, since we had wood on board?”
“It’s also to replace the wood we’re using,” Fenric answered. His look of distrust did not go away. “Might as well get it all in one lump. We can’t guarantee the rest of the trip will be smooth sailing, and there are few ports we can stop at until we reach farther north.”
“An excellent point.”
The yard owner turned and gestured to a large stack. “Teak.”
Fenric started sorting through the wide planks, setting a few of them aside. Lirion had no clue what made wood good or bad, so he left the rogue to it. Instead, he caught Maxie’s eye and gave a chin jerk toward the man. “Go on, start bargaining.”
Maxie swallowed hard, nodded gamely, and approached him. “Um, sir?”
First step, start with a little flattery.
The man gave him a hard look, a complete shift from the warm welcome he’d given to Fenric, but then it was clear he’d decided Fenric was the one making the decisions and carrying the money. “What?”
Don’t let him rattle you, Maxie.
“We need to talk about the price, of course, but can I say first that I love this color on you? The green does amazing things for your complexion.”
Oh, good job, that was sincerely delivered.
Lirion’s advice to Maxie about compliments was to choose something that sounded sincere, first of all.
If the person wasn’t outrageously beautiful or handsome, it was best to find something about them you genuinely appreciated.
It still made the person feel good and wasn’t insulting, like a fake compliment would be.
It worked with stunning effect as the man visibly thawed. “Well. Thank you. It’s my favorite color.”
“Do wear it often, then,” Maxie encouraged. “You wear it well.”
“Ha! Flattery won’t get you anywhere on the price, young man.” Still, he smiled, body language looser than before. “All right, you’re taking twelve boards. At fifty gold a board, the total will be six hundred gold—”
Lirion’s tongue almost herniated right down his throat. Six hundred gold?!
Maxie’s gasp was not at all feigned. “Oh, sir, that’s too high! Have pity, we’re marooned here until the ship is fixed. We fought a kraken just this morning, and it punched a hole straight into the hull—”
The man winced. “Damn, a kraken? The beast is awake again?”
“—it was only because my friends work so well together that we fought it off,” Maxie explained earnestly.
All right, step two: Eyes.
Maxie took a half step in, ducking his chin down, casting his eyes up.
Those antique gold eyes caught the sun perfectly at that angle, and when they landed on the yard owner, Lirion watched the man melt.
The look was so hopeful, so large and liquid, even Lirion wasn’t immune. And it wasn’t even aimed at him!
Damn, this kid had such raw talent for seduction. It excited Lirion. He’d have to teach him more techniques. It would be a waste not to.
Maxie didn’t even have to say a word or ask for a discount. The shipyard owner just folded like a wet towel.
“I can give you a bit off, but not much.” He tried to sound stern, but he patted Maxie on the shoulder.
“Young thing like you, you shouldn’t be in a place like this for long.
Tell you what, I can give you the wood at four hundred gold.
Plus, I got a few guys just lazing about.
They’ll load the wood up in a cart and haul it down to your ship. ”
Damn. He’d dropped two hundred off the price, just like that, and thrown in porters with a cart? Lirion made a mental note to take Maxie shopping with him from now on.
Fenric came in closer, jaw working as he watched this play out. Lirion had to swiftly move to his side and catch him before he broke the moment.
“Did you teach him to do that?” Fenric hissed.
“We just started last night. Isn’t he doing splendidly?”
“Gods above and below, what the hell did you teach him that for?!”
“Well, he needs more survival skills, doesn’t he?” Lirion batted his eyes at Fenric and watched him flounder. “Or do you prefer he settle every problem with a blade?”
The expression on the man’s face was torn between being proud and being mad. Pride was perhaps winning, seeming to have the upper hand.
“We owe the man four hundred gold,” Lirion tacked on, watching Fenric’s face like a hawk.
Watching Fenric’s eyes blow open wide was a thing of beauty. He was flabbergasted and, for a second, utterly speechless. “I have never gotten that man down past five hundred and twenty-five gold and you’re telling me Puppy got him down to four hundred?”
“Plus, he’s offered the help of three porters and a cart. No carrying.”
Pride won, then Fenric shut his eyes with a groan. “Dammit. If he becomes an unstoppable seduction monster, it’s your fault. I’m going to pay the man before he changes his mind.”
“Likely the smartest decision.”
Lirion turned to see how his apprentice was doing. Maxie was lightly touching the shipyard owner’s arm, saying something that had the man blushing. Lirion couldn’t quite pick out the words from here, but whatever was said had great effect.
A seduction monster, eh? Somehow, Lirion heard this as a challenge.