Chapter Text
Alina had only heard rumours of Greymouth, the great pirate capital of the world, of the enormous, twinned sea stacks that stretched to the sky and hid all manner of villainy between them. Where the greatest of pirate lords hung their coats and hats and all others merely lived in their shadow. The docks were bustling with activity, ships of all shapes, sizes and paintjobs lined the docks as pirates loaded and unloaded all manner of cargo. Alina was prodded down the gangplank at the point of a sword.
Over the years Alina had seen a number of pirate towns, but while it shared some similarities to the likes of towns like Seadog, Greymouth was on a completely different scale. When she looked up, she couldn’t help but feel some kind of awe, the city was grafted in between the two sea stacks. Alina couldn’t even make out the sky amidst all the rope bridges and hanging woodwork. However, as she admired the tenacious architecture her eyes stopped upon a set of figures, dressed in familiar uniform and hanging lifelessly from a large wooden bridge directly above the docks, ‘Navy Scum’ scrawled across their chests in what she hoped was red paint.
Alina gulped.
“What’s the matter, Tagalong?” She looked down at her captor, Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty. He looked up at her with his sinister grin. “Never been to Greymouth before?”
The elf just shook her head. The entire time she’d spent on his ship, she’d tried to say as little as possible. Luckily, she’d been left mostly alone in the brig, save for someone occasionally coming to hand her some food. The trip hadn’t been too long, only a few days, but it had felt like agony, sat in mostly darkness, waiting for the axe to drop. Till now, as she was ferried off of the ship, deep into the heart of piracy.
“Well, you’re in luck. You’ll get to see the whole thing, all the way from the top.”
Pirates were, traditionally, not a foresighted bunch, choosing to build and live as necessary in the moment. With no thought given to making things easy for the future leading to nothing pirate-made having any consistency or logic to it. So up they went, climbing stairs carved into the stone and bridges made of driftwood as she was led from one sea stack to the other, then back to the first. Alina heard doors slam shut ahead of them and most bars and taverns seemed to suddenly change their ‘Open’ signs to ‘Closed’ when Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty wandered by. She peered in windows as they passed and spotted beady eyes staring nervously back at them.
Nearer the top though people seemed more amicable to their presence, or at least weren’t so afraid. Many of the crew broke off here and wandered into various bars as they passed leaving fewer and fewer pirates following them. With a cautious glance behind Alina counted barely a dozen pirates still left trailing them. She wondered how many she thought she would be able to take out in a fight, then she looked down and realised that was the least of her problems. They were high enough here she couldn’t see the bottom through haze and hanging ropes. It would take a miracle to get to the bottom, or an accident.
This high up the air grew colder and the winds blew harsher through the stacks, causing the various rope bridges to wobble and sway precariously. They kept Alina’s hands bound so she had an even harder time keeping balance and holding onto the bridges, some pirates laughed at her as she stumbled and laughed even harder when she tried shooting them threatening glances. So she gave up trying to act tough and just followed and stayed silent.
After what felt like eternity they reached the top, or as close to the top of the stacks as the pirates had built. It was high enough that the sun crested over the top of the rocks flashing straight into Alina’s eyes, she covered them with her hands as she readjusted to the light, not having seen the sun for several days now. It was nice, at least, to feel the warmth again.
Not for long as Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty's crew ushered her toward a large... house? Building? It was hard to decide what to call anything here. It was, in actuality, a large boat seemingly cut in half and fastened to the rock somehow that it didn’t fall. A hatch swung open in what was once the underbelly of the ship and a greasy looking human poked his head out.
“Welcome back boss.” He grinned a toothless grin before getting out the way, to let the Captain through, most of the crew waited outside as the gnome looked at Alina and gestured inside leaving most of the pirates, and the sun, outside. The odd looking human sniffed at Alina and grimaced, like she was the strange one here.
Wandering through the creaky ship she had a thought to wonder how in the hells they got a whole boat up this high. As if reading her face Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty started to chatter. “y’know, Tagalong, they say this ship used to belong to the Maria Gardoza. Chucked all the way up here by a kraken, way back when. Ever since it’s been the base for only the greatest of pirates. Maria lost it when she was knocked from the stacks by an upstart piece-of-work pirate by name of Jones. Nobody remembers him; Jones didn’t last long before someone took it from him. Then so on and so on and so forth. Most recently, used to be the base for my good friend Snarled Scales, till he went soft.” The gnome spat at the floor, the word itself seemed to repulse him. “So now it belongs to me.”
Through the bowels of the ship, they eventually came upon a cabin. Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty smiled proudly and opened the door. It was a surprisingly small cabin given the grandeur of everything so far, with barely enough room for a desk and chair either side of it. “You can leave us.” He spoke to someone behind Alina.
Turning round Alina jumped as she realised the human was still with them, and was standing within a hair’s breadth of her face. “Don’t do nothing now.” He spoke with a snarl and kept staring at Alina while he slowly closed the door behind him.
With just the two of them alone, Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty clambered up onto a chair and offered the other one to Alina. “Have a seat Tagalong.” He grinned at her and leaned on the desk as she carefully sat down without taking her eyes off him. His chair had been adjusted with a booster so he sat at reasonable height, but still shorter than Alina.
Despite every fibre of her being screaming at her she felt obliged to break the silence. “If you’re going to kill me, I’d rather you just get it over with.”
The gnome shrugged and slowly drew a sword from his back, Alina braced and closed her eyes, but when she felt no cut across her throat, she carefully opened one eye to see the gnome sawing at the binds around her hands.
She rubbed her wrists as Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty laid the sword on the desk between them and rummaged through a desk drawer, chuckling to himself. He pulled out a small wooden toothpick, giving Alina a full unsolicited view of the inside of his mouth as he picked at his teeth. “If I were to kill you, you think I’d bring you all the way up here? Just to mess with you?”
“Yes.” Alina said bluntly, turning her head away with disgust. Eager to look anywhere else, she glanced about the room. Dust littered most surfaces, this room clearly wasn’t used much and there was little by way of decoration. She couldn’t say she knew about the pirate’s tastes but she suspected he wasn’t interested in interior design.
He laughed as he worked at his teeth. “You’d be right. But that’s not the case here, I assure you.” He noticed her looking about the room. “I been thinking about redecorating. What do you think?”
Alina looked at him, confused, but immediately turned away again when she saw more of his tonsils than she would like. “I don’t know, could do with a few more severed heads and skulls.” She said, glibly.
“Nah. Tried that; they get sticky after a while.” Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty simply said.
Judging by his tone, Alina wasn’t sure whether that was meant to be a joke or not. They sat in silence for a bit, but Alina broke when she couldn’t stand his mouth noises any longer. “Did you just bring me here for my opinion on your decor?”
“Decor.” He repeated. “Talk awful fancy for a tart. Must be a high price Gaelug pays for you.”
Alina looked at him, insulted. “Pay me?”
Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty stopped picking his teeth as a grin broke across his face. He flicked his toothpick into a nondescript corner of the room. “I knew there was more to you. Gaelug’s a funny sort, ain’t she?” Alina felt herself tense up, as he stood up on the desk, walking back and forth along its length as he continued. “Way I figure, she must have a long list of girls and such chasing after her. She could have her pick. Yet she never seemed to give one a second glance. I long suspected she must have some sort of dirty little secret, something she didn’t want anyone else seeing. Which brings me to you, missy Tagalong.”
Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty glared down at her from on top of the desk, despite his size he cut an imposing figure and Alina even found herself shrinking in her seat. “Tell me what you’ve got on her.”
Alina blinked. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb now, Tagalong, I know you’ve got something on her. Some dirt or horrible secret that she doesn’t want anyone else knowing. Gaelug's a thrill seeker at heart, anyone knows that, so why is it she doesn’t engage with any other lasses? Figure you either got something no one else does, or she’s got something no one else does. What is it? Demon tail? Weird birth mark? Plague boils?”
Alina couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe Gaelug’s just more discrete than you’re giving her credit for?” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her seat, smug and comfy.
“Gaelug? Ha! She may be slick, but she ain’t quiet. Everyone from top to bottom of Greymouth knows every conquest she’s ever had. Never known a more blowhard pirate in all my years.”
“Well, she kept me a secret long enough.” Alina said defensively.
The gnome smiled a sly smile. “Oh. So, you two have been at this for a while, haven’t you?”
“Shit.” Alina chastised herself, realising she’d put her foot in it again.
“You know with lips as loose as yours, Tagalong, I’m surprised this is the first I’m hearing about it. Maybe Gaelug’s got more to her than I thought. Which raises the question, how’d she keep a secret like you?” Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty prodded at Alina’s forehead.
Clenching her fists in her lap, Alina wondered what her chances were if she just kicked him and ran, when there was a knock at the window. They both turned to look, but there was nothing there except the setting sun. Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty hopped from the desk to the window sill. With blade in hand he glanced cautiously one way, then the other. After a moment he relaxed and scoffed to himself and sat down on the sill.
“Dang seabirds. Now where were we-” There was another knock, at the door this time. The gnome screamed in anger and kicked his sword where he’d left it on the desk. Alina ducked as it flew over her head and she heard a *thunk* in the door behind her. A man yelped on the other side. “What is it?!”
The door slowly creaked open, it was that strange, greasy human again. “Uhh, Cap’n?”
“Out with it, Frantz!” Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty snapped.
“Yes, of course.” The man named Frantz stepped into the room fully. “Just had word from the lower rungs that Gaelug’s ship has been spotted coming into harbour.”
Alina watched Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty. He just nodded. “She’s earlier than I thought. You must mean a lot to her, Tagalong. Better let her know that if she sets foot in the heights, her little flower will have its head chopped off. Keep an eye on her, Frantz, while I go have another word with the youngun.”
“What is it you actually want from her?” Alina asked as he wandered passed her chair.
Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty chuckled. “I think it's high time The Dread Pirate learned a little respect for her elders.”
With that, he left. The door slammed behind, leaving Alina in Frantz’s care. With a huff he yanked the sword out of the door and waved it around with a grin on his face. “Don’t try nothing, or I’ll be having a piece of that lovely skin of yours.”
“Right...” Alina rolled her eyes, but otherwise remained silent. Frantz paraded around, watching her intensely.
There was another knock at the window. Frantz spun round sword pointed threateningly at the glass. There was nothing outside, the sun was gently setting leaving less light to stream inside. Frantz scratched his head and as he started to turn there was another knock. “What?” He looked at Alina who just shrugged. He crept up to the window, blade at the ready. Carefully he undid the latch and gently opened the window to poke his head outside. The only thing he saw was a pair of boots flying square into his face, followed by their owner.
Frantz flew backwards over the desk, narrowly missing Alina as a graceful Gaelug swung her way into the room. Frantz scrambled to get on his feet, but was blindsided as Alina clocked him across the side of the head. Leaping over his collapsing body she threw herself into Gaelug’s arms.
“What- how? You were leagues behind and he said your ship had only just arrived!” Alina said, mixed with relief and shock.
But Gaelug didn’t respond. Her arms lightly held Alina but when Alina looked up, Gaelug wasn’t paying her any attention, she was instead blankly glancing about the room.
“Gaelug?”
“I always wondered what Maria’s roost was like.” She said, looking about with a trace of awe. Frustrated, Alina shoved her away. That got her attention. “What was that for?”
Alina had to sigh. “That’s all you care about?”
“No?” Gaelug smiled meekly. “Sorry Ali, it’s just that I’ve dreamt of this place since I was a little girl.”
The earnestness was so endearing that Alina found it within herself to forgive her. “Doesn’t look like much to me really.”
“No. It doesn’t.” Gaelug said with a hint of sadness in her tone. But it quickly disappeared as a glint shone in her eye. She knocked the booster stool off Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty's chair and sat down, grinning as she kicked her feet up on the desk. “But it could be.”
Alina looked at her looking about the room and Alina could practically picture what she was imagining.
“Queen of the Pirates.” Gaelug mused entirely to herself. “Just like Maria herself.”
“So, you can wait for someone to slit your throat and take it from you?” Alina always found herself trying to temper Gaelug’s expectations. “Besides, shouldn’t we be getting out of here?”
“How?”
“How?” Alina grabbed Gaelug by the shoulders and shook her, but any sense couldn’t be shaken out of Gaelug. “I thought you had a plan!”
“I did. It was to make sure you’re alright, and it worked! You’re welcome by the way.” Gaelug smirked and stood up while Alina hung her head in despair. She kicked at Frantz ribs till he groaned. “Oi, you. Go get your captain. Tell him; Gaelug wants to Parley.”
Frantz stared up at her groggily, so Gaelug rolled her eyes and began to draw her sword. His eyes flashed open as he shot up onto his knees and rushed out of the room like a dog on all fours.
Gaelug re-sheathed her sword. “Now we wait. Shouldn’t be long.”
“We had a chance to escape, Gaelug, and now you want to have a chat with him.” Alina was fuming, pursing her lips and clenching her fists, it was all she could do to not throw Gaelug out the window she flew in.
Gaelug leaned on the desk and gently stroked Alina’s arm, hoping to calm her down. “Yeah, if you want to take your chance all the way down Greymouth without getting spotted and grabbed by Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty's thugs. But I think I’ve got a better idea now...”
They weren’t waiting for long, Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty came charging into the office like a tiny force of nature. The door slammed open and the whole ship rocked as he stared at Gaelug in his chair. “You’ve got some nerve, Girl.”
Alina stood just behind Gaelug, staying quiet, hoping not to draw attention.
“So they say. Want to know what they say about you?” Gaelug leaned back, arms behind her head, casual as can be.
He shook his head and laughed softly. “What’s your game Gaelug?”
“I want your seat.”
“Looks like you have it, not that you’ll be keeping it long. I’ve my crew waiting outside, you’ll be dead before you see the ocean below you.” Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty snarled.
Alina just watched them go back and forth, staring each other down, barely blinking.
“If you kill me here, you’ll never get that map back.” Gaelug tried to reason, but it didn’t seem to be working.
“Between you and me, I don’t think I’ll lose any sleep over it.”
“We’ve got a score to settle, don’t you want everyone to see?”
“Ego is for the young.”
“Right, you’d never let a little ego hurt your reputation, Shorty.” Gaelug smiled as his face twisted in frustration. “Everyone knows your one rule, you either accept my challenge, or everyone will know you’re full of shit.”
“Fine.”
Down they went through Greymouth, first Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty, then Gaelug, Alina at her side and behind them; a parade of pirates. Most from Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty's crew, but as they went, more and more joined in, sensing tension like sharks with blood.
They were lead near enough the docks near the bottom of the stacks, to a large square carved out of the rock, leaning over the ocean below. “Drowned Man’s Square.” Gaelug whispered to Alina.
Word travelled through Greymouth like a brick through water, a crowd had already gathered, waiting for a show. Duels were entertainment enough to most, but a Pirate Lord’s duel? Those only came about once every few years.
They walked into the centre.
“What do you want, Gaelug?” Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty shouted, loud enough to make sure everyone could hear.
“I want your place. Top of the stacks, Maria Gardoza’s old seat.” She yelled back.
“And if I win?”
Gaelug smiled. She reached into her coat and pulled out a piece of paper. Unfurling it for all to see. “You get your map back.”
“You cocky...” Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty muttered to himself as his eyes narrowed, before raising his voice back up again. “Fine, saves me trying to keep you alive long enough. Pistols or swords.”
“Your choice, Shorty.” There was a murmur around the crowd.
She was testing him. Sure, he acted like he was above it all. But that was just because no one had bothered to challenge him in a long, long time. “Pistols too quick for you. I’ll savour this with swords.”
They walked apart, getting some distance before they started. Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty went about taking his rings off one-by-one, leaving them with one of his crew. Gaelug turned to Alina, patted her on the arm and nodded. Alina walked off to join the crowd, looking back to see Gaelug and the gnome squaring off.
Gaelug glanced around them, half of all of Greymouth had to have come to see this. She felt proud to have drawn such a crowd. “What do you think, Shorty. I think they all want to see you lose.”
Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty cracked his knuckles. “I’ll get your Tagalong next, Gaelug. Wonder what secrets she’ll spill, when she’s under the knife.” He grinned, Gaelug drew her sword. “Oh? No comeback? Guess the great Dread Pirate Gaelug has a soft spot. Just. Like. Scales.”
“Shut your hole.” She said and made the first swing; bringing her sword down hard.
The gnome was nimble, despite his age. Jumping out of the way as Gaelug’s blade clanged against the cobbled floor.
He drew his swords, one in each hand. He licked his lips and smiled. “Come on then.”
The crowd watched, cheering and goading as swords clashed. What Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty lacked in height and reach he made up for in speed, dancing about Gaelug, she couldn't land a single blow and try as she might she also couldn’t overpower him. Over a century of piracy had indeed made him a hardy little bastard.
“Is this what makes a pirate lord? Thought you were scary. You couldn’t scare a kid.” Gaelug goaded, hoping for a reaction.
Unfortunately, she got one. She tried swinging at him but he just spun around, ducking passed her and nicking her in the back of the leg on the way. Gaelug winced though was still fast enough to turn and parry his next attempt.
Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty hopped backwards and began to circle around her. “You don't know what makes a pirate, child, you’re only still alive cause I want you to be. Need to make an example out of you. Like you said, I’ve got one rule and it seems I need to remind people why no one has broken it for forty years.”
“Are you fighting or giving a lecture, old man?” Gaelug lunged and missed as Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty swung at her sword arm, slashing at her coat but just barely missing the skin.
“Plenty more lessons to come, kid.” Now he fought like a fresh beast, no longer responding and dancing around Gaelug he was the one directing the fight. Swinging both swords with reckless abandon, it was all Gaelug could do to block, let alone retaliate. Like a tiny, furious whirlwind he came, forcing her backwards under his flurry, the clash of swords echoed amidst the roaring crowds and with every slice that managed to cut through Gaelug’s defence the crowd got louder. One by one dozens of tiny cuts began to wear her down but her impatience got the better of her as, just when she thought she saw an opening, she tried to strike back.
Everything seemed to slow down as her blade carved through the air. She watched, feeling like her arm was moving through water, the gnome just jumped over her strike, mad grin on his face as he flew at her.
Gaelug screamed. The crowd was silent.
Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty stuck his blade clean through her belly, then, planting both feet against her chest, he kicked her back sending her flying into the crowd. They parted out of the way, giving more than a enough room for the gnome.
He walked slowly up to Gaelug, her back against the railing at the edge of the square. Blood dripped through her shirt, painting it a dark red. She looked behind her, seeing the water below.
“Not so cocky now.” He said, poking her in the stomach with his sword. Gaelug winced in pain. Pirates all around them waited for the final blow.
“Go on then, finish it off.” Gaelug spat blood at his feet.
“In good time, first, I’ll be taking my map back...” With his sword he gently pushed open one side of Gaelug’s coat and looked a bit puzzled, so he looked at the other side. “Where is it?!” He screamed holding the blade to her throat.
A whistle cut through the noise of the crowds, Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty glanced up, rage in his eyes to see Alina floating by the square, hanging onto the rigging of Gaelug’s ship waving the map at them.
“You!” He shouted, looking about the crowd, he was so focussed on the fight he hadn’t spotted her sneak away. Anger took him and he threw a sword as hard as he could in her direction. She easily swung out of the way as it flew passed, sticking itself in the main mast of the ship.
With him distracted Gaelug flicked her foot up, kicking Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty on the arm, sending his other sword spiralling into the air then landed a boot square into his chest knocking him a few feet away onto his back. The gnome jumped onto his feet ready to charge when the sword came down. With a clang, it pierced into the cold stone directly in front of Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty's face.
He looked at it in shock, cross-eyed. Then his vision focussed passed the blade to where Gaelug stood, clutching onto her bleeding stomach, smirking to herself as she pulled herself up and over the railing.
She hit the water below with a splash, she feebly tried to push herself upwards but couldn’t find the strength in her limbs as she sank deeper into the water’s cold embrace. There was a second splash above her as a figure swam down. She felt arms wrap around her, pulling her up till they broke the surface. Gaelug coughed as saw Alina holding tightly onto her. “Love you...” She muttered between coughs.
“What was that?” Alina said, not paying attention to her, she was instead waiting for a rope to land down next to them in the water. She quickly wrapped it about them both as they were hoisted up and onto the deck of the Dreadcruiser.
Gaelug’s crew cheered, gathering round to help their captain onto her feet. Alina squeezed herself out of the crowd, but watched with a smile while she leaned back against the main mast of the ship. She heard the faint sound of a slow, loud clap. Turning to see Don’t-Call-Me-Shorty watching her amidst a crowd of excited onlookers. He stopped clapping when they locked eyes and he just smiled, before drawing a finger across his throat.
Alina found it hard to look away from his gaze as they sailed further out of the stacks and even when they turned to lose sight of him, she still felt a tension across her shoulders.
“Not bad for a tart.”
She looked down at the happy little halfling, Ducky. “Excuse you?”
“What? I mean it, Tagalong, didn’t expect that kind of action. Captain’d be face down if you hadn’t ran and got us.” Ducky said, to the cheers and admiration of the rest of the crew. “You’d make a pretty good pirate, y’know?”
Alina just laughed awkwardly as she directed her gaze to the floor and covered her face. She felt a hand slap her across the back and looked up at Gaelug, a bit more energy to her, but still looking haggard. “She’s right. Proper pirate stuff, that was!”
She shot Gaelug a look, but couldn’t help but relax a bit in her presence. “No thanks, I’d rather just be dropped off somewhere soon as possible...”
“Right you are.” Gaelug nodded. “Alright, to stations the lot of you. We’d best be catching wind soon, doubt the gnome’s wrath will wait for long.”
Suddenly everyone remembered the very real threat still behind them; the crew hurriedly dispersed. Gaelug tried to laugh but it was interrupted by a sharp pang of pain. Alina held her up. “You’re in a bad way. Let’s get you to bed and I can have a look at those wounds of yours.”
“Thank you. That sounds nice.” Gaelug gave her a warm smile.
Ducky looked curiously between the pair of them. “You’re not going soft, are you captain?”
Gaelug looked at her in shock. “Me? Never.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A shirt lay on the floor of Gaelug’s cabin. Once a creamy white now painted a deep red. Alina dabbed at Gaelug’s bare stomach with a wet rag. “You really thought you could take him?”
“I almost had him too.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.” Gaelug gasped when Alina prodded at the deep wound. At least it looked like he had missed any major organs. “What would you know anyway? You left before the fight started.”
“That was your plan!”
“My backup plan.”
“Hand me the sutures.” Alina said sternly, pointing to the needle and thread on Gaelug’s desk.
Gaelug laughed, Alina didn’t. Gaelug stopped laughing. “Can’t you just do that fwooshy fwoosh healy thing you usually do?”
There was a sinister look across Alina’s face. A smile which caused Gaelug’s blood to grow cold. “That will be my backup plan.”