Tora Lithenmiir's Story

Korrin, after seeing Lemnia slip once more trying to look for Cretas, was both in shock and in slight shame for not looking out for her better as he then proceeded to walk over and help her up and start to dust her off. ”Goodness, looks like Mr. Collen must’ve done his work on cleaning the deck very well, eh?” He asked. After finishing the small dust off he looked about with her. ”Why don’t we check downstairs and see if she’s somewhere down there, if she’s not being busy that is?”

With that, he took Lemnia by the hand, like an elder brother would to his sister, gave Tora one more nod, and headed down to below deck to see if Cretas was indeed somewhere down there. It was a shame, he was rather getting good at the babysitting part of this job too and it’d probably be over until Cretas called upon him again. That is, if Tora didn’t beat him to it. However, Korrin knew better then to be jealous of Tora. After that first spar, Korrin had a much better respect for the man. He was a force to be reckoned with in a fight, and although he doubted one would occur again after his blowup nearly got him on thin ice with the Captain, Korrin was glad at least Tora would probably be one to rely on to bring it to a more quicker end.

But for now, he had to figure out where Cretas was hiding so Lemnia could be satisfied with knowing where she might be, and/or to conclude the babysitting duty for the day.

Lemnia held Korrin's hand, which was quite a lot larger than hers despite his own slightly shorter stature, and followed him down below deck taking extra care on the steps.

"No tripping on the last one." She said to herself as she hopped to the floor from the final step.

Scanning the room, Lem caught sight of her mother's red/brown hair in the corner over by a hammock.

"Momma!" She said, pointing to Cretas.

The two walked over to her and stopped short when they saw she was rubbing Collen's shoulder as he slept. Lem put her free hand over her mouth and tip toed forward with Korrin before letting go of his hand and climbing up onto her mother's lap.

"Thanks Korrin." She whispered.

Lem looked at Collen and smiled.

"Lubber Boy's tired." She whispered.

Cretas smiled and poked Lem's stomach.

"Let's just call him Collen, okay love?"

Lem nodded. "Mkay."

And with that, she leaned against her mother and quickly fell asleep.



The sun was high, and the wind was dead.

On deck, several crewmen fanned themselves with their shirts as sweat poured off their bodies.

"Desmiel above... Why's it so damn hot?!"

"Aye. Didn't take ya fer the religious type mister Hog."

"Nah. Just like sayin' it."

"Ah. I gotchye."

Nearby, several crewmen were casting rods while another in the crow's nest kept an eye out for anything in the waters around them as the rest of the crew below hit the oars to make up for the lack of wind.

Below deck, things weren't much better. Sweat pouring off the crew as the temperature inside the belly of the ship rose with the sun. No wind, no fresh flowing air. Several men's hands slipped, letting the oar fly wild and sometimes hitting the man in front of them in the back. This almost ended in a fight on one particular instance after a second offense.

On deck, Cretas was wearing loose, thin sleeveless top and had taken one of her pairs of pants and cut the legs mostly off to make a pair of short shorts. She knew that showing this much skin was probably not a wise idea on a ship full of men who knew they'd not see women again until/unless they landed somewhere that had a brothel. But it couldn't be helped. She was melting.

Lem sat beneath the stairs where it was shaded with her own sleeveless top and shorts while trying to fan herself with one of her skirts.

"By Desmiel..." Cretas whispered. "What's with the wind today?"

By far the worst day at sea they'd had yet. Storms be damned. Nothing was worse than a dry, hot, windless day on the ocean where there was practically no shade or anywhere to escape the scorching heat.

However, the crow's nest spied something on the horizon.

"BLACK FLAG SHIP AHOY!!" He shouted.

This could only mean one thing...

The Captain burst out of the Captain's Quarters, fully dressed with his large Captain's Hat on as he leaned on the balcony near the wheel.

"To yer battle stations ya field rats! We'll not be lettin' no rival Pirates be takin' our ship er supplies!" He bellowed.

He then pointed to Cretas.

""You be gettin' below deck, there missy! And yer brat too! Won't be riskin' the two o' ya's in this fight!"

Cretas didn't need him to tell her that. But she appreciated the thought. She dashed to Lem beneath the stairs and picked her up to go below deck. On the way down, she passed Tora who was fully dressed himself and already had his sword primed with the thumb pushing it just so out of its scabbard.

Cretas grabbed his arm as they reached the same step.

"Be safe, Tora."

"You as well, miss Estallamos. If you hear anyone banging on the door, don't hesitate to grab that spare rifle there and fire directly at the center." He said, gesturing to a rifle sitting just by the stairs.

She nodded, and Tora exited the belly of the ship and closed the doors.

The enemy ship drew nearer, black flag waving as the oars propelled her through the water on a collision course with the Silver Moon.

"Stand fast me mateys! We'll show 'em what REAL pirates be made of!"

The crew roared in fury and anticipation. A far cry from the complaining, lazy maggots they'd been looking like but a minute ago.

Below deck, Lem huddled against Cretas.

"Momma, I'm scared."

Cretas rubbed her back.

"It's okay, my love. Everything will be okay."

"Are Hunty and Torrie gonna be okay?"

"Yes, my love. They're warriors. They'll be just fine. You'll see them when it's over. I promise."

"Mm."

She buried her face in her mother's chest, and Cretas held her close as she looked up listening to the sounds of the crew.

The ship grew closer and closer, turning at the last second as their own crew shouted a war cry and the first ropes were throw to try and get their men to board. Others grabbed their swords and bows and started preparing to battle as boards were prepared to be placed between the two ships so they could run across and engage in battle.

"SEND EM TA HELL BOYS!!" Lohran shouted, pointing his sword at the enemy ship.

Korrin liked heat as much as the next guy. But right now, with the wind not blowing, it was unbearably hot! It had him go without his cloak or a shirt! The ship wasn’t moving too, and it made him feel stranded. He did not like feeling stranded! Still, it did meant all he could do was wait for the wind, or something to happen.

Unfortunately, the latter happened. Another ship came and it did not look like it wanted to chat given how everyone was starting to scramble. Korrin scrambled to get his own weapons and be on deck as he watched Cretas and Lemnia get below and Tora looking ready for the fight to come. Korrin nodded towards him and got his bow ready and placed an arrow in it. He couldn’t spot young Collen so all he could do was hope for his safety during the coming insanity. He felt the flame twinge awake from the now growing possibility of the fight at hand.

When the Captain sent the signal, Korrin knew the fight had begun and he took aim towards anyone on the other ship and fired an arrow. He wasn’t sure whether the shot would hit in a shoulder, an arm, or the head of whoever the arrow would land, or just hit the side of the enemy ship. He just readied another arrow and aimed again.

He fired his first shot in this fight. He’d just have to keep fighting until the fighting was done. ”Desmiel Protect us!” he thought wildly.

A red spray erupted on the side of the ship as a cannonball ripped through the torso of one of the crew near the railing on deck. He was trying to prevent an enemy from swinging over after using a grappling hook to grab the mast. Instead of resistance, he swung over neatly and landed in the puddle that used to be a human being.

"Aye! How now ye bleedin'-"

Tora slid in front of him and slammed his sword up through the bottom of his chin through the top of his skull, meeting the man eye to eye while he was still momentarily alive.

"Be gone." He growled.

Tora ripped the sword downward, pushing the blade forward at an angle so it sliced through the remainder of the brain on its way out. Blood pooled around the man's crumpled body as Tora looked left and right to assess the situation.

The Captain was by the wheel firing his pistol into the head of the first man to dare landing on that part of the upper deck. Afterwards, he tossed it aside and drew his sword to engage all comers in direct combat.

To the left, the crew were holding their own surprisingly well. While normally uncoordinated and somewhat hostile to each other, when under pressure they came together as a solid unit. One man watched for those swinging over, and another backed him up with a pistol or a sword. When someone made it onto the deck, they tag-teamed them two to one for a fairly easy kill.

"Not bad."

Tora looked ahead as planks were lowered so the enemy could run across. Manning the middle plank, Tora kept his blade tucked to the side ready for a single draw and slash across the belly of the first man rushing him. However, the enemy managed to block this with their own blade at the last moment.

Hmm... This one's fast. He thought.

Tora had to take a step back to avoid getting struck by a follow-up attack. And as he did so he let the enemy's blade slide off his own towards the deck before thrusting forward into a stab. His blade pierced the enemy's side just below the ribs, and upon retracting the blade and kicking the man he fell over the railing into the waters below.

The next man across made it before Tora could turn quickly enough to stop his bull rush, and Tora was sent sprawling to the deck by a shoulder bash as the man then drew a sword and aimed a slash downward in his direction. Tora's blade came across his body and caught the majority of the blow, but the tip managed to slice into the flesh of his shoulder where it met the traps. A little blood, a sharp zing of pain through the shoulder area, but otherwise non-lethal. Tora slammed his boot into the man's nether region to get him to drop his blade and back off to tend his family jewels before rising and stabbing swiftly in and out of his throat to open his arteries and slash the wind pipe.

With another down, Tora noticed the deck beginning to fill with bodies. Some their own crew. Some the enemy crew. The only thing separating the enemy from their own crew in terms of appearance were the presence of black bands around their arms at the bicep.

This will get messy. He thought.

On the upper deck, Captain Lohran was having a whale of a time. He thrust his sword into the belly of the man he was tangling with and grabbed the throat of another with his free hand as he tried to rush up the stairs.

"Ye scurvy rats think ye can take over the Silver Moon? Pride and joy of Captain Armadeus Lohran?!" He screamed.

The blade was pulled free and pushed downward to spill the mans guts before being thrust into the belly of the other who then met the same fate.

"I'll send ALL OF YE ta meet yer maker beneath the crushing depths o' the sea!!" He roared.

The Battle in Korrin’s mind, was hectic. The bodies of both ally and foe began to pile around him, as well as for a moment, his fear. He swapped from his bow to his sword letting the familiar feel of it’s leather wrapped handle touch his grip as he then cut into an invading buccaneer in the side before slashing the man’s throat. He could feel it now. The Flame crawling up and taking stock of the situation.

Yes. Now his fear was being burned by the flame as it began to flare in his mind. It just needed one more thing, as Korrin began to fight off the enemies with his sword. Just one thing to be set loose. Korrin knew what it wanted. He didn’t want to give it, but he gradually was running out of options as he saw more coming from across the planks, and Lohran’s shouting was also a factor. He took in a deep shaking breath, as his teacher once taught him. From his teacher, he also was told if this Flame in his was indeed living thing in his mind, give it a reason, a thought even, to let him try to have control. Now was a good time as any. ”I’ve got to Protect Cretas and Lemnia. I’ve got to live so I can protect them. Let me protect them!!!!”

With a bellowing yell he allowed the locked away fury of the Flame to envelop his mind like a cloak thrown onto his back. Then came the rush of adrenaline as Korrin rushed at an enemy combatant, who he figured was wearing a black band on his arm as he swung his sword, slashing the man on the right side of his stomach before slashing his throat. Turning an almost fiery jade glare at his next enemy he leapt at him and gave him a resounding kick to the face before delivering a stab in between his ribs for a fatal wound.

Kicking that one off his blade, Korrin looked around and noted Tora manning one of the planks to try and stem the flow of enemies coming onto the ship. Before he could do anything another enemy leapt and gave him a kick to the face. Korrin barely had time to parry the following attack which thanks to it’s path, rewarded him a fine clean line of blood on his cheek. Bellowing with rage he began engaging the man as the enemy and allied bodies piled around him.

”This one’s just as skilled a fighter as I am. I just have to overpower him and terrify some of the oncoming enemy with this kill.” He thought in this fury-filled state he was in. He engaged the enemy in front of him for a time. Exhchanging slashes and parries that eventually gave Korrin two wounds; one to his shoulder, another that was a mistimed parry which gave a cut across his left pectoral that mingled with a scar from an animal attack years ago. Had he not parried that blow when he did, Korrin very well could’ve lost his leftmost eye.

He locked blades after what felt like an eternity fighting this individual and began to push the man towards the left plank. Then with a yell of fury, pushed the enemy blade upward then sliced downward, carving into the man’s thigh. The man screamed in pain which was magnified to a howl when Korrin slashed into his left side, slicing into the stomach, before he then stabbed into his right side and upwards into his liver.

Withdrawing his blade he gave an almost animalistic glare in the direction of the enemy ship. ”Who’s Next?!” He stated, half growling as he got into his ready stance.

”Got to maintain... what little control... over the Flame I got... for Cretas and Lemnia” Was the only sane thought in his mind at the moment.

Korrin slashed the throat of another enemy, sending the man’s blood spraying on the deck as Korrin flicked the blood off the blade. His rage filled mind had to take stock of the situation. ”This battle is too hellish.... if it starts to settle down I need to calm myself. Teacher always taught me how to control it in a fight. She never taught me to calm down afterwards...or she did and I just never took it in or believed her.” he thought wildly. ”Shit, don’t think about Teacher or anyone from back then! Worry about the now, or you’ll be either dead or gone!

As he thought this Korrin began to engage another enemy who was wielding a wooden club. Korrin made the mistake of rushing this opponent, causing him to receive a blow from the club that knocked the wind out of him. It was at this moment, Korrin felt the world slow down as he took small, deep breaths to get the air back in his lungs. He felt as if Desmiel gave him this moment to make him regret his decision and reflect on his life before joining this adventure. Why did he even join this expedition? To have the chance of being his own man like he always should’ve? To prove something to a Father that never loved him? But in the midst of all the noise and battle, he thought he heard someone cry for help. Teacher’s Words came flooding back to him.

”You want to be better then your Father? Care for all those who need your help.”

The moment ended, and Korrin’s breath returned. The Flame returned as well, it’s wrath tenfold as he barely dodged another swing from his opponent’s club. He let loose one more guttural roar as swung a parrying strike at the next blow, sword edge digging into the club as he then kicked the man in his groin. The man went down on one knee, as Korrin’s knee rammed right smack on the nose, giving a resounding and satisfying crunch. Well, satisfying to the rage-filled Korrin who was probably going to have a bruised stomach and a bruised knee to show for fighting this fool.

After removing his sword from his opponent’s wooden weapon, Korrin finished the man off with a stab into his chest. ”Tora! Need a hand over on your end?!” He called out to his fellow swordsman, actually wondering if he needed help. He was certain the Captain was handling himself just fine.

Tora managed to bottleneck his central plank quite well. In fact nobody was trying to use it anymore and instead were flocking to the outer planks where the crew, tough and scrappy as they may have been, were having difficulty containing the remaining enemies who tried to force their way on deck.

Tora dashed to the bow where the first plank was guarded by two fellow crew members fighting for their lives against a pair of rather slender enemies Tora could only assume to have been thieves more than pirates before joining the crew. They were giving Tora's allies a run for their money and had gotten a few choice cuts in on them already as well. Tora forced his way between the warring brutes and shoved the thieves back over and onto the plank where they nearly lost their balance. Tora hopped onto the plank and held his sword nearly vertical with the blade perfectly aligned with the first enemy's head.

"Get back on your ship." He calmly growled.

The two thieves sniggered and charged at Tora who had but to drop the tip of his blade for the first thief to run himself through on it. But the second had tilted his body sideways to avoid the blade coming through the back of his companion and shoved the man into Tora causing both to fall off the plank and to the deck of the Silver Moon. Tora tried to get the first man, who was still very much alive on his blade, but the second was already above him and preparing a stab downward into Tora's chest. However, he'd forgotten Tora's allies who each gripped the man by one of his arms and proceeded to pull until both were horrifically wrenched from their sockets with a sickening 'POP'. The man was thrown to the ground and stabbed several times until he moved no more.

Tora stood up, withdrew his blade from the first man's chest, and stabbed down through the thinner section of the skull at the temple until he felt his blade hit wood beneath. The man twitched several times, and then was still.

Tora pulled his blade free just in time to see the central plank now being overrun by two new enemies. Heaving a breath and shaking his shoulders he dashed over to intercept. Korrin was handling things on the other end towards the upper deck which gave Tora the room he needed to engage and quickly dispatch these last two intruders. When finished, Tora noticed that the Silver Moon's crew had prevailed as they were rushing the enemy ship, now all but deserted, and cheering with swords pumping as everyone breathed a collected sigh of relief.

Tora had been so focused on his task that he barely noticed Korrin had called out to him earlier. But thankfully it hadn't been necessary.

Sheathing his sword with a heavy exhale and wiping the sweat from his chin, Tora slowly leaned on the railing and sat on it with a hunched posture.

"That was tiresome." He mumbled to himself.

The chaos of the battle caused Lemnia to tremble in her mother's arms. The entire time, Cretas had her hands over Lem's ears to mitigate the amount of sound she had to take in while keeping her own eyes closed for the majority. But when Collen screamed for help, her eyes shot open. She saw Collen tangling with the man and immediately tried to pick Lem up to put her down on the side so she could help. But Lemnia wouldn't let go. She clung tightly to her mother refusing to leave her spot.

Cretas pleaded with Lemnia to let go, but the girl wouldn't hear of it. And, too late, Cretas looked up in time to see Collen stabbing the man several times, caking them both in blood, as the man died up against Collen.

The look on the boy's face alone...

The sounds of war all around them came to a stop all at once. A few cheers and the sounds of their allies running onto the other ship were all that crept through the hull's openings. Collen dropped the knife and asked for his mother. And Cretas's cheeks were stained with tears as she whispered to Lemnia that it was over. Lemnia looked up and asked Cretas if she was all right, to which Cretas replied that it wasn't her who needed help right now.

She was finally able to set Lemnia down and approached Collen. He seemed in a daze, almost. Not really acknowledging her approach. But nevertheless she knelt down in front of him and, without saying a word, gently coaxed him into her arms as she placed her cheek against his, stroked his hair, and started humming.

Collen was still deep in his own mind, not registering it was Cretas hugging him. However he replied to the touch and moved ever so slightly closer to her. He was sobbing quietly, tears running down his cheeks as Cretas kept humming. Even with his eyes closed, he saw the lifeless eyes staring at him.

Cretas accepted Collen's subtle move towards her, and wrapped her arm around him slightly tighter as she continued humming and stroking his hair.

Lem came up behind her mother and held onto her sleeve while looking up at Collen. She couldn't say anything. She didn't see what happened. She saw a lot of blood and all the guys laying around not moving. But... Mommy would help her understand later. For now, she buried her face in her mother's sleeve and refused to move.

At last, the wretched battle, was done. Korrin was slowly trying to pull his mind away from the flame. It did its work, it’s fury was no longer needed. But it still latched onto him, like a snake grasping it’s prey in it’s coils. Korrin was horrified at the thought of the flame finally overtaking his mind permanently. Panting, he moved to find a spot to sit down himself and did so, keeping the leg with his bruised knee straight as he knew the moment the flame would disappear, the pain would come.

”I can feel it even now as it starts trying to hang onto my mind. But I got to calm down and bear with the pain.” Thought Korrin. He had to think of something, anything to both pull him out of the flame, as well as bear with the pain. Then the memory came to him, the memory of running in the woods at a young age, wasting his last arrow in winter trying to kill a simple rabbit for his meal. He remembered how he was in pain then. Pain of hunger, pain of abandonment by the one he once called ‘Father’ and shall never call him that again. He recalled how his younger self wept in the cold.

He then recalled the first words he ever heard from the woman who seemed to appear from nowhere, but in truth was trailing his tracks for three hours, along with strong yet gentle hands picking up his younger self. ”And what has come into these woods and scaring away my supper? A young cub too young, and too foolish to fend for himself. Come then, let us see what recompense I should have you do.”

”Teacher...” Korrin muttered softly in pain, ”Beloved Second Mother, my Teacher.” Yes, this memory was a happy, pleasant one, and it was enough to help cause the flame to die down letting the young fighter regain some semblance of control of his own mind again. As well as fully feel the state of his tired, bruised and cut body.

”Hey Tora? It’d be really great, if we didn’t run into trouble like that again for awhile.” He said with a sarcastic pain filled chuckle.

Tora glanced over towards Korrin and chuckled.

"I must agree. This voyage was supposed to be a peaceful one."

He hopped off the railing and rolled his shoulders with a grimace. All those falls were starting to make their impact known.

"Those are going to be bruises tomorrow." He grunted.

Walking over to Korrin, he gave the boy a once over.

"You should get some treatment for those wounds. Do you have anything for them? I'm afraid I don't have anything."

Korrin smirked and chuckled as Tora agreed with him. It was nice that he had at least some friends amongst the passengers. The crew he was unsure of as of yet, he hoped he at least earned some of their respect by fighting off the enemy with them.

Hearing Tora’s question he grunted and groaned as he sat up straight. ”I believe I know where the crew keeps the medical supplies below deck, but if they’re going to be in use by the doctor for those worse off, I think I might have a small kit where my cloak and bedroll is. Don’t quote me on that, though. Hopefully It’s enough for the two of us.” Korrin replied to Tora as he used his sword to help him stand up slowly before sheathing it.

”Think Ms. Cretas is going to give us hell at the sight of us in such a state?” he asked as he tried tried to take a step foward but grunted a bit as his knee was still aching from striking a man’s nose with it. He looked at Tora slightly embarrassed but trying to hide his pain. His mind was thinking on the stairs to go below deck and how what he suggested might be beneficial for the two of them.

”Teacher always said ‘Ask for help when needed’. Tora, do you mind giving me a hand to get down to my stuff? My Knee’s deciding to snark about the pain I put it through today.” he said, grunting again as he took a small step backward, his knee protesting yet again. He hissed this time from the pain. ”Goddamn it, gonna have to take it easy and not move around too much for a day or more.” He sighed at the end of the statement. How he wished for a Cold Breeze right now.

On deck, the Captain's blade slid free of the torso of one who dared oppose him on his own ship. And before he was thrown unceremoniously into the watery depths, the Captain gripped his lapels and held him against the railing, leaning him back to put him off balance.

"Ye honestly thought ye could seize this ship? Fool. Ye shoulda quit the moment ye saw her flag. But take this to yer watery grave... He pulled him in close.

"Ye were sent to Hell by the greatest pirate the world's ever known."

The Captain them pushed him over the edge and into the water, smiling broadly as the waters turned red and a single shark fin cut through the surface before promptly disappearing.

And that's the end of that. He thought to himself.

Looking out over his ship, he noticed quite a number of his crew had been hurt or killed.

"Hmph... Looks like it's time to resupply."

The Captain made his way across to the deck of the opposing ship and faced those who were left alive, now tied to the mast so they couldn't harm the Captain or the crew of the Silver Moon.

"So, ye scurvy rats. Ye got one chance. Join me crew, er be sent ta the bottom o' the sea. Whichov'ya will join?"

Two out of seven agreed to join. And the rest promptly had their throats slashed and their bodies dumped into the sea.

This is still a skeleton crew... We'll need to make a detour if we're going to finish this little journey of hers.

The Captain returned to the deck of the Silver Moon with the others and stood at the wheel.

"Well done lads! Those ov ye who're still breathin', get to cleaning and repairs. We're gonna need ta make a little detour. And I want this ship lookin' ship shape when we get there. Ar har har har har!!"

The crew all laughed. Some nervously. Some genuinely. However...

"Oh. Before I ferget... This crew of miscreants did quite a number on tha Silver Moon. And that's... Not good, me mateys. Not good at all. When we make it to port, all of us're gonna have a nice long chat. Now get ta work!"

The crew's faces drained of color as they shouted "YES CAPTAIN!" and got to the cleaning and what repairs they could make. The Captain, meanwhile, returned to his quarters to sit quietly and check his charts.

Hmm... This'll set us back at least a month. But the Silver Moon will never make it to this so-called 'new world' of hers in the shape she's in now. Still, this could be beneficial in more ways than one. Once we're at port, it'll be easier to get that fox alone for some... Intimate conversation. He thought with a slowly spreading grin on his face.

When they got below deck, Korrin had gotten the necessary supplies to help tend to both his and Tora’s wounds where needed. After this was done, the mutual need for rest as the chaos of the ship getting repaired raged on took both men at once.

After a full two minutes of silence, Korrin heaved a long tired sigh. ”So much for the honor and fame Eh?” the young man said with a chuckle before staring up at the ceiling of below deck where he sat at his resting spot, cloak nearby to wrap himself up in like a blanket if needed. ”At least Ms. Cretas is busy tending to someone else for the time being, less time to scold us. Hehe.”

After another moment in silence and contemplation he looked at Tora. ”Hey Tora? I got to know something. Is it normal for a warrior to feel fear before or during a battle? Cause I’m gonna admit, things got a little too scary, even for me. I never saw that many dead men in a short amount of time like that.” The young man queried, shaking his head. ”I’m too old to be called a boy yet too young to be called a man. I was pretty terrified today. But there’s...something inside my head that’s refused to let me be afraid. Some sort of... Flame that stubbornly refuses to let me express my fear, but instead channels it to anger. Is that normal or is there truly something broken in my head?”

Tora, who was without his usual attire and instead only wearing a set of semi-baggy white pants with no boots and no shirt or tunic, sat in a small cot with his upper body bandaged as he lifted his head to look over at Korrin.

"I don't know if I have any good answers for you, Korrin." He bega.

"I'm afraid honor and fame mean nothing to me. At least not compared to the obligation I feel to protect those who can't protect themselves, or who at least seem unaware of the threats surrounding them."

He slowly and carefully hoisted himself up, grimacing the whole way, until he was in a more upright seated position so he could look right at Korrin.

"As for your fear... That's perfectly normal." He said with a smile. "Everyone has their own scale or criteria for measuring the worth of a man. So my explanation may not mean much to you. Nevertheless, I was raised to believe a man is no man at all if he can't accept his fears and prove he has the will to overcome them."

Tora slowly turned and let his legs hang off the edge of the cot. His feet touching down softly on the wooden planks beneath him.

"Having said that, my masters taught me also to be wary of pride and the blindness which can often result from it. From day to day, the consistency of any human being to overcome fear will fluctuate. And this is also normal. We can't expect to be a hero every day for our entire lives. It just doesn't work that way. But when the moments are critical our ability to accept and harness our fears into rational judgement is crucial."

His smile faded, and he took a deep breath and looked Korrin dead in the eyes.

"Korrin... Would you stand alone against an army for the sake of honor and glory, whether or not you knew it would follow you afterwards?"

Tora closed his eyes, and his smile returned.

"Korrin." He said quietly.

A candle nearby flickered from a gentle breeze blowing through the still damaged and in-need-of-repair ship.

"You are indeed a man. A young man, to be certain. But a man no less."

His eyes opened, and he grimaced as he made his way to his feet and walked over to Korrin and looked down at him with a confident, knowing smile.

"The wisdom of my masters was passed down for tens of generations going back to the founding of Mar' Valoa and beyond. So, Korrin, allow me to share a piece of that knowledge which I believe will serve you well..."

Tora closed his eyes once more, and spoke calmly. 'One's mind can wander. One's body can be weakened. One's spirit can break. In an almost ironic defiance of these truths, for one to open the mind, trust the body, and release the spirit brings the miracle of oneness. When the mind, body, and spirit merge, one's limits are summarily shattered... The journey to oneness is long and perilous. But come what may let yourself face it with honor, dignity, and pride in check. For that which leads to a path of ruin can, in the right hands, lead one down the path of enlightenment.'"

Tora opened his eyes and extended a hand to Korrin.

"Take these words to heart, my young friend. And may they serve you well on your own journey as a warrior."

Korrin listened to Tora affirming that while he was young, the young hunter was definitely a man, and not a boy. In his mind, Korrin assumed that meant he was on the right road of manhood. A gentle breeze from a part of the ship still under repairs was felt as he listened to Tora share some wisdom from his own teachers. He listened and stuck on the idea of oneness.

Does that mean I need to also find a way to master the Flame to achieve it? he thought. That sounds harder then thought up...

He snapped back to focus when Tora extended his hand to him and told him to take this wisdom to heart. Jade green eyes flicked between the hand and the gentle smile Tora had. Korrin knew that this wisdom and what he relearned this day would help guide him moving forward. So, with a quiet smile of acceptance, he reached out and grasped Tora’s hand with a firm grip and gave it a confirming shake with his own.

”I will. I’ll do my best to keep it at heart and follow this journey of oneness wherever it leads.” He confirmed. Then he let go of Tora’s hand and tried to shift where he sat. ”We should try to get some rest Tora, before someone comes along and makes us. This day has had enough of me.” mumbling the last sentence he pulled his cloak over his body and tried to get into a comfortable position, before closing his eyes to try and sleep off the pain.

Cretas sat on one hip against the bow's railing, looking at the landmass ahead with a subtly furrowed brow and tight lips. Lemnia watched from nearby hiding behind the forward mast. Her little eyebrows were oblique and there was hesitation in the tiny shuffles in her feet as she inched out from behind the mast and began approaching her mother who was now in the middle of taking a deep breath and sighing through her nose.

Lem's tiny hand gripped the fabric of Cretas' shirt giving it two soft tugs. Cretas' eyes closed, her brow softened, her lips relaxed, and she smiled as she looked down at Lemnia.

"Momma? Are you still mad at the giant hat man?" She squeaked.

Cretas' smile weakened ever so slightly as her own eyebrows faintly furrowed once again. She reached down and picked Lemnia up, kissed her forehead, and set her back down in the same spot before as she looked back out towards the landmass.

Lemnia backed away a few steps, clasping her hands in front of her chest before turning around and going to sit down against the mast with a heavy sigh.

A moment later, she felt a tap on her shoulder. And as she looked up she saw Tora, long since back to full strength and health, leaning down and smiling at her.

"What's wrong, Lemnia?"

"Momma's still angry."

"Oh?" He asked as he scooped her up in his arms. "How can you tell?"

"She only doesn't talk to me if she's mad about something."

"Ah, I see. I'm sorry."

Lemnia leaned against Tora and closed her eyes.

"Torrie. Is momma okay? She won't tell me what happened."

"You mean after she went to see the Captain that night?"

Lem nodded.

"Well, um... It's... Ah..." Tora took a deep breath and rubbed Lem's back. "It's complicated, little one."

"What's comlicpated?"

Tora chuckled slightly.

"It means it's hard to explain. What happened that night... Well... I remember what you said about your family history. I think it brought back some bad memories for your mother."

"Oh. Memories of daddy?"

"Probably."

"Mm."

Her little hands gripped his shirt more tightly, and Tora looked over at Cretas who was still frozen like a statue staring at the ever growing landmass that served as their temporary destination for repairing the ship and filling out their crew.

"Hey. I have an idea."

"Mm?"

"Go over to your mother and say "I'm sorry life is so complicated." It might cheer her up a bit."

Lem snapped upright.

"You think so?"

"Yes. I think so."

Lemnia smiled brightly and turned rapidly in his arms as he struggled to set her down safely against her struggling. The instant her feet hit the deck she was sprinting back towards Cretas before... THWAM!!... Face plant.

Tora winced, but smiled with a soft chuckle.

She trips over literally nothing... And I don't know why I've come to find it amusing.

Lemnia straightened up quickly and rushed over to her mother grabbing her pants and tugging mightily to get her attention. When Cretas finally glanced down at her again, she beamed.

"Momma. I'm sorry life's so comlicptaed."

Cretas's lips parted slightly as her eyebrows turned upwards just so. She stifled a laugh, and then burst out laughing as she reached down to pick Lemnia up and held her close with a kiss to the forehead.

"Thank you, my love. I needed that."

Lemnia's beaming smile softened as she felt he warmth of her mother's body against the cool mid-morning air. Slowly she closed her eyes and snuggled against Cretas' chest as the latter stroked her hair and kissed her crown before resting her cheek atop Lemnia's head.

Watching from nearby, Tora took in a satisfied breath and looked out at the horizon.

That landmass was all but upon them now. A large inhabited island a few hundred miles from Mar' Valoa. It had set them back a little over a month to get here. But after that attack at sea the ship would need the repairs and the new crew if she was going to make it to the new world Cretas spoke of. And Tora could see the port coming into view through a subtle haze nestled above the ocean's surface.

Suddenly, Tora got a chill. He subtly turned his head just enough to see the Captain had emerged and was standing beside the helmsman at the wheel and looking out at the landmass ahead like most of the others on deck... Except...

No. He wasn't looking at the landmass. Tora followed his eyes and was led directly back to Cretas and Lemnia. Glancing back at the Captain he could see a subtle smirk on the man's face. But he also clearly saw the cut below his left eye. That cut gave Tora a tiny hint of joy and satisfaction. But other unseen marks left his joy and satisfaction fleeting, and very soon after replaced by subdued rage and determination to redouble his efforts in fulfilling his oath.

This ship, and more importantly her guests, would see no further misfortune so long as he was alive and on board.

About an hour later they made port, and the skeleton crew began disembarking as Tora remained on board despite the crew's insistence he come along. A silent glare from Tora was all the crewman needed to know to back off and go about his duties on the shore. Tora had lost sight of Korrin during this time, but he knew he was somewhere nearby.

Meanwhile, Tora kept a firm gaze squarely centered on one man standing on the upper deck who was now looking down at Collen who'd just emerged from below.

Korrin’s recovery was one of hesitation rather then slow healing. It took about a week for the young man to feel confident to put his full weight on his leg once the bruising on his knee healed and faded away. Then it took him a day longer to feel confident in moving about the ship, albeit more guarded then ever since the ship was not only in need of repairs, but the crew number was only barebones so he tried his best to avoid getting into trouble.

Then the day came when they arrived at their temporary destination to repair and resupply to continue their journey to the new world. Korrin slowly emerged from below deck during the hour before the ship made port, quietly observing Lemnia’s interactions with both Tora and her mother. What he didn’t know was what was worrying Cretas, or making Tora have a look of quiet determination. He held back a chuckle when Lemnia fell once more. So the flame flickered at the back of his mind as he pondered with his thoughts.

Should I stay on the ship or should I see where we’re going has to offer? he thought in debate with himself, It’d be good to have a leg stretch on solid land. But what troubles my friend? And what troubles Ms. Cretas? There are strange circumstances where clearly I can choose either choice.

His mind pondered, and wandered, going through every scenario he can think. Some that made him unworried, some that did. Some that made Korrin fearful of even deciding, and some that drove him further down a rabbit hole of questions. So he pondered, and pondered all the way to port. Korrin finally resolved his debate by that time.

If I do explore what Port has to offer, I am not to stray too far from the ship, or out of earshot of the people aboard it. Desmiel only knows what this tense feeling I’m getting is. Worry? If so, I must banish it from my mind. Try to achieve this ‘oneness’ Tora told me about. He resolved, So one more time, if we do walk off, stay near the ship or within earshot of anyone onboard who’s got good lungs. If Tora or Cretas calls for me, I’ll run back onto the ship as fast as I can. This is a good plan.

He assumed it was a good plan, but Desmiel only knows what on earth Port had to offer. So as the Barebones crew walked down from the ship, Korrin stood near where they exited, trying to get a view of what was available close to the ship that he could explore real quick and return to said ship just as quick.

Cretas' eyes landed on Collen as he approached, and she gave him a knowing smile as he relayed his request to have her go see the Captain and offering to watch Lemnia. Setting her daughter down beside Collen, she stood up and gave Collen's shoulder a light pat as she walked by him towards the stairs leading to the upper deck. She cast a quick glance to Tora whose eyes were locked firmly on her the entire time.

As she approached the Captain, he greeted her with a smile and a light bow.

Thank ye fer accepting my invitation ta chat, miss Estallamos. Come on inside.

Cretas nodded in silence and followed him into his chambers, and Tora was quick to jog up the stairs as quietly as could be and stand beside the door with one ear planted against the wall.

"Have a seat, miss Estallamos.

"Thank you for the offer, Captain. But I'll stand."

"Suit yourself, milady." He replied as he poured a glass of wine and offered it to her, which she politely refused with a shake of her head.

"That was quite the setback we encountered, wasn't it?" he asked as he took a sip from the wine glass and sat down in his chair.

"I wouldn't call it a setback so much as a tragedy. You lost quite a few of your men, didn't you?"

"There's always more men willing to join a vessel like the Silver Moon if you know where to look."

Cretas' eyes narrowed beneath a furrowed brow.

"What did you need to see me about, again?"

"Ah, yes. I don't believe we ever settled firmly on a form of compensation for this voyage, did we?"

"I thought I laid out the terms quite clearly. We both take our place in the history books as the discoverers of a new world."

"You see," he began as he stood up from his chair and faced the sea through the window behind him. "That's nice and all, miss Estallamos. But I've never been one for history or reading. And you can probably tell that from the lack of books or paper in this room."

A cursory glance around the room proved him right. Not a book or paper to be seen other than maps of the ocean which he'd plotted from his years of sailing.

"I'd like something a bit more concrete, you see."

"Such as?"

"Something I can feel." He said, taking a sip of wine. "Something I can taste."

"Would you like some sort of drink or food named after you?"

The Captain laughed heartily as Cretas took a slow, silent step back towards the door.

"Nothing like that, miss Estallamos." He said calmly.

"Then what is it you want?"

Slowly he finished the wine and turned around to set the glass on the table.

"My men and I call the sea "home," miss Estallamos. And as you might well be able to imagine, even if we enjoy our own company in song, dance, gambling, and chat, the sea becomes a very lonely place as time passes."

Cretas silently gulped a lump gathering in her throat.

"You've a daughter to take care of. And I've seen how attached to the boy you've become as well. You're a fine maternal specimen. But you're past your prime now that you're, what, almost thirty now?"

"I'm not comfortable with where this is going, Captain."

"Your comfort isn't a requirement, miss Estallamos. Think of this as nothing but what it is. Compensation. In exchange for finishing this journey, I want you to give yourself to me and the crew for a single night on deck. Your girl and the boy can stay below deck with that troublesome lad and that robed warrior who constantly watches you all."

She felt a bead of sweat drip down the back of her neck.

"It's not asking much, miss Estallamos. You're a beautiful woman in many, many ways." He said with eyes trailing to her chest. "Neither myself nor my men who survived the journey so far have felt the warmth in over a year at least. And those who'll be joining us today likely are no different."

"Like I said, Captain. This is making me uncomfortable."

"And I'll say again, miss Estallamos. Your comfort is not required. You just need to agree to meet us all on deck tonight around midnight, get on your knees, and enjoy the festivities. I'll make sure the men know that no harm is to come to you. Just a nice night of passion to celebrate the soon-to-be discovery of a new world. You can have all the things named after your and your place in the history books. We'll take the pleasure of your company as payment. Deal?"

"I must refuse, Captain."

"It wasn't really a question nor an offer, miss Estallamos."

"I won't repeat myself, Captain Lohran. You have my answer."

"Then I'm afraid your daughter will have to do for a substitute."

Cretas' eyes exploded to the size of saucers.

"You wouldn't dare..."

"She's a bit young for me and the men. But her body is essentially the same as yours, just in a smaller package. So it's either you or-"

Cretas launched forward slamming her hands into Lohran's throat before he could react as they fell to the floor with Cretas straddling him and pushing down with all her might. Her eyes burned with fury. Her teeth bared and clenched tight. Her nails sunk into his flesh resulting in small rivulets of blood seeping to the ground against his choked gasps.

Lohran struggled beneath her. Despite being an average sized woman she held a shocking amount of strength. He couldn't get his feet into position either as she shifted her hips every time he tried to get a leg up to buck her off.

"Not... Your first... Rodeo... I see." He choked out.

Cretas only growled like a feral beast in response as she continued pushing down against him for all her worth.

However, moments later she felt a sharp pain in her left side which earned a shriek of pain. Lohran had reached for his dagger and slammed the side of the blade into her oblique. He'd held back enough for it not to be fatal or in any way crippling. But the message was clear as he turned the blade, point-first, towards the now open wound and pressed the tip into it.

"Time... To get off me... Miss Estallamos..." He choked.

Cretas refused to move.

"What would she think... If she saw you now?"

Cretas' eyes widened, and in the momentary lapse of focus Lohran finally bucked her off. As she landed on her back on the floor he flipped himself over and on top of her, blade to her throat, and his hips nestled between her legs as he used his own to force them apart.

"A little prelude to tonight, miss Estallamos." He said in a somewhat hoarse voice. "You made a wise choice. I doubt her little body would withstand our lust."

Cretas' snarl returned, but she remained still.

"Midnight, miss Estallamos. Don't be late. And keep this to yourself. Otherwise... Well... You have an imagination, don't you?"

"Desmiel will burn you for eternity, Lohran."

"Good thing I'm not the religious type then, isn't it?"

Lohran cautiously stood up and smiled down at her.

"I look forward to my payment, milady... You may leave now."

Cretas made it to her feet, keeping her eyes locked on him the entire way as she backed up towards the door and opened it. Stepping through, she snarled one last time before slamming the door and smashing it with her fist.

Tora, standing beside her, immediately knelt down by her side to inspect the wound.

"Get away from me!!" She shrieked.

Tora was taken aback, as was Cretas whose eyes once again became as wide as saucers.

"You're not... I..."

Her eyes began welling with tears as she brought her hands up to cover her mouth and nose, and Tora was instantly on his feet and calmly embraced her.

"I'm so sorry." She squeaked in a muffled tone into his chest.

Tora stroked her hair and took a deep breath.

"We need to have a chat of our own." He whispered.

Cretas nodded, gripping the lapels of his robes as she cried into the crook of his neck.

Collen watched as Cretas left to meet with the Captain, and to his disappointment, Tora soon behind them. Collen had hoped to get some help from the man to watch over Lemnia. With a sigh he turned his focus back on Lemnia, trying to think something to do with her. Despite the girl being almost the same age as his brother, he felt lost as he had rarely spend time with him.

He rubbed his neck. "So... Want to go to the shore? We can stay close the ship so your mom can see us." He eventually suggested offering his hand to her to lead her off the ship.

Twilight.

The sea painted orange-yellow with the fading sun on the horizon.

One lonely cloud already dissipating to make way for a clear night sky.

Cretas sat with Lemnia in her lap below deck chatting with her about her misadventures with Collen while Tora leaned against the wall nearby in a seemingly meditative state.

"Is that so? You almost ran into someone's house?"

"Uh huh!"

"My, my. The poor boy." Cretas giggled.

I'll have to thank him for watching her later. She thought.

As the sun disappeared giving way to night, Cretas put Lemnia down for the night and lay in the cot beside her stroking her hair while the little angel clung to the pillow in a contented sleep.

Time marched ever onward, and the dreaded hour was drawing near. And as Cretas began hearing more and more of the crew beginning to gather on deck, she knew her time was running out. Looking down at Lemnia, Cretas' mind became a whirlwind of memories good and bad. And as she closed her eyes and leaned down to kiss Lemnia's forehead, she stood from the cot and swallowed a lump in her throat.

As she stood, Tora's eyes slid open and locked onto hers as they shared a silent moment before he too stood up and walked up beside her.

"Are you ready?"

She shook her head, and he placed a hand on her shoulder with a soft grip.

"If anything goes wrong, scream."

She nodded and patted his hand before walking quietly to the stairs leading up onto the deck. Opening the door cautiously, she looked back to make sure Lemnia was still asleep along with the other newcomers to the crew, numbering only three or four, who were being left out of Lohran's activity. She took a deep breath as she looked up at the beautiful star-filled skies and walked out onto the deck shutting the door softly behind herself.

Inside, Tora stood on the last step with one hand on his blade.

Captain Lohran and what remained of his original crew were all present on deck gathered in a circle around a lantern. Lohran himself stood in the center of the circle with a large, calm smile on his face.

"There ye are, miss Cretas. We've been waitin' for ye."

"Surely you don't need to talk like that anymore, Captain?"

Lohran chuckled.

"I suppose ye be right 'bout that, miss. But I be a pirate through n' through. An' me crew 'preciates it when we talk like pirates do."

"I see. So you're folding to the whims of the many."

Lohran's smile disappeared as Cretas stopped her advance at the edge of the circle.

"I be bowin' ta nothin', miss. And I advise ye ta watch yer-"

"How many times has it been, Captain?"

"... Wut?"

"How many times have you spoken with your crew over the years as if you grew up without an education or a sense for verbal articulation? How many times have you thought about just talking like yourself, and shied away?"

Lohran's face darkened even against the light of the lantern, and the crew all began to slowly glance his way with rapidly paling faces.

"Ye be threadin' mighty thin ice, miss. And I advise ye ta watch yer tone."

"You articulate like a noble with me, yet you choose to speak like a common sea urchin with them," she said while gesturing to the crew. "Why is that? Is it because you think they're too stupid to understand your full vocabulary? Or maybe you think they're too ornery to appreciate your natural eloquence?"

Lohran walked forward and stopped a single step shy of bumping into her, glaring into her eyes with that icy stare he was so famous for.

"One more word and we'll be draggin' the little missy on deck with ye."

"Good luck with that, Captain. Don't forget who's below deck with her."

"Ye think the swordsman can protect her from us?"

"I know he can. After all, you've had every opportunity to get rid of him along this journey so far. Yet you refrain. Why is that?"

"Contrary ta the popular opinion, I don't be killin' just anyone fer-"

"You're scared of him."

Lohran's mouth snapped shut.

"You know who he is. And you know what he does... And you're scared of him."

A hand shot out and gripped Cretas' lapels and yanked her in close, practically nose to nose with the Captain.

"Care ta repeat that one more time, missy?"

"You... Are... Scared... Of... Him." She repeated with a confident smile.

Cretas was thrown to the ground in the middle of the circle knocking the lantern over, but thankfully not breaking it.

... The handle on the doors leading below deck slowly and quietly turned as Cretas chuckled and started to get up with Lohran approaching slowly.

"Throw me around all you like, Captain. Your rage simply proves my point. And your crew knows it, don't you lads?" She asked giving them all a glance around the circle.

All of them were still as stone and trembling like leaves in a storm as the Captain walked into the middle of the circle with her.

"I honestly can't say I've ever been pushed so far for so little." He growled.

Cretas' smile widened.

"See? Talking like yourself wasn't so-"

The back of the Captain's hand arced through the air and slammed into the side of her head knocking her back several steps and into one of the crew who caught her and held her up. With her head swimming Cretas coughed and rubbed the impact site while blinking to restore her blurred vision as the Captain stalked closer.

"I thought we had an agreement, miss Cretas. You'd come out here and give us our due time to enjoy what's been deprived from us for so long, and in return we'd leave the brat alone. But you truly don't seem to comprehend the situation you're in now." He looked to the one helping hold her up and gave a nod with a scowl, and the man nodded back feverishly as he pushed her towards the Captain.

Catching her in an iron-clad grip, he swept her legs out from under her and slammed her down onto the deck once more knocking the wind from her lungs.

... The handle on the doors leading below deck turned.

Back in the circle, the Captain knelt down over Cretas.

"I wanted this to be a simple affair where we'd all be able to relax a little, even if all parties were in disagreement as to the why behind all this. But now you've gone and pissed me the fuck off, miss Cretas. And you're going to pay the price for it. You and your little brat."

Cretas gathered herself enough against her gasps for breath to glare up at him.

"But don't worry, the brat won't be getting what's coming to her until morning. For now..."

His hand moved towards her lapels in preparation to tear her clothing away when a blade rested itself on his shoulder.

"That's quite enough."

"This doesn't concern you, boy."

"Actually, it does. Not that you care, but I swore an oath long ago to protect the innocents of this world from people like you. And I've no plans to break that oath anytime soon."

"The lady agreed to this, boy. Have you no honor for such a bargain struck between two consenting adults?"

"Not when that bargain came at the cost of the dignity and safety of the innocent party."

The blade slid closer to the Captain's neck, the edge gently touching his skin.

"Rise."

Lohran slowly let go of Cretas and stood up, the blade never moving from its spot against his neck.

"Turn around slowly."

Lohran did as told, facing Tora with an eerily calm and empty stare.

"You really think you can stop this, boy?"

"Your crew is just trying to be a good crew for their Captain. I can't fault them for that. But if they make a single move to help you then I won't hesitate to cut them down with you."

Lohran's lips curled into a smile.

"You really think swinging your little sword around is going to be the end-all here?"

"A blade is merely a tool, Captain. An extension of a warrior's body. The skill and will to cut you all down to protect the innocent lives on board this vessel lie within my body and mind. Not a piece of metal I carry with me. Even without it, you and your skeleton of a crew are no match for me and the young man downstairs."

Lohran burst into laughter.

"You think that temperamental oaf is a threat to us?"

"Far more than you give him credit for."

"Well, I'll leave you to that little delusion. For now, would you kindly remove your blade from my neck? It's getting itchy."

Tora's relaxed frown deepened as the blade was pressed harder against the Captain's skin and draw back until it was free of his shoulder. It wasn't enough to draw blood. But it did get a subtle twitch of pain from the Captain's cheek.

The blade, however, remained pointed directly at the Captain's stomach.

"You and I will now make a bargain."

"Oh?"

"If you're so lustful for female company, find it in a brothel. I'm sure you know of a few locations nearby we could visit after the ship's repairs are complete. But consider miss Estallamos and her daughter to be firmly under my protection. You make one move towards either of them, and your life will end."

The tip of the blade came up and touched underneath Lohran's jaw.

"Bargain?"

Lohran held his icy stare.

"It's not just about the female company, boy. It's about the who in the female company. And miss Cretas is everything I'd ever want or ask for in such a lustful endeavor."

Lohran's right knee was suddenly struck by a powerful blow causing it to collapse as he went down onto said knee and popped himself up with both hands.

Cretas then walked around to stand beside Tora with a deep scowl on her face.

"You want me? Too fucking bad! I had my share of horrible experiences with my ex husband. And you're not going to give me new nightmares!" She growled.

Lohran chuckled.

"Oh, trust me miss Cretas. We wouldn't give you any nightmares. If anything, you'd be dreaming of joining us for such an experience again." He said as he looked up hungrily at her.

"You couldn't make me believe that even if you got me stupidly drunk to the point of being near death, Captain."

Lohran stood up somewhat shakily on the now injured leg.

"Well. Can't say I didn't give you a fair chance now, can we?"

"Enough. This entire debacle ends now. You and your crew will either find your satisfaction at a brothel, or you'll all kiss my blade as it sends you to eternal sleep the next time you make any such attempts on miss Cretas' body and well being, or that of her daughter. This is your only warning, Lohran."

Lohran's smile vanished.

"You forgot to say Captain."

"The term Captain is one that implies respect. And you don't have mine."

Tora lowered his blade and backed away with an arm extended to urge Cretas to back up with him. Together they made it back to the doors leading below deck and shut the door behind them with Lohran glowering at them the entire way. Once below deck, Tora finally sheathed his sword and glanced at Cretas who was still staring intently at the doors just over his shoulder.

"You should try to get some sleep, miss Estallamos."

Cretas' eyes slid to meet his, and she took a deep breath.

"So much for my name then, huh?"

"Hm?"

"Back there, near the end of the... conversation, you called me Cretas. Although I suppose there was the miss in front of it. But still."

"Oh!" Tora said with a blush in his cheeks as he gave a hasty bow. "My sincerest apologies!" He whispered forcefully.

Cretas giggles.

"It's fine. I actually prefer it if you call me by my first name. It sounds nice coming from you."

Tora rose and cleared his throat quietly.

"You do have a beautiful name, miss Estalla-"

He was silenced by Cretas' index finger coming to rest on his lips, and the blush returned to his cheeks when she gave him a playful wink and a smile.

"Ah, ah. That's miss Cretas from now on." She whispered.

Cretas then leaned up and kissed Tora's cheek, much to his shock and confusion. Giving him a playful pat on the chest she turned around and spotted Collen asleep on his own cot, which earned a smile as she walked past and to the cot where Lemnia was still sound asleep clinging to her pillow and laid down next to her. It was indeed time for her to get some much needed sleep. And there was no better spot to do so than right here next to her beloved little angel. Drool on the pillow and all.

Tora, meanwhile, swallowed a lump in his throat and tried to shake his head to rid himself of this odd sensation. Was this what it was supposed to feel like when a woman was flirting? That was what this was, right? Or was it simply her being grateful and expressing it in a way he hadn't experienced before? But if it was so, then-... Agh!! So many questions!

"Women are complicated." He whispered to himself.