"For a price." Dindreann replies.
"How much?" Besmara inquires.
"You'd have to pay the diamond that is needed." Dindreann offers "But you can pay for the casting with information. If you found something interesting."
"Well, I can tell you something about a spy ring." Besmara tells and gives some parts of what they found out about the Jasper Leaf Apothecary and the owner as well as the accomplices they found. She also hands over the coins to pay for that diamond.
"That is a most interesting information." She gives a sign to one of the priestesses and priests that serve her personally here. One of them takes the coins and leaves only to return a moment later with a diamond.
Two others leave and bring the body of Estelle on a special stretcher with wooden legs. Dindreann takes the diamond in one hand and her holy symbol - a ring with three daggers pointing outwards - in the other. She speaks a prayer in elven language, and a bright red and purple ray of light that emanates from the holy symbol hits the diamond and gets redirected by it onto Estelle. Dindreann ends her prayer and the light fades, the diamond gone. "Now let us see if she comes back." Dindreann says and waits.
Noonan enjoys some of Fairwind's booze as he keeps negotiating with her.
Estelle watches from above as the women flit about her body, casting spells and laying things on her. After a few moments, Estelle's spirit lays down in her body, a large gasp escapes Estelle's empty lungs, refilling them with fresh air.
"by The might of Besmara, I live!" Estelle says with a big smile on her face. "Did we get that b%!@~ with them explosive vials?" Estelle inspects the burns still on her body and clothing.
"Right now, you look better than her." Besmara replies with relief on her face. "Welcome back." she says and gives Estelle a big hug.
Dinderann cast another spell improving Estelle's health a lot. "Do you have any other stories you can tell from your investigtion?" she asks.
Standing beside her as she looks at the journal, and trying hard not to distract himself by looking down her blouse or staring at her legs, Lito thinks about the money for a while.
After a moments though he speaks up:
Are there any non-captains on the list?
There was an assassin that was killing members of the spy ring. If the numbers aren't bribes could they be amounts for someone to betray you or assassinate you? If there are non-captains on the list, it would seem more likely to be the later.
The Assasin, Giles did say that the storefront was handing out contracts and he made it seem like there was more then just one.
"I don't know. That would be a really well paid assassin. I have to bring that to the attention of the Free Captains." Fairwind tells.
"But you did great. You got there just in time before everything would have been gone and we're aware of the threat now." She sighs and stares into the distance.
"Your efforts will be rewarded." She writes a note to some quartermaster you don't know telling him to hand out plunder in exchange for it. Then she puts her sigil on it, carefully folds it, and stows it in her décolleté. "And receiving the voucher is part of the reward. How about I show you where I go to relax?" Fairwind offers to Lito.
Noonan has gone to sleep due to really enjoying the great booze.
Lito looks over at Noonan passed out from the wine, smiles inwardly and turns back to Tessa.
He offers his hand to help her from her chair and when she stands lightly kisses the back of her hand.
It would be my pleasure to join you in whatever relaxing activity you have in mind.
He says with a small bow and a smile.
"That b#$@@ tried to flee underground, she blasted me as I got a followin' her inta the basement, then it all went dark." Estelle says getting off of the bed and doing some stretches. Her back aches, her whole body aches.
"Use your head first the next time. Dying is a pretty expensive pastime." Besmara scolds Estelle.
"Aye cap'n, I do think someone told me to "Get Her" but that could been Lito." Estelle smiles.
"I'll make sure to order you the next time to get her without getting yourself killed." Besmara jokes.
"Aye Cap'n, I did get to haunt Chay a bit while dead, Pharasma told me to get lost." Estelle's smile widens
Seeing that even the emotional situation doesn't lead to them spilling more information Dinderann tells "If that is all?"
"Yes, thank you. We need to leave now." Besmara replies.
And to Estelle she adds "I think the crew misses your drill already. They are bored and get funny ideas."
"Aye cap'n" Estelle jumps down, shakes the hand of the woman who rezed her and leaves back to the boat.
Somewhere else in town
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fairwind leads Lito to her private rooms. There are a lot of trophies she collected as a pirate captain. A ship's bell from a once feared Chelaxian war ship, golden treassures from all over the world and a wonderful view over Quent and the ocean. The furniture is made of teak and the large divan is upholstered with the finest silk.
She pours two glases of fine rum and hands one to Lito. "Call me Tessa." she tells and compliments him to the divan.
"All right you lazy lot, I heard ye got soft while I was dead. I'm back now and ye won't be getting soft on me now." Estelle goes about yelling and carrying on making the crew do things they don't really want to but she knows they will, her big smile on her face the whole time.
Some time later:
Lito runs his hand gently over Tessa's hip.
Gorgeous, Smart, politically powerful, and from the looks of those trophies, the captain of a damn fine pirate crew. No wonder so many captains on the console look to you.
So tell me Tessa, what's the secret to rising in the ranks of the free captains? How does the Kracken make a name for itself besides the obvious?
"It's never the ship that makes a name, it's the captain. Only if you aim for being known as the mysterious ship that nobody knows where it comes from and where it goes to. With rumors spreading the fear - as ships that meet with the Kraken always disappear while only one surviving sailor is picked up later to tell the tale." Tessa tells in a deep mysterious sounding voice.
"You make yourself a name by doing great deeds and telling everyone about them. And you back that by having allies, becoming rich, collecting a fleet and not getting caught by the Chelaxians or your 'fellow' pirates."
"As for the ranks - there are not many to rise through with the free captains. You're already in, which is one 'rank' of three. Then there is the Hurricane King. You're not getting that one. Even if Bonefist finally loses that position." Tessa replies with a knowing smile.
"Which leaves one rank you can go for: A seat on the council. You just have to win the Free Captain's Regatta to get one. And the chances are better than they have been in years. As the Master of the Gales doesn't compete this time."
"It would be really funny if you - or Besmara to be precise - win this. You know the name of the Master of the Gales' ship?"
Lito Chuckles softly.
Oh, he's not competing this time? I suppose we could throw our hats in the ring to make sure the Kracken continues to win.
The captain hasn't mentioned that before, but then none of us had any idea that winning it grants a seat on the council.
He thinks for a moment and then continues softly as if talking to himself...
Hmmm... Do I push Besmara to join the race. Having her on the council could be useful, but I know her... She's not one to jump through hoops for anyone if there isn't something in it for her.
Besmara's ears are ringing. "I guess someone's talking about me."
"A seat on the council is quite something. But that hoop you ave to jump through is actually hold pretty high and burning." Tessa explains. "You have to pay 500 gold entry fee. But I'd even pay that for you. But if you know the race then you know that a fair number of ships don't make it to the finish line. It's a race along the edge of the most dangerous place on the sea."
Estelle tromps around the ship after dealing with the crew, looking the ship over making sure it is still in running order.
Most dangerous place in the sea? Where’s that?
Lito asks curiously as he props himself up on one elbow to get a better look at Tessa’s face as they talk.
"Close to the eye of Eye of Abendego." Tessa answers.
The Eye!
And you did that!
Damn!
No wonder most crews don't come back.
He thinks for a moment then says:
So you have to win to get a seat on the council?
Suddenly he looks back at her and says:
But wait, I don't understand why the Master of Gales would compete multiple times... Do you have to run the race every year to hold onto the seat? It would be a colossal waste to think that the sea might eventually claim such a beautiful woman as yourself when you have so much more to teach the rest of us.
"It is a race to show off your skills as a pirate captain. And if you win you get a seat on the council. And you get to keep that seat."
"The Master of Gales just did it because he could. And not only finish it alive, but win it five times in a row."
Did anyone ever figure out how he did it?
Running the Regatta and winning or finishing high up could be a major feather in Besmara's cap, But just like joining the free captains, I would guess someone will try to cheat to stop us.
I'd rather be one step ahead of them this time.
"He is definitely in cahoots with the sea." Tessa jokes. "And he's on the sea for quite a while already. He knows what he is doing."
On the ship
~~~~~~~~~~~
"You missed a party, by lying around dead. Want some of the leftover wine?" Besmara asks Estelle, once Estelle is done making the crew miserable again.
"That I do, so where are we headed now?' Estelle asks while checking some rigging.
Lito leans down and starts to Kiss Tessa's neck and run his hand up her side
I wonder if I can convince you that someone else might know what he's doing.
Zzzz..Go away, you have bad breath
Sqwak! Speak fer yourself, stinky pants. Pluck eats some grapes out of Tessa's fruitbowl.
After quite some time: Lito wanders back in the room to see Noonan and Pluck awake.
Good afternoon sleepyhead! I hope your head is feeling OK.
He seems unreasonably chipper to Noonan.
Come, Come we must be getting back to the ship.
Lito leads Noonan back to the ship, glancing back over his sholder with a smile, looking Fairwind's command post.
Oh, yes, I'll need to visit Tessa again, when we are next in town together.
The cheerfulness is still present when he arrives at the Kracken. Glancing over at the crew training on deck he shouts:
Mistress of Arms, I'm very glad to see you on your feet again!
Then he heads over to find Besmara and fill her in on the letter of credit, thoughts Tessa had on the spy ring and to start to feel her out on if she would be open to running the Regatta.
"It took you quite some time to explain that to her." Besmara states. "And it looks like you had fun explaining it to her." she teases him.
Hey, she's a good ally for the crew to have, and you to have on the council. I would hate to leave her anything less the fully satisfied. He grins back at her.
Plus she did offer to cover our entry fee if we wanted to run in the Pirate Reggata. That's 500 gold beyoud this.
He hands Besmara the letter of credit after glancing at how much it is for.
"What are we entering in ta?" Estelle asks Besmara and Lito
Noonan nods to Estelle Welcome back, crew was gunna dice for yer stuff.
"I woulda get em from the after life, poke out their eyes and woosh me ghostly hands through their bowels and all." Estelle says with a very serious face.
"Lito took one for the crew!" Besmara calls out, mocking him. "But a seat on the council might be nice. I bet they don't have a proper representative of lazy ass pirating yet. You got an idea whom we are facing there with our 'speed boat'?"
Nope, I didn't get that far. I wasn't sure you would be interested, particularly when you hear it's a race on the edge of The Eye against other Pirates. So there's a good chance we will face dirty tricks and nasty storms.
"We got the perfect maps, we got the fee paid, considering it is the least we can do. And you talk about pirates as if they were a disgusting lot without honor." Besmara replies. "And who says that we aren't the worst cheaters?" she adds with a grin.