The party carried on through the night, with many people enjoying the festivities and celebrating their victory over the hated Confederacy. While most people partied, one group only partook in the barest minimum of the wild night that was happening. This group was a scout group of the pirate ship,
Peregrine,
which had been tasked with locating the crew of the
Darkstrider
and to await further orders.
"How long do we have to watch these idiots drinking themselves into a coma? I say we stop waiting and grab them now!" said one of the men as loudly as he dared.
"Hsst! Not so loud, dumbass!" the leader of the group told him as a couple of others gave the man a cuff upside the head.
"Why are we waiting? We know that we're to grab them and their ship, which is entirely possible now! I mean, when are we going to find a better opportunity than now?" the first pirate scoffed.
"The timing might be good, but it's not like this group is a bunch of fools! Only an idiot would think that we could grab them away from all the people cheering for them and wanting to buy them drinks!" the leader told him, reminding him that this group was the center of attention. If they tried nabbing them now, that would make them the center of attention and they were told to avoid detection at all costs.
"Besides, it's not like they are leaving anytime soon! They'll be here for a while yet, so we have some time to form up a plan!" the leader went on, earning some nods for this line of thinking.
"Maybe we should get ourselves out of here. We've been sitting for too long and it looks like a couple of waitresses are getting suspicious," came the voice of another pirate.
"Good point. Let's go, before we invoke more than simple suspicions," the leader stated, giving a pointed look at the loudmouth.
Looking chagrined, the loudmouth moved with his friends and they left the Black Kettle, making it look like they were leaving for another place to party. The group huffed at their lack of orders and while they could have tried to snatch the crew of the
Darkstrider;
they knew that their respective pirate lords would have their heads. So, they meandered around the streets, while staying close to the bar where their quarry was busy partying.
"Boss? I think we got company," one of the men stated as he saw another group of ragtag individuals heading their way. Some of these people, a few of the pirates recognized, and the leader smiled when they got close enough to see them clearly.
"Stand down, boys! Looks like we got ourselves some reinforcements!" the leader said with a smirk, as he saw that this group, mostly women, were ones he knew personally. This was one of Lady Zarkazh's crews, and it was a good omen that the most prominent pirate lady was sending them some aid!
"Becka! Good to see you here! I take it you're our reinforcements?" the leader asked, smiling at the woman.
"You could say that," the woman told him. "Come with me. We have much to discuss."
Nodding, the leader gestured to his men, and they followed, making sure to appear as though they were enjoying the festivities. Some of the men were, to an extent, while still keeping an eye on things. They finally arrived in a large alleyway, far enough away from the main party that no one paid them any mind.
"So, what did you want to discuss, Becka?" the leader questioned.
"Your surrender," came another voice. Out of the shadows of an adjoining alley walked Daphres Matarn, flanked by her lovers. From out of other little hiding places, additional pirates popped up, showing the men of the
Peregrine
that they were surrounded.
"Wait, what the fuck is this?!?" the leader demanded, with some of his men fingering their weapons.
"This is a change of command and orders. You and your men will follow us and the orders of the pirate lady, Zarkazh. We are taking command of the situation now and if you refuse, then we will shoot you," Daphres told the men, who were looking around desperately for a way out.
"We follow the orders of the pirate lords, Tubal, Garlan and Raanech! Your 'lady' Zarkazh is the lesser of the pirate lords! We don't follow her and never will!" the leader rebuffed, looking ready to call his men into action.
"Then join your lords in oblivion!" Daphres retorted as she drew her silenced pistol and fired.
The entire ambush team then opened fire with silenced weapons, gunning down all who fought against them. Zarkazh's women gave no quarter to those who tried resisting, ensuring that who fought back were killed. There were a few who surrendered, but they were less than half the crew, which was less than ideal. Still, it would do as the pirate ship could function with half a crew.
"I assume your boys' desire to live ranks higher than your loyalty to your lords?" Daphres questioned as she walked among the dead and the survivors with her pistol raised.
"Yes ma'am! I'd rather live and enjoy what life has to offer, than die for some misbegotten lord who doesn't treat us all with respect," one of the men of the
Peregrine
told her.
"Which lord?"
"Tubal. The man is a swine who doesn't know his ass from his mouth. There are days I swear they are one and the same, spewing nothing but shit!" the man stated.
"A convenient answer. How can I be certain that this mindset is genuine?" Daphres questioned, cocking her head to one side as her finger danced on the trigger of her pistol.
"I could try making some shit up, but that will probably see me with my head blown off. I'd rather tell the truth and keep it and the truth is, I've been pissed with him for some time," the man told her.
"Really? Over what?" Daphres asked.
"Swag that was taken from us, as a 'tax'. A lord who would 'tax' his own men and take only the best of our booty, leaving us with the dregs? It has gone on for too long!" the man told her.
"A sentiment echoed by many a man in Tubal's service. Would you serve Lady Zarkazh instead of Lord Tubal, then?" Daphres asked.
"Without question! I've heard good things from those in the lady's crews. If a tenth of what I've heard is true, then it will be a far cry better than serving Tubal!" the older man said.
"Wise decision! Do the rest of you feel in a similar manner?" she queried, wondering if she would find other like this man.
There were a few who answered her honestly, and she listened to them all. There were a few who were a little off in the answers, but she gave them the benefit of the doubt. They all hated Tubal, this much was clear. But whether serving Zarkazh was the better option, that remained to be seen. Once they got a taste of the life that Zarkazh offered them, they would turn and pledge her their loyalty, she was sure of it.
