Interlude – An unknown island in an unknown sea…
“I strongly protest your decision Lord Kotar!” the slaver mage said, indignation and fury apparent in his voice.
“Do you really Bokka? You think we should continue to lose resources to these people? We have the ship, I’ve sent teams inland after suitable… resources to let us recover its functionality and hopefully build more of them. I don’t see any purpose in paying any more attention to them. Lady Sethra has warned against our involvement in their activities any longer as it could prove… costly.”
“So we let them get away with what they’ve done? I’ve given you the report that they killed most of our people in Larkson and caused our contact with the bandits and the tribes to disappear. We don’t know what’s become of him, only that he wasn’t in the warehouse. And what about my brother? You’ve read the report, these people killed him and destroyed his ship.”
“Your scheme to take over that city doesn’t sit well with most of the Nine Bokka. We don’t belong inland, we belong on the seas. And I really don’t care about your brother, he ruined more cargo than any other captain I’ve known. If you have an razor to hone for them, you do it on your time but I am not spending more men or gold to go after them.”
Bokka, a thin ascetic man of average height, swore softly and his hand slid toward the blade sheathed at his side, the green glowing gem in the pommel pulsing in time with his heartbeat. The stocky figure in robes on the ornate large chair arched an eyebrow at the motion.
“Really Bokka?” Lord Kotar’s voice held traces of amusement. The shadowy figures swirling around the room fluttered close in anticipation, hunger apparent in their motions.
The room was a frozen tabluea for a long moment then Bokka’s shoulders slumped “I obey your wishes in all things Lord.” he said through gritted teeth, hands disappearing into the sleeves of his robes, away from his soulblade.
“Then please return to Safe Harbor and guard the airship for me. I would be very… perturbed were anything to happen to it. Send a fetch when the teams arrive with the artificers and keep me updated on their research.”
“Aye m’lord.”
“And Bokka, if anything happens to that ship, you’ll be a long time dying.”
“Aye m’lord.”
Bokka fled the room, one of the shadows silently closing the door behind him. From behind an ornate tapestry a beautiful woman stepped, hair the color of night and skin so pale veins formed a pale blue web under it.
“Love, you should deal with that one now. I’ve read the strands of the weave and in very few of them does he not covet your position.”
Kotar reached out and gently grasped the woman’s hand and pulled her close. “And in all those possible strands does he ever succeed dear?”
Sethra’s mouth twitched in a slight smile, “Only in a very very few of them does he manage to take your place love. I believe the phrase, ‘pigs are flying’ is appropriate for him.”
“As I thought, he is weak, tied to petty feuds, born of a weak strain. I think before long the line of Jothan should be erased. Only which of the minor captains to replace him? Such a quandary…”
“What of the ‘heroes’ love? In many strands, they oppose you and their fates are entwined in your downfall in many more.” she asked, running her head over his face, using her fingers to ‘see’ him as the dark sockets where her eyes had once been looked into the distance.
“We shall wait and see. They’ve lost one already to mischance. I think we shall simply wait and see what else chance brings to them. Send a fetch to Robear in Larkson, have him work on our contact there, I need a schism opened so we can operate more freely.”
“As you ask so shall it be love.”
