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ONDONGA CITY - THE BLACK DOCKS - LATE AFTERNOON
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Narrator: Having sent a letter through the expected channels, Gareth had gone about his normal business in Ondonga City, waiting for a response. It came in the form of two snakes, each bearing arm bands with the twin snake symbols, wielding decorated Orelan spears. With little pleasantry, they 'escorted' Gareth to the docks, relieving him of his weapons as a 'courtesy' before allowing him to step foot aboard the ship 'The Emerald Crown'. He is led up the deck towards the cabin that sits above the deck of the large combat ship, and then made to wait.
Gareth is more than willing to relinquish his weapons, though he doesn't tell them about the dagger he keeps in his boot, just as those on the deck don't ask about it. He already knows that as long as he doesn't cause trouble, he'll be allowed a hold-out weapon at least, should a third party try to crash things. Once he's led to the door to the captain's cabin, he waits patiently, though he also takes time to admire the ship's craftsmanship.
Narrator: The Emerald Crown is a work of art unto itself, but the fantastic nature of the ship belies its deadly nature, and the deadly occupants who inhabit it. Gareth's wait is also standard, he's meeting with one of the most powerful people in Orela, after all. Before too long passes, he is summoned inside. Before him is a raised dias, adorned with various carvings and gems, something of a throne, for one who does not sit. Yanahuatl, Pirate Queen of Orela lays coiled upon the dias, looking down at Gareth. The emerald green snake is dressed in fine silks beneath a thick leather overcoat that reaches down to where her tail curls. She is wearing jewelry, but despite the ship's name, there is no crown upon her head, instead of stylized tri-corn hat.
Yanahuatl hisses in amusement, addressing him by the name he signed his request for audience. "Gareth Gwynn, Quartermassster of the Victory North. Though, thessse daysss you go by 'Wrath' far more often, do you not? Isss thisss where Fury ssssmashess through my ceiling?"
Gareth steps confidently into the cabin, though he stops a respectful distance back from the dias. At Yanahuatl's question, he grins and shakes his head, before doffing his own hat and dipping into a short bow. "Ye've nothin' o' the sort to worry about, Captain Yana. Fury's an entire continent away, and she's not a fan o' sailin'. She won't be surprisin' anyone any time soon."
Yanahuatl nods, laughing, "Good. I do sssso hate when I need to have blood ssswabbed out from my fine wood floorsss. Besssides, you were a more sssensible sssort than that. Sssso... you have brought tribute, I asssume?"
Gareth chuckles as he stands up straight again and dons his hat once more. Putting on a slight air of theatrics, he takes a few moments to reach into his overcoat and extract an ornate box a bit larger than his hand, which he holds up for Yanahuatl to see. "O' course, Captain. Ye know I'd never shirk protocols, especially fer someone as charmin' as yerself."
Yanahuatl motions a hand for Gareth to set the box upon the edge of the dias. "You alwaysss were a charmer. Made you a good Quartermassster back then too."
Gareth approaches at Yanahuatl's indication and sets the box down on the edge of the dias. "Aye, we might be pirates, but that doesn't mean we have to fit the bill o' ill-kempt rabble rousers." He smiles as he steps back again, "Ye and I, we enjoy what we do, and we defy expectations while doin' it."
Yanahuatl smirks, her tail unwinding to grab the box as she brings it up to appraise the tribute. "Piracy isss an art, Gareth. The bessst of usss know this. Sssuch a ssshame you turned away from the path. You'd have made a good Captain in my fleet. I sssuppose I'll never underssstand what led you to bounty hunting inssstead. Sssurely it wasssn't as lucrative."
Gareth chuckles a bit and smiles wryly. "The main reason I turned away from it all was because me old crew on the North was a bunch o' idiots. Good folk, but idiots. Bit off more than they could chew after havin' so many successful encounters before the last one. I'd have jumped at the offer had it arrived, though, ye can rest assured."
Yanahuatl sighs dramatically, closing the fingers on her free hand. "A pity. But of courssse my offer ssstill ssstands. But I imagine you did not ssseek audience with me jussst to reminisssce about old timesss."
Gareth hums a bit as his tone shifts a little to something slightly more businesslike. "Mmh, as fun as it is, considerin' how far back we go, ye'd be right. I've actually come by fer a couple o' reasons. One, I'm sure ye've already heard o', since ye've got a pretty good business goin' on with various traders around Orela and further out."
Yanahuatl nods, "Yesss, of courssse I have heard of it. Ssstill had hopesss that perhapsss it wasss untrue, but if you're truly going legit, I sssuppose you've come to asssk for... protection?"
Gareth chuckles again, giving Yanahuatl a lopsided smile. "Somethin' like that. I was more thinkin'... maybe occasional 'raids' could prove profitable fer us both, aye? I've got Fury helpin' train up the guards on the ships, so I figure we could maybe have some cooperation in a way since the protection side o' things should be a bit less problematic."
Yanahuatl leans forward, motioning for Garerth to continue, "Profit isss always of interessst to me. I will hear your proposssal."
Gareth hums and grins. "I had a feelin' ye'd be interested, Captain. So, as ye know, I'm startin' up a trade business o' me own. I'm intendin' to get into general trade, as Aephix exports a number o' materials and crafts while importin' all manner o' equipment. I'm sure an occasional cargo crate o' materials goin' missin' due to a pirate raid is somethin' pretty well expected nowadays, even fer the best trade companies." He gives the Snake a roguish wink as he continues with his idea, "So... instead o' a bloody raid that results in good folks dyin' on both sides... what if we keep a stash o' extra materials on board specific vessels that are meant fer yer crew? Ye get stuff to sell, we get to claim raid insurance."
Yanahuatl considers this for a moment, then laughs, "It isss agreeable with me, ssso long asss my crewsss get their cutsss, and you offer me proper deference in thessse watersss, I have no qualmsss at taking your 'extra' sssupplies. Mutually beneficial, indeed."
Gareth shrugs, smiling. "It'd cut slightly into me own profits, but once I've got the full fleet goin', one or two crates here and there vanishin' because o' piracy is only to be expected. Plus, helpin' yer crew out would simply be continuin' the good rapport the North had with yer mother's vessels."
Yanahuatl nods sagely, folding her hands in front of her. "Ssshe has passsed, not long ago. I earned thisss posssition through blood and sssweat, not on my Mother'sss name. But I do honor her however I can. And with you the lassst free member of the Victory North... I will honor that old Alliance asss well." She lifts her head with a cunning smirk, "Provided our friendssship remainsss profitable, of courssse."
Gareth blinks at the news of Yanahuatl's mother passing, his smile fading a bit. For a few moments, he simply takes his hat off and bows his head, paying the woman a moment of silent respect, before he goes back to conversing with Yanahuatl properly. "I'm sorry to hear o' that, Captain. She was a damn good woman." He hitches up a smile again, "And don't ye worry. I'm the first one to really consider settin' up a merchant fleet out o' Aephix. The first ones tend to be the strongest and longest lastin', aye? On me own honor, I'll keep things profitable fer both o' us."
Yanahuatl bows her head to Gareth, joining him in respect for the fallen, "Your ressspect is noted, and appreciated. Ssshe was as fierce asss ssshe was honorable." She does not show any hint of sorrow, her facade too ruthless and powerful to display her emotions in such a fashion, "I am glad you came to me with thisss. You ssshall be contacted when the time comesss. Now. You mentioned another reassson for your visssit?"
Gareth nods as he reaches into his overcoat again and extracts a letter. "Aye, it's partially out o' personal curiosity, and because a friend o' mine asked it o' me, since I was headin' this way and all." He takes a moment to open the letter up and turns it to show Yanahuatl the seal of her fleet on it, "I thought it looked familiar, and my friend wanted to thank whoever sent it. I assume ye had somethin' to do with it, Captain?"
Yanahuatl raises an eyebrow, noting the seal. "That isss my ssseal, yesss. Your friend mussst have earned sssome favor."
Gareth shakes his head and shrugs. "I don't know. It came packaged in a crate that contained a single vial of some kind o' fluid. I'd guessed a poison o' some sort, powerful, judgin' by the size o' the vial." He tilts his head, "She said these benefactors, that is, yer crew, helped her once before, not that long ago, too. She didn't know what to make o' the poison, though."
Yanahuatl lets out a low, harsh hiss as she realizes what Gareth has brought her, her displeasure makes the presence of the guards in the corners of the room behind Gareth rather obvious, as they tense, spears raised at the ready. Though Yanahuatl waves them aside with a simple gesture, there is a decidedly dangerous edge to her voice when she addresses him, "You ssshould be cautiousss of mattersss you do not underssstand, Gareth Gwynn."
Gareth smiles a bit. "O' course I'm cautious, Captain. Ye know as well as I that I wouldn't be here right now if I was at all reckless." He shrugs a bit, "I don't intend on diggin' into any sort o' history the two o' ye might have, but I owe it to her to at least learn o' the intent, since she never intends on leavin' Aephix."
Yanahuatl narrows her eyes to study Gareth carefully. "The intent." She chooses her words very precisely, rising up slightly in place to loom over Gareth, "Isss that 'ssshe' eitehr ussse that bottle on othersss, or on herssself. I don't care. I helped her. Once. That wasss to fufill a final requessst, that ssshe be freed, and never be a prisssoner again. Any debtsss are sssettled now. If you know her, then go back and tell her that, and tell her to ssstay there, if ssshe knowsss what'sss bessst for her. And bessst for you, Gareth, that you indeed do not dig."
Gareth projects an air of cool confidence even as Yanahuatl looms over him. However, he's quite aware that he's cooked if he missteps even slightly, surrounded as he is with only a dagger hidden in his boot. "Then I'll be sure to relay that to her. It should be plenty to satisfy her desire to know." He chuckles quietly, "But, uh... I doubt I need to tell her to stay in Aephix. She's got no desire to leave, and she even owns a small place o' her own, too. If she leaves Aephix, it's likely because someone's draggin' her out."
Yanahuatl relaxes back, nodding, "That'sss what the poissson isss for. If sssomeone ssseeks to do so, better ssshe be dead." She puts a hand down to the blade at her hip very casually, "Or I'll kill her myssself."
Gareth hums as his eyes drift down to the blade at Yanahuatl's side. "Mmh... well, lucky fer her, if someone tries to drag her off, she's got friends in strong places. If need be, I'd sail after her meself to get her back to Aephix... or deny her kidnappers. If ye have to do the deed, ye can probably assume I'm also dead."
Yanahuatl snorts, but eyes Gareth closely. "I may hold you to that word. I do not ssseek to kill her. But will not hesssitate either. Orela already hasss a Queen, and it ill needsss another."
Gareth grunts in agreement. "Aye... knowin' what she is, the last thing Orela needs is another giant war. Bad fer everyone involved, includin' ye an I." He sighs a little, "Ye've me word, in that case, Captain. Fer the peace o' Orela, aye?"
Yanahuatl lowers her hand off of her blade and nods. "I am glad you underssstand. I look forward to usss profitting together, Gareth."
Gareth nods, his own demeanor easing up a bit. "Aye, I am as well." He laughs a bit and grins, "Just like old times, eh, Captain Yana?"
Yanahuatl grins, "Pirate Queen Yana, now. But yesss, I sssupppose it isss rather nossstalgic."
Gareth smiles in turn. "Pirate Queen, o' course. Yer fleet has only gotten more impressive over the last while. I'd ask if ye've got time to swap stories over a pint or two, but I imagine keepin' all yer crews active is a never-endin' job."
Yanahuatl sighs, nodding, "It isss, Quartermaster. Or ssshall I call you Trade Massster Gwynn now asss well? Perhapsss another time we ssshall have to meet and celebrate how far we've come, yesss."
Gareth smiles a bit more and nods. "I think I'd like that, aye. As fer titles... eh... Trade Master's still a little ways off, still, I think. I'll get there soon enough, though." He dips his head respectfully, "But, fer now, I think I'd best be on me way. It's been really nice seein' ye again, though. Once we both get some free time fer that celebration, I'll be in Orela pretty regularly, from now on. I'll be easy enough to find."
Yanahuatl gives Gareth a gesture of dismissal, chuckling, "And don't worry, I ssshall find you whenever I desssire. Good luck, Gareth."
Gareth dips his head at the dismissal and and waves a bit as he turns to take his leave. "Thank ye very much, Yana. I'll be sure to keep ye up to date on how me business is goin' as it develops. Be seein' ye around, and take care."