Pirates For The Mainland

The walk into the city wasn't an enjoyable thing. Right by the dock was an enormous town square between the factories where all manner of vendor and street entertainer gathered to make their daily bread. It was a giant mess of people and Nog hated it, but the market needed to be crossed in order to reach the office building of Redstone.

Nog always tried a new cut through the crowd when she came to the city. She was trying to fool an old woman who somehow knew about her past. Every time she got too close, the elderly thing would pull her in and run her mouth. The captain wasn't having any of that.

With a light foot she put herself in and out of little walking groups and used everything as cover. Nog walked through vendor stalls and did her best to blend into the streams of people that were present. She had contemplated taking her hat off for a moment but quickly refused, determined to be stealthy enough without having to resort to a change of appearance. Sadly, none of her effort counted for anything.

"Been a little while since I've seen you," an elderly woman's voice said.

Nog shook with a tiny shock of surprise as she was addressed. The little old woman sitting on a stool behind a spread of handmade blankets and clothing had found her without even moving. Her wrinkled face and deep eyes bothered Nog. The captain didn't like how frail and relaxed the old woman was.

"Still trying to make a life for yourself in this horrible world, I see," the old woman said. "When are you going to give up this nightmare?"

"When are you going to stop talking to me as if we are long-lost comrades?" Nog answered.

"Oh, how silly you are," the old woman said. "You think that just because the emperor is dead, his dream should die with him?"

"Yes, and it did," Nog replied. "The emperor's ideals for this world were horrible."

"And yet you ate at the same table," the woman said with a smile.

"I didn't know there was blood in my rum," Nog replied with an angry tone.

The old woman didn't reply and simply kept smiling at the captain.

"You can't benefit mankind if you're throwing children in the sea," Nog continued. "No greater good can justify the madness of the emperor."

"You know, there's whispers that he'll come back," the old woman said.

"In your dreams, you crazy thing," Nog replied. "The emperor is dead. He was no god."

Having said all she wanted to, the captain began to walk away. She didn't take two steps before she was stopped.

"Then, what are you?" the old woman asked.

Nog didn't look at her but the question forced a pause. She had all she could stand of the old bat and would not let her be a bother in the future. Taking a black knife in hand, she turned to threaten the woman but her prey was no longer sitting there. The lady, the stool, and almost all of the wares had gone. Only a single blue blanket remained. Nog picked up the blanket and examined it. It was a simple thing of wool, with waves of the ocean sewn into it like an endless staircase.

"F.u.c.k.i.n.g old scout," she said under her breath.