They found Veena soon enough and dragged her out. The captain and his sailors were brought aboard with us. Bombasar ordered his men to keep them on deck while they searched the trading vessel and sorted through its cargo. The captain looked furious, but he counted his crew as they crossed and made sure nobody had been left behind.

Bombasar was very happy with all this. He left some of his crew on our trading vessel and invited us into his cabin. It was as luxurious and ridiculous as the man himself. Golden statues of voluptuous women, a treasure chest bulging with gemstones in open display and velvet cushioned chairs at table made of rich red wood. We sat down on the table and he offered us wine and fruit. Then the Pirate Prince sat on a chair, rocked it back and put his ruby-encrusted boots on the table.

“See what I mean, mon?” Bombasar said to Jalani who did not sit down. “Look at them. Everyone around the boy.”

Mother was clutching my shoulder and father stood on the other side. The rest of my family was around me in a loose semicircle standing silently. Veena stood stiffly with her fists clenched, holding back tears.

“Sit,” I told them. “Have some wine and let him talk.”

“Hahaha! This be right,” the Pirate Prince exclaimed. “Let Bombasar talk. He be lord here.”

Tentatively my family helped themselves with some food and drink, while Bombasar watched us.

“Hmph…” Veena muttered and looked at the golden goblet in her hands. “This isn’t bad.”

In what world a twelve year old could distinguish between good and bad wine was none of my business I supposed.

“You are enjoying, little Salakin girl?” Bombasar asked. “Good. You should be comfortable as Bombasar’s guest.”

Veena was about to say something but I stilled her with a gesture. The Pirate Prince was watching my every move. Normally I would let her or Danek do the talking, but I recognized something in Bombasar’s gaze. He looked at me the same way the Awakened beasts looked at me. The same way Ranok had looked at me. Behind the rambunctious laughter and wide gestures was the level gaze of a predator observing. This was a man who respected strength. In the eyes of the beasts and a brute like Ranok, that was nothing but martial power. But Bombasar understood that power was also force of character. So he wouldn’t listen to anyone but me, and would see anyone speaking on my behalf as weakness.

I simply needed to show him my force of character. Little did he know I had honed this expertise with the immovable object that was called my mother.

“What are your plans for us?” I asked and bit into an apple.

Bombasar spread his hands. “Bombasar was only going to take the sea tax. But now he sees something more valuable than cargo. Scion of the Salakin family, and strange little sorcerer. Bombasar will take them as honored guests.”

“Ransom,” I said. “Call it what it is.”

Bombasar nodded and grinned. “We be sending parlay to old Sandor Salakin to see how much he pay to get his niece back.”

“And until then we are your… guests.”

“Yes,” Bombasar said and flashed his eyes playfully. “Honored guests.”

“You should let the rest of our crew go. Just take me and Veena. Less mouths to feed.”

“Now why would Bombasar be doing such a foolish thing?" The Pirate Prince said and wagged a finger at me. “Tut tut. Bombasar believe you behave better, if mommy and pappy around, no? Worry not, Bombasar has enough wealth to feed you all.”

It really pissed me off when he threatened my family like that. But I wouldn’t show him even a twitch of an eyebrow. I just looked at him flatly while I thought.

Bombasar was nothing if not overt.

Okay, I think I had this guy’s number. He was a territorial creature. Dangerous, for sure. But also predictable. Fortunately not nearly as chaotic as he let on. I relaxed and leaned back. The Pirate Prince watched me closely.

“You know I take offense in you keeping my family captive. You better treat them right.”

Jalani, who was standing behind Bombasar snorted derisively, but the Pirate Prince only smiled.

“Bombasar like you, young sorcerer,” Bombasar said and enjoyed a drink of wine. “And he will treat your family right. But you could always improve your hand…”

He wanted something. I just didn’t know what it was. But before we discussed any more favors, I wanted to make sure he remembered what he had already promised.

“You agreed to teach me your magical arts,” I said. “How will that work?”

Jalani moved impatiently, but Bombasar waved a hand.

“Bombasar remembers. You will have your lessons once we reach the island.”

“From you?”

“Some, perhaps. Jalani knows much that a beginner must learn.”

Jalani did not look delighted by this arrangement.

“I agreed to come aboard because of that promise,” I said. “I expect actual teaching.”

Bombasar leaned forward and studied me. Then he grinned. “You put a hole in Bombasar’s ship, and now you worry he give you bad lessons?”

“It was a very good hole. I expect very good lessons,” I was quick to note.

He laughed and settled back in his chair. “You will be taught, little sorcerer. How much you learn be up to you. Now, what say you we settle the ransom and guestright?”

I nodded. First I needed to settle the terms for my family. Once they were safe and comfortable, I could focus on getting everything I could out of those lessons. If we were going to be stuck on the Pirate Islands waiting for a ransom, I intended to leave knowing some new magic.

“Very well,” I said. “You promise that you will keep us as honored guests until the ransom is resolved. You will take the cargo Salakin was transporting, but you will not touch our personal belongings. And once the ransom is resolved, you will ensure a safe passage to Baros.”

The Pirate Prince brought a hand to this heart. “This Bombasar promises solemnly.”

I didn’t believe a word of it. So I made sure I was understood.

“Know this, Pirate Prince Bombasar,” I said and looked him straight in the eye. “I might be young, but I am not weak, nor am I a fool. I will not cause trouble for you as long as you keep your end of the bargain. But if you cross me on this, I will take your wealth, I will take your ships, I will take you captive, and take you to Baros myself to be judged for your crimes.”

A heavy silence descended into the cabin. Jalani watched me with wide-eyed shock and rage. Everyone in my family started at me, as if I had just drilled a hole in the ship. Even Veena watched me with an empty expression and slacked jaw. 

But Bombasar only blasted into laughter and slapped the table in his mirth. “Hahahaha! This a good day! This child threaten The Great Pirate Prince Bombasar!”

The table relaxed and Bombasar laughed until he wiped his eyes. He was genuinely amused, but that dangerous cold glint was watching me.

“How dare you?!” Jalani asked and took a step forward. Bombasar stopped him with a hand.

“Now now, Jalani.”

Then he grinned at me and offered a hand over the table. “Better we both behave then, mon. It is a good thing, pride. Bombasar can teach you pride. And maybe other things.”

I forgot the whole negotiation and perked up. I grabbed his hand eagerly.

“I’d rather you teach me what you did with the wind and water. You weren’t using structured magic. Is this some kind of cultivation technique? Could you explain that part now?”

I was basically climbing on the table at this moment. I completely forgot my posturing, and regressed back to an excited child.

Bombasar looked down at our clasped hands and laughed.

“Hahaha! We barely finish shaking hands, and you want your first lesson already? Very well, Bombasar will tell you something.”

Jalani scowled. “Why tell him anything? He doesn’t deserve our arts.”

Bombasar made a dismissive hand gesture. “Leave us, Jalani.”

Jalani gave me a nasty look and stomped out of the captain’s cabin, slamming the door behind him.

“Good man, Jalani. He be a Witch Doctor. He practices the same art as Bombasar, but he don’t understand it well and never will.”

“Which art?” I asked.

“Curious, yes? The art to master wind and sea. We be calling it Spiritcasting here in the Pirate Islands.”

“Spiritcasting? What does it mean?”

“There be many spirits in the world. We bargain with them and if they like us, they help.”

“So was it you who was casting the magic? Or spirits?”

“It be a bargain,” Bombasar said and took a swig of wine. “Trade, negotiation, parlay. We form relations with them spirits. Sometimes we help the spirits, sometimes they help spiritcasters.”

“Do you need Skills for it? Or a Class? Has anyone of you tried combining it with structured magic? Do you have cultivation techniques?”

Bombasar laughed. “Hahaha! First a hard man staring down Bombasar, and now an innocent boy who wants to drink the whole sea dry. Bombasar likes this! Tell you what, little one. Once your family is settled, Bombasar will teach you more. If you be a quick study, he might want your help with something, powerful as you are.”

I was about to agree when something suddenly rocked the boat. Bombasar’s wide smile immediately dropped and his eyes went hard. He looked at the window and bolted up.

“Stay,” he simply said and rushed out.

I could still hear his voice when he shouted to the crew. His voice was hard and commanding and serious for the first time since we met him.

“Andre, Tovani, Sebastien, man the sails. Drop the cargo. DON’T ARGUE. DROP EM, MON!”

We all looked at the window and saw the sea churning. It had been a sunny day with idle wind before but something had changed. The wind howled and slapped the sails. The sea was starting to churn and the waves were getting bigger and bigger by the minute.

What would cause such a drastic change? And what would make the ridiculous Pirate Prince so deadly serious. Couldn’t he use his spirit arts to control the wind and water?

A massive wave crashed to the side of the ship, throwing us all off our feet. I cast a kinetic spell to cushion the blow for myself and my mother and we landed on our feet. The rest of my family tumbled about in the cabin, but fortunately nobody got hurt.

“Cut the plunder loose! Let it take da Salakin ship!” Bombasar bellowed.

“Damn it…” Veena muttered. “All my clothes are there.”

At least she had the Skill scroll on her.

“And my books…” Danek muttered. “At least I have my writ with me…”

Alik vomited.

“What is happening?” mother asked.

I used some kinetic magic to pull a chair by the window and I peered outside.

A terrible discordant wail filled the air and the sea churned violently. Where there had been sun, were now dark stormclouds. A thick and black rain fell down and I heard thunder in the distance.

“IT BE HERE!”

The ship moved and the thick ropes tethering the flagship to the Salakin vessel were cut. The skeleton crew on the trading ship jumped into the water and started a desperate swim.

Something moved below them. Something massive and it made a chill run down my spine.

The wail rippled over the waters again. Closer this time. Then there was an explosion of wood as massive jaws closed from both sides of the trading vessel and ripped it in pieces. Whatever sea monster had just emerged, it was gargantuan and it cast out massive waves when its crocodile-like jaws rose above the waters. 

“STEER! STARBOARD!” Bombasar shouted and the ship took speed from the massive waves and rocked wildly. But soon enough we left the wreckage of the trading ship behind us and the dark clouds above us receded. From the window I watched Bombasar’s crew lower boats for the crew swimming towards the ship. They all had absolute fear on their faces as they swam like their life depended on it.

The dark, wide mass moved under the waters, but it seemed to be going deeper into the darkness of the ocean.

One final ghostly wail was heard before the sea settled as if the massive monster had been nothing but a dream.

The dark clouds above the ship cleared and the rain stopped. The ship creaked idly, as if nothing had just happened. A seagull’s cry somewhere close by seemed to agree.

Father looked out the window and clutched my shoulder. “What in the hell was that?”