CHAPTER 69 (Patreon)

After Bombasar returned he invited me and my family to sit with him for dinner.

This wasn’t at the tavern, but his own estate, which stood upon a hill overlooking the whole city of Troltuga. It had a polished silver fence made of thin spikes, and a garden full of bulging treasure chests. Danek looked at the display covetously, but father grabbed him from the collar, the one time he got too close.

Veena was less impressed.

“Hmph, half of these belong to House Salakin.”

“Likely best not to mention that part, sweetie,” mother said to her.

The indoors of the estate were all polished wood, fine stone floors and expensive art hanging from the walls. 

A young servant girl was there to pick up our cloaks and to give us drinks. With heavy silver goblets we were escorted to a long table, at the foot of which, sat Pirate Prince Bombasar.

He looked as ridiculous as ever, with his giant red hat and black clothes adorned with gold.

He gave us a wide smile.

“Welcome, little sorcerer, and the family,” Please, sit. Sit and drink with Bombasar!”

We exchanged pleasantries and I asked how his plunder had gone. He mentioned he had had a close call with the Leviathan, and had lost a few members of his crew. But other than that he said he had been very fortunate, and he had been able to rob a Belator ship. I found it interesting how losing crew but finding plunder was fortunate, but I felt it best not to mention that.

“Hmph, your theft from the Belator almost makes me forgive your crimes against my house,” Veena said.

My parents tried to hush her, but Bombasar only grinned.

“It be fair, if I take equally from both, no?”

“Why not become a mercenary for the families?” Danek asked. “Surely they have asked.”

“Of course they tried to buy Bombasar with a pittance! But Bombasar declined, for he is nobody’s attack dog.”

Actually, I could respect that. So I turned to ask him.

“What do you want then?”

“Freedom, power, beautiful things,” Bombasar said and drained his drink. “All the things men desire!”

The servant behind him immediately filled his drink again. He fixed his eyes on me. “And what of you, little sorcerer?”

I shrugged. “The same things mostly, I guess. “I want freedom and power, so I can fully devote myself to magic. And I want my family to have beautiful things.”

“This is good. Bombasar and the little sorcerer, they are cut from the same cloth!”

The food came and the Pirate Prince hadn’t cheaped out.

Full roasted hogs, thick and creamy sauces with herbs and berries, smoked fish, wine by the pitcherful and a devastating amount of soft, fluffy bread with salted butter, which I attacked with great ferocity.

“Thank you for the meal,” father said. “The fish especially was delicious.”

Bombasar smiled. “That is good, mon. This be a fish you picked up from the sea yourself.”

“I knew it!” father said and clinked glasses with Bombasar.

I watched him as he talked with each of my family and asked them flattering questions, or noticed some detail. Sometimes the Pirate Prince would glance at me, as if to see if I was watching him. He sure loved his games. It seemed only mother and Veena were unimpressed. 

Veena just glared at the Trola.

“Come now,” Bombasar said and spread his hands. “There is no enmity here. Have I not been a good host to my guests?”

“Guests? You hold me for ransom!” Veena said.

“Ah, but one is business, the other is pleasure,” Bombasar said. “Let us not mix them.”

I finished my sixth roll of fluffy bread and washed it down with a sweet grape juice. Then I sighed contently.

“Speaking of which,” I said and burped into my fist. “I think it’s time to talk business.”

Bombasar smiled at me, slowly wiped his mouth and got up. “Follow me, mon.”

“Do you need me or anyone else there, little gem?”

“I’ll be fine, mom,” I said and got up. “Enjoy the food. And make sure you take a crapton of it with us.”

Bombasar laughed and led the way to a study.

It was a beautiful little library with a fireplace and two massive armchairs with red velvet adorned with gold and dark wood that looked like ebony.

Between the armchairs was a crackling fireplace and above it, on the mantle, a gilded saber hovered in the air, suspended by some kind of a platform.

Naturally my eyes fixed on the platform immediately. I went over to the fireplace and levitated myself to hover above the mantle.

I activated my Mana Sight and Arcane Deconstruction to study the artifact. 

“I see…” I muttered to myself.

It was simply a piece of carved dark wood. The enchantment was exceedingly simple. It was a simple kinetic thrust upwards, made continuous. I could absolutely replicate this. Hell, my kinetic components were much sharper. Maybe they were hard to inscribe on actual material though. I hoped I would learn more about enchanting on Baros.

“Most people look at the sword, mon.”

“Eh, it’s just a sword.”

Bombasar nodded and sat in the chair. Since the platform didn’t offer me any insights, I also floated myself to the preposterously large chair. I sat on the edge and dangled my feet, while I waited for Bombasar to start talking.

“I hear you be holding court at the docks,” Bombasar said.

“The spirits have been teaching me about spiritual energy.”

“That so? What manner of barter have you with them, mon?”

“I give them my mana.”

Bombasar nodded. “Aye, all Spiritcasters do. But nobody else be having spirits lining up.”

I gave him a grin. “They really like my mana.”

“What level is your Skill?” Bombasar asked.

“It’s fourteen now.”

The Pirate Prince Bombasar stared at me blankly. His wine glass fell and shattered on the floor.

“This be a joke, no?”

“No,” I said. “I mean, of course Baron Zamadi helped. He gave me levels, but after—”

“He what?!” Bombasar sputtered.

This was the first time I saw him lose his composure. He just looked at me with wide eyes and let his jaw drop. I just smiled at him and dangled my little feet. I didn’t have the heart to tell him of all the other stuff he had given me. It would have likely turned his astonishment into jealousy, which wasn’t productive.

“He said I would need it to face the Leviathan.”

“That Old Bones must have really taken to you,” the Pirate Prince shook his head. “Bombasar had to woo that sneaky god with many gifts before a proper audience.”

Bombasar just muttered to himself for a while and called for another glass of wine. He offered me some, which I declined. After he started swirling a new glass he looked at me surprisingly soberly.

“Has it been even two months since we met? How can you learn so fast? It took me years to reach level ten on the first Skill.”

“Well, I have some good Perks,” I said. “And I’m relentless. You were busy leading people and learning piracy.”

“You don’t say that with resentment,” the Trola said. “Bombasar be having a good ear for that.”

I shrugged. “I don’t really care what you do.”

“The Salakin girl does.”

“You’re talking to me, not her.”

Bombasar gave me the side-eye and grinned. “Fierce, for someone so young.”

“But we do have to renegotiate that ransom,” I said. “You will let go of the idea.”

“Is that so?” Bombasar said. “Why would Bombasar do such a thing?”

“Because I know how to deal with the Leviathan, and I am willing to do it.”

“Yes?”

“What yes?” I said and laughed. “And I am not willing to do it if you don’t agree to my terms.”

“Hahaha! This kind of negotiation. So straight forward and arrogant!”

I grumbled. Maybe I should have gotten Danek. No, it wasn’t a good idea. I could use Danek when I was dealing with merchants, or civilized people like the Aligapa governor. But Bombasar, for all his manners, riches, laughter and hospitality, was a thug, and I needed to deal with him as one. I would let Danek iron out the details, once I reached a new deal with Bombasar.

“It’s not arrogance,” I said. “I just know I have a better hand. I don’t mind you saying no. If you don’t want to accept my terms, I don’t help you with the Leviathan. That means you’ll get your ransom and I’ll get to Baros later. Just less victorious.”

This was an obvious bluff. I had promised Baron Zamadi that I would help him with Tiamat. But Bombasar didn’t know that.

But the Pirate Prince shook his head and laughed. Then he wagged a finger at me. “Foolish little sorcerer. You think Bombasar has not dealt with Old Bones Zamadi enough to know he not give a damn thing for free. You have made a pact with him.”

“Have I?” I asked and raised an eyebrow. “Can you or Jalani check for that?”

“Bombasar be having a tool,” he said and plucked a black feather from his pocket. He brushed my arm with it, and then looked at it. But then nothing happened. He brushed me again with the feather. Naturally at this point I had my Mana Sight on. There was some intricate magic and spiritual power mingling with that artifact. But whatever Bombasar was checking for with it, it didn’t react. Even though he brushed my arm with the feather multiple times, nothing changed. Finally he leaned back in his chair.

“Impossible… Why would Old Bones be giving you all that for free?”

“Beats me,” I said with a shrug. “Ask him.”

Bombasar snorted. “And pay an arm and a leg for riddles and lies. Bombasar knows better.”

“Well, now you know I’m not bluffing,” I said, totally bluffing. “I believe we were talking about how I had a better hand, and you should drop the ransom idea, among some other adjustments to our existing deal.”

Bombasar didn’t like that. He stopped smiling and put away the black feather. Then he lowered his voice. “And what if Bombasar becomes… a less hospitable host to get what he wants?”

I immediately blasted a hole in the floor between us with a Water Bullet. The wood cracked and left a dark, round hole into which Bombasar now peered.

“Then you and I will have a problem neither of us wants.”

Bombasar gave me a cold, calculating look. “You escalated instantly.”

“I don’t respond well to threats,” I said. “Especially when my family is involved.”

Bombasar paused. “Noted.

 We stared each other down for a long time. Then a grin started to tug at the corner of his mouth and he burst into laughter and slapped the armrest.

“This boldness! Bombasar should adopt you and make you his younger brother!”

Then he shook his head.

“But no, Bombasar knows, you are too much like him. Unwilling to serve.”

I smiled at him. “I’m glad we understand each other. So let’s talk about what I want so you can get what you want.”

“You barter harder than the Old Bones,” Bombasar said. “But very well. Tell Bombasar your demands.”

“You will drop the ransom notion, and give us a safe passage to Baros on a ship we will keep. Then—”

“A ship? A whole ship?!”

“I’m not done,” I said. “A ship to replace the one we lost during the Leviathan’s attack. You will also give us repayment for the cargo we lost, and you will reward me sufficiently for successfully dealing with the Leviathan.”

“Little sorcerer,” Bombasar said aghast. “Might be better Bombasar throw himself to the Leviathan than parlay with you!”

This time I joined him in his laughter. 

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Only this,” I added. “Do not screw me over with this.”

“Of course not,” The Pirate Prince said airily. “Bombasar always keeps his word.”

I knew for a fact that he didn’t, but he wouldn’t appreciate me reminding him of the bellwright.

“I mean it,” I said. “If you don’t respect this deal, I will take your ships, I will take your treasures and I will take you captive and take you to Baros to face judgement for your crimes.”

“Hahaha! Them be some bold threats,” Bombasar said. “This the same threat you made first time?”

“The same one,” I said. “Just making sure you remember it.”

Bombasar nodded slowly. “Drop the ransom, a free ship with loaded cargo, safe passage to Baros and a reward on success.”

I leaned forward and offered a little hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Bombasar grinned and grabbed my hand. “You parlay like a monster.”

“I do,” I said. “Now let’s go hunt a big one.”