"I really should rip your head off and decorate my ship with it! Damn it! Ever since I made a name for myself, no idiot's dared make such a filthy joke to my face! Is this how you talk to a pirate wanted by every nation?
"And I'm well-endowed, too. No one in the entire Blood Eagle fleet is bigger than me!"
In the fortress room, where the air still reeked of wanton indulgence, the pirate captain—his pride wounded by Murphy's remark—pulled on his pants as he cursed and berated them:
"I'd heard the Blood Eagles and the Thornes cared most about decorum. When I heard you'd arrived, I rushed to meet you without even putting on my pants. But it turns out you're just a bunch of blind turtles, unable to recognize a man's proudest weapon."
"If by the weapon you're so proud of, you mean that overly nimble tongue of yours, then I'll admit you might have a rare talent for pleasing people."
Murphy retorted woodenly.
"And that thing really is small."
Andrei couldn't stand the filthy language, which was unbecoming of a vampire. He spoke to the pirate captain before them in a chilling tone:
"Should we cut it off and take it back to compare? I'm sure we Nord men would be astonished that such a wretched little thing could grow so... refined."
"Andrei, don't be so sharp-tongued."
Murphy smiled and shook his head.
"Our upbringing doesn't allow us to rub salt in other people's wounds. It's terribly improper. It's just a shame for that beautiful pirate lady, who has to work so hard every time pretending to enjoy herself to satisfy some poor wretch's pitiful fantasies.
"Actually, if he keeps spewing filth, the two of us gentlemen will have no choice but to escort the