On their second day moored at Pirate Port, Faster and Francois left the Starting Point with Annan's assignment and set foot in the pirate-held port.
Any pirates thinking of robbing them would have to reckon with the twenty Greater Water Elementals aboard their ship, not to mention the power behind that ridiculous, outdated Sailing Ship.
Once ashore, they could see Pirate Port's details clearly: heads displayed on barrels, old bloodstains, hand bones used as weathervanes—
If they had seen all that from the sea, they would never have barged in so recklessly.
"The more afraid we are, the less afraid they'll be. If we're not afraid, they will be."
Faster spoke quietly as they passed pirates watching from ship decks and the docks. He reached a tavern and pushed open its half-door.
Jingle—
The wind chime above the door rang with a clear note that seemed out of place in Pirate Port.
Rough hands rested on women's breasts, mugs of cheap beer hung in midair, and throwing knives stood embedded in tabletops. The noisy tavern fell still at the intrusion of two uninvited guests.
Under hostile stares, Faster and Francois headed for an empty table by the counter. Two pirates rushed over and took the seats, watching them with amused eyes.
Faster kept walking. He seized one pirate by the collar and flung him aside so fast the man had no time to say, "Gods, I've been knocked down."
The pirates in the tavern rose with a clatter. Only the tavern keeper and a burly man with a woman in his arms remained unmoved.
"Is this how you treat your leader's guests?" Faster stared coldly at the pirate still seated. Once the man got up, shrinking back, Faster let Francois take the seat.
"Two meals."
Two plates of dubious meat