Dragon Advanced

I readied myself for anything, or so I said. I shrugged on my long vest to hide the ink across my back. I didn't need someone calling me out now as a pirate. Not so close to freedom. If I could pay out my boards, I would never have to come back here under the flag of a Freehold. These boards though were collateral for my men.

I knew I was likely to find my crew in their cups at the Tavern, as was the past time of all men of boards. I tried to ignore the ill looks I got as I walked the quay toward my destination. But I knew, even with the mark covered, they saw me as a Man of Bones.

They all knew why I was shallows-bound. Once a Captain went to bones, there was no going back, that was what they saw of him for the rest of his life, even if he spoke 'Aye,' it would only be with very heavy words of debt that he would ever see the open waters again. Very few though, would speak against me, they all knew my speed and grace with a blade.

My mind wandered back to my brothers under the Black Flag and I wondered who would send me on, who would give a Pirate's Mercy if I should need it. But the only name that came to mind was Marek, and he was not so close as he might have been. He'd been too-long absent, and the rumors I heard of him disturbed me.