Born a Monster

355 255 – Pirates and Pigs

I had begun to hope that the worst thing that would happen that day would be Madonna’s fever. Her wound had become infected, and her health remained negative. She remained pale and unresponsive, whispering obscenities in over a dozen languages, some of which I knew.

Alas, it was the Benapongo who made things worse, showing in eight new people, two of whom I recognized instantly.

“We found these ones on the beach. You will make new huts.” the elder said. He was the only tribesman the same from the day before.

“I have those skills.” I said. “Where would you have me harvest the wood from?”

He leaned on a tree. “There is wood somewhere on this island.” he said.

“That is green wood, living wood.” I said. “There will be some dead trees, but...”

He shrugged. “Either you shall make new huts with the resources on this part of the island or you will not.”

“Trees? I can kill trees.” said one of the Hound’s crew.

“Yes, about that.” the Hound asked. “These aren’t Benapongo, and we can kill them, right?”

.....

“Although that is correct...” the elder said.

The weapons came out.

I said, leaping for the one closest to her.

The mix-up was quick and brutal and decidedly in our favor.

“Parley! Hey, look, no weapon! Parley!” the Black Hound shouted.

The woman and Kismet looked at each other, nodded, and put away their weapons. My opponent shrugged, twisted his axe free of my left forearm, and did similarly.

[Serious Injury: Cracked ulna, left arm]

On the ground, men I had bitten thrashed and died, or did not.

Gamilla extended a hand, helped the Hound to his feet.

The elder shook his head. “The wild boars on this part of the island like the smell of blood. We will not be here when they come for you.” They turned and walked away into the woods.

“Well.” the Hound said, “That was bracing.”

“Rhishi, we should kill them. They’ll slit our throats in our sleep.”

“No,” one of the dying ones said, “just the monster. The women are ours. The captain promised.”

The woman moved among the dying, closing eyelids.

“Well.” the Hound said, stepping over to me. “It seems we have to discuss living arrangements. You are the captain of your side, are you not?”

“My title is that of Ambassador.” I said.

“Your title is that of Titanspawn.” Gamilla said.

[Current Title: Titanspawn] my System verified.

Well, THAT was just awkward. I didn’t even have my Ambassador title unlocked. What titles did I have?

NO.

Just no.

[System error. Too many cultivation methods specified. To process request, focus HERE to unlock System Indexing, level one.]

It wasn’t total, and it wasn’t like a sudden snap between perceptions of reality. But I had the focus I needed to see the Hound.

I mean to really see him. The wrinkled and salted velvet, the way he was sucking on his teeth, his hands curled as though to accept weapons from his inventory.

He was still flushed from combat, and the pulse in his neck indicated he was eager for more. Or he was terrified of us, which only in retrospect makes sense.

“We also need to prepare for these boars to arrive.” I said.

I didn’t have to engage Find Beasts, but did so anyway. At least they weren’t in the immediate vicinity.

“Aye,” the Hound said. “It does seem you’ve injured most of my men, though. Not sure how much help we’re going to be, if these boars come upon us.”

“Looks like three of them will live, if we get them proper medical aid.” the woman said.

I swiveled my head. “Put them over there, next to Madonna. I’ll see to them.”

Somehow. Using what time, exactly?

I decided to write that down into a System list, and get to it later.

The Hound seemed unfazed when I turned back to him. “I can see I won’t be ordering my remaining men to snap your neck any time soon.” he said.

“That would be a bad decision.” I said. “As would be hashing this out again when we all have full health.”

“The way I see things,” he said, “you still owe me a ship.”

“Ha! Get in line.” Gamilla said, from where she was dragging people to the hut.

“As a reminder, Danton the Black has three of them.” I said.

“Planning to take down Danton is a fool’s errand.” the Hound said. “Even on a full crew, I wouldn’t attempt it.”

Kismet sent,

“It is rude to not pay attention when someone is talking to you.” the Hound said.

“You want my attention, say something interesting, such as how you can help.”

He spread his hands. “My crew and I are nearly dead. We have no belongings save as you can see upon us and our private inventories. Right now, we are less than you and your harem are.”

“If they decide to kill you for calling them a harem, I won’t stop them.” I said. I mean, hell, I was on the verge of just killing him anyway.

Kismet wasn’t wrong; if we dropped our guard around him, he might very well slit my throat in my sleep.

“Well, that’s not very friendly. And here I was going to lend you my leadership skills.”

“Such as?” I asked.

“For starters, we need a roof more than walls. We can use those bamboo there...”

“Those ones provide us with shade.” I said. “If we absolutely have to cut green wood, it should be far from here.”

“I must disagree. The Benapongo haven’t said how many boars live nearby, only that they’re coming. Drawn by blood, like sharks of the land.”

“And your point?” I asked.

“If we’re away and the boars come, then our wounded mates are dead.”

I clicked my throat. “That is a valid point. Okay, what do you and your crew have for woodworking tools?”

He chuckled. “Just how many pirates do you think take up woodworking? You must have seen how much work is involved just in sailing a ship. Do you think we have the spare time for such hobbies?”

“I think ships are made of wood.” I said. “I think at the very least that the continual tarring, stoning, and swabbing of the deck makes for a good source of experience. I think that the repair of the ship’s hull requires carpentry.”

“Carpentry the skill, not the profession. We had good men in my crew, before that sea salad drowned and ate them. But no, the woodwork you’re talking of doing here is something as alien to my men and I as needlepoint.”

I sighed. “I find needlepoint to be relaxing work.” I said.

“Do either of us have a needle?” he asked.

“There are many things we’ll have to make for ourselves,” I said, “but the hut has a stock of crude tools, mostly stone but with an occasional steel bit.”

The hammer, in particular, was quite good, if in need of a good scrub to take the rust off.

“Look, if we’re going to have a long discussion about it, could we at least sit down?”

“Actually, get your weapons to hand.” I said. “Our guests have arrived.”

I let the others know through System group channel, and we formed up before the wounded.

Kismet said.

Gamilla sent.

It turns out we didn’t need to fight. It was a good thing, too. The boars, three of them, were easily the size of a man and twice the mass. The lead one took a look at us.

I sent back.

His fellows were dragging the corpses off into the underbrush.

I knew roughly how well, or not, he could see, having eaten boar before. But not all truths need to be spoken.

the Black Hound sent.

I asked.

He snorted.

And then he joined his siblings, messily eating where we could not see.

.....

“Well.” the Hound said. “We also need a way to deal with that.”

Yes, I was trying to use Shield Block without a shield.