A Night of Trouble
“Asha feuja munna?” Those were the same words spoken over and over again by the guard that had a spear to my chest when he caught me snooping around the barracks. I didn’t under stand a word he was saying at all, if only Balthazar was with me right now this could be less bloody then it should be. At least he doesn’t know how I am or I wouldn’t been have this conservation and that spear would be jammed in my throat. Then again, Balthazar would be a problem since he’s face is all over the city of Akbar due to his smuggling reputation as the “Ghost.” “Denout maruk yon ba” the guard was looking mighty angry at me for not answering him right about now. Who wouldn’t be if he found a scruffy looking man snooping around the place he sleeps in the dead of night, especially a funny looking foreigner like me. I wonder if he hates pirates, since I am one after all. I wished that “Sand Licker” told a little more about his bloody language. He only told me a few words and left. Why the hell did Arvin leave me with him of all people. “Feurdu” I told him, which is suppose to mean “lost” that was what he told me at least. He looks at me puzzled as if I said it wrong, damn it that lousy smuggling bastard should have gave me more time to learn. He points to a store, a butcher shop to be exact. “Arsa modu Feurdu moun.” Sounds like his even more suspicious if he thinks I’m looking for some pork in the dead of night.
He take a good look at me and just stares down a my legs as if he found something interesting. Of course he does since I my right leg is in fact a beg leg and gives a few taps of his spear to see if it was real or not.” Opua ba coruea”, as if he is trying to ask what happened to it. Of course I know all too well of how I got it, just gift that I got from the Dark Continent for the first time. It was stupid of me now that I’m looking back at it. Never get water when crocodiles are about, there like sharks, you never even realize that they are really there until strike. Damn thing torn off my leg off as if was nothing at least his skin made a nice coat after I shot it. I sure he knows what that thing is since the city states are an arm length away from there. "Crocodile" I made my arms look like its mouth and quickly close but not to fast to startle the guy. He face says it all when he heard that, "Crocadli!" he said with a surprised voice. I just know he understood that, but just to be sure I pointed to my necklace that I made with some of its teeth.
“Yuma gune” He looked impress at least. I had one of my hands near one of my pistols. He was only wearing some cheap leather so it would easily go through. It seemed like a good idea, though the spear at my throat would be much faster then I could draw it. Even if I did get it off the sound from the shot attract too much attention. I just have to do what I can to get out of here and find Balthazar’s contact. Kind to think of it were is that lousy bastard he told me that he would be here. Never said what he looked like only his name, Emir. Well I guess I have to go out on a limb, only have three of them anyway. “Emir” I say begrudgingly. He looks surprised at me and lowered his spear. “Akan numut tran?” He looks at me curoisly. Looks like things are going a lot easier now. "Balthazar sent me." Hopefully he the right guy or I good as dead. "Balthazar!" He place his spear back in a relaxed position extending out his hand, " Jackson." I quickly shook it and said my name " Jackson." Now that was out of the way, I could get down to business. What was that word he said to use again, Akma, Ruba, no it was Hakna for supplies.
"Hakna?" He looked at me and waved his hand to follow me. Which I did and we head down to what looked like a bad part of the city. The buildings were made of stone, but they fell into disrepair and the streets were full of garbage and the homeless. "Keta ta tuca oto macha." I had no idea about what he was saying, but it looked like he was watching for something to happen. I know my fair share of slums and where the poor go, the thugs follow suit. I made sure that my dagger was ready since the street was getting narrow for me to draw my cutlass, along with pistol just in case. So far so good on most of the trip as he points to the building where all the goods were at. Then I heard quick steps from behind and turn around tripping someone with my beg leg. Emir quickly had a spear at his chest and reveled to be a girl that was no more then a child. Covered in rags that looked like they were out growing her. I soon realized that my coin pouch was missing and it was in the girl's hand. "Wund ak no leno chu." Emir shouted at the girl as she through the pouch t the side. She was nothing more then a pickpocket by the looks of it. "Ena hun ba to te!" the girl cried out. Emir responded with " Haka!" I walked over and grabbed my pouch. Emir looked at as if he wants me to kill her. By the seas, she only a kid trying to eat! I shake my head no and lift up his spear gently. The girl slow got up and started to walk away, "Wait!" I said and she stopped and turn to look at me with fear in her eyes. I walked over and kneeled down to her as she shut he eyes closed in fear of the worse. I gently grabbed hand and placed two gold coins in it. She opened them and the look of surprise came to here face. I pointed to it and taped my stomach. "Food." I tried to explain to her, seeing that she was scrawny and looked like she didn't eat anything in days. I reached out my hand and she closed her eyes again only to feel my hand rubbed her hair. It walk away as she continued to try and understand what had just happened. Walking towards Emir who was giving me a sour look. "Hek Nadak Ounta? he looked at me as if I sleep with his wife. I Just said one word that was easy to learn from that smug smuggler, "Kenaba." Mercy. The girl was gone when I looked back and grab Emir to have us move along.
From the look of the pick up building it looked like some sort of tavern that was long since abandoned. Emir knocked on the door and a few moments later a peephole open up with a pair of brown eyes looking at us. "Penera tucha?" and Emir responded with, "Al mu tuca lo." The eyes disappeared as the peephole closed and the sound doors began to unlocked. He opened it to revealed a large man who looked like he would wrestle a bear with ease. We walked in and several more men were found across the room, all armed with clubs or knives. Then a familiar voice called out. "Jackson my friend where have you been?" Before my eye I saw that sneaky bastard Balthazar before me dressed like a beggar. I was walked to him and grabbed him my the collar of his rags. The men around us did not seem to care as he was with me. He did seem to be scared or upset as I did this. "I was trying to get in the city through the sewers which was not at all pleasant I must say." He said to with a disgusted tone to it. His long hair was wrapped under a turban and he well trimmed beard reeked of something. I quickly let go of him and backed away soon as the smell hit me. "You could have told me that Emir was a guard, he almost skewered me. He looked a Emir with a serious look. "Ack un?" Emir just shrugged. I just want to get this over with. "Business." I said to him. He pointed the way and we walked into the back room.
A skinny man sat in a box surrounded by crates and pointed to us to sit. "Alend Custa, Balthazar." said the man who looked happy to see him. "Alend Custa, Reneo." He clicked his fingers and a man came with a crate placed it in front of us and opened it. In it was what the captain ordered, Sulfur. which we needed to make our powder, which is hard to find. But it all over that desert outside the city states. The smell of rotten eggs was horrible as it reached my nose and it was soon closed as everyone smelled it. Balthazar began talking to figure out a deal, which went on for a while. I have no idea they are saying to each other. I just look around the room in case things went south. Soon enough they stop and he looks a me. "He wants one hundred." with some concern. It looked a him "That a fair price for two boxes." He girts his teeth. "Each." Now that was being greedy. We didn't have that much coin on us and they did seem generous at all. "Otem tuka yun tud, Powderfoot Jack." We looked at each other with surprised. "He say he knows who you are and if you don't accept he sell you out to the guards for the price on your head. Well negotiations are over then. With surprise on my side I grab my pistols in my coat before they realize it. One I fired on large man and the other at Reneo. Both quickly went down with ease. The fight was brutal yet quick as confusion and fear allowed Balthazar to used his knife throwing skills to deal with most of them. Emir however got the drop on me and pushed me over and was about to impale me. He instead met the gun barrel on my beg leg as I discharged it into him, blowing him away across the room. The room was silent for few moment as we collected or breath and thoughts.
"You could have warned me." Balthazar complained. As we gather our weapons. "You handled it." After that we had to hurry before guards were on us. We grabbed boxes and bolted out of the place as fast we could. Shouts could be heard in the distance. "Meet you back at the ship." I looked a Balthazar. He nodded his head. "Back at the ship." Each of us going different ways to avoid capture. The box was now really a problem to carry since it was only powder, my leg was slowing me down. After some time of fast pacing I stop to catch my breath in a back alley. I did not know where I was going and was lost. I was certain was thoroughly screwed at this moment, but hopefully wouldn’t die in an alleyway. I heard footsteps came towards me as I readied one of my pistols to fire at who ever was coming. Only to stop myself when I saw the little girl who tired to pickpocket me." Ishne to hende." She wanted me to grab her hand. I guess she was wants to repay me for my kindness. I used my arm to make it like waves with some crashing sound to make sure she took me to the docks. She nodded her head, she understood and I grabbed it. She knew the streets well as we darted through backstreets and abandoned alleys where the guards wouldn't find us. After some time we were almost there and seemed to be in the clear.
Then a guard appeared and shouted at us as we made to the edge of the docks. Seeing as he was alone, but not wanting to kill him I just pushed him off the pier. Hopefully he can swim. He wouldn't stop shouting though, attracting more guards. Then we saw it, the Blue Horizon in all it glory. But as we got closer the girl was falling behind before I realized it as I saw ship getting ready to set sail. Balthazar greeted me as I approached. "You made it my friend." he grinned. I smiled back catching my breath. "Well I had hel-." As I turned around the girl had tripped and guards were almost on top of her. I shoved the box into his arms. "Set sail now." As I ran back after her. "Come back you fool." Balthazar shouted in the distance. My mind was made up and I wasn't leaving her. She hurt leg and was limping as the guards approached. I managed to reach her as fast as I could and without realizing I started carrying her. Along with firing a shot at the guards which confused them as a hole appeared at their feet. The ship was setting sail and was already on the water. But I saw a dinghy out on the water. Without thinking I rushed to in and placed the girl in the boat and started untie the rope. I jump in and grabbed the paddles and began to row up a storm. It made us reach the open waters faster as the guards final reach the edge. We were too far out now and heading towards the ship. Silence came to us both as I rowed. I place by hand I front of her with a smile. "Jackson." She smiled back and did the same. "Kima." in a nervous voice. Well I guess I stuck with her now, hopefully Arvin doesn't mind having her onboard. As the ship grew closer and closer as I rowed, cheers heard as they saw my safe return. As the ship was in our sight we could hear cheers from it greeting us, why does this always happen to me.
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