[h3]Qagan Village, Coast of Khasibuil[/h3]
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The midday sun broke through the ceiling of the village's tavern, illuminating the scars on Bahar's face. The rustic building was largely empty, bereft of life besides the innkeep, the captain, and a small cat purring in a corner, when the floorboards began to creak, new footsteps entering through the doorway. Four men walked in, bearing weapons and gloom faces. Bahar heard them approaching, but did not look up from his drink as they encircled him.

As one of the men, whose beard was long as his teeth were green, knelt onto the counter to meet the sailor's gaze, the innkeep spoke up. "Hey...don't...I don't want trouble in here!" he demanded weakly.

"Shove it, peasant!" one of the men replied, and the innkeep's eyes caught Bahar's, who motioned towards the door. The innkeep nodded, grabbing his cat as he exited. Bahar, placing down his drink, looked to the man next to him.

"What could I do for you boys?" He asked, sarcasm tinging his voice.

The man snarled, his putrid breath causing Bahar to grimace in disgust. "Captain Arik would like a word with you, pig!" As he said this, he slammed his hand on the counter, causing some of the tan sailor's drink to moisten the wood.

"Ah." He threw back what remained in the tankard. "I thought Captain Arik was dead? Considering that I killed him." At these words, the man spat in Bahar's face, who slowly wiped off the saliva with his hand.

"Yeah, well you're about to meet him!" He reached for his blade, but Bahar slammed his fist into his face, causing him to stumble back, his nose a bloody mess. The captain deftly leaped to his feet, throwing another man behind him as he came forward with an attack, the man flying into the glass behind the counter. He dodged as a third man struck at him with an axe, the blade stuck in the wood, and Bahar slammed his head into its shaft. The final goon raised his sword to slice down, his back to the door, when an arrow was lodged in his neck, and his face wore a shocked expression as he fell to the floor.

Across the room, a Qurn was holding a readied bow. Next to him, Admiral Nadurtha, the High King's naval coordinator. As the two of them stepped into the tavern followed by a handful of Taisafirin, the Admiral looked to the pirates, and shouted, "Leave." The three surviving criminals quickly scurrying out. "You're getting careless, Bahar." 

The captain chuckled, and sat back at the counter, rubbing the red of his bloodstained knuckles on his blue and white clothing, while the mercenaries stood guard at the door. "I knew they were coming, why else would I go to the tavern alone?" Smirking, the Admiral went behind the bar and poured the captain a glass of date wine. "So, Nadi, how's King Had's boots tasting?"

Pouring a glass for herself, the admiral responded, "That's High King Had," she corrected before continuing, "and lately...salty." The wine tasted bittersweet, and awfully warm. "I suppose you know why I've sought after you?" Bahar nodded.

"I suppose I do."

"What do you know about these foreign ships, these Junks?" the admiral inquired.

Bahar shrugged as the corpse was removed behind him. "Same as everybody else. They use magic. Black flag, you live poor. Red flag, you die rich," He paused, contemplating the last sentence, before adding, "Or, as rich as an Olirian can be without a king's blood."

"You've done well for yourself, captain." The admiral responded.

"You've done better, admiral." The two of them stopped a moment, an awkward silence hanging in the air.

Nadurtha broke it with a question. "How's your new first mate?" They locked eyes.

"He's doing well, Formorians know the sea better then most Men." Coughing on the drink, he added, "Much better than my last one." Nadurtha rolled her eyes.

"You know you'd be in my shoes if you could-"

"If I could what? Reign it in? Control myself? Bow down to some throne to live a life of-of...nothing!" He stood up. "When's the last time you actually set sail, Nadurtha?" The admiral averted his gaze, staring blankly at the wall. After waiting a moment, Bahar scoffed. "That's what I thought." He walked towards the door, pushing the guards out of his way, when the woman called after him.

"Wait!" Bahar stopped. "Bahar...we need you, we need the Liba. I know it's been hard to find work since the privateering days have ended, and I know you're not the sort to enjoy escorts and transportation." The captain turned around.

"Why should I take this job?"

"If not for a sense of civic duty, then...do it for the pay." Bahar shook his head, and continued for the door, when Nadurtha stepped forward to latch onto his arm. "Do it...do it for me, Bahuri."

A couple hours later, Bahar walked to his ship, the Liba. His crew was loading the supplies they had bought from the village market onto the dhow, while Bahar's first mait, Has, stood on the dock. As his captain approached, he asked, "Captain, are you okay? I saw those men walk and, and then those guards..."

"I'm fine, friend." As he leapt onto his ship, he said, "Get ready to depart, I found us a job." 

"Oi, best news I heard all day captain! Where we headed?" The men stopped loading to hear their captain's response.

"Rilik."