[i]4 hours later[/i]

The Weather Witch creaked lazily, which showed just how powerful the storm was outside. The Caravel, along with the Cogs and strange Arad Carracks were anchored within the cavern that housed the Blood Axe Corsairs, now having been integrated into Markus' crew. The Corsairs still outnumbered the western pirates heavily, but with a lack of cohesion in leadership and a desire to follow Markus after his brutal display at slaying their previous captain, they were given a fair amount of freedom. 

The water was relatively calm within the sanctuary of the hidden docks, and so Markus had not felt too worried on staying aboard the ship. Thunder rolled in the distance, and the torchlights flickered within his cabin as he concentrated. Shoulders covered in his new blood red cloak, his dark eyes flicked to his opponent, meeting their gaze. Reaching forward with a deliberate hesitation, he finally made his move. 

"Check," He said, removing Calliope's Knight from the chess board. He had never been what one might call an expert in the game, but he felt he was good. Calliope, however, was toying with him in his opinion. She had either played far more than he, or her mind was simply more structured toward strategy, at least on a certain scale. "And now-" He said, leaning back and crossing his hands behind his head. His shirt was unbuttoned and open due to the heat that permeated in the cavern. "I'll watch you somehow wiggle your way out of this one again." 

There was a light, almost boyishly sly smile on his face. A farcry from the terrible warrior and grim captain he had been mere hours ago. As she made her move, he sighed. And now his queen was in davy jones locker. "As much as I like losing, I invited you here for more than just games." He said, and he glanced out the darkened stained windows of his cabin. The statement was a long time coming, but it came. "I wanted to ask how you would advise keeping the blood axes in line, but so far they seem complacent. Which begs the question..." 

His eyes bore into her own. "We had forty men when we were granted the new recruits back on the mainland. Sketti did the count, and we have one hundred and twenty eight fighting men now. After we plunder the treasure ship...we might not need to buy many more mercenaries before we'll storm Calaverde. We could potentially do it now, if you thought they would be unprepared... which reminds me." 

He reached for a sack that had been hanging upon the back of his chair, and he kicked his legs up on the table as he reached within. "We found a few things. One is for myself-" He said, patting the new ornate scabbard leaning by the table. "One is a map I'll need help deciphering." Plucking it out, he tossed the rolled up map to her, a seemingly unremarkable piece of brown, worn parchment. Tied in a purple ribbon, to her magesight she would see an enclosed glow as if contained within was an open flame. He stood up, and past the map she would see the next item he produced. In his callused hands was a strange and terrible diadem, studded with black pearls and at its center? A skull of black iron. 

No one questioned whether Markus was in charge, but the Blood Axes were apprehensive about Calliope, even more than his own crew. If they didn't respect her position as his first mate, they would at least fear her. As he placed it on her head, he said. "You never told me how you freed yourself from the djinni shackles." 
[@Penny]