A Pirate's Deal

"You know, we should have seen this coming," the blue-haired elf commented, looking at the pair of silver-haired elves and red-haired dwarf that she was tied to.

"Shu, shut up," the older silver-haired one requested. She looked at the group of pirates celebrating around them, and the female orc on the plank above the open water. She had her hands firmly tied behind her, her mouth gagged, and a sword to her back. "Pirates were always possible on the open waters, but between mainland Orobia and Giuss?"

"I'm more concerned by the fact that if we don't hurry up and get out of these bonds," the dwarf said, "the sharks in these waters will be feasting on orc. Also, did these guys HAVE to blow up my ship?"

"Gargec!" the younger silver-haired elf chastised.

"It was a damn good ship, built it myself!" the dwarf complained. "You helped!"

"You shouldn't have left when you did, Dura," the pirate captain, a human with platinum blonde hair, teal eyes, a scar across his nose, and wearing a brown jacket over his white shirt and black pants, told the dwarf. "We could have avoided this particular band of unfortunate circumstances if you stayed on my side until after Dilazak was dealt with!"

"I'm sorry," Shu spoke up, looking up from behind Gargec. "Is Dilazak what this whole 'pirate raid on our ship' was all about? That jerk who has been sending whole crews of bounty hunters after us even though we have done NOTHING to justify trying to kill us?"

"Pretty sure Dura's relationship to us is reason enough," the older silver-haired elf quipped.

"Ish," the younger of the silver-haired sisters replied. The pirate captain looked at the bound group.

"I'm sorry, what?" he asked.

"Right," Gargec said, looking up at the human. "Look, Captain... Howegard, was it?" The man nodded. "Listen, Dilazak wants all of us dead... whatever falling out you and Dura had with the ruler of Giuss, it's affected all of us. Surely, you believe that the enemy of my enemy--"

"Is my enemy's enemy," Howegard cut him off. "Certainly not my friend. You Orobians are too trusting... too reliant on genie magic to fix all of your problems."

"I'm from Xuhua," Shu protested.

"And I'm Odioseran," the dwarf remarked. "I don't know how Giussean sailors treat those who share a common foe, but Odioserans know when an enemy is too great to face by themselves, and decide whether or not to kill each other after that common foe is dealt with. So, you have three choices:" Pulling his hand free, he explained, "Door 1: take turns throwing us to the sharks like you intend to, starting with Dura for not siding with you. Door 2: just behead the lot of us and be done with it since it's leagues faster than making us shark food or drowning. Or Door 3: you let us live for the time being, and use us against Dilazak. We're forced to help you do... whatever it is you intend, and we're clear of his bounty."

Dura glared at Gargec, and began screaming at him. Unfortunately for her, she forgot she was muffled, so she couldn't vocalize her objections to Gargec's proposal well-known. However, her scowl and tone was more than enough to make her rejection of this plan understandable.

"Gargec," the younger of the silver-haired elves asked, "are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, they want to kill at least Dura... and probably you, now, for trying to negotiate with them. Remember Cyrgin?"

"Well, it was either this or offer to join their crew, and they barely seem to have enough food to feed the hands on deck," her older sister replied, observing a few skinny pirates.

"...Intriguing logic, dwarf," Howegard interjected. "But the best option for you in particular, Door 3, relies on your belief that I'll be too happy to have my revenge on that coward and snake that I'll just let Dura's betrayal slide."

"Whether Dura didn't work with you back then or not, it doesn't change that Dilazak has ordered her death now, and he's going to want you BOTH dead," Gargec reasoned. "However, by making the mistake of not killing either of you back when you were with him... he gave you the option of joining forces against him. Between Dura's strength and your cunning, Howegard... I don't think the so-called 'Sea Governor' will stand a chance. Or, you can off us here and now to try to take the bounty on our heads, and who knows if Dilazak will wipe your bounty clean, Howegard. But I doubt he will. Besides, the worst thing that happens if you force us to help you is that we'll be slaughtered by Dilazak's crew and those on Giuss who are loyal to him, leaving you to get away once again."

Howegard frowned, and looked at his crew. "Men... I know how much we all really, REALLY want to drop this orc into the drink, and take bets on if she drowns or if some underwater beast gets her. However, the dwarf... makes a valid argument." He then turned to Gargec... and pulled out a pistol, aiming it at the dwarf. "But I've got a counter-proposal, dwarf. You, and only YOU, help me with this next heist, prove your trustworthiness... and I might let your miserable lot live long enough to help me deal with Dilazak."

"Just me...?" Gargec asked.

"Well, if not, we can always replace Dura with you on that plank," Howegard pointed out, just as a colossal great white viciously leaped out of the water, crunching at the plank.

"Okay, okay!" Gargec said. "Why does everything in the Radiearan Ocean seem to hate me!?"

"Possibly because you're a fire dragon," the blue-haired elf whispered. "A lot of the beasts here like to try to eat fire elementals, so your heightened temperature makes you a more tempting target."

"Oh, NOW someone tells me," Gargec complained.