King of the Corsairs (AoA)

I don't think the guys down at Norg were too happy to see me when I stepped off the Ephramadian sloop that had carried me over from Aradjiah proper. They were cringing right proper when I approached them, anyway, and I doubt it was my natty duds and well-polished boots that did it. They all had on those silly Far Eastern wannabe topknots and tried to placate me with ingratiating grins. "Welcome to Norg, Lord Garath," their leader, a pretend Samurai in red armor and kote, said with a nervous smile.

I smirked. "I'd say it was nice to be here, but I must say that I'm kinda unimpressed with your digs." I glanced around, pulling a face. "This place is the biggest smuggler's hole in the Middle Lands? Seriously? It's a hole in the wall and it stinks of seaweed." I tugged down my tricorne reflexively.

"I'm sure it doesn't compare with the splendors of the Kingdom of Ephramad," my guide tried again, "but it's home. If you'll come this way--"

I trailed after the Tenshodo kiddies, surreptitiously checking out their manpower. A bunch of seedy-looking smugglers; filthy pirates who hadn't bathed in a week; a Galka or two for muscle; a scraggly kid in Bastokan rags trying to get someone, anyone to believe he was important; a Goblin with a tray of worthless brik-a-brak for sale; a couple of sorry-looking chocobos tied up by the cave entrance; and some smug Far Easterners glowering in my direction with ill-hidden contempt. I shot them back a look of same. THESE were Ephramad's allies? Prince Luzaf would be spinning in his watery grave at the depths to which proud Ephramad had sunk.

They took me to the back chambers, guarded by several burly Tenshodo with mean expressions and more tattoos than brains. I had vague recollections of Seik teaching me that the fearsome pirate Gilgamesh had ruled here in his youth. The Rogue Faction had formed the Shadow Council after his death, and it was those eminences that sat in his chambers now. A large round table of black stone rested in the center of the well-appointed room. "Sorry I'm late," I said flippantly, tipping my tricorne to the three seated at the table and their retinues in attendance. "This being my first Shadow Council meeting and all, I'm sure you all will forgive me for being a bit seasick."

I plopped down at the table and propped up my boots on the black stone. An older Mithra seated directly to my left rolled her eyes, her fingers caressing her chin as she took my measure. I shot her a wink, causing her cronies situated behind her to growl fiercely. "How about we start with introductions?" I crooned, at my most persuasive.

"This isn't the time for games, Garath," a stern-faced Hume woman across from me said.

I pouted at her. "Why so mean, sweetie? You know how we Corsairs are--it's ALWAYS the time for games." I swung my feet down. "Besides, I'd LOVE to get your personal info." I grinned at her, gratified by the angry flush that spread across her appealingly pale cheeks.

"Fine, I'll indulge your foolishness," she snapped. "I'm Kaede of Bastok. I represent the interests of the Tenshodo."

An Elvaan man with cold eyes sat to my right and jerked his head at me in a steely nod. "Esterimond of San d'Oria. I represent the Brugaire Consortium."

"Nanaa Mihgo of Windurst," the Mithra to my left half-purred, her eyes half-lidding. "I'm surrrre I don't have to tell you I represent only myself. The gil starts and ends with me in Mindartia, kitten."

"Naturally, madam, your reputation precedes you," I murmured. "And who represents Norg?"

"That would be me," a light voice said behind me.

I turned to look, then rose to my feet. A ravishing woman in the full bloom of maturity stood behind me, wrapped in a skintight catsuit, her tousled, thick red hair flowing down her back. She strode past Esterimond to sit next to Kaede with an air of authority. "The name's Lion," she told me, flashing me a full-lipped smile. "My father was Gilgamesh of Norg."

"My Lady Lion!" I said admiringly, resuming my seat. "I must say, I'm flattered to share a Council table with so many ladies of such legendary beauty and poise."

Esterimond made a soft, rude sound in the back of his throat. "The Rogue Faction has come to a sorry state indeed, that so many mere females sit at Council."

"Say that to my face, you stuck-up--!" Nanaa Mihgo started, but I held up a gloved hand.

"I haven't gotten to introduce myself yet. I'm sure you're all dying of curiosity." I smirked. "I am Viceroy Garath of the Kingdom of Ephramad, Captain of the Pearline Swan."

"I see your own reputation is one hundred percent correct, my Lord," Lion said with a mischievious grin. "I've heard you're quite the charmer."

"And no doubt that I'm an ambitious swindler," I laughed. "All true, no doubt. Men without drive don't make it in Ephramad."

"Is it trrrrue you don't have a drop of Ephramadian blood in you?" Nanaa Mihgo asked shrewdly.

I shrugged exaggeratedly, my eyes carelessly closed and my hands spread. "Who could say? Who these days IS a true Ephramadian? All I know is, Ephramad and indeed our entire Rogue Faction, is where a man with no name and no wealth can make both for himself if he has the nerve--" I flourished my spread hands and suddenly had a hexagun pointing straight at Kaede's head, then in another swift motion it was gone. "--and the ability." I smiled at her winningly, and she lowered a drawn kunai slowly, her eyes still narrowed at me. "My title has nothing to do with my parents, I can tell you that much. I was adopted when I was five by a free-minded Mithra named Seikatsu, and I can tell you that she instilled the right sorts of values in me, which is to say: 'There is no glory or honor in battle, but in it a man can gain or lose all he desires.'"

Lion smiled approvingly at my quote of the Corsair saying. "Well put, Lord Garath."

"Enough frivolities," Esterimond said impatiently. "We have business to discuss."

"Not least is the leadership situation in Ephramad," Kaede added sharply. "What is the status, Lord Garath? Too long have you Ephramadians claimed you a kingdom without a king!"

I leaned back again in my chair, staring thoughtfully up at the ceiling. A pair of dice blossomed in my hands and I rolled them around slowly, letting them tumble across my leather-swathed palm. "You must understand, my dear Lady Kaede, Prince Luzaf was the last of Ephramad's royal line, and he perished well over two centuries ago without an heir. As everyone knows, in the first few years of our existence as a kingdom, we tried to find anyone of the royal blood remaining, but there's just none. It's been too long, and there's been too much persecution and--dare I say it--interbreeding with our Imperial oppressors to maintain a true bloodline." I winked at Kaede, who still looked vaguely scandalized.

"So what's the plan?" Nanaa Mihgo demanded. "The longer you all remain leaderrrless, the easier it'll be for some other country to come in and pluck you like a Buburimu grape."

"Unlike other countries, we don't NEED a king to defend ourselves," I snapped back with a bit more pique than I really meant. "So far, we've been making decisions in committee much like this one. All ship captains have a seat at the table."

"So no news to report then?" Esterimond drawled. "How typical of our lazy Ephramadian brothers."

DAMN, he was pissing me off. I was beginning to thank my stars that the royal family of Ephramad HAD died all off, if they were all Elvaan like this prig. I rolled my eyes. "Actually, we're going to find a more... unorthodox solution to finding a king," I said with a wide grin.

Lion raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"A tournament!" I smiled, leaning forward. "Open to everyone in the Rogue Faction, actually. Winner take all. One of those silly games you all love from us so much."

Kaede tried to stifle a sound that was half gasp, half laugh. "You're handing over leadership of the world's most powerful navy to... to.... the winner of a GAME?!"

I smirked and with a jerk of my hand, dealt an ice-blue card into the center of the table, following them with my dice. They landed upon the card, then froze into a block of ice. "You got it, cutie," I told her. "And I intend on winning."

"Surely you're not serrrrious," Nanaa Mihgo protested disgustedly. "You're barely more than a kitten, and you're gonna be the King of Ephramad?"

"Yup!" I bounded up from my chair. "Might as well put your money on it now, ladies and gentle--well, really just ladies here aren't we?" I gave Esterimond a scathing look, which he returned in full force. "The odds are good and likely that Garath is going to become King of the Corsairs--" I drew my gun once again, with a wide flourish, then pointed it at the sky. "--and then, ALL of the world's riches will be mine!"