Title:           Travels with a Yellow Bird Part 9: Sea Witch
Author:          YBA
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/6B9eqHnL
First Edit:      Friday 24th of January 2014 12:18:13 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Friday 24th of January 2014 12:18:13 AM CDT

>Last time on Travels with a Yellow Bird
 
>You outran the Dragoon frigate and made it to the borders of the sunken continent of Natans
 
>In the reef-sheltered waters you repaired your damaged ship
 
>Esla the lizardgirl pledged to belong to you body and soul if you heal her damaged eye with the heart's blood of a mermaid
 
>You decided to hunt a mermaid but your resolve failed you in the critical moment
 
>Your new pirate crew had no such pangs of conscience and seriously wound the first mermaid innocent enough to approach
 
>You save her from death but she needs more experienced help to recover.
 
Time to save the girl.
 
The mermaid trade city of Dredge peeks above the horizon. The lonely docks and tall masts make it look more like a marina married to a market than a real town. All the mermaids live in the water so there's barely any buildings, a mere few boathouses for legged residents.
 
I wait in the crow's nest for Flit to return, spyglass in hand. I watch the town closely, wary of the iron ship moored at the docks. It's the same frigate that chased us off the wreckage of the pirate ship. I'm sure of it. I dare not take our own ship any closer to the town.
 
I look down below. The mermaid girl still hasn't woken from her sleep. It's been two days and things are no better or worse than the first night. Her pallid face looks peaceful. The sight stabs at my heart, and I look back to the sea.
 
Hours later, Flit finally returns in a whirlwind of golden yellow feathers. The harpy brings a stranger in tow, an older mermaid in shaman's garb. Flit introduces her as the famous sea witch of Dredge. The mermaid glides to the ship gracefully, hints of a lost sensuality evident in twists of her tail. She climbs aboard gamely enough.
 
I snap a double take when she steps on deck, steps on deck with two human legs. I hear some of the crew gasp. Whispers of sorcery and dark magic swirl about her. But Flit chose to bring her here. That means we weren't getting help from anyone else.
 
The old mermaid witch walks over to the wounded girl, bone necklace rattling. She goes over the child's wounds, peers in her vacant eyes and listens to her chest. She notices something and runs her gaze over the crew carefully. Her eyes settle on the tatooed northern pirate, wrapped tightly in her furs. The witch gives her a knowing smile then glances over my crew. The short pirate glares her down before turning her head aside.
 
 
The sea witch raises off the deck and approaches me. "I may be an old woman now captain, but a sea bishop like me still remembers a few tricks. I can heal the girl. Your envoy promised payment for services rendered. I would prefer to discuss that privately." She assaults me with a charming smile and a veiled glance from her sharp eyes.
 
I lead the sea witch to my room. She stumbles on the deck and grabs my arm for support as the ship bobs over the waves.
 
"I apologize for my clumsiness." She mumbles. "It's been a very long time since I've used a pair of legs."
 
Her healthy matured bosom presses tightly against me the rest of the way through the ship. She only lets go after she takes a seat at my table. Flit paces nervously outside the door. The bird is always on edge when I'm in danger or around other women. She probably considers it the same I think. The mermaid looks around the cabin in fair wonder. The map of light in particular catches her attention.
 
"So you're the ones that fleeced the Ironscale. She’s got reward posters of you sailing out on every fast ship leaving Limus." She stifles a throaty laugh. "But down to business first. I'll tell you now all I want for is for you to return that girl to her home. Do not leave her here, in such dangerous waters." She leans over the table, necklace framing her bust. "But that is not what you will tell your crew. I have a reputation to uphold. One of the few reasons the Dragoon haven't bothered to conquer our little lagoon yet. You will tell them I demanded a blood sacrifice, a piece of your soul or a deal with a demon. I don’t care. Make it good, and sell it well."
 
The old mermaid taps her nails on the worn oak. "The cause of all this is a scale prisoner you're holding. She also needs healing does she not? That I can do, for a different price. She must never marry or have a family. If she does, the spell will be broken and she will be left as she was."
 
The mermaid cackles, filling the room with her laughter. "A Dragoon never deserves to know that happiness, but let her weight the price." She looks at me slyly. "Unless of course, you have anything else to offer?"
 
>Agree to both deals
>Save the mermaid and take her home
>Offer the sea witch the map
>Press the sea witch for another deal
>Other
 
The sea witch scoffs when I mention the map should be of fair value. "What would I do with such a trifle?" She runs a sharp nail over the crystal base. "Besides, I don't deal in stolen goods. You took it from a dragon, and I want no part of it."
 
"Well what would a mermaid find value in?" I shoot back.
 
Something is amiss, my mouth parches under her eyes. She graces me with a practiced smile. "Here's a simple one. I have a name for myself in town. That means I have appearances to keep up. I never get to act like a maid. People fear me."
 
The sea witch plays with the vertebrae and teeth on her necklace. I notice human-looking teeth included in the lot. She rests her cheek in her hand. "To the point. It's been ages since I knew the joy of some simple company. So sit with me this evening. Listen to my songs. Eat with me. Drink with me. Talk with me. And I will save your lizardgirl."
 
She stands shakily on her legs and heads toward the door.
 
"I will attend the young maid now. Let me know your answer when I return."
 
>Entertain the mermaid
>Wrack your brain for something else to trade
>Other
 
The sea witch anxiously fiddles with her necklace as she returns, diminutive mermaid and Flit in tow. The little girl is practically skipping on the deck. She smiles and waves when she sees me. Flit nods at me and gives me a warning look before herding the small fish lady away. She closes the door behind her, leaving the sea witch alone with me in the cabin.
 
The elder mermaid glances behind and gives a genuine smile, emphasizing the wrinkles around her sharp eyes. "The child will be just fine. Only keep her away from the water until you return her home. Her fins will sprout when she touches the sea."
 
My heart swells with relief. "Thank you, my lady." I gesture for her to have a seat at the table. "It would be my pleasure to entertain you this evening."
 
The sea witch looks pleased as she sits down at my table. "Please call me Riga. You do an old woman great honor."
 
I call for Flit to have food and drink brought from our sizable stores. A crewman brings plenty with haste. The mermaid accepts them graciously and with a smile. The meat and hardtack isn't great, but edible. The wine is of good quality, if young and sweet.
 
Our conversation rambles from the young girl to the surrounding waters to the weather. The mermaid has a innate kindness in her speech I've not found since I left home.
 
Riga cackles when she finishes her fourth cup of wine. "My, a dinner date with a handsome young sailor. And a rebel captain at that. I know a hundred younger prettier girls who wish they were in my scales right now." She makes a pointed gesture at the door. "Perhaps even a couple here on your ship." She laughs and makes a flapping motion with her elbows. "I've not seen a golden harpy like that in fifty years. I swore they were wiped out. You only ever see the blacks and browns and greens now. Where are you off to anyway? East it looks like, through the shallows."
 
I make a pass at changing the subject and she laughs again.
 
"I understand. It's a secret." She cuts me off. "Well, how about a song? I think I've had enough wine to make it a good one." Riga clears her throat and takes another drink.
 
What follows is the most beautiful rendition of Zar Carolus I've heard in my entire life. I'm almost in tears. I give her a standing ovation and she tries to bow on unsteady legs before falling back in her chair.
 
"Haven't lost my voice yet." She smiles proudly. "You know my husband used to love that one too. I won him over on a dock on the Argilla River." She refills her cup. "Before the Dragoon took him."
 
Her eyes darken. "That was almost fifty years ago. I never found him, but I remembered their faces, the ones that took him. It took years, but I made them pay, every last one." She runs her fingers over the sets of fangs on her necklace. "A shame they kept such terrible records of their captives. That's when they began to call me the sea witch."
 
Riga drinks down her wine. "But enough dark thoughts on this fine evening. I'll mend your Lizarda. Then you and I shall return hence for another round of drink and song."
 
I offer the mermaid my arm and we open the door to see Flit and several of the crew waiting on the other side. They all scatter dutifully. We make our way to the brig where Elsa lays sleeping in her cot.
 
I see her begin to stir when we approach. The sea witch puts her finger to her lips in a hushing motion and mutters "Scarmagrimmitch casulgahnya." The Lizarda settles back down into a deep sleep. I take my keys and open the cell door. The iron hinges creak, letting the mermaid inside.
 
She removes Elsa's bandage and examines both ruined eyes. They swivel back and forth in Elsa's dreaming sleep. The witch takes off her necklace and unstrings a single fang from it.
 
The mermaid mutters something I can't catch and the enamel dissolves to dust in her hand. She spreads the powder on both eyes carefully with her withered hands.
 
 
In front of my disbelieving eyes I see both of Elsa's eyes clear and brighten to a fiery red. They still roam in the focusless of sleep, but there is light in them again.
 
We leave Elsa to sleep and return to the Captain's quarters. I don't ask about the magic used and we sing and drink together late into the night. The mermaid finally bids me goodnight and kisses me gently on the cheek. "Tread carefully Captain. I'd pretend to be a part of your crew and try to steal you for myself too. That is, if I wasn't old enough to beyond such guile."
 
I bid her farewell and she slips into the dark waters over the side. Soon we'll sail back to the reefs. Then we'll need to decide our route through the treacherous waters of Natans.
 
>Take the route by the cliffs
>Take the route by the great whirlpool
>Bluff or fight through one of the three main trade routes
>Find a new mast at the islands first
>Resupply
>Other