Chapter One: Sadin Flashknife

Author: Hello all. This is actually the third out of a four-part story. I skipped the second for now, and the first is Summer Fire, also published here. Enjoy, and PLEASE review!

The rain fell on the tired land of Noc as if the sky wept for the beleaguered country. The land had once been the most prosperous in Klaern, but now it was as destitute as the poor that lined the city streets. The thick drops ran dark rivulets in the gutters, doing little to clean the grimy road. It only spread the dirt more thinly. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, though that made little difference in the light that filtered through the thick clouds. But some ancient sense told what few decent people remaining in the cold, soiled city that they had better get inside before too much longer. The night-folk were coming abroad, and the scummy taverns were opening the doors, sending a shallow light that was the only welcome luminance in the dark.

It was one such tavern that found itself full of unexpected visitors. The One-eyed Graif was like many of its kind, Dark, dank, and chokingly thick with the fumes of alcohol. There was the usual sound of noisy carousing from the regulars, and the bawdy bar girls that populated such places. But the source of the tension that seemed to subdue the normal crowd, sat at a table in the center of the room. The table was set with a knife, and two cups of ambergrip, a particular potent drink. A group had formed around the table, and all eyes were on the dangerous game being played out. Both man and woman had locked gazes, palms flat upon the table, not a single word uttered. Every glance, every finger twitch was taken into account. This was no drunken contest, for Sadin, the captain of the Graif ship Redsail, and Ferrig, her opponent, were deadly serious. This was, quite literally, a Pirate's Bargain. And by the end of the session, the knife will spill blood.

"How is the family, Ferrig?" Sadin asked casually, testing his guard. She flipped a shiny silver coin onto the blade scarred top. It landed by the knife with a dull thunk. The big man's eyes, clear, and dark like the color of death, glanced at it as it fell, and his mouth twitched. His fingers made no move for the coin, and he again locked gazes with the woman.

"They are well, and the wife sends her wishes. That shipment of grain I- liberated--for ye was good. We took the occasion to try some of it before we sold it to the merchants." Ferrig slowly produced a gold coin from his shirt pocket, being careful to make no move for the knife. Before he flipped it out, he added in a mocking voice. " "And the kiddies would like to thank ye for your gift of your ship. It is well used as a new toy for 'em." Ferrig flipped the coin, and it landed with an equally dull clunk next to the silver. The crowd whispered at the grass-thief's audacity, for many new of Sadin's reputation. There were two rules when dealing with her. Never, ever mock Sadin Flashknife was one.

In the back of the crowd, a dark figure began to move, slowly and carefully towards the table. Black hair fell across a face scarred by too many battles, and the mouth tipped up in a malicious grin. One eye was covered by a dark piece of cloth tied to the side in a ragged knot. The other glittered like a piece of ice, startlingly clear light green.

"Yes, Ferrig, about my ship." Sadin abandoned all pretense of congeniality, "You broke the code, and you know you owe me payment." Sadin flicked out another coin, one that flickered copper, and it landed nearly on top of the knife in the center of the table. "I want more." The dark figure wove closer now, and one hand went to the knife strapped to the dark leather belt. The other slowly withdrew a small vial in one of the many pockets decorating the dark cloak. It was filled with a clear, somewhat gelatinous liquid, and deft fingers spread it quickly on the knife, being careful not to let any touch the bare skin beyond the hide gloves.

"Mmmm, no, girlie," Ferrig said, deliberately insulting the pirate captain. He could not lose his face in front of this woman, infamous or no. "It was no breakin' of the code. I tried to dissuade me mate from ramming your ship, but he would not be talked to." Ferrig spread on hand as if in supplication, while the other flipped a coin. " But. I will pay ye, if you demand it."

"I am glad you are willing Ferrig, and that this could be worked out so efficiently." Sadin said, but her grin did not go to her eyes, and she made no move to leave. "I did not want to have to kill you. I don' t like killing people." Ferrig looked more than a little relieved. He had managed to save face and his life. Sadin was a bad person to cross, and already his mate had payed for the ignorance of just what ship he was ramming. His own ship, Plaincut, was the fastest in his small fleet, and it was a long fall from the bow.

"Good, Sadin, and I thank ye." He muttered to the lady captain, who calmly drank the amber-grip, not even wincing as the spicy liquor hit her throat. Even Ferrig could not accomplish that, and knew it, so he left his cup still full on the table. The crowd was slowly going back to their own drinks, and now only one figure stayed behind to see the thing played out to the finish. "I did na' mean any harm to ye, and my mate has payed for his mistake." Ferrig's eyes were earnest, but there was something behind them that Sadin did not like.

Sadin nodded, but she did not smile now. "I think that you should know one thing more, dear Ferrig. Two rules in dealing with me." Sadin swept up the coins, enough to buy three ships if necessary, and took the knife as well. After she had sheathed it, she glanced at the dark person standing behind Ferrig. She nodded, almost imperceptibly, and finished her sentence. "First, you never mock me, in private or public." Ferrig suddenly slapped a hand to his neck, and his fingers came away bloody. "And two," she said, holding up the appropriate fingers as Ferrig stared dumbly at the blood on his hand, "you never, ever cross Sadin Flashknife." The pirate captain turned to go, but the as an afterthought she turned back again, and looked with something akin to scorn and pity in her blue eyes. " I do not like killing people Ferrig." He slowly slumped in his chair, eyes trying to focus on her, and failing. The poison was quickly working up to his brain. " "That is why I get people to kill for me" and Sadin was gone, followed by her silent shadow. Ferrig slowly slumped to the floor and closed his eyes for the final time.

The dark pair walked side by side down the darker streets. All was silent except for a slight breeze which blew the rain clouds away, the crescent moon showed itself, and for one moment the city looked beautiful, all ancient stones and black slopes in the distance. And then a cloud fell across the pale red Naelr, and the tired city became a dingy, used Brovel girl, cast away in the gutter.

"You did not have to do that, you know," Sadin said after they had walked a bit. "We had enough money." They were headed for the port, and both walked lightly. Good money had been made this night. Sadin was not really angry about the death, and her companion knew it.

Sun-weathered gloves pushed back the dark hood, revealing what once could have been a beautiful face. The woman now looked aged, much older than her twenty-eight years, and only one eye was ever moving for signs of pursuit or ambush. Where the other should have been, a grimy rag haphazardly covered it, and a thin pale scar traced down her dark face. She was Sadin Flashknife.

"Do not forget your place" Sadin said in a husky voice. Her one good eye glanced down at her shorter cousin, who was already shedding fancy cloak and taking off the knife belts.

"Here," she said, handing them to her captain. "You are better able to use them than I." Sadin took the belts and the cloak and draped it across her own shoulders. The dark cape a she had worn as the shadow was discarded in a nearby alley way, because now they had more than enough to buy a less threadbare one. Sadin also buckled her knife belts around her hips, she always felt better with more than one blade at her side.

They had, by now, reached the port of Craskep, and the ships moored there were like the legendary ragt, with fiery eyes and large ragged wings. Sadin stepped from the dock to the grassy sea and her cousin followed her. They had chosen not to moor at the harbor, because they did not know if they were going to be followed. Instead, their ship was further out, well hidden, despite its size, under the cover of the night.

The hilly plains land of Noc were so vast that an interesting means of transport had been set up. Enterprising merchants, instead of long trips by caravans, hired crews and captains to sail giant land bound ships that ran on runners or metal wheels. The vast, hilly plain was much like an ocean and with it came all the dangers of the sea, including pirates. The Graif were feared and hated by all of the merchant bands; and sometimes, when dirty work was necessary, they were hired. When Noc had been destroyed, and most of the natives exiled, then the Graifs had moved in and quietly began to rule the land. Now, even the High Lead, as the usurper Sikar had named himself, could not rule the pirates. The Graif had total control over the western land, and Sadin had control of the Graif.