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- Today is the nineteenth ahn of the first hand, in the month of Se`Kara. We have just left the Helmutsport. While docked there I sent out a few men to fetch food and drink for the ship. Once the papers were finished, I went out to the market. I noticed a girl that stood about five in foot. She wore no collar nor brand. I took it that she was fresh to slavery. Maybe once a free woman. After looking over her I decided that a girl may make the trip on The Silver Laybis a little more pleasing. I bought her for a piece of gold. The price was high, but though she would make it worth while out on Thassa's waters. Later, I named her Qah ri when she received her brand and collar. While docked we also gained a new crew member. He calls himself Jahd. Standing he is close to seven foot. A scar is upon his cheek and marks upon his back. I assumed that he had fallen prey to a whip knife. On his side he carries a shield, his back, a long sword. I think he could have been outlaw, for the way he wished to leave so quickly.
- It has been a hand since last I wrote. The day after my last writing we reached the area in which we are to sit and wait. We are about five hundred passangs west of Lydius. The tide is lowering quickly. Soon we will raid our first ship. We have noted that the port is crowding quickly and soon they will have to leave due to the lowering tide. We will try to take one of the smaller vessels that do not carry quite as many men in its galleys as would a large ship. I have somewhere around forty to forty-five men in my crew. Each one a master of the peasant bow and of swords. On a lighter note, the men have found Qah ri most pleasing. She has learned her place quickly after being put to the oars twice. She has learned somewhat the art of dance and of what men like. She has been sleeping in the hold for the last hand. It seems the men are growing quite anxious for our raids to begin. You can tell in their eyes how much Thassa is starting to get to them. The twentieth Ahn is approaching and I shall sleep for now.
- Today one of the crew has spotted a southern trade ship. This is the one I believe we will try to take. Once the word had gotten out that a ship was approaching, the men seemed to grow quite pleased. Knowing it would be a day or two before it would reach us, we took celebration in it. The men cheered for the first time since they have seen Qah ri. It is good to know their emotions are high for the oncoming raid. The mead and ale which is in the lower decks were locked down so that none of the men would get drunk and jeopardize the raid, for we cannot risk it. Qah ri has visited many benches of the men during the celebration. She seems to be learning quickly her place. The man Jahd seems to be separate from the men. Maybe he is just not one to trust. This I do not know yet. The weapons are being placed upon the deck at this moment incase the raid would have to take place before we planned.
- The crew of the approaching ship seems to have noticed us on the horizon. Their sails have billowed and caught the wind. They are changing course south at a rapid pace. The men find it pleasing to chase them. Knowing our ship is lighter and quicker, we eased back our pace so that the oars are not dipping too quickly. It seems they will try to make Helmusport for safety. Our sails have caught the wind and we will be upon them within an ahn. The oarsmen are readying the bows so they can take out the people on the upper deck. The men are growing quite joyful, but still weary of the outcome. Qah ri was placed in the hold so that if a rain of arrows would fall, I would not lose a slave as well. The man Jahd has caught the eyes of many of my men. I have a feeling he will be killed after the raid. One of the officers came to me and mentioned that it is a ship of Cos. I dismissed him and thought of what the ship would carry, and of what price the captives might bring to me in Ar. The first arrow was launched a Ihn ago. It seems the raid has started. I must take my place.
- The raid was successful. I have sent two officers and half the crew to the ship so they may bring it back to Port Kar with us. Such a ship may come in handy at some time. Aboard the ship there were hides, wine, mead, perfumes, and gold. The booty will be much welcomed in The Guild. It will be a hand before we reach our beloved Port, where we will be welcomed with the open arms of slave girls. I believe there will be much celebration that night. The only thing that worries me is the number of men aboard both ships is not enough to ward off a raid if one would happen. An officer told me during the raid, the man Jahd was cut down. I suspect that he was used for bait to set an ambush, but it is one man that meant nothing to the crew nor me. I believe I will have the girl Qah ri come to my room this night and please me with a dance. It has been a prosperous raid.
- We have entered the Tamber Gulf about two Ahn ago. I figure we shall reach the Port within the day. The girl Qah ri has been pleased to be with us. I take it now she would value her collar more than freedom. We passed a ship of Cos. I made sure to keep The Silver Laybis within the shadow of my new ship The Hesa Sani. The Cos ship did not spot The Silver Laybis. We have run low on fruits and dried meat. We are living off of the fish we caught with our nets.
- We have just docked the Silver Laybis and the Hesa Sani. I have dispatched my men to unload each ship. A happiness fell upon my men when they knew for sure that we were prosperous in our raid. As I thought before, the slaves of the Guild came with open arms for the men. The men will rest tonight and find pleasure in their arms. They deserved it. As for Qah ri, once we were docked I had the fist girl of the Guild take her into the building and dress her as a slave should be dressed, in the finest of slave silks a person could find in Port Kar.
- The booty form the Hesa Sani was taken by Gomb, my most trusted officer. He would be the one in charge of the trading or selling of our goods. I will set three men on the task of painting the new ship, most likely back with red trim, so that the people of Cos would not know it was one of theirs by the coloring. Tonight I feel I will engage a player in one of the taverns in a good game of kaissa. It has been awhile since last I have played the game.
- I have played the player in the game of kaissa, and like I thought I was beaten. I think if a player ever wanted to be a Captain, he would be one that no one would like to call their foe. I stayed playing the game throughout the night and at first sun rise I took my leave. As I walked down the alleys and roods in the Port I noticed a man that seemed to be miss placed there, due to the grey color of his robes. Later I learned his name and city. The man Elronnd was of the Caste of warriors. We talked for a while, and for some strange reason I grow to be fond of the man. I returned to the Guild later this day and found myself calling for the girl Qah ri more and more, so she became my personal slave.
- I awoke with the girl Qah ri at my feet, it pleased me to see her there. Her skin was dark from shadows and small highlights could be made out from the flickering dance that the fire made in the lamps. I arose and went to the servery, I noted that no other was awake and did not wish them to be so. I reached for a bottle then went to my lovely Silver Laybis. I sat on her rim for more that ten Ahn. After the men started asking questions, I leaped from her rim and walked through the streets of my beloved Port. I believe I felt I was missing something. But what it was I could not tell. I have gold, slaves, crew, ships. What more can there be out there. I pondered over this matter for the rest of the day.
- When I awoke today, it was mid day. I rose questioningly about how I could have slept so long, then figured it to be the drink I had the day before. I dressed in my normal black cloak and drew the hood close around my face letting the tattoo hide in the darkness that the hood made. I found myself for some reason to be walking down the street. I noticed people about me and then I understood. I knew now what I felt I was missing. I looked about and with great disgust went back to The Guild. I was not pleased at what I had found out about myself. I wanted to love, to be able to entrust in a woman something that one can not entrust to a slave.
- Last night, for some reason, I entrusted in the girl Qah ri. I have fallen for the girl in a way that I have not fallen for any other living thing. I allowed her to rest on my sheets and pelts of luscious furs. I told her that I felt for her, that I wanted her. I allowed her to be left unchained. When I awoke this morn, I was holding her and caressing her like one would a woman. I do not know what is happening to me, and do not want others to know that I am going soft and changing. I fear the worst: that I may lose my crew and men, that they will think me not worthy to lead them any more. I have not seen the girl since I awoke, but took my leave to the streets of my beloved port. I have been pondering my thoughts over a barrel of mead and find it is not helping. I will take my leave from the port and the girl. Perhaps even bring a ship and crew to the north and try a raid. It will make me come back to my senses.
- I have been to sea for more than a hand. My men seem not to notice a change in the way I hold or carry myself. I have found myself thinking more and more of the girl. We have not seen a ship the whole time we have been gone. I will make the men go farther north; hopefully we can make a good raid there. I know it will be more risky for the fact that we will have farther to take flight if the raid goes wrong. I will see if we have the goods to make the trip before giving my orders. It seems that my thoughts are starting to change. I am just glad that I noticed them before another did. I am thinking of freeing the girl upon my return to my beloved port.
- My crew saw a ship, no one can see of what city it belongs to. It is too far from where we sit to see the colors. I will tell the crew to start slowly after the ship. I will have them drop buckets, tied to ropes, over the side. This way we will look like we are weighted down and are after trades. Once we are upon them I will have the crew drop the ropes and start the raid. This way if anything happens I will have the full speed of the ship since it is not weighted and then the other will have to wait til they may get to full speed. I feel it will give us an extra Ahn or so. I have given the word and soon we will reach the other ship.
To be continued, next month .........
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