They didn't move a muscle until the last rustling murmur of conversation and rustle of foliage had faded off into the jungle.
Then Ex-Sargent Daniwyda spun to face the towering bulk of Doesfyr Freynahctsyn. "Subtlety ye damned fool! Is it too much ter ask fer ten minutes o'patience an' gods-blasted subtlety! By the Scholar's Arse!"
Turning her back on the other marauder, Dani threw open the oppressively hot maelstrom jacket and fanned herself with the thick red canvas. Underneath it, the middle aged commander wore a gleaming cuirass of pure ishgaurdian steel, elegant, well-fitted, and certainly not standard issue. The so-called privets under her command were already throwing their Limsian paraphernalia to the jungle floor, stripping to their sailor shirts and slops.
"Dunno what yer gettin' so high an' might about Sarge" Doesfyr leered down at the smaller Roegadyn. "Lubbers never stuck round ter argue an' if they had we could o'fucked that lot right back ter their swivving camp! So what's yer bloody.."
His jibes were cut short by the crack of breaking molars, as the handle of Dani's long axe caught him square in the lower jaw. She had delivered the blow in perfect silence, striking before Doesfyr could so much as reach for his own weapon.
The trio froze into shocked silence, while Dani coolly wiped the splatter of blood from her axe handle.
"The problem is insubordination, Sailor. Yer tongue endangered our mission an' I'll not be tolerating that on my ship."
Reaching into the pocket of her sloppy officer coat, Daniwyda produced a tarnished, iron coin, no larger than a gil piece. She buffed her prize lightly against her sleeve and held it up for the group to see. One side bore the visage of a Hulking Roegadyn in an iron crown. The other showed the silhouette of a muscular woman bearing a shield.Â
"There." She said in a quiet voice, brimming with confidence. "The shield maiden of Koen Eidendraga. This is going ter bring all four o'us the favor o'the Admiral. You three play yer cards right... an' mayhap I'll be reccomendin' ye fer ships of yer own."
The trio remained silent, casting hungry eyes to the prize. However the blood trickling down Doesfyr's chin and the brash grin of their seasoned leader was enough to hold them warily at bay.
"Now!" Captain Daniwyda Merlfalkwyn barked, gesturing to the discarded uniforms laying out on the ground. "Pick this trash up, an' move! By the time those lubberly researchers have themselves organized, I intend ter be back on the deck o'the Kyndstyr enjoying a double round of grog!"
The pirates started eagerly down the far side of Slaughter Mountain, spurred on by the promise of drink, and Dani ensured that she remained in the rear of the group.
Then Ex-Sargent Daniwyda spun to face the towering bulk of Doesfyr Freynahctsyn. "Subtlety ye damned fool! Is it too much ter ask fer ten minutes o'patience an' gods-blasted subtlety! By the Scholar's Arse!"
Turning her back on the other marauder, Dani threw open the oppressively hot maelstrom jacket and fanned herself with the thick red canvas. Underneath it, the middle aged commander wore a gleaming cuirass of pure ishgaurdian steel, elegant, well-fitted, and certainly not standard issue. The so-called privets under her command were already throwing their Limsian paraphernalia to the jungle floor, stripping to their sailor shirts and slops.
"Dunno what yer gettin' so high an' might about Sarge" Doesfyr leered down at the smaller Roegadyn. "Lubbers never stuck round ter argue an' if they had we could o'fucked that lot right back ter their swivving camp! So what's yer bloody.."
His jibes were cut short by the crack of breaking molars, as the handle of Dani's long axe caught him square in the lower jaw. She had delivered the blow in perfect silence, striking before Doesfyr could so much as reach for his own weapon.
The trio froze into shocked silence, while Dani coolly wiped the splatter of blood from her axe handle.
"The problem is insubordination, Sailor. Yer tongue endangered our mission an' I'll not be tolerating that on my ship."
Reaching into the pocket of her sloppy officer coat, Daniwyda produced a tarnished, iron coin, no larger than a gil piece. She buffed her prize lightly against her sleeve and held it up for the group to see. One side bore the visage of a Hulking Roegadyn in an iron crown. The other showed the silhouette of a muscular woman bearing a shield.Â
"There." She said in a quiet voice, brimming with confidence. "The shield maiden of Koen Eidendraga. This is going ter bring all four o'us the favor o'the Admiral. You three play yer cards right... an' mayhap I'll be reccomendin' ye fer ships of yer own."
The trio remained silent, casting hungry eyes to the prize. However the blood trickling down Doesfyr's chin and the brash grin of their seasoned leader was enough to hold them warily at bay.
"Now!" Captain Daniwyda Merlfalkwyn barked, gesturing to the discarded uniforms laying out on the ground. "Pick this trash up, an' move! By the time those lubberly researchers have themselves organized, I intend ter be back on the deck o'the Kyndstyr enjoying a double round of grog!"
The pirates started eagerly down the far side of Slaughter Mountain, spurred on by the promise of drink, and Dani ensured that she remained in the rear of the group.
