"Criminals that borrowed the name of other, more famous criminals to intimidate and strike fear unto their victims were beyond commonplace. Needless to say, the practice was not without its risks, for the law enforcement tend to be far more active when they heard rumors of a famous criminal operating in their area. The other - and far more dangerous - risk is that the original might catch wind of their copycats, and should they be displeased by it… all that awaited the copycats was likely a painful and gruesome death." - Saucisse Reaunviel, Elven historian.

"Unless I fucked up my history, wasn't the Red Corsair active like three or four centuries ago?" Cal asked as she furrowed her brow skeptically. Her father had told stories of such people as well, and supposedly even ran into some in his lifetime.

"Four be right, madam. This bunch here likely be copycats, borrowing upon the fame of a long gone figure," replied Arquivaldo as he finally ceased chuckling to himself. "It's not an uncommon sight, no honor amongst thieves, as they say."

"Why's she looking like she wants to rip someone's head off though?" Said Cal as she glanced at the captain's adopted daughter, who paced the port side of the deck near the railings impatiently and with visible irritation.

"Oh, the girl and I had a bet going these past few centuries, see which of us has more silly copycats out there~" explained the captain in a happy tone. "So far it's been two on me, and this would be her eighth. Girl ain't amused that so many be trying to milk her name, she ain't."

"Her name?" Asked Cal with a raised eyebrow at the captain's words and their implications. "Are you saying…?"

"She be the original Red Corsair, aye," answered the captain nonchalantly. "After four centuries not many know her by face anyway, and not like she left many witnesses back when she be marauding these seas."

"So how does the dreaded pirate queen of the high seas become your adopted daughter?" Queried Cal out of curiosity.

"The only way there be, really," said the captain in reply. "She be raiding my ship back then so I killed her dead, aye. Didn't expect her to rise back up like right after that fight ended. Been showing her how to live life our way since, and she be taking me as her pops."

"That's… what I should have expected I guess," admitted Cal. "Doubt many of Aideen's old friends would be ordinary."

"Oh aye madam, maybe I should reintroduce myself a little as well," said the captain as he gave Cal another bow and flourish. "People used to be calling me the Redbeard, Scourge of the ten seas, at your service."

Cal slapped her face with her palm at the revelation. She should have known that none of the people Aideen would call old friends were going to be normal people.

-----------------------------------------

"She looks eager to go," commented Cal while she watched Uruza fidget impatiently with weapons in hand.

A pair of manacles were clasped around the half-merfolk woman's forearms, each of which was connected to a meter-long chain that were attached to the bottom of her axes' handles.

The axes themselves had an odd blade, with a wide, curved and sharpened top that reminded one of a crescent moon, culminating in wicked pointed ends on both sides. The cutting edge at the front side curved to the pointed end of the blade and formed a smooth curvature.

"Lil' Uruza never liked copycats, much less ones aping herself," said Iosif as he limped towards Cal. "Ain't gonna be much left for us when she's done with their ship, so let's just whack those silly enough to hop over to ours later."

By now most of the crew had joined the passengers below decks. The captain had said that there were no need for the crews to risk their lives when they got mages who can handle things on their own anyway. Cal had allowed her nieces to stay though, as she never believed in coddling them much.

She had instructed them to stay close to the shade of the main mast so they could take cover when needed, and both girls had their atlatls out and loaded as they waited. Cal would allow them to test their mettle on their own, though she would also keep a close watch on them and intervene as needed should they be in danger.

By now the other ship had closed enough that Cal could make out details even without a spyglass. Beneath the flag that flew the emblem of the Red Corsair was a simple all-black flag.

Arquivaldo had explained that such a flag meant that those who surrendered without a fight would be allowed to live. On the other hand, a red flag meant no quarter would be given, and no life would be spared.

As the pirate ship got closer, Uruza finally stopped her fidgeting, and after a brief discussion with Arquivaldo, left and climbed up the main mast. Once the woman reached the riggings just below the crow's nest where they flew their flag, she extracted a bundle and tied it to the mast, with a long rope connected to it in her hand.

Cal watched as Uruza smoothly moved towards the port edge of the sail's riggings and secured a rope with a hook on its end there, before she went back to the middle with both ropes firmly in hand. She then stood there and waited, her eyes on the approaching pirate ship. Cal thought that Uruza looked much like a predator waiting for a prey to pounce on at that time.

As the other ship caught up and lined up alongside them, hooks were thrown from the other ship, while pirates hollered and tried their best to intimidate. Ropes were pulled and soon enough, barely a few scant meters separated the ships from one another.

Uruza waited until the pirates had laid down their makeshift bridges and started to cross over before she sprung into action. She leapt down from her perch by the main mast, one hand holding tight to the rope anchored to the edge of the riggings. The momentum of her drop stretched the rope taut, and she swung in a wide arc over the pirates' heads and towards their sail's riggings.

As she swung away, the other rope in her hand pulled at the cloth that covered the bundle she secured to the main mast, and opened it wide. A bright, blood-red flag was unfurled by the wind and flapped about in plain sight.

A warning, and a promise from a pirate, that no life shall be spared, nor shall any mercy be shown.