Elucard watched over Koda as his king slept soundly in his bed. The Salty Goat inn keeper didn’t ask any questions, he only handed Elucard a key to a secluded room towards the back of a tight hallway. The rowdy noise from the tavern below came through the floorboards as light muffles. Koda needed his rest and although Elucard was unsure of any unforeseen dangers that may be lurking around the next corner, he knew this was better than nothing.

Elucard lifted his eyes as Koda stirred in his sleep. Perhaps a nightmare involving Raze…or involving him. Elucard lowered his head and let out a short sigh. He had his share of nightmares still. Even with Cade now in his life, he couldn’t escape his nefarious past deeds. Afterall, he was raised as a murderer. Killer of kings, destroyer of lives. No one was safe. Cade was not safe.

Perhaps I am better off alone. He thought to himself.

He swallowed hard and chewed on the side of his mouth. It took every ounce of restraint to hold back a slipping tear. His dam had cracks he could not fix. Doors that didn’t remain locked. No, his emotions found ways through his grim exterior when he was at his most vulnerable—alone, dwelling in his own thoughts.

And here he was once again. Alone. All alone with no one he could confide in. No friends that he could get close to.. Close like Inle. Close like Jetta. No one.

Could he trust Cade? He was so sure he could, but doubt—always doubt, kept him back. Chained him to the wall. Gagged him. Blinded him. Deafned him. Doubts were his new Black Rabbits. Doubts were the hands that twisted his spine. Deranged his thoughts, and made him a freak in his own reflection. That was it. That’s how he saw himself. A freak, something he turned away from. Something he hated.

He hated himself.

No one could love him. Not now, not ever. Who could love someone you couldn’t trust? Who could love a monster like him. A demon. He dipped those he cared about in acid and watched himself eat away at everything he once thought he could work towards.

Cade.

Cade loved him. Cade trusted him and he loved him back. He could confide in him for Cade was the man that he wanted by his side. He just needed to tell him that.

I love you, Cade.

It seemed so easy. Four simple words. I love you, Cade. Yet, it wasn’t.

Doubts. Doubts alway hold me back.

Koda stirred once more, breaking Elucard from his painful thoughts.

“El-Elucard…” Koda croaked with a throat rougher than sandpaper.

Elucard knelt by Koda’s side and took his hand. “You’re awake.”

“Raze!? W-Where—”

“Not here,” said Elucard. “You are safe…for now.”

Elucard helped the elven king to sit up. He unraveled Koda’s headdressing to inspect the healing process of his wound. The blood had dried and where there once was a gruesome laceration across Koda’s head, now showed a light scar.

He healed. His Magi passively closed his wounds. Gratefully, I felt nothing, but I hope that I have the same healing powers as him. It would come in handy against my enemies.

“Where are the others?” asked Koda. He swung over his feet and attempted to stand up. Elucard sustained him with a tug of Koda’s arm.

“Easy, now,” Elucard said with a grunt. “They are downstairs, enjoying a drink and a bite to eat. We should join them.”

Koda took a step forward and then another without Elucard’s assistance. He waved his shroud away. “I am fine, my friend. I believe I can walk on my own.” Koda plopped himself in a neighboring chair. “Please, hand me my boots.”

Elucard picked up the leather boots and placed them at Koda’s feet. “Hungry?”

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“Famished!” Koda laughed.

***

Cade raised his hand to get the attention of the passing waitress. “Two more Scuz over here!”

Raine gave the hydro shroud a guilt inducing stare.

“It doesn’t taste so bad once you get used to it!” Cade said with a sheepish shrug.

Raine arched an eyebrow. “Two?”

The server set a pair of wooden mugs in front of Cade. He turned to find Elucard and Koda taking their seats next to him. He slid the foamy ale to his friend. “One for Elucard, obviously,” Cade said with a sly chuckle.

Elucard gave Cade an appreciative nod and took a swing of the hard drink, downing half of the mug in a single breath.

Wildeye pushed a plate of corned beef and boiled cabbage to Koda. “Eat. You need to get your strength back.”

Koda smiled and started in on his food. After several bites he placed his fork down and wiped the salty juice from his chin. “We need to talk about the Spellbreakers.” He waited for everyone’s attention before continuing. “I believe our ship captain is in league with them.”

“Hmm. Working for the Spellbreakers, you say,” Stryneth said. He leaned forward and stroked his white beard. “That may explain how they always find us. They seem almost ready for an attack no matter where we end up.”

“You propose we find another captain?” asked Elucard.

“Another ship,” answered Koda.

“And your escort?” Raine asked.

Koda picked up his fork and tapped the prongs on his temple. “Do they even remain after the last attack?”

“No. They have all been slain,” Elucard said with a low, solemn voice.

“That settles it. We need to find another captain,” Koda said. The green mage looked around until he spotted an older man sitting at a table across from him. He wore a red jacket, lined with silver buttons. A blue ascot wrapped around his lower neck and a tri-corner hat rested next to his drink. The man winked at Koda and gestured for the king to approach him.

Koda, Elucard, and Wildeye slowly walked over to the graying man and sat at his table. He offered his hand and Koda politely shook it.

“Pleasure to meet ya, young’un. Oi be Captain Cut-Throat McCutty. Operator and owner of the Sea Slicer.”

Elucard stole a glance from Koda. “Cut-Throat?”

“No need for suspicions, lad. It’s just a family name. Passed down from me great-great-great grandpappy.”

Koda gave the strange captain a small grin. “Well, Mr. McCutty, I’m sure you heard us talking about the need for a—”

“Aye, ya need a trustworthy captain to brave the seas and not betray ya.” Cut-Throat returned the smile with one of his own, filled with rotten, corn-colored teeth. “Oi be yer man.”

Koda leaned over to Elucard and Wildeye. “I trust him,” Koda whispered.

“You can’t be serious!” Elucard hissed as low as he could possibly take his voice in his utter shock.

“What choice do we have, Elucard,” asked Wildeye. “No one will want to take on Long Whisper royalty. None that we can trust at least.”

“But we’ll trust him? The first person we ask?” Elucard argued.

“Well…” Koda eyed Cut-Throat. The man picked out a wedge of beef from his molar. “Let’s just see what he’s charging.”

Elucard rolled back his head. “Fine. But if he even seems like he’s ripping us off, I say we ask someone else. Someone that doesn’t have an act of murder in his name.”

Koda nodded and turned to the pirate. “How much to take us to Tradewind City.”

Cut-Throat gave Koda a wide smile. “How bout I take ya’s fer free. In exchange for a teeny lil’ favor.”

“Which is?” Elucard muttered.

“I have a pal— more like a son to me. He’s being kept on a prison barge. I want him broken out, then we’s be free to sail to Tradewind.”

“I’m sure he has been imprisoned for a good reason,” said Elucard.

“Shady McGee is a good person. He has a small klepto-problem, but he’s been workin’ on that.”

Elucard buried his face in his hand. “Shady McGee…”

“We can’t break any laws here, even if he was wrongfully imprisoned. I’m on a diplomatic mission, Mr. McCutty.”

“Well that’s a shame. But…yer kanis friend is right.”

Koda’s ears perked.

The pirate chuckled. “No one is going to want to touch royalty from some foreign nation. They’d only want to rob ya or worse, hold ya hostage.”

Elucard raised his head. “Finally he’s speaking some sense.”

“Aye lad, oi always spit the truth, the angel of luck and chaos as my witness. Oi be the only man that can take ya to yer destination in one piece.”

Elucard called over Cade. When the other shroud made his presence at the table, the former Rabbit’s face turned dark. “I am an ex-assassin, and my partner here was trained by one too. We will suffice for a prison break, but I require you there as well. I don’t trust anyone named Shady.”

Cade slapped a heavy hand on Elucard’s shoulder. “A prison break? How exciting!”

“Fair terms, lad. Let’s go rescue me mate!” cheered Cut-Throat.