Swords clashed with a metallic roar, sparks flying in the salty morning air. Edmund Oakforest and Gregor "Black Serpent" Voss measured their strength on the bloodstained deck, while all around them, the battle still raged. Voss's gaze was as sharp as his blade, filled with amusement and challenge.
— You fight well for an exile — Voss said, effortlessly deflecting a strike.
— And you talk too much for a pirate — Edmund retorted, twisting his sword in an attempt to unbalance his opponent.
The pirate laughed, stepping back a few paces. His men had surrounded Edmund's sailors, but they did not attack. There was something different about this battle, something beyond mere plunder.
— I have a proposal for you, Oakforest — Voss said, lowering his sword but keeping a predatory smile. — This is my home. These islands belong to me and my men. But I see that you are not just some pampered noble lost at sea. You want to survive, to find a place to start anew. Well then, perhaps we can come to an agreement.
Edmund did not lower his guard. He knew that trusting a pirate was as dangerous as facing a storm with torn sails. But he also knew that his fleet was at a disadvantage and that his men were exhausted.
— I'm listening, Black Serpent — he said cautiously. — But choose your words wisely. If they are laced with poison, I won't hesitate to cut them from your tongue.
Voss's eyes gleamed with interest. The duel of words had begun.
Edmund narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, keeping his blade raised.
— But tell me, Voss — he continued. — How do you know so much about me? My name, my situation… it seems like you were expecting me.
Voss smirked, crossing his arms casually.
— The sea has its informants, Oakforest. The wind carries secrets, and well-placed gold loosens any tongue. Your exile was not exactly a quiet affair, and I like to know who sails through my waters before they even realize I'm a shadow over them.
Edmund held his firm stance, analyzing every word from the pirate.
— And what exactly do you want from me? — he asked, suspicion heavy in his voice.
Voss tilted his head slightly, as if he had already anticipated the question.
— A partnership, perhaps. Or at least a truce. You cannot run from the world, Oakforest, but you can choose how to navigate it. You have men, ships, and a remarkable talent for staying alive. I, on the other hand, know every corner of this archipelago, every treacherous current, and every enemy lurking in these waters. Together, we could claim far more than we could alone.
Edmund frowned.
— You want me to become a pirate? — he asked, defiant.
Voss chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
— Let's call it… the captain of a new fleet. You don't need a black flag to rule the seas, Oakforest. Only the will to take back what fate tried to steal from you.
Silence hung between them, the sound of waves and the battle around them filling the space. Edmund knew that this decision could shape the future of his journey. But trusting a pirate was never an easy choice.
Voss then stepped forward, his expression darkening.
— I know what it is to lose everything, Oakforest — he said, his voice lower and more serious. — I was not born a pirate. I was once a respected captain in the navy of a kingdom that betrayed me. I was thrown overboard, left to die after a mutiny orchestrated by nobles who feared my rise. I survived adrift for days until I was rescued by those they call outlaws. I learned to rewrite my story with blood and steel.
Edmund listened carefully, realizing that behind Voss's predatory grin was a man scarred by the past.
— So that's what you want? — Edmund asked. — Revenge against those who betrayed you?
Voss laughed again, but this time without humor.
— Revenge? Perhaps. Or maybe I've just learned that the world belongs to those who have the strength to take it. And the question, Oakforest, is: do you have that strength?
The challenge was set. And Edmund knew there was no turning back.