Snorting out a nose-full of dirt, Ilio panted up at Inkani as he sat at a worn down table in a tiny tavern high upon the hills of the town. A few cannonballs had attempted to hit the building, but with Inkani's water spell deflecting the few that came close, combined with the sheer distance they were from the shore, there was really no chance of anything happening.
There was also still a large amount of pirates milling about, since they couldn't flee to the border or their sunken ships. It was a stalemate, but it wouldn't last for long.
Gnawing a floorboard that he'd previously ripped up in frustration to dig his comfy hole in the dirt beneath it, Ilio thought to Inkani.
We need a ship.
It wasn't just an idea, but a factual statement. As things were right then, if they didn't get a ship, it was only a matter of time before they were overrun and killed.
"Those men that were attacking you, captain?"
Inkani smirked as he nonchalantly reached over and removed the broken plank of wood from Ilio's mouth, making him wiggle his wet nose until the item was promptly replaced with a big chunk of steak.
Ilio immediately ducked his head beneath his little fortress under the damaged floor and began chomping away, using the remaining floorboards to hide his prize, not even caring that the meat was now completely caked in dust and dirt.
"We need to decide what ship we're going to try and commandeer," Inkani said, voicing Ilio's thoughts to his remaining crew.
Thankfully, most of his men had managed farely well against the invaders, giving them a better chance of escaping when the time finally came to act.
Moral's ship would be our best option, Ilio said, drawing Inkani's gaze down to him.
The men you had killed at the marsh were likely all his. That reduces his total number of available defenders.
Of course, other crews might have lost some men in the attack the other day, but it was unlikely that the numbers evened out. Moral's troops had been the ones to try and ambush them.
"My wolf has a suggestion that makes a good bit of sense," he said as his crew continued to discuss what ship they could possibly target.
The room quieted quickly, wanting to hear his suggestion.
"We'll target captain Moral's vessel," he said calmly but firmly, drawing audible gasps from nearly half of the men gathered.
An uproar of rambling soon took over the tavern, but it quickly died down as his crew realized that the suggestion really was likely their best bet.
Moral would come after them more than anyone else, and especially after losing some of his men recently.
"I agree, captain," one of his men said as he pounded a fist against the old worn tabletop, making their glasses of nearly-empty blood jump from the hit.
His words were soon followed by a shout of agreement, then another, and another.
"Moral won't expect us to try and steal his ship... because it will be nearly impossible," Bin said honestly.
Inkani nodded as Ilio popped his dirty head up from beneath the damaged floorboards to continue listening.
"Indeed it will be, but I believe I've got a pretty good idea," Inkani replied as he smiled at his heir and second-in-command.
He truly does treasure you.
Ilio flicked an ear, determined to make sure that he kept an eye on the sickly vampire as much as possible, as well.
"Ilio?"
Ilio looked up and grunted.
"How well can you swim?"
It will not end well, Ilio replied, making Inkani actually grin as he chuckled lightly.
"Alright. Well, I know how fast you are, though," he said, making Ilio perk up and nod his fuzzy head.
He was definitely fast. He could do fast.
"I'm not sure if captain Moral has returned to his ship yet or not, but I need you to carefully sniff out where they have their boats moored."
Ilio's nose twitched.
Turning his attention to his other side, Inkani stared at Bin's demon.
"Karalius, are you willing to help us?" he asked, knowing that the demon's loyalty didn't belong to him.
Heck, most of his crew refused to even get close to the guy, but that was likely for the best. Whoever got too close got a warning hiss, and one had even been swiped at by long, sharp black claws.
When the demon straightened in his chair and brought his narrowed eyes to meet Inkani's, the room fell nervously silent.
"I will do whatever it takes to keep master Binan by my side," he stated firmly, silently adding a warning to Inkani about trying to separate them.
Inkani read that warning loud and clear, but...
"Can you fly with your new wings yet? They were damaged earlier, too, weren't they?" he asked, instead.
Karalius narrowed his eyes further but replied in a calm, deep tone.
"I will be able to fly again shortly."
Ilio had no doubt that at that time, he might just try to take Bin away from this situation entirely... whether the man wished to leave or not.
"I am able to get to any ship I wish out there, but I will need help. I am not a one-man army, but you..." he said, leaving his sentence open as all eyes turned back to Karalius.
The man was far from invincible, they've learned, but he was also the closest thing they had to invincible.
Karalius looked at the man sitting beside him, his face extremely hard to read.
To Ilio's surprise, Bin's face was the exact opposite. He seemed stressed and quite honestly torn by what his captain was asking of his demon.
Hmm?
"You'll look out for him, captain?" Bin asked after a few moments of tense silence, surprising just about everyone in the room.
Inkani was the only one that didn't seem shocked.
"Of course," he replied without hesitation, making Bin's stiff shoulders relax slightly.
Turning his attention back to Ilio, Inkani gave him a half smile, half smirk.
"Ilio, when you find their boats, can you make sure that they can't use them again in one way or another?"
That would be easy enough... as long as captain Moral didn't show up.
Honestly, that was what their plan revolved around.
Someone was going to be going up against the navy captain, but it was a toss-up who that would be. Inkani was likely thinking to bring Karalius with him to the man's ship figuring that the captain was more than likely back on board, but at the same time, there was also a fair chance that he was at the moored boats, but he also could currently be heading toward the seaside town to attack right at that moment.
Inkani and Karalius at the most likely point of combat, Ilio at the second, and Bin and the crew at the third.
Hopping out of his hole in the floor, Ilio shook off some of the dirt that had gathered on his coat, then walked up to settle his dirty chin on Inkani's thigh.
He got a scratch behind his ears for his effort, but then Inkani slowly stood up, making his crew rise before him.
"I apologize for not being able to allow for much of a rest between our actions, but I believe now is our best, and possibly only, chance to utilize this plan."
Ilio swished his tail excitedly and headed toward the back door without any hesitation, but was stopped by a faint pressure in the back of his mind.
Be careful, my Ilio. You best come back to me in one piece, Inkani thought to him, making Ilio glance over his shoulder, his tongue lulled out the other side of his mouth.
I will be back for my mate, he returned simply before turning back to nudge the old door open with his nose.
If you find Moral, don't engage him, alright? Inkani said as Ilio quickly darted into the dark forest behind the tavern.
He could sense Inkani waiting for his response, but as he moved farther and farther into the dense greenery and their bond grew thinner, Ilio didn't respond again, leaving his silence as his answer.