Jason Halstead - Voidhawk

They returned well over an hour later to the ant. Dexter scarcely recognized it at first. Kragor had rebuilt the ant with lumber from the ruined dart and skiff, strengthening it and even improving upon it. The helm remained closed in the aft section of the ship, and the middle section was now open decking with only a railing around it. Not only was the mid-ship cabin removed, but Kragor had lowered the floor to allow the stowage of cargo in it, save for a two foot section around the edges for walking. The forward section, once built up into a small forecastle home to a light ballista, now was as flat as the mid-section with only a wooden railing about it.

The ant retained the six landing struts to allow it to land on land, and Kragor had gone one step further in reinforcing the resemblance to its namesake by building a set of pincers on the very front of it. Dexter had to chuckle at the dwarf’s attention to detail, even though he was sure the pincers served no purpose.

“That’s an impressive boat,” Bekka said as they approached it. Dexter nodded, silently agreeing with her. He mused that perhaps there was more to Kragor’s skill in shipbuilding than he had originally credited him with.

Jenna stood at the front of the boat while Kragor was rummaging around in the aft cabin, making noise but doing only the Gods knew what. Dexter climbed the ramp and surveyed the ship, nodding at how it still needed a lot of work to finish it off, but structurally it appeared to be quite sound.

“Kragor!” Dexter yelled, heading to the aft careful to avoid the three foot plunge into the cargo area. He told Bekka to head to the bow and give Jenna the items they had procured for her.

The dwarf emerged a few moments later, grinning foolishly. Dexter looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “What’d you do this time?”

“Made a funnel!” The dwarf said happily.

“A funnel?”

“Aye, for the long trips when you’ve got to use the head we ain’t got on here.”

Dexter groaned and covered his face in his hand. When he finally took it away he looked at his first mate and pretended he knew nothing of what the dwarf had just said. “The ant looks good, Kragor. Damned good.”

Kragor beamed with pride. “Aye, took some work but she’s better now than she was before, for what we need ‘er for!”

Dexter had to admit that the dwarf was right. “Needs some finishing up, but you earned your pay!”

Kragor chuckled. “Speaking o’ pay, how ya planning on doing that?”

Dexter stuck his head in the aft cabin and looked around. It had a small room set up with the helm in it, a larger room with three bunks and three chests, and a tiny final room with naught but Kragor’s latest contraption. He nodded appreciatively and turned back to the dwarf.

“You sold the ballista from here and the weapons off the Hawk’s Talon?” Dexter asked him.

Kragor shook his head. “Kept the one from the Hawk’s Talon, but moved it below. Couple people can carry it right quick and set it up to fire.”

Dexter nodded, that made sense. Possessing a ship weapon in Federation space could get a captain fined, or worse, but it might just be worth the risk. Of course a light ballista was hardly a threat to anything larger than the ant they stood upon, and even that could take quite a few hits.

“Is this all that’s left?” Dexter asked, tapping the pouch at his side.

Kragor shook his head. “Stashed some on the Hawk’s Talon, and a bit more under the bottom bunk over there. Pop up a loose board and you’ll find another 30 gold.”

“And back on that Hawk’s Talon?”

“40 pieces.”

Dexter nodded. “How much work to be done yet?”

Kragor stroked his beard while he crunched the numbers in his head. “Week or so, with the new help I’m reckoning. We’re awful shy on crew,” he pointed out.

Dexter nodded. “Aye, but we’ve got one more on the way.”

“Eh? Who?”

“Been meaning to talk to you about that,” Dexter admitted.

Kragor scowled. “What fool scheme you for now, boy?”

Dexter grinned. “We need a cook.”

Kragor’s eyes widened. He stared at Dexter and then looked to the ceiling. He continued looking around until he saw the lone bunk behind him, which he moved and sat on. “You really are daft,” he muttered before continuing. “Jodyne’s good with her knives. We go askin’ her that and she’ll put one in your eye and two in your chest ere ya hit the ground.”

“Not if we show her how much you can make doing this,” Dexter said, sitting next to him.

Kragor took a deep breath and blew it out. “You’re mad, I says.”

Dexter chuckled and clapped him on the back. “Maybe, but I got us a ship and a boat to lash alongside it.”

Kragor stroked his beard, which was all the proof Dexter needed to know the dwarf was thinking and would agree with him. He clapped him on the back again and stood up. “When you’re ready to go to her, come on out and let me know.”

Dexter left the cabin and headed to the bow of the ship, where he accepted a stiff thanks from Jenna as she examined the items he purchased for her. Nothing fine nor delicate, he got her a couple of cloaks and some loose fitting clothing. Bekka’s gear was much the same.

Kragor joined them a few moments later, looking none too happy. “You trust them here?” he asked, jerking his head towards Bekka and Jenna.

Dexter looked at them briefly and nodded. Kragor grunted and turned to the plank. “Let’s be off then.”

Dexter chuckled and looked at the other two. “We should be back in a couple of hours, if not… well, wait as long as you like.”

Jenna burned to ask for details, Dexter could tell, but she kept her mouth shut. Bekka just nodded and took the spare equipment to the back so it was out of sight on the deck. Dexter followed Kragor down the gangplank and quickly caught up to his shorter legged friend.

The dwarf remained stoic and silent as they trudged through New Haven to the tavern where his wife would be cooking dinner. The smell of it reminded Dexter of just how hungry he was. He had spent two weeks eating swill in the prison, after all.

A new bartender was behind the bar and the tavern’s owner was nowhere to be seen. Dexter led the way to a table and, when one of the barmaids saw them she hurried over.

“You’re not to be coming here,” she hissed.

Dexter smiled disarmingly at her. “Not to worry, Kaytlin, we’ve gold to spend and stomachs that need filling.”

“Master Twinver’ll have my hide if I serve you!” The girl glanced towards the door to the office and bit her lip.

“I’ll not say a thing,” Dexter promised her, winking.

“You’re spoiling for a fight, aren’t you?” She asked, clearly suspicious.

“Not particularly,” Dexter said. “Now be a dear, Kaytlin, and fetch us a couple of ales and whatever Jodyne’s cooking up.”

Kaytlin searched his eyes and then the dour dwarf’s before finally shaking her head and walking to the bar to fill their order. Dexter slapped the table happily and looked at his friend. “See, things are looking up already!”

Kragor rolled his eyes and remained silent. Kaytlin returned with drinks and then, a few moments later, meals. Dexter handed her a gold piece, far more than the simple fare was worth, but he had a point to prove. She could not hide her surprise and went away a little less suspicious than before.

After they ate Kragor took a deep breath. Dexter grinned and nodded towards the kitchen. “Alright, but remember I warned ya!” The dwarf said, hopping up off his chair.

As though he was a doomed sailor walking the plank, Kragor trudged towards the kitchen. He expected disaster at any moment. Dexter watched him, part anxious for his friend, part anxious for himself, and part amused. Kragor made a fine example of why a smart man stayed single.