the dock and they were both pulled into the work required to move everything off the ship and unload it onto the beach while the Dragon Followers watched them with their weapons close but not at the ready. They clearly did not expect a fight to ensue, not over a ship that was taking water on by the bucketful.
It was hard work, and only once this was completed was it moved to a dock on the far side, where a rudimentary system had been created to draw it onto the beach at high tide. When the tide receded, the vessel would remain out of the water and repairs could be done.
Even he hadn't expected the damage to be so extensive. Massive chunks of the hull had been ripped out and more along the back and the bottom, where the creature had suctioned fast. Divots made by huge, spiny teeth were visible on the bottom as well.
"It'll take you a while to repair that," Skharr commented to Graves, stating the obvious.
"Aye, but she's seen worse, the old gal."
"Worse than a kraken chewing on her from behind?"
"Sure. Not while I was captain, of course, but you can see the scars in a ship that show exactly what she's been through."
The barbarian narrowed his eyes at him. Either he knew exactly what he meant or he was simply talking through his ass since he could see none of the scars he had mentioned. Perhaps a barbarian didn't have that kind of eye for ships.
"Will you remain here with us?" Graves asked. "Or do you have other plans in mind?"
"I need to take the dwarf to his family."
"In that case, you'll need to negotiate with the clan leader. When I was here last it was Neera Reed—and there she comes."
Skharr turned to study a lean woman who approached with a confident stride. Her hair was cut short and the right side was completely shaven to reveal a web of tattoos that traced down the left side of her face as well. He could see the burn scars the tattoos were covering and noticed that the flames had seared half of her right eyebrow away as well.
"Captain Reed," Graves called and moved to meet her. "I apologize for the suddenness of our arrival."
She smirked and didn’t slow her approach, although she kept one hand on the saber she carried on her hip. A little taller than Graves, she was leaner too and walked like she was constantly off-balance. He recognized it as how folk tended to move when they were so used to moving on the sea that a lack of rolling waves under their feet felt unnatural.
It almost made it look like she was drunk.
"We saw the storm last night," she answered and her gaze focused on Skharr almost immediately. "And we assumed a few ships would come in for repairs. Although I didn't expect you to arrive, Thatch. I thought you were smarter than that."
"The storm struck a little too quickly," Graves admitted. "And the kraken equally as quickly. The weather would have been a breeze by comparison if the bastard hadn't found us."
"They follow the storms," she muttered and shook her head. "Godsbedammed scavengers. And sometimes, they cannot wait for the storms to sink their prey and choose to attack.” She had not moved her attention from the barbarian. “This one is not part of your crew."
"He needed passage on my ship," Graves answered. "And I fear I will not be able to take him and his companion to his destination."
"I'm a sound sailor," Skharr explained. "And a good fighter. If you could provide us with passage, your crew would benefit from another skilled hand among them."
Reed looked at the other man. "Is this true?"
"I've not seen his like as a fighter," he answered. "As a sailor…well, he has some experience, at least."
"A ringing endorsement," the warrior muttered.
"I've heard many say that none are their equal as fighters," Reed answered. "I haven’t seen it proven once."
"And you’ve seen many fighters, have you?"
"More than you could count, barbarian. I’ve killed my fair share of them too."
It wasn't a boast or at least didn't sound like one. She carried herself with a quiet confidence that made him wonder how many she'd killed and which of them had left her with the scar on her face.
His careful study revealed others. She wore light clothing and more than a handful were visible on her arms, shoulders, and legs. Her right hand was missing a finger as