Lerona Mere: Tales of the People

More than a hundred ships rested out on the calm black waves of the harbour as a clear night bathed the dockside district in moonlight. Sailors of all realms wandered the taverns, gambling dens and bunkhouses of the lower parts of Lerona Mere, eager to rob themselves of their hard earned coin.

The Uccisora, a full three masted war-ship, glided slowly across the harbour. Flying high from the mainmast a tricolour of white,orange and purple, the symbol of Lady Paterina Fiocarda, lady of the Dockside and the Barricade-Queen. Captain Sofia Lyon leaned on the railing of the ship as she watched the city pass her by in the cool night breeze.

Service to the Casino queen had been an odd occurrence, for it had been Lyon who armed the woman and her association of dealers and thugs during the uprising. But when the dust had settled and the barricades were removed, it was Fiocarda who held all the cards of control, not the free captain Lyon. Still, everyone owed something to someone, and Sofia was happy to work for someone with the guts to make their place in the world, hopefully she could hide in Lady Fiocarda’s wake. Her musings were ended by the soft bump as the pilot expertly placed Uccisora against the wharf. She watched her crewmove smoothly to secure and lash her in place to allow unloading with indulgent pride.

As she made to disembark to find a Dockmaster a trio of heavy-set individuals, clad in fine black and yellow getups approached the boarding ramp for the Uccisora and began to shout loudly. “This birth belongs to Master Ottavio Dandolo! And I don't see a red banner on your mast!”

Sofia sighed and donned her wide slouched captains hat, the feather hanging dramatically past her shoulders. Resting one hand on the rapier at her side and brushing her hair back with the other she approached the ne-er do-wells.

Meeting with her quartermaster Borso at the rail, the slim hawkish man nodded at her, pushing his spectacles up his nose. He stepped up beside her as she addressed the men, her foot resting on the polished wood of the gunnel.

“There’s no spare berths with the fleet in port, you’d know that if you had eyes in your skull. Besides, Lady Fiocarda owns the docks, not Dandolo.”

She moved her hand from resting on her rapier, to gripping it. The magical enchantment that allowed her to silence her foes hummed at the edge of her mind. She hoped it wouldn’t need to be called upon.

The tallest, though far from biggest, man grinned. His doublet was marked with steel ribs and the sword at his belt was more cleaver than duelists blade. A fine pair of moustaches imitated Sofia’s feather, drooping well past his lips.

“That is true Zoccola, but this isn’t the revolution any more. Her ownership stops where the boardwalk begins, or have you not spent enough time at dock to know how things are now?”

Sofia swore inwardly, she hadn’t told Lady Fiocarda she would be back to join with the fleet and wasn’t used to fighting for a berth. Since the Concord was signed, every piece of power in Legend City had been bickered over like it was bread or steel during the riots, and things changed daily. It was entirely likely these bruisers were in the right, and while her crew was close at hand, a fight would just be the start of her problems.

“Fine then, five locks to your master for the birth?” She challenged, retrieving the silver coins from her hidden belt pouch. They glinted in the moonlight, she always liked to keep her coinage shining.

The tall man considered for a moment. “Five for him, three for us.”

“Fine.” She threw the coins to the mercenaries who happily tipped their hats and swaggered off the dock. She was relieved to have the business concluded and she could hear Borso scribbling away the fee on his ledger.

Unfortunately it was likely not the end of this business. She would tell Lady Fiocardo, who would be aghast at the impropriety. She would need to recover her reputation somehow. It was all together likely that Captain Sofia and her crew would pay those mercenaries a visit in the near future. That was just fine with her.