Aboard the "Sea Witch."

"Yes, she is Tortagean." The Sorceress confirmed. "This ship and crew are in my service whenever I require them. The rest of the time I imagine they operate as would be expected of Tortageans."

Tortage was the chief city of the Baracha isles. It was known throughout the civilised world as a haven for wanted men and runaway slaves. It's main trades were piracy and smuggling and few cities bar Al Areth would admit a Tortagean warship in it's waters let alone allow one to enter the harbour.

The rowboat reached the dock and the goods carried by the mules were stowed aboard. The Akkadian was surprised when the Sorceress dismissed her remaining Orc guards and only the witch, Honey and the Akkadian himself boarded the rowboat. Evidently the Sorceress trusted her safety to the Tortagean pirates. The half dozen sailors in the rowboat did not fill the Akkadian with confidence. As was common with Tortagean crews they hailed from every corner of the known world. The only thing in common among the men was that each looked like a cutthroat of the lowest order. The Akkadian endured in silence the wandering hands that roved over his thighs and buttocks as he was assisted into the rowboat. Honey was treated in a similar fashion, although the strawberry blonde Circassian seemed to enjoy the attention. The Sorceress, the Akkadian noted was helped aboard unmolested and treated with deferential respect.

They passed beneath the bows of the great ship it's prow sporting a huge carved figure of a naked woman with her arm outflung clutching a trident. The name of the ship was painted ornately on each side of the bows; "The Sea Witch". The ship rode high in the water, indicating an empty hold and access to the deck was via a rope ladder. As the Akkadian climbed the sailors in the rowboat below whistled and made lewd comments loudly as they leered up at him, the scant breechcloth hiding nothing from their view.

The ship's captain and his officers were waiting to receive the Sorceress on deck. The captain was Zingaran the Akkadian judged, tall and swarthy with a neatly trimmed goatee beard and sideburns. Large gold hoops hung from his earlobes and he wore more sparkling jewellery than any whore the assassin had seen. On his right hand stood a massive Kushite with the blackest skin possible. His head was shaved bald and he was barechested, displaying impressively magnificent muscles. Tattoos formed abstract patterns in red and gold over every inch of skin the Akkadian could see. On the captain's left hand the assassin was surprised to see a woman, the Tortageans were notorious slavers and a comely wench uncollared in one of their crews was a rarity.

"My lady." The captain greeted the Sorceress with an extravagant bow and kissed the back of her hand. "The Sea Witch is at your service as always."

"My thanks Captain Akhbar." The Sorceress acknowledged. "I wish to sail as soon as possible."

"As soon as your luggage is aboard and the ship's boat stowed my lady." Akhbar assured the witch. "My cabin has been cleared for yourself and these two delicious wenches to use."

"Barbra Rosa, so you still live and a ship's officer now too, I see." The Sorceress commented in an amused tone as she turned her attention to the woman at the captain's side.

The pirate woman had flame red hair that hung in tousled curls almost to her waist. She wore a white cotton shirt that was knotted at the front, probably the only method of fastening the shirt that would not burst under the strain of containing the huge round breasts she had. Her legs were clad in the tightest of breeches that ended at her knees. Inspecting the wench the Akkadian could see the pants were so tight that the crease of the woman's sex was clearly visible. She looked as though she was barely in her twenties, an exceptionally young age for her to have made first officer in a pirate crew. Her full lips were painted bright red and she had a mocking smile. She laughed loudly at the Sorceress's words.

"Aye, I still live witch." Barbra Rosa answered cheekily. "And now I am first mate of the Sea Witch."

"How splendid for you, to be the Captain's mate." The Sorceress emphasised her words so that it was clear she implied another meaning to the word mate than the purely nautical one.

The Akkadian realised that there was some history between the two women that he should investigate. If he was to protect the witch and be restored then whatever animosity the redheaded pirate held for the Sorceress needed watching closely. Her name alone marked her as potentially dangerous, Barbarossa had been the most feared pirate on the seas until he had disappeared without trace forty years ago. His name had literally meant redhaired and by all accounts he had been a great bull of a man with a wild red beard. Could this Barbra be related to the infamous Barbarossa, perhaps a granddaughter? The Akkadian had heard many tavern tales of the famous pirate and his reckless cruelty and thirst for **** and plunder.