They reach the rendevouz.

It took another four hours for the Sea Witch to reach her destination. As the Akkadian had expected neither Barbra Rosa or the Sorceress made their reappearence on deck in that time. Honey had deserted the assassin some time after that and he now stood in the prow of the ship on his own watching the verdant green coastline of Kush as it passed by. Looking back along the ship he could see his fellow handmaiden. The Circassian was on her knees in front of the new first mate, her reddish blonde head bobbing as she sucked his cock.

It was the change in direction of the light breeze that alerted the Akkadian to the ship altering course. Looking towards the heavily forested coast he could see they were now headed towards a cove where a river ran into the sea. A narrow strip of sandy beach seemed to be their new course. Mister Ba'Too bellowed instructions to the pirate crew without disengaging from the fellating he was receiving from Honey. Pirates swarmed up the rigging, furling the sails. The Sea Witch slowed to a halt some distance from the beach and the Akkadian heard the rattle of chains as she dropped anchor.

"Enjoying the view Minaja?" The Akkadian had been so intent on watching the coast he had not heard the Sorceress approach.

"I see no sign of habitation here at all Mistress." The Akkadian noted. "Are you certain your allies are here?"

"They will be watching us, of that I am sure." The witch replied. "They will not leave the jungle until they are certain of our identity though. This coast is a favourite hunting ground of slavers."

The pirates lowered a rowboat. Some bound chests were stowed aboard and then Barbra Rosa, Mister Ba'Too and half a dozen pirates crewed the small boat. Finally, the Sorceress together with Honey and the Akkadian climbed down and took their seats. They pulled away from the Sea Witch and rowed towards the beach.

There was still no sign of life when the rowboat grounded upon the soft white sand and Barbra was the first ashore, cutlass in hand and scanning the nearby treeline cautiously. Her crew fanned out behind her, each armed with a crossbow and with swords and knives in their belts. The Akkadian stepped over the rowboat's gunwale, kneedeep in lukewarm water and held out his hand to steady the Sorceress so she might disembark directly onto the sand and avoid getting her dress wet. The witch walked towards the jungle so that any unseen watchers might see her clearly.

"There, in the trees. There is movement." The Akkadian was the first to spot fleeting shadows moving in the trees.

The Akkadian had seen but a handful of indistinct figures moving around in the shadowed cover of the jungle. Even he was taken aback when almost a score of natives emerged in a ragged line from the trees. The natives were all female, clad in fur halter tops and brief skirts and wearing decorations of feathers and animal teeth and claws. They were armed mostly with shortbows and spears, although a few among them grasped metal swords and axes and hidebound shields. The line of native women warriors halted and watched the pirates warily as one of their number strode forward to greet the Sorceress.

"These are the panthers of Kush?" The Akkadian concentrated and sent his thoughts to the Sorceress with the magic of the collar.

"Indeed they are Akkadian. And this band are trusted allies of mine." The Sorceress responded.

The assassin studied the fabled warrior women. Now they were closer and out of the gloom of the jungle he could see barely half of the women were obviously Kushite. The skin tones and hair colour of the remaining warriors were of many assorted races of Hyboria. Around several of their necks he saw discoloured or rusted slavecollars, marking the wearers as runaways. All the warriors were deeply tanned and athletic and were clearly sizing up the pirates and assessing their strength as any warrior might when meeting another.

"Well met my lady." The tall panther, who he presumed was a leader among the band, greeted the Sorceress. "Forgive our caution in greeting you, but a ship's crew coming ashore usually means slaverhunters these days. It was possible that a random slaveship stopped by chance at this beach."

"Of course, I understand." The Sorceress agreed. "This is Barbra Rosa, captain of the Sea witch and her first mate mister Ba'Too and these are my companions, Honey and Minaja."

"I am Daina, leader of the Kar'Sa'Hesa band." The warrior introduced herself.

Daina was tall for a woman, six feet in height by the Akkadian's estimate and her smooth limbs were athletcally muscled. Unlike some of her band Daina was clearly Kushite, with tar black skin and tightly curled hair that was cropped short. She wore furs of yellow spotted with black and necklaces and armbands made from large and fearsome looking teeth. A bow and quiver were slung at her back, whilst in the broad leather belt of her brief skirt was tucked a steel bladed axe and a hide shield was upon her left arm.

"We have made camp back from the shore." Daina informed the Sorceress. "You and your party are welcome by our fires for this night."