They catch up, and they turn out to be... oh the irony

You do as best as you can to make it to the rapids, all the while hearing the raiders gleeful and bloodthirsty cheers all too clearly. As the vessel closes, you quickly realize you can't escape them and jumping ship is bound to get you killed as much as the pirates. So you decide to take up your sword and prepare for battle, Azul takes your lead and stands ready for battle beside you.

Yet her desire for battle fades as she freezes in shock and alarm, her face turning pale. You also noticed the raiders quiet down as they got closer, with a few laughs and shouts across the deck. As the boat closes, you notice they look as shocked as Azul is. You feel a new sense of dread as that can only mean one thing.

"Well now as I live and breathe.... Azul in the flesh. Fancy meeting you here, practically ironic all things considered...", said a man standing up front, more distinguished than the rest. Not just because of his fancy clothes and feathered hat that denote him as the captain. But for his physical appearance... that makes it seem to you that an elf had a child with a mermaid.

"Harper?! What the hell is going on...? And why are you wearing the captain's hat?!", Azul shouted in surprise and outrage.

"Friend of yours?" Grace asks before you could.

"Close enough... Harper here was the only crewmember who ever showed respect to me. Enough keep his distance and not try and **** me into his bed like all the rest. He never stopped asking, but he always backed off when I said no. He's the only one in that wretched crew that deserve to live... in fact I respected him as well."

Well that was quite a shocking to hear. You know for a fact that her respect is not so easily given.

"Funny you should ask...." He replies, standing higher over the bow of the boat. "See the captain and the old crew are all dead... and the best part is you are indirectly responsible", he said with mirth and amusement in his aquatic voice.

"What's that supposed to mean...?" she asks, confused yet curious.

"Well come aboard and maybe we can discuss it..." He replies with a sneer, motioning aboard his boat.

His crew lower a gangplank and the three of you step aboard, the crew helping you along. You step aboard first, followed by Azul and Grace, Harper looking at you for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Good to see you back on these decks..." Harper teases, looking past you at Azul.

Stepping past you, Azul puts her hands on her hips and asks impatiently, "Answer the question Harper..."

"Right..." He says as he examines her. " You see a few days ago, this woman with blonde hair... cold deadly eyes..." Holding his hands up to his chest he laughs before adding, "... and watermelons big enough to feed the whole crew... I kid you not. She showed up out of the blue asking about you. Of course with her various... incentives... I knew exactly what the captain and crew were going to do with her."

"Pigs..." Grace says with a scoff, crossing her arms defensively while looking away from the crew.

Looking over at her, he smiles before looking back at Azul, "Well since I'm the only one on board with a survival instinct when it comes to dangerous women, I kept my eyes off her chest long enough to notice the deadly glint in her eye." Shrugging he continues, "So I decided to accommodate her... and told her everything I knew of you and where we picked you up while she was our guest in the brig.... I also opted out of participating in the gang bang that night...."

"How kind of you..." Grace snaps at him, disgusted by the tale.

"Well as usual, my instincts were right on the money.... Don't ask me how, but somehow she killed them all of them, the captain and the crew, either after or during their... activities... I didn't care to ask which. Anyway, as a reward for my service and consideration, she let me live and let me keep the ship, and even paid me in gold. So I took full advantage of the situation, pilfered all the corpses including the captain's hat here, and anything else of worth before cleaning up and starting my new life as ships captain." Holding out his arms he turns, pointing out the crew, "As the new captain, I got myself a new crew and renamed the ship 'The Woman's Wrath' in honor of you and the woman who killed the old crew. Before she left me, however she told me if I came across anything news of your whereabouts I should inform her and she'll make it woth my while... and here you..."

"Here I am..." Azul shrugs, glaring at him angrily.

"Yes... standing before me not long afterwards... fate is a strange mistress indeed." He says with a grin.

The whole time you remain quiet, paying close attention to the mans story while also keeping an eye on his crew and your surroundings. Looking for any opportunity that you can take advantage of in the event this civil conversation breaks down. Grace stays quiet as well, hoping not to provoke anyone. As you listen, you find yourself curious over this mystery women he mentioned. You suspect she's looking for Azul in order to find you.... A clever tactic, too clever for Silva so that ruled him out, besides the misogynistic bastard would never employ a woman for anything beyond his personal pleasure. Frederick isnt that subtle either, he would have an armed or hunting party for this kind of task. That leaves Aria and Your mother. If she was sent by the latter you might guess who this woman is by his description but you can't be sure just yet.

Looking past her and back at you, he points at you and asks, "Say.... your name wouldn't be John by any chance would it?", Harper asks suddenly.

"Who wants to know?", you respond defensively.

"What was it she said...?", he muttered to himself. "Oh now I remember, The Shadows are where the deadliest weapons lie...

"But they lose thier power in the shinning light of day", you finished as if by reflex. You know that phrase all too well and only one person taught it to you. This confirms your initial suspicions. It was your Aunt Beatrice, and you know without a doubt you can trust her.

"Do you have a means of contacting this women?", you ask.

"That I do... so I take it we can help one another?", the captain relied rhetorical glee.

"Captain, my friends and I require safe passage aboard your vessel. If you assist us, I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed", you say making your intentions clear to the surprise of your allies.

"I was hoping you say that, I suspect were going to having a grand time together.", he laughs merrily in excitement. "Tie their boat to ours and weigh anchor. We head back to the ship. If you can pick up their supplies from the water, Adventure awaits!"

The crew cheers in excitement and did as ordered, gathering what sulplies you threw in the river as they could, able to retrieve most of them. The pirates taking you to the open sea where their ship, the Woman's Wrath, awaits.