The Demon Lord And His Hero

The Fools Noose was a sturdy and glorious ship. Late into the night, her tall triangular sails were hoisted straight and narrow by the busy sailors atop the deck.

Syryn was accommodated in a private cabin that was small but also cosy. Above his head jutted a lantern that hung from a beam that bisected the ceiling. To his right was a bed against the wall, and to his left was a table beneath which a low backed chair was fitted neatly. A porthole allowed the mage to see what lay beyond the walls of his little cabin.

Outside his porthole, the sky was an upturned bowl of velvet with little pinpricks through which lights illuminated the choppy ocean waters that lapped at the ship. When Syryn had boarded, the ship was at anchor, but now he could feel a small rocking motion that had his lantern swaying ever so slightly.

He had observed his cabin so the mage went up to the deck where the sailors were rushing about to carry out tasks that made up the small parts of the complex machinery that was a sailing ship. Creaking sounds abounded as Syryn stood at the rails of the deck and watched the ship nimbly back out of the harbour.

"Syryn, do you get seasick?" Idriz asked. The wind caught wisps of his wavy hair that was loosely tied behind him.

"I'm not used to the lurching of the ship but I'm sure that I'll get my sea legs soon," the mage answered. "Do you often get attacked by pirates?"

Idriz rested his arms on the rails and looked out to the sea upon which the moon was reflected. "Buccaneers don't trouble us, at least not the ones who know about the reputation of the fool's noose."

"What reputation?"

Idris turned to look at Syryn with amusement. "You joined my ship not knowing what kind of people I deal with."

"It doesn't matter. All I want is a means to get to Coop Island. What you and your ship carry, and to whomever they carry the cargo has no bearing on me."

The captain was thoughtful. "Do you know anything about the factions of Coop Island?"

"No."

Idris chuckled. "You are on a foolhardy mission, Syryn."

There wasn't a lot of information, to begin with. Syryn tossed his inhibitions aside and glanced at the captain. "Can you tell me something about the factions on coop island?"

"For the right price, yes," Idriz answered.

The mage waited for the man to name his price. Instead of answering him, Idriz showed him a silver compass.

"This is a special compass. It functions as a compass but it also detects sneaky magic. For example, illusions. Can you guess what my compass is telling me?" Idriz asked the mage with a foxy smile.

Syryn thought it was a small price to pay for information that could make his life easier. "You're curious about who I am," he answered.

Idriz put away his compass. "Yes," he answered. "For the safety of my ship and crewmen, I need to at least know that the fool is not carrying a personage of an identity that would bring trouble to her."

It was fair enough. "I am not a threat to anyone," Syryn said though he had already proved his words false with how he'd taken hostage of the ships not too long ago. "I wear an illusion because I'm a very good looking man, and I do not want to attract unnecessary attention. I draw too many admirers with my face, you see."

To Idriz, Syryn probably sounded very vain but the truth was the truth. "Can I see what your handsome face looks like then, Syryn?" He asked with waning interest. The captain had seen all sorts of good looking men and women. Even the brothels at Coop weren't short of enchanting and fairy-like beauties. It sounded to Syryn like the captain was just being polite.

"Are you sure? I won't take responsibility for you falling in love with me," Syryn wagged a finger at the captain.

Idriz was unprepared for the instantaneous swap from a common-looking man to a bewitching beauty. His polite smile froze and the captain stared into lovely violet eyes that stole his soul.

"See, I told you." Syryn was jesting but the captain didn't know that.

"Does that happen to everyone that sees you?" He asked after breaking out of his spell.

"Sure." The mage was confused but played along. Did the captain really fall in love with him? It was a joke. One could fall in lust with Syryn and obsess over his looks. That was all there was to it. Syryn did not believe in love at first sight.

"It is my turn to hold up my end of the bargain," Idriz said to the mage. "Coop Island has a single natural harbour that controls the flow of trade and transport on the island. Ever since the pirates began making it their home, this harbour has been controlled only by the most powerful faction of the island."

Syryn nodded along as the captain spoke.

"As of half a year ago, the status quo on coop changed, and the most powerful faction was usurped by a new group called the Queensmen. They're led by Bella, a woman whose wrath you do not wish to incur."

"She sounds lovely," Syryn replied. A woman able to claw her way to the top of the hierarchy at Coop Island had to be a very special being.

"The other two factions are the Red Sun and the Iron Raiders. Bella controls almost half the island while the rest is split between the other two factions. I'm telling you this because you have to step and speak with caution knowing which faction's territory you walk through."

"I'll keep that in mind," Syryn replied, recalling the numerous times he had thrown caution to the wind when agitated by external stimuli.

"Are you looking for someone at Coop Island?"

Syryn thought about the consequences of telling the man about his quest. There seemed to be none. "Yes, I'm searching for a person called Greed. He makes and sells golden fertility idols."

"Greed?" Idriz raised his brows in surprise. "How unlucky for you."

A wave of bad feelings swept across Syryn's mindscape. "Why?"

"Greed was caught dealing business secretly. He was caught and murdered by Bella's men not too long ago."