Warhammer Divine Throne

”Airenas!!! Are you going to defy Manannan’s will?!” Duke Bodric, receiving anger from both sides, was truly furious.

The conference hall finally quieted down, and the Great Alchemist from the Empire, Biersaze Gaert, spoke in his unique voice: ”So, His Grace the Duke Bodric, why did you bring her in?”

”Yes, if you can’t give a reasonable explanation, Bodric, prepare to face the Lady’s wrath!” Mogiana said impatiently.

Bodric continued to explain the situation.

After growing up, Airenas knew she would eventually return to human society. So, she gritted her teeth and cut off her small legs with fins, fitted prosthetics, boarded a small boat, and ventured out. Ultimately, she was rescued by a pirate ship called the Swordfish from Satusha (a city-state in the southern Tiriel Kingdom) and became a female crew member.

Over the next decade, the Daughter of Manannan learned how to curse like a sailor, fight like a pirate, and navigate like a helmsman, eventually becoming a captain and the most significant Pirate Lord in Satusha.

Now, her father Manannan appeared to the Daughter of the Sea God in a dream, telling her it was time to start her revenge against the Barbarian of Norsca! Airenas-Salt Water Hatred would lead the Swordfish and her crew to launch a terrible revenge against all the Northern Barbarians who abandoned her!

”Airenas needs our help, and she hopes to get licenses to moor and resupply at some ports in the Empire and Brittania,” Bodric finally added.

”So what do we gain? A notorious group of pirates swaggering into our ports to rest, steal a little if interested, or plunder and burn if not?” Griffin Duke Ivan sneered, ”Do you think we’re fools? A female pirate? What can you and your pirate ship do? Kill a few dozen Barbarians and come to claim credit? Sorry, we don’t need that.”

”I killed them all,” Airenas glared, ”I killed them all.”

”??? All killed?” Francois also thought granting a license was absurd, even though his Duchy of Winford had no ports.

”The Skalings tribe came south plundering you, and the King ’Red Eye’ Egil was killed by this man named Laine. But surely you remember, a dozen small tribes escaped in 300 dragon ships, right?” Airenas pointed at Laine and approached step by step, ”I killed them all.”

”An entire dragon ship fleet, 300 ships, destroyed completely by me and my Swordfish, not a single Barbarian returned to the Northern Wasteland, and my revenge has just begun!”

All the Dukes of Brittania present and the Empire’s representatives widened their eyes, even King Belgar of Eight Peaks, who was busy devouring the Winford lamb pie and horsemeat sausage, lifted his head.

No wonder the Barbarian fleet that retreated from Leonais disappeared; it turns out...

A single ship wiped out an entire Norsca Dragonship Fleet?

”I think we might discuss the issue of granting you the license, Miss Airenas,” Griffin Duke Ivan first said.

If this ”woman” could deal a devastating blow to Norsca, the Empire would welcome it; the Empire was not like Brittania, as long as Airenas could pin down the Northern Barbarians, the Empire wouldn’t mind issuing a license. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The Great Nobles of Brittania remained silent; Egil’s damage to the entire Kingdom was still clear in their minds. Since this female pirate was the Daughter of the Sea God Manannan and Duke Bodric vouched for her, there might be room for maneuver.

”Father’s will is everything! Father asked me to seek help from you! You should help me!”

.......

”So, did they finally agree?”

In Duke Helunhilde’s Castle, in Laine’s quarters, a beautifully dressed female Knight sat by the window and asked Laine.

”The Dukes and the Empire people said they need to discuss it and also prepare,” Laine, who sat shoulder to shoulder with the female Knight, showed a little hesitation on his face, ”A Knight cooperating with a pirate... is unprecedented, right?”

After dinner last night, Surya was released from house arrest by Francois and allowed to visit Laine. The Duke only ordered his daughter not to stay overnight with Laine and to return to her room before nine o’clock. With her father’s permission, Surya came openly.

”It’s not unprecedented, Laine, have you heard of privateers?” Surya extended her white fingers to tap Laine’s palm, ”Brittania has issued privateering licenses since the founding of the Kingdom.”

”I’m aware of that.” Laine nodded repeatedly, Brittania’s privateers and pirates are famous in the Old World. These ships were small private vessels the King of Brittania hired to protect the waterways.

In times of war, these small ships equipped with catapults rapidly swelled the number of ships in Batonia’s fleet. The crew of privateers were often evil individuals, many served on ships only to avoid the gallows, hence lacking discipline and morale. Adapted to the sea’s rocking in fear of random floggings, the death row inmates would unleash terrible combat power to earn a pardon document in desperate situations.

In peacetime, these privateers had to support themselves, allowed to plunder the ships of enemy countries (Estalia, Tiriel, Dark Elves, Northern Barbarians of Norsca, Vampires, and other pirates), and were under Brittania’s protection.

”Since there’s a precedent for this, what’s the issue with issuing a license for that female pirate to moor and resupply?” Surya said gently, ”The enemy of my enemy is a friend.”

”Not exactly.” Laine replied, frowning, ”The issue is that Airenas-Salt Water Hatred’s crew is a mixed bag, including humans and Dwarves, even Elves and Undead.”

”Undead? Is she a Vampire?” Surya exclaimed in surprise, ”Then it’s troubling.”

”No, she’s not undead herself, but she commands some Undead... or rather, who knows what.” Laine quipped, ”Greenskins, Undead, humans, Dwarves, and Elves are all under Airenas’ command; she leads a small pirate fleet.”

This also contributed to the hesitance among the Great Nobles. Although Airenas promised that neither the living nor the dead could alter any of her decisions, the nobles had concerns.

”There really is so much to handle lately.” Laine sighed deeply, embracing Surya.

”There are some people here in Helunhilde, seemingly the ’Heroic’ Alaros and the Female Prophet Lifer.” Surya held Laine’s hand, ”They came to see you and Father. But since you were in a meeting, I had them arranged to move in first.”

”So much to do.” Laine sighed deeply as he embraced Surya.

”So, did father and they finally agree?”

”The Dukes and those on the Empire side said they need to consider and prepare for this.” Laine and the female Knight sat shoulder to shoulder. Laine said, ”Knights collaborating with pirates isn’t unprecedented.”

”It’s not unprecedented, Laine, are you aware of privateering ships?” Surya rested her body against Laine’s and whispered softly.

This is the reason behind some of the indecisions among the Great Nobles.

Recently, there have been too many matters to handle.” Laine sighed deeply.

The wedding provided an opportunity for Casvan to reconcile with the Wood Elves. After the Empire extorted a ransom from him, Casvan, severely weakened, plans to sign a peace agreement with the Wood Elves. But now, both parties can’t agree on conditions, with Casvan demanding the Wood Elves compensate for damages while the Wood Elves demand war reparations from Casvan...

The female Knight, blushing, pushed Laine away lightly after kissing for quite some time, closed the button on her chest, lowered her skirt, and ran away as if she were escaping.

”Why are you kissing before you marry Surya?” The Lake Fairy chided.

”Father’s will is everything! It’s Father’s demand that I seek your help! You should help me!”

........

”So, did Father agree in the end?”

Lying on a couch in his dorm, Laine smiled up at the ceiling. Next to him, the beautifully dressed female Knight said playfully, ”Did the Dukes and the Imperial representatives agree?”

”They’re discussing, they need to make some preparations,” Laine replied. He and the female Knight, Surya, sat shoulder to shoulder as he said this with a hint of hesitation.

”It’s not that we’ve never had a precedent, Laine. Have you ever heard of privateering?” Surya spoke softly and calmly, ”If there is a precedent for such things, what’s the harm in giving that female pirate a license to dock and resupply?”

”The enemy of your enemy is your friend.”

”It’s not entirely without precedent,” Laine responded, hesitating a bit, ”Do you know of privateering ships?”

”Not entirely,” said Laine as he frowned, ”Airenas-Salt Water Hatred’s crew not only includes humans and Dwarves, but even Elves and Undead.”

”She is not undead herself, but she commands some Undead... whatever you call them.” Laine slumped back in his seat, exhaling heavily.

This is also a consideration for the Great Nobles. Although Airenas promises that no living or dead will return from the North, the Great Nobles have reservations.

”There are just too many things to handle lately.” Laine sighed deeply.

”So, did they finally agree to your father’s request?”

At Duke Helunhilde’s Castle, in Laine’s quarters, Surya, looking wonderfully dressed, asked: ”Did Father and they agree at the end?”

”Your father, as well as the Empire’s representatives, said they need to discuss and prepare further,” answered Laine. Sitting next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, Laine and the female knight share a moment of closeness.

The Duke had permitted his daughter to come and see Laine after attending the meeting, as long as she returned before nine in the evening, on the condition that she did not spend the night.

”There’s a lot to be done these days,” sighed Laine deeply.

”To be honest, Laine, it’s not unprecedented for us to work with pirates,” Surya spoke softly but clearly, ”Are you familiar with the concept of privateering ships?”

”Yes, I know.” Laine nodded repeatedly, aware that Brittania’s privateering and pirate ships were renowned for maintaining the safety of the shipping lanes on behalf of the King of Brittania.

”These small ships, equipped with catapults, expanded the number of ships in Batonia’s fleet rapidly during times of war. The lightly disciplined and spirited crew made up of death row inmates, despite fear of random lashings from above, could be counted on to unleash terrifying fighting power to attain a pardon document when in desperate conditions,” Surya calmly said with a soft voice, holding Laine’s hand.

”With such a precedent, offering that female pirate a license to dock and resupply isn’t much of a concern.” Surya added tenderly, ”The enemy of your enemy is a friend.”

”Not necessarily, because Airenas-Salt Water Hatred’s crew is diverse, not just humans, even including Elves and Undead,” Laine said, frowning.

”Undead? Is she a Vampire?” Surya asked.

”No, she’s not Undead herself, but she has some Undead subordinates...or, in other words, so to speak.” Laine explained.

This is a reason why the Great Nobles are hesitant. Although Airenas promises that neither the living nor the Undead can shake her decision, there is still some concern.

”There are just too many things to deal with lately.” Laine sighed deeply.

”So, did Father and the others finally agree?”

”Griffin Duke Ivan said we should discuss it and be ready,” Laine and Surya sat side-by-side.

Having been released by her father after attending the meeting, Surya was allowed to visit Laine, provided she returned to her room before 9:00 PM. She had her father’s permission and came openly to where Laine was.

After a long kiss, the flushed female knight gently pushed Laine away, refastening the buttons on her chest and letting down her lifted skirt, then she scampered away as if she was escaping from Laine’s hold.

”Laine, you’re not even married to Surya yet. Why are you kissing already?” asked the Lake Fairy.

”Because my Miss, we’ve kissed many times before!” thought Laine.

Despite their reservations, given that this female pirate is both the Daughter of the Sea God Manannan and has the endorsement of Duke Bodric, they believe there’s plenty of room to maneuver.

”Above all is my father’s will! He’s the one who asked me to seek your help! You ought to help me!”

.........

”So, did father finally agree?”

In Duke Helunhilde’s Castle, in Laine’s room, Surya, sitting by the window, asked curiously.

”Your father and the Empire’s representatives said they need more time to discuss and prepare,” Laine, sitting shoulder to shoulder with the female Knight, replied. Still, Laine and the knight shared a moment of closeness as they sat together.

”There is indeed a precedent, Laine, are you familiar with privateering ships?” Surya spoke softly as she entwined her fingers with Laine’s, soothingly adding:

”I know about it.” Laine nodded again and again, ”Brittai’s privateers and pirates were always famous in the Old World. These ships are private vessels hired by Bricia’s king to ensure the safety of merchant ships on strategic routes.”

In times of war, these armed vessels become a formidable force, serving to attack the ships of Bricia’s enemies, capturing their plunder and receiving state protection,” Surya concluded gently, her voice unyieldingly tender.

”Father, how did it turn out in the end? Did they agree?”

In the Duke’s Castle, Laine’s residence, the elegantly dressed female Knight, Surya, sat by the window and asked Laine.

”The Dukes and the representatives from the Empire said they want to discuss it a bit more and make some preparations,” Laine replied, sitting shoulder to shoulder with the feminine Knight.

”After attending the meeting, my father, Duke of Winford, allowed me to come visit you,” Surya said as she pulled Laine’s hand with a gentle voice, ”Since they said that, I believe there might still be some operability.”

”It’s just that there are too many issues to deal with recently.” Laine sighed heavily.

The female knight blushed. After sharing a secret passionate kiss with Laine, she adjusted the button on her chest and lowered her lifted skirt, darting away as though she were running away.

”How is it you are kissing Surya before you’re married?” inquired the Lake Fairy.

”Why didn’t you tell Father about our previous kisses?” thought Laine.

”My father’s will is paramount! He demanded I seek your help! Naturally, you should help me!”