Chapter 572 – Bon Voyage

The three day wait for Thedia and Rown Company to repair the ship was a slog. They helped around Port Kandis during the mornings and played cards into the evening. The most exciting thing they did was scare away aggressive ogres that came too close to town. At least for Kanae, her silver lining was the cute elven boy named Qoro, who visited her room every night until morning.

Sunlight shined through the window of the fourth day, signalling that it was finally time to depart from the continent for Nu-hauta. Kanae and Qoro were having one last round together before leaving.

"Hahh… Hah… nnghh… I'm cumming!" Qoro thrusted away on top of Kanae in the missionary position, his head buried between her breasts, and hands wrapped around her back.

"That's it! Shoot it all out inside me! Fill my pussy up!" Kanae moaned, locking her legs behind his waist.

Qoro trembled like the earthquake that hit Port Kandis. Kanae felt his cum pouring deep, joining the rest he had blown inside the night earlier. His eyes rolled back. He drooled down her torso. She cupped his face and pulled him up to shove her tongue into his mouth.

"Mmm. You did so well. I'm going to miss this when I leave," Kanae said, kissing him on the cheek.

"Hueh… You're… leaving already?" Qoro asked while scatterbrained.

"Hehe. Aren't you cute? Let's keep going until my friends come to find me." She flipped Qoro over onto his back to ride on his still erect and throbbing cock. Hand on his chest, Kanae traced his very faded tattoos. One light pinch, and his entire jerked violently.

"Wait, don't do thaaa—"

Kanae ignored Qoro's pleas, tweaking both of his nipples and savoring how much he writhed underneath her.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"It's Gretchen. Thedia's informed us that your ship is ready, and we may depart at your earliest convenience," Gretchen explained.

"Just… a few more… minutes!" Kanae called back, picking up speed as she bounced.

"Oh, I know what she's doing in there. You're not going to make me wait, Kanae. I wish to set sail upon the seas already!" Hilde groaned and kicked open the door.

When both of them entered, Qoro snapped from cloud nine and pulled the bedsheet over to cover himself. Hilde stormed in with Gretchen following from behind.

"But I'm so close! I can feel him getting close again, too!" Kanae panted.

"I'm certain you can find someone to bed in Nu-hauta. I doubt they have laid eyes on a succubus in recent years anyway," Hilde said.

"You're going to… Nu-hauta?" Qoro peeled the sheet from his head, looking like he was on the verge of erupting. "Please, take me with— aaaaahhhh!"

"Mmm! Fuck yes!" She climaxed at the same time.

After they got dressed, Kanae spared Qoro a chance to plead why. The three stood over him while he remained seated at the foot of the bed, hands clasped together nervously.

"I-I'm originally from Nu-hauta. Kaska Island, to be exact. I wish to go back!" Qoro exclaimed.

"Why on our ship? Couldn't you have paid your way on any other?" Gretchen questioned him, her discerning eyes burning a hole through his head.

"You don't have to interrogate the poor guy. I'll let you know when your inquisitorial talents are needed." Kanae patted her on the back.

"Forgive me. That was not my intention." She bowed apologetically.

"I've been cheated out of my gold before and left on the docks. I'll give you every last coin I saved up. Please! I promise to stay out of your way during the journey. Or… Or if you need deckhands, I know my way around tying rope and fishing. How about a guide? You probably want someone native to Nu-hauta to show you around," he explained desperately.

Kanae folded her arms and traded glances with Gretchen and Hilde. Both of them shrugged. The crabber they saved yesterday suggested that the people of Nu-hauta were more likely to sink with the islands than leave. Maybe Qoro was of the same thought. She would much rather he, or anyone else on the archipelago, not succumb to the ocean though.

"It is yours to call," Hilde said.

"I know. Alright, Qoro. You can come," Kanae relented.

"Yes!" Qoro jumped to his feet and cheered. He rummaged through his knapsack, pulling out a bulging bag of gold and silver coins that took both hands to carry. "I saved it all up while working here. Since the inn provided me free lodging and meals, there wasn't really anything for me to spend on. I don't need the money, so you can have it all if you want!"

They stared into the bag with their mouths agape.

"I'm still trying to understand the worth of currency, but this is considered a lot, yes?" Hilde asked.

"That is a lot, yes." Gretchen nodded.

"Keep it." Kanae smiled. "You're welcome to join us."

Qoro beamed.

They caught up with Vestrid downstairs just outside of the inn. The drakeling was in the middle of an exercise, performing practice swings with her dual maces. Each of them flew through the air effortlessly in a very controlled manner. Kanae's own arms ached from watching her.

"Vestrid." Gretchen made themselves known.

"Oh, sorry! Looks like we're ready to go, but uh… Who's the elf?" Vestrid eyed Qoro in particular.

"A tag-along and our guide when we get to Nu-hauta." Kanae ruffled his brown hair.

"I'm Qoro. A pleasure to meet you!" Qoro bowed.

"Hm. To the decks then! Your new ship awaits, Amethyst!" The drakeling returned her maces to their slings and led the way.

The party hopped into an empty cargo wagon bound for the harbor. Port Kandis had recovered quickly from the disaster that almost destroyed it. Ships sailed from port and returning ones replaced them. Scores of fishermen rowed out to sea for the first catches of the day.

Vestrid reached out to a passing wagon to snatch a fish out from the back, breathed fire on it, and swallowed it whole. Gretchen glared in disbelief and sighed.

"Please, let us be off soon…" Hilde pinched her nose shut as the smell of fish intensified.

They jumped off the wagon before it passed Kanae's ship. The sails had been replaced. There wasn't a single crack in the hull to be seen. It didn't even look like the Ortesians had stripped the vessel clean of any trace of gold.

"Kanae, we will set sail momentarily!" Thedia waved from above.

The group ascended to the poop deck by ramp. Rown Company sailors darted about, getting everything into place, tightening ropes, hoisting provisions into the cargo hold, carrying furniture down under, and more. Kanae almost felt faint standing on the ship. It was no longer an Ortesian vessel, but one that belonged to the Commonwealth, courtesy of Gretchen Redbaron.

"So, have you named it?" the beastman woman asked.

"The Seductress," Kanae answered.

Hilde chuckled into her hand.

"Very good. The Seductress it is. Sound the bell of our inevitable departure and inform the port master!" Thedia shouted.

"Sound the bell! Inform the port master!" The nearby crew echoed just as loudly.

Seconds later, someone started ringing a bell from the upper deck by the wheel.

"Wait, but who's our captain? We can't sail without one," Kanae said.

"That would be me. At your service." Thedia curtsied.

Any reservations about the journey Kanae felt before had vanished. She was glad to have someone as reliable as Thedia on board.

Down below on the docks, Petyr Stormcloud made way and shoved aside those who didn't move quickly enough. Vesh and Motta followed closely behind, both of them begging.

"Come on. Let us go with you!" Vesh pleaded.

"Yeah, this is so unfair. Why do we have to stay in Port Kandis? I want to see Nu-hauta, too!" Motta protested.

"It's too dangerous for the both of you. There's also no point for two incubi to be a part of an Amethyst Hall mission. Go back to the inn. I've already paid for a three months' stay for you both." Petyr growled, the impatience showing in the form of bulging veins on her temple.

Kanae and the others watched quietly from the deck, careful not to draw attention to themselves.

"How about we come with but stay on the ship?" Vesh compromised.

"Look me in the eye, and tell me you wouldn't leave to explore the islands when I'm not around." Petyr sighed.

Vesh averted his gaze.

"You suck at this," Motta muttered.

"I can't lie to her!" Vesh threw his hands up.

"Can you three kiss and make up and get on ship already?" Kanae groaned.

"You're lucky we're friends, otherwise I'd split your ship in two for that comment. And you've witnessed me do it to a larger flagship before," Petyr threatened.

"W-Wait, did Petyr call us friends?" she whispered to the others.

"Amethyst, for all our sake, don't bring it up!" Vestrid warned.

Petyr, Motta, and Vesh continued their conversation in hushed but tense voices. Whatever they talked about, the trio somehow hashed it out and boarded the ship together, but Petyr was obviously not happy about it.

With the final passengers aboard, Rown sailors unmoored the ship and unfastened the rope from the cleats. Thedia went about barking orders to her crew much in the same way Renya did. It really felt like old times now. As The Seductress drifted from port, the sails unfurled and carried them north.

"Don't worry about our direction. We're going northward first to catch the southwesterly wind corridor. Doing so will cut our journey by days," Thedia explained.

"You're the expert. I'm just glad to have you captain the ship." Kanae smiled.

"May I show you to your quarters?" She motioned to the stairs into the lower decks.

To no one's surprise, the officers' and captain's quarters were built unnecessarily spacious. Thedia explained that, during the retrofit, they shaved half of the officer wing to provide more room for crew cabins. The captain's quarters had been split into four separate rooms by putting up walls to form an intersecting hallway between them, all still very large but not stupidly so anymore.

They were divided up to everyone's preferred bunk arrangements. Petyr and the incubi to one room. Kanae, Hilde, and Gretchen to the second. Vestrid to the third. And Thedia in the fourth.

"Your elf friend Qoro may take an open cabin in the crew quarters. The kitchens are in need of extra hands, too. Would you happen to know how to cook?" Thedia asked him.

"I can gut fish, Captain!" Qoro replied enthusiastically.

"Good. Report to Redmane in deck three at once," she said.

Qoro saluted and took off running.

"Wait a minute. Who's elf boy is that?" Petyr suddenly took interest.

"Mine." Kanae glared.

The high elf clicked her tongue.

They entered their respective rooms to put their belongings down. Isabella made an 'oof!' sound when Kanae sat the bag on the desk. The bed looked large enough to accommodate the three of them, and it was furnished with wool sheets, silken cushions, and more than enough pillows. Hilde hastily dropped her things and ran back upstairs, probably to take a gander at the ocean.

"Kanae, may I speak with you about Qoro," Gretchen said.

"I thought I told you to lay off on him? What's wrong?" Kanae asked.

"I apologize for my suspicions, but Qoro doesn't sit right with me. Someone his age working in Port Kandis wouldn't give up their money so readily. Not to mention, all of it. And say what you will of the people here, but having trouble finding just one honest citizen to take him to Nu-hauta? I don't buy it," she explained.

"He probably misses home more than gold and was too naive to find a decent captain. Listen, hunting Ortesians for years probably has you thinking about ghosts at every corner. Not everyone is worth being suspicious of."

Gretchen's shoulders dropped.

"Alright." Kanae cupped her chin with one hand. "Keep an eye on Qoro. Maybe he'll start acting strange or off the closer we get to Nu-hauta. I've always trusted your judgement. No reason for me to stop now."

"Your Majesty…" Gretchen swallowed hard and breathed heavily, cheeks taking on a shade of red.

"You know, it's been a while since I've done Feed the Queen. I wonder how much experience you stored for me?" She pulled the half-succubus closer for a tender kiss when the door swung open.

"Oh, gross. I didn't see anything!" Vestrid stepped out of sight as quickly as she came.

Kanae and Gretchen split from each other, smoothing out their clothes.

"What is it, Vestrid?" Gretchen coughed into her fist.

"You guys have to come up to the deck and see this," Vestrid said.

They followed the Saint Prest upstairs. The first thing Kanae saw coming out of the ship's bowels were flocks of squawking seagulls flying beside them. A sailor on the crow's nest shooed away any that flew too close. Northern winds stretched the sails like a pregnant woman's belly. Hilde waved at them from one of the mast's horizontal poles, kicking her feet and enjoying the sights. The trio climbed the stern side upper deck and marveled at the twenty other Rown ships that followed. It was an entire fleet, one intended to ferry as many people from Nu-hauta as possible.

"I just hope Nu-hauta doesn't think we're invading." Kanae rubbed one of her horns.

"Not with the Rown Company stitching on the masts. From what I understand, Rown and Nu-hauta regularly conduct trade," Gretchen explained.

"Well." She turned her gaze to the enormous volcano visible in the distance, its crown surrounded in a thick ring of fog. "Full sail ahead."