"Where ye been, Pilot!? Been lookin all o'er the city for ye. Sit. Have a pint wi' me." Captain Solomon pounded the table beside him with a fist. He was also known as 'the Egyptian' - because he was, but he'd spent near all his life in Carthage when he wasnt at sea. "I heared a rumor you was seen in the market a few days back, so I knew you was still alive and kickin." He knew better than to enquire about the lady with him. Leaning closer to Azdrubaal, the Egyptian spoke in his ear. "I got good news and bad for ye. I'll start wi' the good. The ships are unloaded, the goods delivered and I got your cut. Obviously not here. Come to my house later and we'll settle up on that." He waved a finger at a passing tavern wench but she was otherwise distracted. "Glad to hear it. Tis what I pay you for," Azdrubaal winked. He surveyed large darkened, cavernous room, noting a few familiar faces. "You going to tell me the bad news now, Egyptian?" "Ain't lookin for'ard to it but I must. Some one's got to and I guess that's why ye pays me too." The Egyptian sighed, his fingers taping on the table. "Your ship's been torched, Pilot. Near burnt mine too...which is yours as well, but we managed to pull 'er out and get the embers staunched." "What?!" Azdrubaal fairly jumped off the bench. Fury filled his azure eyes as he bent down over Solomon. "How? Who?" "Ye remember the Corsican?" "I got scars on me from him." He flicked his right cheek with an angry thump. "He's back from whate'er slime hole he's been hidin in. He torched your ship. I know it was 'im because 'e was standing there smirkin as 'e watched it burn. I didn't realize.... So ye got more of a history than I know, it would seem. 'E's in here, big as life and twice as ugly." The Egyptian raised his hand to point, watching the dragon's coils on the Pilots big arm writhe, praying there wasnt a reactionary backhand coming his way. "O'er gainst the back wall there. I didn't do nothin bout it because I figured that was your honor, Pilot." Azdrubaal was furious now, his jaw set and his eyes aflame. His fist knocked against the wood of the table, like a judge passing sentence. He sat back down, not wanting the Corsican to see him. "S'what I get for being soft with dogs like 'im," he growled. "If I were you and I'm not - but I'm just sayin - I'd be waitin in the shadows for 'im when 'e leaves," Solomon advised. "Somewheres outta the way, like." A bitter grunt of a laugh escaped the Pilot's throat as he looked sidelong at his captain. "You taken to readin minds now too, Egyptian?" He took a deep breath and exhaled. "I'll see ye later tonight, my friend. We need to talk." ***** Solomon is a Poser figure, I created. She was still there, Arthur ;) Thanks for looking and your comments. Enjoy your day/evening my friends. Rayvn