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━━━━━━━━━━ 🏹 T E U T A 🏹 ━━━━━━━━━━
Two huge ships made their way closer to each other while the rest of their fleets stayed behind. The ocean was pitch black, you could only make out the ships by their lanterns. As they came closer, Teuta saw that the Buzzard sailed under his own flag that was risen just below the pirate flag. The irony of his name was used: A white buzzard on a blood red background.
Teuta took a deep breath. "The Sinners are waiting."
Nikolai nodded slowly. "Let's pray to the Saints you don't believe in that they'll keep us alive."
The men and women among his crew seemed to have no fear and stared at the upcoming ship with deadly silence while people on the Billy of Tea were whispering to each other about their nervous thoughts. Nobody could tell right away who the Buzzard was, the only thing they knew was that he was a man but any of them could be him.
Slowly, the two ships aligned and somebody on the other ship got out a plank, placing them between them before gesturing them over. Teuta looked at it and was sure that she would walk into a trap but it the question of why he was doing all of this was too intriguing. Without thinking twice about it, she made a step closer to the railing to get up and head over to the other ship.
But Nikolai stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Don't," he said quietly. "We don't know what he wants, he could straight up kill you as you step foot on his boat." He let go off her and looked over to the man who had placed the plank. "I think we're close enough to talk like this," he spoke up. "Nobody's leaving their ship."
"Ah, he's not out for risk, I see!" Somebody behind the wall of men and women called out. They split in the middle and a man came closer. He put his hands on the railing and leaned over as if he just met somebody he knew and wanted to have a quick chat. "Does that mean you're not out for fun, either?"
"The Buzzard, I assume?" Teuta asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Olivier Le Vasseur." The man bowed down before rising again. "It is a pleasure, Admiral Delahaye. Or Szczypkowska – whatever you prefer is fine, Your Grace. It's an honour to meet a Duchess, I wouldn't want to upset you by addressing you in the wrong way."
He was a lot shorter than most of the men and women of his crew. His white skin shinned like porcelain in the light of the torch somebody next to him held. Telling by his appearance and his accent, she would say he was from Kerch. She imagined him growing up in the capital, among thieves and murderers, Ketterdam could teach you how to become a criminal within a few days – what years do could one only imagine.
A wicked smile showed on his face that told Teuta she couldn't believe one word that was coming out of his mouth. But he knew who she was. Not many had heard about Teuta's reveal in Ravka, the people west of the True Sea just knew her under the name of the man who had raised her. She didn't dare to look at Nikolai. What if the Buzzard knew about him as well? If the Buzzard knew he had the former King of Ravka in his reach ... He would try to kill him first and would then drive Ravka into another war that they couldn't afford.
