Hector- Manipulation

“It’s land all right,” said Vega, “but I’ve seen more life hanging from a gallows.”

“Can we not alight there, even if only briefly?” asked Baron Hector.

Vega stared at the Boarlord as if he’d grown another head. “For what possible reason?”

“This life at sea is all too familiar to you and your crew, Vega. You forget that myself, Manfred, and the ladies are landlubbers, as your crew so eloquently put it.” Hector smiled. “Solid ground beneath our feet would make a welcome interruption to our journey.”

Vega rubbed his chin and looked at Manfred. “You feel this way, too?”

The Duke tipped his head to one side. “To be honest I’d rather we kept going until we hit the mainland. The longer we’re in these foul waters, the less safe I feel. Hanging around out here, we’re giving Ghul and Slotha every opportunity to capture us.”

Hector turned to the Staglord, opening his gloved hands in a show of reasoning.

“Vega did say we needed to plot a new route, calculate where we are. Where better than a spot of dry land? Don’t worry about our enemies. Anyone who follows us through that green fog will struggle to emerge on this side anywhere near us. Besides, think of Queen Amelie and Lady Bethwyn. Wouldn’t this provide a pleasant, albeit brief, distraction from their journey?”

The Duke looked over his shoulder as if the queen might suddenly appear. He rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw.

“Hector may have a point there.”

“Exactly,” said Hector, smiling as he clapped his hands together. “Then it’s agreed. We stop to take some air. Really, what harm can it do?”

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