The little ball of fur and cuteness had decided Anne was now his. He didn't let it go, sleeping peacefully all the way to the ship.
Anne, Nyx, and the big stone man made their way to her cabin. Which, surprise, was the only room even slightly clean. The others were still dust and spider silk. Anne hadn't bothered cleaning them. Even Nyx had to clean her own space.
"Here. Take him." Anne hesitated while offering Kael to Branar before handing him away. "Also, Nyx, can I have your dagger?"
"Why, Cap'n?" Nyx asked while handing it over without hesitation.
Anne grinned. "Gotta write a letter to my mom about Kael so she can come get him."
There was a pause.
"With a dagger?" Nyx blinked.
"Just wait a minute, okay?" Anne dismissed them as if their behavior seemed odd to her. She sat by her desk and dragged out an old paper. With the dagger, she made a small cut on her palm, not too deep, just enough to make blood drippy.
She picked up a quill pen to write while using her own blood as ink. As if it was common practice.
Mother,
Do you wish to have a soft and adorable grand nephew?
Please, can you take care of him while I suffer on the seas so you can be happy?
With love, your lazy Anne.
She nodded to herself, satisfied with the tragic masterpiece. Then she lit it on fire using her desk lamp, like that was a totally normal thing to do after writing a message.
Nyx and Branar stared at each other. Their eyes said everything:
Is the Captain insane?
Probably.
"So, Branar." Anne said, clapping her hands together. "After we get everything settled for Kael, you can start working, right?"
"Aye?" He answered, still confused but going with it.
"Good. I'll get you some work bodies as soon as we sign our deal. No idea how good these bodies will be, but eh, bodies, right?"
Nyx raised an eyebrow. "When did you have time to get workers?"
"I didn't!" Anne grinned.
"See that sack in the corner, Branar? It's full of stolen goods. Should be enough to buy supplies and tools to fix this old bathtub."
The ship balanced, as if feeling annoyed by the comment.
And then reality cracked behind Anne. Not metaphorically. Like an actual tear in space-time.
"Ah." Anne gasped without turning. "You were fast, Mother."
A petite woman with motherly vibes emerged from the tear in reality. She had brown hair reaching her waist and eyes that would make even demons tidy up their spaces. Both Nyx and Branar turned white as they saw her.
"ANNE ASHFORD." Her mother spoke in a tone that sounded like thunder.
Anne's mother seized her shoulder while digging her nails into the skin, which caused the rat to jump off and run across the desk with a squeak.
"What were you thinking?"
"That you would love the fluffy ball." Anne replied with a smirk. "And look, you woke him up."
Branar stood frozen like a statue when her mother looked at him. "And this is Kael?" She said softly. A single glance at the soft baby in his embrace caused her face to transform into an adoring wetness. "Oh. You sweet little cloud."
She took the baby right out of Branar's arms like a pro, and Kael instantly snuggled in.
Anne sighed dramatically. "Great. He's already replaced me."
"You were never this cuddly." Her mom glanced at her chest while smiling with a mischievous expression.
Another figure emerged from the glowing rift before Anne could express her complaints. His broad-shouldered frame and large smile revealed his dangerous nature while he carried snacks.
Anne's father. The storm behind the storm.
"Where's my grandson? I brought cookies!" He beamed. "I couldn't bring rum. Your mother didn't allow it, my little sloth."
"Grand nephew, dad!" Anne snapped.
He waved her off. "Technicality."
The next several minutes were chaos.
Her parents were instantly in grandparent mode, making plans to redecorate her room at home.
"He'll need a crib with storm sails!"
"No, he needs a tiny cannon! It's symbolic!"
"He's a baby, dear, not a warship!"
Branar, poor guy, was overwhelmed with questions.
Finally, after a lot of questioning, her parents were ready to leave with baby Kael.
Anne's father gave Branar a friendly pat on his arm. "Don't worry, Branar. We will take care of this little one. You take care of yourself."
"And you, Anne, don't overwork him." Her mom said seriously. "You are still not allowed to come back. But you can bring little Branar to come visit his son." Then she turned to Nyx and smiled sweetly. "Nyx, take care of her for me, all right?"
With that, her parents waved and disappeared together with the portal.
Apparently, thirty minutes was enough for her mother to trust Nyx more than herself.
What a headache. Her parents were too much for her. She sighed, tired.
Rat, Nyx and Branar finally could relax as the pressure left the cabin.
"Your parents are a little too much, don't you think, Cap'n?" Nyx muttered, still looking around like Anne's mom might pop out of the walls.
"Right? They are always so over the top, smiling, playing, hugging. So annoying."
Nyx smiled faintly. Could Anne not notice? Why was she so weak?
"Anyway, now that Kael's safe. Branar, are you going to be my Quartermaster?" Anne didn't even let the poor and soft rock man breath, making him nervous once again.
[ALERT: QUARTERMASTER BOND INITIALIZATION REQUESTED.]
On Branar's head, a message popped up.
[CAPTAIN ANNE ASHFORD WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE OVER THE QUARTERMASTER POSITION OF THE ROGUE'S EMBRACE.]
[DO YOU ACCEPT?]
Anne observed the Durakar reaction. "Hoh. You don't look surprised?" Was it because he was still down for letting his child go?
[QUARTERMASTER BOND FORMED.]
Anne smiled.
Branar rubbed the back of his thick stone neck, embarrassed. "I have been in these waters for three hundred years. I never saw one, but legends talk about magic ships. But I never expected I would be in one myself, Captain."
Anne was about to ask him about the legends, but something else took her attention.
[FIRST TASK COMPLETED]
[Rogue's Embrace enchantment is partially lifted. Twenty Ratkin awaken for you to command!]
"No, no, no, please, no." Anne cried desperately.
But the sounds of tiny footsteps and squeaks filled the ship.
Suddenly, the cabin was invaded. Twenty small humanoid rats, each smaller than forty centimeters and more muscular than bears, filled the floor. "Captain's orders, cheese first!" One squeaked, puffing up his jacked abs.
Anne collapsed.
Her nightmare had turned real.