[maikafanawen]

After the horse master summoned the law enforcement and had the corsair taken from the trough to the jail, Garth returned to business about the left stables and Devon, Telson, Callath, and Calnan held their discussion in the right stables' tack room.

Devon sat on the floor, his back leaning up against the wall, his mind wandering. Everything had gone wrong and it had only taken around two weeks to do so. Umbar was going to the dogs and the only people who could really stop it were leagues away in Minas Tirith or the navy in Dol Amroth. And it was up to them to either stall Doran and his posse or stop them if possible.

And what's worse is that they had to do exactly what Doran said in order to protect Adeline who was at the mercy of the corsair captain. Which drove Devon completely rigid with fury; it wasn't fair at all, no matter what Doran tried to tell him. The captain had the upper hand far more than it was equal. Devon and his friends were going to get slaughtered.

"I haven't any idea as to where to begin," Devon said to no one in particular. From the looks of everyone else's faces, neither did they. Telson was still trying to piece things together and look for a weakness in Doran's plans but none was to be found.

"I bet that if we can even find a captain, he could probably help us out a good bit with everything else we're going to need," Callath offered.

"Do we know how many ships Doran's got?" Calnan asked.

Devon shook his head. "I know of one," he said, "The Rapscallion, that wasn't to be found after he was arrested the last time. He claimed that it was taken in a storm but...I bet he's got it somewhere. He could have as many as five to a dozen for all we know."

"Allies?" Telson asked. "Are there any other notorious corsairs around here that would have ships of their own for Doran's deployment?"

"Oh sure," said Devon, "There's Stalkin, Feray, and Drovig for starters."

Callath groaned, "We can almost certainly count on them to help Doran out."

"Which are their ships?" Telson asked.

Devon furrowed his brow in thought. "I think Feray is captain of the Regal Dawn, and Drovig commands the Might of Realge."

"And Stalkin?"

Devon exchanged looks with his friends, Callath shrugged and Calnan nodded. "Well, story is that his ship is called the Yonder Bound and is three times as big as any ship except for maybe Doran's. I've only heard of it though, I've never seen it."

"Well lets not cast it to myth too fast," Telson decided. "If there is such a ship, I'd like to think we'd be at least expecting it. If not, we're no worse off." Devon nodded.

"Now what of captains that we could consider as our allies. Can you think of any?"

"There are some merchant ships here in port," Calnan said. "And there must've been captains to bring them in from Gondor."

Telson shifted his position and leaned forward, "I'm worried though that we'd find either a weak hearted captain or a non-committal one. I'm wondering if we could get our hands on a veteran. Someone who has had experienced and is hardened from his own battle scars. One who knows the waters around here. And even who has sailed against the corsairs. Maybe even Doran himself?"

Devon's mind shuffled through his memories, trying to put a name and face to the man Telson had described. He was sure he knew of someone. Someone he'd heard stories of when he was younger. The man was a corsair but he'd sailed with the Gondorians; he was the best captain among them so he'd heard. But who was it?

"That would be ideal, Telson," Calnan was saying, "but that seems like a rare find. We'd have to go to Dol Amroth for someone like that." But Telson was looking at Devon.

"Do you know of someone Mr. Thrann?" he asked, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Devon looked up quickly then shook his head. "No, I-I don't think so."

The hour was getting late and Devon couldn't be missed any longer from his studies. Calnan seemed to be thinking the same as he checked the dial on the windowsill beside him. "I should be getting back soon."

"Let's meet again then tonight," Callath suggested, "at the Snifter and Song."

Calnan nodded. "I don't see why not. We couldn't be any more stuck than we are now." The others agreed and parted, planning on dinner that night.