Today we continue the trend started by Nathan with his Arastin-centered piece, Frozen Dreams - Tradition, wherein we reveal a bit of the history of another of the heroes featured in the upcoming novel, Skein of Shadows. Today's hero is markedly different from the sly and canny elf assassin, however, as today we focus on Corey's protagonist, the massive oltreggan known as Gritgut (who is also the star of the ongoing serial, Axiomatic Anarchy)! Join us now as we peer into the past of this burly brute - not only do we meet Gritgut, but also two other figures that appear in Skein of Shadows!
The pouring sweat burned his eyes thoroughly, but he was used to the searing brine. A giant hand wiped away the nuisance and returned to hauling on the thick chord of the mainline. He had to keep to his task or the mast, which normally ten men had to hoist, would fall. Grunting his frustration at the uncompromising load, he gritted his teeth and let out a roar. The binding dug deep into his palm, pouring blood over toned muscle and hard flesh; but the stout timber raised the vital inches into place. A lash across his spine and a few curses were his only praise.
The whip-wielding ensign spat, "Ye're ssslower than a ssnail'z arsse in whale blubber, Grissgut! Git'ta 'way from the masst!"
The swarthy oltreggan allowed his well-tanned arms to relax, the rope singing obstinately against the hawsers as the mast overbalanced. The much thinner tiefling blanched and dove for cover as the massive pole toppled over its head. The scrawny pirate sucked in deep, an act which saved its back from being hammered into the unforgiving wood of the deck.
The ensign leapt up, drawing a barbed cat o' nine tails to replace the mast-pinned lash. "Ye sscurvy cur! Iez putss a few more holezz in that empty head for ye'z to sscream with!"
The spiked whips notched gouges into wood and rope as the pirate charged the oltreggan. The worker merely stood his place, one arm tucked behind him. When the bite of enchanted iron dug into the brute's other arm, blackness swept his eyes as he roared, hauling the loading plank around to slam both whip and ensign hard against the rails. A sickening thud sounded from the stunned pirate as he toppled overboard. Those nearby stood slack-jawed at the insubordination of the lackey and formed a circle of motionless watchers. Finally, some unspoken accord sent them racing to pull the battered overseer from the waves near the dock. Hell would be payed tonight.
Gritgut rubbed his head. The bloody cook had snuck up and banged him on the skull when the barbarian had began bashing others in his frenzy. One mast, yards of rope and several doctors bills were enough to get one piked by a captain. However, Jomo saw use in his dim-witted subordinate. "Ye'z made a mess of m' ship! Wha do ya tink ye'd get fer that?"
Still rubbing the bump, the towering oltreggan looked at the captain with confusion. "Me'z unlee smek Slythur..an me desurved it--"
The captain's face soured. "Not wit' de mast, mon! A ship kin-not sail without de mast--even a' 'alf-'inged fool like you should know 'dat!"
Shrugging, Gritgut merely said, "Mez surrey."
Jomo sighed, running his fingers over his scraggly beard. "Ye'll be sor-rey alrite...and will be sor-rie-er when Slyther is back on watch duty! You'd bet-ter make peace with 'im quick or ye'll be sleepin' with da slit-necks real soon."
The oltreggan snorted his contempt. He'd send the eel-tongued tiefling sailing to the sea floor before he'd stand another lashing. Before the slouched seaman could lope out, the captain stopped him. "Gritgut, remember your place. If ye do dat, ye'll do fine. That being said, who are ye?"
The muscular form straightened to his full nine feet before answering, "Iem a sailur."
