Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 352: Behold my stuff(1)

Chapter 352: Behold my stuff(1)

"Look at our youngest captain in the family!" Hadrin, the eldest of the brothers, bellowed as he pulled Blake into a crushing embrace. Blake stiffly returned the hug, clearly unused to the display of affection. The swaying of the ship seemed powerless against Hadrin's great bulk, his sheer mass anchoring him firmly.

"You're a lucky bastard, you know that?" Koros said with a wide grin, leaning against the railing. "Father made me wait until I'd seen fifteen winters before I could even set foot on a deck. But look at you—thirteen winters, and already commanding men. Seems like Father finally picked a favorite."

Blake opened his mouth to protest, but Merek cut in, his voice steady as he worked a piece of limestone along the edge of his axe. "Well, to be fair, this is a day unlike any other. When was the last time we saw so many ships gathered together under one banner? This is a moment that will be sung about for generations—a day passed from free man to free man. Even Father wouldn't be cruel enough to take such a moment from his youngest."

Koros chuckled, his sharp eyes darting to Merek. "Or maybe he just didn't want to be the one stuck listening to Mother complain if he left the pup behind."

"Watch yourself, Koros," Blake muttered, his tone more defensive than he intended.