A Lesson on the Difference Between Pirates and Mercenaries

A while after my first few weeks at the Rejected Gear, I went to catch up with Leander’s younger brother, Aurelian. I had told him I was a pirate a long time ago but I don’t think it ever really set in until this conversation.

“So you weren’t kidding. You’re seriously a pirate, Ara? You don’t work; you just steal other people’s hard work?” He asked me over a sip of ale. I expected his reaction to be a little less negatively judgmental but I had to remember that he wasn’t a little kid anymore. Not only that, but I had to admit, he had a point.

“That’s not completely true. We take jobs.” I assured him. This was true.

“So then what’s the difference between being a pirate and being a mercenary if you take jobs?” I laughed and thought for a moment.

“You know, that’s a good question,” I answered, “Mercenaries leave with only their share.” I started, “Pirates can pretend to be mercenaries and then end up being pirates in the end.”

“Wow” Aurelian said and took a gulp of his drink.

“No, Seriously,” I continued now a bit more excited about the topic “unless you do a thorough background check on everyone onboard, you have no idea who you’re hiring. It’s so dangerous.” Aurelian stared at me like I was crazy. “What is it?” I asked.

“Bells, I can’t decide whether you said that with fear or with joy.” He replied.

“A little bit of both.”

A little bit of both.

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