A witch and a pirate—surprisingly noble for his trade—shared a long and tangled history, shaped by grudges, uneasy bargains, and more narrow escapes than either cared to count.

For years, they had crossed paths as reluctant allies and occasional adversaries. Trust between them was scarce, yet time and again they found themselves needing exactly what the other could provide.

So when the pirate stepped into the witch’s cramped little shop just past midnight, one thing was certain: trouble had followed him in.