Ship Wrecked

Chapter 16: The King

Emanuel leapt off his horse and didn't stop for a second to see if his wife and child made it. "Father! Wait up!" Jeremy leapt off the horse and started to chase down his father. "Emanuel! Jeremy! Get back here," Lilian placed her hood over her head and wrapped her cloak around her. She picked up her pace for she knew men loved to take women into their bedrooms at this late hour. She heard a cat cry and then slow steps from behind her. She spun around, but saw no one. She started a slight jog, but could hear the footsteps speeding up. She knew she had to sprint, but her legs suddenly stopped. She flew over herself and landed on her back. She gasped for air.

A dark, lean figure stood over her. She couldn't move nor could she breathe. She struggled to back up. "Go away," she squeaked. The man chuckled and grasped her arm. She yelped and cried out, "Emanuel help! Someone help me!" Tears started to go down her cheeks. The lean man picked her up and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned as far away as she could possibly go. His breath smelled of cigar smoke and beer.

She closed her eyes and was prepared to meet her fate. A plumb, round little man opened up his door. He was wearing sky blue long johns. He held a candle in his hand and his voice was hoarse, "What's going on?"

"Oh, my wife is just drunk."

"I am not your wife! Get your hands off of-!"

He covered her mouth with his calloused hand.

"Release her at once! I will contact the patrol!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh look here they come."

The sound of horses and men talking. "Good sirs! This man is going to injure this young woman! Arrest him!" The long john man pointed to the drunk lean male. "You will pay for this William!" He threw Lilian to the dusty ground. He stumbled down the road and was lost in the darkness. The harras of horses sped down the road in search of the drunk man. "Are you alright?" The man named William helped Lilian up.

"I'm fine. Who was that man?"

"His name is Silloman. He is always drunk and doing stuff that is most immodest for you to hear ma'am."

"Lilian is my name. Thank you so much! At least someone helps people when they can't defend for themselves."

William smiled and took her hand. He kissed it and hobbled back into his home. Lilian turned to see Emanuel holding Jeremy in his arms. "Lilian! Where were you! You had me scared to death!" Emanuel embraced his wife. He grasped her hand and pulled her forward. "We have to be swift. The king won't want to see us at this hour." Emanuel skidded to a stop at the gate.

"Who goes there?"

"Emanuel. Son of Captain Zerna who was captain of the Sunrise."

"You wish to speak to the King?"

"Yes. It is urgent."

"Open the gate!"

Iron gates slowly and dramatically opened. The young family sprinted through the small opening and rushed up the marble steps. A butler opened the door and chased after the family. "Sir! Let me escort you to His Majesty!" Emanuel pulled open the 4 foot door and rushed into the throne room.

"Your Majesty!"

The King, King Willis, sat down with his cup of tea in his hand and smoothed out his silky pants.

"Yes?"

"Did you see smoke from an unknown island?"

"Yes. Why might you ask?"

"My father, Captain Zerna, knows that there are castaways on that island."

"How so?"

Emanuel stood up and held his little child's hand. Lilian stood up and took off her hood. She curtsied and smiled.

"I know because Zerna was thrown on that beach and many people survived the Sunrise. He came back to Minuta on a raft and forgot about it. He knows that they have survived and are still living."

King Willis stroked his clean shaved chin. His black skin looked rough and brittle from quite some distance. "My good sir. I know Captain Zerna very well and that he is very trustworthy. He wouldn't make up a false tale, now would he?" Emanuel shook his head. "What is your name?"

"Emanuel."

"What would you like me to do, Emanuel?"

"Rescue them."

King Willis stood up and glided down the steps. He then snapped his fingers and guards came through two different doors. Emanuel placed the ones that he loved behind him. "Your Majesty. Might I intrude on what this is?" King Willis walked forward to one guard that was entirely different from the rest of the guards.

"Captain Rebus."

"Yes sir."

"Send word to the men of my ship and tell them to be ready to go to the mysterious island that had smoke rising from it. I know Captain Zerna survived the shipwreck that killed so many people. I want to see who survived this tragic wreck. They should not be on that island without help from the kingdom of Alumbus. Our colors, green, white, and black, should represent hope. Go to the crew."

"Yes Your Majesty. I will do as you have commanded."

King Willis smiled and turned towards Emanuel and the rest of the family. "Fatherdy. Is the King going to help those people? They aren't going to die. Are they?" Jeremy peered up at his father. "Child. They will not die," King Willis knelt down, "I promise you that those people will not die."

Jeremy smiled and hugged the king of Alumbus. "Come along Jeremy." Lilian picked up her little boy and the family walked to tell Zerna of the great news.