The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 26: Night of Blood and Daggers

Matt stepped off the landing on the winding staircase that led to the galley deck. As he walked through the archway, his stomach growled at the sight of the balding Joshua in the kitchen, busy starting supper preparations. At a table nearby, Michael and Louise sat on one bench with the little Afrikaansian boy, Blika, sitting opposite of them. The pair was trying to get him to speak, but other than introducing himself to the first mate, the boy had said no word on The Jolly Roger.

"Maybe he don't speak the Universal Language," said Matt as he came up behind Blika, who shrank away from the ginger man towering over him.

Louise reached out a hand across the table and placed it on Blika's elbow. In a slow voice that enunciated every word, she said, "He is a friend. Friend, Blika." But when the Afrikaansian turned blank eyes on her, her shoulders drooped. "I think Matt's right, Michael. He might not understand us."

"He can learn," said the former slave with a small shrug of his broad shoulders.

Matt raised his eyebrows at the first mate. "Ain't you s'posed to be up top managing the men, mate?"

Michael deflected the question by returning with one of his own, "Has the time come?"

Matt nodded his head. "Yup. Say your goodbyes. The captain wants him now."

Louise rose from the bench and went around the table. "Goodbye, Blika," she said, and then, in a twist of the Tarymian farewell, she added, "May the gods lead you safely." Louise attempted to throw her arms around the small boy, but she saw him flinch. One of her arms dropped while the other reached out to place a hand on his closely shaved head.

Michael joined Louise on that side of the table. He kneeled down in front of Blika and put his hand on the boy's narrow shoulder. "Farewell, lad," said Michael. For a fleeting moment, the former slave had the urge to draw Blika in his arms to convey the message that things will be fine for the Afrikaansian, but he fought back that desire and chose to use his words instead. "You're free now. Free. You can go anywhere you want and be anything you want." Then, in a hoarse voice, he added, "May the gods bless you in all your endeavors."

Blika turned his head from Michael and Louise and back before nodding his head, gaining smiles from his benefactors.

"Alright, it's high time," said Matt. He extended a hand to Blika, who flinched when it approached him. Instead, the Afrikaansian boy slid off the bench and tilted his head back to stare at Matt with those emotionless black eyes. Matt leaned over Blika toward Michael as the latter straightened up and muttered, "That's creepy."

Michael shook his head. "He's probably a self-imposed mute. I've seen it happen to others his age. Perhaps in time he'll open up. Anyway, I'll follow you both to the main deck. Hopefully the captain hasn't noticed my absence."

With Louise waving to the departing trio, they headed toward the winding staircase. Matt snorted. "Mate, that's a wish too much for even the gods to fulfill. He always knows ev'rything that happens on his ship." From behind the chuckling Matt, an uncomfortable look passed over Michael's tan face as they ascended the stairs.

When they emerged from the hatch, Michael headed straight for a group of men near the bow gathered around the capstan, leaving Matt and Blika to walk over to the double doors underneath the helm.

Dread Pirate Robin stood in front of his open wardrobe in the far left corner of the bay windows. His attire was entirely black from his overcoat to his trousers. Once the pair entered the captain's quarters, he walked around his writing desk until he stood six feet in front of the newcomers. His black eyes fell onto the little stowaway, who stared back at him with an equally blank gaze. To Matt, Dread Robin said, "Take him to the town. Leave him somewhere safe. Try an inn. Anywhere that is least likely to sell him back into slavery."