The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 36 part 1: Bittersweet Reprieve

The stars did not spangle the night sky. Not even the moon showed its pale face for fear that the pirates may fail to take back their home from the combined forces of the Draconian fleets and Black Death Mewbaran's Afrikaansian crew. Due to the absence of the stars and the moon, the pirates had almost missed locating Pirata. Had the gun towers, which stood on either end of the dockyard, and the pinprick torches that were scattered throughout Port Harbor's abandoned buildings not been lit, Oh Henry Golomorth and his small fleet of ships may have sailed past their target. More disastrously, they may have crashed into the blockade of six ships that floated in a semi-circle formation. The pirates stayed safely out of range from the light and out of sight from the ships. Quietly, they dropped anchor and furled their black sails. The crews swept over their individual ships, making sure no flame burned and gave away their location.

Dread Pirate Robin emerged from the hatch, and every man on the main deck who noticed him turned to stare. He'd tamed his wild mess of curls by tying it back with a leather thong. The gold loop that had hung off his left earlobe was replaced by a fang. Underneath his white shirt, his other fang hung off the gold necklace that once belonged to Em. Only he knew of its place there. A plain cutlass and a pistol peeked out from the folds of his black overcoat, weapons which Oh Henry had bequeathed him.

The Pirate King walked up to the helm where the other pirate captains stood around the map table. Red-Handed Jill and two pirate captains of minor repute made up the fleet. In total, the Pirate King had seven ships under his command; however, three ships were small merchant vessels which Jill and the two minor pirate captains had brought. Oh Henry, Jill, and the minor pirate captains greeted the Pirate King with murmurs and nodding heads, but their eyes were on the three people that appeared at the top of the grand staircase after him. He stepped aside to allow a clear view of Daryl, Craig, and Kim.

Red-Handed Jill, who had high cheekbones and a strong jaw, said in her husky voice, "So these be the ones Oh Henry spoke of."

"Correct," said Dread Robin. He gestured toward the table, and the three approached. The pirate captains shifted accordingly to allow the newcomers to see the map of Pirata. At the center of the dagger-shaped island, not far from Port Harbor, was an "H" written in black ink over an "X" to indicate the hideout. According to Oh Henry, the Draconians and Afrikaansians had sent many scouting parties to reveal its location, but very few of them returned alive. Out of a sense of survival, the former slaves that inhabited the jungle and the people in the hideout had combined their own forces against the invaders. The mermaid's summons had told the pirate captains to meet on Rum Cay, a tiny island off a northernmost Politickan island. There, the Pirate King had assigned each pirate captain a port to capture. The pirates' haven was home to four major ports, Port Harbor being the biggest and Dread Robin's group to take.

Dread Robin placed his index finger on the hideout mark. He spoke to the three. "You must go here." He then traced the thin blue line that snaked from the hideout and down south to the right of Port Harbor. "You will go up the river and directly into the hideout where you will send me a message by air, detailing the entire situation. Men, arms, everything. Understood?" When the three nodded their assent, he added, "Take the greatest care going up the river. Draconians may lurk about, looking for the hideout."

"Well, can w'get a pistol, Cap'n?" asked Craig.

"No," said Dread Robin. "Only swords. Your means of transport will render any firearms obsolete."

Before Craig could inquire about those cryptic words, Daryl spoke up. "Captain," he said. "Why is Kim assigned this task with us? She only started walking unassisted today."

Dread Robin grunted. "I have a feeling that she may be of some use to you," he said. "She will go with you."

"Captain, I must disagree—"