Tides that Bind

Chapter 2

The boy had spent the night in the corner of an alleyway sleeping on and off. Every time he drifted off he would hear sounds coming down the path and clutch the small danger tucked in his coat. The sun was finally coming up and he longed to get out of the damp chill. Throughout the night he was tempted to go back into the tavern and take up with one of the girls but the thought of being taken into one of the back rooms like a business transaction wasn't his ideal situation.

The boy got up and brushed himself off before walking down the alley and turning into the tavern. Shockingly there was a crowd already. The boy wondered if they had an early start or a late finish. The woman from last night was manning the bar, she took in his appearance as he sat down and turned walking through a door. The boy wasn't ready for anymore surprises and merely put his head down on his folded arms.

A few moments later, as he was dozing off, the boy heard something being sat down on the table. He peaked out, ready to tell the woman he wasn't ready for a drink, when he seen a plate of eggs and salted fish was set before him. "Thank you." The boy said reaching into his coat for a few coins. The woman put up her hand "Regardless of your reasons here, my son wants you to be taken care of. There is a bed in back when you finish. I have cleaned it and you can sleep until he is ready to discuss the next steps."

"My name is Ryder." The boy said swallowing a large bite "You should probably know that." The woman looked at him with examining eyes "Odessa." She said with a sweet smile, that reminded the boy of his own mother. He dropped his gaze back to his food as the painful memories descended on him. His mother was sitting in chain somewhere in the palace dungeon. Was his sister with her? Was his father still alive? The boy had no way of knowing.

The only thing that gave him the slightest hope was that this captain had taken the time to think about his mission. He knew he would have to pay but he didn't have much. Though something told him Killian, the Sea Phoenix did not want to watch Akana burn Sora to the ground.

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Killian was having a good morning. All the men were happy since all of their hungers were satisfied. Amara even seemed to be in good spirits laughing and smiling while they all ate breakfast. Jamie was sitting to his right while Amara was at his left. George was helping his mother in the kitchen while the rest of the crew had pulled tables over so they sat together.

"Captain?" Came a small voice from behind his chair. Killian didn't turn instead he waited for Jamie and Amara to see where the voice came from. "Just a boy." Amara whisper to him before he signaled the boy to come to the side so he could see him. "What can I do for you?" Killian asked the boy, no more than eight with rags for clothes and dark skin. The boy was from one of the slave ships they had overran and freed. The boy held out his hand to the captain, to which Killian did the same with his palm up ready to accept whatever the boy gave him. The boy dropped two blue stones in the captains hand "Thank you for saving us." The boy said.

Killian remembered the day Jamie and he washed up onshore with nothing but rags and hungry bellies. He took the boys hand and placed the stones back into his hand. "You're free now. A 'Thank you' is enough." The captain said closing the boys fist around the stones. This had happened multiple times, he never took the offerings. The crew would get upset at first but eventually they accepted that their captain would not accept payment for setting the people free. Their freedom was not to be bought.

"Killian." Amara said in a hushed voice as the boy walked away. He turned and seen she was starring at the boy from last night as he made his way over. "Jamie, Amara stay. Everyone else spread out." Killian spoke in a low voice. The crew made there way around the bar, cutting off all means of running away. The boy walked over and sat down at the table trying to remain calm. His shaking legs were the only tell the captain could see. "Captain." He said in greeting. "Boy." Replied the captain.