Herera - Stories of The Purple Pearl

7. Power loss

Hachi was residing at the Thunder Isles, a group of about forty tiny islands, some of them no more than spiky rocks emerging from the water. Perfect to gain or lose something on the black market.

It made sense. I knew Hachi had had their mind on The Purple Pearl for some time, but whether they actually wanted to have my ship for themselves, or just had a very wealthy buyer, I didn't know. In any case, they would be here, to sell either my ship or theirs.

Elias and Mitsu had hastily, but still masterfully crafted three exquisite rowboats. We had sent out two of them; Elias and Yui with one, and Lemington and Nifan with another. Upon return, they both confirmed the whereabouts of both ships and most of the crew, who were not being treated better than mere slaves.

I concealed my anger, carefully stashed it, making it grow into pure fury, so I could unleash it all when I'd come face to face with Hachi.

None of them had spotted Bolin or Catharina. We figured they were probably held somewhere else, since they were higher in rank and more valuable in Hachi's eyes. I rarely cared about rank and certainly didn't so now. I wanted them all back, alive and well.

The biggest concern started rising when they talked about The Pearl's bad shape. The animals had fled or were being treated badly, Elias said he saw some of Hachi's people kill them. I saw Rhea stiffen at the words.

The Leafstorm... It was almost midsummer but the tree seemed like it was barely surviving a severe winter.

"She's barely able to keep her branches up," Nifan said, trying to hide how much it hurt him too.

"They're using her twigs to light their campfires," Lemington said. "Roasting and eating..." I shut him up with a warning look. Rhea was already failing to keep her eyes dry.

I didn't dare glimpse at Idir. Last night I'd assured him his wife was alright for the very reason we now saw disappearing.

"I'll stab that scumbag for every twig they'd plucked," Kailynn said. "And then some more for our people they'd hurt. And then some just because I feel like it."

I certainly wouldn't stop her.

"If nobody minds and even if someone does," Lemington said, unintentionally ignoring Kailynn's words, "I am going to take a short nap before we set out." He walked towards the sleeping quarters, leaning on the side of the boat.

I jumped towards him but Elio was already there. "I'll help you."

"No, no, no," Lemington waved him away, "you're..."

But then he fell through his knees, and would have fallen on the ground if Elio hadn't caught him.

I knelt on his other side. "Lemington, you should..."

My words were dominated by a scream of Rhea. Kraken had returned and had brought something with him. He'd dropped it in Rhea's hands before settling himself on my shoulder.

It was a bird. A young, dead bird. Its tiny talons crumpled and its wings... blood still seeped through Rhea's fingers as she shed tears for the little ball of feathers that was once a beautiful baby finch.

"I know its mother," she said. "Catharina and I helped her find the right sprigs to build a nest. This was her only egg that hatched this spring."

"So you forgot to feed your pet fruit bat," Yui said indifferently. We'd almost forgotten he was still there.

"Kraken didn't do this," Rhea shouted, two strokes of tears now glistening on her light brown cheeks. "This was Hachi! They're hurting everything. The Leafstorm, the animals, The Pearl."