Siren's Kiss

04: The Treasure Fleet

The next morning, the ship docked at a nearby island to repair the damage. There was a village situated along the coastline that welcomed all kinds, including pirates. The crew mingled with villagers, working tirelessly to assist Eli, their carpenter, and Victor "Vic" Riptide, their boatswain.

Captain Drake hung off the top yardarm of the foremast, lashing the topsail. His mind wandered back to what Ciel had revealed. Even though he found the story hard to believe, a part of him still wanted to push through with the journey. His first mate, Toby, waited as he climbed down.

"Cap'n?"

"Aye," answered Drake, finally making a decision while clapping his hands to rid them of dirt. "Call everyone. Let's have a tête-à-tête."

Toby nodded his head, then looked around, "Where's the siren?"

"The princess is still sleepin', I reckon."

Toby sniggered and called everyone on deck, pausing their work to gather. They waited patiently as Captain Drake's face appeared before them.

"So, I had a chat with our dainty guest," Drake began. "He told me tales that tickled me fancy, ye see. And it's not only about the Forgotten Isle, lads." When he finished speaking, he produced the blue pearl necklace, letting it dangle from his fingers, and leaving the rest of the crew gasping.

"Blimey!" Declan exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Is that what we think it is, captain?"

"Aye," Drake nodded, passing the necklace to Toby, who examined it alongside Ori and Jo. "No gentleman o' fortune or even templars has managed to get one without meetin' a fatal accident. Even survivors end up missin' limbs. Thalassara lost an entire army in favor o' a single set o' pearls. Imagine what they'd sacrifice fer this here necklace."

Toby scrutinized it carefully, inspecting the color and luster. "It's real."

Drake grinned. "It be, an' there's more o' where it came from if we agree to accompany this here prince to find the fabled lost isle."

"You're jokin', aren't ye, Cap'n?" Jo looked terrified when he heard this. "No one's seen that island. It's a myth. Even if it exists, where'd he get the map to lead us there?"

"Or he could also be leadin' us straight to the Azure Kraken," said Ori.

Jonah shivered, but the cook, Ollie, was delighted. "I'd like to save me strength fer when it comes. Always been me dream to taste kraken meat. Also, I heard some o' 'em folks in the island callin' it kray-ken."

"I thought it been a long "a"?" Griff joined the conversation, equally intrigued.

Ollie grunted. "It's a mythical creature an' I can call it what I want."

Realizing the conversation was taking a different turn, Toby waved them off. "Back to what ye were sayin', captain, where'd the Siren get his map to the island?"

Drake paused for effect, gazing at each one of them. "Lads, he be the map."

Everyone stared, dumbfounded. Toby repeated, "Come again?"

"He knows the way 'cause he dreamt o' it," Drake said, trying to make it sound as natural as possible.

"Now this here sounds like a real joke!" Jo mumbled aloud.

"Look here, lads..." Drake sighed, trying his best to take control of the situation, though he knew the boys would listen to what he said anyway. "He tells great tales, but we take whatever he says with a grain o' salt."

"We have no problem with that, Cap'n," said Vic. "But after a year or two spent wanderin' the Seven Seas, we might end up on a wild goose chase."

"Or we might find somethin'?" Drake encouraged. "Besides, lads, who care about indulgin' this noble's delusion when he promises to pay us with blue pearls?"