The Guardian of the Sea

20.

Gilbert

I was in my room thinking about the last few hours. The chamber Toris and I had gotten was very small, but as long as we had windows and could roam freely, I was content. My fingers played with the amulet around my neck, as I watched the ocean outside. My eyes fell back on my small bed where the egg was lying, swathed in a blanket. Since my brother was born, I had developed a strong feeling for youngsters, small animals and abandoned living-beings. It was my responsibility to take care of the egg because no one seems to care about. The urge to feel needed was important for me. To be useless was the worst emotion I could feel. The egg was not the only creature that occupied my thoughts. It was Eliz who lingered on my mind. She told me to call her by her given name Elizaveta, but I decided to shorten the name. I liked the sound of the shortened version, especially if one would pronounce it in my mother language. While I reflected on the conversations we had, Toris entered the room.

"Are you feeling well?" he asked.

My eyes met his and I could read his troubled mind. "I am. But looking at you, I conclude that you are not feeling that well."

His shoulders stiffened after my comment. Seconds afterwards, his lips let out a sigh. My brow shot up, inquiring him to tell me why he was troubled. When I met him, he had never shown his emotions towards me, but being stuck on a pirate ship, the now friendly relation we had, improved.

He let himself fall onto his bed. "What is going to happen if this ends? I do not know why, but my heart feels heavy when I think about how this is going to end." His sighing sounded extremely unsettling. Despite our different characters, our emotions were caged by the same thoughts.

"I am certain that if the Marine will rescue us, the pirates will be hanged for the criminal actions they had taken. My father will declare war on them and everyone who is involved with them. And if not, then we will either be killed, sell as a treasure to be bought off by a rich men who will use me. The life of a hostage is not very fulfilling. The amulet on my neck is the reason we are alive and I informed them that it cannot be used without me," I breathed with a frowning look and remembered what Eliz had told me. "Eli-, I mean the charge of this ship, told me that she acted out of personal interests. Her father was kidnapped by that infamous Captain Roberts and threatened to be killed."

Toris watched me with a frown. "Roberts . . . I have met and fought him once. It was some years ago when I was ordered to the neighbour country in order to support their local army. The road was blocked and we had to sail over to the place. We were attacked by his crew. Until today, I do not know why he was lurking there. Normally it is a well-guarded country, especially on the shore and ocean which connects our lands."

"What country was it?" I asked him.

"Duchy of Eastdorn."

"Edelstein's Country?"

At first I was confused, but rethinking the current situation, my brain started to work. "Do you think Edelstein has anything to do with that? I have never heard him mentioning any pirate before. Their armed forces are one of the best ones. Their marine is almost as good as ours. They should have been able to protect the sea which bounds our countries," before I could say anything further, Raivis words haunted my reflections. "Raivis told us something about not wanting to smuggle goods for my kingdom. What if there are more kingdoms besides ours which are engaging pirates for some businesses?"

The room was filled with silence, but on the inside Toris and I were trying to put all those information together. "Although I have positive news about the situation," I mentioned calmly. "Eliz promised me to help us to find and look for those crews who made treaties with my kingdom. Then we can fathom who is connected with it and who not. Even though I have the feeling that Captain Roberts is involved with all of those dubious affaires."