The Traitor's Wish

29. The Fairy's Doom

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TTW Ch29

The crew rushed to their posts all around the hectic filled ship. "Land ho!" Cadby shouted the call again.

"Orders, Captain?" Wallace asked quickly, holding the wheel tight as the wind rushed through the air.

Emma did not know what to do. She had a plan. Sail to Tagále, pick up a crew. Plan the rescue.
But this mysterious island had suddenly shattered her plan into a thousand tiny shards. Where were they? Wallace had charted a route quickly after the incident, but surely he had not charted them straight through an island. Could their maps be wrong? Killian had drawn many of them by hand. Emma could never believe he could have possibly missed an entire island so close to Arrendale and Fulvadore.

She glanced hesitantly at Brinley, searching for advice from her friend. He caught her glance, but offered only a curious gaze to the island in return. Emma was captain. She had to make the decision. No one else could do it for her.

She had promised herself that nothing would come between her and rescuing him. Nothing would ever set her off of the course, but now.. She needed answers. Something pulled her towards the island. Her soul tugged towards it. They had to explore it, maybe something there would lead her back to Killian.

"Prepare to make for shore." Emma ordered. Immediately, the crew began readying the ship. Cadby scouted the land from the crows nest, looking for the best spot to dock. Emma watched him from the deck, awaiting a report.

"He would have chosen to explore it too." Judson said. Emma turned to look at him, admiring the wise, knowledgeable look in his eyes. At first, she was unsure what he meant.
"Wouldn'tve been able to sail past it. You have his sense of adventure." He added, stepping closer to her. "I would not want anyone else as Captain, m'lady." His eyes sparkled, and he stepped away just as quick as he had appeared.

Emma was only slightly reassured in her decision. What if the island held danger? What if they never made it off?

She pushed her doubts aside, listening to her gut. "Drop anchor, and raise the sails!" She shouted.

"Brin. You're coming with me." Emma called out to her friend, the only man left she'd trust with her life. He gave her a quick nod, always thinking back on Killian's last wish. He would always protect her.

"Smee, you'll stay here. I'll leave you most of the men, but I want Robin with me. He's better in the forest than any of us." Emma explained. She was sure Robin would be a big help on the island in the seemingly dense forest, but she herself knew perfectly well how to navigate the forest. Her mother made sure of that. The forest reminded her of the days of her childhood, riding horses with her father. The wind rushing through her golden hair as hooves stomped the earthy soil.

She could navigate the forest better than any pirate, but she was not about to let anyone know that. "I'll take Yates and Wallace too. The others are yours."

Smee nodded in agreement, "I'll have the crew prepare you a cock boat. How long you plan to explore?" He asked with a quick glance to the ever growing island. The rush of the unknown was growing. Excitement rushed through Emma for the first time in weeks. Something awaited her on that island.

"Give me till sun high two days from now." She decided. "If we are not back by then, sail away as far and as fast as bloody possible." The grave look in her eyes was enough to keep him from arguing.

"Aye, Captain." He answered simply.

"I am going to pack my things. Have someone tell the other men to ready themselves." She clicked her heels manner of factly and headed down to her cabin. The sense of adventure muffled her grief, and for once it was not swallowing her whole. The island held treasures unbeknown her, but it may not be the kind of treasure Emma seeks.