Chasing Blue- The Final Saga (Book 4)

Chapter 35: Dark Voyage

The winds strengthened, churning white-tipped waves in our direction. The white sail bore the brunt of the strong gale that sent it flapping. The clouds hung dark and low over the horizon. The only thing I could see was an impending storm. While Hyros ordered the men to adjust the foresail, I could not help wonder if the wind was driving us deeper into something we couldn't escape. I looked back at the lighthouse which glimmered from the shoreline now a few miles east of us. While the crew rallied alongside each other I paced back and forth around the deck looking for Theseus. We had to turn back now.

He was nowhere in sight. I sighed. As I turned around to head into the trap door that led to the cargo hold below, I bumped into Maximus.

"Sorry," I mumbled, as I took a step back. I could hear his breathing as he straightened his rumpled tunic. I bit my lip as his green eyes studied me.

"You are in quite a rush," he muttered, trying to stifle the irritation in his voice.

"Sorry. I was trying to find Theseus. I had to tell him something."

"He and Hyros are in the captain quarters. I am assuming it is about me," he said in a hollow tone. "You are not rallying to remove me, are you?"

"No!" I said shaking my head. "I was concerned about us sailing with the winds picking up. I think we should turn back," I said.

"Turn back now?" he asked, wrinkling his brow.

A drop of water splashed against the bridge of his nose.

"It is just a little water, Troy. Relax it will not hurt you," he said, wiping his nose just as another drop splashed against my warm cheek. Relax? Storms were nothing to relax about! Lives were involved. He clearly had no idea what it felt like being at the mercy of the sea being tossed about. None. "I hope we can continue the voyage. The Brotherhood has been looking forward to this trip for so long," he continued. "I would think you would feel the same way, brother."

"It is not like I want to cancel the voyage but I have to think about the safety of the crew too. After all, the captain makes the final decision," I said. Maximus nodded.

"May the winds be in our favor my friend," he said, as his words drifted into the breeze.

I tiptoed into the boxlike room above deck, to find Hyros and Theseus alone. I had everything I wanted to say prepared—

"I do not feel comfortable with those men onboard," Hyros protested. "As I told Jason, they need to leave," he said pointing out the narrow slit along the wall.

"They pose no threat to anyone. You are making this more of an issue than it already is. I am the captain and I make the final decisions and right now I am really questioning my own judgment with making you second in command," Theseus said. His words were more firm and brisk than I was accustomed to.

Hyros shook his head. "I don't get it. The fellow puts a knife to my throat! If that is not a threat, I do not know what is!"

"I will talk to him later. This could have all been avoided if you had not caused the men trouble by blocking their entrance to the boat in the first place," Theseus said, heaving an exasperated sigh.

"Wonderful! I try to stop a band of criminals from raiding the ship and slitting our throats and now I am at fault. Where is the logic in that? Look, I was trying to follow the rules. I did not have a list of who was boarding. How would I know?" Hyros said throwing his hands up.

"Did you even bother to ask?" Theseus questioned. Hyros rolled his eyes. "No, you didn't bother to!" he continued. "You assumed the worst. Look, you claim to follow the rules but in reality you only follow the rules when it is convenient for you. Am I right?" he asked, folding his arms against his chest.