Black Hearted

Part 21

Mark held Sean close to his side, fixing the broken cord on Sean's amulet. Sean didn't appear to be awake anymore. Had he used up too much magic? Had the battle with the Harpies weakened him too much? He felt Sean breathing steadily against his neck, which was a good sign to him. He knew nothing about the extent of injuries internally... but if he was still breathing that was good enough for him. After fixing the cord, he carefully draped it back over Sean's head. It didn't do much for him now, but he assumed that getting him dry would bring his legs back. Oscar slowed his pace, drifting closer to the ship. Above them Wade gave a rope to Ken and carefully made his way down to him. Mark helped to drape Sean over Wade's shoulder. Wade easily held onto him, telling the others to help haul him back up. Mark hesitated a minute, giving Oscar a pat on his head, before grabbing the ladder boards built up along the side of the ship. 

At the top, Bob helped him over the rail and Mark looked for Sean. Robin was quickly directing Wade toward the Captain's cabin. He started to head for his cabin, when Bob took ahold of his arm to stop him. Mark shot him a glare, only to have Bob tell him in a serious voice. "Captain... There is something you should know." Mark straightened up with concern. The look on Bob's face was stony and full of worry. Bob didn't look like that unless something was really wrong. Mark cleared his throat, asking much softer. "Should I ask why I am hearing this from you and not Tyler?" Bob's eyes drifted to the crew that were trying to repair the large hole in the deck, then pulled Mark closer to the bow. Leaning closer to his shoulder, Bob whispered to him seriously. "That is the problem. The crew are starting to wonder if Tyler should step down as your quartermaster." Mark stared at him blankly, asking curiously. "Why would they think that?"

Bob gave him a narrowed look, uttering out softly. "Tyler advised you to sail through. Tyler was on the night watch last night. Tyler was on night watch the night the Mermen came to shore. They blame him for the losses. Then there are those that feel that Sean should be at your side. Given that he knows where we are suppose to be going. Wouldn't it be easier to force him to step down and let Sean advise you?" Mark huffed loudly with sarcasm, stating out after. "Have ya lost it? Sean knows nothing about the workings and rulings of the ship. It would be chaos! No. Tyler stays on as quartermaster." Mark shook his head in disbelief, turning to head for the cabin. He only took a single step, when Bob bluntly told him stone cold serious. "Captain, I think you should reconsider." Mark wasn't going to turn around, but he didn't have to. All around the deck, the crew had stopped what they were doing to stare at him. They didn't look hostile though.

Felix was the only one to lean back on a cannon by Ken, stating aloud. "He saved the crew and the ship, Mark. The majority of us agree. He should be made part of the crew. He earned it and anything less than quartermaster seems... a waste? Who knows the sea better than a merman anyway?" Mark raised an eyebrow at Felix, stating out uneasily. "What?! The man has spent most of his life on land!" Ken gave him a hard shrug, telling him. "He saved us from the Battle Ballad and those beasts back there. All with his ability to manipulate water. He's never been wrong. Ya won't listen to him, because he's a prisoner. So, make him part of the crew." Mark raised a hand to gesture for Ken to stop. Then after a minute of thinking, he told everyone loud and clear. "I need time to think about this." The crew went back to repairing the ship and Mark quickly made his way to the cabin.

Mark made it to the cabin door just as Tyler stepped toward him, snapping out in a hostile voice. "I really hope you are not considering this. I won't stand for it. He wouldn't know the first thing about doing my job. They'd eat him alive!" Mark pushed Tyler out of his way, grumbling out. "Not now! Right now, we need to focus on getting this ship far away from here! Do that for me, Tyler! Now is not the time to bitch to me about this!" Mark opened the door as Tyler shot out. "You should give me your answer now. Your answer will determine if I do my job." Mark slowly closed the door. He was going to let Tyler's bitching slide. It was understandable to be nervous about loosing his job.  However, that last comment sounded a lot like a threat. Turning to face Tyler with hardened eyes, Mark growled out in a venomous voice. "Go do your job. Or I'll remove you from my ship PERMENENTLY."