The Adventures of Exodus Creed & Co.

In Which Lochland Rescues Exodus, & Cassiopeia Makes a Choice

As The Queen's Haven descended next to them, Exodus whooped and hollered at the crew, who was leaning over the railing and waving at him. Lochland gave the wheel to Picalo, who was smiling with relief that Exodus was alive, and leaped over to the Spikenard as soon as they were level. Catching Exodus up in a rough hug, he ruffled his hair.

"You little idiot!" He cried. "You great stupid head! What were you thinking, falling asleep on a bloomin' whale??"

"You found me! You found me!" Exodus cried, hugging Lochland back.

"No, I did!" An indignant voice hollered from somewhere on The Queen's Haven. Before Exodus could ask who spoke, he was interrupted by Julliard.

"I say, what the flimflam are you doing on my ship??" He roared, coming hurriedly out of his quarters. Lochland looked up, ready to thank Exodus' rescuer when he froze. Julliard also froze, eyes widening.

"YOU!" They shouted in unison. Shoving Exodus behind him, Lochland drew his rapier and pointed it at Julliard, who squeaked with fear before remembering that he too carried a weapon, which he withdrew, going very red. A hush fell over both ships, broken only by the flap of the sails in the wind.

"So..." Lochland said.

"So..." Julliard repeated.

"You captured my crewman, eh?"

"Captured?! Don't be daft. We rescued him." Julliard narrowed his eyes at Exodus. "Now I remember why I threw you in the brig."

"You threw him in the brig?!" Lochland shouted angrily. He advanced on Julliard, who hesitated, before striking a dramatic pose and also advancing. Lochland paused, head cocked in confusion.

"What are you doing, Julliard?" He demanded.

"This is a technique I learned in the West Indies," Julliard said proudly. "It displays my dominance. Why, do I strike fear into your very heart?"

"No, but I do feel rather nauseous..."

"I say, that's not very..." Julliard began indignantly when the voice from The Queen's Haven interrupted again.

"Would someone please hold me up so I can watch those two idiots fight? I need some entertainment."

"SHUT UP!" Julliard and Lochland cried in unison, then glared at each other.

"Oh, honestly, would you two just stop?"

Julliard immediately lowered his weapon, but Lochland turned to face the speaker before he too stood down. Cassie moved through the men, who parted before her respectfully, and studied Lochland with interest.

"You are Captain Lochland Reign?"

"I am, milady." Lochland saluted her smartly. His face reddened under her scrutiny.

"You're not what I pictured." She said, sounding disappointed.

"What did you picture?"

"A grown man."

"Oh, well, sorry to disappoint you," Lochland muttered.

"Miss Flynn, you don't have to watch us," Julliard said, "this fight won't end well."

"No, I'm sure it wouldn't. Which is why neither of you will be fighting."

"What?!" Lochland yelped. "But we have too!"

"Yes, we must!"

"Why must you?"

"Well..." Julliard hesitated, looked at Lochland who shrugged. "We just...have to. Because I'm a villain."

"You're no villain." Cassie scoffed. "Now stop this nonsense."

"Would someone please lift me up!?!? I know I'm missing something interesting."

"Who is that?" Cassie demanded, and before Lochland could answer she had spread her wings and flown onto The Queen's Haven.

"Oh great..." Lochland muttered as Cassie followed Aristotle's grumpy voice.

"No one ever listens to the compass unless I'm giving them directions. Such a pain. Oh, hello miss!"

"Hello. Who are you?"

"Aristotle, at your service. I'm a compass."

"I can see that. Here..." Cassie lifted Aristotle by his chain and flew back to the Spikenard. Immediately, the compass began chanting.

"Oh good, they haven't started yet. Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"What a bloodthirsty piece of machinery you are." Cassie tsked. "There shall be no fighting today."

"Awww..." Aristotle grumbled.

"What do you mean, 'no fighting'?!" Julliard cried. "It's Lochland Reign! I have to fight Lochland Reign!"

"And I have to fight Julliard Flynn! It's a tradition."

"Yes, a tradition!"

"Oh, hang your traditions. You're both being ridiculous." Cassie sniffed and handed Aristotle to Exodus, who wasn't sure he was okay with the sarcastic compass.

"Oh, fine." Julliard snapped, secretly relieved as he sheathed his sword. He hadn't worked on his swordplay in a while and was out of practice. Though blood was rarely shed when he and Lochland happened to cross blades, he wasn't in the mood to be beaten.

"Well, if there's to be no fighting, there's no reason for us to remain here any longer!" Lochland announced with disgust, and sheathing his sword he stomped across the deck as if to hurl himself back onto The Queen's Haven. Exodus saluted Julliard, bowed most respectfully to Cassiopeia, and began to follow.

"Wait!" Cassie cried, and everyone turned to her in confusion. "Where are you headed, Captain Reign?"

"Well...we...blast it, I don't know yet! Probably a merchant island, to trade."

"Trade? You?" Julliard scoffed, and Lochland glowered at him.

"Yes, Julliard. Trade. Not all of us are villains, you know. Some of us are civilized."

Julliard spluttered and fizzled with anger, but Lochland ignored him and swung neatly onto The Queen's Haven's deck, Exodus following with Aristotle.

"Captain Lochland, I would like to go with you." Cassiopeia called. Julliard choked on air and stared at her, stupefied.

Cassie said gently, "I'm very grateful for the safe passage I have received on your ship, Captain Quinn, but you refuse to go near any merchant islands, and I need to go to one rather desperately."

"Then we'll go!" Julliard cried, "If it will make you happy...?"

"I can't risk my reputation, Captain. If I enter port on the ship of a self-proclaimed villainous Pirate, I could never return to my home island without shame. I must ride with a lesser pirate..." ("Excuse me???" Lochland cried) "...so that my reputation remains intact." Cassie ignores Lochland's outburst, playing at Julliard's ego. And it worked; the 'villainous' pirate swelled with pride, and he nodded.

"You're quite right, Miss Flynn. I have no desire to ruin your reputation. As much as it pains me, I will allow you to leave with my worst enemy, Lochland Reign. For your sake, I pray you will have fair weather and a safe voyage." He bowed gallantly over her hand and kissed it. "Farewell, Cassiopeia Flynn!"

"Now wait a minute!" Lochland shouted. "I haven't agreed to take you anywhere..."

"I can pay you." Cassie interrupted with a roll of her eyes. Lochland hesitated, then shrugged.

"Alright then."

Ascent took longer than expected, as Cassie had to pack her things and then have them loaded on The Queen's Haven. But soon they were ready, and with Julliard blowing kisses to Cassiopeia while also flipping off Lochland, they sailed away into the sunset, bound for the nearest merchant island.