Circle Sea 1: The Pirate Maze

Chapter Fifteen: The Unicorn Revealed

The noise from the Queen’s Head continued to echo out onto the street much as the lamplight flickered through the misted windows. There was little sign that anyone inside had heard the fight. Even the two pistol shots had gone unnoticed which just showed how lively things were getting inside. Jim could hear the sound of someone singing a raucous song, although he couldn’t make out the words.

Jessica Flint looked back at Calvin with a sad look on her face. For a moment it seemed that she might say something, but then her father put his arm around her shoulders and led her away.

Darnell slowly picked himself up and shook the dust from his clothes. He flexed his arms carefully and then walked over to the wall of the inn where Calvin and Polly were crouched over their father. They both had a look of concern on their faces and glanced up as he approached. The teacher gently moved them to one side so he could see Samuel’s head. There was a little blood and a small cut but he seemed to be breathing easily.

‘He’ll be all right,’ Darnell said kindly. ‘You will need to keep an eye on him, and I reckon you should let Dr Enderby check him out, but I’ve seen a lot worse.’

He patted Polly on the head and pulled himself up again so he could take a look at the innkeeper. Geoffrey Burbridge was slumped next to his own front door. He was conscious but there was a scarlet hole in his dark coat at the middle of his left shoulder.

Darnell carefully pulled the garment to one side so that he could see the injury properly. He whistled.

‘Nice aim,’ he said with a tone of muted respect. ‘If Hadrian had wanted to kill you he would have. No doubt about it. This was just intended to bring you down.’

The innkeeper grinned and then winced.

‘I guess this means he really does want us back on his crew.’

Darnell chuckled softly.

‘I wouldn’t bet on it, big man. He probably decided we’d waste more time over you if you were still alive.’

Burbridge grinned again.

‘Probably,’ he said in disgust.

He tried to get up but groaned as the pain pierced his shoulder.

‘I’m not gonna be much use to you for a while anyway,’ he said sadly. ‘You’ll take him down for me, won’t you?’

‘We’ll see,’ Darnell said sadly as he shook his head. He stood up, looked back and forth along the street and seemed to be thinking. After a moment he pulled his shoulders back and looked down at Calvin again.

‘Calvin,’ he said in his familiar teacher voice. ‘They will both be okay for a few minutes but we will need a bit of help. Why don’t you go and get the doctor?’

‘What about Jessica?’ Calvin asked with a worried note in his voice.

Darnell looked him straight in the eye. The boy was worried about Flint’s daughter, but there was so much that he didn’t know about the harbourmaster and his family. There wasn’t time to say what needed to be said.

‘Jedediah will look after his daughter,’ the teacher replied after a moment. ‘He always has. You need to think about your father right now.’

Calvin nodded uncertainly, but he pulled himself upright, kissed Polly on the top of her head and jogged off along the road. He had soon disappeared around a corner and was gone.

Darnell watched him go with a thoughtful look on his face.

‘Right,’ he said with determination. ‘Time to go.’