Song of the Sea

Chapter 3

We paddle to the shore and Cai and another sailor jump down to pull onto the sand. We climb out and start walking to the jungle. We make it halfway before we see our first skeleton. An ax sticks out of its head. I hear a man get sick. We cut aside some vines and find a path. Cai and I look at each other and continue. Along the way, we see other remains of people who tried to get to the gold. We pass a body that still has some meat on it. The stink is enough I crouch down. An arrow whistles past my head and sinks into a nearby tree.
"Take cover!" Cai yells and the air fills with arrows. I scramble against a log and cover my head. I hear someone fall next to me. "Mira! We have to get back to the ship." I look over and see Cai next to me. I nod.
We run out into the open and take off back the way we came. An arrow sinks into my skirt, narrowly missing my leg. We hurtle back and see the rowboat. We burst onto the sand and I leap in. Cai pushes it out and climbs in after. I hear yelling and look back. Several people come out and start shooting arrows at us. They're wearing nothing but yellow marks and have shaved heads. I crouch down. Arrows thunk into the boat. Cai keeps rowing. We finally make it out of range and they stop shooting. They retreat back into the jungle. Cai looks at me.
"Well, that was unexpected." I snort, then start laughing. He laughs too. We laugh until we can't anymore.
"Those poor men. We just left them." I say. My eyes well up.
"They were gone, Mira. There was nothing we could do for them." We sit in silence until we reach the ship. The crew pulls us up.
"What happened?" The captain asks. Cai shakes his head.
"It was an ambush. The natives attacked and we lost the men." He hangs his head. "They were good men."
The captain sighs. "We'll hold a memorial for all those lost today at dusk." The crew removes their caps. Nobody says anything for a bit. "Please. Rest for a bit."
I go back to my cabin and pull my journal towards me. I write about what just happened. I sit back and sigh. How could this have happened? We just got here and I left my father and for what? To be almost killed by savages and not get any gold? What am I going to do now? A bell rings. I go back up to the deck. The sun is setting and casts a red reflection on the water. The sailors stand in a straight line with their hands against their foreheads. Cai stands among them. A man plays the trumpet from behind. The captain steps forward.
"Today we lost some of our best men. Happy Zachary, who was never without a smile. Brave Conner, who was the first to climb to the crow's nest. Kind James, who never said a mean word about anything. Strong Matthew, who could lift anything within his reach. Generous Adrian, who would give you anything without asking for anything in return. And last but not least, artistic Dylan, who could make anything out of everything. We will remember them, always and forever. Thank you, men, for serving us. May the ocean look after you." The captain steps to the rail and tosses a flower overboard. The crew follows.
I pick up a flower and throw it into the water. "Thank you," I whisper.
"You will now be dismissed for the evening. Everyone may sleep, except for those on duty. Sleep well." The captain strides back to his cabin.
I run to catch him. "Sir, where are we going now?"
"I thought you and Cai knew that," he says without turning around. "Figure it out."
I go back to my cabin and try to sleep. I toss and turn for a couple of hours. Finally, I get up and go out beneath the sky. The stars twinkle and I gaze up. I've never seen them so bright. I stand there looking up at them. There are so many that I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to be up there. Is it as bright as when the sun is out? As dark as it is when there is no light? I heard someone once say that we are made of stardust. Each of us has so many different things inside. I suppose each star must represent something in us. For we are made of them, and the stars know us. I wonder if they know more about us than we do about us. They have seen every moment from the beginning of the world. They must have knowledge of everything. I smile. The moon is up, painting everything silver, and making everything just a little bit better. And I feel like this is where I belong.

The next day, I wake up and go see Cai. I knock on his door.
"Come in," he says. I enter.
"Hey," I say. "I need to talk to you. Can we take a walk?" He nods.
We go above into the sun. "What do you need to talk about?"
"I want to join the crew," I say. He stares at me. Then he starts laughing. I wait until he's done.
"You're not serious, right?" He takes in my face. "Oh. You are serious. Why?"
"I feel like I belong here. On the sea, on the ship." His mouth tightens. "I want to be here and never leave."
"Do you know anything about how to sail?" he asks. I shake my head. "Well, you can start with that. Then we'll see about you getting stronger." He strides off, shaking his head. I feel crushed. I was so sure he would be happy for me, but he just laughs. I sigh and start heading back to my cabin when I hear Tommy yell.
"Hey, cap'n! We found something!" Tommy shouts from the crow's nest. "It looks like a person in a rowboat!"
I scramble to the base of the mast. "A person, you said?" I yell up to him.
"Yep! Over to the west! Looks like he's indecent too, so I would suggest getting below, miss." Tommy swings down. "I need to tell the cap'n."
"No need. I will." He nods and starts climbing back up.
"He looks in bad shape, though. I would be careful. Can't trust anyone out in the middle of the ocean."
I run over to the captain. "Excuse me, sir."
"Not now, miss. I need to get us back on course."
"But sir-"
"But nothing." He looks up at me. "Please leave."
I stomp my foot. "I'm not going anywhere. There is a man out in the middle of the ocean wearing nothing and I am not just going to sit back and let him die."
The captain jerks up. "What?"
"I'm sorry? I can't talk to you right now. You just said that."
"Please excuse me. I'm a bit frustrated. You said you saw a man?"
"Tommy did. He's in a rowboat, and he said he looked like he was in bad shape. He's just west from here. We can easily pick him up and get back on course."
"There's a storm coming, miss." He points to a wall of gray in the distance. "If I can't get us back on course in time-"
"I'm sure you will. Now we have a man to save." I stare at the captain until he sighs.
"What use is it to argue? I'll alert the crew. Get below. We don't know what this man is."
"Can't I stay in your cabin? That way I can see what is going on but he can't see me."
"Very well. But hurry! We'll need to move fast."
I scramble down the stairs and into the cabin. I watch as the captain yells orders at the crew. Everything is going smoothly. The sailors drop two ropes down the side of the ship. They go taut. They begin to hoist something up, and soon, the rowboat appears. I can't see any man, though. The sailors form a half-circle as the boat is dropped onto the deck. The captain strides forward.
"He's unconscious. Take him to the infirmary. And get Mira to help."
"But, sir, what if he is dangerous? What if he hurts her?" Cai steps forward.
"These are orders, Cai. Something strange is afoot." The captain looks towards me. "Come out, Mira, and help this young man. He looks hurt."
I step out and everyone stares at me. "Of course, sir." I walk over to the boat. A young man, maybe around 18, lies inside. He has light brown hair and a splash of freckles across his face. A couple of dots of sweat gather on his forehead, and he is gasping for air. I look further down and blush as I realize he isn't wearing anything. "Please cover him," I ask. Someone lays a cloth over his lap. Several bruises bloom on his rib cage. "Bring him to the infirmary. Be careful handling him. He's in pain." The sailors lift him up and I lead them down below.
I have them set him on a cot so I can further inspect him. After they make sure I have all my equipment, they leave. I pace around him, trying to see any injuries. He has a couple of nicks on his body, but nothing serious. I see a dash of ink on his right side and I lift him so I can see what it is. It's a tattoo. A swirling mess of stars and waves covers his side and part of his back. I run my fingers across the lines. What does this mean? I carefully roll him back. I prod his stomach and he groans. There's a burn I didn't notice before. I grab some salve and rub it onto the wound. A small smile pulls at his mouth. I move down to his legs. On his ankle is a thin chain. I remove it and put it aside. There is a brand on the side of his right foot and is swollen. I put some salve on it, then wrap it in clean linen. I sigh and step back. Where did this boy come from?
"Hey, Mira," says a voice from the hallway. Cai is standing in the doorway. An amused grin flits across his face. "Almost done?"
"Yeah. I just need to put this back on him. Can you bring some clothes?" I clasp the anklet around him again. I study his face. There's something odd about him. Other than being abandoned in a rowboat. I trace my fingers over his face. Such beauty.
"I brought clothes. I found some that seem about his size." Cai walks into the room and promptly trips. Clothes scatter everywhere. "Damn it. I'm sorry. I'll pick them up."
"Oh, no, I've got them." I bend down at the same time as he does and our heads hit each other "Oh, my." I giggle and sit down. "That hurt."
"Here, let me see." Cai brushes my hair away. "No bruises."
"Um, who are you? Where am I?" A hoarse voice comes from the bed. We look up. The boy is sitting in bed, staring at us. He blinks. "Why am I naked?"
"Oh, I have some clothes for you here. Pick what you want. I'll help you walk. Cai, can you pick them up?" I wrap the sheet around his lap and help him stand. "Can you hold this, please?"
"What, are you afraid of seeing me indecent?" He smiles at me blearily. "You look like an angel."
"Yeah, well, she's not." Cai trudges over and grabs the boy. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
"That's no way to address a poor, innocent boy, is it? Especially with everything I just went through..." he trails off. "I'm a selkie."
"What's that?" I ask. I shift through the pile of clothes and pick up a pair of underclothes. "You can wear these." I toss it at him.
"A selkie is a part-human, part seal. When we are on land, we shed our seal skin and we become human. When we are in the ocean, we are seals. It's very fun. You should try it. Oh wait, you can't." He chuckles. "I'm going to put these on now." I turn around.
"What were you doing in a rowboat?" I ask.
"I'm going to wait until I can speak with your captain. Can you take me to him?"
I nod. "Cai will take you there. Ring the bell when you're ready for me."
I inch across the room, careful not to look at the boy. Tue door bangs shut behind me and I breathe in the air. The sun has begun to set and reflects on the water. There is something calming about the way the ship rocks back and forth across the waves. Cheers come from below. The crew must be having dinner. Someone strikes up a tune on a fiddle. I smile. It's nice to know that in this messed up world, people can still find happiness in the smallest things. A bell rings behind me. I straighten my dress and walk into the captain's cabin.

The selkie, Cai, and the captain are seated around a table in the center of the room. I grab a chair and pull it to the table, so I sit across from the captain, with Cai on my right. I glance at the selkie and am surprised to see him already staring at me. His mouth quirks to the side in a smile that says trouble. I clear my throat.
"I guess you already know why I called this meeting. We need to discuss what to do with the selkie. Do you have a name?" I glance at him.
"As a matter of fact, princess, I do. I'm Aric. What's yours, if I may ask?" Aric says.
"It's Mirabel. Welcome aboard The Sea Gyspy. We have some questions for you." I nod to Cai.
"First of all, why were you in a little rowboat in the middle of the ocean? And where's your skin?" Cai spits out. He glares at him as if he's about to fight. I place a hand on his arm, and he relaxes. I notice the selkie staring at my hand with a small smile on his face. His eyes flick to Cai.
"I was kidnapped when I transformed, and my skin was taken. Then I was dragged on a ship and they dumped me out here. I've been there for about two days before you guys picked me up. Thanks for that, by the way." He nods to Cai. "Are you two a couple?"
Cai blushes and jumps up. His chair clatters behind him. "Mind your own damn business. You have no rights here. On this ship, you are at the mercy of us. And right now, I'm not feeling so merciful."
The captain stands up. "There will be no killing or fighting on my ship. I vowed to live the seas peacefully and help those in need. And that is what I'm going to do. Sit down, Cairo. You're forgetting that he is probably decades old. He will easily beat you, skin or not. Don't make a fool of yourself."
Cai grunts and takes a seat. "He's sick."
"We're only as sick as our secrets. Got any secrets worth my time, lover boy?" Aric grins wickedly.
Cai grunts. "Keep talking and I'll throw you overboard. Without a boat this time."
I interfere. "What is your status among your people? And how old are you?"
"Ah, you know. Pretty up there. Lots of followers. Lots of lovers." He winks at me. "I hope you don't get too jealous."
"I wouldn't worry. So you're what, a prince? A high ranking guard?"
"More like a... secret weapon. 500 years old, you learn a little. What about you, love? What are you doing out here with all these stinky men?" He pinches his nose. "You must be truly desperate if someone of your beauty is hanging around someone like him." He gestures to Cai. "I think you can do a bit better."
"What, like you?" I snap. He flinches as if I slapped him.
"You wound me, angel. I will win you over, I promise." Aric leans back in his chair. "I can feel it."
I blush. I try not to acknowledge it, but there's a flutter in my chest that I can't get rid of. He's just so captivating and confident.
"Good luck with that," Cai says. He smirks at Aric. "She's never going to like a guy like you." Aric just snickers.
"You'll see," he says. He gets to his feet. "I assume we're done here. May I be escorted back to my cell now?" The captain nods and leads him out.
"Wait, captain!" I cry out. He pauses in the doorway. I meet Aric's eyes. "Put him in a cabin. Make sure he is well accommodated. That's all." He nods. I catch a glimpse of surprise on Aric's face before he replaces it with a sly smile.
"Why did you do that, Mira? He's a selkie!" Cai practically shouts.
"And that makes him below us? What has gotten into you? You used to fight anyone who disrespected a servant! What happened to that boy?" I stare at Cai. His face tightens.
"I don't trust him, Mira." He stalks to the door. "And that boy died a long time ago." The door slams behind him. I huff. Boys.