The Pirate Prince of the Ice Sea (Book 1 of The Legend Of Kaleania)

Chapter 16

A month has passed and on the second to last day before the War of Hope, Kara told me that we will be stopping in a kingdom. That's all she told me, which was crazy. She didn't say what kingdom or why we're going there. When I asked, she just said, "Wait and be patient."

I pretty soon gave up asking about where she was taking the ship, so I decided continue practicing fighting with both my swords. I was pretty good but was still not skilled enough to beat Nekian. I've been at it for at least five hours until a man shouted, "Kaleania Kingdom coming into view!" No way, I thought. Kaleania Kingdom was basically the capitol of all the seven kingdoms. It was known for the birth of pirates and the only place where they could feel safe. I've heard that the king was also a pirate with royal blood but not like me. He was born into royalty and then branded.

I put my swords away and rushed over to Kara, who was on the forecastle deck with Sarngika on her shoulder. I went up beside them as Sarngika flew onto my shoulder and asked, "So why exactly are we here?"

"Wait and be patient, boys," she answered. "You will soon understand, Airon." She started to walk off but I stopped her in her tracks.

"Why did you say 'you will soon understand' to me?" I asked.

"I'm sorry but all I can tell you is to wait," She walked around me and called for all the men to gather around her. They did as I leaned against the mast to listen. "Today is a very important day for us and for Airon. You're all suppose to know why we came to Kaleania Kingdom for a very good reason because we've been coming here for the last fourteen years and today will be the fifteenth. We will dock at the harbor and all of us will be going, understood?"

They saluted her and yelled, "Aye, Sir!"

"Now get into your positions while we set port," she ordered. They scattered like rats as I watched Harlock steer the ship into port. He weighed anchor as some of the men brought out a plank at the side of the ship, that lead to the dock.

Most of the men were already off and Kara came up to me with a black cloak, wrapped around her shoulders with the hood over her head and another one in her hand. She handed it to me and told me to put it on with the hood up. I did as I was told and followed her and the rest of the crew off the ship.

The harbor was full of merchant ships and I noticed that the Black Diamond was the only pirate ship here. Kara payed the man who owned the port to have the ship here. She then walked into the village with the rest of us following behind her.

When we got to a stall that was selling flowers, she bought some of them and handed them to me. I was slowly starting to understand why we were here. I only picked up that we were going to visit someone's grave but who?

With Kara leading us to a countryside where I saw a huge abandoned barn, and me right behind her and the others behind us, I couldn't help but wonder why we were going to some abandoned barn. Sarngika stayed quiet the whole time we've walked here and I knew something was bothering him.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"I'm starting to remember the reason why Kara lead us here," he answered.

"And what's the reason? How come no one won't tell me why we're here?"

"Once we get to the back of the barn, you'll know why," he said. Alright, I was starting to get fed up with everyone telling me 'you'll soon understand' or 'you'll know why'. Why can't they just tell me? I was already stressed with the war starting but this was just insane.

We walked around the barn to find a giant willow tree with two stones at the base of it. I ran up to it so I could get a better look and I understood why no one has told me. They didn't want me to find out until now. My eyes widened with my blood pumping in my veins and my heart beating louder than thunder inside my chest. There, at the base of the tree stood the my parents' graves.