We The Kings: Book Two

Chapter 18

He was tied. His mouth and hands bounced. He looked like he had taken a severe beating.

"Charles? What the hell are you doing here?" I pulled down the tie from his mouth.

He gasped for air.

"They took me. Those merchants!"

"Why would merchants take you? What are you doing in Vendov?"

"They aren't normal merchants. They're working with pirates. Mavis and Daniel were going to make a plan to go to Belmonte, but I couldn't spend another moment in that crusted cottage! I'm a nobleman's son for gods sake! I left a month ago. Along the way, I ran into a bunch of merchants. I told them who I was and I commanded them to release me. They took me, saying they were going to give me to the Pirate King for ransom. They say he rules the Dark Sea."

"Skull Beard. He has a thing for capturing nobles and royals. Tries to hold them for ransom."

"Will you untie me now! Before they come back!"

I cut him loose from the tight ropes that had concealed him. He rubbed his free wrists.

"We need to take this ship." I said.

"Are you insane? We need to run!"

"No. I need to go to the Calkhorn desert."

"So you're deranged now! No one has ever came back from there before!"

"I need to go there to take back Lafayette. You can run and hide like a coward, or you could be useful for once in your damn life." I snapped at him.

"Never thought I'd hear the foolish young king say something brave. What happened to you, Zander?"

We heard footsteps above deck. I handed Charles a small dagger.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" He whispers aggressively.

"Fight." I said.

We heard them come below deck. There were four of them. All of them appeared well into their fifties. We each could take two, but unfortunately I overestimated Charles ability to do anything.

They drew their weapons and we began to battle. It was time to put the skills Johnny had taught me to use. Charles cowered behind me, forcing me to take on four men once. I avoided a jab in my leg by dashing back.

"CHARLES! FOR THE LOVE OF GODS!" I yelled. He let out a whimper as he joined me. He let out a weak throw of the dagger. It landed on the ground. One of the merchants gave him a look and picked up the dagger.

I knocked one to the ground, toppling over the second one.

"TIE THEM UP! WHILE THEY'RE DOWN!" I yelled, hoping Charles could manage that. I sliced another one's ankles, knocking him to the ground. Charles hit the final one over the head with a sack of potatoes that sat in the cubby with him.

The four merchants laid on the ground, one bleeding. The fight wasn't hard. They weren't well trained or skilled merchants. Charles could have taken them, I thought. But then that could have been giving him too much credit. Charles was an absolute peacock.

"What do we do with them?" Said Charles, tying them up.

"We leave them at the port and leave immediately."

"Zander, you can't really be going to the Calkhorn desert."

I shot him a look. He had said my name out loud, and where I was going. I had hoped the merchants didn't hear.

"I leave you here or you come with." I said.

We dropped the merchants off in the water before sailing off into the water. They were alive. One bleeding profusely, but he was alive.

I didn't know how to sail a boat, let alone a ship. I tried to remember what the pirates had done.

"I doubt the answer is yes, but do you have any idea how to sail a ship?"

"As a matter of fact, my father was a top notch sailor before he was appointed onto the king's court."

"Can you sail?"

"Uh. Not quite."

"Of course." I said under my breath.

I knew sailing wasn't going to be an easy thing to master, or to even try to do.  What was the pirate ship like? Studying how they sailed wasn't exactly what I was focusing on then. I thought about how he beat me and Samuel. I thought of what would could have happened if he killed Samuel. I most likely would have been dead too. If they killed him and I survived, I wouldn't be doing this.

The ride was rough. We managed to leave the port, and sailed into the night. Charles found a map and compass. I steered the ship.

"I don't think you're doing that right. My father would always-."

I was not going to tolerate him.

"If you know so much about sailing, perhaps you should try."

Despite him claiming he didn't know how to, he did know more than me. He steered carefully and steady.

"The desert is a bad idea. No one has ever made it out! Ever! Who knows what kind of beasts would be there! Plus no food and water! That's worse than living in the burned cottage!"

"I have to. It's the only way to take my kingdom back."

"How is the desert going to help you do that?"

I thought about what I should tell him. Charles was a buffoon, there was no denying it. But he had loyalty to Lafayette and Belmonte. He hated Vendov too. Charles was easily defeated. If he were captured and tortured for information, I knew he would squeal immediately. I figured it's best I didn't tell him, for his protection and mine.

"I need something from there. I can't tell you what it is. After we return from the desert, I can take you to Belmonte."

"Why can't we go to Belmonte first?" Questioned Charles.

"We're going in the wrong direction. We would have to go through Vendov. Belmonte is landlocked. We will go the long way through when we come back. Mavis and her family. Are they alright?" I said.

"Yes, your precious wife and her boytoy soldier are fine. They planned to leave for Belmonte, but they wanted to wait for some god damn reason. I couldn't stay there for a moment longer. I wasn't appreciated there."

"And the baby?"

"Has a big head. But she's fine."

I thought of Carlo. He would've been a better sailing companion. But I couldn't risk his life. I wondered how he was feeling. His bed would have one side empty.

I crushed the feelings I had for him as far down as I could. I couldn't think about him, he would be nothing but a distraction.