by Kat Mandu
“Should I start finding a new place to stay in case the ship vanishes?” he asked as Laurella opened the door to lead him she glanced at his cast.
“I wouldn’t worry Richard’s been gone about a week, we still have time,” she said, “I wouldn’t start worrying for at least a while longer,” She said as she inspected his injury, “Still this is going to slow you down.”
“I know I feel so conflicted on everything. I want to leave cause I am not doing much. But I feel like it would be a betrayal to leave,”
“Nothing to worry about you have been helping in the kitchen which is more helpful than all my late night activities,” she comforted, “Anyway I need to get some sleep, so make sure you try to keep off the leg, and not worry too much, but if you need to you can sit out on the dock and keep an eye out. I have a feeling that night Boss rang the bell she was here a lot longer than we would like to know.
“Yes Doctor,” he said more than happy to do something to help out. She kicked off her shoes as she went to lay down on her bed when someone knocked on the door,” She didn’t bother getting back up.
“Come in,” she sighed, as Stephano walked in.
“Sorry Boss was asleep, I needed to hand in my report, I have been looking into the more seedier parts of the world, and I didn’t have any luck. Everyone that seems to look into this ends up dead or missing.” He said with a sigh as he dropped a stack of papers. “It’s just a list of dead ends but maybe you can make something of it.” He said with a sigh.
“Thanks,” Laurella said half-heartedly as she looked at the rather thick stake of papers.
“You know the worst part is Richard asked me to follow him at a distance, I was keeping a close eye making sure I did my best, and the one fucking day I take off to get some sleep,” He slammed his fist into the wall he glanced back at the doctor but she just looked back at him.
“I am heading back out I’ll see if overlooked something,” he said straitening himself out.
“He asked you to keep an eye on him?” She asked,
“Yeah For a good while I was up all night and asleep all day it’s why I have been absent from the ship on and off again.” He admitted, “But as you can guess now it’s not too easy on the body any way you better get some sleep.” He waved off before leaving.
“Excuse me,” came a voice before Stefano was able to shut the door, “Laurella I need you to look at my, stump,” said a very pained sigh as James pushed passed the leaving figure.
“Sure,” she admitted to as she felt a hard pain entered her body as he sat down and slipped off the contraption. She took the arm, “Puss is clear, no swelling or discoloration just make sure you keep it clean things are still looking good, we won’t have to worry about you losing any more of your arm,” she said looking at her old companion.
He nodded wincing a bit as he looked where his hand should have been before putting his hook and harness back into place. “Thank you,” he said in a soft voice as he headed back for the door. She watched him head out as well, and even after he was gone she stared at the door pondering if she should lock the thing. She shook her head before musing on a thought, someone should look over those papers. She got up grabbing them in her fist as she heads back up on deck.
“Arvil,” she said looking at him “I need you to look over these papers see if any patterns come into play try to write them down okay?” she asked as he held out his hands and looked at the papers.
“Okay there are a lot of letters is that a pattern?” he asked as she froze less than a step away as she looked at him.
“You don’t know how to read do you?” she asked,
“Nope sorry,” he admitted as he handed the papers back.
“Shit, I am going to be stuck with this,” she frowned as Tobi walked up on deck from below. “Do either of you know anyone on the ship that can read?” she asked looking between the two of them.
“I know how to read,” Tobi admitted, “What are we doing he asked as She handed him half the stack.
“We need to find out any regularities or odd coincidences.” She explained as she let out a yawn.
“You sure you’re going to be up for this? He asked as She already started to nod off before shaking her head.
“Huh, what yeah, I am fine,” she said “Oh my coffee, I’ll be right back. She said grabbing her coffee as she sat down to see Nathan had her stack of papers.
“So you’re from the wild East?” Tobi asked, “Small world,”
“Yeah My family stayed there for a good while as part of the guard, but the castle fell into disrepair and we all kind of scattered I took the opportunity to travel the area and Learn all about the world.” He admitted with a smile,
“So you were not noble born?” Tobi asked Nathan shook his head,
“Nah but because we traced our line back to the Radiant Blitz core we got a lot of education perks, we got luck taking a region close to the border so we avoided a lot of the fighting from the Princes and War Lords.”
“My dad actually got recalled, his older brother ended up falling ill so when my old man got word he returned back to Britania, he didn’t know that I had a cousin who will be taking back over but at that point our territory was claimed, so I got to travel around myself,” He admitted, Laurella dropped down as well,
“Your helping as well?” she asked looking at the well-trimmed man
“Yep, I know a think about reading. I think Tray and James would know considering their field of work,” he added more to himself.
“Not even going to ask them, James usually keep himself and Tray, I don’t know if he can to be honest,” she said pondering the issue.
“So it looks like a lot off disappearances in the barracks themselves people would wake up and people would be missing.” Tobi pointed out as he jotted something down in ink.
“Watch it you’re going to spill that,” Laurella scolded as Tobi not so subtly rolled his eyes.
“Interesting, it seems that there was connections to Amaro they were only a few but since they three people in question vanished beforehand. I have noticed that not everyone who vanish dies, so with no body and well, sailors, adventures, and the odd monster attack not every disappearance seems to be put in with the investigation.”
“Well they could be anywhere from the drink to the colony, the man deals in people,” Tobi admitted,
Laurella looked at her paper but she didn’t see it she glanced at Nathan out of the corner of her eye, and he seemed. Tobi glanced over his eyes moving before looking over the crew, he nodded silently as he started scribbling down.
Laurella closed her eyes as she found herself looking up at a man. “I need to save them they can be save!” she shouted at the man who frowned she glanced down to see she was covered in blood on the deck when she felt her hair getting grabbed. “Let go I can!” she screamed out grabbing at the man’s hand to fight against the pain.
“You work for us now, I have need of a doctor,” said the voice as she looked up in fear to see the Pirate lord Morgan smiling down at her before she was dropped on the pirate ship she sat there looking at the blood, remembering the cracking and sinking of the ship she was on.
“Laurella!” came a shout as she jumped back to the present. She blinked as she realized that the sun was setting she paused to see someone had grabbed a parasol and tilted it to protect her from the sun.
She glanced up to see Nathan holding out his hand to help her to her feet. She didn’t push him away but she got to her feet on her own. She froze remembering the papers as she spun around trying to spot them.
“It’s okay we got everything looked over, whoever was gathering information did a good job on it.” Nathan said, “We have a meeting together Full crew in the captains room.” He informed she nodded walking next to them as they head up the stairs, the group was pushed a bit out the door and in the crowd, as Nathan sliced between the people and Laurella fallowed, she frowned as she looked at the empty seat Boss was leaning up against the desk he
was standing very stiff with his hands behind his back as he nodded at the pair.
Tobi was standing not to far away as Nathan and Laurella were nodded to the opposite side. She spotted Tin, Gerald, Eagle Eye, Stefano, James, Tray, Morsina, Arken, Arvil, and She could see Goliam way in the back his shadow looming in the door way. She frowned as a lot of other faces were around that she wasn’t familiar with.
“Now then we have a new priority, Stefano has managed to uncover a few paterns. However it comes with a problem they stem from the castle itself, So we need to talk to Madison on this matter, I would like to ask Laurella to head up a small group to head to David Smith’s house and see if we can fallow threw on this information. Now not being idle I will take another four man team to continue combing the city, I would appreciate it if you can ride a horse.” He informed, as he talked on the matter Laurella frowned Boss had heavy bags under his eyes and seemed worse for where she wasn’t sure but he was showing signs of mass exhaustion.
“If I may can I request a my companions?” she asked casually. Boss nodded at her politely since she waited until he was done.
“Arken, Nathan, and James I would love to have you on my little trip.” Laurella asked The three nodded no one spoke up.
“Fair enough, volunteers?” Boss asked
“Ah what the hell, I am in,” Tobi anteed in.
“I guess that leaves me,” Eagle Eye said glancing over at Arken.
“I can fly to keep up, I haven’t gone out to hunt for Richard,” Morsina reminded.
“Not that we ever find anything,” James muttered as his younger brother elbowed him. The group stayed quiet with a few coughs echoing as Boss nodded at the group before him.
“Okay You are dismissed, Tobi, Eye, Morsina, with me,” he ordered as he passed through the door everyone moving to get out his way as he was quickly followed by the aforementioned three. She watched the rest of the crew scatter as Goliam frowned looking around at everyone.
“Is something wrong?” She asked looking up at the being.
“Ah, I don’t well,” he frowned looking at Arken with pleading eyes.
“You can come as well, anyway, wait, I know couldn’t you stay with Sam, I am sure he could use some company.” Laurella said with a smile, than she frowned, “Has anyone seen the cabin boy?” Laurella asked casually as she looked back at Arken, and the others.
“Uh,” everyone seemed to think on it as Laurella frowned,
“I guess we can take a second or two to find him, he can’t be too far,” She mused as she started down to Sam’s room.
Chapter 44 Regrouping
“Sam!” Laurella called out. The crew had been put on alert as the crew Boss didn’t take were all moving through the ship. She was now on the lowest Level which was stocked with all sorts of gear and sailing equipment. She frowned knowing the ship could repair itself. She called out again as she held out a lantern despite it being midday this deep into the ship no light was able to penetrate.
“rawr,” cried out cliff as she stiffened as the cat brushed up against her dress and moved past her.
“That’s the whole ship, did he get nabbed as well?” Arken questioned.
“Na, I was in the water when they headed, out, Richard was in his room long after they left.” Tin replied.
“He could have chased after them, I just hope that some, wait, Madison, she may have run into him,” Laurella recalled.
“It’s better than nothing, we searched the ship from top to bottom, and no sign of him,” Arken admitted as Cliff trodden past the three.
“Or he left,” Tin said with a shrug, the two woman glanced at him, “Look it’s possible, I don’t like the idea but, he may want to find his real home rather than be here.”
“I worry that’s wishful thinking anyway I’ll ask Goliam to keep the crew looking over the ship just, do you hear something?” she asked as she heard what sounded like the flutter of wings. They all paused.
“Yum yum eat em up,” cawed a voice, as they spotted a parrot resting on a rope, having picked into some of the provisions that were being stored.
“Is that a parrot, how did that get on board?” Tin asked scratching his head in confusion.
“Well the ship is pretty big,” Arken admitted, “Still let’s check in with Madison and hope we don’t have to search the city for a second missing person.
“Hope,” Laurella agreed with a hard side as she heads back up to the deck of the ship her head hunched between her shoulders as the sun hit her face.
She talked to Goliam who nodded casually as she led her little group off the ship into the midday traffic of the city. Laurella sighed she had been on the island to much as the hustle and bustle seemed far too loud. The trip didn’t take too long Eccleston st wasn’t too far away. She glanced around finding the right house giving it a knock.
“Can I help you?” asked an aged voice, “We are looking for Madison, we are members of the Golden Eagle we have some information she may find important.
“I’ll pass that along, no my dear,” he tried to shut the door but Madison stuck her foot in the door.
“Doctor, if you don’t mind, I am not done yet, I was hoping you could tell me if Madison has been traveling by a little blonde boy a pair of blue and brown swirling eyes, a mute goes by name of Sam.” She asked looking the man dead in the eye.
“Yes, but he is not here at the moment,” He replied glaring at her. Laurella pulled her foot back sighing in relief.
“That’s all I needed to know, here is the paperwork.” Laurella handed the man the papers as he snatched them quickly.
“Let’s go we are clearly not getting anywhere with this one,” She nodded as she headed down the stairs. The door opened up all the way as Sam rushed down the stairs grabbing onto Laurella’s hand. She turned as he released her hand and started to move his fingers in a few jesters.
“Sign language, I should pick that up,” She admitted, but she gave a smile to help encourage him and Sam brightened.
“Seems like you are who you say you are.” He admitted, “Bartholomew,” he introduced, “Sam’s been under my care for the past week, I was asked to test his education and hopefully help on Richard’s plan to help him communicate. I was rather lucky he has a basic education which is more than what most boys have.” He admitted,
“Interesting,” Laurella admitted not really surprised but not sure what to make of this admission.
“So is Richard his father?” he asked looking at Laurella.
“Not unless Richard had him when he was 13, when Richard first ran into me he was only with a dog. When he showed up a second time he had the kid with him. But I never asked the details I just figured he picked him up at some point.” Laurella explained as Sam vanished out of sight for a second and returning with the book Richard had bought. “Odd, I don’t remember anyone mentioning a child on Brendan’s ship nor a mention of any children before Richard showed up on the island.” She thought as She glanced over at Arken, “she had roped off her own area so maybe she had seen Sam.”
“Here, they are working with Nariko up in the castle with the guard, they may be able to use the extra help.” He informed being a bit more open now.
“Thanks,” she said as he handed her back the papers and closed the door.
Laurella felt a great weight of her shoulders having Sam back in view. “Okay let’s make this quick we need to head back to the ship before Goliam tears the ship apart looking for you.” She said glancing at Sam, “do us a favor and don’t go running off on us okay, we got enough problems,” she scolded Sam shifted his feet as Laurella patted him on the head and headed off down the street.
Pausing for a break in traffic she contemplated if a carriage would be worth the money before she decided her thoughts were broken.
“Looks like the guard is recruiting,” Arken said pulling a poster out. “Funny I don’t remember them every recruiting like this.”
“True, Yeah If I had my other hand it wouldn’t be a ba
d job,” James admitted, they looked at him. “What, one place, free room, and decent pay I don’t plan on staying on the ship forever I intend.”
“Well you have a free room, Decent pay, and the promise of seeing amazing new things on the Eagle,” Nathan countered as James glared at him. “Just saying, two out a three isn’t bad.”
Laurella felt her spine prickle a bit something about the sign bugged her as she tore off and with a quick roll slide the paper into her belt. “Taxi!” she cried out as a carriage pulled up alongside them. “You know I have had really good luck with that as of late. We need to be dropped on the north side of Main street.” She directed handing counting out the fee for when they arrived.
“So Richard never introduced us directly how are we going to get into the castle?” Nathan asked as they road along the carriage.
“Leave the talking to me,” Laurella said as she flipped open the book, she frowned a bit mostly memorization, which she could do but was never fun. The ride didn’t take long but she spent the time flashing through the basics and practicing the alphabet. She got out tossing a small bag of coins to the man as she took a deep breath. Nathan glanced at her with concern but she marched forward with everyone having to pick up their speed a bit to keep up.
“State your business,” replied one of the guards.
“I have business with Doctor David Smith, and Madison Stronglance they are working on an investigation and I have few documents,” she said waving a lot more paper in the man’s face than most would expect. “I was directed by Bartholomew that they were residing here, with Nariko,” she said crossing her arms to dare any challenge to her word.
“I’ll go check in with them,” he said seemingly not fazed in the slightest.
“Hurry up and wait,” James grumbled as Laurella opened the book back up.
Laurella frowned as she waited for the guard to return only to see that Madison was marching forward. The two woman locked eyes, “I was expecting the golden Eagle sooner,” Madison said as Laurella frowned,