Stephen looked around to see everyone staring at him. He dropped the tools and portion of sail he was working with and rubbed grimy hands on his even dirtier pants. “Yes,” Stephen said. He wasn’t hungry; still he knew his body needed the food. Stephen accepted his ration of meat and bread along with a hard clay flagon of water.
The meat tasted as thought it had been dried and stored the same year Stephen was born; the bread was no better. Still Stephen forced it down, taking stock of their situation again. The bodies all had been collected and piled just off the ship on the sandy beach of the island. The ship was still in pitiful condition but if they continued to work at the speed they were instructed, they might be able to have enough repaired to at least make a low cruising altitude. Then they could continue to fix the remaining damage while in the air.
The sun was disappearing quickly behind the edge of the world. Stephen could feel the fingers of fatigue beginning to settle in over his shoulders and back. As he was chewing his last bite of leathery meat, he saw the pirate who had captured him earlier. Stephen recognized the man as someone of importance on the ship. All day he had witnessed the pirate giving orders and shouting commands. “You there,” the pirate said, motioning to Stephen, “Follow me.” Without waiting to see whether Stephen would comply, the pirate turned his back and started to walk away. Stephen looked over at Marm, who shrugged. With one last long drought of water, Stephen rose to his feet and jogged across the deck to catch up to the pirate.
“What’s this about?” Stephen asked when he finally reached the pirate.
“I wanted to introduce myself,” the man stopped and turned to Stephen with an extended hand. “My name is Lukas. I am second in command.”
Stephen nodded, seizing the opportunity to request an audience with the ship’s captain as he shook Lukas’s hand. “My name is Stephen Tiberius Cross. I am—I was Captain of The Dragoon. I was hoping to gain an audience with your captain.”
Lukas released his hand with a smirk. “So I’ve heard. You’ve been quite adamant about that. And you will have your chance, but only when she is ready.”
Stephen felt heat begin to grow in his chest as he was forced to bite back his displeasure. “I hope it will be soon,” he said with a forced smile. “My crew and I have been doing everything we can to prove that we maintain no threat to the ship or her crew.”
Lukas studied Stephen in the wake of the sun’s last rays. The moon and stars were beginning show. Their light accompanied with the many lanterns being lit and placed around the ship were enough for the hands on board to continue their repairs through the night. “I’ve seen as much and it has not gone unnoticed.”
Stephen nodded, trying to think of how he could leverage the conversation to his favor. Before he could come up with the words, Lukas spoke again. “We’ll be having a burial ceremony for the fallen tonight on the beach. You will, of course, be permitted to come to mourn your dead and give them an honorable send off to their journey into the next life.” Lukas looked into Stephen’s eyes long and hard. “If there were to be any problems with those trying to escape or cause a disturbance, they will be met with a bullet or blade.”
Stephen held the pirate’s gaze with an even look. “Understood. We aren’t here to cause problems—actually the opposite. I am eager to meet with the ship’s captain to offer our services.”
Lukas studied Stephen with suspicion in his eyes. “Really?”
“Yes. After the burial ceremony, my men and I will do our best to get the ship back in the air. Hopefully, we’ll be ready to sail in a few days.”
Lukas broke a grin as though he were reminded of a secret joke. Stephen couldn’t help but feel it was something he said. “Am I missing something?”
Lukas raised both hands in a sign of peace. “Your assumption is off, Stephen Tiberius Cross. Every available hand will be working through the night. We’ll only take a break for the burial ceremony. We’ll have the damage essential to flying repaired by morning. Everything else will be fixed while the ship is in the air.”
Stephen nodded trying to mask his surprise. It was clear the Captain was eager to be off, but off to where was another question entirely. “I’m going to guess that you wouldn’t tell me where we are in such a hurry to travel to if I asked.”
Lukas smiled back and nodded. “That’s right. You’ll have to ask the Captain.”
Stephen worked for the next few hours in silence. The sail his hands repaired was nothing more than a subconscious motion. His mind was working overtime, trying to unwrap the puzzle of the ship’s destination. Along with that mystery was the fact Ryder had not been removed from The Emerald Queen. Question upon question amassed in Stephen’s mind until he could feel the dull throbbing of a headache coming on.
It was only the shout indicating the burial ceremony was beginning that saved Stephen from any further deliberation. A gangplank was lowered to the sand and Stephen and his crew were ushered to the beach under heavy guard. A rough circle lit by tall torches protruding from the sand was placed a few yards from the boat. In the center of the circle, a pyre stood vast enough to hold all the bodies.
Each fallen pirate, soldier or member of the merchant crew was given the same consideration. Clean, linen wrapped them from head to foot. There were too many for Stephen to count. Dozens of the carefully wrapped bodies lay side by side on the large funeral pyre. Made of a combination of driftwood and branches from the jungle, the pyre was anything but extravagant. An army of dry, wooden tinder at its base insured it would do the job.
As Stephen stood with everyone else on the beach, he found himself remembering Amil. He was in there: one of those unmoving lumps of flesh under the plain cloths. The torchlight danced around the shadows, pulling and contorting the darkness into past memories Stephen knew would haunt him the rest of his life. He found his grief once again giving way to anger.
Before Stephen could fixate on the rage he felt against Ryder, a familiar female voice split the air. Silence fell across the unlikely group of gathered men and women. The speaker was a woman wearing a jade-colored mask that covered the upper half of her face. He was looking at the pirate Emerald. He itched to arrest her; yet again, there was nothing he could do about it in this situation.
“Tonight we put aside our allegiances to the various groups in which we stake our identities. Tonight, there are no pirates, no soldiers, merchants or slaves. We stand side-by-side as human beings with one cause…to honor our dead.”
Mumbles and nods were the only thing aside from the woman’s voice that dared interrupt the silence. Stephen squinted trying to get a better look at her, however, the darkness and the shifting light from the torches made it near impossible. Somehow Stephen knew he recognized her, but from where? With a lowered head, Lukas handed the female speaker a lit torch. “Captain.”
“As one,” the Captain continued, holding the torch in her right hand, “we commit their spirits to those waiting for them in the afterlife. Whether our dead will be embraced by the Light or the Darkness in the world to come is not our truth to say. The lives they lived have already chosen their path for them. It is our job to send them on their journey with good will and knowing they died bravely to save us, those still standing here tonight. Be well and good journey to you my friends, my family, my saviors.”
Emerald lowered the torch, allowing the flames to lick the dry tinder at the base of the pyre. Within seconds, the wood caught fire. In minutes, the pyre began to flame.
Crackling filled the air around them as the fire gained strength. From where Stephen was standing, he could feel the warmth of the fire on his face. It was a custom in the Royal Navy when a soldier fell in battle to sing a war song in his honor at the funeral. Stephen didn’t care what everyone else would think of him. Amil and the rest of his fallen brothers and sisters deserved that much.
Stephen cleared his throat and lifted his head to the sky. The world above was alive with bright constellations shining brilliantly in the dark. They would have a
clear path to aid their journey to the next life.
Our brother and sisters,
Our fallen warriors of Light,
We must part now before the next fight,
Rest assured we’ll see you once more…
Stephen could hear the remnants of his soldiers pick up the verse. Then, to his surprise, Captain Emerald joined in. Once again, her voice tugged at memories of his past, just out of reach. As the song continued, more and more voices joined in until everyone on the beach was either singing or humming along.
When the last note clung to the air, silence settled once more. For better or worse, the mismatched group on the beach was bonding in a way only comrades in arms ever could. The pyre was alive with fire now. From the base of the structure to the top, it raged against the night with utter brilliance and power.
Stephen allowed himself to say one last good-bye to his friend. Amil, I will avenge you. I swear to you. And I’ll see you soon, brother. Save a spot at the table for me.
***
As the group on the beach made their way back to the ship, Stephen wasn’t surprised to see pirates, soldiers, slaves, and the crew from the merchant ship all exchanging words. Friendly would be a strong word, still they were cordial with one another; swapping information, talking about details of the battle, discussing the days to come.
Stephen and everyone behind him were stopped on their way up the gangplank as two burly pirates carried someone on a gurney up to the ship. A dark-skinned man walked alongside the man lying on the gurney. The two laughed and passed a bottle back and forth between them as though they were old friends.
Stephen hesitated as he tried to make sense of the scene he had just witnessed. There was no time, however, as Stephen was shaken from his thoughts by a pair of passing figures. Lukas and the Emerald Queen herself walked by him on their way up to the ship. Stephen caught their conversation as he ran to catch up with them.
“The outer damage wasn’t nearly as severe as we’d at first assumed. We’ll be ready to take off at first light if we push them through the night,” Lukas said, giving his Captain a sideways glance. “That is, if we have bearings to sail to.”
“You’ll have them,” Emerald said. “Leave that to me. You just concentrate on getting this ship back in the air.”
Lucas nodded and walked off barking orders. This was Stephen’s chance. Emerald was standing with her arms crossed against her chest, her back to him. He would finally get his opportunity to speak with her. He might even find out where he knew her.
***
Val stopped at the railing to stare out into the darkened landscape. She could hear the men working behind her, except her mind wasn’t on the ship’s repairs. It was on the men and women they’d just sent into the Naisha, the afterlife. They had died hard, brutal deaths, but good deaths. They’d died as warriors and would enter Naisha with honor and their heads high. So many good people died here today and their deaths would haunt her for as long as the gods chose to let her walk this world. The loss of her friends—her family, really—left a gaping wound upon her soul and all she wanted to do at this moment was mourn their loss.
“Pardon me, I need to speak with you.”
The sound of Stephen’s voice behind her had Val cursing. She’d been so lost in her thoughts; she hadn’t heard him come up behind her. He’d been asking to see her since she returned, but she’d put him off. There had been so much to do, though if she were truthful with herself, she’d admit she was afraid he’d recognize her as the young soldier who’d given him her heart. Meeting with him wasn’t something she wanted to do any time soon, yet Stephen was stubborn. She should have known he’d find a way to talk to her.
“I need to speak with you, Captain,” she said, keeping her voice in its lower octave.
“Yes, as do I you,” Stephen replied, his voice gruff.
Val laughed and turned to face him. “There is only one Captain here and you’re staring at her. I was merely correcting you.” She watched a slow blush creep up Stephen’s neck and bloom onto his cheeks. It wasn’t embarrassment, but anger that caused the red stain. She knew how hard it was for him to bite his tongue. He’d always been proud and having to deal with someone whom he considered an outlaw had to be eating at him.
“Pardon…Captain,” Stephen all but bit out. “Do you have a moment to speak with me?”
Val considered him for a moment. This meeting was inevitable. She may as well get it over and done with. “Come along and I will grant you five minutes. We have much to do before the morning.” She turned and made her way across the deck, down two flights of stairs, and finally into her cabin. Motioning for Stephen to have a seat, she sat in her own chair behind the desk. She watched Stephen give her quarters a once over. She kept this place neat and orderly, the same way she’d been taught in the Royal Navy. Some learned habits were just too hard to break and, in this case, it was still a good habit to have.
“What did you wish to discuss?” she asked when Stephen had finally taken a seat.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Stephen Tiberius Cross of the DeCadia Royal Navy…”
“That doesn’t mean a thing here,” Val cut him off. “You are the same as every other hand on board.” She watched his lips thin and almost grinned. She’d forgotten how uptight he got when he was angry. He became stiff and formal: it always made her laugh. “Your time is running out. What did you want to talk about?”
“I wanted to discuss my fate as well as those left of my crew, few that they are. We have no ship and no way to return home. I was hoping you would allow us to remain on board long enough to take us to the next port. We will, of course, do our share of the work as we’ve already proven we’re capable of.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is?” Val asked. She’d been informed of Stephen’s confrontation with the dragon. As much as she needed his expertise with maps and navigation, she’d already come to the conclusion that she’d leave him on this island until she returned if he couldn’t control his hatred.
Stephen gave her a calculated look and she waited patiently for his answer. He’d never been one to lie, but that could have changed in the ten years since she’d seen him last. “You are referring to the dragon?” he asked at last.
Val nodded.
“It is true: I do not understand your decision to keep the beast on board this ship, however, I will not allow my personal feelings to get in the way of seeing what’s left of my crew to safety.”
“So, if I should one day ask you to protect her with your life, you would do it?”
The way Stephen’s jaw tightened told Val just how much he was struggling with the question. She could see the hatred in his eyes. Would he let it overpower his need for order? He’d always preached to her in the Navy that she had to do her part: regardless of the task, even if she didn’t like it. It was the one rule that ensured order in a world of chaos.
“I would protect her, but I wouldn’t like it,” he admitted. “I can’t guarantee I’d be even remotely civil, but I’d keep her safe. I will do my duty.”
Conviction shined from his eyes, and Val nodded to herself. When it came to duty, he was still the same Stephen she remembered. It was a double-edged sword though. If he discovered her identity, she was afraid he would do his duty as well. She would be dragged before the Tribunal, judged, and sentenced to death.
“There’s a problem with your request,” Val said, her voice deep and husky. Stephen’s eyes snapped up to hers and she cursed. He’d heard that voice: every time they’d shared a bed, he’d heard it.
“Where do I know you from?” he asked, his eyes measuring.
“From all the tales of my adventures,” she told him, her voice cold. “Now, to the problem at hand. Where we are going, there is no port to drop you to.”
“What?” he asked, startled. “Where are you going?”
“An adventure.” She pulled open her drawer and dragged out the only map she felt comfortable showing him. It was the ma
p of the unknown regions of DeCadia, the land where no one ventured because those who had never came back. It was sketchy and lacking details, yet it would give him the general idea. She pushed it over to him. “Have a look.”
Stephen pulled the parchment and studied it closely. She watched the emotions play out on his face. They ranged from simple curiosity to a look that said she was deranged. It made her chuckle.
“Why would you go here?” He sat up straighter and looked her in the eyes, his gaze piercing. It made her want to squirm, but he’d always had that effect on her.
“I’m looking for something,” she replied, leaning back against her chair. “You don’t need to know what that is, though. You do have two choices in front of you: you can come with us or I can leave you here where another ship may or may not find you. No one comes near this place because of the dragons.”
“We can’t stay here,” he said quickly and Val’s senses went on high alert. He hadn’t even thought about it; he’d rejected the idea immediately. The Stephen she knew would have weighed his options. What was he up to?
“You are welcome to join our pirate crew,” she said, a small, catty smile on her face. “If you decide to come with us, I am the only Captain on board this ship. The crew follows my orders and I will cut you down in a moment if I think you are a threat to this ship or me. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” he said. “My crew and I will cause no problems here. We will work the same as everyone else until we reach a port where we can depart. If that is a few days, a few weeks or a few months, then so be it. We’ll do our part.”
“Then we’ll get along just fine. I’ll have Lukas assign you and yours bunks. There will be no sleep tonight, though. Mayhap not even tomorrow. We are working to be airborne by the morning light.”
“Understood.” Stephen stood up. “Thank you for speaking with me…Captain.” He almost bit out the word and Valeria couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. His eyes became measured and calculating. “We have met before.”
The DeCadia Code (The DeCadia Series Book 1) Page 12