Hours passed that I lost track of it. Penelope was still by my side, guarding me as if he was a soldier, walking back and forth, back and forth, and he would peek sometimes to see whether the Navy would come to the hiding or not. Later on, footsteps were heard from the hallway. Penelope growled slowly, as low as possible to make sure that the person out there wouldn’t hear him growling. The door was opened and there, Fredrick stood, where his expression carved a very sad look.
“You must’ve waited long enough, my lady,” He gave us a crooked smile.
“Where’s Captain Kenny?” I could hear my heart thumping as loud as a thunder could be.
“You’re not hurt are you?” He questioned to avoid from answering.
I started to burst into tears, “Where is he?!” I shrieked.
He heaved a deep sigh, “He turned himself to the navy.”
“Why?! Tell me why?! He’s strong isn’t he? No one can out-match him,” I tried to keep myself calm but I couldn’t.
“During the fight, his step-father, the dictator of Abel said that if he does not turn himself to the Navy, his mother will pay for all his doings,” He explained briefly.
I hold my tears from the outburst and hold Fredrick’s shirt and said, “We’re going to him as what he did to us. He’s our only captain, the only one we can rely on!”
“He did say one thing,” He retorted.
“What is it?” I finally managed to put myself together.
“The letters mammy sent to him have the truth of your past. That’s all and nothing less,” He finished his sentence with a very sad look in his eyes, as if he had lost something that’s very important to him.
“Wha- what’s got into him? How can he be worried of my past compared to his own life when it has nothing to do with this?” I was kind of depressed with his statement.
“If it doesn’t have any meaning behind it, he wouldn’t have said that. I know him since I’ve been with him for a long time, enough to predict the character of his,” Sternly, he looked at me with his greenish eyes.
“If that’s what it is then let’s go to his chamber,” I suggested.
As we approached towards where his chamber whereabouts was, we were astounded by the damage done in the chamber. His place was ransacked! Books scattered, engulfing the wooden floor, papers lying all around like they’re the floor themselves, locked chests were unlocked with their keys scattered on floor. What a sight until all the crews gathered altogether and finally plotting out a scheme to save our Captain.
“This is not it! We’re pirates and we die for the sea and we die for our captain,” Henry’s words burned up our determination.
“Without him, we can never attain our goal! He’s the reason why we’re here when we were abandoned, forsaken by the authorities and the citizens themselves! Though we’re known as pirates but who do you think entitled us with it?!” Scar added with his spirits burning up.
“We’re still human thanks to him. He gave us choices to die or to live and that’s what we’re living for. To fight the oppressive and save the poor!” Fredrick exclaimed passionately while stabbing his dagger in the middle of the table.
“He sees as us comrades not as servants or as minions. He treats us just the same altogether from the first crew, the late Marcell until the last crew, Eleanor. Though his words are offensive but it is a test to see whether we’re fit for a harsher word from our enemy. His point is to make sure you fight with your wits, not with your anger,” Draken uttered.
As our master-at-arms, Henry grunted and finally declared, “Alrightee, here’s what we’ll do...” And thus, the plotting scene finally started.
Meanwhile at the Navy’s Headquarter, Captain Kenny was tortured dreadfully until his blood drenched his white clothes. He was locked up in a dungeon which the most heinous criminals were kept. More than ten well-trained navy’s soldier were entrusted to guard his solely cell. A stature wearing a large black cape paced down and was heading towards his cell and stopped upon it.
“Why are you here?” Captain Kenny questioned angrily.
“You haven’t been eating well ever since you came here, dear. Here, take a sip,” the stature thrust a silver chalice filled with water towards him gently.
He shoved away the chalice hastily with his chained hand as his eyes were glaring towards her stature angrily, “You forsake me and dad for that vicious man up there and since then, you made a hell out of my life!”
“I had too. I had no choice,” She sobbed. “If I didn’t ask a divorcement from your father and got married with James, you and your father will be annihilated.”
“I’d rather die than being with a father who almost committed serial homicide out of his own son!” Captain Kenny looked away, irritated.
“But why did you turn over yourself for me? I knew that he will get you using this method sooner or later but I didn’t expect you’d fall for it,” She sobbed while hugging him which almost all his body was chained.
“I was told by a princess that a woman needs a man to protect her. And when I thought of it, you don’t have any man to protect you instead of me,” He explained briefly.
“Could it be that she’s a princess from the sacred kingdom of Ele?” She gasped fearfully.
His silence was enough to explain the real situation.
“You can’t be serious! If James knows about this, I have no idea what kind of war it might be! Though this city is the capital of the world, but the whole world supports Ele kingdom more than this city. You know how greedy he can be?! Knowing that the princess herself is not yet be found, he ordered thousands of men to search for her!” She shrieked with her face looked very pale.
“Mammy, the one who saved me and taught me of survival, entrusted the princess into my hand. She knew it already and plotted this scheme with the Dragon-lord or should I say a wizard from Ele Kingdom to hide her from the world until the appointed time comes. Mammy is a fortune-teller and of course she would know such trivial future that might befall this world. If the princess was to stay in her palace, she probably died by now since that the current queen wants her son to rise for the throne. It was Anna who first discovered this,” The captain explained briefly.
“It’s dangerous! And since when did you know all of these matters?”
“Three days ago right after two weeks time when we last left the town beside the sea that is known as FaintLight, mammy’s letter finally explained everything. She replied my questions. Thought it was hard for her to let the princess go under my custody, but, for the sake of the time which the coronation is drawing near, she just had to let her go,” He answered.
“The Lord summons for your presence in his chamber,” One of the soldiers came and undo the cuffs and the chains.
“I haven’t finished with him yet, please spare us a moment,” His mother, Maria, begged for the young soldier’s mercy.
“No can do, Madam. He is to see him right this instance as he is waiting for his presence there. The Lord is currently impatient,” The soldier bowed courteously upon her.
“Don’t worry, I won’t die that easily. I am fated to die as a pirate on the wide blue sea,” He smirked at her.
He had his way towards his step-father’s chamber with ten soldiers as his escorts and finally arrived at the appointed place. He entered the humongous room with luxurious furniture and saw a well-known image of a middle aged man standing there. He was still chained and his outfit was still drenched with his blood with his hands restrained with shackles.
“What a sight you have there. What’s with the ‘the Devil of the Sea’ bullshit?” He laughed mockingly and finally, he gaped towards Captain Kenny’s figure. “Where’s the princess?”
“I have no idea what you’re saying, old man,” He replied boldly with his hazel eyes glaring at James angrily.
James gave a hard punch at Captain Kenny’s stomach with the back of his dagger and made him coughed blood. He took out the letters that mammy sent to him and threw them right in front of his face, “Don’t you dare make a fool out of me. These letters have revealed everything!”
“You actually believe in that kind of bullshits?” Captain Kenny sneered with his eyes locked at the letters.
“I won’t be asking you this if I don’t believe it,” He frowned as their eyes met, giving each other a lethal stare.
“This is not painful compared to what I had back in the past,” He mocked.
“You sure talk big, wise guy. Don’t worry about that, you’ll face your biggest pain when you’re hanged later on. You’re a pirate remember? Pirates are heinous creature and they’re not human,” James paced away and drew a sword out of its scabbard and threw away his dagger.
“Who’s the one who addressed them that way? Though almost all pirates are heinous, doesn’t mean a pirate like me who fight for the poor’s right are inhuman. The one who’s inhuman is you, greedy old pig!” He claimed.
James wielded the sword and attacked him with it; unfortunately, he stopped the sword with the chains on his cuffs and threw him backwards from where he stood. “Not bad, ay,” James finally uttered.
“I can kill you right this instance if I want too but what luck, my mother is in my way,” He sneered.
“You’re good,” He attacked once again by swinging the sword towards Captain Kenny’s left side and of course, Captain Kenny dodged it.
“Why did you tear us apart? Why did you take my mom away?” He asked.
“Don’t you know? Your mom was one of the 2 beauties in the world. One is the late Queen of Ele kingdom and the other one is your mother,” He sneered.
“So what?! Do you think by that reason will make you perfect?” He shouted.
“Oh, yes. I’ve got everything! Powers, beautiful wife, the world, EVERYTHING! But not the respect of the people of the world... If only I could destroy that kingdom,” He attacked for the third time and this time, Captain Kenny quickly tied his chains from his handcuff at James’ sword and pulled it out of his hand until that sword flew in the air and fell somewhere nearby.
“A greedy person like you doesn’t deserve other people’s respect!” He took out a hidden dagger under the table nearby where he stood and pointed it at James’ throat. “You’re just a greedy old pig who’s very weak and stupid!”
“Guards! Guards! Take him away!” Less than a minute, the elite soldiers barged in inside the chamber and knocked Captain Kenny’s head with the back of the sword until he laid half-conscious. One of the soldier pulled Captain Kenny’s caramel hair until his face was facing up towards James’ stature.
“No matter how sturdy you are, no matter how clever you are, no matter how strong you are, you can own it all with money! Remember that! Guards, take him away!” And finally, Captain Kenny was dismissed from the room back into his dungeon.
Thomas, Randolph and Alfin shot three of the navies and pulled them somewhere secluded to steal their outfit and wore them while having me in shackles so that the navy could see that I was vicious thought it was all an act. They shoved me hard on the floor in front of the admiral and said, “This bitch killed three innocent citizens and was involved in a robbery.”
“Ah, how vicious she can be for such beauty?” He held my chin and gazed at my violet eyes.
It was then I remembered what Henry told me, “If the admiral is somewhere near you, and he doubts your viciousness, spit at him in his face.”
And I did what I was told with both my eyes glaring at him fiercely.
His eyes widened as he wiped my saliva off of his face and slapped me back harshly as he gave the order, “Bring her to the dungeon and lock her up with the so-called the Devil of the Sea!”
They synchronically retorted, “Aye, aye, sir!”
The admiral stopped for a second as if he noticed something weird about the three soldiers that were standing upon him but then he was distracted by a soldier informing him that a pirate ship was spotted somewhere near the shore. It was them! I knew that the plan would work! Henry’s plan was flawless since we had four other plans if this one failed. So, off four of us went to put me into the cell.
“Talk about being slapped, that was a hard one! Are you okay, Eleanor?” Randolph questioned as if he was feeling guilty for it.
“Compared to what captain might’ve undergone, I think mine is lighter. Don’t worry about that, I won’t die that easily,” I assured.
“Now where did I hear that from?” Thomas said mockingly.
“Who knows,” I grinned. “You know what to do right?”
“Don’t mention it. Take away the mother and take her in the ship as you undo his chains and shackles. Remember the bird signal?” Alfin reminded.
“You guys whistle as birds two times and the whistles are longer than normal chirps of a bird,” I told back what I had learnt from Fredrick when he explained to me right before the we met Marcell and the cannibal island.
“You’re good. I guess Fredrick did teach you something other than flirting,” Randolph giggled and was followed by both Alfin and Thomas.
“Yeah, he’s a kind womanizer isn’t he?” I grinned.
Being with them wasn’t a bad thing at all. Captain was being such a worry-wart when nothing was wrong by staying with them for some time. Maybe it’s because he knew that his crews weren’t strong when it wasn’t their certain ability. Soon, we arrived at the cell as Thomas, Alfin and Randolph left me in the hand of other navy soldiers to be sent to the prison where Captain Kenny was locked up.
“Get in there girl! Be a good girl as we weren’t around. That guy in there is the most viscous criminal ever lived. Don’t beg for mercy cause he won’t be listening to any!” Then, all of them laughed loudly that made the whole cellar echoed.
I remembered again what Henry told me about the soldiers’ mocks, “If they mock and make you look weak, try to fight back like how you argued with Captain Kenny.”
I sneered sadistically and uttered, “I’m afraid you’re the one who might be doing it.
“You bitch!” One of them drew his sword towards my throat but the other one stopped him from pursuing his intention in hurting me.
Finally, as he opened the cellar, I could see Captain Kenny’s unconscious figure that was lying there helplessly with blood smearing his white clothes. They pushed me in hastily and flung the door shut that gave out a loud ‘bang’. I rushed towards Captain Kenny’s figure and revived him from his faint.
“Captain, who did this dreadful thing to you?!” I sobbed as I put his head on my lap and my hand brushing his hair from covering his face.
“Eleanor?” Captain Kenny finally gained his consciousness. “How’d you get in here?”
“I’ll explain later... we have to undone your shackles and chains and we must flee when the bird signal is given. Henry and the rest of the crews will be attacking the head-quarter’s front door and Thomas, Alfin, Randolf, you, your mother and me will get out of here from the backdoor,” I explained.
“Heh, He just doesn’t know how to give up... that guy. As expected from our master-at-arms,” He grinned.
“Oh and I brought a company,” Penelope popped out of my back.
“Nice done, Eleanor! Now, we just have to wait for the bird signal and get ready to flee,” He said confidently.
And so, by using Penelope’s breath, we’re able to melt both Captain Kenny and my shackles and got free from it. After the bird signal was heard, we would be free from the grasp of captain’s step-father. Everything went on smoothly now.
Doing my job at my very own pace, I couldn’t care less about the new-born infant of a water dragon who turned out to be under my care. Baby sitting a creature that was inhuman and what’s worse, could be lethal and could eliminate your existence in a blink of an eye was what I had never dreamt of. I wonder when it would talk again like it had once when it first hatched.
I was preparing breakfast when he came and entered the kitchen, acting like a dog and settled down at my feet. Captain Kenny entered the kitchen that morning that made me startled as if his presence in the kitchen in the morning when I was preparing breakfast was superstitious. I looked at him in disbelief. He strode off somewhere inside the kitchen, lingering and finally, pulled out a chair without a sound and kept his eyes on Penelope, as if he was a complete monster that he needed to protect me from. I crossed my hand and stood upon him with a funny look on my face. He looked back at me monotonously.
“Am I dreaming or fantasizing right now to find you in this kind of place during this hour?” My violet eyes locked at his sitting stature.
“Please none of those. I might end up in Hardy’s care if I am to know I’m in your dream or fantasy. It’s disgusting,” He paused. “I am checking whether that thingy could be fatal to all of us.”
“Why don’t you ask him instead? As far as I know, he won’t be attacking any of us who are not the enemy of yours,” I tucked out my tongue at him and headed back to prepare breakfast.
“I know that a dragon can talk to a human. But, don’t you think it’s too early for him to be able to talk?” He muttered.
“Well, it has come to my knowledge that the baby can speak as it hatched. It talks when it desires it to and it does what it feels like doing,” I had my back at him and continued with my task, making breakfast.
“Please address me properly by not adding ‘it’ instead of a ‘he’,” A voice retorted angrily beneath my feet.
“My bad, Penelope, sorry... Say, what do you eat?” I asked him without looking at his small stature.
“Who are you talking to, Eleanor?” Captain Kenny asked doubtfully.
“What? Didn’t you hear him talking just now?” I pointed a gesture towards Penelope who was swaying his tail like a good dog at my feet.
Captain Kenny rose up from his sitting posture and had his hand touching my forehead, “Hmmm, I’m not sure whether you should continue with your cooking.” His masculine voice somehow trailed off as if it had something behind it.
I shoved his hand hastily, with my temper rose up, I replied, “I’m fine! Can’t you hear him? You’re his master!”
“Milady, do not be angry to my dominion that I do not desire him to hear our conversation. Only you, solely, am I talking to, Milady,” He gave a slight bow towards the angry me. “Only those who I desire to talk to can hear me unless I vow an oath upon him that he can hear me without my desire in needing him knowing my private conversations. Oh, I eat flesh and mostly fish.”
“I see,” I answered.
“Eleanor, enough for today... I think your feelings are still intense and insecure,” Captain Kenny heaved a very heavy sigh, seeing me as a maniac who was talking alone.
“I’m fine! This is the only reason why I’m on board right?” I smiled wryly at him, trying to be as considerate as I can.
“Your statement makes me even worrier than what I was just now,” His hazel eyes shone brilliantly like those of the dictators. “I just can’t take my eyes off of you.”
“Then don’t. Watch me as much as you can and you’ll find nothing to worry about!”
I faced away from having him in my sight. I held the knife firmly in my hand and began to cut the beef slices by slices when Penelope abruptly jumped up beside me and had the knife I was holding flew in the air. I shut my eyes tightly and screamed at the top of my lungs. Captain Kenny swiftly captured the falling knife that was almost thrusting me and held me tightly in his hold.
“Are you alright? And Penelope, if you don’t wish to end up as tonight’s stew, please behave yourself!” He gaped furiously towards Penelope who was playing innocent in front of us.
“What was the ruckus all about?!” Hardy’s figure entered the kitchen and was followed by all the crews later on.
In their eyes, they saw it as if Captain Kenny was trying to harm me with the knife aiming right towards my position which was like a bull’s eye. All of their stature stiffened from the shock as their face grew pale and quickly attacked Captain Kenny’s knee to plead him to release me, “Please capt’n, she’s innocent! What sin has she done to deserve this?”
Hardy interrupted, “She obviously shows an image of a disobedient crew since she’s the only one who dares to rise up against him by arguing and never listens to his command for like, at all.”
Henry interrupted, “Yes, that makes sense for his anger but what is into my curiosity is to know whether hurting her is necessary for her disobedience?”
All of the other crew replied simultaneously, “OF COURSE NOT!”
“Are you deliberately plotting a rebel to go up against me for something that I will never do and in fact that it’s not true in your side of view? Please don’t judge a book without knowing the whole contents of it!” Ferociously, Captain Kenny’s hoarse voice was filled with anger and he was ‘literally’ angry. “And you little missy please oh please be careful with your surrounding! What if I wasn’t there to stop that knife from falling towards you?! And you little blue snake-like dragon thingy can you please behave yourself! I’m getting busier and busier since recently and am I a baby-sitter to babysit you two not including Chast?!”
I halted like a statue since it was the first time for me to be scolded by him and without me realising it, tears watered my eyes. I didn’t know why but seeing him being in that kind of state was heart-breaking. I didn’t like it and I didn’t want it! My heart suffocated and I was agitated for a word that was a ‘sorry’. The atmosphere turned intense with dark aura that was emitted from Captain’s body. He sighed and patted my head and had all the crew dismissed.
“Sorry, did I scare you?” The tensed voice turned tender as if the anger had flown away.
My mouth was muted. I couldn’t utter a word and was quite shock with it. I nodded swiftly as a reply for his earnest question. He turned away, facing Penelope who was still sitting at his previous place, remaining silent and just stared at us innocently and said, “Why haven’t you recite the oath yet? Do you not want to be under my commands that much?” The snake-like blue water dragon shook his head numerously as a ‘no’ and blinked his eyes several times before he started to pace nearer towards his master and finally settled down with his black eyes still staring at him.
“Then why is it that you still refused to recite the oath?” He knelt down to see the image of his minion clearly.
“Master, your filthy minion cannot break the protocol. The Dragon’s protocol is more important compared to your commands, Milord,” He bowed courteously upon him.
“What is this protocol that my eyes failed to read from the journal I had 3 years ago?”
“The protocol of a dragon to recite an oath upon his master is when the master’s holding the diamond sword and wields it out of its scabbard and points it at the dragon’s head,” He explained briefly. “By then will you be able to hear all of my private chatters among your crews or any other people.”
I who was standing somewhere nearby reckoned that they must have had a conversation regarding to something about an oath since he had been repeatedly saying the exact same word. I remained silent as the atmosphere itself began to turn into ‘master and minion’ like.
“Very well said,” Captain Kenny was now facing towards me. “And what’s with the sudden jump that almost killed the one who took care of you?”
Silence took place for quite some times and finally, the dragon sneered maliciously, “If I am not yet bounded by my master with the oath as the contract, I can be lethal to all of you.” He jumped off and ran outside the kitchen.
“That cunning little scumbag!” He shouted.
I held his sleeve tightly to prevent him from hurting the little dragon, “Let him be. He might as well just blurt out a joke.”
“Joke?! You see it as a joke?! What if he harms you? You’re the closest to him, right?!” His face was pale with anxiety.
“Why are you so concerned about my safety? I’m nobody to you,” The dictions slipped from my mouth.
“What makes you a ‘nobody’ when you’re one of my crewmates? And how am I going to answer Mammy for whatever mishaps that might happen unto you when you are my responsibility? Her pigeons are driving me crazy with all her letters asking whether you’re fine or not?” He replied.
“Letters?” I repeated his word once again.
“How come I received mountains of them while you did not receive any?” He asked.
“That’s so mammy! She never shows that she cares about me when she actually does! Please let me see those letters!” I begged him that I was greatly overwhelmed.
“Am I not scolding you just now?” His voice trailed off once again that he almost threw a tantrum.
“Sorry,” I looked at the floor and was literally feeling guilty.
He heaved a heavy sigh, stating, “There’s no choice then. Don’t scream when you read it.” He warned. I nodded as a yes of his statements.
Breakfast was somewhat like a graveyard although Captain Kenny ate his breakfast silently just like any other morning. The atmosphere was somewhat intense and a bit gloomy as if an evil spirit was lurking somewhere inside that dining hall where all twenty-one of us were feasting. I tried to say something to break the tense by adding, “I wonder where Penelope is...” Suddenly, Captain Kenny’s expression turned deadly, as fierce as that of a lion. His hazel eyes shone sadistically throughout the whole room as if I was saying a taboo. Everyone gulped simultaneously, knowing what their Captain’s current feeling was.
“Capt’n, we will arrive at a nearby harbour in less than 3 days from now. As what I’ve seen in the map, it’s...” before Scar, our boatswain, could finish his brief statement, Captain Kenny interrupted, “It’s been a long time since I’ve finally gone back to where I came from. It is the capital of the world, the infamous city of Abel.”
Every single person in the dining hall was stunned by his dictions which into our knowledge, never for once had we knew his birth place or where he came from. No one dared to even say a word nor could they come up with one with anything to cease the intense atmosphere which had turned into a total graveyard, soundless.
When we were about to finish our breakfast, a loud bang was heard from the cannon base where we kept all the cannons in order. Everyone rushed towards the incident place and saw Penelope was playing with it, aiming towards a Navy ship! My face grew pale as white as a sheet of a paper while Captain Kenny caught him by the tail and gave out orders to standby for a combat since we had been spotted by them.
“Stupid dragon! Look what you’ve done!” Captain Kenny shouted at the dragon’s ear. “I could not tolerate it any longer than this!” He took out the diamond sword and drew it on the dragon’s head, “As your Dominion, the Devil of the Sea, I hereby ORDER you to recite your oath!”
The blue snake-like water dragon gritted his teeth but then he let his tongue did his part as a minion, “It is me, Penelope, the water dragon is now the servant of the great he, the Devil of the Sea. I shall never betray my master for as long as I live and assist him with all I can until the day the sky calls for my soul for the eternity. If I am found a traitor towards my dominion, will I be slaughtered or be cursed for my eternal life.”
“By that you are bonded to me for eternity, with all my blessing, you are now my minion,” Captain Kenny shifted the sword from Penelope’s head and drew it back into its scabbard. He grabbed my hand as we fled towards a hiding room where there for sure, no one except for the crews themselves knows where the hiding place was.
“Penelope, what kind of prowess do you wield by now?” He asked.
“Master, though I am still an infant and not much can I do, I can freeze or boil anything in my sight unlike the fire-dragons who depend on their fire-breath. My breath can freeze or boil,” He replied.
“You talk more than what your tongue can hold. Be sure to guard her while all of us are fighting with the navy,” He proclaimed.
“I’m useless. Even Chast is allowed for the combat,” My tone sounded as if I was sulking.
“You still have Pappy’s dagger with you? Chast is under my custody for all these years, there’s no way I am going to let him go without learning the way of battlefield. His specialty is long-range combat.”
“Yes, I still have it with me. Well then, you might as well teach me later on. I might need to know how to use a blunderbuss, a flintlock pistol or a volley. Promise me you will still be alive till then,” I muttered.
“It seems that you’ve underestimated me as the Devil of the Sea, Eleanor. I won’t die that easily,” He grinned and by then he left the room for the battle.
“Good luck,” I mumbled slowly to myself.
I could hear sword fighting that clanked every time the sword met the sword, the shooting of the guns and pistols, the smell of the gunpowder arouse in the air and men’s voices who struggled for their lives. I prayed for their victory and safety that I didn’t wish any of them to be sacrificed during the combat. I knew I just had to be stronger than what I was right now. I hope all of them were doing well up there especially Chast since he was the youngest pirate I’ve ever known.
Everything was ready and what was left was to set sail towards the wide blue sea where there the sea-gulls were calling, the gust of breeze were singing the most beautiful song that a man could hear, the sun shone brightly as the clouds formed the look of cottons floating in the air. It was already noon and by evening we would sail our full course towards our next destination as our voyage was random.
“Are we ready for our next port?” Captain Kenny asked the whole crew.
“Aye, aye capt’n,” All of their voice synchronised in the air.
Merry smile were carved on their faces. Everyone couldn’t wait for their next journey to seek for new adventures that lay ahead which was remained unknown. As for me, I was still holding the egg and took my full attention towards it since that the egg was fragile and would break anytime if I was careless.
“Hey, Eleanor, how about a giant omelette for dinner?” Captain Kenny would say those weird ideas of frying it, cooking it, making it as an omelette or any other things that could be related into making the egg as food.
“No, you are not permitted to have feast on your very own minion just like what the wizard told us before!” I held the egg tightly.
“Though how much you want to keep it, it’ll eventually destroy us without us even knowing it,” He replied.
“What’s the use of having the title if you can’t even make a dragon bow to your foot?” I mocked.
“At least I’m not stupid enough to raise the thing that could be lethal to all of us,” He replied nonchalantly.
“At least I still have my humanity to even raise an infant. Where’s that promise of yours in raising it together? Big-talk without actions,” I took out my tongue at him.
“You little rascal,” He retorted fiercely.
Suddenly, the inn-owner came and offered us for our lunch. Scrumptious, that was what he had promised to all of us as we paced towards the dining hall somewhere nearby the west-wing where it was still under construction after the fire had been lit by the fire-breath caused by the dragon. Everything was already set on the table where there, tomato soup, grilled meats, soft and mouth watering loaves of breads, the nice fragrance of cheeses, freshly picked salads, grilled sea-foods and many more.
“Now then, please accept my hospitality. You all have been a great help in getting rid of that beast,” He bowed courteously.
“Your hospitality is accepted but we may not stay for more than a day or so,” Captain Kenny pulled out the chair and sat on it.
“Yes, yes. It has come to my knowledge that you shall flee without a word that I made this feast to celebrate our partings,” He replied with a slight smile carved on his face.
“Let me guess, an ancient-tongued with reddish worn-out cloak old man told you so, did he not?” Captain Kenny asked as if he had known it from the very beginning.
“I am not to spill the beans for what my old mate had told me so. But, yes he did. We had traversed far and wide. Name the land or the sea, we’ve been there. All of it! He was a great wizard of Ele Kingdom years back when our princess was kidnapped,” The Inn-owner finally started his tale. “Back then I was a knight. The kingdom is still mourning over the loss princess though a new prince was born weeks after then.”
All of the crews including me were paused from continuing our feast and had our ears on to hear the sad tale of Ele kingdom which the story was into my likings. Knights, wizards, dangers, princess... all of them was real and almost like some sort of fairy tales. Captain Kenny took a sip of the rum and was tearing the bread bits to bits and dipped each of them inside the soup before starting to chew them all.
“Eleanor, you have that letter I gave you, right?” The Inn-owner asked.
“Oh, yes. You asked me to deliver it to a knight known as Ale deFloid. Is he an acquaintance?” I asked.
“More than that, he’s my own flesh and blood. A son is what you might recognise him as. I left the land to find the princess since he was twelve and now, what a lad he had turned into...” He said proudly. “It seems that my blood does run inside his vein. He took the test to be a knight and there he is, a sturdy brave knight. But, I’m not going to recommend him to you. You’ll have a better husband in the future.” He winked.
I could feel that my face was red from the embarrassment. Most of the crews were giving meaningful grunts as they knew what was meant by the word given by the Inn owner.
“Sorry that I have not yet introduced myself properly. John deFloid is what to address me,” He bowed towards the crowds again. “John I’d say the best to call me. I’m aware of my very own age and you can as well address me Uncle John. I don’t mind that.”
“What happened to the princess? How did you lose her?” I shifted the plates away from me and crossed my finger while my elbows were on the table while my chin rested on my fingers.
Uncle John took a deep breath and started the tale, “One cold and purely white night covered in snows, the whole kingdom was alarmed by the princess’s absence from the castle. Bells were rung and our men were set to work in search for her but couldn’t find any trace. The king blamed Anna, the princess’s attendant, for her leaving the castle two days before her kidnapping. She got back a day after the incident.”
The word ‘Anna’ made the hair behind my neck stood up. Was it related to my dream or it was just a coincidence. I hid my fear and continued asking anything that was related to the story, “Well, have you found the trace of where she might be?”
“We did found it. But it was useless. The whole village was burnt right after we went there. It was burnt because there was this blight infecting the whole villagers. Since the princess was long dead, we don’t have much gut to return and inform the king about the death of his beloved daughter from his beloved queen. So, we patiently waited for someone who would have the gut to deliver this letter the Ele kingdom. And that person is you, thank you my lady,” He finally finished the story.
Everything was clear now. It was just a coincidence. The princess was long dead when I finally thought that I had finally found my past. My heart broke to pieces as I stood up and uttered, “Well, I better pack up everything since I’ll be making dinner for tonight. I’ll be having my leave now.”
As my stature started to diminish out of their sight, tears fell drip by drip. When I finally thought that I had finally found my past yet the wicked fate had played me that bad that I almost lose my own self for the day. The contempt feelings inside me was enormous as if it was shouting, “You’re stupid! How could you believe that you’re the lost princess when it was just a coincidence?”
Not long after that, we bid our farewell towards the inn owner and had our journey carried on. I did whatever was necessary to be done on deck. The window was a bit cloudy, YES! It needed to be wiped off! I took the damp cloth and wiped it out until it sparkled. I did whatever I could to clear off the tangled feelings inside me, the feelings of being an utter idiot for believing something that I wasn’t just because of a single and unreal dream I had. I was lost in my own pace of wandering into my own fantasies.
My behaviours which were obviously odd continued for like two weeks right after we left the town that was known as FaintLight. Captain Kenny came to realise it and finally went towards where I was daydreaming, at the hind deck.
“You didn’t look quite right. Why were you crying 2 weeks ago as you left us behind?” His masculine voice was somewhat soothing.
“I wasn’t,” I replied hastily, hiding my true frailness.
“You might be able to hide it from the others but you can’t hide it from me. I saw your tears,” Captain Kenny gestured his hand to reach my eyes and wiped it soothingly as if to comfort me.
“You won’t understand,” I shoved his hand slowly away from my face and looked away like those wonderers looking out towards the blue-sea.
“You expect me to understand without you explaining anything?” He raised one of his eyebrows. “Need a shoulder to lean on?”
“I thought you hate me?” Due to the shock, I retorted almost screaming.
“It was a history. You’re different from the others I guess,” His voice sounded kinder than usual.
“Well then, if you don’t mind,” I leaned my head slowly on his sturdy shoulder as tears rushed out of my eyes.
He took out his right hand, patting my head softly. His warm hand was big and comforting and that was the first time I had ever thought of it. He wasn’t bad after all nor was he a delinquent. He was just protecting what he thought was necessary and he had this kind heart though wielding the title of a devil.
The sound of footsteps were drawing near, Captain Kenny dragged me somewhere people couldn’t see us and it was literally just ‘US’. He peeked through the creak from the door from the empty room and saw Rio, Sweeney and Sylvester were walking with laughter and merry atmosphere emitted from them.
“Thank god they didn’t see us,” He heaved a sigh of relieved.
“That was something,” I added.
“I’m waiting,” He uttered.
“Don’t bother yourself waiting,” As I tried to break free away from him, he suddenly blocked my path from pursuing any more steps.
He raised one of his eyebrows and let out a slight scowl, “You aren’t going anywhere without any explanation little missy. I’m not to have my dinner with tears as my side-dish.”
“Leave me alone,” I begged.
“Not without an explanation,” He insisted.
“I thought I had finally found my past just because the dream I dreamt was just the same as what had been told by Uncle John. But then, it’s gone. The princess’s dead,” My violet eyes were avoiding their gaze from meeting his hazel eyes.
“You mean your dream was like a fragment of your memories?” He asked doubtfully.
“That’s what I thought but unfortunately, it was back-fired,” I replied with my voice chocking my throat.
“When was it that you experienced that dream of yours?” He asked again and this time, a little tension was casted on his voice that it sounded deeper than his usual tone.
“Well, it was 2 weeks ago when you were revived from your slumber and I was asleep next to you without me even realising it,” I explained briefly, pushing my brain to remember every detail of the incident.
“The dragon’s blood!” He shrieked. “You stay here, obediently while I go and find Hardy for your cure.”
I was unable to reply him since without a slight delay, he fled away, dashing out of the room which into my knowledge that he’s getting Hardy for something that I didn’t know what it was. I sat obediently there, sitting on the cold wooden floor which was not into my likings. It was literally cold that it could freeze an egg. Wait, the EGG! I left it in my room and I wondered how it was doing. It might be cold even though I wrapped it with numerous blankets. The weather wasn’t getting any warmer since it’s nearing winter. How maliciously cold it could be that it might not let a single egg hatch. Once again I disobeyed his order and trotted towards my chamber which was in the middle of the ship that the room was located near Captain Kenny’s.
Minutes later, Captain Kenny went back to the empty room with Hardy by his side. My figure was no longer there. He balled his hands into fists that he was very displeased with my act of disobedience, “Can’t that missy just listen to me for once at all?” Hardy’s answer was merely a shrug.
I flung the door of my room open and it made a very loud ‘bang’ that it made me jolt from the noisy noise. I swiftly shifted the blankets away and found the egg’s pieces. The egg had finally hatched without me realising it! I searched for the so called water dragon which the name was Penelope. Not in the wardrobe, I closed it again and searched for it under the bed but all I could see was pile of dusts. I headed on towards the book rack but couldn’t find anything peculiar about it and finally, the last stop was under the table. It was there!
“It’s alright there. I’m an acquaintance, a friend. Do not fear my presence. I won’t hurt you,” I gestured my hand towards him.
“Mhmm... Mhmm...” Penelope was murmuring something indistinctly that I couldn’t make out the word at all, perhaps he was mumbling.
“Pardon please, Penelope?” I drew my ear nearer towards where he was hiding.
“You’re a female right?” He asked with full of curiosity and I replied him with a single nod.
“You took great caress of me in my master’s stead, right?” He asked again as his brilliant black eyes were staring into my violet widened eyes which were staring at him in great disbelief.
“Then, you are my guardian. Shalt I not forget thy kindness and mercy,” He bowed courteously for a stature of a snake-like water dragon.
“You... talk,” I wondered since when my jaw was dropped from the intense shock.
“Yes, I’m a mythical creature and of course I talk as I hatched. Ye milady had saved me numerously when he asked a feast out of me, you saw me when he was blinded, I could not repay thee enough than just a thank you as my gratitude for your hospitality,” He gave out one of his kindest smile. “I dare vow upon the name of my master that I will not harm those who are allied with my master and bring mishaps to my master’s foes. My tongue talked more than I’ve been allowed to and I’ll have it shut for now and it’ll speak again whenever the necessity is.”
My door room was flung again that made me jerked in alert. There stood the image of two sturdy men standing at the doorway, gaping furiously at my timid stature.
“Have you got yourself a responsibility in obeying to your Captain’s order?” His hazel eyes shone fiercely.
“Captain...” My voice sounded off from its current tone. “Penelope... hatched and... he talked.”
Penelope was gaping at his master, blinking numerously and courteously nodding his head as if he was honouring his arrival. Captain Kenny took out a dagger and pointed it towards his new subject, exclaiming, “If you are my minion, recite an oath.”
Penelope stature stiffened, his black eyes portraying his fears though his character remained calm. He abruptly climbed into my hold into a hammock. He snarled at me before he gave out a yawn and slept in my hold. Captain Kenny sighed and took away the dagger, seeing it as pointless. I wondered what it might turn out to be in the future.
I yawned as I paced downstairs slowly with my wrapped sole, heading towards the dining table for brunch. I overslept and was very displeased with it. Somehow, I couldn’t keep my head right since that I was still pondering about the dream I had dreamt just now before Captain Kenny left the room. Who’s Anna? Was the dream was just a dream or there’s something that I couldn’t manage to remember when I was young. My head was about to explode. I kept thinking about it and couldn’t put my mind at ease.
“Already awaken, sleeping beauty?” Captain Kenny nonchalantly pulled out a chair in front of me and sat there.
“No. I’m still sleeping here. Can’t you see that both my eyes are shut tightly?” I said bluntly.
“Your sarcasm still doesn’t cease even after I saved you. How’s your sole? Any better than last time?” He asked monotonously without looking at me whilst pulling a journal and began to read it.
“What? You want to offer another ride? What’s wrong with you recently?” I asked just to make sure that he didn’t bump his head or something.
“Nah, just not into that mood yet... Maybe that I’m not on board that I don’t feel like myself,” He replied briefly while turning the journal pages to pages.
“That’s rare to hear? Don’t feel like yourself? Don’t make me laugh? You’re obviously hiding something,” I pulled out a bed of bread and began to cut it a quarter before eating it.
“You’re sharp. Nice one, tomboy,” He put down the journal and began to clap his hands.
“Listen here, Homo! Just spit it out already! I’m sick of waiting and your acting is giving me goose bumps ever since... recently!” I shouted boldly.
He abruptly stood up, without looking back, he walked a few paces heading towards the door way before spurting out, “Sorry for the kiss.” and left the room, leaving me in bewilder.
“Though the sea parts us apart,
But from within there’s a bond,
Binding us together,
From those envious creature,
Who envy us for our pure love,
The only reason of my life,
Is only you.”
“Recited by Lilianna, The Unrequited Love,” I read it and finally closed the book hastily and lay down on my bed inside the inn. Was I being too harsh on him? He did apologise so, I think it’s better for me to forgive him. How on earth would he return my first kiss? Impossible wasn’t it? So, I made up my mind to meet him and apologise for being rude to him.
Having walking difficulties was the worst thing when you wanted to walk from a place to another. Hardy did tell me to prevent from walking and he didn’t mind if he was to carry me since that my sole was not yet recovered due to the last incident. I lost my count of how many times I had fall that day from walking. I lost track of time and was walking for hours to search for that nasty old captain. Howard and Ronn saw me walking and rushed towards my figure that was walking desperately.
“Hardy told you to rest, right?” Howard asked.
“Why aren’t you on bed, mate?” Ronn pulled out an anxious expression.
“Well I’m just having a tour inside this inn before we set sail. Well, it’s kind of boring to remain at the same place for a long period,” I blurted out such refine statements without a second thought.
“Your reasoning is kinda indistinct, mate. Better not move much or you’ll have that wound of yours tear up once again,” Ronn replied.
“I won’t. Don’t worry,” I grinned.
“I’m worried of that ‘Don’t worry’ of yours. No wonder Capt’n can’t take his eyes off of you,” Howard gave himself a face-palm.
“Sorry. But, I really can’t stand staying at the same room,” I paused for a minute. “Where’s everyone?”
Both of them looked at each other, exchanging looks while giving their smiles towards me.
“Capt’n is working them all,” Ronn replied with a sneer carved on his face.
“Violently,” Howard added.
“Why?” I asked curiously.
Howard drew his face towards my right ear and whispered, “We are to set sail this evening without anyone noticing it.”
“Whaa.... What for?!” I retorted, almost screaming.
“Not so loud. Capt’n doesn’t like people crediting us for what we had done. We are pirates, not knights,” Howard put his fore-finger at his lips.
“He’s one weird guy,” I muttered obnoxiously.
“That’s our capt’n. Let’s get going, girl,” Ronn gave me a piggy back as we headed towards where all the rest was working their backs off.
“Capt’n, special delivery!” Ronn said mischievously.
“Put ‘it’ back to where ‘it’ belongs. ‘It’ can do us no good since ‘its’ sole is unworkable,” Captain Kenny replied without looking at me which he was calling ‘it’.
“Firstly, I still have my hands to do works and secondly, I’m not an ‘IT’ to begin with. I’m a she,” I corrected him furiously.
“Yes, yes, save your blabs for later on. I’ve many unsettled business to be done,” He gestured his hand as if he was ‘shoo-ing’ me.
“Perhaps I need to remind you that our food-supply is about to finish by now. Someone needs to shop all those stuffs and you’re not expecting me to go alone with this sole?” I mocked.
He gave out a heavy sigh and stared at me for quite a while, “Listen girl, as you can see all of my men are busy here and you’re expecting any of us to accompany you?”
“Fine, if you’re hoping for us to have fishes as our dishes all the way towards our next port then I don’t mind. That is ‘if’ you can bear with it since no one knows how long we might be able to reach another land and it might as well take for about days or weeks. How about it, boys?” I grinned sadistically as I gave a slight glare of satisfaction towards that so-so mannered captain.
All of them groaned to show their dissatisfaction towards my statement. Captain couldn’t fight back instead offering himself as my accomplice to assist me in shopping for some groceries. Well, he still couldn’t trust his mates to make sure of my safety. Had he any choice?
We finally made our way towards the market place to shop and of course, I was on wheel chair since my sole was still sore. Vendors were shouting for customers, sellers were checking for their items to be sold, peoples all around, crowding the narrow streets with their baskets filled with money and groceries and etcetera. Since I was used to it, it wasn’t a bothersome but I could see that Captain Kenny was not so happy with the current situation of being in a crowd.
“I find it quite amusing that there are so much things to be seen here compared to what are sold in my previous home,” I started a conversation.
“I find it quite suffocating to be meddling in the middle of the crowds with weird odours lurking through the atmosphere,” He added, giving one of his scornful expressions.
“Can you not cope with the delicacy of being satisfied with anything in front of your eyes?” It was heart-breaking to hear him complaining about being in crowds.
“How can I ever be satisfied when I never get what I want from the very beginning?” He replied hastily without even looking at me.
“What you want? Then, what you want then?” I asked.
He gazed at me and looked away, muttering, “It’s no use. It has passed and there’s nothing to look forward to it.”
“The past is nothing. What is more important is what lies ahead of us. Mammy always told me that...”
“One must not look back to create a future because what you will be is what you do today,” He interrupted with my speech.
“How did you...?”
“Mammy’s like my second mom?” He replied.
“I see. How come you’ve known mammy for so long and not knowing of my existence?” I asked.
“Actually, I...” Before he could finish his statement, a vendor came interrupting our conversation.
“Excuse me, are you a couple? If you are then you two are lucky that today, we have a special offer for couples,” He paused for a while and took out a dagger whilst his fore-finger was pointing towards a bull’s eye that was hung somewhere inside the stall. “If your boyfriend managed to strike this dagger towards that red spot on the bull’s eye, you will receive this beautiful hairpin.”
“Ridiculous, why should I bother myself to strike that easy length thingy for a hairpin?” Captain Kenny raised his eye-brows with the look of disgust.
“You are a weird couple. How un-gentleman of you to treat your girl that way... Don’t waste that beauty of hers or she’ll find another guy. Or, you’re scared?” The vendor gave one of his sly looks.
“If you think this expression is the look of a chump, you better prepare a grave,” He threatened.
“That’s what you want, but what about her?” Both their attentions went towards me.
I was speechless at first but then I decided to speak, “Please, if you don’t mind.”
“See?” The vendor gave him a cunning smile.
“Whatever makes you pleased,” He said with a large scowl carved on his face.
He took the dagger and threw it swiftly. Not only the dagger hit directly towards the appointed place, it went right through it! Everyone was jaw-dropped to see him being so skilful. The vendor took out the hairpin with broad-smile carved on his face; he then gave it to Captain Kenny.
“Apply it on her. She’ll look grand,” He said.
“How beautiful will it be to see a lady on wheel chair wearing a hairpin?” Captain Kenny frowned.
“A beauty is still a beauty. Just wear it for her. How about it, my lady?” The vendor winked.
My face turned ruddy as an apple. I swiftly turned my face away from facing both of them. I didn’t know what to answer. But then I felt my hair was brushed backwards and I could feel the hairpin was being applied to my hair. As I turned backwards, applause arouse from the crowds as I see his hand were jerking back away from my face.
“An apology gift I presume,” He retorted without looking at me while pushing the wheel-chair.
“It’s okay. I’m not angry anymore. It’s not like you can return it anyway,” I replied.
Silence took place for quite a long time until we reached a bay where the wind blew refreshingly, brushing off my red wavy hair. His caramel-coloured hair too was swaying due to the sea-breeze which ahead of us, the greenish-blue sea was singing its nature song.
“The sea feels so good,” He closed his eyes as if his body was absorbing the atmosphere.
“Yeah, the beauty of the blue-sky with the greenish-blue sea, such beautiful complexion can never be seen anywhere,” I shifted my hair from covering my eyes.
“Would you like to dip your feet inside the sea-water? Don’t worry, it won’t hurt,” He offered.
“Sure,” I replied him with a smile.
He carried me all the way towards the sea and dipped both my feet inside the water. He chanted something, “As your lord, the Devil of the Sea, I command you to heal the wound and leave no scar on it.” Though it was kind of itchy at first, but then he carried me off the shore and told me to un-wrap my bandage. I did what was told and found my sole was completely cured without any scar. I was too happy that I quickly hugged him and said my thank you numerously without stopping.
Suddenly, something round was carried off-shore. I released my hold from hugging him and had my attention towards that oval-shaped stone which the colour was oddly peculiar. It was ocean-blue! How fascinating to be able to see such beauty nature that probably might’ve been swept away by the waves all along its way.
“What’s this? Could it be a coral?” I asked.
“The possibility for that thing to be a coral is outrageous. There’s no way it can be a coral with that kind of shape,” He replied.
“Then what is it?” I asked.
A voice replied my question with a refine answer, “It belongs to the sea. It’s now your subject Mr. Rogers.”
“How shocking to see a ‘supposed to be dead’ old man being alive,” Captain Kenny uttered in great displeasure. “I was caught a fool for believing a very old wizard to die that easily.”
“I’ll keep that as a compliment. Though I have the knowledge but I have not enough prowess to fight its fearful fire-breath. It is what to be expected from an old me,” He replied.
“You’re saying that this thing is magical?” I answered.
“That’s not a thing, my lady. I might not be able to address you that way in future though,” He paused. “Yes, it is magical but it’s not a thing. It is what you humans call creature.”
“How on earth that oval-thingy be a creature? It doesn’t look like one,” Captain Kenny took the thing from me and was observing it carefully.
“It is related to your title, my young man. You own it and you’ll keep it. It sought great caress and is very ferocious and deadly as it can be. Though it is not by fire but by water can it be as deadly,” He explained briefly.
“What kind of creature is it?” I asked overwhelmed with curiosity.
“It shall be known after it hatches. The name’s Penelope. Since that you’re the new owner of the Excalibur it cannot be helped. If you can guess what creature it is to be then you are his dominion from this very moment,” The dragon-lord replied confidently.
“I guess the egg consists of a small infant of a certain creature that is widely known as the sea-serpent though it was a sea-dragon. I’ve witnessed one with my very own eyes,” He replied.
“Then, shall it be,” He dragon-lord vanished through the thin air, leaving both of us in bewilder.
“I guess, this babe is under your care now,” I smiled.
“You’ll take care of it in my stead,” He started to pace away from me.
“What am I to do? I’ve never raised anything,” I retorted in panic.
“Then learn. If not then how are you going raise your own child in the future? Don’t you want to have any?” He asked monotonously.
“Of course I want too but this is different! It’s a dragon and how am I to raise a baby DRAGON?!” I panicked that the thing that I was holding could be the one to kill me in the future.
He held both my hands which was holding the egg and said, “Then let’s raise it together then.” Then he walked away.
I was stunned by his action and my heart was thumping like mad. The way he stated it was like we were married and was having a child. Well, it was too good to be true. But why did my heart thudded non-stop? Maybe I was too shocked to raise something that was not a human child. Well, who knew what it might be next.
After walking for quite a while, Captain Kenny arrived at the appointed place where the Dragon Lord was meditating. He walked right through the waterfall and saw the sickly old Dragon Lord. “Child, come here...” The Dragon Lord called weakly. He paced towards the Dragon Lord monotonously.
“Lend me your ears please,” He requested.
And so, he drew his right ear towards him so that he could hear his will clearly.
“I’ve foreseen this a while ago and my time has come. I’m too old for my own dragon. I have this diamond sword too long with me. A seal has been casted on it and ye, my lad, must kill the dragon before dawn or the town will lose its shape,” He took out a brilliant sword and entrusted him his own will, the Excalibur.
“This beauty had once killed one of the minotours and of course, shall it be used to kill the magical creature such as dragons,” He explained again.
“You want me to kill that thingy?” Captain Kenny bluntly asked.
“Yes. Thou, Kenneth Rogers are the great Devil of the Sea. I believe in your ability. You will get yourself an honour, princess and all you need for what you have lost in the past. Don’th you think you’ve known yourself well my lad. Thee will face many perilous path that lies ahead.”
“I do not want any of those nor the princess. I just want to sail out of my own free will,” He replied.
“No, my lad. You, who once lost hope and faith and was forsaken by your own mother for another man must receive your happiness. You have suffered enough to live your life solely, being betrayed, living a life with fears everyday... asking ‘will I be able to live for tomorrow?’. The sky has heard your prayers and now guaranteeing their happiness for you?” The Dragon Lord muttered.
“You, are you a wizard?” He asked.
The old man let out a grin and turned himself into dust. Now that it had become his duty to eliminate the dragon, he must do it for the sake of his crews who were waiting for him to save them. “I’m coming, Chast, Eleanor! Please stay alive till then!” He prayed.
At the same time, all of the crews not including Chast, Captain Kenny and me were charging ahead to fight the humongous dragon. None of the attacks seemed to have any effects towards the dragon. All of it was futile. The crew ran out of idea. They had to distract the dragon towards the outskirt to prevent anymore destruction over the town and to prevent any unwanted death over the whole town. They kept attacking the dragon until the dragon finally moved towards the eastern side which was near the forest.
“If this continues, we might lose our stamina before captain and that dragon-tamer...” before Hardy could finish his sentence, the owner cut off his statement, “Dragon Lord, to be exact...”
“Whatever it is... We might not be able to fight any further. Most of the crew are at their limits,” He continued his interrupted statement.
“What can we do? Captain isn’t here yet! We can’t stop now or everything will be pointless,” Randolph said anxiously.
“Then, we just have to bear with it and push ourselves a bit more. Can you keep your stamina for now?” Hardy asked firmly.
“We’ll do our best! Don’t worry,” Fredrick gave his reassuring grin towards us all.
“Shut-up Fredrick! You’ve just healed 5 days ago and please stay back and don’t do any attempts in fighting with this beast or you’re dead,” Henry disapprove of his pure intention in helping them to fight with the dragon.
“Awww... Come on. You still know how to brag when we are in critical situation now. Drop it off and let me help,” He begged.
I put my hand on his shoulder and shook my head, “You are not allowed. If not, you might not lose only your stamina but your life this time. I don’t want to lose any more people on deck.”
“I get it. For you princess, I’ll hold my desire for your sake,” He bowed and stood behind them, letting the rest of the crew finish it.
“There’s no need to strain anymore my dear crews. I am now here to aid you all,” A well-known voice was heard not far away from where we stood.
“Tchh... What took you so long, capt’n? We almost lose our consciousness due to this fatigue,” Finn mocked with a slight grin of relief carved on his face.
“Well, I wasn’t able to bring that old Dragon Lord with me so in exchange, I was told to assassinate the dragon myself using the Excalibur inside this scabbard,” He answered while drawing out the diamond-sealed sword in front of everyone.
The Excalibur was well-designed and there were a few ancient words probably Sanskrit or ancient writings carved on its body. Captain Kenny dashed as fast as lightning towards the dragon’s nose so that the female-dragon could see his presence.
“I do regret for killing your baby. So, here I am to apologise over the dark incident. But, the reason I did so is that your child almost killed one of my crews down there. If you not approve of my apology, here by this sword I swear to eliminate you right this instance,” Captain Kenny made a bargain with that gigantic creature.
“That sword... I do fear the power. Where is that Dragon Lord?” The dragon asked.
“Your lord couldn’t manage to bid his farewell to you before his death. He entrusted me with this,” He showed the sword towards the dragon one more time.
“Is that so... So you are the so called Devil. The sky has heard your prayers and now offering their happiness for you. Even so, I will not approve of your apology for killing my dear son,” The dragon said fiercely.
“And so be it,” Captain Kenny swung the sword hardly and pierced it towards the dragon’s right eye.
The dragon roared in pain. She blew out her fire-breath towards him. He jumped out of the way and dashed towards its back and stabbed its back while running down the body. Now, the dragon roared shrilly and attacked him with her tail. He took the opportunity by cutting the dragon’s tail. He stood before her on the ground and stood still, chanting something, “The blue sea, please hear my words calling thee, from the darkest to the peak, me as your Lord, order you...” He pointed the sword towards the mouth of the dragon. “It is me, as your Lord, The Devil of the Sea, order you to fill this creature’s stomach and finish her from within!” He chanted.
Though nothing happened, the dragon was now groaning. Smokes exited from her mouth and her nose. She fell on the ground and died. Everyone was cheering for the glorious winning. Captain Kenny’s pace seemed to slow down little by little. He was walking towards me and Chast with a look of relief on his face before he fainted in front of us. Henry went towards him and supported him towards a nearby inn.
“He didn’t even receive any injury. Why does he faint?” I asked anxiously.
“Well, we still didn’t tell you the truth. As he wields the title, he can control the water. Since the water doesn’t sound quite nice, so the ancient time renames it as the sea since it’s the most suitable word to be used. We all know that our body contains 70 percent of water so, once he casts his order, the water from within the body or outer will react regarding to his will,” Henry explained briefly.
“You’re not answering my question,” I uttered.
“Okay, okay... To be able to control it uses most of his energy. He faints due to the fatigue. Don’t worry. He’ll wake up in no time. Just let him rest for now,” He patted my head and left the room.
I waited by his side, watching earnestly towards the strained figure who had almost sacrificed his life for Chast and me. I felt guilty for misjudging him since that his words were very piercing and hurtful to bear. The bell resounded itself for the fifth time and now it was nearing three o’clock in the morning. I restrained myself from sleeping and nursed him carefully, as a thank you gift for his bravery. Chast’s snore was heard throughout the atmosphere as the crickets sang madly. The feeling was indeed refreshing, the sound of nature. Chast was very exhausted I reckoned and I know that I, myself, needed a rest. I took one last glance towards his exhausted expression and finally, fell asleep beside Captain Kenny’s bed.
The sun shone merrily inside the chamber and the pigeons and the other birds had finally flown free in the air. Captain Kenny lifted his eye-lids and turned his head towards me who was exhausted from nursing him all night. Hardy entered the room and saw us. With a grin on his face, he finally spoken, “She pulled an all-nighter just to nurse you. You should be thankful to her.”
“How long have I been sleeping?” He asked bluntly.
“Hmm....” He grunted. “In my calculation, you were asleep for a day. We supposed to set sail last three hours ago. Seeing you in such state, we just have to hold our sail for two days. Don’t worry, the ship guarding chief said that he won’t charge even a penny as a gift of your act of bravery for killing the dragon that has haunted the town since 27 years ago.”
“I see. Our schedule has been violated for a certain reason I guess,” He rose up and was trying to walk.
“I won’t do that if I were you. That girl over there would be furious to know if you do so,” Hardy pointed his fore-finger towards my sleeping figure that was sleeping nearby.
“Bother me. I have loads of works to be done before we set sail. And I guess we better move tonight. A pirate doesn’t deserve an honour. We do bad things, not good deeds,” He said firmly.
“I guess this crew is very different compared to any other pirate ship. We only rob the other pirates, right?” Hardy smirked menacingly towards him.
“Screw you... Well, have you been enjoying yourself dissecting that dragon? The only reason you’re following me is to find odd creatures and have fun abducting them,” He asked with a weird look on his face.
“Yep, Very much indeed! What a beauty she was. But, her body is useless for any cure except for her blood,” Hardy explained.
“What can her blood cure?” Shifting his blankets away, he sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for an answer.
“Amnesia,” A single word made both of their attention turned towards me who was still sleeping.
“How sure are you whether it’s going to work or not?” Captain still doubted.
“Well, there’s this strange old man wearing a cloak who was having tea with the inn owner just now told me that. I don’t know whether it’s going to work or not,” He explained briefly.
“Let me guess, he wears worn-out reddish cloak and speaks in ancient tongue as if he’s from medieval age?” He guessed.
“That’s him,” Hardy replied.
“That dragon-lord... I’ll give him a second death after this,” Captain Kenny stood up from the bed but my right hand quickly caught his.
By that time, I was having a strange dream. Everything was peaceful, a crowned man, probably a king, was waving at me. I was escorted towards him with a gentle hand holding mine as I approached nearer towards the guy. A woman with the look of horrific was looking down at my tiny figure with the look of disgust. I can see that she was bearing a child within her womb. It was probably nearing labour. Then, the woman who escorted me brought me to a grave where there, whose grave it was, was uncertain since the writings engraved on it were vague. The woman who escorted me called herself Anna and uttered, “You poor thing. If only she was alive, she wouldn’t let the current queen... well, now that the whole kingdom knows that you’re kidnapped, it can’t be helped.”
I stupidly followed her inside a cottage after getting out of the horse-drawn carriage and there, a woman whose face was the same as Anna’s, bowed upon me and took me in. I overheard a few conversations between them but couldn’t make out what it was. Anna went in and hugged me for the last time, “I have to go my dear. My sister twin will raise you well until that horrid queen is no longer a queen.”
She bid her farewell and left me in her twin’s care. I didn’t know why, as her carriage went further, my heart felt heavy. Tears streamed down my cheeks and I ran to get her but her twin got me before I could manage to follow her.
With my teary eyes, I sobbed, “Please don’t go.”
Captain Kenny’s expression went blank. Hardy giggled over the funny situation and Captain Kenny gave a sharp glare towards Hardy.
“I guess I have a job to be done. You better wake her up so that you can move freely,” Hardy giving an excuse to flee.
“No. I’ll wait a bit more until she feels better. She might be tired from the all-nighter,” Captain Kenny sat down on the bed.
“As you wish, Capt’n,” He saluted him and went out of the room with a slight giggle.
Captain Kenny brush away my hair and wiped my tears while saying, “Why are you crying? I’m not going anywhere.”
As I shifted my eyes open, he jerked his hand away from me. I rubbed my eyes and stared towards where Chast was asleep but he was not there.
“Where’s Chast?” I paused. “Oh, so you’re awake.”
“I don’t know. He was no longer there by the time I woke up,” He replied but, his tone sounded weird.
“Have you recovered yet? You don’t sound healthy,” I said.
“Don’t mind me, you just go and get some rest. I’ve gain enough energy for now,” He persuaded.
“Oh, okay,” I went back to sleep without any more delay.
I was too tired to move and now, went for my rest. Captain Kenny carried me and put me on his bed and pulled his blanket to cover me. He went out of the room and closed the door lightly so that I won’t be disturbed by the noise of the closed door. Well, that’s all for the whole restless day. I wonder what it would be after this.
