Adventures of Captain Xdey (13 page)

Xoey pulled up a chair across from his large working table. “Be needing a favor. Cap’n wants me to feed the captured and I feel the older the better.” He introduced himself as Hew. Hew paused to wipe his hands upon the stained apron.

“If ya looking to make them sick, you gotta get creative. No man is gonna just eat the inedible for giggles,” he said, while pulling out an empty bottle of cider from a spare cauldron.

“Most be willing to drink rather than eat.” He referenced himself and therefore she cracked a grin. “Especially when their spirits are low—ain’t been enough time for them to get used to the life.”

She couldn’t help but wonder if Hew was captured himself, but she knew better than to ask. If he wanted to share, he’d do so.

Though she wasn’t paying much heed to what he was putting in the bottle, she swore he dipped it into the waste bucket. With a crinkle of her nose, she was glad it wasn’t going down her throat. “There ya be, lad.” He handed over the concoction. “Just don’t go expecting me to clean up the mess later.”

Out of curiosity she sniffed the top and surprisingly it actually smelled like cider and cherries. Hew winked at her. “Best go on before someone undeserving takes that from you.” Xoey gripped the bottle tight and began her descent toward the back of the ship, closer to the overpowering smell of bilge water and the rats that never seemed to hold a fear of swimming.

The men were cramped in the quarters and they looked just like the rest of the crew in tattered clothing. She gently tapped on the door frame. The oldest of the lot stood from the chair. He brushed back his dark brown hair and glowered at her. “What brings you over here?”

To keep to her false secrecy, she shushed him and set the bottle on the floor. With that, she took the allotted amount of steps back that the ship would allow. “Don’t go saying nothing,” she said before scurrying out of sight.

Xoey slurped a mix of meat and broth from the deep bowl. She swung in the sea of hammocks in the center of the ship. Ramos popped his head up on the side of her. “I hope you are never hunted while eating. You could be tracked a mile away with how loud you are.”

She smiled. “If you notice.” She poked him with a metal rod through the bottom of the hammock. “I’m always prepared.” He called her a liar as Nadine alerted her arrival when she slipped down the stairs. Xoey shrugged. “Not my fault that you need lessons from the Shinobi.”

“Any idea about what you are going to do to find the traitor?” Nadine asked, attempting to change the subject away from her embarrassing fall.

“They should be green as the leaves on the Koli.” The Koli was a vine that could grow on just about anything it touched. “In about ten minutes, we can listen to see who they blame. It’s generally the Cap’n.”

“What are we going to do until then?”

Xoey drained the bowl. “We can see what the Shinobi are doing.”

Nix groaned in the tight quarters of the carriage that bopped its way through Upper City. His right arm tensed, stiffened, and locked at the shoulder joint. He gritted his teeth. Rachine leaned over. “When will Gesler return with the Dijnn?”

Nix coldly responded, “Tomorrow evening.” He placed his hand flat on her face and pushed her away from him. “Stop coddling me, woman.”

Gesler motioned for the pilot to take them above the clouds. It was restricted by the laws of everyone in Grittle to go above a certain altitude. Nix, of course, made the laws to prevent anyone from peering in on their objectives. The pilot did not question Gesler. He knew who he was and who he worked for, and more importantly, what he was capable of if you said no. In very short time, they sailed above the thick blanket of clouds.

Roe sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed his face. He hadn’t slept since they were taken from their children. Nell was hunched under the patchwork quilt. Worry worm didn’t describe her appearance. Nadine and Mal were capable of taking care of themselves, but with Nix in the mix, Roe wasn’t certain of his intentions against them. They could hear Gesler’s booming voice, “It’s time!” Roe sighed. He removed his glasses, rubbed his face, and wearily stood up.

“One of these days,” was all he could say.

Roe moved on deck with a cup of bitter coffee in his hands. Gesler eyed his intentions, but said nothing in regard to the drink. He simply motioned to the skyline around them. “You’ll find that despite the cloud beasts, the air Dijnn are an easy capture. Once we have obtained a few here, you’ll be escorted back to Upper City.”

“And released?” Roe inquired.

Gesler smiled politely—a little too politely. “Yes, of course. We do not keep families apart for long. It would be rude.” He motioned for Roe to put on the goggles. “Keep a look out. The air Djinn should be lurking about.”

In the ship below, Nell sighed. A small knock interrupted her thoughts. She opened the door to find a boy standing there. “Hello,” he said.

He ran into the room and motioned her to shut the door. Nell looked down the hallway. Once she was content it was vacant, she shut the door. “You’re Gesler’s son.”

He frowned, not wanting to be associated with the name. She regarded him. He couldn’t have been older than nine, and despite his father’s pristine appearances, Gesler didn’t seem to care for his son. “Not by choice,” he responded. He gestured her to move in closer so they could whisper. She knelt down to his level and he continued, “In the very bottom of the ship, there are two shoulder-chutes. I’m going to venture down there and get them.”

Nell shook her head. “I appreciate your help, but we cannot allow you to get into trouble.”
“Indeed,” a voice said from behind them.
Nell craned her head to see Gesler standing in the doorway. He gestured for his son to move by his side. The boy crinkled his nose, but did as he was told.

Gesler bowed his head at Nell. “I shall need to speak to my son.” He held his son’s shoulder tightly. She rose and attempted to protest, but was met with a closed door.

The Shinobi, dressed in black from head to toe, were found on the main deck. Lined up in rows, they practiced their sword techniques. The silver weapons flashed in the rising sun and with every strike their voices thundered across the ship. It was a marvel to watch their unison in every movement—no one stepped out of line.

Xoey whispered, “They train every morning to greet the sun to thank it for rising.”

Ramos could understand the respect and it warmed his heart. He desired nothing more than to be in the lines with the Shinobi. The eldest who stood in front turned out of the line, and as though he read the warrior’s mind, he gestured for Ramos to join them. Xoey grinned. “That’s a great honor.”

No words were spoken between the eldest and Ramos. They gestured between them, and soon enough, Ramos was taking his first steps to learn the ways of the Shinobi. Nadine elbowed Xoey. “Zaren’s afraid of how far Ramos would go to follow you.”

Xoey looked down at the towering adolescent. His sword movements were choppy and she noticed in the battle, he preferred to hack rather than glide the weapon. “Why?” Xoey asked. “Does it matter?”

Nadine pulled out the parchment that Isena had given her. “I didn’t have time to look it over until now.” She handed it over.

The paper felt soft to the touch. It could have been spun from a thousand spiders’ webs or be the finest leather known to man. Regardless, it was the softest material she had ever touched. The words foretold the legend of the child born of the sea.

A white-haired child, born of the sea and moon, will stand in a battle with five against the mechanical beast and his following.

These six will be:

The white-haired pirate who commands men, women, and children alike. A leader the world has never seen.

The one born of long lost magic of the moon combined with the sea. She will be blessed to hone her true powers.

A man of true strength, grace, and the will of a warrior who follows the pirate until the end of their lives. He will sacrifice everything.

The clever one who shall save them all. A quick-witted boy who possesses every mental prowess to hold back the fight when necessary.

The one who is unlike the others.

The youngest who shall appear when it is least expected. A falling star.

Xoey looked at the map of Grittle. The warrior came from Desert Town, the boy of mental prowess and the magic wielder came from Upper City, the pirate was from Yorego, and the one not like the others was from Under City. The falling star was not on the map. “Uh huh,” she said. “I don’t see how or why anyone should be afraid of Ramos.”

Nadine yanked the parchment out of Xoey’s hands and placed it back in her pocket. “He’s supposed to be a great warrior.” She gestured to the awkward one. “He’s clumsy.”

Xoey wasn’t swayed. “He’ll learn.”

“When?” Nadine sighed. “When do we have the time to teach him?”

“I think you should be more concerned about who the falling star is. No one just falls from the sky.”

Nadine huffed, unamused. “We have a lot more to worry about.”

Xoey patted Nadine on the shoulder. “It’s time to check on the sick captives.”

Beyond the cargo hold there was a smaller room reserved for the deadliest of prisoners, and despite the emptiness, it still held a tinge of fear—a smell so distinct, similar to blood in a sea full of sharks. If there was any place in the entirety of the ship that held souls, a hundred times over, this would be it. If the men did not die from malnutrition, they certainly found it in the deep blue.