Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) (26 page)

Chapter 52

Dirk

We finally made it to the top of the cliffs later that same day we left and looked down at the docks below.

“Would you look at that?” My father said in awe. “What a ship.”

I smiled, seeing it myself. “That’s our ride.”

“You’re kidding?” Troy asked.

“She may seem large but you’re looking at the fastest ship in the world.”

“And it’s maker?” Zayden wondered.

“The maker shall be your captain.” Lana smiled as she walked passed him and started down the zigzag road first.

We followed behind her and reached the bottom, ready to start this trip just as soon as Seth showed up.

“Welcome, your majesty, my lords. You’re right on time.” Jinx said to greet us.

“Thank you for meeting us, Jinx.” Zayden replied. “We’re truly grateful to you for doing this.”

“Only be grateful when we bring her home, your majesty. Come, let’s get you settled and bring the horses.”

He turned and started walking up the gangplank as Zayden looked over at me. “On board stables.”

Zayden nodded to the liking of it and we followed. Lana and Naomi stayed down on the docks but got off their horses.

“Well? You coming?” Jinx asked.

“We leave when Seth gets here.” I said. “But they’re not joining us this time.”

“Not coming? Why not?” He looked down at the girls and saw the looks on their faces. “Oh, I see. They won’t let you.”

“We don’t know what will happen once we get there.” Bryce said. “And we don’t want to risk having them there.”

“Being cautious. I understand. Excuse me for a minute.”

He turned away from us and started walking off the ship and our fathers were curious about why. They looked at each other and walked to the railing. Jinx was sitting at the end of the gangplank with Lana and Naomi at his sides while they had their arms around him and leaning up against him.

“What’s his story?” Zayden asked.

“He grew up with Naomi and Cadence out of Kalu where they went to school together and met Lana when they knew she’d be an Assassin.” Bryce answered. “He was in the war awhile back and they met up with him again when we went to Hintus the first time.”

“Huh. They seem close.” Troy pointed out.

“They’ve always been.” I replied.

“And that doesn’t worry you?” My father wondered.

Bryce and I looked at each other and laughed, sorry that we had to explain this.

“No.” I replied.

“And why not?” Zayden asked.

“He doesn’t go that way.” Our fathers just looked at me to explain more. “You know, with women.”

They just kept looking at me.

“He likes men, all right? Does that make more sense?” Bryce said, breaking the silence.

“Oh.” They replied.

I laughed. “Don’t worry about it. At least you found out now. We didn’t know until a few days into our journey and you can probably guess some bad things happened.”

Zayden smiled and we looked back down to see them getting up.

They hugged each other and Jinx walked back up to the ship. “They’ll be dually missed but they understand your reasoning.”

“As they should.” Bryce replied.

“Of course.” Jinx smiled. “So, while we’re waiting for Seth to arrive, my lords, let me show you to your quarters. You have the honor of staying in the captain’s quarters.” Jinx opened the door and showed them inside.

“And where would our great captain spend his nights at sea if we dwell in his bed chambers?”

“Don’t worry about me, your majesty. I will stay elsewhere to ensure you’re comfortable. My office has stored me many nights.”

I saw Seth appear on the docks but something looked wrong. “Zayden, Seth arrived but I think he came alone.”

Zayden came back out to see for himself. “Where is she? We can’t do this without her.”

“We have a problem.” Seth said. “Wyatt planned ahead before coming here. He sent some Hintin soldiers into Kalu to take her and bring her back to him. He’s keeping her secluded from everyone like he will with Cadence.”

“Now what?” Bryce asked.

“We go through with the plan.” Seth said as he boarded the ship. “We go into Hintus and get her back.”

“And how do you plan we go about doing that?” Darius asked. “We don’t even know where he’d keep her.”

“That’s why I brought—” Seth turned to point but there was no one there. “Excuse me for a moment.” He started walking off the ship and everyone looked down to see someone leaned down over the dock. “Get up.” It was Rory and Seth pulled him to his feet. “We have to go.”

“He must have opened his eyes.” I smiled.

Everyone laughed to themselves as they walked closer with Rory dragging his feet. “That was the worst experience of my life. Horrible way to travel.”

“We’re sorry to of pulled you away so soon but we’re in need of your extensive knowledge of the palace.” Zayden said.

“I’ve been told and we’ll get them both back.”

“If, of course, you survive the trip.” Jinx added.

Rory looked over at him and smiled. “I thought you’d think as much and let me assure you, I will.”

“We’ll see.” Jinx smiled as he turned away. “Settle in. We leave at once.”

Rory stepped toward Jinx with an angry breath as he walked away and clenched his fist at his side, drawing his sword.

“No.” Seth said as he grabbed his other arm. “Let it go and try to stay away from him. Go put your stuff away.” Rory sighed as he converted his sword to his hand and his eyes faded. He grabbed his bag and walked off.

“They have an unusual relationship.” Zayden said.

“Part of Rory’s past mistakes.” I answered. “They’ve clashed a few times.”

“Come on.” Seth said. “We better get this stuff down there. You can meet us in the galley, father, just there. We’ll be along shortly.”

“Very well. Take your time. We have a few days before we get there. There’s plenty of time to discuss what has to be done.”

Seth nodded as he took his stuff and turned with me and Bryce. We got settled in the room we stayed in before and went back to the upper deck just as Jinx was getting the crew ready to set sail from the helm. “Hoist the anchors and be ready to drop sails!” The crew scurried around and did what they were told.

We headed towards the galley and sat down at the table with our fathers.

“We’ve got three days to get the plan exactly right. Rory, you think you could educate us by then?” Seth asked.

“Of course. It shouldn’t be that hard so long as you’re ready to take in everything I tell you.”

“We have no choice. We won’t be leaving that island without her.” Seth looked out the window and noticed we were ready to take off. “Okay, we’re going.” He held onto the side of the table and Bryce and I did the same, so did our fathers after us.

“What are you doing?” Rory asked. The sails were released and the ship jerked forward. He fell to the side at that moment and everyone turned their heads to see him on the floor. “Well, you could have said, hang on to something.”

Jinx walked in and saw him getting up. “Is everybody okay? Still alive?”

“Yes, thank you.” Zayden answered.

“You did that on purpose.” Rory said as he glared over at him.

“If you think so. You can help yourselves to food, if you’d like and it’s supposed to be a nice day so the pool is always an excellent choice. Located on the bow.”

“I didn’t know you had a pool on this thing.” Rory said.

Jinx smiled. “That’s because the last time you were here, you were locked in the brig.”

“Yes, I remember but not this time.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Jinx said as he took a step closer. “You’re forgetting that I’m the captain of this ship and if you once address me again in a manner that displeases me, you can bet your ass I won’t hesitate to send you back down there where you belong.”

“Go ahead and try.” Rory stood up and clenched his fist, drawing his sword as his eyes glowed white.

Jinx laughed. “Cute.” He grabbed Rory’s right wrist, pulling his arm up behind his back and shoving him down onto the table as he put the sword end to the back of his neck. “If they didn’t need you so badly, I’d be more than happy to kill you now with use of your own sword but because of that I suggest that you put it away before you get yourself killed with it and if I see it drawn again I will make sure the rest of your stay here is an unpleasant one.” He let him go and started to walk out of the galley passed our fathers.  “My lords.”

“Captain.” They said at the same time.

Rory stood up and traded his sword back for his hand. “I really hate him.”

“Now, you really better stay out of his way.” Bryce laughed. “He really does want to kill you.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Rory muttered as he sat back down. “So, what are we doing?”

“At the moment, sitting.” I said.

Rory sighed. “Yes, obviously but I didn’t come all this way to just sit around. When do we start planning?”

“After we relax sounds good.” Bryce answered as he sat back in his chair and pulled his foot up onto it. Seth cleared his throat and Bryce looked over to see him with both eyebrows raised. “But now sounds better.” Bryce put his foot back down on the floor and sat forward. “Let’s start now and go.”

There was a pause as Rory just sat there. “Did you even bring anything?”

“Like what?” Seth wondered.

“Like maps. It’d make things easier. You’re not going to know what the fuck I’m talking about if you’ve never been in there.”

“We didn’t bring any but you can get some.” Seth replied.

“Where?”

“Jinx’s office.” I smiled as I pointed out the window.

“Fuck that.” Rory snatched. “I’m not going in there. You go get it.”

“You’re the one that wants it.”

“Can we not be all day about it?” Seth asked in an aggravated tone. “Dirk. Go.”

I sighed and walked out of the galley while Rory laughed. It was okay. I could get him back later.

I went across the upper deck to Jinx’s office and knocked.

“Come in.” I opened the door and walked over to the desk where Jinx was sitting. “What do you need?”

“We’re starting the plan and we need maps.”

“Well, you obviously know you’ve come to the right place.” Jinx got up and walked around his desk to the table he kept the maps on. “Which ones do you need?”

“Just of Canbell is fine.” I said as Jinx dug it out and handed it to me.

“What about of the palace?”

“You have one of the palace?”

“I do if you need it.”

“It would be helpful.”

“All right.” Jinx picked it up and handed that to me as well. “That should do it.”

“Thanks.” I turned back to the door. “We’ll get these back to you when we’re through.”

“Don’t rush it. I know what you’re using them for and I encourage it.”

I nodded and walked back across the upper deck to the galley.

“Get it?” Bryce asked.

“Of course, I got it and he even has one of the palace that I got too.”

“How’d he get his hands on that?” Zayden asked.

“I don’t care how.” Seth said. “As long as he has them for us to use and in all honesty, I don’t really want to know how he got it.” We started to agree and I handed the maps to Seth. He opened one of the city and looked over it. “This part will be simple. Getting there is only a quarter of our problem.”

“And the rest will be mine.” Rory pulled the map in front of him. “I assume you plan on getting Meg first so for that we’ll have to get in my way.”

“And you’re sure you can get us in?” Troy asked.

“Of course, I’m sure. They’ve done it once they can do it again.”

“Yeah, except for I’m the only person here who went in last time.” Bryce said. “The others aren’t here.”

“That’s why I’ll be going this time.” Rory replied. “But before we talk about any of that I need to know when you plan on doing this.”

“As soon as we dock.” Seth insisted.

“Now, easy. I know you’re anxious to get her out of there but you have to think about everyone else here.”

“He’s right.” Zayden cut in. “We have to do this when it’s best for us. We cannot risk life, understand?”

“And hers?”

“They won’t kill her.” Troy said. “They’ve already proven they need her.”

“Yeah, thanks for reminding me.” Seth muttered as he got up and started walking out.

“Seth!” Seth didn’t reply, he just kept walking and left the galley. Zayden sighed and put his hand to his brow. “We’ll have to finish this conversation later.” He stood up and my father and Troy stood up after him. “Rory, have this stuff all mapped out with the plan and we’ll get to it tomorrow. Seth needs some time.”