Chapter 14

  The following day, Jonathon sat at the table in the navigation room, preparing for the meeting. After returning to the ship yesterday, the rest of the day had been spent updating the crew on the journey into the jungle and the addition of another woman to the ship. Understandably, there had been a lot of hesitation regarding bringing another woman onboard. The presence of one woman was a compromise they had learned to tolerate, but two, particularly one dressed as minimally as Naomi, felt like tempting fate.

  Some of the older crew members had exchanged uneasy glances, their grizzled faces marked with years of sea superstition. A few others whispered behind calloused hands, wary eyes flicking toward Naomi as if she might bring the very devil aboard with her.

  Eventually, it was Cassie who stepped forward to convince the crew otherwise, “The Banshee warriors are a fierce people,” she had said, “and Naomi is one of their best. Anyone who doubts that will be invited to test her skills directly.”

  Naomi, ever willing to prove her worth, had stepped forward, letting loose one of her chilling, guttural screams that echoed off the ship’s timbers like a wail from another world. Most of the men flinched, their own superstition belied by their fear. The more stubborn among them, however, were only silenced after Naomi demonstrated her prowess in combat, swiftly incapacitating those foolhardy enough to challenge her. Following this display, Jonathon was glad to find that his crew miraculously had no objections to Naomi’s inclusion.

  The next question became where Naomi was going to sleep. Typically, Naomi would be expected to sleep with the rest of the crew. However, given that she was as yet unfamiliar with the dangers of sea life and was still a stranger to the crew, he felt it better to treat her more as guest than crewmate until Cassie could properly educate the girl on the realities of such a crew and life at sea. Not that Jonathon wouldn’t have the man who violated the trust of his fellow crewmates flogged, but he knew what time at sea and low self-control could do to a man. Punishment or no, there would always be one scallywag that was dumb enough to let his desires blind him to the consequences. He’d be a fool to ignore such a reality, and he preferred to save Naomi that experience if possible. So, it was decided that until such a time that Naomi had been fully educated and trained, and until she had proven to the crew that touching her in any way that was unwelcome would lead to a fate worse than flogging, she would bunk with Cassie.

  Surprisingly, Cassie didn’t seem to mind this as much as Jonathon thought she would. Indeed, she gave no objections or concerned questions when he announced the arrangement. Did she really enjoy the idea of mentorship that much? Or was she simply happy to have another woman onboard? Shortly after the fact, Jonathon had asked her in private.

  “It’s not really so complex, Captain,” she replied thoughtfully, her eyes softening as she looked at her captain. “I see her trying to navigate the unfamiliar waters of the crew’s banter, and I’m reminded of my own early days onboard. I know the lines she’ll have to cross to earn her place–and the ones she’ll have to draw to keep it.”

  As Cassandra’s words echoed in Jonathon’s mind, he heard a knock on his door, announcing the arrival of his crew. “Come in.”

  The door opened and Cassie, Beckett, Ryden, Dryden, Thayer, and Naomi all entered, each greeting the captain as they approached and took a seat at the table. Ryden and Dryden made a show of trying to offer their respective seats to Naomi before Jonathon rolled his eyes and moved his own seat over for Naomi to sit, electing to stand rather than listen to their adolescence any longer.

  “Thank you for joining me, everyone,” Jonathon began. “Before we get started…” He looked to Dryden.

  Dryden perked up and said, “Right, sir. The sails and the riggings all appear to be in good shape. We are ready to set sail whenever you decide.”

  “Good,” Jonathon replied. He still had to prompt the boy to do his job, but he at least was remembering to do the inspections now. He turned to Ryden.

  “The powder kegs all appear to be at the same level and dry, sir. The powder monkeys said no one tried to gain access while we were gone. All the cannonballs are in good condition, as are our weapons,” Ryden replied.

  The powder monkeys were the young boys onboard that were typically used to run the gunpowder from below deck during battles, but Ryden had taken to using them as a bit of security, maintenance, and spies for the powder and weapon stores while he was away. They also assisted Thayer in the galley from time to time, but their primary responsibilities lied with the powder.

  While he was initially worried that Ryden would outsource some of his responsibilities to them even while he was onboard, he had seen the boy doing the job enough to know that concern was unfounded. In addition to his knack for explosives, Ryden also seemed to show a genuine passion for his role. And, honestly, it showed. The weapon and powder rooms had never been in better condition.

  “Excellent,” he said. Finally, he turned to Thayer, “Thayer, any news to report while we were away? I know we didn’t get a chance to speak yesterday.”

  “No, Cap’n,” Thayer answered. “Not really. The boys got a bit restless, but we was able to entertain ourselves well ‘nough while you was away.”

  “Good.” He turned his focus to Naomi. “Naomi, how have you been settling in?”

  Naomi hesitated. “It is…different, Captain,” she responded somewhat less enthusiastic than she had been yesterday. “I admit some of the things your quartermaster has been teaching me are quite disturbing, to say the least. I am surprised that another culture would allow such things to happen to each other.”

  “I understand such things are hard to come to terms with,” Jonathon consoled. “Rest assured that with Cassie’s training and your own skill, you’ll likely be safer than most of the men aboard this ship. Also, rest assured that should such an event come to pass, our dear quartermaster here will make sure the perpetrator receives a flogging they’re not like to forget.”

  Cassie gave a quick, reassuring nod to Naomi who said, “I appreciate it, Captain Harding.”

  Beckett, attempting to lighten the mood, laughed boisterously and added, “That’s right. Dear Cassandra here is feared for ‘er floggings! The number that ‘ave been necessary since she was brought on as quartermaster has dropped to practically none!”

  Jonathon noticed the brief flaring of nostrils at the mention of her full name as Dryden laughed, saying, “Plus, Ry here says he’d skewer any man who so much as looked at her the wrong way, ain’t that right, Ry?”

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  Ryden quickly punched his brother in the arm, “Shut up, Dry! I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout any of that,” he defended weakly, “but I don’t see the point in letting someone hurt a crewmate, eh?”

  “Thank you, Ryden Black. I do hope I can find a way to repay you for your kindness.” Naomi smiled at Ryden, biting her lip in a way that showed much less inhibition than Jonathon had previously seen back in the jungle.

  Ryden shifted uncomfortably in his seat and mumbled, “I think we’ve stalled Cap’s meeting for long enough.”

  Jonathon smiled and said, “Ryden is right. Now that we’ve got everything settled, let’s get this meeting started. Naomi, you have been welcomed aboard my ship and have been found a place next to my quartermaster. You’ve even managed to secure protection from a fine young man such as Mr. Black here,” he said, unable to resist the jab at Ryden, who was now attempting to make himself as small as possible. “My end of the bargain has been upheld. Now, I believe you have information to share?”

  Naomi turned back toward Jonathon and said, “I do.” She looked down at the map on the table and, after studying it for a moment, pointed to an island on the southern edges of the map. “There. An island in The Stern Sea. Between a place called Gravenfair and Silvercove.”

  They all fell silent. Finally, Jonathon let out a long, disappointed sigh and said, “Really? That’s where you think so many pieces were found? In an area that no one travels for fear of krakens?”

  He was beginning to get that sinking feeling in his chest again as he realized he may have been duped. He was thinking about what his next steps would be after dropping her back off on shore when she spoke up. “I cannot say what your people do, Captain, but our Seekers are devoted to finding these pieces and seeing them destroyed. And they have no reason to shade the truth behind their discoveries. If they say they found pieces at this location, that is where they found them.”

  Jonathon, becoming increasingly agitated at the thought of having been fooled, said, “Oh yeah? And if so many pieces came from there, what makes you think there’d be any more? Why wouldn’t they just pick the island clean, huh?”

  “They do, Captain,” she responded, sensing Jonathon’s temper. “They have, on a number of occasions, returned with multiple pieces of your devil ship that they claimed had washed up from the sea. These pieces were collected at different times by different Seekers, all claiming to have swept the whole island. You of all people should know debris can wash up anywhere at any time. Do you clean a beach once and never find debris on it again? If you are looking for a piece, that island is the best chance you are going to get, Captain.”

  Jonathon looked around the table at the others. “Well? What do you all think?”

  Cassie was first to speak, “If we’re going to pursue this, then I say we pursue it. The Banshee’s information is the only clue we have towards where to go next. I’ve never been one to believe in such fantasies as sea monsters, but it’s possible that there is something out there that is dangerous. If we do go, we should be prepared for a fight, be it from the sea or another ship.”

  Beckett chimed in, “Aye, Cap’n. I agree with dear Cassandra here. This be the only information we ‘ave to go on. However, unlike our dear quartermaster, I do believe the stories of sea monsters. I also know that pirates roamed those waters long before they were abandoned. Whatever caused them to stop being used, I’ll wager ye’ll find it was no man.”

  Thayer spoke next, “Cap’n, ya know I support ya regardless of what decision you make, but I will say that you advised me to pack for six weeks. Well, we’re a good way through those provisions now. I’m no navigator like Beckett here, but I’d wager the journey out to that island from here will likely take two to three weeks, maybe four if the weather is particularly foul. We likely won’t even ‘ave enough food to make it there with our current stores. We’ll need to restock in Brightstone before we set sail.”

  Jonathon looked to the twins next. They admittedly wouldn’t be able to add anything of real value at this point in their experience, but he wanted them to become accustomed to having and sharing their opinion when asked. As he turned to look at them though, he became almost afraid to ask. They honestly appeared a little too excited, even for Jonathon’s liking. “Ryden…Dryden…” he began hesitantly. “Dare I ask to share your thoughts on the matter?”

  Ryden chuckled, “A voyage to a forbidden island, eh?”

  “Surrounded by sea monsters, eh?” Dryden continued.

  “Just asking to be killed, eh Dry?”

  “I’d say so, Ry. And if sea monsters are real, you know what else could be real?”

  Ryden laughed in the way they did and responded, “Mermaids?”

  This sent Dryden into his own laughing, “You think they’re lady top, fish bottom?”

  “Or fish bottom, lady top?” Ryden finished.

  “Or both?” Naomi chimed in.

  This was getting out of hand, Jonathon thought, now they had three of them! “I’ll take that as two in favor of,” he said, massaging the bridge of his nose and hoping he could staunch the flow of adolescence that was beginning to permeate the air. He brought his attention back to the rest of the table. “It seems we’ve landed on going, but preparing for perhaps more than the usual fight before leaving. All in favor?”

  “Aye,” came the response.

  “Aye,” Jonathon replied. “In that case, let’s make preparations for a trip into Brightstone.”

  Thayer’s face brightened. “Aye, Captain, I’ll check our stores and get ready for departure to shore as quickly as possible.”

  Beckett glanced at Thayer with a teasing smile. “You sure you’re welcome in Brightstone after last time?”

  Cassie and Jonathon smiled as Thayer turned a shade of pink, his hand inadvertently rubbing the back of his neck. “A-Aye, I am, Tristan. They only suspended me from the city for six months. And we paid ‘em for the damages. No hard feelings. Besides, who else is going to know what all we need to buy? The twins?”

  He had a point. Sure, he could make a list, but Thayer didn’t know how to write, and Jonathon didn’t really feel like transcribing the list for him. “In that case, Beckett, would you mind staying with the boys and showing them how to hold down the ship while Thayer, Cassie, Naomi, and I head into town?”

  “Me, Captain?” came Cassandra’s and Naomi’s surprised responses.

  “Aye, Cass,” he replied simply. “I’ll need you with me should anything go wrong.”

  Cass’s usual calm demeanor faltered for a moment as she stammered, “A-Are you sure, Captain? Surely Beckett or the twins could accompany you instead?”

  Jonathon felt a quick pang of irritation at her uncharacteristic second-guessing without reason. “No, Quartermaster, they can’t. Beckett has his duties to attend to and–no offense boys–I’m not entirely sure I’d be able to handle all three of them for the whole day. Is there any particular reason you do not wish to come ashore?”

  Cassandra quickly regained her composure as she sensed Jonathon’s frustration. She hung her head and said softly, “N-No, Captain. I will accompany you as you wish. I apologize for my outburst.”

  With that settled, Jonathon turned to Naomi. “As for you, you said you wanted to see the world, didn’t you? Well, Brightstone is an excellent place to start.” It was his turn to smile mischievously at her, “Besides, who else is going to help carry all of the supplies we need?”