Another Hero's Journey...to Krawk Island

      As the sun prepared to leave the skies, it left splashes of red, orange, and purple for everyone in Seaside to see. Fisherfolk gazed out at the horizon with their poles dangling in the sea, and a few merchants took this as their cue to pack up their wares or close shop for the day. But even as activity in the hamlet wound down, the thrill was only beginning in the mess hall of Captain Markham’s ship, the Swift Snarhook, docked on Seaside’s wharf.

      The spotted Tonu looked up from his hand of cards at his two opponents – a white Blumaroo and a red Kyrii.

      “Why are we playing poker, again?” Rohane asked wearily. “I’m not exactly the best player.”

      “To survive in Krawk Island, you need a good poker face,” said Markham. “Keep your cards close to your chest. Scoundrels there will take advantage of anything you show ‘em, and you want to give ‘em as little as possible.” He dealt out several more cards and inclined his head toward the small pile of faded poker chips.

      “Uh…” Rohane frowned as he glanced from his cards to the chips, and back again. One of his ears was twitching. “Raise?” He threw the last handful of chips he had into the pile.

      “Check,” said Andrea, barely glancing up from her hand.

      “Uh-huh.” Markham revealed his cards. “Right! Three kings!” He guffawed and lifted a carton bowl of cold clam chowder to his lips.

      Rohane groaned as he showed his hand; the only two cards of note were a pair of sixes.

      “Seems like Sir Rohane’s weakness is poker,” the Tonu noted, grinning crookedly. “And how did you do, little lass – “

      “I win.”

      “What?”

      Andrea coyly held up her cards, and Markham’s jaw hit the floor. It was a royal flush.

      “But…but how…?”

      “It’s not magic, if that’s what you’re thinking,” the Kyrii said sourly as she reached out and pulled the pile of poker chips toward herself. “I mean, you didn’t notice anything weird while we were playing, right?”

      “She and Reuben are very good at poker,” said Rohane. He sighed as he looked at his own cards. “On the other hand, I always lose.”

      “That’s because you’re always a dead giveaway,” Andrea commented. “You kept raising your bets till you had no chips left, but I could tell you were bluffing.”

      “I’m not surprised you figured that out…”

      Finally, Markham managed to pick his jaw up from the floor, and he laughed. “Hah, I’m impressed, lass! Seems like magic isn’t your only power. You’re very good at keeping your cards to your chest, aye.”

      “Besides, Rohane doesn’t need a poker face,” she added as she counted out the chips into neat little stacks. “Before anyone could figure him out, he’d already have a sword to their throat.”

      “That’s…probably an exaggeration,” the Blumaroo remarked as he passed his cards back to Markham.

      “Is it?” As the setting sun cast shadows in their cabin, the Tonu’s expression seemed more sinister as he smiled and stroked his chin. “The second thing you need to survive Krawk Island…is a quick blade.”

      Leaning back in her chair, Andrea tilted her head toward Rohane and winked.

      “I won the poker face challenge. Your turn.”

      * * *

      Andrea looked down from the deck of the Snarhook at the wharf to which it was moored, Rohane’s cloak in her arms. A short berth extended from the left side of the quay, and that was where he and Markham faced each other with swords drawn and glinting in what was left of the sunlight.

      “Many Krawk Islanders won’t care that you’re a knight or an international hero,” Markham began. “Unlike you, they don’t fight with honour. And it’s not just them you have to watch out for; Krawk Island’s terrain is just as unforgiving as they are. One wrong step can send you to your doom.”

      “I know,” said Rohane, face set in determination.

      “Yeah,” Andrea called down. “I’m pretty sure he knows that already, Mr. Markham.”

      “That’s Captain Markham to you,” answered the spotted Tonu, pointing up at her. Then he turned back to Rohane. “I’m warning you now, I won’t hold back. These old bones are still dangerous with a sword.”

      “Good,” was Rohane’s reply. “I’m not holding back either.”

      Markham gave him a split-second grin before dashing forward, sabre flicking into the air and ending at Rohane’s sword. The two of them locked blades, disengaged, and circled each other, but it didn’t take long for Markham to swoop in fast and low. Sidestepping, Rohane managed to avoid the sabre by a hair – only to teeter at the edge of the pier with a gasp and attempt to balance himself.

      “I said I wouldn’t hold back.” Markham’s weapon whistled as it traced a graceful arc that forced the white Blumaroo to throw himself down onto the pier and roll away, striking out at the Tonu’s ankles. Unfazed, Markham drew back and chopped downward, but he was too late; Rohane was on his feet again and assaulted Markham with a barrage of slashes from every direction. The old sea captain was forced to go on the defensive, blocking as sweat beaded his brow.

      Suddenly, Markham turned his last parry into a sideways strike. Their swords clashed so loudly that Andrea shut her eyes briefly, but she continued to watch as the two duelists exchanged blows, neither of them gaining an advantage as they stepped all over the small pier, careful not to make a wrong step into the sea.

      Then, as Markham thrust his sword and traced it down and up, Rohane stepped away and staggered, realizing that he nearly took one too many steps off the pier. The spotted Tonu chuckled.

      “Too close for comfort, eh? Clearly you still need your sea legs!”

      Markham lunged with the intention of shoving his opponent off the berth, but Rohane was quicker. He ducked under Markham’s arm, whirled around, and levelled the point of his sword at the captain’s throat, just barely managing to keep his feet from getting tangled up and breathing hard.

      From the ship, the red Kyrii clapped.

      “I yield,” said Markham, dropping his saber. Despite his defeat, he was still smiling. “So, you truly live up to your reputation. I’m impressed.”

      “I did say I wasn’t holding back,” said Rohane.

      “All right, that’s settled.” The Tonu nodded and bent down to pick up his sword. “We’re sailing for Krawk Island first thing in the morning.”

      * * *

      When the ship stopped, Reuben peered out through the pothole in his cell. He could see a bright morning sky, palm trees, sand, and a patch of dense jungle; they had landed on a small island in the middle of the sea with no sign of civilization whatsoever. He looked over at his barred door with its lock and frowned, touching his belt buckle, which was emblazoned with a cursive R worked into an intricate pattern. After making sure no one else was below deck, he slowly slid a very short, thin blade out from the back of the buckle and stared at it.

      Good thing they didn’t find my secret weapon, he thought, smirking. With his free hand, reached into the inner pocket of his vest and flipped the small box open. Or take Andrea’s ring. I really dodged an arrow there, but I’m still kidnapped.

      After hurriedly tucking the box back into his pocket, Reuben held the blade near the lock, contemplating pushing it into the hole, but he sighed and shook his head, promptly hiding the strip of steel in his belt buckle again.

      What’s the point? Out of the pirate ship and onto the deserted island. Hopefully Andrea and Rohane have figured out by now that I’ve been kidnapped. The white Blumaroo let out a short laugh. I’m imagining Rohane having to play the “I’m Sir Rohane and I need your ship” card just to get somewhere.

      He sat back down on his bench, staring at his empty food tray and cup.

      I really hope they did get somewhere, because I’m not going anywhere.

      At least, not till we land someplace where I can escape.

      * * *

      Despite a crew that was only three strong, the Swift Snarhook was indeed getting somewhere, gliding serenely across the sea under the cover of night. With his hood pulled over his face and his sword at his side, Rohane kept watch at the bow, drumming his fingers on the railing. There was no sign of land apart from some rocks and a bare island that would probably sink at high tide, and the stars held sway over the heavens, with Kreludor in a new moon phase.

      He whipped around when he heard a creak and saw Andrea emerge from the lower deck, lifting the trapdoor. Rohane took one step, wondering if he should leave his post to help her out, only to find the red Kyrii nimbly haul herself up into the open, a stray sea breeze rippling past her mane and the jacket draped over her nightgown.

      “I thought you were asleep,” he said.

      “I thought I was, too,” Andrea answered ruefully as she stood there, barefoot and sombre. She frowned, folding her arms across her chest.

      “Are you worried?”

      “About Reuben? Of course. But I was also thinking about what he isn’t telling me.” She looked the white Blumaroo in the eye. “You know something about it, don’t you?”

      Rohane grimaced but tried to maintain eye contact. “Yes, but…”

      “He told you not to tell me.”

      “I’m sorry, Andrea. I promised him. But I can promise you it’s nothing bad. Reuben cares so much about you; you’re his best friend.”

      “Aside from you.”

      He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. “Well, yeah. We’re both his best friends. And you…you’re…” Rohane’s voice trailed off as he gazed into the distance. The silhouette of a second, smaller ship loomed before them, with a white skull-and-crossbones showing up starkly on its flag.

      Andrea gasped, but immediately stuffed her fist into her mouth to stifle the sound. But her eyes flicked from Rohane to the cabin where Markham was sound asleep, and back to the ship.

      “What should we do?” she whispered.

      “It’s not attacking – not attacking yet, but it’s approaching.”

      Without further ado, the Kyrii scrambled toward the cabin as Rohane slunk away from sight to hide behind several barrels on the deck. Peering from the top of one, he saw the ship continue to move into their path until they were close enough for three grappling hooks to latch onto the ship, allowing two figures to climb onboard while a third – probably a Lenny or an Eyrie – flew and landed neatly. They headed for the cabin, which was completely dark.

      Then the cabin door burst open. Andrea emerged wielding twin whips made of crackling blue energy that bathed the deck in light. She cracked one toward a camouflage Lenny, who took flight and soared onto the rigging. With a yell, she turned her whips into flaming daggers and hurled them toward the Lenny.

      “This ship seems familiar,” an eventide Krawk whispered to his companion, a green Skeith. “What d’you think, Lou?”

      The Skeith shrugged. As he did so, Rohane noticed that the Skeith had two hooks for hands.

      “Whatever. Let’s just take what we can get while Ichabod is busy with the mage.”

      “I don’t think so.”

      Rohane finally leaped out from behind the barrels, his sword drawn.

      Lou and his Krawk companion traded a grin and lunged at him at the same time, cutlass and hooks (in Lou’s case) drawn. They forced the white Blumaroo to defend, block and parry, until he managed to place the cabin behind his back and started jabbing and thrusting into any opening he could find in their defences. A strike that knocked Lou’s hook away was blocked by the Krawk, until a swift, twisting movement caused him to drop his blade. In that lull in the battle, the knight whirled around and slashed across Lou’s hooks, causing him to stagger backwards before kicking him into the barrels.

      “Oof!”

      “Hey, gerroff my ship, ya barnacle brains!” Captain Markham grumbled, brandishing his sabre as he stumbled out of the cabin in his nightshirt. “Ever heard of knocking? And lass, stop blowing holes into my sails!”

      “I didn’t! I won’t!” Andrea cried as the Lenny swooped back down onto the deck. The Kyrii’s magical whips vanished. Lou perked up from where he was in a pile of overturned barrels, and the Krawk dropped his cutlass.

      “Captain Markham?” the Lenny asked. Then he gasped and ran over to the spotted Tonu. “Captain, it’s us! Ichabod, Lou and Nightclaw!”

      “What?” Markham yelped as Ichabod tackled him in a tight hug. Nightclaw did the same, but Lou merely stood up and waved with a hook and a sheepish grin. “Oi, it really is you lot!”

      Andrea stared at all of them, her arms slack at her sides.

      “You know these guys?”

      “Aye, they’re my old crew!” Markham laughed as he clapped all of them on their backs, even Lou. “This is Lou, the Lenny is Ichabod, and the Krawk is Nightclaw, but his real name is Lester.”

      The eventide Krawk groaned. “Did you really have to tell ‘er, Cap’n?” He turned to Andrea and smiled, revealing three gold teeth. Then he offered her a claw for her to shake. “Nightclaw, fastest blade, even in the dead o’ night.”

      “I’m Andrea. It’s nice to meet you. Unfortunately, there’s an even faster blade on this ship.” She jerked a thumb over to Rohane, whose hood was still up over his face.

      “No kiddin’!” Lou exclaimed, throwing up his hooks in excitement. “He could take me and Nightclaw on! An’ he did!”

      “Maybe you two could’ve done much better if the lass hadn’t kept me busy,” Ichabod remarked, without any ill will. “So, Captain, who’s the swordsman? Looks like a Blumaroo from the ears and tail…”

      Markham grinned widely. “Oh, you three won’t believe this, but that master of the blade is none other than Sir Rohane of Meridell. You could learn a thing or two from him.”

      The three pirates gaped at the Tonu.

      “You’ve got to be kiddin’,” said Nightclaw slowly.

      “The international hero?” Ichabod wondered. “Saved Meridell and Faerieland and other lands?”

      “You’re joking!” Lou exclaimed. Then he noticed Andrea, who was smiling impishly. “She’s in on this too?”

      Finally, Rohane lowered his hood after sliding his sword back into its scabbard, looking somewhat embarrassed.

      “I told you.” Markham winked. “I’ll explain everything. I should still have some vegetable stew from the goods Uthyni hauled onto my ship.”

      * * *

      While Lou, Ichabod and Nightclaw tucked into cold stew, Rohane, Andrea and Markham sat on the other side of the table.

      “So, lemme get this straight,” the Krawk began, gesturing with his spoon, “Sir Rohane’s brother got kidnapped, and somehow, that forced ya outta retirement, Cap’n? How ‘bout the lass?”

      The red Kyrii combed her mane with her fingers and blushed slightly. “Oh, er, Reuben is my…”

      “Love ‘er!” Lou interrupted, glancing about at the cabin, which was homey and well-furnished for a simple mess hall and study. “Love what you did with the ol’ Snarhook, Cap’n! No wonder we didn’t recognize ‘er!”

      While Andrea sank lower into her seat, her face becoming redder, Markham laughed heartily. “’Twas my home for years, ‘course I’d do some redecorating. Enough about me, what’ve you three scamps been up to?”

      “Besides boarding ships that aren’t yours,” Rohane pointed out drily.

      “Times been hard, we were hoping you were some merchant ship that could give us a few handfuls of Neopoints,” mumbled Lou, looking up from where he had been drinking his stew down.

      “It just ain’t the same without ye, Cap’n,” groaned Nightclaw, leaning back in his seat and burping.

      “What did you do, before you settled in Seaside?” asked Andrea steadily, straightening up again to stare intently at the spotted Tonu.

      Markham sighed, rubbing his temples. “Lass, whatever you’re thinking, it’s not that. We were a privateer crew for the Governor.”

      “Too bad it didn’t pay as well as actual piracy,” Ichabod complained.

      “That’s why we left and disbanded the crew. But you two have my word – we’ll go to Krawk Island, track down Reuben, and then take you lot back to Meridell. I don’t plan on breaking a promise, especially not one made to Sir Rohane.”

      “Can we come along?”

      “What?” Markham squinted at Lou, who had just drained his bowl. The Skeith merely grinned in reply.

      At first, Nightclaw looked skeptical. “Lou, what’re ye playin’ at?”

      “Doesn’t it sound like fun, ‘Claw?” Lou asked. “An adventure to Krawk Island, lookin’ for Sir Rohane’s brother and all that…maybe we’ll get a king’s ransom!”

      “Reuben is hardly a king,” Rohane quipped. “He’s more of a jester, really.” Andrea laughed, just barely managing to cover her mouth demurely with her fist.

      “It’s gonna be hard finding a single Blumaroo on Krawk Island,” Ichabod pointed out. “You’re gonna need some help, Captain.”

      Markham rubbed his temples. “Oh, for Fyora’s sake…” Finally, he sighed and smiled wistfully. “Eh, why not? Just like old times. But heed my words, you scamps. I’m not bailing any of you out if you decide to go back to pirating.”

      “Pirate’s – uh, sailor’s honour, Cap’n!” said Lou, saluting with one of his hooks. Nightclaw and Ichabod traded a look before following suit. As Andrea and Rohane grinned, Markham sighed and banged the table lightly with his fist.

      “Then welcome back to the Snarhook, you barnacled buffoons. Get some rest, we should make land in a couple of days. And if anyone snores, I’ll make ‘em swab the decks!”

      To be continued…