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Elaina hadn’t fared much better. In truth, she’d lived as a pirate for every day of her life, and not once before had she been so dirty, dishevelled, and tired. Her clothes were little more than rags, and she couldn’t decide if they smelled worse or better than her skin. Dried, stale sweat coated every bit of her, and she didn’t want to know how large the bags under her eyes were.

Elaina had lost track of time since leaving HwoyonDo. They’d marched for days until they were all sore and swollen, chafed both in skin and in mood. After that they’d started resting from time to time, but none of them had been able to get much sleep no matter how exhausted they were. The spirits that had taken over Bronson and Feather were still behind them somewhere, and no one wanted to be the next victim. Those who did manage to drop off often awoke terrified by the nightmares that swirled inside their heads.

“Take a few minutes,” Keelin said as he sank down onto his knees. “Then we make for the dinghy. The sooner we’re back on the boat, the sooner we can all rest. Maybe try to forget…”

Nobody argued. They were all grateful for the rest, even if it was a short one. All too soon for Elaina’s weary legs, they were moving again, trudging sliding footprints through the sand. As the sun reached its zenith, they found their dinghy right where they’d left it.

In silence, the group made the boat ready and pushed it out into the shallows, jumping in and settling into place for the row back to The Phoenix.

“What’s that?” Alfer said, letting go of his oar for a moment to point at something along the treeline.

Everybody looked, and Elaina felt her skin crawling. Bronson stood between two giant trees, staring out towards them, only he was more plant than man now, his flesh nothing more than patches of skin around wriggling green tentacles. Elaina looked away and concentrated on her oar, pulling hard against the water. The others soon followed her course.

Chapter 50 - The Phoenix

“Throw me a bucket,” Elaina shouted up to those on deck as the first of their expedition made the climb up to The Phoenix. After Pavel had disappeared over the railing, Elaina filled the bucket with seawater and started up the rope ladder. Aimi would have been impressed by the woman’s strength, carrying a bucket as she climbed, but she hated Elaina too much to be impressed by anything the bitch did.

Aimi was next up, and as she climbed she watched Elaina lower a second bucket into the sea. Accepting the offer of help at the top, Aimi finally found her feet back on the wooden decking of The Phoenix and marvelled at just how good it felt.

Alfer followed her up the ladder, and no sooner was the old veteran aboard than Elaina handed him her pack with an instruction to keep a close eye on it. The pirate captain picked up a bucket of water in each hand and walked up the nearest set of steps onto the poop deck, where she proceeded to strip off and throw her soiled clothes to the planks. Before long Elaina was stark naked, and more than a few of The Phoenix’s crew were giving her the ogling of a lifetime. Elaina ignored the attention and picked up a bucket of seawater and dumped it over her head. Aimi winced at the pang of jealousy she felt; the desire to be clean and in a new set of clothes was almost painful. As Elaina dumped the second bucket of water over her head, Pavel appeared carrying a fresh set of clothing.

Aimi turned away. Most of the expedition were up and lying on the deck; Smithe appeared over the railing and then turned to give Keelin a hand. The captain staggered to the centre of the main deck and leaned against the mast, closing his eyes against the torrent of questions that were fired his way.

“Where’s Feather?” Morley said, his voice booming over the din. “And Bronson, and Kebble?”

“Gone,” Keelin said without opening his eyes. “We’re all that made it back.”

“What about the treasure?” asked another of the crew. Aimi struggled to remember the man’s name, but she was too exhausted to put much effort into it.

“Jotin,” Keelin prompted.

Jotin groaned and rolled to his knees, reaching into his pack and pulling out the gold statue of Kebble’s forgotten god, dumping it onto the deck and collapsing beside it.

After a few moments the angry shouts started.

“That it?”

“We paid three lives for a hunk of gold?”

Quiet!” Smithe roared over the arguing pirates. “Cap’n’s information was good. We found the damned city right where it was meant to be. Didn’t have time to properly loot the fucking place though on account of being attacked by some fucking… things that were wearing the skins of our own mates.”

Smithe pointed at the statue. “That there is all we managed to get. And be fucking glad we got that much, eh.” With that the quartermaster sank down onto the deck with the others.

Aimi sighed and forced herself to her feet, aiming for the captain’s cabin in the hopes of stripping out of her clothes and scrubbing her skin clean. Keelin caught up to her as she reached the door, Morley hot his heels.

“Are you aiming for sleep or a bath?” Keelin said with a weary smile.

“Both,” Aimi said. “Maybe the other way around though.”

“Maybe I’ll join you.”

“Wouldn’t you rather join Captain Black?” Aimi snapped, trying the handle only to find the door locked. She ground her teeth and stepped aside as Morley handed the key to the captain.

“What’s got into you lately?” Keelin said quietly. Morley stood close by, attempting to look like he wasn’t eavesdropping.

“You,” Aimi whispered back, “getting into her!” Aimi pointed towards Elaina, who was dumping another bucket of water over herself on the poop deck.

“What?”

“Don’t bother lying, Keelin. Back in the city, after we met up. I could smell her all over you.”

“Oh…” Keelin fitted the key into the lock and turned it. “I’m sorry.”

Aimi snorted and pushed the door open. “You want to know the worst bit about it?”

Keelin was silent.

Aimi struggled against her better judgement, still trying to decide whether to tell him or not. Eventually her weariness won out and she decided she simply didn’t care any more.

“I’m pregnant.” She stepped into the cabin and slammed the door in his face.

Part 4 – Dead Men Tell No Tales

Sacrifices will need to be made said the Oracle

Aye said Drake

They will all look to you to lead them said the Oracle

Aye said Drake

Chapter 51 – Fortune

New Sev’relain had grown far beyond the hundred or so dispossessed refugees the town had started with. Drake wagered they now numbered at least ten times that. The forest had taken a beating, but there were still plenty of trees on the island and those that had been chopped down now stood tall as the framework for their home. Drake no longer bothered to count how many buildings had been erected, and more were rising up from the dirt every day.

The wall had been rebuilt and finished a good long while back, and now provided a hefty layer of protection against any who might try to come from the forest. Guard towers were set along its length, and those who manned them were well known to be crack shots with either bow or rifle – not that they had many of the latter.

The port was another matter, and they were well defended there too. Most of the work had gone into building up the piers and berths, allowing as many ships as possible at the docks. New Sev’relain was quickly becoming a thriving trade town, and they needed as much space as possible for both the merchant ships and those being outfitted for war. A number of war scorpions had been shipped off North Storm and sat ready, just beyond the shoreline in case of attack. The engineers had built ingenious platforms for the war machines that could be turned in a full circle, so no hostile ship intending to enter the bay would be safe.