Chapter 6
Ramaro’s sharp voice broke the still silence around us. “What in all the seas was that?”
Marc pursed his lips as he surveyed the empty street. The fog moved back, revealing the rows of quiet houses. “I’m not sure.”
A few lights flicked on inside those dark houses, and the murmur of voices drifted over to us.
“I am sure that was a scream, Harold!”
“I know, Maude! That is why I am having Charles search the street!”
A shaky male voice answered his. “Are you sure about that, sir? I have bad eyesight at night.”
The front door of a house on our left was flung open, and light spilled down the walk. A man of about seventy in a crisp black suit was shoved out, his wrinkled brow pushed back by his bulging eyes. He grasped a lantern in one hand that shook so badly the shadows performed a tap dance around him.
Marc tightened his grip on my hand and dragged me to a tree on the opposite side of the street. We slipped behind the thick trunk and watched the scene unfold.
A portly man stuck his head out the doorway. “I am sure there is nothing to worry about, Charles, but have a look about, just to be sure.”
The man with the lantern whimpered. “B-but sir, I have no weapon.”
An older woman popped out and offered him a cane. “Use this, Charles, and bash any intruders you find.”
Their butler accepted the cane with all the enthusiasm of a man about to go on a doomed cruise liner. “As you wish, madam.”
The pudgy man smiled and bobbed his head. “Good fortune to you, Charles, and we will see you in a few minutes!”
The pair ducked back inside, and the woman’s up. “I told you we should have renewed MysticGuard! Now see what has happened!”
“Not now, Maude,” the man snapped before the door was slammed shut.
Charles sighed and turned his attention to the street. He hunched over and crept down the walk, his wide eyes scanning the area for signs of murderers and rapists. The shivering man reached the edge of the walk and raised his lantern.
“H-hello?” he stuttered as he swallowed hard. “Is anyone out there?”
I heard a faint chuckle from Marc before he slipped past me and stepped out into the light. He put his fisted hands on his hips and grinned at the trembling fellow. “Just us troublemakers.”
Charles yelped, and the cane clattered to the ground. He juggled the lamp for a few moments before hugging it against his chest. “W-who’s there?”
Marc strolled toward him. “Have you forgotten your old friends, Charlie?”
Charlie leaned forward and squinted. “Captain? Is that you?”
“Who else, you old dog?”
Charlie’s face lit up, and he hurried forward. The men met in the middle of the street and shook hands heartily.
“It’s good to see you, Captain!” Charlie spoke up as he looked him over. “You look as spry as ever!”
“And you look ridiculous,” Marc commented as he tapped a finger against his lips. “And mind your voice, sailor, or we’ll have more company than we want.”
Charlie bobbed his head. “Aye, aye, sir. You’ll have to excuse my surprise. I didn’t think you’d be back in the capital so soon.”
Marc tapped his eye patch. “Some trouble with the old magic, but what are you doing here?” He nodded at the home behind Charlie. “Is this your new hit?”
Charlie puffed out his chest a little. “No, Captain. I’ve gone straight.”
“Not old Charlie Chancer, the only man aboard my boat who looked good in a suit.”
The butler held out his arms on either side of him. “And I still do, Captain, but now I’m wearing it for keeps.”
“So you’ve gone through all your gold?”
“No, Captain, but it’s a lot cheaper paying for rent when you’re getting paid to be under the roof.”
“Always the skinflint.”
“Not so much that I wouldn’t use my breath to ask about the ship and Fidel.”
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the two of them,” Marc assured him as he half-turned to us. “You can come out now. He’s an old friend.”
“Is that always a good thing?” Ramaro mumbled as he trudged out with me following on his heels.
Charlie perked up at the sight of me. “You caught yourself a lovely thing there, Captain.”
“Miss Rose Larkin, meet Charlie Chancer, one of the finest sneaks I ever had aboard my ship.”
Charlie took my hand and pressed a kiss on the back. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Larkin.”
Marc looked him over. “Since you’re staying around here, what do you know about a man in a mask who controls the fog?”
Charlie’s face drooped. “You mean the Phantom, sir?”
Marc folded his arms over his chest. “I might if you told me what that is.”
Charlie bowed his head. “My apologies, Captain. The Phantom is a, well, a rather odd thief. He only steals musical instruments.”
I lifted my hand that the Phantom had touched and furrowed my brow. “Why did he attack me? It felt like the guy was trying to steal something from my hand.”
“Maybe he changed his tune and decided to try for a ring or bracelet, My Lady,” Charlie suggested as he eyed me with a look that hinted at his past, less gentile occupation. “Or perhaps he saw you in the fog and couldn’t help himself.”
“Are we sure he’s a man?” I wondered as I thought back to that strong hand around my wrist. “Maybe he’s a strong woman?”
Charlie chuckled. “That may be, My Lady, but that would disappoint many women in the city. They are very fascinated by his many exploits. He has even robbed the local opera house of its finest harp.”
“That must’ve been a heavy steal,” Marc mused.
“And quite bold, as the harp was being used in a play being acted out that very moment. The instrument had only been set aside for a brief scene when it was stolen.”
“I might have to make his acquaintance,” Marc suggested.
“You won’t be doing anything other than sitting in a stinking jail if we don’t hurry along,” Ramaro spoke up as he jerked his head up the street. “Your old friend’s home is this way.”
Marc looped his arm around my waist and inclined his head to his old friend. “Thanks for the story, Charlie, and I hope you enjoy your comfortable bed.”
Charlie cast a long look at the manor house. “The bed is comfortable, though the roommates are rather annoying.”
“We’ll leave you to them then,” Marc teased as he drew me away.
We made our way up the street with Ramaro trotting along beside us.
The fog had almost completely vanished, allowing us to see the full length of the short street.
The end stopped fifty yards ahead of us and forked, veering left and right into the depths of the metropolis.
There were very few lights on at that hour, and all was quiet and calm.
So much different than our thrilling welcome.
“So where does your friend live?” I asked my one-eyed guide.
“At the heart of the city near the old palace.”
My eyes widened. “Is that near the tower you can see from the boat?”
His eyes twinkled. “Not too far from it. Would you like to see the inside of the tower?”
“Is it open?”
He grinned. “Nothing is shut to a pirate, at least, not a good one.”
“Was your friend Charlie a good one?”
The corners of his lips took on a melancholy touch as he stared ahead of us. “One of the best. He was quick to jump into a fight, and just as quick to sit down in front of a safe to pick its lock if it needed a light touch.”
“Why did he leave your ship?”
He looked me up and down. “Beauty and youth don’t last forever, and Charlie had a stash set aside from our successes, so he retired five years ago. Fidel took his place.”
“Then Charlie was your first mate?”
“The same, and a man couldn’t have asked for a better one, though Fidel is living up to the position. Charlie’s the one who told me to put him there.”
“So that’s why he asked about him?”
“Yep. Charlie practically raised Fidel after Leviathan’s Gale wrecked his fishing village.”
“Leviathan’s Gale?”
He chuckled. “Perhaps I should sit you down for school. Would you be a good student?”
“I’d try.”
Marc drew me close against his side, and his eye had that warm light in it. “What a pity. I was looking forward to punishing you for misbehaving.”
“You were saying something about dragons,” Ramaro spoke up as he flicked his tongue at him. “Or do I need to show off more of my infinite wisdom?”
Marc smiled and bowed his head to our short companion. “You may have the pleasure.”
Ramaro lifted his chin and cleared his throat. “The Leviathan’s Gale is an unpredictable storm that sweeps off the sea and destroys anything in its path. Many a village has been completely destroyed by that terrible power.”
My heart sank into my stomach. “And there’s no way to know it’s coming?”
He solemnly shook his head. “No way at all.”
I felt some of Marc’s muscles tense, but he didn’t speak up.