Chapter 17
17
I t took a while until she heard the constant sound of the sea again. When they separated from each other, she didn't just hear that, but also the whoops of the pirates, laughter, and roars that reached the beach. She shuddered involuntarily. What was she getting herself into?
With an impatient snort, the captain turned to his crew. "Quiet or every single one of you will walk the plank! Don't you have any manners?"
Though a half-hearted grin crossed her lips, she paled. She could only hope it wasn't noticeable under her freckles. If there was one thing she was certain about, it was that she couldn't show any weakness in front of the pirates.
Chris took her hand. "Are you ready?"
"Sure." She glanced at the Fortuna, which was resting calmly in the water. The roaring waves of the sea thundered past the rocks that shielded the bay even though there was hardly a breeze. A few men stood at the railing, staring openly at them. They hooted and hollered, but after the captain's reprimand, they restrained themselves and laughed cautiously.
A simple rowboat lay on the sand, waiting to take them to the wild pack. To the pirates. Anna gave a shudder. She had nothing to defend herself with.
Chris seemed to notice her concern. "Don't worry. You won't be harmed on my ship."
Anna squared her shoulders and looked at the men. She had to have faith. And together with Chris, she would try to save the fairies. She had made her decision and couldn't back down, especially since that would mean she would have to climb that terrible path back up the cliffs.
She approached the rowboat hesitantly and stood in front of it when Chris offered her his hand.
"Shouldn’t we drag it into the water first?"
"Aye. I'll take care of that. Sit down, madam."
Anna was not keen on wet feet. Even imagining how cold it would be made her shiver. She got into the boat and the captain immediately pushed it into the water. He waded a few steps into the sea until it was deep enough and the boat was floating. Then he jumped in. As the rowboat rocked, Chris leaned back and started rowing vigorously. With smooth movements, he conveyed her to the ship where a rope ladder was waiting. When Anna glanced up, two pirates were peeking over the railing.
"Anemone, come up." They held out their hands to her as if they were best friends.
"That's Jack and Johnny," the captain whispered. "You got along well."
With her heart pounding, she climbed the ladder and grabbed the proffered hands of the two men, who helped her board the ship. Before the captain was even on board, they clapped Anna on the shoulders as if she were one of them.
"It's about time you returned, we've missed you."
"Finally there's someone on board who can stand up to our captain."
They laughed boisterously, but their laughter was not frightening. It was honest and infectious, so Anna laughed along. As Chris stepped onto the planks, the men fell silent and looked at him expectantly. The captain surveyed the ship, where everything seemed to be in order.
"Any incidents?"
"Nothing, Captain. Everything has been quiet and dull."
"Then make the Fortuna ready. We're sailing east."
"East?" They looked at him questioningly.
"Aye, we sail for the Kingdom of Winter."
Without challenging his command, the men scattered and hoisted the main sail. As the anchor was hauled in, Anna watched curiously as the heavy, dripping hook slipped out of the water.
She felt no fear at all, which she found strange. She was on a ship full of pirates, the same ship on which she had been abducted. Nevertheless, she felt at ease, almost at home. Maybe it was the way the two pirates, Jack and Johnny, had greeted and welcomed her. But there was her feeling — the instinctive certainty that she was safe on this ship.
Inquisitive, she walked along the railing, careful not to get in anyone's way. She watched as the men pulled on the ropes and Chris hurried up the stern steps to the quarterdeck and then the helm. She waited for the memories to return, as she felt that she had taken many trips on the Fortuna. But nothing came. She had to be patient. They would find whoever had blocked her memories.
She was about to go to Chris when her eyes fell on the main mast. Someone was tied to it, but she couldn't clearly see who because he was tied up on the other side. Definitely a man though. Who was he? A prisoner? Someone the pirates had attacked?
She crept closer and… paused, stunned. It was the pirate who had freed her from her chains and helped her escape the night she was kidnapped, the one who wanted to prevent her from running into the captain's arms.
Freddy.
His head was resting on his chest and his shirt was torn. The sun relentlessly beat down on him and he looked exhausted. How long had he been tied up? Since that night? Had Chris done this to him?
She slowly walked closer. "Freddy?"
The pirate glanced up sluggishly and when he saw her, he was frightened. "Anemone, what are you doing here? Run, run!" He tried to free himself, but the ropes and knots were too tight and cutting into his wrists and body. He searched for the captain, but couldn't see him. "Quick, you can still swim back to shore."
Frowning, Anna watched him. He knew her from before. Why didn't he want her to remain on the ship? The other men, especially Johnny and Jack, seemed genuinely happy to have her back. "Why don't you want me here?"
His expression was indisputably concerned. "So the captain can't harm you again. He's the one who caused your and our country's hardship."
She was stunned by his words. Even though she was convinced it wasn't true, Freddy seemed to believe it. Where had he gotten the information?
"So, that's what you think of me." Unnoticed, Chris had walked up to them. He stood with his legs apart in front of Freddy, peering down at him angrily. Even though the pirates were tall and broad-built men, Chris was taller than all of them. "What makes you say such nonsense?"
Freddy pressed his lips together, but his eyes spoke more than words could. Anger blazed within him — unbridled anger. But he didn't act on it or voice it, and just glared at the captain.
The captain crossed his arms over his chest. "You've been by my side since Ani left. You watched as I took on the giants and turned the whole country upside-down searching for her. Still, you believe I'm the culprit."
The bound pirate still didn't reply. He stared fearlessly at the captain. Another pirate came up to them, holding a letter in his hand, which he held out to Chris. When Freddy saw him, he paled but didn't speak.
"I found this when I searched him. You should see this, Captain."
Chris took the envelope, opened it, and pulled out a handwritten note. Curious, Anna leaned forward and read along. If Freddy reacted like that, it had to be important.
Freddy,
If Anemone ever returns to our country, she must under no circumstances fall into the hands of your captain. It was he who banished her and took away her memories — who knows what he did to her before. He wanted to seize power and now only the giants can stop him.
We are relying on you, otherwise, there is no hope for us fairies.
Take good care of yourself.
Iris
Disbelieving, Anna stared at the piece of paper. The angry fairy had written a letter to the pirate?
Chris narrowed his dark eyes. "When did you receive this?"
Freddy was still pressing his lips together, and when the captain drew his saber and swung it threateningly, Anna stepped in between.
"Freddy, I truly appreciate that you're trying to help me, but what is in the letter is not true. Who gave it to you? Iris? Did she deliver it personally?"
The tied-up pirate looked back and forth between Anna and the captain. Finally, he started to speak. "I received the letter about two weeks ago. It showed up suddenly with my things."
"And you didn't come to me straight away and tell me about it?" the captain bellowed.
"If what Iris wrote was true, it was my foremost duty to help the fairies."
"Your foremost duty is to me, damn it!" Chris raised his saber. Anna was ready to throw herself in front of the bound pirate, but Chris simply sheathed the weapon before standing threateningly in front of Freddy again. "How am I supposed to hold the crew together if you don't trust me? If you aren't convinced of my strength and the validity of my deeds? Have I ever done anything to make you doubt me or my methods?"
Freddy pressed his lips together again and the captain crumpled the paper, tossing it on the ground. Anna quickly picked it up, smoothed it out, and scanned the lines again. Meanwhile, the captain continued his interrogation.
"Have I? Answer me!"
"No."
"Have I ever harmed an innocent person?"
"No."
"What about Ani? Have I ever treated her badly?"
"No."
"Then why do you believe this fairy instead of your captain's words and actions?"
Freddy closed his eyes and his shoulders sagged. Anna was sure he wasn't going to say anything in reply when suddenly he started to speak. "Our land is in decline. People are starving and so are we. There are only a few merchant ships sailing that pay us duty. I wanted to work with you to change these conditions, but for years, you have only searched for Ani, banishing everything else from your mind, the concerns of the people and those of your own people. I'd given up hope that things would get better. When this letter came, I thought that was the reason. You didn't want to change anything."
"Why do you believe a stranger more than me?"
"Have you ever received a letter from a fairy? They are pure, innocent beings. Why would Iris lie?"
"Wait a minute." Anna scanned the lines again. "When did you say you discovered the letter?"
"About two weeks ago."
Two weeks ago? She hadn't even returned yet.
Chris frowned. "What's wrong, Ani?"
"When I met Iris, she didn't know my memory was gone." Anna looked up into Chris's eyes. "Either she lied…"
The captain stroked his stubble. "…or the letter isn't from her."
Anna nodded. That's what she thought too. The fairy had been so angry and outraged that Anna had forgotten what had happened. It hadn't been an act. Of course, she couldn't be sure — she didn't know Iris, after all, but her gut told her that the letter was from someone else.
"What?" Freddy opened his eyes in disbelief. "Someone played me for a fool?"
The captain glared at him. "That's how it appears. How they managed it and how they knew that you doubted me — those are the questions."
Now Freddy grew angry. "Maybe because you haven't talked to us much since Anemone left. You stopped discussing your plans with us and mindlessly advanced into the giants' realm, risking all of our lives. Okay, I made a mistake, but so did you. Countless ones. Before that. Now, release me from this damned mast! The ropes have cut off my circulation. I can't feel my arms anymore and my throat burns — I could drink the entire ocean dry."
The captain hesitated, then drew his saber and raised it. With a whoosh, he cut the bonds, which immediately fell to the ground. "If you doubt me again, you'll walk the plank."
"And if you act so recklessly again, I'll find another captain."
"Aye!"
"Aye!"
Chris looked at him like a predator eyeing its prey. "What do you say?"
"Aye aye, Captain!" Cursing, he rubbed his arms until the blood started flowing again. Then he trudged over to a bucket of water, downed several ladles full, washed his face and neck, and, cursing, went to help the others with the ship.
Indecisive, they watched him until Anna's attention returned to the piece of paper in her hands. "Who could have sent this letter?"
"Whoever it was that convinced five of my men to mutiny."
She neglected to ask how it was that his men could be so easily turned against him. Freddy's accusations probably weren't completely unfounded. Since her disappearance, the captain had not led his crew well, with only her rescue on his mind. All it took was a sidelong glance and she could tell he was thinking the same thing.
"Where are the men who kidnapped me?"
"They're napping below deck. I'll take you to them once we're far enough from shore. I have to take the helm before we hit one of the rocks." As if on cue, they rushed past a rocky outcropping that jutted several yards high out of the water.
Anna watched as Chris took the helm and shouted orders to his men. Maybe it just seemed that way, but the men watched his every move and every command like a hawk. She truly hoped she was as safe on the ship as he had promised.