Chapter 22
22
" S HIPS AHOY!" The shouts came from the poop deck as the captain jumped up.
"Bjorn, up to the crow's nest with you! And douse the lights!"
As if the men had just been waiting for an order, seconds later the candles, torches, and lanterns went out and Anna found herself in a ghostly twilight. At the same time, she heard countless boots thundering across the planks. She could only see the outlines of the men and noticed a shadow climbing up the shrouds. That had to be Bjorn climbing up to the lookout. Once inside the barrel attached to the mainmast, he pulled out a spyglass and monitored the dark horizon.
The captain glanced up. "Can you see anything?"
"Definitely pirates — all three ships."
"Damn. No escorted merchant ships." The captain rushed to the poop deck and took out a spyglass from his long coat. When he brought it up to look through it, Anna was already next to him. With her hands gripping the railing, she tried to see the ships, but it was far too dark and the distance too great for the naked eye.
"Curses!" Chris used his other eye to look through the spyglass.
"Who is it?"
Freddy stepped back from the rudder, leaving only one hand on the wheel. "Blackbeard."
Shoot. She looked excitedly at Chris and then at Freddy. "But you set his ship on fire."
"Apparently he had no problem finding someone to take him and his band of rats on." Cursing, Chris put the spyglass away.
Freddy furrowed his eyebrows. "And as a reward, they get to accompany him on his hunt."
Anna looked up alertly. "His hunt…?" For me? she wanted to add, but it was clear who Blackbeard was after. She shivered. Wasn't there also the possibility that he just wanted to free the man they were holding captive?
"Shut up, you're scaring her!" the captain snapped, which silenced him immediately.
Anna raised her hands defensively. "No, I want to know. I must know. So all pirates are after you now because I'm on your ship?"
Chris refrained from answering while Freddy nodded in confirmation. "That's right, Anemone."
She clenched her hands. "If I had known, I would have been better off going with Toni. I didn't want to place you in danger. Did you have any idea this would happen?"
The captain looked at her emphatically. "If you had gone with the giant, others would have followed you overland. Ani, it doesn't matter where you are, they're looking for you, and they want revenge." So, the villains' attack in Linnenberg hadn't been a coincidence. "You are safest by my side. I won't allow you to fall into their hands."
"And neither will we!" That was Freddy — Anna could hardly believe what he said. There was still skepticism in his eyes, but at the same time, there was something else. And then he surprised her even more. He pulled a watch out of his pocket and clicked it open and closed several times before continuing. "I'm sorry for coming between you. After the fairy's letter and the events of the last few years, I felt I was doing the right thing. It was a mistake to distrust the captain and send you off into the unknown. You would have been in better hands with us right from the start."
Chris nodded but didn't say anything. He had settled his dispute with Freddy and now it was Anna's turn. A small tear appeared in her eyes, but she blinked it away resolutely. She finally saw what else lay in the pirate's eyes — regret.
A smile crept onto her lips. He was sorry. She had misinterpreted his reserved behavior the entire time.
"You more than made up for that wrong choice when you fought Blackbeard, Freddy. Evidently, I also made a few mistakes. Otherwise, half the country wouldn't be after me." She chuckled unhappily and the captain wrapped an arm around her.
"I know you didn't make a mistake, Ani. You would never put the fairies in danger."
Freddy nodded. "I'm convinced of that too. Maybe it's the fact that Blackbeard placed a bounty on your head. Years ago, it was making the rounds, even on land. People were searching for a scapegoat and Blackbeard gave them a name."
A chase… and she was the prey. A chill coursed through her. At least, it was comforting to hear that not only Chris stood by her, but apparently his entire crew.
The captain stroked her shoulder with his rough hand before turning back to the enemy ships. "Nevertheless, we must set all sails. If anyone can take on the pack, it's us, but we shouldn't risk a sea battle with three ships at once. If we can escape them under the cover of night, all the better."
Freddy grinned. "It's good to see that as soon as the fairy has returned, the captain has his wits back."
Chris looked at him sternly, but then he smiled. "Don't repeat that, or you won't know what hit you."
"Aye aye, Captain." He bowed exaggeratedly, but his grin betrayed the antics.
Chris turned to his crew. "Set sails! We will sail east at full speed." He leaned closer to Anna so that only she could hear his words. "Moreover, it'll get us faster to the water where Meysandrine can be found." He winked at her.
Meysandrine. What would she predict for Anna? Did the siren know what had happened to her powers? Maybe she could even help find a solution to the fairies' deaths.
"If we turn east now, won't we get too close to Devil's Rocks?" Jack shouted from the darkness.
Anna peered at Chris questioningly. "What are Devil's Rocks?"
"It's a group of rocks, each one jutting out of the water. If you don't know your way around, you won't be able to safely navigate your ship through them." He shouted to Jack, "We have to risk it. And I will personally take the helm."
Jack clapped and the sound echoed through the gathering darkness. "That's a deal!"
"Aye aye, Captain," came from every corner of the ship. While Bjorn remained in the crow's nest, the men hung on the ropes to set the remaining sails. Only then did Anna realize that they had only been sailing with one sail on the mainmast for a while. That's why they were going slower. Maybe because it was evening and darker? Perhaps so their dinner wouldn't end up in their laps if they went faster? She wanted to ask Chris about it, but he immediately took charge of the helm and turned to Freddy. "If they come after us faster than expected, make sure we greet them with a loud bang."
"Aye aye, Captain." Freddy saluted and turned to the cannons. He beckoned Jack over and whispered to him. Anna leaned forward, but the wind was increasing, so she couldn't hear a word the men spoke. The wind roared in her ears and she couldn't hear anyone except Chris shouting orders to his men. His voice was used to fighting the storm. She stood next to him and watched him steer the ship. He seemed completely at ease, but she knew that wasn't the case. He was worried. More about her than himself, she suspected.
"They're picking up speed too," Bjorn climbed down the shrouds as he gave out his muffled call. Otherwise, no one would have heard him.
"The wind will help, and so will the sea. Remember, we are the masters of the sea."
"But so are the other pirates," Anna thought, not realizing she had said it aloud.
"Aye, but they're not as good as we are." He grinned at her and returned his gaze to the dark horizon. Then he mumbled something that was hard to hear over the roar of the wind. Anna leaned in closer since she thought he was talking to her, but when she could hear him, she was surprised. He was speaking a foreign tongue. And that language sounded… ancient. She knew intuitively that he was speaking to the sea itself. His gaze was constantly focused on the water in front of the Fortuna, on the endless expanse that was swallowed up by the darkness. Thick clouds had gathered and there was hardly a star shining in the firmament. Not even the moon was shining its silvery light as the Fortuna increased speed. Did that have to do with the captain's whispers?
With a spyglass, Jack peered ahead and interrupted her observation. "A storm is raging in the southeast."
Chris stopped whispering and focused on the gloomy horizon. When a flash of lightning illuminated the darkness for a second, he laughed. "Then we'll head straight for it. It's the perfect opportunity to find out if that scalawag Blackbeard and his band truly belong at sea."
Bjorn and Jack glanced at each other briefly, but then a determined look came over their faces. "Aye aye, Captain!"
"But what about the rocks you mentioned?" Anna tried to see something out in the ocean, but all she saw were high waves that were rocking the ship back and forth.
"Hopefully, the storm will abate before we reach it — if the sea allows us to sail east so early, that is."
"Allows? What do you mean?" She looked at him questioningly.
"We pirates are considered the masters of the sea, but we don't actually rule the sea, we merely understand it. We hear it whispering, recognize its currents, feel its worries and needs. It's similar for you fairies with nature. You don't control the world of plants either, but through your work, you help nurture it so that it thrives more splendidly than it would without you."
She liked the explanation. "And why do you think the sea might not allow us to sail east too early?"
"There are many rocks there that are hard to get by in a storm. If we change course, we could all perish. The sea cares about our well-being as much as we care about it. But let that just be my concern, Ani. This isn't the first storm my men and I have weathered."
The confidence in his voice calmed her. It sounded a bit like he was looking forward to the adventure that nature was offering. The other men who scurried across the ship from bow to stern and from one side to the other did not appear intimidated but rather combative. Infected by their enthusiasm, Anna glanced backward. The sun had disappeared into the sea, so she couldn't see very far. Was it just that she couldn't spot Blackbeard and the ships or had they picked up speed, leaving their pursuers behind?
"What language were you speaking?"
Without taking his eyes off the sea, he turned his head toward her so that she could understand him better. "It is the ancient language of the sea."
The ancient language of the sea. How magical that sounded. She was filled with gratitude that she could be part of such a wondrous land. There was magic in everything, even the waters of the wild sea.
"Can all pirates speak this language?"
"No, that's why we usually outrun anyone who tries to take us on."
Only Chris spoke the strange language? "Why only you? Where did you learn it? And can the other men on board speak it too?"
"That's a long story. Too long for right now, given what's about to happen. To make a long story short, when I was just a simple pirate, I was shipwrecked with my crew but I was stranded on a deserted island without the others. It was there that I discovered a chest in a cave hidden deep inside the island. However, there was no gold treasure inside but an ancient text. Since I was stuck on the island for weeks, I managed to decipher the writing and the foreign language. It was the language of the sea. Once I mastered it, I was able to sail back to port on a simple raft."
How exciting! "Do you still have the scroll?"
"No. I didn't want to take it on the raft because it might have gotten wet and been lost forever. I wanted to return to get it, but although I haven't forgotten the language of the sea since then, the sea has never taken me there again."
What a wonderful story. "You're welcome to tell me the details over a campfire. It sounds exciting."
"Aye, I look forward to it."
The sea grew wilder and Anna swayed sideways. Chris caught her with one arm, but immediately put both hands back on the wheel. "Lower the sails. Hoist the storm sail!" Then he turned to her. "You'd better go to my cabin until the storm passes. I'll need both hands to navigate — even though I'd love nothing more than to hold you in my arms."
"Oh, a few waves like that won't affect me." Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t hold back a loud yawn.
He laughed quietly. "You sleepyhead. If you fall asleep on the planks, one of the big waves we have ahead of us could possibly wash you overboard. I can actually imagine pleasanter activities to do in a storm than fishing you out of the drink." He grinned boldly but kept his eyes fixed on the water.
"As soon as it gets too wild, I promise. I can't always miss out on the most exciting things."
He laughed. "Curious as ever, madam. That's what you always said back then too."
His words made her happy. It was comforting to know that her past and present selves were not as different as she'd initially feared. She made sure her footing was secure and stayed next to him, but the sea grew ever wilder and rain began to fall, growing ever heavier. Chris was wearing a heavy leather coat, but Anna, in her light crocheted sweater and simple cotton top, was soaked in no time. Loud thunder boomed over the sea, followed by lightning.
"Are you going to come to your senses or will the storm have to toss you over the railing before you lie down in my bed to sleep?" Even though she was standing right next to him, he'd had to shout or else she wouldn't have understood a word.
She wanted to stay by his side and experience the adventure, but fatigue was sapping her energy. And her clothes were soaked and her wet hair clung to her face and dripped down her back. It was damn cold and uncomfortable.
She nodded resignedly. "I hope there will be other adventures we can share, Captain."
"There will be plenty, Ani, and now off to my bed with you. Just the idea warms me."
She wanted to punch him playfully in the side, but instead, she stroked his arm and stood on her tiptoes. Sensing what she was about to do, he leaned toward her. As they kissed, thick raindrops pelted their cheeks.
The ship lurched and Anna clung to Chris's arm to keep from falling over. The captain immediately returned his focus to the sea. The heavy rocking lessened, so Anna was able to release her hold on him. He gave her one last glance, which made her heart beat faster. Then, he turned his full attention to the sea. Anna held her hands in front of her to fight her way through the storm and the heavy rain.
Jack had rushed over to her and called out, "I'll take you to the cabin."
Anna waved her hand. "You have to help the captain. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure? It's not just for his sake that I don't want you to go overboard, dear fairy."
"I'm glad to hear that, but I can manage. You take care of the Fortuna and get us there safely."
"Aye aye, my lady." He made a gesture as the ship rocked again, causing him to stagger. It was only with difficulty that he didn't fall on his behind. Anna laughed as the cold rain beat relentlessly against her face. Although the danger was palpable, she felt more alive and comfortable than she had in a long time. How could she ever have doubted this reality?
She concentrated on each step. Finally, she reached the stairs leading to the poop deck and gripped the inside balustrade. She preferred to stay away from the railing as the Fortuna was rocked by the gusts that swept repeatedly over the ship and that could have easily washed her overboard.
As soon as her feet reached the tween deck, she breathed a sigh of relief. Another strong gust of wind swept over the Fortuna and the ship swayed dangerously to one side. There was no trace of joy left. Sheer fear gripped Anna as she clung to the railing. Water splashed up, mingling with the heavy rain from above. It felt like someone was dumping dozens of buckets of water on her. Thoroughly soaked, she clung to the railing when the was Fortuna finally lying straight on the water again.
If only it wasn't so dark, she could have seen better. She had to make her way along the wooden wall until she reached the door to the captain's quarters. Unfortunately, there was nothing there to hold on to. She had no choice but to wait until the ship was at an advantageous pitch before letting go of the railing and racing to the door. The storm was raging and running was out of the question. There were moments when she had a shot, but before she could even take her hands off the railing, the ship tilted so much that she panicked and froze.
She should have gone to the cabin earlier. Darn it. Now she was stuck here and didn't have any idea how long she would have to last. She was also cold, though she forgot about it every time the boat swayed. But as soon as the ship was lying still in the water for a second and an icy wind swept over her, her teeth began to chatter. The noise clattered through the stormy evening like a shackled specter and there wasn't anything she could do about it. Her hair became heavier and heavier. Cold droplets were constantly dripping off it as well as her chin, arms, and sweater. As she took a cautious step toward the cabin, her shoes sloshed because they were waterlogged.
"Good, you're still on board," someone shouted in her ear. Arms wrapped around her. When she turned, she recognized Freddy. He screamed even though his mouth was right next to her face. "Come on, I'll take you to the cabin."
"But the sea is too rough. If we let go, the next wave will wash us into the sea."
"The captain would never forgive me for that. When I say now, let go and get your behind to the cabin, got it?"
"How is that supposed to work?" she shouted back.
"Just crawl along me."
She was going to do what? That would never work! Her teeth chattered loudly. That seemed to be enough of an answer for the pirate. He positioned himself along the wall that belonged to the cabin, pressed his back against it, and held on to the railing with one hand. Apparently, she was supposed to hold on to his arm and move cautiously to the other to get to the door. The rain pelted the planks like the proverbial cats and dogs. Still, judging from what she saw, his other hand didn't reach the door. If she remembered the dimensions of the Fortuna correctly, there was at least three feet past that.
She didn't hear him shout Now, but she saw his lips form the word. It was crazy. He was crazy. It would never work. But if she stayed outside longer, the storm would be the least of her problems. Who knew if there were antibiotics in this land to cure the pneumonia she'd inevitably get. Even though everything inside her screamed no, she let go of the railing and crawled over Freddy. First, she struggled forward using the arm he was using to hold onto the railing. Even though the ship was rocking less, the wind was so unpredictable that every step was like fighting the elemental forces. She made it to his other arm when a gust knocked the ship sideways. Freddy held out his hand, but the force of the movement was too great. Her fingers slipped from his soaking wet shirt and she hit the planks. Freddy tried to get to her, but he also fell. The ship continued to pitch sideways and he slid across the deck. Miraculously, Anna remained in place, but Freddy was hurtling toward the railing at a dangerous speed.
"Watch out!" she screamed, even though no one could hear her because her scream was swallowed by the thunder. She watched in horror as the pirate plunged over the side.
As soon as the ship was about to settle in the water, Anna slid down the planks to the railing. "Help! Freddy is in the water! MAN OVERBOARD!"
But no one came. No one heard her. The storm and rain were too loud and the dark clouds swallowed up the last remnants of the pink firmament. Only the flashes illuminated the scene for a few seconds. When another flash of lightning hit the sea, Anna didn't see Freddy in the water, but she did spot his hand on the railing.
"I'm coming. Hold on!" she shouted, even though he probably couldn't hear her. But in case he could, he should know that help was on the way. She reached for his hand, but the ship swayed violently again. Horrified, she clung to the railing. Luckily, the Fortuna quickly righted.
She couldn't risk pulling him up. All it would take was one roll of the ship and they both would end up overboard. She scanned the area. Was there really no crew around? Instead of one of the men, she spotted a rope tied to the railing. Swiftly, she struggled to lift the rope from the hook. What luck that it hadn't been lost. She immediately crawled back to Freddy, knotted the rope around the railing, and tied a large loop in the end so that he could hold on better. As she clung to the balustrade, she threw the end with the loop down to Freddy.
"I'll pull you up!" she shouted, and she felt the rope slack tighten. He had it and held on to it. Heaven, give me strength. She grasped the rope with both hands, braced herself against the balustrade with her feet, and pulled. Her muscles burned, but she didn't give up. She suddenly found the strength — perhaps it was sheer will, or adrenaline — and pulled the rope back a few centimeters onto the ship. And as she pulled and pulled, her eyes squeezed shut as if it would do any good, it suddenly became easier. Surprised, she opened her eyes and saw Jack sitting next to her along the railing, helping her. Freddy's arms were already on the railing. Another flash illuminated the ship and the pirate's pale face.
"We can do it. Don't give up." She continued and Jack grabbed his friend's arm, yanking him over the balustrade. As soon as he was on the planks, the ship pitched again. Then came a loud roar, louder than any that had come before.
"HOLD ON!" Jack shouted. Anna grabbed the rope and the railing and slowly turned. The bow plunged into a high wave that broke over the ship, sending icy water over them that swamped the planks before flowing back into the sea.
Anna had never been so wet. Her arms shook as she gripped the rope tighter and tighter, ready in case another wave hit the Fortuna.
"What are you still doing out here?" Jack yelled at Anna, as if she had just fallen overboard.
"I didn't make it to the cabin," Anna shouted back.
"Next time, you'll let me escort you, got it?"
"If there's a next time, definitely."
Jack laughed. "We won't let a storm like this stop us. Look how safely the captain navigates us through the storm. If he knew you weren't in his cabin yet, we'd be lost. And I don't just mean because he would no longer be able to concentrate. Anyway, off you go now. I'll take you." He took her by the hand, but at the same time, kept ahold of the rope in the other.
Anna turned to Freddy, who was crouching miserably along the railing. "We can't leave him behind, he might go overboard again. He's exhausted."
"All of us are — and we're used to it. Now, my lady? Or must I carry you?"
She had no idea how he would make good on his threat in the storm, but she followed him across the tween deck. Whether it was his broad frame or his confidence and will, she didn't know, but he moved forward without any difficulty. He had grown up at sea. Every move he made gave the impression that he knew what the sea was planning next. His steps were confident and sure, and she followed him unquestioningly to the captain's cabin. He opened the cabin and a gust smacked the door against the wall. The ship rocked, Anna fell into the dark room, and the door slammed shut with a loud bang.
Finally, she was no longer exposed to the icy rain. Her limbs were nearly frozen stiff. She could barely clench her hands and could only move her fingers slowly. Even though her thoughts were still outside with the men, she knew that this wasn't the first storm they had been through.
A puddle formed at her feet. She peeled off her wet clothes so she wouldn't catch pneumonia and felt her way forward. She couldn't find a towel or anything else to dry off her body or her soaking wet hair. As a flash of lightning struck, she saw for a second what was inside. On the left side was a table with a few chairs around it, and on the other was a wide bed and a chest. The captain probably kept towels or at least dry clothes in it.
The ship lurched again, but protected as she was from the rain and storm, she managed to maintain her balance. First, she shuffled to the table and one of the chairs and hung the soaked clothes over the armrests and back. Then she felt her way to the chest, opened it, and took out the first thing that felt like material. She used it to dry her hair and body. Trembling, she slipped between the sheets and snuggled under the blanket. She stopped shaking after a while and though she hadn't thought it was possible, she fell asleep a little later, trusting that the men were guiding her to calmer waters.