Full bellies had quickly lulled everyone to sleep. August paced the cabin alone, keeping watch while counting the seconds that passed till the rest arrived home. Usually, Yodeling Luna, the Captain’s antique gramophone, would play till dawn, overlapping the heavy eeriness of silence. August would have tried to crank it on, if only he knew how it worked. Instead, he hummed the song “The Bay of Biscay” to himself as he scouted the shore from the windows. He looked at spot of the North Star, now empty and hollow.

“If you’re still there”, he whispered, fingers crossed and eyes tight shut, “Please may Papa- I mean…Cap’n come home”

A sudden THUD jerked his concentration. Someone was aboard the ship. He sat very still and listened as whatever it was seemed to shift and move about the upper deck. It walked a few steps and paused. August felt tears well into the corners of his eyes and his heart rate ring in his ears. Sailor or not, he was still very small and helpless. What about his duty? The Captain trusted him to keep everyone safe.  He lay there for a couple of moments, gathered his thoughts and trotted to the Captain’s armory, barefoot so as not to make any sound.

There was so much to choose from: cutlasses, machetes, daggers, a crossbow, harpoon, all shoved haphazardly into a moldy closet. Slowly, he took the crossbow and examined it carefully. It surprised him how heavy it actually was compared to his imagination.

“Don’t move, ye Scurvy Dog!!” he screamed, cocking the weapon onto his shoulder. It was hard for him not to drop the weapon and gaze at the stranger in front of him: dressed in all white silk and polished white leather boots, a velvet white cavalier hat slanted dashingly on silver-white hair. He glowed angelically as the moonlight reflected across his attire. Standing well away from the armed rookie, he cast a confused glare at August with ghost silver eyes.

“Get off our ship!” he barked and inched forward. His finger felt comfortable on the trigger. TWANG! August was flung back as the bolt shot forward just missing the target. He hadn’t meant to fire- he was glad he did. The man in white looked dumbstruck. With new found confidence, August got up, his wooden dagger thrust forward and the bow in his other. He didn’t know how to reload it but the imposter did not need to know that. Before the man could even think, he round-housed him in the stomach. He crumpled to his knees. As far as August could tell, his enemy wasn’t fighting back but underestimation would be the key to failure. He proudly punched the man’s nose. He found an old rope at the corner and proceeded to tie him up, ignoring the sputters and coughs of blood. August was quite proud of himself.

“Tell me”, August bellowed, “Who are you?” The man in white whimpered. August poked him impatiently with the wooden dagger.

“Please. I need help”, he whispered

“Tell me who you are first!”

The sound of footsteps on the dock below cut off August’s interrogation. He leaned over the Starboard to find the rest of his crew. The Captain’s head was tilted and eyebrow raised in perplexity. Catching his first mate’s eye, he mouthed the word “Trespasser?”

“Shark bait” August confirmed. A look of panic washed over Amias’s face. He silently unsheathed his sword and started climbing up the mooring line. August admired the Captain’s professional agility and soundlessness- someday he would be just like Amias Keggard. He didn’t even notice Captain Keggard had climbed aboard until he heard the loud crack of wood as the Captain’s sword impaled the mast to which the other man was tied to. The Captain glared into the other’s eyes, their faces so close, the huffs of angry breath flaring from his nose would have condensed heavily on the pale incomer’s cheeks. A deep guttural growl resonated from Amias’s chest- August had never seen him so mad-driven.

“Why are you on my ship?” Amias hissed. His voice was low, and gravelly, like a demon had possessed him. The silver eyes twitched and jerked in fright. The sword was yanked out.

“WHO ARE YOU??” The sword gently touched the enemy’s pale skin. If he wouldn’t answer, August realized the touch won’t be so light.

“P-Polaris” he finally answered, “Please, I need help”

The rest of the raiders were now huddled close to August, all staring.

“I need to find someone” Polaris begged. The sword came down on the rope and Amias stepped back. He didn’t look satisfied. August knew that look: the look the Captain gave him when he just wasn’t able to say no- August had received that look plenty of times.

“I-I’ll give you my cloak” Polaris offered, “It’s made of silver”

Amias shook his head in decline, “We’ll take you. You may have my cabin.”

“He should help with chores!” Sylvester chimed out of nowhere. That wasn’t the thing bothering the captain. What if this bozo was a threat to the crew? What if he was luring them into a trap? On the other hand, what if he was genuinely telling the truth?

“You don’t come anywhere near my crew. You hear?”

Polaris nodded. The children watched as Captain Keggard lead him down to the Captain’s lounge. They were smiling: the captain would be sharing a cabin with them tonight!