Chapter 13

As Brinemarch came over the horizon bad news awaited the Silent Tide. Two galleons and a smaller brigantine waited ready in the bay. “Looks like the news broke…” Finneas grumbled to the Captain. 

“Are they ready for this?” she asked coldly. “Aye, they better be.” 

As the Silent Tide entered the bay and headed for the docks, the picture was clearer. One galleon from Widding, one galleon from Sandia, and the third brigantine flew the flag of the Goldhairs. The ships were clearly scrambled immediately and their condition was lacking, but in the coming week more legitimate threats would arrive, sealing the bay with thick security. 

The growing power of the Goldhair family with their new ship was apparent and offered a new obstacle for any that opposed them, but the three vastly interests in the bay left room for opportunity. The Goldhairs money, the Widding’s family, and Sandia regional safety. 

Upon docking, three people awaited the crew. An official from Sandia, mostly likely in the pockets of the Goldhairs, a shapely and cunning foreign diplomat from Widding, and a stout blonde man with a conniving gait.  The Sandian official approached as their boards hit the pier. 

“Captain, quartermaster, first mate… I presume?” He charismatically addressed the Captain, Finneas, and Korlai. 

The Captain and Finneas walked onto the pier to speak closer, Korlai lurking nearby with a grin. “What’s happened, dockwarden?”

“Someone of great importance has disappeared. Given their vanishing we are inspecting every ship and hold. Until further notice, this ship will need to stay docked. Do you have your roster and papers ready?”

Finneas stepped forward with a large, worn book, handing it over to the dockwarden. “Thank you…” The dockwarden flipped the book over to find the quartermaster's name “Finneas Murphy! I’ll be back momentarily.”

The cheery dockwarden returned to the other two officials who looked over the roster. The blonde man pointed with great vigor at the book, the three of them sharing glances as the man talked boldly. His words were unintelligible but his boisterous tone was undeniable. After a few moments, the man slammed the book shut, pushing it back in the hands of the dockwarden. The dockwarden scurried back to the Captain and crew, his happy disposition returning as he departed his counterparts.

He handed the book back to Finneas. “Captain, I hope you understand the extra need for security. At this time, we are requesting that you, your quartermaster and first mate follow me into town. We will have a short meeting later today to verify a few things and then you will be free to go about your business.”

Although not particularly happy, the captain coolly agreed. “Very well.”

The dockwarden continued, “There is one more we would like to join us… Thomas Middlenight?”

Finneas’ face tightened. Four Sandian soldiers arrived at the end of the dock. “Grab him for us and then me and these fine fellows will begin our search. Strictly non-invasive of course.”

The captain stepped closer, “Dockwarden, anyone on my ship is invasive. Please do mind to take care of her.” The sentence, a politeness swirled with a hint of threat.

On the island, Thomas peered from the treeline at the three men looking over their dinghy with swords drawn. Their outfits a mismatch of scavenged gear, their bodies frail and underfed. Yet, even from a distance he could tell their gaits were those of killers. They were most likely a crew of hunters. Riley’s jovial demeanor had been exchanged for absolute concentration. “Can you fight?” 

Thomas had spent much of his childhood fighting off Jack, oftentimes losing, and with little sympathy from his ever aloof father. As he got older he trained with the item he used most often at the warehouse, two short daggers. He had become adept at throwing them and doing party tricks when he was bored, but no, he was no fighter. In fact, he had never even gotten into a street fight.

“Can is the imperative word there. No, not really.” 

Riley grunted in disapproval. “We need to get back, it won’t take them long to make it inland.”

They slank back from the treeline, crouching in hurried step to return to the main path-

A man, weapon drawn, just meters ahead of them on the path and unaware of their presence. Thomas froze, a cold heat running down his back. The world warped as the heat hit his face. His heart pounded but he could not move. 

Without hesitation Riley stalked behind the man jamming a knife in his neck, his cry muffled by her firm grip. The hunter’s body slouched as she removed the knife.

“Thomas!” she hissed. “His feet.”

Her words propelled him to life and together they crumpled his body behind a tree off-path. “We need to hurry.” In a rush she made it back to the path, this time abandoning stealth for speed.

Arriving at the mouth of the cave, Aaliyah could be heard struggling inside. 

Riley crept closer, Thomas mimicking her steps. Two gruff voices could be heard inside. “Boss said we couldn’t fuck her…”

“Yeah, but he didn’t say anything about her mouth. Maybe she wants a taste.”

Riley slowly crept into the shadows as the man undid his pants.

“Now be a good girl and we might let you live.” Aaliyah obediently moved towards the man’s crotch before he shrieked and recoiled backwards.

“Fucking bitch, she bit me!” he cried in disbelief. 

Riley moved in, striking the man true, puncturing his gut with her sword from the side. The other one, shocked, reached for his sword but only found Thomas’ sword sliced into his arm. 

The gruff toothless man scowled and drew his sword. A bolt found his face as he collapsed, dead weight returned to the floor.

The pantless man panted faintly, a small whimper quickly ended by Riley’s dagger. Blood covered the cave floor. 

Thomas had seen blood a hundred times over on stained crates and ruined linens, but never so close, never so fresh. He stared for a while as Riley cleaned her weapons, stripped the hunters of their gear and prepared for whatever was next.

After collecting himself, he grabbed the smaller of the two men, pulling them into the corner then covering their face with the hunter’s hat.

Aaliyah, a bit shaken, finally spoke softly. “I didn’t call to them…”

Thomas walked over to the fire, next to her palette. For all her determination, this had surprised her too. He reached out a hand of support as Riley walked to the fire. Aaliyah latched on, squeezing much tighter than Thomas had anticipated. “I promise, I didn’t make a noise!” she said much louder this time, almost pleading to Thomas who nodded gently to her.

“It was probably the smoke,” Riley offered quietly. 

Aaliyah looked up to her, eyes darting with thought.

“The smoke. It wasn’t your fault.” Riley doubled down. She crouched at their level. “The others will find us soon enough. It doesn’t matter if we try to cover our scent, the best thing we can do is prepare.” 

Thomas readied himself for his new reality “How long do we have?”

Riley shrugged, “Minutes, hours? If they’re smart they will wait for sundown. They’ll regroup. At least five more, probably not more than twenty.”

Thomas swallowed in anticipation, Aaliyah's eyes danced in the fire, images of her captor’s abuse flashing in her mind.