The Pirates of Fainting Goat Island

by Teresa McCullough

  I believed the stories, but the evidence of the damage made a hope that I didn’t know I had disappear. I hoped that the stories weren’t true or were exaggerated. I hoped that Quarryton wasn’t really attacked by pirates.

  After a brief discussion, we turned up the narrow farm road. A dog barked at us and I saw a woman and three children running away. A man came out with a pitchfork but lowered it upon getting a better look. Without planning it, we presented a less threatening message than we could have. Roddy’s age and Cranket’s chubbiness were more reassuring than if any of the other men rode in front.

  “Could you talk to him?” Cranket asked me. “People don’t find you threatening.”

  I realized he was using the same technique Merko used to lull me into accepting him. Kalten’s red hair and rather jovial countenance along with the presence of two women made Merko seem harmless. I resented Merko’s frequent intrusion on my thoughts. I should not compare Cranket’s charity with Merko’s deception.

  I climbed out of the wagon and approached the farmer, stopping about ten feet away from him. “We heard about the attack and wanted to help.” I waved my hand toward the wagon. “Amapola used to live in Quarryton and our friend Cranket brought some grain.”

  “Grain?”

  Vlid jumped down and unloaded half of our grain with Muscle helping from the wagon. Knowing more grain was on the Mercy, it made us seem more generous than we were.

  “Can you tell us what happened?” I asked.

  “They attacked the town. I never saw them, but when they left, they burned our fields. It was all we could do to keep the fire from reaching the house.”

  Since he seemed nervous about us being there, I didn’t push for any more information. I didn’t think we looked hostile, but after being attacked, perhaps every stranger was a source of fear. Vlid and I climbed back into the wagon and we left.

  We had similar experiences at a second farm. By that time the other wagon caught up with us, we reached a third farm.

  When we came to town, Amapola insisted we go directly to her aunt’s cottage. When we drove up, we saw that it was a burnt-out shell instead of a cottage. Amapola jumped out of the wagon for a closer look and Jerot went with her. I started to move to follow, but Roddy reached back and caught my arm. I looked at him and he looked away but didn’t let go. Trusting his judgment, I didn’t fight him. Vlid climbed out on the opposite side while Cranket got clumsily out of the wagon and came over to give me a hand. Only then did Roddy release my arm.

  I allowed Cranket to help me, although I didn’t need the help. I didn’t find his touch objectionable, but it gave me no thrill. I wondered why Cranket didn’t help me out of the rowboat but realized he might have had difficulty carrying me the short distance to shore. It wasn’t until Vlid carried me that I realized his touch excited me.

  A neighbor came out of a nearby cottage and started talking to Amapola. Vlid joined them and a short time later came back with a report. “Amapola’s aunt was killed,” he said. “The only other people who were killed were those who didn’t run. Several wealthy houses were looted and vandalized. This one was the only one burned.”

  He looked at me with sympathy in his eyes, because he must have realized that this confirmed our guess that Merko was responsible. I looked away, because I was hoping his guess was wrong.

  Vlid obtained directions to the mayor’s house and arrangements were made for the rest of the grain to be distributed, leaving Jerot to comfort Amapola. Even though I wasn’t close to her, I wanted to say something that would help her, but when we returned, and I said some inadequate conventional words of sympathy, I realized she barely knew I was there.

  Jerot caught up with us when the wagons made a second trip. “We should be leaving. No one has made a connection between Amapola and the attacks, but every house that was invaded was one she used to heat by enhancing. I don’t want her to be here when they realize that.” Even with the addition of Muscle, it we couldn’t defend ourselves against an angry town full of people. Even if it only came to accusations, there was no reason to put Amapola through that.

  Jerot expanded on his comment as we rode the empty wagon back to where the Mercy was at anchor. “The houses were the wealthiest ones, which is why they weren’t connected to her. No one understood why Amapola’s aunt was targeted, but assumed it was a mistake. Merko knew where the houses were, because when he persuaded her to run away with him, he walked with her from house to house.” Merko not only killed Amapola’s aunt, he destroyed the possibility of there being any memento. He also attacked all those Amapola worked for. I feared for Ship Town. This attack was too well-aimed to be random.

  “How do the villagers know they were pirates?” I asked. This far enough from the sea, the attackers could have been robbers, not pirates.

  “They told them,” Jerot said.

  There was no question about it. Merko wanted Amapola to know who did this to her village. He wanted her to feel guilty about the death of her aunt. I felt guilty about her death. How much guilt did Amapola feel?

  We arrived in Lagudia late at night, but Lina and Milea were awake and waiting for us. While we described what happened, Roddy sat with his arm around Lina. Was it for her comfort or for his? Cranket, Vlid, and Jerot were talking about the logistics of a trip to Ship Town.

  “I’m not coming,” Amapola said.

  “Why not?” Cranket asked.

  “Jerot said I’m not responsible. I don’t see why I must help. I might lose my job if I’m gone that long.”

  “You’re probably safer here,” Jerot conceded. “Besides, the fewer people who go, the more room we’ll have for grain.”

  “It’s not just grain we have to bring,” said Vlid.

  “Ship Town has few outside resources. We’ll need to load the Mercy full of grain and it won’t be enough.”

  Vlid shook his head. “We need nails, cloth, and tools. Maybe even an anvil.”

  “An anvil? They wouldn’t loot an anvil,” Jerot said.

  “If they dumped all the anvils in the harbor, it would devastate the town. Merko’s no fool.”

  “You’ve never been there. How do you know so much about Ship Town?” Jerot asked.

  I watched the two cousins arguing. They were polite, but there was an undercurrent I didn’t understand. Vlid always deferred to Jerot on a ship. What was going on here? After thinking about it, I realized they weren’t on a ship. Vlid didn’t recognize Jerot’s authority on land.

  “You never left the ship,” Vlid said. “Let me tell you about Ship Town. There is a natural harbor to the north. The docks are on the north side of the harbor because the water is deep, but there is a narrow road that leads to the actual town, going across a small stone bridge over the stream. Next to the docks is a steep hill that has berry bushes planted on it. The stream goes up to the newly opened lumber mill. It’s about two miles inland.”

  I realized the lumber mill would be a poor target for Merko. It would hurt the town if it were destroyed, but the stream and the location were more valuable than the building, which could be replaced. I must have told Vlid all this in those one-sided conversations I had with him, when I didn’t know if he understood me. Vlid continued, describing the limited farmland to the south and the mountains to the east.

  “It’s a four-day sail to the nearest town of any size. If Merko were intelligent about it, he would destroy things hard to repair. That would include the fishing fleet and housing. There will be some food, because they keep flocks of sheep in the hills and there’s game. I doubt the pirates would go to the hills to attack anything. They won’t be starving, not yet.”

  “By spring they will be,” Roddy said grimly.

  “We can take more trips,” Vlid said. He looked at me and gave a slight jerk of his head toward Cranket.

  “Could we?” I asked Cranket.

  Cranket smiled at me. “Yes, of course.”

  CHAPTER 17

  The round trip to Quarryton and back took a full
day, but the trip to Ship Town would take weeks. Upon hearing about the climate at Ship Town, Cranket insisted we all bring warm clothing, which we didn’t own. I had my cloak but needed more. I gave up arguing when I realized that we would leave faster if we just agreed, but the wait was irksome. Ship Town often had mild falls, but sometimes it was bitingly cold.

  We all ran various errands, and I came back to find Vlid with his nephew in the kitchen. Vlid was sitting at the table with a book in front of him. Little Vlid brought two books with him when we escaped, but I realized no one had bought him more. Little Vlid was on his knees, saying a particularly long prayer. Vlid put his finger to his lips, signaling silence. I didn’t say anything but sat down at the table.

  I remembered overhearing Vlid say what sounded like this prayer near the cave on Goat Island, only instead of hearing my name in the prayer, I heard Little Vlid refer to his uncle. There was a long pause when Little Vlid said nothing. Then his eyes lit up. “I did it! Sliferio answered.”

  “Sliferio answers?” A child gets a god to answer?

  “Yes,” Vlid said. “As long as a person can get through the prayer and worships Sliferio, he’ll answer.” Of course, the person had to inherit safety magic, but if Milea could do it, so could Little Vlid.

  “What did he say?” I asked. I wasn’t used to the idea of a god talking to anyone I knew.

  “It’s considered impolite to ask,” Vlid said.

  “No, I have to tell,” Little Vlid said, facing his uncle. “I knew you were arguing with Jerot. I asked Sliferio if it was better for you to keep arguing or let Jerot have what he wants. Sliferio said you should keep arguing.”

  “Maybe you should pray to find out what is better for Jerot,” I said. I wasn’t certain Jerot would believe a seven-year old, but perhaps he would. Jerot presumably knew about safety magic.

  “I can’t. I can only pray for people I love,” Little Vlid said in a matter-of-fact tone. He eagerly turned to his uncle and asked, “I got through the prayer. Can I have the book?”

  “Yes of course,” Vlid said, handing his nephew the book. With that, Little Vlid ran upstairs.

  “You prayed for me,” I said.

  Vlid stood up and started for the door.

  “Do you love me?”

  He paused. I wanted him to answer yes. I realized I loved him. We had been through so much together, and I wanted to be at his side for the rest of our lives. Why did it take me so long to realize it?

  “I can continue working,” I said to his back. “We can still support Milea and her children.” It was very forward of me, but I found I didn’t care. I didn’t want to lose my chance of happiness because I was unwilling to speak. Why didn’t he turn and face me?

  “Stop. Don’t say anymore. We can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  He turned, and there was anguish in his face. “Cranket.”

  I started to protest, but Vlid continued. “He loves you. He’ll take us to Ship Town.”

  “He doesn’t love me.”

  “You don’t see it. You never see when someone loves you. Cranket is doing all of this for you.”

  “But—”

  “Let me give you a hypothetical situation. We decide we love each other and fall into each other’s arms. Cranket gets angry and decides that his money would be better spent on charity in Lagudia. He means well and could do a great deal of good here.” Vlid’s tone was bitter.

  “But he already said he would bring us to Ship Town.”

  “He might even keep his word, but we can’t be certain. If we get there and find it needs more help than we can fit on the Mercy, he certainly won’t send it back for another trip. It’s a small ship and we’re only guessing what they’ll need.”

  “If we love each other, would Ship Town matter?” Even as I said it, I knew it would matter.

  “The guilt you feel for Quarryton is nothing compared to the guilt you would feel if you didn’t help Ship Town and could. I saw my sister trade her body for the safety of those she loved, and it breaks my heart to tell you to sell yours, but you know what is right. Cranket is after marriage and he will make a good husband. He’s kind and smart. He can give you much more than I can give you.”

  We just stood there, looking at each other. I wanted to touch him but knew I couldn’t. Someday, I might have to tell Cranket in front of Daton or another truth teller that I never said I loved Vlid, and that we never touched each other as a man and a woman.

  I wanted to swear, storm, and stomp my feet, but Vlid was right. Merko had almost certainly attacked Ship Town. I had the ability to help all the people I grew up with. I didn’t have any family left, but there were friends. People I had served in the tavern and helped using my enhancing might be dead because of me.

  There were two girls I played with since childhood and participated in their weddings. They now had babies of their own. If either one died, it would somehow diminish me. If their children starved, could I face them? If both of them starved and I could have stopped it, what then? Even though I raged against Geltor, I would be hurt if he died. I had made a bad decision, and now I needed to live with the results.

  While I was so lost in thought, Vlid left. I didn’t even hear the front door close. I don’t know how long I sat there. It wasn’t as if I were wondering what to do, because I made my decision. Vlid was right. I had to accept Cranket if he offered for me. Whatever he offered for me.

  Little Vlid came down with his book and asked for help reading some of the words. I ignored my aching heart to help him. The book had pictures, which we marveled over.

  I heard the front door close. Looking up, I saw Cranket.

  “I’m sorry. I just came in and watched you,” he said. “The door wasn’t closed.”

  Little Vlid grabbed his book and went upstairs.

  “I wondered if you wanted your cooking pot retrieved from the Kettle of Fish,” Cranket said. “I could have one of my men do it. It would be awkward to carry.”

  “Yes. Thank you.” I was suddenly shy, looking away.

  “You were very good with him. I watched you for a while. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not. It’s not as if I was doing anything wrong.” If I had my way, I would be in Vlid’s arms now, but then the front door would have been closed and Cranket would have knocked.

  “Heleen, I watch people. I watch them all the time and you are reacting differently to me. What is going on?”

  I wanted to say nothing was going on, but found I couldn’t lie. It would be a worthless lie, a wasted lie. It would be denying something he knew was true. “I’m sorry, but I would prefer not to tell you.”

  He sat down next to me and put his hand on my arm. I looked at him and realized Vlid was right. Cranket cared for me. Why didn’t I see it?

  “You’ve been open with me before. Please tell me.”

  “I deceived you about my being on the Eagle,” I said.

  “You deceived me, but you didn’t lie to me. You just let me continue in my error.”

  “I’m not lying to you now. I would prefer not to tell you.”

  “Did you hear something about me? Something to my discredit?”

  “No,” I answered.

  “I asked two questions,” Cranket said. “Which are you answering no to?

  “Nothing to your discredit.” I realized I fell into a trap. I should simply have refused to answer.

  “What did you hear about me?”

  I looked down at the table. I didn’t withdraw my arm, which he still held. He slid his hand down to my hand. “Heleen, I love you. I didn’t want to say anything, because I can tell you don’t think of me that way. I’m considering asking you to marry me, but I want you to love me, and I know you don’t.”

  “Vlid told me,” I said.

  “Vlid? That’s odd. I thought he… I mean, what did he say?”

  “That you were interested in me. That I didn’t see it. He’s right. It never occurred to me until he said it. That’s why
I was embarrassed. I never thought of you in that way.”

  “I know. You’re not ready for me even to try to win you, are you?”

  “I don’t know. Before you commit yourself, there are some things you should know.” It was hard for me to say, but the consequences of not saying it could be significant. “I’m not a virgin.

  “It was a few months before my parents died. I thought I was in love. I was in love. We slept together three times. And then I found he was more interested in my father’s tavern than me. Fortunately, I didn’t get pregnant. He married someone else within a month. A widow with a bit of money.”

  “Has there been anyone else?” he asked softly.

  “No. No one. But there is something else. I have obligations I have to fulfill.”

  “Ship Town?”

  “Only for a short time. I have to go there and see what they need, but my long-term obligation is to Roddy. I promised him if he had a daughter, I would train her in enhancing. But there’s more than that. If he is in need, I have to help him.”

  “He’s like a father to you,” Cranket said. “Would you have to go to Ship Town to teach her if Roddy lived there?”

  “No. She could come to me when she’s about thirteen.”

  “That seems reasonable,” he said. “What about the others from the Eagle? I can tell you care about them.”

  “Lina, if she’s widowed, simply because she would be Roddy’s widow. I would help her. Vlid will take care of his sister and nephew. I think Jerot plans to take care of Amapola.” Cranket nodded.

  “I’m guessing you’ll make Jerot the permanent captain of the Mercy,” I said.

  “No.”

  “What?”

  “He’s wasted on the Mercy. He’ll get a large ship soon enough. Although I’d like to see what he can do with the Mercy, because I think there is a lot of profit to be made from a small fast ship trading on the coast.” He took my hand and brought it up and kissed it. I wasn’t certain how I felt about it, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Is this what my life would be with Cranket? Not unpleasant?