Dean felt a lump in his throat. He’d only known Gentleman Jim a day, but he mourned him just the same. The man deserved better. “If he’s dead, what does it matter?”
One-Eyed Jack leaned forward. “If?”
“No, he’s dead all right,” Rook said, grinning ear to ear. “Lost at sea, the good cap’n was. So sad.”
Scurvy Gill shrugged. “No great loss. Serves ’im right for stealin’ me lucky sock.”
Rook laughed, and something inside Dean snapped. He stood up and gave him a shove. “Wipe that smile off your face, you dog! If he was lost, we both know it’s ’cause you cut him loose!”
“I’ll cut you loose, ya little runt!” Rook tackled Dean. Dean wrapped his arms around him and pulled him down to the floor as he fell. The two boys were the same age, but Rook’s scrawny arms packed no punch. Dean pinned Rook to the deck and swung away until the door opened up behind him. Poor knife-footed Lunk shuffled in and tripped over Rook’s outstretched legs.
Tea spilled everywhere. Again.
“My tea!” One-Eyed Jack threw his hands up. “Of all the bloody—Enough! Both of you! Get up!”
Scurvy Gill separated Dean and Rook, then sat them both down across from One-Eyed Jack. “Now, look what ya did,” Rook said to Dean. “Spilled the cap’n’s tea—”
“Shut up, Rook!” One-Eyed Jack bellowed. “Seaborne! What do you mean if Gentleman Jim was lost? If he’s not dead, where is he?”
Dean straightened his shirt and rubbed a sore spot on his back where Rook had punched him. “Ronan’s looking for him now. He thinks the men who rescued us have him.”
“The men who rescued you? What would a bunch of Good Samaritans want with Gentleman Jim?”
Dean shook his head. “They weren’t Good Samaritans. They were grifters. Tried to tell me they were traders from Zenhala, they did.”
“Traders from Zenhala!” Rook said. “That’s a laugh.”
But One-Eyed Jack was not laughing. His one good eye lit up, and he leaned across the table toward Dean. When he spoke, his voice was as soft as a whisper. “They told you what?”
“Wait a minute, no. Not traders. That wasn’t it.” Dean snapped his fingers. “Seekers! Seekers for the lost prince. They tried to convince me that I was the lost prince of Zenhala. Locked me up separate from the others. I had to swim back to get away. That’s why I was late getting here.”
One-Eyed Jack and Scurvy Gill traded cautious looks.
“They told ya that you was a prince?” asked Scurvy Gill. “Why would they do that?” He shook his head. “Don’t figure.”
The conversation’s change in tone was not lost on Dean. Scurvy Gill was trying to poke holes in his story, but One-Eyed Jack was listening to him now. The mere mention of Zenhala had hooked his attention. It was just like Gentleman Jim had told him back in the tavern. Never underestimate what the promise of gold will make a man believe. “It was just a trick to get me to go quietly,” Dean said, trying not to be too obvious about pushing One-Eyed Jack’s buttons. “My guess is they wanted to ransom me back to whatever wealthy relatives they think I’ve got. Their captain really tried to sell me on his story. Gave me his cabin … even put me in these clothes. Said we’d sail for Zenhala with the morning tide. I saw right through it, of course. Especially when he said they were coming here.”
“Here? The ship’s here?” One-Eyed Jack gripped the edge of the table, barely able to contain his excitement.
Dean nodded. “It’s anchored off the coast of the island.”
Rook was incredulous. “Cap’n, yer not believin’ any a this!”
One-Eyed Jack backhanded Rook. “I said shut up, you!”
Dean smiled. “It’s no lie, sir. I’ve got proof.” Dean produced the gold coin that he had taken off Verrick. He slapped it down on the captain’s table and pulled up his sleeve to reveal the identical brand on his arm. “There it is, the mark of the noble house of Aquos. Same as me, the lost prince.” Dean winked and took a mock bow. Now that he had One-Eyed Jack’s attention, an idea crept into his brain. “It’s just a thought, but the Pirate Youth could easily take that ship for you and replace the Reckless. Who knows? There might even be enough gold on board for a proper tribute. There’s still time for them to square things with you.”
One-Eyed Jack picked up the coin and gripped it tight. Scurvy Gill leaned over to whisper in his ear. The two of them exchanged a few quiet words before One-Eyed Jack finally rose to speak.
“A proper tribute. What do you suppose that is, Seaborne? Normally, I take a share of each ship’s monthly plunder. With the Reckless gone, there’s no way to know how big that share should be.”
Dean shrugged. “You could take everything. It’s not like anyone’s going to complain. They’ll all be happy just to save their skins.”
“You’re very quick to distance yourself from your shipmates, I see. What about you, Seaborne?”
“Me?”
One-Eyed Jack held up the gold coin. “It’s going to take more than this to make me whole. When the Reckless went down, its captain owed me money, and if he’s gone, that debt falls to his crew. You were part of that crew, were you not?”
Dean scrunched up his face. “Captain?”
“You’re not off the hook yet, Seaborne. Not by a long shot. I’m making you personally responsible for Gentleman Jim’s tribute and the loss of the Reckless.”
Dean’s heart stopped dead. “Captain, you can’t mean that! I wasn’t part of the crew. I was there spying for you!”
“You have until the end of the month to make good on your debt. One week.”
“One week! That’s impossible!”
One-Eyed Jack nodded. “You’re probably right. I’d say only your new friends, the traders of Zenhala, can help you now.”
Dean squinted at One-Eyed Jack. “The traders? You don’t honestly think those men were telling the truth.”
“You’d better hope they were. But I don’t want to think, I want to know. And you’re going to find out for me. If they are truly from Zenhala? If they can lead you back to the Golden Isle?” One-Eyed Jack rubbed his hands together like a starving man sizing up a prize bird. “In that event, you’re to signal me at once, understand?”
Dean’s eyes swept the room. He felt dizzy. “Signal you? How?”
One-Eyed Jack clapped his hands and called out, “Sisto!” A large green parrot flew in through a porthole and landed on his shoulder. He motioned to the bird. “You’ll send my bird back with directions. He’ll find me, wherever I am. Any other questions?”
Dean felt a whirlpool churning in his stomach. “Why are you doing this? Why me?”
One-Eyed Jack grinned with a mouth full of brown and black teeth. “Isn’t that obvious? You’re the one that they want. You’re the prince.”
Dean leaned on the arm of his chair for support. So much for Gentleman Jim’s philosophy of offering the mark “too much.” What had he done? Zenhala was a myth. He couldn’t find what didn’t exist. He’d never be able to pay One-Eyed Jack what he wanted. Dean felt the room wobbling all around him.
One-Eyed Jack frowned. “What’s that face for, you ungrateful blighter? You said you wanted to square things. This is a golden opportunity I’m offering. If you can find Zenhala, you’ll settle more than your debt. Deliver me the golden orchard, and we’ll truly be square. You can go your own way. You can be free.”
Dean blinked. The room stopped moving, and his senses turned razor sharp. “Free?” He couldn’t believe his ears. Dean had been press-ganged into One-Eyed Jack’s service since before he could walk. Just the outside chance of freedom made him want to believe Zenhala was real. He didn’t dare get his hopes up high enough for that, but the prize was worth the risk—any risk. “Did you say free?”
One-Eyed Jack offered Sisto to Dean. “As a bird.”
Dean stood up and reached for the parrot, but stopped himself halfway. “Wait, no. Not just me. If I find Zenhala, all the Pirate Youth go free. No one gets left behind. N
o one but Rook.”
One-Eyed Jack stroked the back of Sisto’s neck as he overhauled Dean’s words. “Making demands, are we, Seaborne?”
“No, sir. Just a humble request.”
One-Eyed Jack nodded. “So be it. Gentleman Jim was the only one who ever wanted those half-pints anyway.”
Dean took Sisto onto his arm, and Rook threw up his hands. “I don’t believe this.”
Scurvy Gill slapped Rook on the back of the head. “Believe it, Rook. You’re goin’ with ’im.”
Dean straightened his back. “I’m not going anywhere with that snake. I don’t trust him.”
One-Eyed Jack laughed. “Don’t waste your time arguing with me. Rook’s coming along to keep you honest. Or rather, to keep you dishonest. Too much of Gentleman Jim’s virtue has rubbed off on you already, I can tell. You don’t have that problem, do you, Rook?”
Rook laughed. “No. Not I.”
“I thought not. It’s settled. You have one week and not a day more, Seaborne. You’ve always been a smart one. Now’s not the time to be changing that. We both know there’s not a place on earth that I can’t get to you, so just do your job and get out of there. If I don’t hear from you … if I even think for a single fleeting moment that you’re going to run? I’ll come after you with every ship I’ve got.”
Dean nodded. “I know you will.”
“Good.” One-Eyed Jack glanced out the window. “The sun’s almost up. Get some proper clothes on and get on your way.” One-Eyed Jack had a sneer on his face. “Your loyal subjects are waiting.”
CHAPTER 11
ANCHORS AWEIGH
An hour later, Dean and Rook rowed out to meet the Tideturner at sea. They made it to the ship by sunrise. Dean’s brow dripped with sweat as they closed in on the boat. What did I get myself into this time? he wondered. Dean still wasn’t sure what manner of ship the Tideturner was, or what to make of Verrick and his crew. The ship was a Bermuda rigged sloop. Bermuda. As in the Bermuda Triangle. Dean might have hoped that Verrick’s story was real if he didn’t know sloops so well. The slender, single-masted vessel was a favorite of Caribbean pirates because its quick speed and low lines made it difficult to hit with cannon fire. That knowledge gave Dean pause, but he had to admit, such attributes would have proved equally valuable to the traders of Zenhala, if they existed. Dean climbed aboard with Rook at his back and Sisto on his shoulder, not knowing what to believe. When his feet hit the deck, he saw Ronan tied to the mast, being questioned by Verrick.
“I’ll ask you again, for the last time. My patience is wearing thin. Where is my prince?”
Ronan struggled against his ropes to no avail. “I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Where’s Captain Harper?” he demanded.
“Neptune’s beard, you’re thick!” Verrick threw his hands up and turned away. “We’ve been through this time and again. I’ve not seen your captain. I wish I had! All hands were brought on board when we saved your crew. If your captain was lost at sea, he’s got my sympathy, but my concern is for the living. Now the lost prince is suddenly lost once more, and he left you in his place. Where did he go and why?”
Dean paid close attention. It was telling that Verrick was so anxious to find him and continued to refer to him as a prince.
“I don’t know any prince!” Ronan shouted. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“You know who I mean. The boy. He was part of your crew!”
“We’re all boys in my crew. Who are you talking about?”
Dean stepped out into the open. “Me, Ronan. He means me.”
Ronan leaned forward, squinting. “Seaborne?”
Verrick closed his eyes and gently exhaled. “The prince!” exclaimed several members of his crew. They rushed to Dean’s side, greatly relieved. The parrot flapped its wings and squawked in Dean’s ear as the sailors crowded around him. Dean turned his head and tried to act like it didn’t bother him. The truth was, he hated the way One-Eyed Jack’s filthy bird felt on his shoulder. Its talons felt like the pirate king’s own fingers digging into his skin.
Dean motioned to Ronan. “Let him go, please. If he gave you any trouble, it was only out of concern for our captain.” He locked eyes with Ronan and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ronan. You won’t be finding Gentleman Jim on board.”
Ronan blinked. “But he has to be on board.”
Rook’s lips twisted up in a wicked grin. “Take my word fer it. The briny deep be home to Gentleman Jim now.”
Ronan’s eyes welled up with tears. Dean balled up his fist. He wanted to knock that smile off Rook’s ugly face, but it wasn’t the time or place. Over at the mast, Verrick’s men cut Ronan loose. He stumbled forth in a daze, crushed by the apparent loss of his captain.
“Sire, you gave us a terrible fright,” Verrick told Dean. “You can’t imagine … for us to have been searching for you so long, only to lose you again the moment we found you.” Verrick shivered from head to toe. “Where did you go? Why did you leave?”
Dean smiled. “Come now, Captain. You didn’t expect me to swallow a story like yours in one bite, did you?” Dean pointed to the island in the distance. “Bartleby Bay has a reputation. I followed your crew ashore to make certain you weren’t pirates yourselves.”
Verrick nodded. “Fair enough. I trust you saw nothing to confirm your suspicions?”
Dean shook his head. “I wouldn’t have come back otherwise. But this journey still goes against every sane instinct I have. A body would have to be mad to set sail with you.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“Charting a course for Zenhala? I do indeed. But!” Dean raised a finger. He was trying hard to make it seem like he’d come to this decision on his own. “The way I see it, you only live once. So I’m going to do it anyway.”
Verrick laughed and clasped his hands together. “You can’t imagine how relieved I am to hear you say that. Your kingdom will rejoice in your return.” The captain of the Tideturner looked to his men. “It’s time, lads! Time at last! Your faith has been rewarded. Our years of sacrifice are nearly at an end. Ready a launch for the prince’s mates. They’ll be going back to the island forthwith.”
“Belay that order!” Dean called out. “They’re coming with us, Captain.”
Ronan joined Rook and Dean, rubbing his wrists. His skin was red where the ropes had bound him. “What’s all this about? Where are we going?”
“Your Grace!” Verrick said before Dean could reply. “We can’t take outsiders back to the island. It’s against the law.”
“The law? I thought you said I was the prince.”
“Yes. Of course, but—”
“Well? Don’t I make the laws?”
Verrick hesitated. He was clearly uncomfortable with the position Dean was putting him in. “It’s not that simple.”
“It never is. I haven’t survived this long by being simple. You said as much yourself. I’m not going anywhere without protection.”
Verrick put on a wounded look. “You’ve no need of protection here. Any man on this ship would gladly give his life for you, myself included.”
“So you say. I might be willing to take a chance and trust you, but I don’t know you. Not like I do Ronan and Rook. We go together or not at all. That’s my final word on the matter.”
Verrick rubbed his beard, grumbling. “And the bird? He comes too, I take it?”
“Sisto? He’s my closest friend,” Dean lied. “I can’t leave him behind.” Dean fed the bird a cracker and placed him in a cage that he and Rook had brought on board. Sisto snapped at Dean’s fingers as he shut the door.
“Very well,” Verrick said at last. “Set a course for the Bermuda Triangle, men. We’re going home. All of us.” The crew hoisted the anchor and loosed the sails. Verrick took the helm, and the three young pirates had a moment alone to talk.
“What the devil is going on here?” Ronan whispered. “You’re a prince now?”
Dean nodded toward
Verrick. “As far as he knows, yes.”
Ronan leaned in closer to Dean. “What do you think you’re doing? We can’t sail off with these men. We have to square things with One-Eyed Jack.”
“I already did that. He gave us a chance to make things right.”
“He did?”
Dean shrugged. “In his own way, yes. All we have to do is cover the loss of the Reckless and pay the monthly tribute.”
Ronan bit his lip. “Did he give us any more time?”
“No,” Rook replied. “Payment’s due by week’s end.”
Ronan’s eyes went wide. “Is he mad?” He looked at Dean, who confirmed the deadline, and One-Eyed Jack’s madness, with a casual nod. “How are we going to get that much loot in a single week? And why do you look so calm? What are we doing with these men? Where are we going?”
Dean took a breath. He could hardly believe what he was about to say:
“Zenhala.”
Ronan did a double take at Dean. “Zenhala?” He looked at Verrick and his men as they prepared to set sail. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious, Ronan. One-Eyed Jack said if we can deliver the gold of Zenhala, we’re out of his pocket for good. You, me, and the rest of the Pirate Youth. The whole lot of us—free. How’s that strike you?”
Ronan looked at Dean like a fool who didn’t know the port side from the starboard. “You told One-Eyed Jack that we were going to bring him back the golden harvest of Zenhala? You call that a chance to make things right?”
“Unless you’ve got a better idea.”
Ronan bit his lip and turned his back on Dean. He looked up at the heavens and shook his head in disbelief. “I do have one idea.” Ronan spun around and punched Dean square in the nose. “How’s that strike you?”
It took three of Verrick’s men to separate Ronan and Dean. Rook cackled with glee as the two of them went at each other. He did nothing to interfere. When the fight was over, Verrick didn’t know if he should tie Ronan back to the mast or throw him overboard. “Are you sure you want this one with us, Your Grace? It doesn’t bode well that you should need protection from your protection.”
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