by Saxon Andrew
“I’ve been told he loves my sister.”
“Who told you that?”
“That’s not important. Is it true?”
“It is.”
“And how does she feel about him?”
“She will never feel close to him and will never return his feelings.” Olivia stared at him and he shrugged, “She bears too much hatred.”
“Then why did he want to come save me?”
“You do many things that don’t make sense when you really love someone. He doesn’t expect her to change her feelings but he hoped saving you would make her life happier.”
“You say you volunteered to save me?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I love him and I’m hoping that by saving you, he can finally forgive himself for all he’s done.”
Olivia looked toward the rear of the ship and saw Zeck manning the wheel. He didn’t have a shirt on she was surprised that he no longer looked like the fat Destroyer Captain she had seen years ago. He turned to a sailor that came up to him and Olivia saw a thick red scar running across his back. Her eyes widened and Tyler said, “Your sister gave him that scar.”
Olivia jerked her head around and Tyler nodded. “And he still loves her?”
Tyler looked at Zeck and shook his head, “I must confess that I wouldn’t have it in me if that happened to me but he’s a much better man than I am.”
Olivia turned to Tyler and smiled, “I am going to have to disagree with you on that. Excuse me.”
Tyler turned red and nodded. Olivia stood up and walked toward the rear of the ship. Everyone on the main deck watched her and it soon became clear that she was going back to the stern deck where Zeck was standing. Zeck finished talking with the sailor just in time to see Olivia coming up the steps. He blew out a breath. Rory met Olivia at the top of the steps and said, “I think you’ve gone far enough.”
Olivia looked him in the eye and said, “This doesn’t concern you. This is between the Captain and me.”
Rory stared in her eyes and Olivia didn’t flinch. He looked at Zeck who said, “Step aside, Rory.”
Olivia moved on the stern deck and walked over to Zeck. She stared at him in silence and he returned her stare. “I’m sorry for the disrespect I showed you yesterday.” Zeck’s eyes went wide. “It has been explained to me what has happened and you don’t deserve what I did. Thank you for saving my sister’s life. She would have died in the pens if you hadn’t taken her. I don’t know if I can accept how you treated her…but I’m thankful for what you did. I also want to thank you for saving me.” Olivia walked forward and hugged Zeck. She felt the ridges of the scar on his back and knew the force of the blow that caused it. She released him, turned, and walked off the deck.
Zeck’s eyes were moist and he looked out to sea. The crew saw what happened and after a moment one of them started clapping. Soon, the entire crew was applauding what she did. They gathered around her and began questioning her about being a slave among the Destroyers.
Tyler watched what happened from the bow and, though he couldn’t hear what was said, he knew what was communicated. This young woman was so much more than he thought. He shook his head and remembered how she had been belted to him as they flew. The feeling was something he couldn’t get out of his mind.
• • •
Ophelia pulled an ear of corn off the plant and threw it in the basket beside her. It was a hot day and she straightened up to wipe her brow and stretch her arms above her head. She turned to the left and back to the right and glanced at the cliff; there was a white flag flying on the mast. She leaned forward and saw the flag was halfway up the pole. She dropped the basket and sprinted out of the field. The workers around her stared at her then looked in the direction she was running. A ship had been spotted by the lookout. Ophelia was sprinting at her best speed and they knew why.
Ophelia arrived at the edge of the giant field and was nearly out of breath. She saw Melody come riding up on that giant dinosaur of hers and she came to a stop. Melody smiled and held out her hand, “Can I give you a ride?”
Ophelia looked at the giant Cursor shaking her head and then said, “What the hell!” She grabbed Melody’s hand and was pulled up behind her. The cursor took off and Ophelia closed her eyes and hung on to Melody with both hands. The speed they were moving was incredible and they arrived inside the walls in less than five minutes. Melody helped Ophelia slide off and watched her sprint toward the steps leading to the top of the cut in the cliff wall. Melody smiled and took Destiny back to the pens.
Ophelia rushed up the steps and stared at the horizon searching for sails. She remained there for several minutes and saw the flag moving up the tall mast. Melody walked up behind her and took her arm, “Come with me.”
Many members of the community had also seen the flag and were gathering at the pier. A line of Warriors were standing there preventing anyone from moving out on the pier other than the Community’s leaders and the landing crew. Melody moved through the crowd and Ophelia saw the many smiles that greeted her. When the people in the crowd saw her, the smiles disappeared. She had been accepted into the community but they weren’t comfortable around someone who had demonstrated so much cruelty. She honestly couldn’t blame them. Melody arrived at the guards and they parted to allow her through. They stopped Ophelia. Melody turned and said, “She’s with me!” The guards allowed her to pass and closed in behind her.
They walked toward the end of the pier four hundred yards away and Melody said, “They don’t know what to think about you Opie.”
“I know. I don’t blame them. He didn’t deserve what I did to him.”
“What did he deserve?”
Ophelia looked at Melody and saw her staring into her eyes as they walked. Ophelia sighed and shook her head, “He prevented me from being killed in the slave pens. I guess that in his own way he tried to show me affection and I just didn’t see it. He forced himself on me.”
“He never saw anything else.”
“I know, I know. It’s just…”
“Hard to accept.” Ophelia nodded. “What about since you’ve come here?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking?”
“How has he acted toward you since both of you came here?”
Ophelia shook her head, “I see him staring at me when he doesn’t think I see him. He quickly looks away if I look in his direction.”
“And?”
“I can tell he’s still attracted to me.”
“Even after the beating you gave him?”
“I don’t understand how he could. It’s just…it doesn’t make sense.”
Melody nodded, “Love is like that. It doesn’t make sense a lot of times.” Ophelia jerked her head toward Melody but they had arrived at the end of the pier and she had turned to Annelise and was hugging Derek. Ophelia looked out to sea but still didn’t see a ship. She looked up at the mast and saw the white flag had moved to more than two thirds off the ground. When it reached the top, a ship should be clearly visible. She looked back out to sea and still didn’t see anything.
She moved closer to Melody and heard Annelise say, “Either the lookout is drunk or the ship is moving faster than any vessel I’ve ever seen.”
Melody nodded, “The flag is moving up the mast at a rather fast rate.”
Annelise shook her head, “If the lookout is right, it has to be moving faster than twenty five miles an hour.”
“Is that possible?”
“I’ve never seen a Destroyer vessel sail that fast.” Annelise paused and said, “But I’ve never seen a ship equipped with camouflage sails either.”
Melody tilted her head, “Do you think those sails could make that big of a difference?”
“If the lookout is right, I can’t think of anything else.”
Annelise put a head cover on her head and said, “I can see the sails.” Melody pulled a head cover out of her pocket and pulled it on. Ophelia stared at the horiz
on and saw nothing. After a moment, Melody took her head cover off and pulled it on Ophelia. She looked out to sea and saw the topsails of a ship at the horizon. Her head jerked back and Melody said, “Their ship was camouflaged on the front and rear along with all the masts and sails. You won’t be able to see them without a camouflage head cover.” Ophelia reluctantly pulled the head cover off and held it out to Melody. She shook her head, “I think you need to keep it. You have much more riding on that ship than I do.”
They heard the crowd gathering at the end of the pier start cheering and Melody smiled, “I think Andy has arrived.” Ophelia turned and saw Andy and the other members of the Leadership Council walk on the pier. She quickly turned back to the ocean and saw that the body of the ship had moved above the horizon.
Andy arrived at the pier’s end and hugged Melody, “I had to rush getting here. The flag is moving incredibly fast.”
Melody nodded, “Annelise says that it must be moving around twenty five miles an hour.” Andy’s eyes narrowed and he put on his head cover and looked out to sea. He started nodding slowly and said, “It’s moving fast. The easterly wind is now blowing.”
Annelise shook her head, “It’s moving faster than twenty five miles an hour.” Everyone looked at her and she pointed at it, “Look at the bow wave; it’s huge.”
Ophelia stared at the ship and agreed with Annelise. She had spent a lot of time on a Destroyer ship and none of them created a bow wave like the one that ship was making. She never thought the ship would make it back. Now she began to hope that her sister might be on board. She fought against the hope not wanting to face the severe disappointment if she wasn’t but she just couldn’t stop herself.
A mile out from the pier, the ship furled its main sails. Its speed abruptly diminished as it continued moving toward them. Ophelia raised the head cover and saw that the sides of the vessel weren’t camouflaged and she could see it without the cover. She handed it to Melody and said, “Thank you.” Melody nodded and turned back to the ship.
Three hundred yards out, the rest of the sails were furled except for a small steering sail. The fresh easterly wind moved the ship slowly forward until the bow of the ship arrived next to the end of the pier. The steering sail was furled and lines were cast to the landing crew, who grabbed them and ran forward with the slow moving vessel. As the rear of the ship arrived at the end of the pier, more lines were cast and the landing crew tied them off to huge poles and brought the ship to a halt.
Ophelia stared at the vessel but couldn’t see over the railing. She looked toward the rear and saw Zeck steering the ship. She knew he would bring it in safely; he was an excellent Ship Commander. The ship came to a stop and the crew pulled it up against the pier. A landing ramp was brought over the side of the ship and everyone waited for the ship’s crew to exit. Ophelia stepped forward and stared at the ramp and, after it was locked in place, she saw a young woman in an archer’s blue uniform start walking down it. Ophelia’s eyes went wide and she screamed as she ran up the ramp toward the girl. She screamed, “OLIVIA!” as she grabbed the girl and pulled her into her arms. Both of them began weeping and the crowd at the end of the pier who had witnessed the reunion began cheering.
“I’ve been so frightened you were going to be killed. Thank God you’re here!”
“I love you, Ophelia. I love you!” They held on to each other as other members of the ship’s crew walked by them to the pier. Rory and Johnathan walked off the pier and immediately went to Andy and the Council. They began talking but for Olivia and Ophelia, there was only each other.
They finally walked down the ramp to get out of everyone’s way and Ophelia brought Olivia over to Melody, “This is my sister, Olivia.”
Melody smiled and gave Olivia a hug, “I’m so pleased to meet you. My name is Melody.”
Olivia bowed slightly, “And I’m so glad to be here.”
They continued to talk and after a few minutes, Ophelia glanced toward the stern of the ship and saw Zeck was watching them. He quickly looked away and she stepped back from her sister, “I have something I need to do.”
Olivia saw her staring at Zeck and nodded, “I’ll get someone to show me around. Go.”
Ophelia nodded and walked up the ramp. Olivia saw Tyler walking down the gangplank and she went over to him and smiled, “Do you have a few minutes to show me around?”
Tyler saw Ophelia rush past him and watched as she ran toward the stern. He smiled, “Sure, come with me.” He took her hand and led her toward the end of the pier.
Melody watched Tyler and Olivia walk away and saw something in the girl’s expression. Now this might be a problem. She looked at Ophelia heading toward Zeck and thought, “And this might be another.”
Zeck saw Ophelia run up the ramp and turn in his direction. He rubbed the back of his neck to ease some of the stiffness and wondered what was going to happen. Well, there was no avoiding it. He took a deep breath and turned toward Ophelia as she came up the steps and ran toward him. Three feet away she launched herself and wrapped Zeck’s head in her arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you a million times!”
Ophelia was weeping and Zeck softly said, “It’s alright, Ophelia. She’s safe.”
“I’m not crying for her, I’m crying for us.”
Zeck’s eyes narrowed and he leaned back to look in her eyes, “What?”
“I love you, I think I’ve loved you from the moment you told me you bought me to save me. I just couldn’t admit to myself. But now I can’t hold it back anymore. Is there any way you can forgive me?”
Zeck pulled her close and said, “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you at the slave auction years ago. There is nothing to forgive.”
“Can you accept me into your life, Zeck?”
Zeck looked at Ophelia staring up at him and he smiled, “There will never be anyone in my life but you. That’s the way it’s always been.” Ophelia wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and Zeck smiled as the stiffness disappeared.
Tyler had paused before leaving the pier and watched Ophelia and Zeck. He smiled and Olivia said, “I guess you were right.”
Tyler looked at her, “About what?”
“Love can make you do some unbelievable things.”
Tyler started laughing and took Olivia out into the crowd at the end of the pier and began introducing her to the community. Tyler watched her and was once again amazed at how she handled herself. She was brave, strong, and beautiful. He sighed and thought about Mindy.
• • •
It was much later when Zeck and Ophelia finally left the ship. They had talked for a long time and now, for the first time, they had found peace. They walked off the pier in each other’s arms and climbed the steps up to the top of the cutout. They arrived at the steps leading down to the community and were suddenly barraged by a huge roar. The entire community had waited for them to appear. For the first time since her arrival, Ophelia was greeted with smiles.
Tyler brought Olivia over to Andy and Melody and smiled, “Would you mind making sure she gets home safely?’
Melody smiled and nodded. Olivia watched him leave and looked at Melody, “Why couldn’t he do it?”
Melody stared at her and after a moment said, “Tyler has someone special here in the community.”
Olivia jerked her head around and watched Tyler walk away. She took a deep breath and blew it out. She looked at Melody and smiled, “It would be a real surprise if he didn’t. He’s not someone that would go unnoticed.”
Melody shook her head, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be; I’m free. No one ever gets everything they want.”
Andy leaned down and said, “Melody, we need to meet about the Destroyer defenses now!”
Olivia looked up at Andy and said, “They really started building them about six months ago. I think they’re planning to chain the slaves to the wooden X’s along the harbor when you invade.”
Andy looked at her and shook his head, “They’re wha
t?”
“All the slaves in the city were taken down to the shore and chained to the wooden fortifications. They practiced doing it several times over the last few months.”
Melody looked at Olivia and turned to Andy, “She needs to be in this meeting along with Zeck.” They looked and saw that Zeck and Ophelia were surrounded by the community. Melody chuckled, “The meeting can wait until tomorrow.”
Andy stared at Zeck and after a moment nodded. He looked at Olivia, “Will you come and assist us?”
Olivia nodded, “I’ll be glad to help in any way I can.”
Andy walked away and Olivia said, “Is he the Leader?”
“Yes he is and he’s my husband.”
Olivia smiled and said, “Both of you are quite impressive. Thank you for your kindness.”
Olivia turned and went to join her sister. Melody shook her head and thought, “And you are quite impressive as well.” Suddenly, she felt the baby move and she grabbed her stomach. As she grabbed it, she felt another kick from a different place. Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. She turned and ran after Andy.
Chapter Six
Andy looked around the cave at the group that was gathered and felt a close bond to every one of them. These people were his family. He looked at the two teenagers in attendance and saw they weren’t sitting together. He guessed Olivia had found out about Mindy. She was sitting beside Ophelia, who had her hand on Zeck’s arm. He had a mental sigh and was thankful that they had finally come together.
He looked over at Rory and Johnathan and saw their concern. Rory had just gone over a map of the layout of the Destroyer defenses and it was clear that everyone else in the room was concerned as well. He expected someone was going to suggest that they let sleeping dogs lie and it didn’t take long for Harvey to confirm it, “I really question whether or not we need to do this. We know they can’t do us any harm. Is there really a need to attack them?”
