by Sarah Noffke
The rock in the fire grew bright red, appearing as hot as the lava in the oasis Rory had made for Sophia’s egg. “Yes, I’m afraid so. I’ve since determined that no one is impersonating anyone else in my tribe, but the damage had already been done.”
“These pirates who stormed the island. Can you tell me where to find them?”
“I’m afraid I can’t,” Dakota said. “Their captain goes by the name Mac ‘Turbulent Winds’ Shazia.”
“That’s a mouthful,” Liv said. “Isn’t ‘turbulent’ a big word for a pirate?”
“He is a magician,” Dakota explained. “And as you know, you all rule the element of wind.”
“So he sails the seas, taking his advantage by harnessing the winds?” Liv said, not deterred by this.
“And if you think you’ll have an advantage over him because you’re a magician who also can control the wind, you’d be wrong. Captain Shazia’s powers trump all those I’ve seen. When you’re in his presence, you’ll find yourself unable to influence the wind. That’s because long ago he sailed out to the middle of the Pacific Ocean and sacrificed his most prized possession to Zephyr, the god of wind.”
“His most prized possession?” Liv asked, worried about what that might be.
“His, yours, mine—it is the same for each of us. Shazia gave his soul to Zephyr, and now his power over the wind is greater than anyone else’s.”
Liv shivered. “So he’s immortal?”
“Yes, but without a soul, the most dangerous thing about a person isn’t that they are nearly impossible to kill,” Dakota explained.
“What is it, then?” Liv asked, thinking she already knew the answer.
“It’s that they have no moral compass,” he stated. “Without that, there is nothing they won’t do to get what they want. I know few who would come after Father Time, challenging the man who dictates so much of our world.”
“Only someone who is soulless,” Liv mused.
“Yes.”
“But Shazia doesn’t want Papa Creola, does he? If so, he could have simply gotten him when he stole the Hourglass, right?” Liv asked.
“I’ve wondered the same thing,” Dakota mused. “Papa Creola was cornered. He had to escape, and in doing so, he was required to leave the hourglass behind to be stolen. In hindsight, everything was orchestrated perfectly so Papa Creola’s hourglass would be compromised.”
The elf king removed the stone from the fire, and it continued to glow brightly from the heat. “I think it will take much more than pirates to harm Father Time,” he continued. “My suspicion is that Shazia was sent after the hourglass. You see, he is still a pirate, and thrives off doing other’s bidding.”
“So someone hired him to take the hourglass?” Liv guessed. “Most likely, whoever is behind the illusions that allowed him to impersonate others.”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“Okay, so you can’t tell me where to find Shazia. Can you offer me any advice about how to find him?” Liv asked.
“He’s a selfish pirate who makes his living stealing from others, so any way you can draw attention to your wealth will be helpful,” Dakota offered.
Liv glanced up then to see a fleet of ships materialize out of nowhere. The one in the lead was covered in gold, making her squint as the sun reflected off the bow. A statue of a beautiful mermaid was perched on the front. And along the side, the name Serena was painted. “I don’t think that will be difficult,” Liv stated, nodding at the fancy ships approaching. Rudolf was on the front one, waving animatedly at her, like there was a chance in hell she’d miss the gaudy ship decorated with gemstones and a bright red sail flapping in the wind.
“Also, you’ll be unable to navigate using the winds due to Shazia’s control over them. And finding him is nearly impossible for most.” He pointed to the stone that was still glowing. “However, I’d like to offer you, the first delegate of Father Time, a gift that will help.”
“A really hot stone,” Liv said meekly. “Thanks.”
“It is a compass.”
Liv wanted to argue that it was a really hot stone, but she simply smiled politely.
“This is an elven compass. Finding Shazia is nearly impossible, but with this, you might have a chance. This will lead you in the direction of anything you desire on the open seas.”
“Oh, so you do know how to find Shazia,” Liv stated, wondering if he hadn’t understood the question earlier when she’d asked how to locate the pirate.
“I do not, and I have no interest in searching for the soulless. But you? If you employ your will and the compass, you might be able to.”
Oh, hippies and their semantics, Liv thought begrudgingly.
“Well, thank you. I’ll just wait until it cools and then take it,” she stated, watching as the stone glowed brightly.
Dakota shook his head. “If the compass is going to work for you, you’ll have to show faith in the magical race who made it.”
“How so?” Liv asked, skeptically.
“You’ll have to take my word that it will not burn you and grab it now, right after coming out of the fire.”
“Of course, I will,” Liv said dully.
“If you doubt my people and me, the stone will burn you, leaving a wound that will never heal.”
“I’m not sure I actually need this really fancy compass you’re offering me,” Liv said, eyeing the hot but plain stone.
“But if you grab it, believing in my people and me, seeing us as equals to you and appreciating what we have to offer you, it will be cool to the touch. And more importantly, it will direct you to whatever you seek.”
Liv thought this through. Again, she had a chance to influence the elves, showing them that magicians could be trusted. Maybe it wouldn’t seal the deal with the negotiations, but it might advance the progress.
She stuck out her hand and held it over the rock, its heat meeting her hand at once. Liv really didn’t want a burn, especially one that would never go away, but she did trust the magic of the elves. She strangely trusted Dakota. And most importantly, she wanted to quickly find Shazia and get back the Hourglass of All of Time.
Holding her breath, she dropped her hand to the stone, wrapping her fingers around it. She gasped as her skin touched the rock’s surface, and her eyes pressed shut. Something in her shifted. When she opened her eyes, she knew the power that had been unlocked wasn’t in the rock, it was inside her. She had the ability to find anything she desired on the open seas. Liv had been gifted with the ability to navigate the oceans effortlessly, something only an elf could normally do.
Chapter Nineteen
“Liv! Liv Beaufont! It’s me!” Rudolf yelled from the bow of the ship, continuing to wave his arms erratically as she neared on the dinghy sent to fetch her from shore.
She suspected the idea should have started earlier, but it wasn’t until that moment she completely doubted this idea to include Rudolf on this mission. Yes, she needed his fleet of ships. Yes, they’d worked together before and things hadn’t gone horribly wrong. And yes, they’d defeated Queen Visa with each other’s help. But Rudolf Sweetwater on the open waters of the choppy Pacific Ocean worried her. More than anything, she was concerned that she might throw him overboard.
“It’s me! Rudolf!” he yelled as she climbed up to the deck of the ship.
With great restraint, she nodded. “Yes, I realize that.”
He was wearing a blue velvet jacket with gold facing on the cuffs and collar. On his head, he wore a large tricorn, and around his neck was a billowing scarf, dancing over his shoulders in the wind.
Rudolf sighed in relief. “Oh, good. I wasn’t sure you’d recognize me.” He leaned forward as she approached. “I’m dressed like a captain. I realize you’re not used to seeing me this way.”
Liv smiled politely at the crew who stood lined up on either side of Rudolf, creating a reception line as she neared. They were all fae, and were dressed in uniforms, serious expressions on their faces. Finding and defe
ating a pirate shouldn’t be so hard, especially since they had a crew of magical creatures and four other ships that appeared to be stocked with weapons.
“Admiral, welcome aboard.” Rudolf saluted flamboyantly. He stayed frozen like that, his eyes sliding around nervously. Between his teeth, he said, “You’re supposed to salute to me as your captain.”
Liv shook her head. “Yeah, I’m not doing that.”
“Pleeease,” Rudolf said, suddenly looking like a begging child.
“King Sweetwater, this is only my second time on a boat. I’m not the admiral. And you?”
Holding the salute, his eyes slid over the fleet again. “Well, I’m considerably older than you, so…” He relaxed, lowering his hand. “Yeah, it’s only, like, my second time too.”
Liv shook her head at him. “I get that you have some sea fantasies you want to play out, but we have an important mission.”
“Exactly!” Rudolf said, motioning to the crew. “Man your stations. We set sail.”
Most of the crew moved off to their respective posts, all but a few female crew members. Sensing the confusion, Liv turned to them. “Go woman your stations.”
They nodded, suddenly comprehending, and moved off.
Liv shook her head, muttering, “Fae are definitely not the brightest of the magical races. Good thing they are attractive.” She eyed a male fae who was wearing particularly snug pants as he bent over to grab a rope.
“You know it will never work between you two,” Rudolf said in a hushed voice, sidling up next to Liv and observing where her gaze was directed.
“Because I enjoy stimulating conversations and a partner who knows that Germans aren’t the ones responsible for spreading germs?” Liv asked.
A line formed between Rudolf’s eyes. “Wait, they aren’t? Then why are germs named after them?”
Liv sighed, eyeing the port side of the ship and wondering if it was too early to throw Rudolf overboard. She reminded herself that this fleet did belong to him, and that although he thought that steak fries were made from steak and chickpeas were made from chickens’ urine, he was still her friend.
He set his hands on the railing of the ship, taking in a large gulp of air. “Isn’t it nice to be cruising on the high seas?”
“We haven’t pulled up the anchors yet,” Liv stated, watching as the crew worked.
Rudolf glanced around in confusion. “Well, why not?”
“Because, Captain, the crew is waiting for our orders to tell them where we should set off to.”
“Oh, right,” he said, licking his finger and holding it up. “Due west, Admiral.”
Liv lowered her chin. “That would have us sailing into that island.” She pointed to Kauai.
“I meant the other west,” Rudolf corrected.
Liv removed the stone Dakota had given her from her pocket. “I think I have a way for us to find Mac ‘Turbulent winds’ Shazia.”
Rudolf watched curiously as Liv closed her fingers around the rock, thinking about the person she wished to find. The rock began to warm in her hands, and she worried that it would become scorching hot like it was before. It didn’t, but the stone did start to pulse with a strange intensity.
Liv opened her eyes and her fingers, peering down at the rock. It appeared to be a real compass, with an arrow and directions. It was pointing east. “We should sail to the east.”
“As I was saying,” Rudolf stated importantly, “we head due east, crew!”
Liv slipped the rock back into her pocket as the crew pulled up the anchors on the ships and began attending to the sails.
Rudolf flicked his finger at the steering wheel and it rotated, turning the ship in the right direction. “Now what?”
Liv looked out, watching as the first ship took the lead, two others flanked them, and the last took up position at their back. They were completely surrounded. “We will keep our eyes out for Shazia’s ship.”
“You heard that, lookouts!” Rudolf called to a fae standing at the top of the mast in the lookout bucket. “Once we sail out a bit farther so we can really get a lay of the land.”
“There is no land.” Liv turned around. “Well, besides the islands at our back that we’re leaving behind.”
“Just give it a minute. Soon we will be able to see to the West Coast.”
“No, we won’t.”
“We will be able to see the plains of Oklahoma.”
“Nope,” Liv stated.
“And soon we’ll be able to see the Entire State Building in New York.”
“You do realize that it’s called the ‘Empire State’ Building, right?”
He shook his head. “Very funny, Liv. ‘Empire State’ Building doesn’t make any sense.”
“You don’t make any sense,” Liv retorted.
They’d been sailing for a solid hour when Rudolf turned to her with a serious expression on his face. “If it gets to that point, I want you to know that you can eat me.”
She blinked at him. “Why would that even be an option? The ships are stocked with supplies, right?”
“Yes, I ensured that we had all the essentials.”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘essentials?’” Liv asked, bracing herself for the answer.
He sighed. “I didn’t realize I was going to have to define words for you. And you get on me for calling it the ‘Specific Ocean,’ which I still argue is correct.”
“It’s the Pacific,” she stated.
“Anyway, essentials, dear, sweet Liv, are things we can’t live without.”
“Like?” she asked, her tone rising.
He held up a single finger. “Hair gel.”
“Oh, God,” she said, covering her forehead with her hand.
“And of course I brought the router box,” he continued.
“Because?”
“Duh. How else are we going to get Wi-Fi out here?” Rudolf said, shaking his head at her.
“Right,” Liv said, drawing out the word.
“And I was smart enough to remember to bring both of us a car door.”
Liv blinked at the fae, seriously trying to understand what she could possibly be missing. “Why did you do that?”
He huffed. “It gets hot out on the open water. Serena suggested that when the sun is blazing overhead, we can roll down the windows of our car doors and get a nice breeze.”
Liv’s eyes widened with pure amazement. “Please tell me you did not leave that poor girl alone while you’re gone.”
He laughed. “Of course not. I left her in charge of the kingdom.”
“Which will probably burn to the ground by the time we return. Well, when I return with your casket, anyway.”
“Don’t you worry, Liv. I don’t plan on dying at the hands of a dirty pirate. I will defend you bravely, and this Shazia will rue the day he crossed our paths.”
“I’m certain he’s already shaking in his boots,” Liv said. “Just please tell me you remembered to bring such things as food and water.”
“I did,” he stated triumphantly.
Liv smiled, thinking she needed to give Rudolf more credit.
He pointed at the ship leading the way, which was named Plato. “All the food and water are on that one.”
An explosion rocked the Serena as a cannonball slammed into the Plato, cutting the ship in half and sending it to the bottom.
Chapter Twenty
The crew on the Plato dove into the choppy waters, swimming for one of the other vessels.
The lookout above Liv and Rudolf pointed. “Pirate ship!”
“Thanks,” Liv said with a growl, not thrilled that she was going to die on a ship with a bunch of idiots.
“Get to the cannons!” Rudolf yelled, his voice amplified to be heard by the surrounding vessels. They surrounded the Serena at once, keeping it protected.
Liv ran to the starboard side, looking out at the pirate ship in the distance. It was stereotypically painted black, its skull-and-cross-bone-marked sails flapping in the wind.
On the side, she read the name of the ship: Zephyr.
It fired again, this time hitting the ship at the rear with a blast of magic. A normal blow of that sort would have been detrimental, but one fueled by magic was ten times worse. A crack followed the explosion as one of the ship’s masts splintered. Another blast struck the ship broadside, leaving a gaping hole that instantly filled with water. The ship capsized and was rapidly swallowed by the unforgiving sea.
Things had progressed quickly, going from annoying to extremely dangerous. Liv feared they’d lose before they’d even had a chance to fight.
The three remaining ships began to fire their cannons. Liv glanced around, noticing their names: the Rory, the Bermuda, and the Liv.
The missiles exploded, landing all around the pirate ship, which was strangely getting farther away even though it didn’t appear to be moving.
“Captain!” one of the crew members yelled. “Something is happening with the ships!”
Liv glanced up, noticing that the winds picked up and were sending them back in the direction they’d come. Shazia was using his advantage with the wind.
The cannons continued to fire, but now they were too far to get a hit.
“We need to separate from the fleet,” Liv stated.
“Separate?” Rudolf questioned, pointing at the closest ship. “But that one has all the—”
“If you say hair gel, I’ll make you walk the plank,” Liv interrupted.
He nodded. “Okay, fine. But why do you think we need to separate? The ships are protecting us.”
“Which would be great if survival was our only objective, but it’s not. We need to storm the Zephyr, but we can’t do that as long as he knows we’re after him,” she explained.
“How are we going to do that?” Rudolf asked.
“We’re going to use the other ships as bait,” Liv stated. “Instruct the crew on those ships to magic the cannons to continue to fire. I want everyone to board the Serena in the next few minutes. We’re sailing away from the Zephyr.”
