I sigh this should be an exciting day but I can't get my mind off the necklace I took from the pirates. They left shortly after my break in. I look at the necklace in my hand, I know it so well. It is my sisters after all. I stand with Katrina on the beach waiting to see if the boys can win the race. I have my faith in them and the Heron is a good ship.
We wait and wait and wait still they are not back. Finally Katrina looks at me " Was do you think?" She knows I am a sailor.
"I think they will be here soon but not before the storm breaks though they should be here before it gets bad." I look at the storm just waiting to break open and drench us. Then a horn sounds, the first of the boats has arrived but as I hear the horn it brings back a memory of my father looking down on me and saying with a voice full of grief "Pirates are cunning if they come to a harbor in peace or need you can bet they will be back and ready for whatever defenses you have." Could the pirates of the raven return? They had spoken of treasure.
"Oh no." Katrina murmurs and my attention is dragged back to the harbor as the first ship sails in and it is not the heron. Tursgud and his bullies have won. This probably means they will win the Brother Band prize. Then we wait to see who is next. I smile as the Heron sails in but something is wrong. The sail is wrong. They have not switched the sail to accommodate the wind direction that cannot be good for the mast. As they land, the boys climb out but there are twice the number. I realize the Wolves are also there. What had happened? Hal ran over to us and I hug him "You did amazing."
"We didn't win."
"From the look of it you saved to wolves. Which is more important than any race. My people have a saying Δεν άφησε πίσω του ναύτη."
"No warrior left behind?"
"Sailor, Warrior same thing in Oreek but yes. We look out of each other."
"Hal get over here." Sigurd yells and we all walk over to him and Erak. "The sharks won the race, now everyone to the feast hall where we will announce the winning brother band and give out your bands.
We all walk over to the feast hall and Erak stands up.
"Now we have spoken and the points counted and the winner of this year's brother band is, the Herons. Instantly an uproar as the boys walk to the Oberjarl Hal in front. Erak starts speaking of duty and honor in battle. I sort of zone him out only to catch the end of the speech. "….And for tonight the Heron brother band will guard our most valuable treasure the andromadle (A/N I have no idea how that is spelled.)" That must have been what the pirates were talking about. I start to calculate how dangerous they could be and when they could possibly come and where my sister is because if they had her necklace then she must have been captured explaining why they never came. Suddenly Hal is in front of me and grinning. I smile at him but my mind is on other things and he frowns.
"Aren't you happy for us? For me?"
"Of course just…"
"Kira this is huge I am actually respected! I'm not Hal Who anymore."
"I know."
"Can't you just be happy? Or do you think this will change anything between us? It won't I promise" His earnest voice surprises me. The thought that I might be uncomfortable with him being higher in the world makes me chuckle. He glares at me and I can just imagine what is going through his head. But I didn't care. Not right now. Right now what matters is dealing with those pirates, finding my sister, and protecting my people. Hal huffs and turned away and I watch several girls approach him but my mind is already on other things.
In the end I leave. I can't think with the celebration going on and I decide to go to the boys' cabin. It will be taken down soon as the boys will return home. Home. I want it so badly. I curl up in Hals bed and try to go to sleep.
I wake late and scramble to change only to frown. They boys have not returned and the watch would have ended at dawn. I run through the forest in a head long rush my only goal is to find the Herons. I fly out of the forest and blink. I am near Katrina's tavern and I burst in. "Katrina where's Hal?" Instantly I know something has happened. Katrina sits crying in the kitchen. "Katrina," I kneel and take her hand "what happened? Where's Hal or the boys or Thorn?"
"They...They… The watch… Andromadle… stolen…. They gone...after it. Oh Kira Erak was going to take the Heron away he had stripped them of their weapons and bands but he wanted the heron." She sobs and I can barely make out the words but I understand. The pirates must have come in the night stolen the Skandians treasure and slipped away the boys having failed had to be punished. In the islands it would have been death for stealing for the person hard labor by sea for negligence and loss of all land and ships.
"Was anyone hurt?" Katrina just shook her head. "Katrina I am going to go after them and I will bring them back in one piece. I promise. I promise on Gead." And on my τιμούν ως ευγενής.
"I don't know what it's worth but you go with my prayers." She whispered. I rise and walk out the door. I don't look at the grieving woman behind me. I can't do anything for her now. I walk melting into the forest. I don't look back because I probably won't be coming back and besides I don't want my last memory of this place to be one of looking back or goodbye.
Hi so not a lot of views on the last chapter. Where did you people go? Any way I have the next part written but I am not posting it till I get three more reviews. I don't care what you write it can be a smile face or you need a period here! Just review. Three is not a lot. So hope life's been treating you well and have a good night.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Kira everything else belongs to Flanagan.
Olivecat
