Chapter Ten; The Deal

Thanks again for all the positive feedback guys! And yeah Harry is a rather brave little boy isn't he? I mean considering what he's up against. Anyway, here's the next chapter and I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, hope you enjoy the next chapter as well!

Harry watched as Kit came out of his cabin again. He burst through the door wearing a black pirate hat on top of his head this time and carrying a bottle of some sort inside his right hand as he walked over towards the wheel. He bit off the cork before spitting it out again. Harry suddenly realized that he had made him really angry. Then he turned to look back up at Mick.

"What's that that he's got in his hand?" Harry began questioningly. "I mean what is he drinking?" he wondered as he turned back to watch Kit lean his head back and take a humongous gulp.

"Oh that?" Mick began. "That's rum. That's a pirate's favorite drink that is." He explained.

"Rum." Harry repeated.

"Yeah, but don't think that yer getting a single drop of it! Yer mum and dad probably would have me tried and hanged if I allowed that." He said as Harry turned back to look at Kit who was now taking ahold of the wheel with both hands.

"He's an awfully grumpy man isn't he?" he questioned.

"Yeah, most of the time he is." Mick admitted.

"Then why don't you just leave?" Harry asked as he glanced back up at him. "You know, find another ship to be on?" he asked him.

"Because for one he's my brother and I wouldn't just leave him first mate less." He began. "And for two, although I'll admit it isn't very often, but every once and awhile Kit shows his softer side. I mean poor Wags was abandoned when he was a puppy. Kit found him chained up to some tree in the middle of the woods." He explained.

"But why would anyone do something like that?" Harry questioned him with astonishment and disbelief.

"Who knows?" Mick questioned him back with a shrug. "I may be a pirate, but that doesn't mean that I'm heartless like the hopeless soul that left the poor dog out there to die." He began. "And even though ninety percent of the time it doesn't look like it, but Kit's not either. He took him in and gave him a home. He took him in, fed him, and nursed him back to health he did." He told him.

"Really?" Harry questioned him as Mick nodded. "Well why did he name him Wags?" he asked him as Mick chuckled.

"That shouldn't be any mystery to ya. He named him Wags, because there's hardly ever a time when he's not wagging his tail. Ironic that he would still trust humans after what happened, but I guess that's a dog for ya. That's why they call 'em man's best friend. However humans on the other hand work differently. In fact it is for that very reason that I don't blame Kit for losing his trust in people. Animals make a lot more sense they do." He said. "All they care about is making you happy, and all they want to do is love and be loved." He said,

"Uh Mick,.." Harry began with uncertainty. "what happened to Kit to make him lose his trust in humans?" he asked him before he took a deep breath and sighed heavily while he hung his head.

"I'm afraid that I can't tell ya that Harry." He said.

"Why not?" Harry asked him.

"I promised him that I wouldn't. And I never break me promises. Especially towards me own brother." He said as he started to raise his head again and realized that his friend had disappeared. "Huh? Harry?" he questioned him before he let out an astonished horrified gasp as he saw the little boy walking straight towards the man behind the wheel. "Oh no," he began as he placed his hands on top of his head. "I don't know who he'll shoot first, me or Harry." He said to himself with concern as he quickly ran towards the front of the ship.

Kit glanced down at his compass before realizing the small person standing beside him. He made a disgusted face and winced while he glanced down at him. "Oh you again, wizard boy." He muttered under his breath. "What do you want?" he asked him reluctantly with a groan. Harry suddenly realized that the man had reminded him of someone, although he couldn't really figure out who. Harry turned to look out to sea before blurting out the first thing that came to his mind.

"What are you doing?" he asked him.

"What kind of stupid ridiculous question is that? I'm steering the ship, I'm the captain." He said.

"I meant, where are you trying to go?" Harry questioned him again.

"What difference does that make to you, it's none of your damn business!" he hollered.

"I'm sorry Captain Kit, I just wanted to help you. You know, like you helped save Wags." Harry told him as he glanced back up at him and gazed into his eyes. "That was a wonderful thing to do, and I'm sure he's grateful for it." He told him.

"Well,.. I,.." Kit began nervously. "It was the spur of the moment decision." He told him. "Now go away and leave me alone. A lad yer size couldn't do anything useful anyway." He said before he turned back around.

"Uh, I defeated a dark an evil wizard before remember? And that was back when I was a baby. That's why I have this scar on my forehead." Harry told him as Kit quickly glanced over at it.

"It looks like a lightning bolt." He told him.

"I know." Harry began as he touched it. "I'm very famous for it back where I'm from." He said.

"Oh really now? Where is that?" Kit asked him.

"The future." Harry replied as Kit turned and stared at him gaping his mouth wide open at him. Harry realized that it had sounded rather foolish even after he had said it.

"So it's true then. The legend of Diamond Rock, the alternate dimension really exists." He said.

"I guess it does." Harry began.

"That must mean that the jewles exist too. Have you seen a cave around here by any chance?" he asked him.

"Yes, I think so. I think that's where my dragon went." He told him.

"Alright lad I'll make a deal with ya, you help me get to the cave and find the treasure chest inside of it and I'll not only split some of the treasure with ya, I'll help get ya home as well." He told him.

"How do I know that you're telling me the truth?" Harry asked him.

"Listen lad, I may be a lot of things. A scurvy scallywag, a pillager, and a rotten old bastard, but one thing about me that my brother and I have in common is that I never go back on my word." He told him with a shake of his head. "And if I'm lying to ya, I promise that you can shoot me afterwards." He said. "Deal?" he questioned with a grin as Harry grinned back at him and nodded.

"Alright, deal." He agreed before he turned around to run away.

"Hey Harry," Kit began as he turned back around to look at him as Harry stopped and looked at him.

"Yeah?" he questioned.

"Yer,.. yer alright for a kid." He told him.

"Thanks," Harry began. "and you're alright for a pirate." He finished.

"And what it's worth, I'm sorry. About the way that I acted earlier. Yer a very lucky lad you are. And I'm sure that yer parents are very proud of ya." He told him before he whirled back around and looked out to sea again.