Flynn led Eve and Ezekiel at a brisk pace through the dilapidated streets of West Mildendo. Eve shook her head as they passed bordered up buildings, the homeless, filthy sidewalks and degraded downtrodden denizens. This didn't go unnoticed by Ezeikle who stopped to hand someone a few bits of coin he'd had in his pockets.
"We have to hurry, we only have a little time left before the enchantment wears off and we grow to normal size." Flynn began to jog, clasping his pocket watch shut. "We have to reach the shore."
"So who's this Captain anyway?" Eve asked checking to see if Ezekiel was still loping behind them.
"Old friend to the Library." Flynn answered evasively
"What does that mean?" She asked as the made their way to the docks made from popsicle sticks. Flynn wiped his brow with his embroidered handkerchief. 'Made it. Whew!"
Ezeikle clutched a stitch in his side. "ok….Now what?"
It was decidedly chilly and the early morning air lifted off the bay eerily in the predawn hour. Eve guessed it was close to sunrise, as a early morning fog had descended upon them giving a cold wet chill right through to their bones. Their breath caught in the air, and wafted slowly in in front of them.
Mildendo Bay had tiny toy boats sitting peacefully in the water, swaying back and forth in a current of the waves, which slowly rose back and forth against the shore. Eve remembered fondly of playing with boats like that with her father as a girl.
As the sun began to rise, a thin red and orange cloud was painted across the horizon, coloring the clouds beautiful hues of pinks, blues and yellows.
"Quick into the water." Flynn yelped, and threw himself off the dock into the ice cold bay water and began swimming with all his might towards one of the little boats in the distance. The two followed and as though on cue, they all began rising in the sea, as if springing out of the ground. The shoreline water they they has been previously deep enough for them to swim in, was now only up to their ankles.
Flynn shook his sopping wet hair out of his face and sniffed. "You guys alright?"
Eve shivered, her teeth began to chatter, her oversized trench coat clinging and she hugged her body for warmth. Flynn gave her a sly strange smile, and gave her his equally wet taunt tweed jacket in a weak act of very sweet, however useless chiverally.
"No-now what do we do?" Ezekiel shivered
"Hold on" He said sniffing. "I just have to catch the light juuusssttt right. The sun was mercifully rising dissipating the cold cloud like air and giving way to warmth of the dawn. Flynn's pocket watch had a small mirror on the inside, which he was using to catch the light and reflect into he lifting clouds.
Ezekiel looked at Eve in question, but she simply returned a confused shrug as they both watched the Librarian in action. High above them in the outfaced stretching cliff was a tiny mirror which reflected brightly back at them making them squint.
When their eyes adjusted to the light, both Eve and Ezekiel did a double take, for there on the horizon appearing out of the mists of the morning dawn was a grand three-masted clipper ship from days of yore. From the dissipating mist, they could see a tiny light flickering to signal back at them.
Flynn smiled back at them. "Our rides here."
"Wait were going to sail on that?"
"Yep." Flynn stomped clumsily forward in the shore water, taking care not to tread on the now to scale Lilliputian toy boats beneath his feet. Nearby, was a human size row boat, with a large canvas tarp covering it, embroidered with the Metropolitan Public Library logo on it.
Ezekiel looked at him like he was crazy. "Why don't we just get a magic door mate?"
"Cant. The only way you can enter Brian Collin's Kingdom is to sail. Leprechauns are verrryyy protective of their lands. Knocknasheega is incredibly magically protected. " Flynn answered, grabbing a thick rope and sweeping the tarp off the rowboat. "Librarians have been allies with the Leprechauns for centuries." Flynn explained. "Ever since Ignatius The Brave saved the King's life way back when…" Flynn stopped and stood silent for a second as if suddenly occurred to him and he turned to Ezekiel deadly serious. "Ezekiel, listen to me. I need to you be on your ."
Ezekiel looked back at him with disdain. "Im Ezekle Jones mate. My behavior is always the best."
"No you don't understand, this isn't going to be like the conclave. Leprechaun gold is one of the most magical substances on earth, it is what powers all Leprechaun magic, and to steal it comes with retribution the likes of which you cant imagine. They are insanely protective of it." Flynn said giving Eve a look of severity.
"Define protective…" Eve eyed Flynn realizing they were heading into another possible trap.
"Well um…you remember that Weekly World News headline about the bat child?" Flynn said his hands. "He tried to steal from the Leprechauns."
Eve's eyes went wide. "Holy Crap. Th-those headlines are … are real?"
Flynn cocked his head back ad forth. "Well…more or less. Even a broken clock's right twice a day." He turned to Ezeilkle with meaning. " The point is we cant take any chances. Leprechauns are our allies, but they're also tricksters, and they will try to tempt you at every turn. Its in their nature. But Jones, you cant give in." He said "The curse of the little people is swift and harsh." He said looking Ezekiel straight in the eye. "No matter how much they try, no mater what they say, even if they offer it freely to you, you cannot take a single gold coin from a Leprechaun. Do you understand?" Flynn looked agitated and quite mad as he said this.
"Yeah yeah yeah…wee peoples gold is cursed or whatever …I got it." Ezekiel waived his hand dismissively.
Eve glanced at Flynn, and placed a calming hand on his forearm. "Jones, we are trusting you to uphold the credibility and respect of the Library as one of its representatives. And we know you'd never do anything to diminish that right?" She said slowly.
Ezekiel rolled his eyes. "Alright geez I wont steal from the wee folk. Besides...it sounds too easy. Ezekiel Jones docent do easy."
Flynn was tense and his attention was elsewhere.
He helped Eve into the boat as he and Ezekiel shoved it into the water with a grunt, and fumbled into the boat as well, and grabbing one side of the oars.
They made their way towards the great ship sitting majestically in the water, and a small rope ladder was dropped to them to board.
"Librarian. Welcome aboard the Banshee sir." First Mate Cormac Kilkenny saluted. Stocky and quite capable, his woolen cap sat jauntily on his head, and his one handsome pea coat was quite weather worn. Faded golden embroidered stripes were just visible.
"Hey Cormac. Thanks for pickin' us up."
"Aye, well, ye never ask for a 'elp unless ye need eh?" He said chuckling, and his bushy eyebrows popped when he noticed Ezekiel standing behind Flynn. "Well bless my soul. The great Ezekiel Jones 'imself."
Ezekiel smiled warmly. "Hey I know you! You were that bloke at Vágur." He said."You distracted the guards so I could get away!"
"Sure, every pirate knows the name o' Ezekiel Jones." He grinned. "And well, any friend of the Library…" Cormac smiled warmly, but his smiled dropped from his face when Eve had boarded.
"Beggin yer pardon Mr. Carsen, but a ship's no place for a woman." He said glancing at his fellow sailors, who were leering at Eve in an inappropriate manner.
Ezekiel and Flynn's first instinct was to stand up for her, but Eve had beat them to it. Well used to having to prove herself a strong woman in a man's world, she strode up to face Cormac, drawing herself to her full height, towering over him. "I am a Cornel in the United States Armed Forces Counter Terrorism Unit for NATO, and the Library's Guardian. You will address me as Guardian or Ma'am. Is that clear?"
Taken aback, Cormac instantly stood at attention."Yes Ma'am!" He yelped and saluted still as a statue, and his compatriots followed in unison. Forming up in a line in a moment for her to inspect. Flynn grinned. He loved it when she pulled rank.
"I meant no offense Ma'am". Cormac, pirate or not knew when to toe the line, and orders were orders. Satisfied shed made her point Eve relented.
"Very well. At ease." She said. "Wed like to speak to your captain."
Flynn looked up at the above deck nervously and nudged Eve in the arm.
Standing there on the above deck, was Captain Brendan Patrick Doyle. His once bright ginger hair stuck out under his rumpled faded skipper's cap that was now turning snow white, and his strong square jaw was hidden behind a thick beard but balanced his rather large ears. His shoulders were wide and the collar of his sweeping thick long wool coat was popped up against the chill. He had once been a man of the navy but defected to chart his own course, and his crew loyally followed. He gazed down upon them stone faced, apparently unhappy at their obligatory passengers. Eve instantly recognized his thousand yard stare. Doyle in his long lifetime had seen his ample share of battle, blood and heartbreak. He frowned at Flynn and narrowed his heavily lidded eyes which were long since devoid of a proper nights sleep.
"Good Morning Cap'n Doyle." Flynn began trying to break the ice. "Uh…heh heh … Im in a little bit of trouble." He gave a feeble smile.
Captain Doyle grabbed a thick rope hanging and used it to jumped down to the mid deck. His heavy boots thumped as he stood tall in from of them with a stone faced. "Librarian." He grunted. His voice was deep and course. He extended his enormous rough hand, and Flynn shook it trying and failing to hide the wince of pain he felt as the Captain's vice-like grip felt like it crushed all the bones in his hand. Doyle's beard twitched as a small roguish smile crept over the corner of his mouth.
A tense silence defended over the ship as none moved a muscle. Doyle glanced at his crew who were still standing in formation at Eve's order, and his First Mate who stood at attention in his presence.
"You lot let a woman, take control over my ship in less than a minute." He barked a booming loud voice, and his crew startled but remained in position. His eye fell on Eve and his right eyebrow raised. "Well done Cornel." He stuck out his bottom lip in appreciation at her ability to take command of his ship, and nodded his approval.
"Mr. Jones. I pleasure to meet you. I admire your work." He said shaking Ezekiel's hand who like Flynn tried and failed to conceal his pain.
"Mr. Killkenny, show the Librarian to my quarters." His command was simple and even toned, but his eyes suggested fierceness and severity to anyone who disobeyed him. "Cornel, Id like you to inspect me men. Report back with any problems."
Eve was surprised at his trust in her, but took it for its meaning, as she looked to Flynn. Flynn nodded his agreement. "Take Jones with you. " Fynn added relived Eve would be present to look after him.
"Aye sir. Right, back to work you salty dogs." Cormac yelled and the crew scrambled back to their posts.
