Chapter Twelve: Breaking the Storm's Eye
Duke:
A day or so after and further into space we would find the crystals at last shattering, their protective barrier worn down by her growing magic. None the less we kept our course steady as we decided where it was we wanted to go next. We still had a vast amount of wealth left over from the dragon constructed of treasures. I'd even gained a fine new sword among the items that had rained upon deck. Yet that was the best thing to come out of such a battle, this I knew as I looked to my bride standing at the desk beside me as we poured over charts.
"Are you sure I should be the one holding onto this?" Heart asked while holding the sapphire heart in the palm of her hand as it still hung from her neck.
"It goes with your eyes," I gave a playful smile as she blushed.
"Duke, we were looking for it to try and save you," she reminded me as I slipped an arm around her waist and held her close while standing behind her.
"An' I'm sure you're the one that will know how to use it to do that sweetheart. Trust me," I assured her.
"I do," she promised while gently gripping the hand that was pressed against her thin stomach.
"So what's our next destination Captain?" Trent asked when we stepped out on deck.
"Still figurin' that out, I guess we have to wait for her to make her move before we decide though," I mentioned, "For now keep her steady. We'll figure it out soon enough."
"Not a problem, with some of that treasure we have plenty of food and supplies," Marestella informed cheerfully.
Yet even with that assurance I couldn't help but feel something tugging at the back of my mind. Unease I tried to mask from the others, including my bride, swept over me as I walked over to the rail of the ship and looked out at the star systems we were passing by.
"You feel her drawing near don't you?" Heart asked with Norelle at her side.
"Not just her," I admitted as I watched the stars a bit closer.
"He hasn't found us yet has he, and he certainly discovered the destroyed map when we left," Norelle knew.
"We'll be better prepared this time Captain-"
Then, as suddenly as we'd begun to worry, we felt and heard it. Heart and I looked to one another while the crew turned to us waiting for our reactions. It was clear they still couldn't hear it, but we still could quite clearly.
Should he return in pov''rty
From o'er the ocean far
To my tendor bossom
I'll press my jolly tar
This was followed by a wicked giggle as we tried to decipher her words. Then, as though summoned by thoughts alone, we looked up to find her sitting upon something shrouded by the blackness of space, or more so blended with it. With a smile like that of a shark she looked over us, and then right at me she blew a kiss while I glared up at her in return.
"At your stations everyone!" I gave the order loud and clear.
Then we heard the other sign of trouble as Catalina ran by us, "We must protect the treasure Captain!"
Though not as agressive as the time before, there was a hint of greed in the eyes of my crew again as they ran by preparing for the battle at hand. In the distance I found just why as the flash of cannons sparked from their camoflauged ship, shooting straight at us.
"Evasive manuvers Avarin!" I shouted while pulling Heart from the realm.
"Aye, Aye Captain!" She called back while quickly turning the wheel just in time to avoid the hit that would have hit the front of our ship.
"Ready the cannons quickly!" I ordered while drawing my blade and holding it ready, "Keep a weary eye out everyone, their Captain will seek our deck soon enough!"
"Bring us broad side Avarin, an' at my signal fire!" I called out as she turned the ship a bit more.
I looked up as the tail of the starmaid flipped in the river of stardust nearby caught my attention. She giggled playfully while nearing the ship. At the same time Heart had noticed as well and had drawn her own blade. Yet we would soon learn that it was a distraction as the true threat in the moment had slipped around behind us as we heard him snickering. I turned quickly on my heel to see him up at the helm with a blade to Avarin's throat. Despite my concern I wondered briefly how she hadn't heard him. Then hearing the giggling still I knew exactly why.
"Something the matter old friend?" Falcone asked with a sneer in his eye.
"You're nothin' but a coward Falcone!" I snapped, "Now let my friend go!"
"Sorry dear boy, but you have something that rightfully belongs to me! Did you really think I'd let you get away with the trick you pulled on me?" Falcone gave a scoff while holding Avarin against him, "Now, about the treasure you gained recently-!"
With a sudden flash of anger in her eyes Avarin suddenly gripped Falcone's wrist, elbowing him in the rib, and tossing him over her down the stairs, "You will not have our treasure!"
Falcone landed with a hearty thud at the foot of the stairs looking up in confusion, "How dare you?!"
Avarin had already taken the helm again and was focusing on her given task of evading the the shots. However their cannons had paused while their captain was aboard our ship.
Before I could reach Falcone he was back on his feet with his sword in hand again.
"No matter, that treasure will be in my hands once I rend you through!" He snickered while I stepped forward.
"Ya say that, but you announced yourself as soon as ya got on my ship," I said dryly while standing on guard.
"I was surprised you hadn't heard me," he snickered while glancing at Heart who had turned to face him as well, "Have you been too distracted I wonder?"
"I don't need a magical advantage to do a job," I laughed before assuring him, "An' no, I've been more focused than ever before."
"Watch it, that soft heart will get you caught," Falcone warned while glancing at Heart, "If you even survive this in the first place!"
"Ya couldn't kill me before, an' ya certainly won't now," I swore while stepping a bit to the side to shield Heart from his sneer or a possible attack.
"We'll see about that! En guarde!" Falcone declared while lunging forward.
Instinctively I braced myself and blocked his blade with ease. Our swords locked for a moment as he sneered, noticing my wedding band, "So, it seems you have been caught by that wench."
"Ya never did know how to treat a lady," I shook my head.
"I'm just surprised you let yourself be anchored to anyone. I would say the noose of the gallows would be more freeing!" He snarked while taking another slash.
"Only you would compare love to a hangin'!" I growled while pushing him back a bit.
"You do realize what you are don't you?!" He scoffed while our blades sparked and clashed back and forth, "What happens if you were to be thrown behind bars one day, or lead to be hung by those ropes? What would it do to her I wonder?"
He'd never landed a hit with his blade, yet those words cut deeper than I'd imagined. Though I managed to block the onslaught of his sword I found myself caught in a way.
"Maybe it's time for a change?" I said while pushing him back again and then dodging another swipe.
He bellowed out a laugh at this remark, "What was that?"
"Perhaps it's time I put my skills to better use," I considered while he stepped back still laughing coldly.
"You do realize the bounty you have on your head by now don't you?!"
"I could figure somethin' out," I said.
"What of your crew? The treasure you seek? Your freedom?" He barked.
"I believe they'd understand more than ya think," I retorted.
"Dear boy, the second you set your foot on the docks without being careful they would arrest you on the spot. You've made your fame known throughout the galaxies and realms unknown to this one have you not?" he reminded me as I felt the weight of my crimes pile onto my shoulders, "You're willing to throw that all away, and all because you want to suddenly do right by this wretched girl?"
"He already has!" Heart suddenly snapped.
"I would keep that mouth of yours shut wench!" Falcone barked at her.
However I had been more startled by Heart's outburst then the cutting words from my former best friend.
"He's no hero girl! Do you realize what would happen if he were to be caught? We may be far from the old ages, but some punishments never go out of style I'm afraid. He would be strung up, his career and life cut short!" He assured, "If I don't take it first of course!"
With that he lunged forward again, trying to get by me I noticed as I managed to step over and block him again. In this motion he managed a cut into my left arm as he jumped back a bit. I clenched my teeth and swung back at him to force him to retreat slightly.
"So you're saying you would give everything up then? Your career, your freedom, your ship and crew?" With every bit our blades clashed with sparks and metalic ringing.
Around us my crew began to turn their attention, realizing the ship in the distance wasn't attacking with their captain locked in battle still. Then Marestella and I both heard something from below deck, the metallic whirs of his men he'd been distracting me from as he snickered, "Your treasure?"
"What did ya do?" I snapped while pushing him back, twisting our blades as he held his ground.
"Well seeing how you don't want it anymore, I figured I'd take it off your hands dear boy!" He chuckled while shoving me back with a thrust of his blade.
I managed to stable myself just as he swung his blade down towards me, catching his blade with mine as Heart cried out my name from behind me. With this push I steadied my stance and twisted his hilt from his grasp, knocking it across the floor.
Then I stood firmly between him and Heart. However I would soon hear my crew scurrying below deck to see what Falcone's crew had done. All the while the starmaid hummed her tune, spirring the confusion running through our friends it seemed as they gave up the fight to defend our ship for what rested below deck within it.
"I believe I've gained enough from this for the moment. The prize that is your life will come soon enough," Falcone snickered as we heard the gasps from below deck.
"How did they get in?!" Catalina exclaimed.
Falcone then looked to Heart, "Or perhaps...?" he hissed with a glint in his dark eyes.
"Ya won't touch her again!" I snapped while shielding her from his view.
"Either way I'm be seeing you again soon old friend," Falcone assured while stepping back to the rail he'd climbed up from.
For the moment I had little choice but to let him go so that we could investigate below deck. Taking Heart by the hand I hurried down the steps to find most of my crew looking on in bewilderment and frustration. The room we'd lock up most of the treasure had been opened and near emptied by his mechanical crew. Following a trail of leaked oil we would then come to the end of the hall where Melodia and I examined the wall ahead. I ran my hand along it until I came across the resealed lines cut into it to allow them their entry and then escape.
"How thoughtful of them to fix it at least," I grumbled while shaking my head.
"That's all you have to say?!" Catalina demanded suddenly as the humming of that wretched tune lingered on.
"Everyone listen, it's her song-!" Heart attempted before Norelle cut her off.
"You keep saying that, but we never hear it! We've spent all this time seeking out treasure for you and you can't bother to help protect ours?!"
"If you weren't so distracted we'd still have it all!" Trent snapped to Heart's and my shock.
"You may be willing to give everything we've worked for up, but did you bother to ask us?!" Melodia questioned.
"You didn't think we'd heard all that did you L'Orange?" Marestella confronted, "That you'd give up everything, your ship, your career, and everything else? For what, and without asking us if we're okay with that?!"
"Mare, everyone please listen!" I attempted while standing beside Heart at the center of everyone's alien glares.
"We've heard plenty from you Captain!" Avarin assured while folding her arms over her chest with eyes darkening, "And we've had about enough of you!"
Heart:
With everyone gathered around us with these stares of anger and greed I glanced down at the sapphire I wore in growing confusion, "Why aren't you working?!"
"You really think some rock is going to fix everything?" Irving barked, "We staked all our bounty on that little blue pebble?!"
"No!" I pleaded, "It has to work somehow, I just need time to figure it out!"
"We're all in this together remember?" Duke gave his support with a hand on my shoulder, "An' we'll find more treasure, I'm-!"
"Not if you give up your career as a pirate!" Norelle snapped.
"Well...we could find more with...or without him?" Marestella pondered with a hand to her aqua scaled chin.
"Marestella, what are you-?" I started before Nosedive suddenly grabbed a hold of my arm and pulled me away from Duke.
"Dive, what are you doing?!" I exclaimed as he started marching me away from the gathered group.
I watched as Duke had tried to grasp my hand in return before Grin grabbed his wrist to pull him back.
"I'm keeping you safe for now!" Nosedive wrestled with me as well as himself somehow while forcing me along the hall and down to the lower level of the ship.
Below I would find the barely touched brig of the ship. I wondered briefly if it had ever been used by Duke and the others at all. Yet these thoughts were cut short as Nosedive opened one of the cell doors and then tossed me inside.
"Dive! Stop this!" I pleaded as he slammed the bars shut.
"Sorry sis, but this will keep you safe for now!" He argued with even himself it seemed while locking me in.
"How is this saving me?!"
Everything was spiraling out of control so quickly Above I could hear the sudden commotion of everyone at once. Voices were raised, large thumping and crashing echoed down to us. Then I heard it, and I knew that Duke did as well.
My sailor is as smiling
As the pleasant month of May
And often we have wandered
Through the lowtide along the bay
"Dive you have to let me out!" I told him with urgency in my voice.
"No can do sis! Our captain isn't being much of one and we have to do something about it before he leads us all to the gallows, including you!" Nosedive said in a strangely stern voice, "Really I should have taken you away from him a long time ago!"
"Dive?! What are you talking about?!"
Nosedive looked me dead in the eye and informed me, "It's high time for a mutiny, and I don't want you shipped off with him!"
My eyes went wide in fear and disbelief as these words rang through my cell. We then looked on at the steps as we heard a louder crashing from the struggle occuring above us.
"I'm going to go make sure the job gets done, I'll let you out once it's safe for you!" Nosedive said before walking off.
"Dive no! Why is this happening?!"
I knew, and yet I was still asking. Above I could hear Duke and the others. I grasped at the bars trying to find some sort of way out. There was nothing to pry them open with nearby, nor an opening big enough for me to slip out of. Still I searched while hoping that her spell would wash away before it was too late.
Duke:
Meanwhile I was trying to get through everyone to get to where Nosedive had nearly dragged his sister. Suddenly I was pulled back by Grin and Trent, held back by an arm each to hold me in place. No matter how I wriggled and fought to slip free their grip somehow tightened.
Then Marestella gave a grin, "I think you were always worried I might pull this one day weren't you?"
"You're not the one really doin' this Mare," I insisted despite being held by their vice grips somehow.
"I told you I've always hated authority, and you were about to give yours up anyway right?" the Atlantian taunted with a gleam in her darkened eyes.
"I wouldn't just leave an' ya know that!" I pushed while trying to break free still, "Now let go!"
"Sorry Captain, or rather we will, just not here," Avarin assured before they jerked me forward.
They began leading me up the steps, far from the cries of Heart down in the brig. Hearing the cell door lock her in I managed to pull free in an attempt to make a break for it. Yet Irving was slick on his soft feet and leapt around me to bar my way, "Going somewhere Captain?"
"Well he is, just not where he wants to go...or does he?" Catalina teased while Grin and Nosedive now both grabbed my arms, the latter having just come up from the brig to help the others in their plan.
"Where's Heart?!" I demanded.
"Safe from you!" Nosedive assured.
"It's time you met with what you called upon yourself don't you think?" Trent suggested as they began dragging me to one of the longboats.
"What are ya-?"
Before I could finish I looked ahead to find an eerily familiar planet floating along it's course. The violet and aquamarine sphere I'd visited only once before and had never gone back to.
"You're in luck Captain, this one is a favorite of yours isn't it?" Norelle commented as we drew nearer.
"It's time you retired with your precious starmaid," Nosedive snarked, "And my sister's heart will be safe from your thieving hands!"
"Safe from...do ya have any idea what you're sayin'?!" I demanded while trying still to get loose.
However Grin's strength was that of a mountain, unwilling to bend or break no matter how I struggled. With him holding me in place I would soon be bound with unforgiving ropes tied around me. My crew, even in this trance, knew me all too well as they bound my wrists tightly behind my back before tying the rope around my arms. Finally my ankles followed suit before I was tossed into the longboat.
"We'd give you a pistol as is custom, but really you won't need it, nor would you even use it would you?" Marestella taunted.
"You'll be freed by your enchanting love once she finds you among the waves!" Norelle giggled.
"Everyone please!" I attempted before Grin began untying the longboat from it's secure position at the side of the ship, "This isn't-!"
"Did you not say you were thinking of changing?!" Avarin finally snapped, "Didnt you tell your own rival that you might retire from your life of piracy?!"
"I did, but this isn't how I meant it to be! I just wanted to protect her!"
"We'll protect her for you before you lead her and the rest of us to ruin!" Grin bellowed suddenly before snapping the rope.
With this the longboat gave a bit of jolt before being rapidly lowered into the pull of the planet. They'd activated the barrier of the small dingy for me with my hands bound at least, but I was hardly concerned about this as I tried to get free still.
Heart:
I was still trying to find a way out, searching every nook and cranny of my cell. Then while gripping the sapphire securely in one hand I charged into the barred door with my shoulder in an attempt to bust it open. It didn't budge, however I felt something else in my shirt tucked away where the shoulder met bars. Slipping my hand in I would find a lock pick slid into the sleeve.
"When did he...?" I wondered while getting to work on the lock right away.
It helped that it was a fairly simple lock, more likely from not really using the cells for their intended purpose. None the less I managed to hear that desperately needed click in just a minute or two. Then I swung the door wide open and made a break for the deck. Once above I found the group looking over the rail of the ship, being sure that their given task was carried out. Not taking a moment to really think I hurried up from behind them, slipping between them to find Duke barely getting his wrists loose while he was quickly lowered towards the planet's pull.
"You'll be trapped with him!" Nosedive exclaimed while grabbing for me as I looked over and grabbed the rope leading down to him.
Without a second thought I slid down just before anyone could grab me and landed with a small thud beside Duke as he exclaimed, "Heart, what are ya doin'?!"
"Getting you free!" I pushed while slipping behind him carefully to undo his bindings.
Just as his wrists were free we heard the ropes being severed now to prevent us from climbing back up in any way. Duke barely managed to get out of his ropes before quickly grabbing hold of me, bracing for the plummet we now found ourselves in within this tiny boat, "Hang on!"
I had little choice but to hold onto him as I watched the others rapidly grow further away. We vaguely heard my brother cry out my name in more confusion than anything. Duke however pulled me close to him in an attempt to reassure me, "We'll figure this out Heart."
Our boat met with the planet's pull, dragging us into the atmosphere and towards the sparkling green shores of it. As we drifted along Duke still held onto me as I kept an arm around him. However my other hand was holding the sapphire up a bit as I asked it, "Why won't you work? Why is this happening?"
"It'll work Heart, I know it," Duke assured me before pulling away to begin rowing, "In the meantime I'll keep ya safe."
Then he looked at me a moment, "You could have stayed with them though? You might have been safer that way?"
I shook my head while closing my ring bearing hand over his, "No I wouldn't be! I vowed we would get through this together, and I will keep that vow!"
With a touch of relief in his eye he gave a smile, "Then I know it'll be alright somehow."
I found myself believing Duke, allowing myself to ease up and begin helping him to row. In the distance we could see the shore we'd been dropped near. As we drew near we listened carefully for the haunting melody that had been silent since parting from the others we realized. Then looking to the shore we found a lonely beach at it's high tide that we were able to coast in on. Once we did we pulled our small boat up a bit more and secured it to a nearby tree of winding bark and willowed leaves hanging about it's canopy.
"It'll be dark soon, we'd better gather some fire wood for now an' make camp. We can explore in the mornin'," he said while looking up at the dusk shaded skies.
"Have you been here before?" I asked while following alongside him.
With a sigh he replied, "Doesn't it look familiar?"
Taking in the scenery a bit better I soon realized where we were. At this discovery I quickly reached for his hand as he said, "She must be drawin' close to the end of her song. It seems she planned things carefully."
"Not carefully enough," I assured while tightening my grip.
He gave a light smile in return while weaving his fingers with mine, "I'm not givin' up without a fight either sweetheart."
We then began to gathering some sticks and logs to build a fire with. Once we'd found enough for the night we cleared out a spot on the beach and set up a camp as best as we could.
"That should about do it," Duke commented while setting the logs into a upward point.
"You don't stack them?" I asked, "Dive and Wing always did this part."
"You can set the fire that way, but it'll breathe better with the open air this way. If ya smother it the fire will grow weak an' die out."
As he said this I couldn't help but feel that wave of deja vu wash over me once again.
"Like a relationship?" I slipped as he looked to me surprised.
"What's that sweetheart?"
"I feel like someone said something like before? The fire is similar to a relationship, if you don't open up to one another it'll grow colder until it dies out," I mentioned in my own bewilderment, "Or did I say that?"
"I don't know Heart," he replied while I glanced at the sapphire again.
We then got to making beds in the sand, or at least we started to when Duke asked me to sit with him in the one he'd made. Upon large leaves he'd deemed safe we sat over the soft sand. With an arm around my shoulders Duke pulled me close and sighed, "At least we're stuck here together?"
"Should we be worried about beasts or any other dangers?" I asked.
He shook his head, "Only the danger we're already aware of. This is a small planetoid. A ways from here there is the town, but it would be safer to find it with the light. Who knows what her song would do if we went along tonight."
"So then we simply wait?"
"That's all we can do for now," he shrugged before then asking with more cheer in his tone, "So we're alone on a secluded beach beneath the full moon light, nothin' like a warm tropical night for a honeymoon right?"
I shook my head as he smiled playfully, "Worth a shot?"
When I shivered slightly from the cool evening breeze he tightened his grip and assured, "I've got ya Heart."
"I hope the others are okay," I mentioned, "Dive was trying to keep me safe somehow...but..."
"I'm sure they'll break free of her trance Heart, tensions were growin' an' she took advantage of that with her magic. Once they can get away from her a bit they'll come back to their senses," he assured me.
"Speaking of which," I realized while pulling back to look at him while we talked, "What were you talking about during the fight?"
"What?"
"You really want to give up your career and everything, just like that?"
Duke:
"It's not so much givin' it up Heart, more so a shift in nature behind it. I could still explore worlds an' adventure with ya; but I think it might be time to put my skills to better use. I could use my sword to defend others, give up stealin' unless it's needed. Perhaps I could have a life to be...to be proud of, one for you to be proud of?" I explained while looking into the fire with a growing frustration.
"Duke I love who you are, and you having the life you have allowed us to meet?" She pointed out.
"Still, it's also the kind of life that could easily end in you gettin' your heart broken if I'm ever caught. I can provide wealth, love, an' an able body to defend ya...but I can't promise ya security," I admitted, "We'd always be on the run until we found a hidden away place out in the galaxy where we would have to stay. I don't want that...not for you..."
"You were thinking about this before today weren't you?" She realized.
"I have been since that merchant shot me an' you risked so much to save me that night," I told her softly, "I jus' don't know how to fix it yet."
"Duke, I love you. No matter what it takes I will stay with you, whether we have to run or not," she promised me.
"I love ya too Heart, an' that's why I don't want ya to have to run. I don't have the answers yet, but maybe we can find them together?" I replied, "I'm proud of my life for allowin' me to make the friends I have, the adventures I've had, an' with it I've found you. Now it's time to build a life we can be proud of together."
At this she leaned her head against my shoulder as we watched the fire together. I then slipped a hand up through her hair, weaving it carefully around my fingers before I leaned over and kissed the top of her head before resting the chin of my beak over her. With a tired sigh she leaned further into me and drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile I continued to stroke her hair a bit before lying down and pulling her against me in the process. Now with her back to me I wrapped my arm around her thin waist, closing my hand firmly over her stomach to make sure she knew she was safe. However she then in her sleep turned over to where I now held her back and she was nuzzled her head against my chest. I couldn't help but chuckle as she tugged on my vest front in her sleep while I used my long coat as a blanket for her. Then I at last allowed myself to drift off with her.
Heart:
As I dreamed in Duke's arms I found myself walking through a whirlwind of things I'd never witnessed before. Battles with allies in a war involving several worlds. I would see faces familiar and new to me come and go. Voices echoed out in triumph, cheer, concern, and compassion. Villains I'd never faced laughed and then were defeated; among them a crimson Saurian Overlord, a vampiric warlock, a proud desert prince, and a being of pure shadow seemed to be more prominant with others coming and going. Friends I'd never met offered their strength. Before I could try and make sense of one image the next would fade in to take it's place. Then finally I began to dream of what I had come to know, our crew, my brothers, the pirate captain I'd fallen in love with.
Yet before I could settle into any sort of dream I would hear the melody pulling me from all of this.