No matter how hard my friends and I tried to break free from Cortez's men as they took us to their camp, we couldn't. If only Cortez didn't knock Elsa out unconscious, we would have stood a better chance with her ice powers.

It didn't take very long for us to reach the camp. Like Acdud said, it was quite a big camp by the river and it was full of tents, weapons and cages which contained our Northuldra friends.

"Men, put them in the cages," Cortez ordered his men.

Which they did.

As I was taken to my cage, I saw my friends get thrown into some cages. I saw Kristoff get thrown into a cage with some of the Northuldra, I saw Mattias get thrown into a cage with more Northuldra including Yelana and I saw the still unconscious Elsa get thrown into a cage all on her own. Acdud and I were thrown into the cage with Honeymaren and Ryder. They were pleased to see me as much as I was to see them and we embraced.

"I'm sorry that my best attempts to get help have failed, guys," Acdud said.

"You did your best, buddy," Ryder said.

"And that's better than doing nothing at all," Honeymaren said.

"Everyone, shut up!'

My friends and I turned to see who shouted. The man I saw looked a lot like Zaragoza, the very sailor who my friend Tulio and I beat and won (without cheating for the first and, as far as I can remember, last time in our thieving careers in Spain) the map to El Dorado.

"All yours, sir," Zaragoza said to Cortez.

Cortez approached our cages. "I hope the cages will provide you comfort until we sell you to your future masters. While you are living them, I order you to practice your service skills before you become slaves."

"And what if we don't?" I yelled at him. Some of his soldiers started to march towards my cage, but Cortez ordered them to halt and he approached me himself.

"Do I know you?" he asked me.

"Yes, you do," I said. "You had me and my friend Tulio thrown into your brig."

Cortez gasped. "So it was you who broke out and took my horse Altivo?"

"Yes. And I along with them block the secret entrance so you and your friends couldn't destroy the city, kill the people and take the gold!"

The only emotion he gave me was a blunt chuckle. "Well, well, well," he said. "You are a bold one. I would have given you a chance to join my army, if you were not so disobedient. Well, no matter. You and your friends will not be able to stop me and my men. When we find and capture these magical spirits, I shall use their powers to take over this kingdom and then back to Spain and finally the whole world. I heard that these powers are worth more than all the gold in the world."

"So that's why you're here in this forest and kidnapping people?" I asked. "Because you couldn't capture the gold I protected from you? Or was it never really about the gold? Was it about the power and glory?"

"If you keep on pushing me," Cortez warned sternly, "I shall have you beheaded."

"I'll take that chance," I said.

Everyone gasped. I said what I said because it was the best thing I could think off to give myself, my friends and Arendelle a fighting chance against Cortez.

"What?" Cortez asked.

"I'll risk getting beheaded for a game of craps," I said.

Cortez thought about it for a bit and then he chuckled. "Very well."

"Sir!"

He turned to face Zaragoza.

"With all due respect, sir, do you know what you're doing?"

"I always do." Cortez said that to Zaragoza so dangerously that it made him shudder with fear.

"Y-y-yes, s-s-sir," Zaragoza replied nervously. "Of c-c-course, s-s-sir."

Then Cortez turned back to me. "What are your terms?"

"If we win," I said, "you and your men leave Arendelle peacefully forever and never come back. Also I want Acdud out with me so he can play guitar. It's part of the game."

"Very well. But if we win, your friends will become my slaves and this kingdom will be the starting point in my empire. But you will be the first one to die. Deal?" He held his hand out.

I hesitated at first and looked at my friends. None of them could think of a better idea any more than I could. So I sighed as I shook Cortez's hand.

"Men," he said.

The men he chose opened the cage I was in and dragged me and Acdud out and shut the cage door leaving Honeymaren and Ryder in.


Later, I was free of my chains, but I surrounded by Cortez's men to make sure I didn't pull any tricks. Acdud was still chained on his feet, but his hands were free to free the guitar. Normally, I was the one who played the guitar while Tulio threw the dice (loaded dice, that is), but since he wasn't here and no one else knew how to play the game, I was the one who had to throw the dice and Acdud had to play the guitar. Even if he didn't know how to play that, he would have less chance if he was the one who threw the dice. Also I remembered that I didn't have Tulio's loaded dice and I had to play with Zaragoza's dice like the last time.

"You have three chances to get seven," Cortez told me before the game started. "If you do not get a single seven – if you get an eight or higher – you lose and you die. Understand?"

"I understand," I said.

"Let the game begin!" Cortez cried.

I took a deep breath. I shook the dice while Acdud played the guitar. For a beginner, he was very good. Maybe even better I was. I knew I was never going to be a good dice thrower like Tulio, but I sure hoped I was good enough to pass.

After I decided I shook the dice long enough, I threw them and they managed to make it out to a –

"Two!" Zaragoza yelled.

Cortez's men laughed as I went to pick the dice up. My friends, on the other hand, were very worried and fearing for their lives.

I shook the dice again while Acdud played the guitar. Then I threw the dice and they managed to make it out to a –

"Nine!" Zaragoza yelled.

I sighed as I went to the dice up again while Cortez's men laughed again.

I knew this chance was not only the last one for me but also for my friends as well. If I lose, we all lose. As I shook the dice, I wished Tulio was here to help with this. After I threw the dice for the third time, I closed my eyes in fear of fearing.

"Seven?" Zaragoza asked.

I opened my eyes and I couldn't believe what I saw. "Seven!" I cried happily. "All right!"

All of my friends cheered.

"All right," Cortez said. "All right!"

Everyone went silent.

"The game is over. Work begins now."

"What work?" I asked. "You promised –"

Cortez laughed evilly. "You are all fools if you believed I would stick to a promise like that." Then he snapped his fingers and the men around me grabbed my arms. "And as for you, I will –"

"Let him go at once!"

We all turned to see Elsa who was now not only unconscious but also out of her cage, which was destroyed.

Cortez couldn't believe his eyes. "How?"

"This is how." Then Elsa fired ice at the cages of our friends and then she waved her hands to the ice, causing it to thaw. As it thawed, the doors of the cages were gone and so our friends jumped out and joined Elsa.

"Cortez, this is your very last chance for you and your men to leave!" Elsa yelled at him. "If you continue to resist, I will have you all frozen and locked up in the prison without trial."

Cortez growled before he ordered his men to free me and head back to his fleet.


We watched to make sure that Cortez and his men reboard their big fleet and sail away in disgrace. We all cheered when we did.

We all celebrated and got ready to head back to Arendelle. As we headed back, we all congratulated everyone for their part for defeating Cortez and his men, especially our new friend Acdud. He told us that he decided to go and live with the Northuldra. He explained that their homes, their lifestyle and their environment reminded him much of his home. He thanked all of us for helping him be free from Cortez and his men for good.

Then we all went our separate ways. Acdud went with the Northuldra holding Honeymaren's hand while I went with the rest of my friends back to Arendelle.

"Tonight, Arendelle Castle will host a feast to celebrate Arendelle's victory against Cortez," Elsa said.

We all cheered as we looked forward to it.