Share land? The villagers thought, as a few of them murmured and Simone and Lena exchanged glances. With …pirates?
Fiona's brows arched downward; she didn't like what these scary newcomers were asking, nor did she like the mixed expressions of suspicion and fright amongst the others. She didn't trust them. Not one bit.
Wolf felt his body tense as MacWright approached. Clank, clank. There was that sword again, and a couple of the fellow villagers murmured. It all went silent as Wolf's eyes met MacWright's. The younger man felt his jaw tighten, he wasn't taking his eyes off of this character.
"I have an idea," Wolf finally grunted, a few strands of his cherry-red hair dancing in his face, "We'll discuss it over dinner. You are welcome to join us this evening."
A few calls of surprise rose up suddenly from the crowd. Wolf knew what he had done was a risk, but it would not have made a difference if he had refused MacWright's offer. Had they refused, the colony might have been killed. He knew that this was a risk as dangerous as the last. He flanked the side of a few teenage boys, who only looked at their senior with wide eyes.
"Keep your weapons close. But only in case," Wolf murmured to them. "Tell all the men."
With hurrid nods, the juveniles scrambled off in their own clunky manner, rushing to every man in the colony and exchanging the hushed message. Wolf's eyes fixated on MacWright and his crew, who had gathered in a small group at one of the tables, being served freshly brewed ale by a few young women. The rowdy-looking crew took the offerings openly and seemed content. They seemed trusting.
But Wolf and his crew would be ready to fight.
"Mama, is Wolf crazy?" Fiona asked as she walked alongside Lena towards the kitchen house. Simone looked at the girl as she walked on her opposite side.
"No, dear," Lena purred, casting a careworn glance at Fiona, "If anything happens, we're prepared. We grown-ups are going to prepare dinner. Why don't you finish collecting the flowers?"
"But stay in sight!" Simone called after Fiona as she bolted off.
Fiona hurried her task more than usual. She grabbed at various blossoms to complete her bouquet, until she looked down and her arms were full of color. She smiled to herself, thinking that this would do.
The redhead plowed through the mud and came to a clumsy stop in front of Hamasis' stone portrait. She took a moment to look up at it. The smooth surfaces were faded and warmed by the sun, but it had no effect on the feline god's stern expression.
"'Ey there!" a new voice barked.
Fiona jumped and, like Wolf, her own body tensed as she whirled around.
"Is that any way to greet a stranger?" the newcomer asked.
Fiona hadn't seen this boy before; she didn't see him with the crew, nor was he one of the children in the community.
The boy was about her age, maybe even as old as 10 years old. He was lithe and gangly, with a long face. A green bandana encircled his head, allowing a tuft of unkempt blonde hair to dance in the breeze.
"Well?" he asked, leaning on his wooden toy sword and watching her.
"Tell me who you are first," Fiona murmured, menacingly. "I don't trust that fast."
"Whoa, calm down!" the boy barked, holding up a hand, "Is it a crime to ask for your name?"
"If you're a pirate!" Fiona snapped, still holding her ground.
"Alright, alright!" the boy growled, "I came on MacWright's ship. I just came out of the cabin a moment ago."
"What's your name?" Fiona pressed.
"Roger. Roger Jacobson!" he replied. "But everyone calls me Jake."
Fiona beheld the boy for a moment. "Well, I guess I can call you friend. For now!" She made her point by throwing a few stray petals at him.
"Hey, how 'bout you?" Jake replied, jumping back.
"Fiona! Fiona Dupree!" the girl announced.
"What's with the giant cat thing?" Jake asked, stepping into the shadow of Hamasis' statue.
"Oh! That's Hamasis. I'm giving him some flowers to tell him that we want a good Spring."
"That's sort of strange. It reminds me of those old witch tales that I'd hear from the screw. Seen some weird things, they have!"
"Witch? We're not witches. But right now I need to make this offering," Fiona replied jubilantly, looking at her bouquet.
"What're you doing?" Simone's soft French dialect floated into their earshot.
"Hullo, Auntie Simone!" Fiona replied, holding up the flowers. "I can't reach."
"I agree, Shorty," Jake smirked, earning a dirty stare as Simone removed the flowers and placed them into Hamasis' waiting hands.
As they followed Simone to the table, Fiona looked over at Jake.
"You may be a pirate and a jerk, but I'll still call you my friend, Jake."