Chap. 8
"And who is this charmer here?" Jack asked, as he pointed to an illustration within one of the many books in Seaking's study.
"Syclla. One of tha demons that Odysuss fought on his return ta Troy." Seaking said with annoyance, as he took the book from Jack's hands.
"Ahh. I'm guessing not our man then."
"No Jack. Not since the last time you asked. Now can you please do something to help?"
"Wouldn't dream of anything else." Jack said, as he moved over another book he'd looked over before. Seaking sighed, but he knew there wasn't anything he could do about it. It had been two days since Zuko's decision that Jack would be inducted into the navy if he could help out with the current problem. Which meant that Seaking had been put in charge of babysitting the captain, so that he wouldn't get into any further trouble. But unfortunately, Jack had the problem of not working hard unless the problem involved him in some way, so things weren't going well. The fact that Jack wasn't much of a researcher didn't help either. Nor did the fact that he spent more time looking for the route to the treasury then helping.
"So... have you heard anything more about that lass's brother?" Jack asked, as he thumbed a page.
"Not since this morning." Seaking replied. That had become another problem- Sokka's ship still hadn't come into port yet, days after it should have. Katara was already panicked, and Zuko had sent out several ships to look, but so far, nothing had been found.
"A pity. And after I offered to go looking and all." Jack said.
"You asked for a ship and crew, which you know you don't get until we figure this out and solve it." Seaking replied.
"I simply offered my services out of the goodness of me heart." Jack said.
"And the fact you'd be free has nothing to do with it?" Seaking asked.
"Don't you trust me at all?"
Before anything further could be said, a knock came at the door. Seaking rolled his eyes and said, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal a Fire Nation guard, holding a large box with the mark of the Earth Kingdom on it. Nodding to both men , he said, "Sir, the Earth King has sent over the clues they have found, as requested."
"Good. Set them down right there." The cat said, pointing to a nearby table. The guard quickly put it down, then left the room.
"Earth Kingdom eh?" Jack said, as he sauntered over to the box and began to sort through it's belongings. "And do they happen to mine there?"
"No. Mostly they pick large rocks out of the ground and throw them at people who try to rob them." Seaking said, as he turned another page in his book.
Jack raised an eyebrow at that, but continued to look through the box. However, he came across nothing that he could see as valuable. Shaking his head, Jack was about to put the box away, until he noticed something. Reaching inside, he pulled out a leather gauntlet. Turning it to the side, Jack looked at its palm, and his eyes widened. Dropping to the ground, Jack spat, and spun around three times, his arms pulled in close. Seaking looked up at the noise, and as he watched Jack react, the cat's eyes went wide as well. Closing the book, he moved over to where Jack stood and looked down at the gauntlet. It was completely normal, save for one detail- the large black circle in its palm.
"God in heaven. It's not possible." Seaking breathed. "He's dead. You helped kill him!"
"That I did." Jack said. "But if a man can live without a heart...."
"And the barnacles....and all by the sea..." Seaking said. Kneeling down, he placed his hand over the gauntlet. Almost instantly, the spot began to glow with a dark, almost black, light. Seak pulled his hand away, and said, "Shadow magic. But if it reacts to me...."
"I can finish that one for ya mate. He's back." Jack said. The two men of the sea looked at each other, as in the distance, the sounds of cannons could be heard...