Birthdays had always been an odd thing for the brothers Jones. Liam could recall his fell towards the end of the dry season and Killian's was in the dead of the cold one. The exact date was unknown and they'd always celebrate approximately around the time with a singing and drawings of candles in the dirt. One for each of their years, it was the only reason Killian ever learned to count. They'd "blow" them out by using their hands to make the squiggly lines that represented the flames with their feet they'd make them disappear and when night fell they'd make a wish upon the blue star, which according to wise tale was a magical entity that could grant wishes. Liam usually wished for food and water and a home and Killian wished every year for their father to return to them.

"Happy birthday brother," Liam said holding out his hastily wrapped present that he acquired in the last port. It was a small trinket but it was a gift something neither had received in quite a long time.

Killian took it with no hesitation shaking the object close to his slightly pointed ears trying to guess its contents before ripping away at the parchment paper. The gift was a tiny silver compass that was only slightly smaller than the palm of his brother's outstretched hands. A smile breaks out on his face and genuinely he said, "Thank you, it's the best gift I've ever received."

To his elder brother's surprise Killian did something he hadn't in a long time, embraced him in a tight hug. The bony arms that used to dig into his stomach were replaced by firm arms that seemed just the right size. Liam took a moment to return the embrace and the fleeting hug was soon over as his now thirteen year old brother broke away. The new teenager had hit a growth spurt and appeared to be quite lean and wiry but for the first time in his life didn't look underfed. There were still remnants of the malnourishment present in his gaunt cheeks but soon they too would fade. To Liam's amusement the kid started to use the compass walking in various different directions just to see the tiny dials move accordingly. Through Matthias' teachings Liam had taught his brother how to circumnavigate using just stars and no doubt if his brother looked up from the compass he'd be able to tell the direction without the use of a compass.

"Your brother's something else." Captain John remarked chuckling as he shook his head. It'd been the Captain's idea to splurge on the trinket. Usually his yearly earnings immediately went into savings something the other crew members called him a tight ass for. Perhaps one day they could afford their own lodgings. The other sailors went home to their families, their homes and their villages; they were the only people who stayed aboard the ship. Both brothers had enthusiastically embraced the idea, fantasizing about what their home would look like. They agreed on a one room home with a loft. Killian wanted nothing more than to have a home in the village he was born but Liam was hesitant. The stigma would be a heavy price to pay being a Jones until they amended their name.

"He is."

"Just make sure he doesn't fall off the edge of the ship. The currents in the Dead Sea are quite strong and much bigger men have been lost to it."

"Sir there's another ship amongst us." A sailor announced.

Liam tensed immediately; they were supposed to be the only ship in the vicinity meaning it was other a ship from another land or a pirate's ship. Neither boded them well. Looking upon his Captain whose face seemed to grow stoic instead of concerned and rather than barking out orders to take positions for a confrontation he ordered the man sailing to continue on course. The other sailors protested but did as they were told.

The other ship seemed to have a ghastly pale glow upon it. Liam searched the skies in search of the source but found the moon was not present. Alarmed he stalked around the ship trying to catch a better glimpse of the vessel.

"Woah Killian!" Liam barked out rushing towards the port side of the ship were his brother was leaning on the edge. He seemed enchanted by the oddly glowing ship, his eyes wide and his face blank. "What's overcome you?"

His little brother blinked repeatedly and then frowned. "I don't know. I don't know."

"Captain what's going on?"

The Captain stood to the starboard side of the wheel looking perplexed and aged. He was not going to give an answer rather he ordered the sailors to get ready for a passenger on the other ship to board.

"As your lieutenant I demand to know what the hell is going on!" Liam yelled out. "It goes against all rules and regulations of his Highness to allow passengers from unknown ships aboard the Jewel of the Realm. You're letting an unknown risk aboard this ship and I wouldn't jeopardize our safety or anyone's on this ship! Suspend that order!"

The crew hesitated before continuing to go along with what the Captain had ordered. Killian was the only person who refused to do anything, dutifully starring back up at his brother with an aloof smile plastered to his face as he shifted from foot to foot dead center on the main plank. The ghastly ship vastly approached them seemingly gliding across the water. The wind was at a stand still. There was tales of ghost ships in the land ones that foretold sailors' deaths at sea but Liam didn't believe them. The only people who could have possibly seen a supposed ghost ship was rotting away at the bottom of the ocean unable to tell another soul of what they'd seen. But in that moment panic set in and he was a firm believer and it seemed he wasn't the only one. All of the sailors sunk to their knees and began saying prays to the gods and goddesses of the lands to spare them.

John seemed to be the only one who was unfazed taking the wheel and navigating it closer to the ship. The cries and pleas of his men seemingly fell on deaf ears as they moved forward towards the ship.

"Who the hell is on that ship?" Liam demanded unsheathing his sword from its case and pointing the tip towards the Captain. Mutiny was considered treason. Killing one's captain was considered treason. Both crimes warranted an immediate execution but if they were to die at the hands of a ghost ship then it didn't matter he reasoned with himself.

The captain dryly chuckled and shook his head. "I'm guessing you were never told the tale of the Flying Dutchmen."