Kese was perching on a branch of the large oak at the south-eastern edge of the village, next to their house. He was the nearest to the sea and the docks, he would be the first to be spotted, but he was hidden amongst the leaves. He had his Busó costume on, aside from the mask: he didn't want to put it on until the pirates' arrival. He looked at the sea, and could see their ship far away. 'Why is sailing still so popular when there is a lot of power-driven ship and boat in use?' he thought, and answered himself as well. 'Ah, they are very expensive to build and fuel, and only the Elemental Nations can afford them', he nodded, but quickly shook his head. 'And I can't afford my attention to be driven away.'
The pirates hadn't come out yet, but every participating villager was on their appointed place already. The last few days had passed quickly with planning the "performance", as they called it. Some Magors along with Kese had hidden in random places, dressed in their costume, while others played their part as normal villagers. Most of the women, elders, and children under twelve were in safety at the abbey. The blonde couldn't persuade his father to remain with them, but had managed to talk him out of being in the non-dressed group; he didn't know what his anger towards the pirates would make him do, it could even ruin their performance. Tas had been very nervous and strung in the past days: the killers of his son were about to return to his village. He would gladly beat them to death with his heaviest hammer - but he couldn't carry out his vengeance for he had to take care of a whole family. At least, he did have the opportunity to scare them as no one, and it satisfied him a little.
Kese was glad he had the sheepskin on because it was a cold late afternoon and a light storm was brewing over the sea and the Silent Island. He rubbed his stomach: strangely his scar had been numb for a few hours now. He frowned at this and took a look at the sea. Next to the pirates' ship there was a smaller boat heading towards the island. – So it has begun... – he sighed, then turned to the house. – Ajtony, can you hear me?
- Yes. What happened?
- They are moving towards us in a boat. Bring words to the others and tell them to stay vigilant. – after this he saw the man leaving the blacksmith workshop, and he turned back to the sea. The pirates were rowing, so they needed a 'little' time to reach their docks. About a dozen of them stepped onto the island; they started at the first house across Tas', and moved on to the next, a masked blonde following them on rooftops on the other side of the street, hiding behind chimneys.
The pirates were a little disappointed they didn't find much - and suspicious they didn't find much people. They came across the first Magor at the third house's workshop: it was Gyula, the middle-aged carpenter. Kese had found out he was good at acting, so he made a special role for him. – Hey, old man! – one of them yelled to him in Elemental. The others began circling around the carpenter like vultures above a carrion. – Where are the people of your village? Are they perhaps dead?
They burst into a disgusting laughter, but Gyula's expressions became painful as he covered his face with his palm. His shoulders were shaking and quiet sobs were audible from him. The pirates' laughter had increased when they saw him crying. – What, old man? – they mocked him. – Look! His pals are dead and he's crying! Tell me, are your beloved dead, too? Have you had a beautiful wife? Or an ugly one? Maybe it's better for you she is dead, ahaha!
Some of them grabbed and tossed Gyula to the ground as they continued humiliating him. Kese was shaking in anger, but he also worried for the man amongst them. And he was hoping the carpenter had still known his role.
Suddenly, Gyula spoke. – No... – the pirates gaze fell upon him. One of them, a bald pirate, stepped in front of him. – They are not dead... It's worse...
- What could be worse, you miserable old man? Are they still alive? – every pirates burst into laughter again. Gyula shook his head.
- The island became cursed. Because of you! – he pointed at them, shrieking in despair, his tears running down his cheeks. Kese moved closer to them: he crouched at the edge of the rooftop across the street, hidden behind another tree's foliage. – You've killed that poor boy! And now, he haunts us. He takes others' life and makes them a ghost like him! They are so evil and restless! I hope they would come for your souls, you damned bastards, to repay what you've done to him!
The pirates listened to him in silence. Then the bald one who stood in front of him started to chuckle. – What a lovely story, old man! You think we would believe such...
Something happened: one of the pirates suddenly screamed. He was scared and pointed at the trees behind the workshop. – What... What was that?
Gyula began crawling on all fours in the opposite direction. One of the pirates grabbed and lifted him. – Ya little shit! Where ya wanna go?
- They are here! – the carpenter cried, he had a really frightened look. – Let me go, please!
- Wha'? Who are here, eh? – the pirate sputtered. Gyula struggled against him. Another one of them shrieked.
- There! – another yelled.
- What was that?
- A monster!
- You are a disgrace to the pirates! – the bald yelled. – Don't be such pussies, you bitchy pieces of shit! Move on! The sooner we finish the sooner we can leave this goddamned island!
He turned back and headed to the street, but saw some strange creatures around other houses. They were covered in sheepskin, stood on two feet, had horns and very ugly, inhuman faces. Every one of them held something in its hands: a cudgel, a pitchfork or a large hammer. The pirate become confused and cautious, and stepped back a few. He managed remained collected, but he heard more screams from the other pirates. He spun around and saw more of those creatures and his frightened fellows as they started to run away, mostly back to the docks. But when they got back to the street, they immediately halted, seeing more of those things. The bald turned back again; and this was the moment he noticed a creature on the rooftop right in front of him. It suddenly leapt from the house and landed a few metres from him. The pirate stood riveted to the spot with fear; the creature grabbed a long, thick stick and stepped in front of him.
The bald fell onto his back when that thing in front of him pointed towards him with its stick. Kese decided to play along with Gyula's previous performance, who now pretended to be overwhelmed by his fear of the Busós. The blonde pushed his stick to the pirate's chest, right above his heart, and asked in unnatural, distorted voice.
- Was it you who killed me?
The bald man's body and lips started trembling and his eyes went wide when he heard him. He violently shook his head. – NO! No! It wasn't me, I swear! Please, don't take my soul, let me live! It wasn't me!
He desperately crawled up to his feet and started running with the others back to the sea, chased by the creatures behind them. Some of their things were left behind when they fell to the ground and got back to their feet again to run. The costumed villagers chased them to the docks, then the pirates jumped into their boat and quickly started to row back to the safety of their ship. Kese shouted in his distorted voice.
– I'll take your souls next time!
They had succeeded. The rejoicing Magors returned to their village, and exulted in their victory over the pirates. Only one of them felt something menacing in the brewing storm.
The blonde had watched in silent joy as his father – still covered in sheepskin – had embraced his daughters and told his family about how they had succeeded. They had been amongst the first Magors who slowly returned to the village from the abbey, and they had expected to rest in their own house that night. The sun was making its bed behind the horizon, and Kese was still a little nervous. At the moment he was leaning against the tree next to their house which he was perching on earlier. He was wearing his usual outfit: white shirt with brown pants and vest, and light leather boots; he had left his costume and mask on his bed. He fixated his gaze upon the sea.
The ship was still there, unmoving since the fleeing pirates arrived onto its board; and it made the blonde strung and suspicious. The ominous sight of its hull and rigging emitted a threatening aura, and as time passed it became more menacing and the surrounding water a little darker. But when Kese shook his head and rubbed his eyes, the ship's reddish aura somehow disappeared and everything went back to normal. He had encountered this kind of phenomenon a few times before and considered it as an illusion, a side-effect of his usual visions. In addition, his scar not only remained numb but got colder than before. Lehel would freak out if he ever told him these.
Speaking of the doctor, he appeared next to him, holding a large wooden box in his hands. – Good evening, Kese, how do you do? I've heard of your performance, and, my God, how could you be so reckless and foxy at the same time?
Said blonde chuckled and blushed a little. He wanted to answer, but noticed the contents of the box. – What are these? – he stepped to Lehel and looked into it. He saw pouches, a dagger, flasks and other items.
- Our little friends dropped these while they were running like a bunch of hares.
Kese grabbed something what looked like a tube. He extended it and figured out it was indeed a spyglass. He turned towards the sea and searched for the ship with it. He saw dark blurs so he adjusted on the telescope, hoping it would sharpen his vision. It did. And he saw something which he wished never would have happened.
Three boats full of pirates departed from the large ship, heading right towards him and the village. About thirty angry, armed men with swords, sabres, axes, knives and other weapons.
Both of his eyes widened when he lowered his hands. He just fearfully watched the sea and the boats for a few seconds, not hearing Lehel calling his name multiple times. He suddenly came back to his senses. – Everyone must go back to the abbey! – he ordered harshly, then quickly paced into the village's street and called out. – Everyone! Listen to me! – the Magors there watched the anxious blonde. – We must go back to the abbey, now! Quickly! Do not take anything, just hurry back! No one stays here in the village!
- What the hell are you talking about? – an angry Tas rushed to him. Before he could say more, Kese handed him the spyglass.
- They are coming back. But with weapons.
The man frowned and took a look at the sea with his bare eyes, then with the telescope. The scared villagers gathered around them, waiting for his answer and verification. The blacksmith hadn't even lowered the glass from his face when he ordered with a firm voice. – Stay calm and get back to the cave immediately.
The others looked at each other then started to slowly retreat to said place. – Faster! – Tas shouted and turned to Kese. He gave the spyglass back then put his hands on the blonde's shoulder. – I'll look for your mother and let her know. I need you to rush to Dombi and notify them; then go to the abbey with them. Hurry!
And with that Kese was already running towards the stables. When he reached the top of the hill he noticed a figure next to the paddock. He shouted his young friend's name, and after he told them what had happened the five of them ran to the villagers' hiding place together.
The cave was about thirty metres away from the abbey's houses. It's entrance was wide enough for two people, and after another fifty metres of tunnel, there was a huge space with a small lake and a tiny rivulet. The island's stream and its water were supplied from here. The stalactites and stalagmites provided an amazing view, but Kese was rather searching for his family than taking pleasure in the cave's sleekness. He was getting nervous as he couldn't find them anywhere amongst the villagers and their stuffs. He went back to the tunnel's inner entrance where a monk had been overlooking the crowd, counting everyone who just entered. – Ince, have you seen my father, mother or sisters? I can't find them.
Said monk looked at him. – Your mother went back to the village with your sisters after you chased the pirates away. I... I haven't seen them since then.
Kese's eyes widened, he felt a lump in his throat. – Are you sure? – he received a nod and immediately rushed out of the cave. There was no one outside; every Magor was already hidden in safety – except for two adults and two children. The blonde ran down from the abbey, but hadn't met anyone until he reached the lowest terrace. He glanced at the sea: the pirate's boats were metres away from the docks, and within a minute they would step onto the island.
Kese felt he was badly late.