Chapter 4
Three days later, the pirate ship flew over the ocean guided by Alfida. Inkbeard stood on the steering area on the side with the map watching the ocean in front of them for a specific island.
At the front, Razorbeard played along with Hawk and Alec cards on the sidewalls of the ship. On the top of the cabin sat Redhorn reading a book, while Rollan sat over the bar attached between the ship's tail and the main pole. Rollan had been resting there for a while.
Kai showed up, by leaving the cabin to look up to see Rollan lying on the bar, afterward Kai glimpsed at his girlfriend and went up to meet her.
"Is it save for him to lie up there?" Questioned Kai watching Alfida shrug her shoulders.
"If he falls, it's his fault," Commented Alfida making Kai chuckle and gaze at the raven-haired man.
"Can we make him fall faster?" Questioned Kai making Alfida shake her head.
"I thought you wanted to befriend him," Commented Alfida making Kai nod.
"Yeah, but….I can only do that when he's awake," Stated Kai watching Alfida shake her head amused, then pulled out her gun making Kai gasp as she released a bullet which bounced on the round pulley with the attached rope. The noise shrieked Rollan up, which lost his balance and fell on top of the cabin earning Redhorn's attention, which began to laugh at Rollan.
"Okay, that's more, what I like it," Joked Kai making Alfida grin.
Rollan got up annoyed with the issue and disappeared behind the cabin at the front and Kai looked at Alfida.
"He looks pissed," Commented Kai, then Alfida extended her hand out at her boyfriend.
"Go on and talk with him," Suggested Alfida. "Try to get to know him,"
"Got at least any topics for me I could start with?"
"What I have learned is, don't talk about Gerda. I see this kind of causes tension. Talk about something nice or decent," Alfida commented watching Kai shrug his shoulders, then Alfida placed her hand on his shoulder for comfort. "You can do it. I trust you this time," Commented Alfida, then Kai left the area to walk around the ship to spot Rollan stretching his legs, while the pirates were entertained with the cards, except for the brunette man named Alec, which observed Rollan curious.
"What are you doing, if I may ask?" Kai began watching Rollan get up to look at the raven-haired boy.
"Stretching my legs a little," Answered Rollan. "Sometimes it's a good thing to do, when you feel braced,"
"Right," Agreed Kai, then stood there beside Rollan thinking about, what he could possibly talk with Rollan about. "You really think this treasure we're looking for really exists?" Questioned Kai watching Rollan shrug his shoulders.
"I hope it does. We're putting our whole heart into this mission yet to get the score,"
"That means a lot to the pirates and Alfida,"
"Yes it does," Commented Rollan making Kai nod.
"Does it mean anything to you as well?" Questioned Kai.
"With my part, I could buy a little house. That would be a good thing,"
"Cool," Commented Kai. Rollan moved to the side leaning his arms over the ship's sidewall to look out, leaving Kai back, which pondered about forcing himself to grow out of his shell to get to know his future brother-in-law better. Kai got closer to the man and stood next to him copying him, thereafter gazed down at the ocean.
"Do you miss Spain?" Questioned Kai looking up at the tall man, which placed his hand behind his neck unsure about what to answer.
"Well, I do miss it a little bit. Mostly my mother. I haven't seen her for years and I haven't received any letter from her yet. I've sent her a couple of them to tell her how I was doing. Until now I haven't read anything of her side,"
"Do you think she has got them?" Questioned Kai watching Rollan shrug his shoulders. "That's bad,"
"Gerda suggested to me, that I should at some point return to at least see how things are doing. Honestly, when I got here I wasn't expecting to fall in love and turn into a demon a day later. I just came to look for the wishing stone and found trouble," Explained Rollan making Kai nod.
"Orm told me the entire troll species welcomed you and the other day, they were happy you died," Mentioned Kai earning a bashful nod from the Spaniard.
"I can take that from what happened," Confessed Rollan. "I'm sure Orm might have told anything about me back at the kingdom. I'm supposed to be dead,"
"I don't think he had said anything so far I know," Said Kai. "Even if he did, I assume they're aware it was the curse, that led you to do all this,"
"The curse?" Asked Rollan earning a nod from Kai. "You just said curse,"
"Yes, I said curse. What's wrong with it?"
"It's the first time you speak about, what happened to me being a curse," Mentioned Rollan. At that moment, Razorbeard looked out of the ship to notice on the far a land, then he got up taking his binoculars to check it out, calling Rollan's attention among the other pirates.
"Have you found something?" Questioned Rollan, then Razorbeard looked up at Redhorn, which was reading.
"Land!" Yelled Razorbeard distracting the pirate from the book, which looked back at Alfida, which gave a thumb up followed by Redhorn alarming the captain as well.
"How many knots?" Asked Alfida watching Redhorn look at the sea trying to calculate the average of the distance.
"At least 17 knots," Guessed Redhorn making Alfida nod and continue steering. "Inkbeard, get to the bow and compare the island to the map when we're closer," Ordered Alfida looking at the pirate, that was leaning with his back against the cabin. He took out his map to head to the front and opened it while waiting for the ship to get closer.
"If we went diagonally above the tail of Sweden and the island is similar to this shape here, we have arrived," Commented Inkbeard, then Rollan took a look at it as well and nodded.
"Seguramente, it's this island," Mentioned Rollan making Kai tilt his head not understanding the Spanish word.
"Redhorn, will you ask our captain about the future plan or shall we wait until the arrival?" Questioned Inkbeard making Redhorn nod, which disappeared off the sight of the group, which looked back at the map.
"How many of us are needed to go into that tomb?" Asked Kai curious making one of the pirate's chuckle.
"Have you finally grown some balls, young man?" Asked the pirate with the brown beard. Kai looked confused at Rollan, which stood there to see, where the conversation was going.
"What? Someone has to make sure he returns home alive to my sister," Commented Kai making the pirates laugh, then Redhorn placed his arm around Rollan's back to caress his cheek playfully, making Rollan frown at the deed.
"Is this man here going to marry your sister?" Asked the pirate watching Kai nod, then the pirate took his hands off Rollan. "Ah that is going to be interesting. The wanna-be legend and the real legend,"
"Ha, ha, ha, very funny," Spoke Rollan unimpressed, then adjusted his shirts by the lapels. "I'm not interested in being a legend anymore. I'm now devoted to something else,"
"You guys could get some women too…...well, if you would focus on your hygiene, behavior, the hair, the facial hair, the…..uhm….."
"The other hair," Added Rollan making Kai frown at Rollan's inappropriate comment. "What? Too much is too much,"
"You know if you spend many years with someone like Alfida or her mother, you don't want to look for a wife anymore," Mentioned Hawk making Redhorn nod.
"I will rather be here with you guys," Commented the man with the red cover.
"It's up to you guys. There's nothing in the world, that will change my eyes for Gerda," Mentioned Rollan getting up on top of the bow to stand there looking at the ocean. "When I see her my heart falls down and if she takes my hand I feel like the king of the world. The world stops, when we both share a kiss and when my entire body heats up and I get this pole on my pa…...woah!" Cried Rollan as he somehow lost his balance and fell down on two of the pirates, making the ones on the side laugh, while Kai was confused about Rollan's words.
"You get this pole on what?" Questioned Kai, then he got hit on the back by Redhorn.
"You really need to be more often here with the others. With some time, you'll understand everyone's language here," Stated the brunette man making Kai nod, then watched Inkbeard yell as they were getting closer to the island and Rollan jumped up to approach the wall along with the crew to see the shape from the island seemed going more into the length and Inkbeard looked at his map to check it out.
"Alright, this is it. We're going right," Confessed Inkbeard watching Alec move to the side to wave at Alfida.
"It's the right island. We should move down!" Yelled the man with the brown cap, then felt the ship begin to descend slowly.
The team had landed on the ground of the island and reunited together by the exit of the ship, then waited for Alfida to come between the group.
"Ok listen up, as we see the drawn castle is gone and only the ruins remain. So we might have it a little easier," Explained Alfida making the group nod. "So, for the moment I think three of you are enough to enter the ruins. Rollan, Hawk, Kulekonge. Are you two ready?" Questioned Alfida making the trio nod and Hawk went down followed by Kulekonge. Rollan was about to leave as well and Alfida grabbed Rollan by the shoulder.
"In case the tomb is different as expected, tell," Asked Alfida making Rollan nod, which got down the ladder to follow the other pirates, leaving the rest of the crew back.
"Is the tomb dangerous?" Questioned Kai making Alfida shrug her shoulders.
"I can't tell it by the map. Could be an old castle or even a jail," Commented Alfida earning a nod from her boyfriend, then she placed her hand on Kai's shoulder. "Don't worry, he's a pro," Assured the captain making Kai nod and watch the trio approach the ruins.
The trio reached the ruins, then stared from beside the broken walls to see the half-decayed walls and Kulekonge placed his hands to glimpse over the area to see the outline of the place, forming several rooms. Rollan and Hawk gazed in there as well, then Hawk pointed at a board, which was half-attached with a chain on the broken wall and the other end of the board touched the ground. Rollan nodded upon seeing it and looked at the thin pirate.
"That must have been a jail before by the looks," Commented Hawk, then Rollan entered along with the older pirates to check the surrounding for anything specific and spotted a hole with a stairway leading down into the cellar.
"Let's go," Said Rollan walking downstairs along with the pirates to enter a darker area to see the number of cells aside the corridor they were in. A few doors were opened and were empty, while the few ones, that were closed contained a skeleton in it from a former human being. Hawk approached one door to open it carefully making it squeak loud making Kukekonge and Rollan jerk off their heads annoyed by the sound.
"Arrr...that does need some oiling," Commented Hawk, then Rollan moved further, while Kulekong stood back observing the area. A moment later Hawk came out sneaking while carrying the skeleton on his arms following the Spaniard carefully.
Hawk approached the raven-haired Spaniard carefully, then used the skeleton's hands to clap them on Rollan's cheek, shrieking him.
"Booh!"
"Hawk!" Complained Rollan followed by the man crashing against the young man, causing the skeleton to fall to pieces.
"Don't worry. He's already dead," Joked the pirate making Rollan roll his eyes and move along the corridor along with the pirates analyzing the area, which consisted of fewer empty cells and ones with remains around the cells.
"It's a dead end now," Commented Kulekonge. "Or there's a secret trigger to a passage?"
"You're a genius with secret passages. Where do you think could here be one?" Questioned Hawk watching Rollan ponder about the question of whether the location of a possible trigger could be and checked the area along with the pirates.
Rollan moved his feet gently over the stone pavement sensing every single piece of stone to see if anything was loose and would help them further. Hawk and Kulekonge took distance from the Spaniard to copy him. Hawk near the corner spotted a lighter-colored stone and kneeled down to nudge it gently with his hand watching it get in, making him curious and hear a mechanism, then heard near the wall under Rollan's feet the stones sink into the ground, shrieking Rollan, which looked down at the ground to see it build itself down into a step staircase, making Rollan curious as he was getting into a darker area.
"Guys, come on. I need some lighting here," Warned Rollan, then the duo walked down and Kulekonge borrowed Rollan his torch, then Rollan walked in front along with him slowly analyzing the area. Rollan stopped as he spotted a wall, then began to palpate it, while Kulekonge looked around and noticed behind the stairs, where Hawk stood back with his torch there was an arc leading into another room. Kulekonge smacked Rollan on the head making him yelp, while Hawk chuckled.
"What's your problem?" Questioned Rollan annoyed, then Kulekonge pointed at the arc, they could see thanks to Hawk's lit torch. Rollan pointed at the arc, then made his way there along with the two pirates and entered into the place. Hawk moved closer into the middle of the room and encountered several shelves in the middle leaning with its back against each other, making the trio look confused. Hawk moved to the side to spot by the walls more shelves, making him look perplexed at the situation. Rollan approached the one shelf to see several books in it, including drawers making Rollan furrow his eyebrows.
"Is this the only bookshelf with drawers stuck in it?" Questioned Rollan looking at Hawk, which was looking at one shelf as well counting the many drawers in them. Rollan pulled one of the drawers, then shrieked as it turned out to be heavier than he expected and he jumped back watching it fall down, getting broken. Rollan gasped as he saw the drawer was filled with tons of coins, making Rollan raise his hand in victory.
"Guys! Look, what I found in the drawer," Rollan began holding down the fire at the coins and Kulekonge came to take a look at it, afterward pulled out another drawer to see it contained coins as well.
"Perfect!" Stated Kulekonge earning a smile from Rollan, afterward Kulekonge took from his jacket out a bag and began to fill the coins into it. "Come, each of you has brought a bag, fill everything you can and let's get out of here!" Ordered Kulekonge, followed by Rollan taking out another drawer to scoop out the coins with his hands into the bag. After merely a minute Kulekonge had filled a second bag, then pulled it and observed Hawk had filled one of his as well, then approached him to grab the bag by the top of it. I'll be heading to the ship. I'll be right back," Noticed Kulekonge making Hawk nod, which continued to fill his bag, afterward dropped on the ground the empty drawer and opened the next one.
Rollan held a drawer with the rest of the coins above the bag to fill it, then threw it aside and got up to pick another drawer out, followed by putting down a couple of books. Rollan got down beginning to shovel with one of his hands, as he used his other hand to push the books aside and notice a mysterious book, which caught his attention.
"Oh wonder, what the book is about," Rollan asked himself picking the book up and flipped through it, then shrieked, dropping the book as he heard from the other side of the room Hawk drop the drawer with the coins in it. Rollan shove it into his shirt, so he could continue to fill the bag.
In the meanwhile, Hawk had managed to fill the one bag and moved further to the next shelf to see a couple of drawers and books inserted in it making him smile knowing there was still a lot to take. Hawk squinted his eyes to see one of the books had an arrow drawn on it making him tilt his head and pull the book, seeing it remained stuck in the shelf. Hawk furrowed his eyebrows and pulled harder watching it get out, then find a cord attached to it making him widen his eyes as he heard a noise and heard water fall into the room, then he turned around using the fire to look for where it came from.
Rollan at the middle saw from behind the shelf water flood, then he lifted up the torch to spot an open hole above the top making Rollan drop his mouth to see it was water from the ocean.
"It's going to flood!" Warned Rollan beginning to pull the bag behind him to meet up with Hawk, which went in front guiding the way with his torch.
"Hurry up, we can't go slow," Warned Hawk as Rollan tried to pull his heavy bag, while the other pirate had it easier.
"Bring your bag up. You're faster," Warned Rollan watching Hawk nod and put his bag over his back to run further leaving Rollan back all on his own. The Spaniard looked back at the shelves, which still weren't taken out, and back at his bag, then bit his lips wondering if it was worth risking his life to obtain more coins. Rollan ran back to the water to place his hands on a drawer, then pulled it back and notice a few books fall down again, noticing one showing the castle of the Snow Queen earning Rollan's attention. Rollan bowed down to pick up the book, but what he didn't notice, was that he left the drawer halfway out of the shelf, which with the weight of the number of coins fell down knocking Rollan down unconscious. Rollan's torch had fallen onto the ground, getting extinguished by the flooding water, which began to take over the entire floor.
On the outside, Alfida stood down on the ground together with Kai watching the rest of the pirates pull up the bags into the ship.
"Rollan is taking a little long. Are you sure, he's okay?" Asked Alfida looking at Kulekonge, which shrugged his shoulders, then Hawk appeared carrying the last bag all on his own. "Where's Rollan?"
"He's still in there, don't worry. He's on his way," Responded Hawk making Kai feel a little secure.
"Okay, that's a good thing then," Commented Kai relieved watching Hawk adjust his cap and remember an issue.
"Oh by the way, the tomb is beginning to get filled with water. Somewhere between the shelves where the money was hidden I triggered mistakenly a trap," Reminded Hawk making Alfida approach the pirate.
"What sort of trap?" Questioned Alfida slightly threatfully.
"The tomb is being flooded,"
"And Rollan's still there?" Asked Kai shocked making Hawk nod a little worried, then Alfida grunted stealing the torch from the pirate's hand to make her way toward the tomb, followed by Kai.
"Come, we don't have much time," Warned Alfida and ran along with Kai into the tomb, then head to the stairs to find the ground with a little layer of water. "Rollan! Are you in there?" Asked Alfida loud hearing no answer, afterward, Kai ran down, followed by a shocked Alfida and both stopped to see the water didn't get so far up yet, then Alfida looked behind, while Kai stared at an empty wall. "Rollan!" Yelled Alfida running on the water, followed by her boyfriend and Kai moved the drawer off Rollan's head. Alfida moved Rollan up from the one side, then clapped on his face trying to wake him up. Kai watched from Rollan's hand a book fall down, then he picked it up to see it was Snow Queen-themed, then he looked at Rollan seeing his shirt was soaked with water revealing the hidden book among his medium-trained chest.
"Is the book worth it?" Questioned Kai showing it to the girlfriend.
"I don't know, let's get out of here fast!" Ordered Alfida as Kai stored the book in his jacket.
"What about the coins?" Questioned Kai taking Rollan from the other side.
"Leave them. Rollan's life at the moment is far more important," Warned Alfida helping Kai to carry Rollan above the stairs, watching the water slowly increasing in the room.
"Can't believe I'm helping him out again. Last time I stood on this position with Gerda," Commented Kai earning a nod from Alfida.
"Yeah, wherever he could have ended up drowning, dying by fire or water are the most painful ways for every living being," Commented Alfida crossing the corridor along with Kai to encounter Hawk come along with Razorbeard, which watched the trio come along. "Go back to the ship, we're too late for the rest," Warned Alfida, then Hawk went down shrieking Alfida. "Are you deaf?!"
"I'm going to get him out," Commented Razorbeard running after the friend into the darkness.
The trio managed to get out of the tomb, pulling Rollan across the sand and dropped him down on the ground.
"Okay, there's no Snow Queen, no Una nor any medical pro…..But I know how to do first aid,"
"Great, how can I help?" Asked Kai making Alfida chuckle, making Kai wide his eyes in shock. "I'm not….I repeat I'm not going to give him the kiss of life!"
"Okay, I'll do it, if you want," Alfida commented moving Rollan by his chin up, then opened his mouth while Kai stared slightly bothered by, what he might have going to see.
"Can't we just throw water at him or shake him?" Asked Kai watching Alfida back off.
"I told you, what we had to do, what do you expect?" Questioned the girlfriend.
"Well, that anything we gotta do to him doesn't contain any physical contact,"
"What do you expect? Many things we do need that. You didn't worry when you helped me carry him out,"
"Kai come on, do it for Gerda. She would be glad to know you saved his life," Commented Alfida watching Kai groan, then go down at Rollan's face to contribute air onto his mouth making the pirates laugh at the sight.
"Stop laughing!" Ordered Kai annoyed, making Alfida roll her eyes and approach Rollan from the other side, and use her index finger to shush the crew.
"I'll be doing the chest compressions. You wait until I count to 10," Alfida said making Kai nod, then she began to use her hands to push hard against his chest while counting. Kai stared at Rollan being reanimated, upon Alfida was done, Kai carefully tried to breathe into Rollan's mouth with Alfida observing the boy a little neutrally. After that, Alfida repeated her task, upon half of the numbers she had counted Rollan spat out water from his mouth shrieking Kai, which had got hit with it.
"Eww," Complained Kai watching Rollan cough, then Alfida helped the man to sit up and she pulled off his shirt from the collar down, so he would only remain with his sleeves on.
"You're okay?" Asked Alfida watching Rollan nod and place his hand over his head.
"I think one of the drawers hit my head," Commented Rollan making Alfida nod, then Kai approached his sister's fiancé.
"Are you alright? We saw you didn't return and came to look for you," Kai told making Rollan nod.
"We lost your part of the score and the rest we could get, but…..we couldn't risk losing you," Mentioned Alfida making Kai nod.
"Yeah, if my sister knew you died, she would be devastated. Mostly now, that both of you are going to get married,"
"Right….." Commented Rollan. "I'm sure she's glad you helped me out of there...Gracias,"
"No problem," Responded Kai, then he remembered finding the one book of the Snow Queen and showed it to Rollan. "You had this before in your hand. Did you need it?"
"I saw it had something to do with the Snow Queen and I was curious about it,"
"Okay, here I took it," Mentioned Kai handing the book out at the raven-haired, which smiled.
"Okay, guys come up at the ship. It's time to leave. Rollan, you better switch clothes, it's going to be fresh up in the air," Warned Alfida watching Rollan salute.
"Yes ma'am," Responded Rollan while Kai smiled at his future brother-in-law's high respect towards the captain.