Chapter Fourteen

By Sarah

Skyler boarded The Skyrunner in a heap of anger. Who was Bragg to tell her who she should and shouldn’t trust?  She remembered what Sacripant had done and she also remembered why he’d done it.  He was the only one with the maps to The Edge and The Skyrunner was the only ship that could sail there.  She saw no other arrangement.

Skyler slammed the door to her cabin shut and kicked the leg of one of the chairs that surrounded a table in the middle of the room.  It flew off to the side and hit the wall.  She groaned and sat down in another chair and put her head down on the table.  There was a gentle knock at the door.

            “Cap’n?” Colton’s voice came softly through the wood.

            “What?” The word came out of her mouth harsher than she intended but nevertheless the door creaked open.

            “Cap’n, you alright? I heard a noise.”

            “Colton, if I asked you to kill Bragg for me would you do it?”

Colton walked into the cabin, shut the door behind him and sat down in a chair opposite of Skyler. “Well, I once worked for an assassin when I was seven.  ‘E paid me a shilling to distract some guards so’s ‘e could slip in a kill the governor of Port Royal.”

            “Wasn’t your father the governor?”

Colton shrugged, “ ’E didn’t have to know.  Anyway, I couldn’t care less if that old bag of rot died.”

            “So, is that a yes?”

            “For the right price.  Yes.”

Skyler sighed, “You wouldn’t even do it for free?”

Colton smiled, “Well, you know what they say.  If you’re good at somethin’ never do it for free.”

Skyler gave a disheartened laugh, “That’s Sacripant’s policy.”

There was a moment of silence.

            “Cap’n, if I ask you somethin’ will you swear to answer honestly?”

Skyler lifted her head, “Sure. Why not?”

Colton dropped back into his Irish accent , the way he did when we was serious, “Why do you really want that map?  Please, don’t tell me it’s just because Capitan Jason stool it and you want it back because it’s your property.”

Skyler was silent for a moment .  She looked up at the world map that hung on the wall of the cabin, then stood and walked over to it.

            “Do you remember when we met, Colton?” She said without turning around, “You ran away from your home because you hated living in a confined space.  Do you remember what you told me when you asked to be my first mate?”

Colton nodded, “I said I couldn’t bare to live so close to the sea, so close to freedom and never touch it.”

            “Freedom . . . “ Skyler muttered.  She turned around, “That’s why we because pirates, mate, there’s a certain freedom to piracy that the Navy can’t give.  But have you noticed that there hasn’t been much competition lately?  It’s something that we’re all trying not to notice.  Pirate Captains are realizing that the Navy is taking away everything we live for,” Skyler turned around and looked at the map, “and everything I plan to die for.”

Colton straightened up in his chair. “They’re running away . . .  they’re turning their bloody hides around and running.”

Skyler nodded, “That map is the last surviving map of twelve others that shows the location of many hidden places among them the location of Mercator Portas.”

            “Trader’s Gates,” Colton said.

            “The place where all pirates go to avoid unwanted dangers.

            “How do they know the location and we don’t? Why don’t they need the map?”

Skyler sat down beside him, “Look at us, mate, the oldest person on this bloody ship is nineteen.  I’m the youngest Captain ever to sail the seven seas; we haven’t been out here very long.  The older Captains, they have their ways of knowing but we don’t.”

            “But how-“

There was a loud thump outside the cabin door followed by the sound of marching footsteps.

            “Who is the Captain of this vessel?” A loud proper Englishmen voice hollered.

Skyler rolled her eyes, “Bloody heck, what is it now?”

Colton got up and opened the door, “After you, Cap’n.” He said making a sweeping motion with his hand.

           

The crew had been forced into a line up.  Soldiers with red jackets held their bayonets at the ready and a man with a fancy blue coat walked up and down the deck.

            “No one wishes to answer?  Alright, perhaps French then? Où est le capitaine?”

There was silence on the deck.  Colton was about to intervene but Skyer held him back within the shadows of the cabin.

            “Just wait a moment.” She said.

            “No French then?” The man said, “Chinese, perhaps? Nǎlǐ shì nǐ –“

            “Relax, mate,” Trench, who looked non to happy to be pulled out into the sunshine, said. “We’re English.”

The man straightened up, “Well, with that sloppy tone you’re boarding on treason.  Now, I shall ask once more, where –“

Skyler stepped out, “What do you want?”

The man’s face lit up, “Ah! Madam, I wish to speak with your father as I assume he is the Captain of this vessel.”

Skyler looked the man up and down.  He was tall, handsome faced, clean cut uniform; he was in his mid twenties and already a high ranking commander.

Skyler smirked, “I’m the bloody Captain.”

The man shook his head, “No, that can’t be right I have it here that this ship, the um . . . “ he looked down at a manuscript in his hands, “The Skyrunner is under the command of Captain Steven.”

            “Skyler.”

            “I beg your pardon?”

            “Captain Skyler, not Steven.  This is my ship,” Skyler drew he sword and pointed it at the man’s throat, “so sod off.”

The man eyed the sword, “Yes, well, I’m afraid I can’t do that Madam.”

            “Captain.”

            “Captain, yes.  I have suspicions that this is a pirate vessel, so I’m going to have to arrest you.”

A stifle of laughter came from The Skyrunner crew.

Skyler smiled and lowered her sword, “Who exactly are you?”

            “I am Commodore Ethan Dunmore.”

            “And how can you prove that this is a pirate vessel?”

            “Your papers.”

            “What?”

            “You papers, your letters of manque signed by the King.”

Skyler nodded, “Of course, they are in my cabin.”

There was a long silence.

            “May I see them?” Commodore Dunmore asked.

Skyler looked at her crew and then back to the Commodore, “When I count to three.”

A look of confusion crossed the Commodores face. “Pardon?”

            “One.”

            “I’m sorry?”

            “Two.”  Skyler backed up towards her cabin.

            “What is going on here?”

            “Three!”

The crew of The Skyrunner lunged at the Navel officer nearest to them and fought to take control of the bayonets with their bare hands.

Colton drew his sword and joined the fight as Skyler raised her own sword towards the Commodore once again. “Before my crew beats the blood out of your men I’ll give you a choice.  Get off my ship or loose your man and get your head chopped off.  Which will it be?”

The Commodore looked at his men then back at Skyler, “Alright, Captain.  Release my men and I shall go.”

Skyler called to her crew and the fighting stopped.  The Commodore ordered his men into the dinghy that floated in the waters bellow.

            “I know what you are, Captain Skyler.” Commodore Dunmore said before following his men, “Rest assured that I will follow you, I will find you and I will bring you to justice.”

            “Do you really think stopping me will stop the rest of us?” Skyler asked.

The Commodore smiled, “Well, you are the first of the Breaker that I’ve visited.  Four more to go.”

Chapter Thirteen

Bragg sat in the tavern, looking blankly at the drinking glass before him. The Noose was a lively place during the day but a dark, eerie place at night.  Stranger one eyed pirates and out or commission navel officers slowly drank their liquor and beer without a word.

"I'll be glad to get out of here." A voice said behind Bragg, making him jump.

Skyler plopped down beside Bragg and put her boots up on the table.  

Bragg nodded and tok a sip of his drink, "It's an errie place to be sure."

An awkward silence spred over them as the two listened to the lonely fiddle music that came from the street.

"Skyler," Bragg ventured, "Are you sure we can trust Sacripant? I mean, after what he did --"

"i don't want to talk about that." Skyler said without looking at Bragg, "And yes, we can trust him.  His greed for what ever else might be at The Edge will keep him loyal until we get there."

Bragg leaned towards Skyler, "Thats exactly what we thought last time . . . "

"Shut up, Bragg." Skyler warned.

" . . . until he stole your ship . . . " Bragg continued, determined to make a point.

"I said, shut up!" Skyler finally faced Bragg, who still continued. 

" . . . and almost killed you."

Skyler stood up, "I know! I remember it, all right?"

Silence fell over the tavern and all eyes in The Noose turned to Bragg and Skyler.

"I am a Captain of my own bloody ship." Skyler said in a dangerously low tone, "What decisions I make and why I make them should not be questioned. Even by a fellow Captain."

Colton slowly made his was from his post at the door over to his Captain. 

"Cap'n?" He said, with concern on his face.

Skyler glared at Bragg , grabbed Colton by the arm and dragged him out of the tavern.

What little noise there was resumed and Bragg sat back iin his chair with a sigh.  He knew he shouldn't have even brought it up.  Suddenly, a felt a new presence behind him; he turned and saw Sacripant staring at the door.

"What ever you were discussing must have been a dangerous topic, yes?" He said, taking Skyler's seat. 

Bragg grimaced, "Actually, we were talkin' about you."

A strange expression crossed Destan's face and Bragg could tell he knew exactly what incident he and Skyler had been discussing. 

Sacripant played nervously with the rings on his fingers, "Oui, well . . . these things happen."

Bragg laughed, " These things happen." He repeated. "Bloody frenchmen."

Sacripant raised an eyebrow, "Captain, I understand why you dislike me and believe me when I say I feel the same way about you but what happened that day --"

Bragg clenched his hands into a fist, "You mean when you betrayed Skyler and then shot her while you sailed away on her ship."

Destan closed his mouth and sat back in his chair with a smile, "We never learn to forgive, do we?"

"We be pirates, Captain Sacripant.  We don't forgive, we don't forget and we certainly do not stop until we get revenge." Bragg said.

"Ah!" Sacripant nodded, "Then I guess that makes Captain Jason's actions understandable, yes?

Bragg scowled and the frenchmen, "You know nothing of what Jason did and why he did it.  Don't pretend like you are a part of what is going on here."

"Let us not forget that I too was once a part of The Pirates of the Breaker.  It was all because of Skyler that I did what I did and I do believe she is also the reason for your bitterness towards Jason."

"Skyler has nothing to do with it!" Bragg protested.

Sacripant smiled, "I think she does.  Admit it Captain Bragg, you hate Jason because Captain Skyler chose him . . . instead of you."

Bragg threw his fist into Dastan's face, causing the frenchman to topple over.

"I do believe I said something right." Sacripant said from the floor.

Bragg kicked him in the stomach, threw his small glass angrily against the wall and left The Noose. 

"Bloody frenchmen." He said and walked into the streets of Kingstown.

Chapter Twelve

By Sarah

   Skyler glared at the young boy Bragg had discovered.  It seemed odd to her that he just happened to float passed where they were anchored and that he bore Sacripant’s sign.

“Where is the map you were given?” Bragg yelled in the young boys face.

The boy was once again silent and Skyler could tell that he was scared.  How could this boy be the one who lead Jason to the Edge?  She had a feeling Jason was lying.

“Bragg.”  Anna spoke suddenly, “Perhaps yelling at the boy is not the way to get information.”

Bragg straitened up, “Well Captain Anna, if ye have an alternative then by all means.”  He motioned his hands to the boy.

Captain Anna nodded and bent down in front of the young boy’s face,  “Listen to me boy.” She said softly, “No one here is going to hurt you, jus tell us where the map is.”

The boy’s brown eyes stared at Anna, “Je n’ai pas de carte, Madame.”

The deck was silent and not a soul moved.

“Kill ‘em!” One of the deck hands shouted, “He’s a Frenchy!”

“Stand down mates!” Bragg called, “He has information!”

“He says he doesn’t have a map, Bragg.”  Anna said.

Skyler raised an eyebrow, “You speak French, Captain?”

Anna turned and smiled, “Of course, Skyler.  After all it is said that French is the language of love.”

“Ask him about Sacripant.”  Bragg demanded.

Anna turned back to the boy, “Savez-vous d’un homme appelé Sacripant?”

“Oui m’dame. J’ai un message du Capitaine Sacripant.”

“He says he has a message from him, Bragg.”  Anna said without turning around.  “Qu’est-ce que c’est?”   She asked.

“Capitaine Sacripant dit, Ceux qui cherchent son aide doit venir à lui.”  The boy smiled, “Tous les Chiens anglais besoin de l’aide de chats français..”

Skyler stepped forward, “What did he say, Anna?”

Anna grimaced, “He says the Captain Sacripant says that those who seek his help should come to him.”  She sighed, “And that all English dogs need the help of French cats.”

The men on the deck grumbled at the insult.

Skyler turned to Jason, “So this boy did not lead you?”

Jason looked offended, “I did not lie Captain.  This boy did lead me to the Edge but only because Captain Sacripant  was on board and told him where to go.  I doubt he knows the way by heart.”

“Anna,” Bragg said, “Ask him where Sacripant is.”

“Où est Sacripant?” Anna asked.

The boy smiled, “Jamaïque Kingston, madame.”

“He’s in Kingston, Jamaica.” Anna said.

Bragg sighed, “Very well, we’ll have to go to the French cat, himself.”

­­­­­­­­­­

The Skyrunner, The Blood-Traitor and The Black Heart hauled anchor and lurched forward towards Jamaica.

Skyler walked up the steps to the helm, “Full canvas!” she ordered.

“FULL CANVAS YOU DOGS!” The Boatswain Marie echoed the order.

Skyler turned to her Sailing Master, “Master Styles,  where away be Kingston, Jamaica?”

Styles consulted his map, “Well Cap’n, if this map be right, which it probably isn’t, then I’d say due North.  But it’s a little off so I’d say North West.”

Skyler nodded, “Thank you Styles.  As this seems to be a tricky venture I’ll ask ye to take the helm.”

Styles nodded, “Aye, Cap’n.  Which way shall I sail?”

“Set a course North by North West.”  Skyler said.

“Aye Cap’n, North by North West.”

The Skyrunner turned North West as did the other two ships and the venture was under way.

“LAND HO!”

Skyler raced out of her cabin onto the deck, “Colton!” she shouted

“Aye Cap’n?” he answered.

Skyler pointed to the flag, “Take the colors down!  They’ll take cannon to us if they see we be pirates!  And sail a little around the port!  We’ll take the long boats ashore to be sure we don’t attract to much attention.”

A long boat with eight people approached the port of Kingston and the ship where it came from was nowhere in sight.  Skyler’s heart pounded, she remembered the last time she had a meeting with Captain Destan Sacripant they’d been friends.  In fact Destan was one of the ones who helped build her ship, The Skyrunner four years ago.  A lot had changed in four years, including the start of a war with France.  Generally pirates didn’t get mixed into navel affairs, nor did they usually care about their country. But when English pirates, some of whom were Skyler’s friends, were killed by French navy  ships Skyler did begin to hate the French.  Plus, Destan Sacripant had tried to take The Skyrunner from Skyler the day after it was built, thus ending their friendship. 

Skyler looked around the long boat,  she had Colton, Bragg, Anna, Bragg’s First Mate, Bradley and Anna’s First Mate, Sylvia.  She knew all would be worthy fighters in case the need arose, but would they be enough?  Skyler finally looked at Jason.  She’s insisted he come along as he was the only one who had ever made a deal with Sacripant but as she looked at Jason she could tell something was bothering him.

            The long boat finally reached shore and the company got out quickly and Bragg pushed the young French boy up in the front of the line.

“Anna,” Bragg said, “Tell him to take us to Sacripant.”

Anna relayed the message to the boy and soon the group of pirates set off down into the town of Kingston.

The boy took them down the darkest alleys and quietest streets, avoiding any marine contact.  Finally the group stopped at a tavern called The Noose, which was painted on a sign in large red letters of the door.  Inside, the tavern was not a lively place at all, there were only about a dozen people inside but the boy walked pass all of them without so much as a glance, he stopped in front of a large curtain that was guarded by a shady looking pirate.  They boy mumbled some French to him and the curtain was tossed back.  Skyler put her hand in her sword and motioned to company to follow inside.

On the other side of the curtain was a round table with mysterious red splotches on in.  There where three men around the table, all holding cards. 

“Rincer.” The French pirate on the left said.

“Maison Pleine.” The French pirate on the right said with a smile.  The pirate on the left scowled and slapped his hands on the table.  The right pirate laughed and started to reach for the money pile that was in the middle when the pirate in the center began to laugh.  The center pirates slapped down his cards reveling an ace of hearts, a king of hearts, a queen of hearts, a jack of hearts, and a ten of hearts.

“Quinte Flush Royale.”  The center pirate said smiling taking the loot in the center of the table.

Skyler studied the center pirate, he wore ripped French navy clothes but those of a revolutionary.  The French colors were tied about his waist and the sword at his side was that of a captains. 

“Captain Destan Sacripant.” Skyler said adding a little bit of hate in her words.

Sacripant looked up from counting his money,  he had dark brown eyes and black hair that came down over his forehead and a tricorne hat on his head.  He smiled revealing a set of white teeth except for the top third one to the left, which was gold.

“Ah! Capitan Skyler!”  He said, his French accent very pronounced, “I always wondered when I would see you again!”

“Don’t play dumb with us, Sacripant.” Bragg said in a low tone, “You obviously knew we were coming.”

Destan carefully put down his money and leaned over the table, “Yes, I knew you where coming, that’s why I sent the boy.  It was only a mater of time after Captain Jason came to me that the rest of The Pirates of the Breaker would follow.”  He  glared at Bragg, “And that’s Captain Sacripant to you.” Destan motioned to the chairs around the table, “Please have a seat.”

The two French pirates that had been sitting in the chairs reluctantly gave way as Skyler, Bragg and Anna took seats around the round table.  Colton, Bradley, and Sylvia stood behind their Captains and Jason stood behind Colton with his hands in irons.

Destan waved his hands around the room, “Laissez-nous.”  He said and the other pirates in the room left.

When they where finally alone Destan spoke, “So, you want to go to the Edge, hm?”

“How did you know?” Anna asked.

Destan smiled,  “As I said before, Madame, it was only a matter of time.  Of course, when I heard that The Curse had been taken by The Pirates of the Breaker that only confirmed my suspicions.  You want your treasure back, the treasure that I helped hide.”  Destan looked around the table, “But I wonder something, my dear Captains, what is in this treasure that’s so important?”

The room was silent.

“Ah,” Destan laughed, “Perhaps I am asking the wrong question!  Not what is in this treasure that’s so important but what is the treasure and why is it so important?”

“A map.” Skyler spoke up. “It’s a map woven from golden threads.  We stole it from a navy ship we plundered about two years ago that they got off another pirate ship.  It shows the world but there are strange words on it marked in different areas of the sea.  There are numbers, letters, arrows and other strange markings on it that could lead to hundreds of different unknown realms. The one location that we want to know the most is where they are.”

Destan raised an eyebrow, “They?”

Skyler nodded, “When this war started with France the pirates of the sea did what they do best besides pillaging and fighting, they turned their ships around and sailed off, almost as if they had left this world entirely.”

“Where did they go?” Captain Sacripant asked.

“Exactly.”  Skyler said.

Destan nodded, “And you think this map will have some hidden hideout location where all these pirates are?”

“Yes, we plan to find these pirates,” Bragg interjected, “And convince them to come out of their hiding places and lead a full scale attack on all navy ships.  We want to take back what is rightfully ours.”

Destan smiled, “You want to take back the sea?”

Skyler kicked Bragg under the table, “That’s not really the full plan yet.  We just have to find them first.”

Destan sat back in his chair and put his booted feet on the table, “Well, I shall be honored to help you find your precious golden map but you know the price for my help. One of you must take the mark.”

Anna nodded, “That’s why we brought him.”  She gestured over to Jason.

Jason looked around, “Now hold yourselves a minute there!  I don’t care about your map, it is not I who’s asking the favor!”

Destan laughed, “Well, they say you are.”  He got up and walked over to where a small fire was roaring in the fireplace.  He reached in a brought out his branding iron, which was burning red and faced Jason. “Lift up your shirt,  Monsieur.”

Jason backed away but Colton pushed him forward, “This is what you get for betraying your friends.”  Colton hissed.

Destan pushed the hot branding iron onto left side Jason’s stomach.  There was a hiss and Jason cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

Captain Sacripant twirled the branding iron around like a sword, “Now to the next order of business.  Who is the Captain on The Skyrunner?”

“I am.” Skyler said with a puzzled look.

Sacripant smiled, “Good.  We’ll all need to load up on The Skyrunner and make sail at dawn.”

Bragg stood up, “Hold on! Why The Skyrunner and you are not coming with us!”

Destan turned to Bragg, “First, Monsieur, yes  I am coming with you as I’m the only one who knows the way.  Second,  I helped build The Skyrunner for this reason.  She is made to travel to the Edge and back.  The last ship we took to the Edge didn’t make it back and the entire crew was floating on driftwood all the way to France, or didn’t Captain Jason tell you?  So five Captains on one ship, that’s how we will get there and hopefully your golden map will be waiting for you.”

Chapter Eleven

By Ian

Bragg walked about in the deck of The Blood-Traitor.  He’d gotten little sleep the previous night and not just because of the storm.  His mind was still in turmoil about Jason having a guide to the Edge.  Who could possibly know the way to the most forbidden, dangerous and legendary realm on Earth?  He was caught up in his thoughts when someone spoke behind him.

“Cap’n?”

Bragg turned around and saw that Burleson, the ships surgeon was standing behind him, “Mister Burleson? Have ye somethin’ to say?”

Burleson shifted uneasily from foot to foot, “I just wanted to convey my apologies, sir.”

Bragg raised an eyebrow, “Apologies for what?”

Burleson cleared his throat, “Starks, sir.” He muttered, “ ‘Twas my fault he died, sir.”

Bragg walked up to his shipmate and clapped him on the shoulders, “Burleson, you are a very well trained pirate.  Ye be the only soul aboard this ship that can stitch up a cut as long as an arm in a minute.  You recall the time when the Breaker was still complete and we’d just come out of a maelstrom and I had a cut along me calf?  Sir, you stitched me up in seconds and had me fit to sail in no time at all!” Bragg looked into the eyes of the 18-year-old surgeon, “Burleson, the simple fact is, is that not all wounds heal and some people just aren’t meant to be saved.  You did what you could, mate, there be no shame in that.”

Burleson smiled, “Thank ye, Cap’n.”

Bragg returned the smiled, “To your station then, Mister Burleson.  I believe one of the masts needs attending to.”

“Aye, aye, Sir.” Burleson turned to see about the mast.

“Capʼn!” Bradley’s voice yelled.

Bragg ran up the stairs to his first mate.

“What is it?” he asked.

“A man over board!”

Bragg looked over the side and saw a boy about the age of about 13 was floating on a barrel.

“Someone get this boy out of the water!”

One of the gunners dove in the water, a rope was tossed to him and he tied it around the boy securely.

“He’s ready Cap’n!” the gunner called up.

“HEAVE!! HO!!” Bragg shouted as the crew tugged on the other end of the rope and the boy came splashing out of the water and onto the deck.  The gunner came up a little while after.

“Thank you, Mr. Smith.” Bragg said, “Extra ration of rum to you tonight.”

“Thank ye, Cap’n!” Smith said smiling.

When the boy was untied Bragg looked him over and found what looked like an arrow pointing north with an S, it was then that he realized that it was burned into his skin.

“Sacripant.” Bragg whispered urgently. “Bradley get the row boats and go to Skyler and Anna and tell her that I need them and it’s urgent! I think I just figured something out! QUICK!”

“Aye, Cap’n!” Bradley said and turned to leave.

“Wait!” Bragg shouted, “Tell Skyler to bring Jason.”

...................................

When Skyler and Anna got there Bragg took her aside.

“I know where Jason got his map to the Edge.”

“So do I.” Skyler said.

Anna looked at the two Captains, “Well I don’t.”

“Sacripant.”  Skyler and Bragg said at the same time.

Anna gasped, “Not him, not again.”

Bragg nodded, “My thoughts exactly.”

Bragg walked up to Jason “Is he your guide to the edge!”  Bragg pointed to the boy that was just fished out of the sea, who was now conscious.

“Perhaps.” Jason replied with a sly grin.

“YOU DEVIL, IS HE YOUR GUIDE!!!” Bragg drew his sword and put it to Jason’s neck.

Silence.

Bragg was infuriated; beads of blood appeared on Jason’s neck as Bragg pushed his sword down.

“And if he is what will you do to me?”  Jason asked.

“Be bloody generous and keep you alive you devil.” Bragg hissed

“He is.” Jason said.

The boy was awake, scared, and oblivious of what was happening or where he was.

Bragg shoved Jason against the wall and turned on the boy.

“Where is the map that you were given?” Bragg shouted.

The boy was silent.

Chapter Ten

By Sarah

The Skyrunner, The Blood Trader and The Black Heart were all anchored around the island being tossed back and forth between the towering waves. Skyler rocked back and forth in her hammock the stormy sea occasionally causing her to bump into the wall. She told Colton before night feel to drop both anchors as even then the sky told tales of a coming storm. A large wave rocked The Skyrunner to the left causing Skyler to slam against the wall. She groaned, rolled of her hammock, pushed open her cabin door and eminently a sideways rain drenched her. She spotted Colton standing on the bow of the ship; his hand was wrapped around a rope keeping him from toppling over the side. Skyler trudged forward against the rain towards Colton.

"What are you doing?" She shouted over the storm.

Colton turned around, "I can never sleep during storms!" he shouted.

Skyler climbed up next to him as he continued.

"You'd think by now I'd get used to it. What with bein' at sea practically me whole life but I just can't settle during a storm!"

"You get sea sick, mate?" Skyler asked.

Colton laughed over the pounding rain, "Of course not, Cap'n! It's just me shoulder! Me hammock is next to a wall in the sleeping deck and everytime a wave hits my shoulder earns another bruise!"

Skyler laughed, "I have the same problem, Master Colton! Why don't you and I see if we can't find some rope to solve our problem?"

Colton smiled as a bolt of lighting lit up the sky. "Aye Cap'n! I do believe we keep some extra rope I the brig!"

It was noisier down in the brig. The chains clacked and rolled around in the cells and the rain leaked from the ceiling making the ground very slippery. Colton and Skyler located the extra rope and where about to leave when a large wave rattled the ship sending everything hurling forwards. Skyler and Colton caught themselves before hitting the ground but from the back of the brig there was a large thump.

"It came from Jason's cell!" Skyler shouted and the two investigated.

When they got close to the back Colton tapped on Skylers shoulder, "Cap'n!" he said and pointed to the floor. Skyler looked down and saw that the rainwater was tented a strange shade of … red.

Skyler looked at Colton, "Blood!" she shouted.

The two ran to Jason's cell and saw that his body had been smashed into the right side of the cell when the ship had been knocked forward. His arms where still shackled but the entire floor was smeared with blood.

"It must be from his leg!" Skyler shouted. She grabbed the keys and quickly jumped inside the cell.

"Cap'n! It might be a trap!" Colton yelled.

Skyler turned Jason over; he was deathly pale.

Skyler felt a surge of panic run through her body, "Colton! Go wake up Ezra! Help him get down here!"

"Why Cap'n?"

"Because he can't die! If he dies his secret dies along with him! Just go! That's on order!"

----------

As Colton ran to get Ezra, Skyler dragged Jason to the middle of the cell and propped him up on the wall. The upper part of his leg where Skyler had stabbed him was bleeding profusely. Jason's brown hair was plastered to his forehead with rainwater and sweat, his face of a very unnatural shade of white and he was shivering.

"Jason!" Skyler shouted and slapped his face. "Jason! Wake up you filthy trader!"

A bolt of lighting lit up the sky that was followed by a booming clap of thunder and Jason awoke with a start.

His green eyes where feverish and his breathing came in quick gasps.

"Look at what you've done." He said weakly.

Skyler held back a sigh of relief, as she knew he was nowhere near from safe.

The Skurunner suddenly leveled and the rage outside became calmer, only a fine drizzle of rain was present.

"It's about time." Jason whispered.

Skyler heard the clacking of boots approaching brig and felt a wave of relief wash over her as Ezra walked into the brig.

She stood up and gave him a hug, "Are you alright?"

"Gently." Ezra said, "That hurts."

Skyler pulled away, "Sorry."

Ezra smiled, "I'm better than I was, thank ye Cap'n."

"I'm glad to see you're out and about." Jason said with fevered smile.

Ezra's smile disappeared as he walked over to Jason. He slowly got down on his knees with a grunt and inspected Jason's leg.

"His fever is from blood loss and from being in the rain,” he said to Skyler and Colton. "But he'll get over it."

"Oh, how glad I am that you didn't die, my dear doctor!" Jason said.

Ezra gave a mocking smile and lifted up his white shirt to reveal an ugly uneven gash held together by stitches.

"I had to give myself fifteen stitches." He grabbed a white rag from his pocket and began to tie Jason's leg, "But it looks like you'll need at lest twenty." Ezra tied the white rag and yanked it tight causing Jason gasped in pain.

"Oh, sorry." Ezra said mockingly. "I think those stitches can wait until the morning, what's one more night of suffering anyway?" Ezra smiled at Jason and walked out of the brig. Colton relocked the door and the three walked back up to the deck.

The night had calmed and now the moon shone through the clouds bathing the deck in rays of silver light.

"Strange tattoo he has." Ezra said suddenly.

Colton and Skyler turned to Ezra, "What?" Skyler asked

"Jason, has a strange tattoo on his arm. Haven't you seen it?"

The two looked at Ezra with no response.

"I take it by your silence you haven't." he said, "It's not really a tattoo it's like an image that was burned onto his skin."

"What did it look like?" Colton asked.

"It's a circle with an arrow pointing upwards to a letter "S". I assume it's pointing South."

"No," Skyler said, "It's not pointing south." She groaned and sat on the railing, "The letter "S" refers to Sacripant."

"Sacripant?" Ezra asked.

Skyler nodded, "Yes, Sacripant, Destan Sacripant."

"A man?" Colton asked.

"A very dangerous man." Skyler said.

"Destan Sacripant …" Ezra pondered over the name, "He's French."

Skyler nodded.

"I hate the French." Colton said with distaste.

"Why was his symbol burned into Jason's skin?" Ezra asked.

"Sacripant a French pirate who sells stolen secret maps and charts. No doubt Jason borrowed one to get to the Edge and when you borrow something of his he burns his sign onto your skin so you always know that you owe him a favor."

"What kind of favor?" Colton asked.

Skyler grimaced, "Anything he wants. Your boat, your crew … your life."

"How do you know so much about him?" Ezra asked.

Skyler shrugged, "I've meet 'em. So has Bragg."