Chapter 15
Much as he had done in Makeda, Armeen navigated the ship through a river that cut directly into the island. A green jungle surrounded them from both sides. The sounds of wild birds and chimps filled the air. On his right side, Falcon noticed a family of monkeys jumping from tree to tree, as if following the ship. Above him, all manner of lush-colored birds he had never seen before took to the air.
A moment later, they arrived at a large lake where the pirates docked the ship. They all disembarked and walked on foot through the lush jungle. Trekking the vine-and root-infested environment brought back memories of the Rohad exam he had taken back at Ladria. Those events had transpired mere months ago, but with everything that had occurred, it seemed more like a lifetime ago.
“What are we doing here?” asked Sheridan. He held his sword in hand, ready to cut any vines that impeded their way, which was proving quite useless. The pirates apparently knew a passage through the jungle free of natural obstructions. The winding path cut through the trees in a line of zigzags. “I thought we needed to get to Missea as soon as possible.”
“Don’t fret,” said Armeen. He walked ahead of everyone. “You will get there in due course. However, at this time, it is imperative that I bring supplies to my people. They are in dire need of it.”
Falcon took a glimpse behind him. Now he understood why some of the pirates had tied ropes around their waists and were dragging crates behind them. Still, it didn’t make sense to him that Armeen had spoken about
his
people. What people could a pirate who lived on the seas stealing and raiding possibly have?
The long walk would have been a silent one had it not been for the Captain. He and Aya walked ahead of everyone. He kept on pointing out the different kinds of plants and flowers along the way. At one point he even plucked up a red flower from a bush they passed and handed it to Aya. Falcon winced. The entire display was sickening.
No doubt sensing his discomfort, Faith stood beside him and asked him if he would like her to describe the variety different plants along the way. Usually, he would have refused. Faith was the lover of plants and flowers. He was not. He had no interest in learning about plant life cycles or why a flower is a certain color. But at this moment, anything was preferable to hearing Armeen speak about the ‘charming lotus dew’ the red flower provided for his morning teas.
“And that’s a blue cohosh,” said Faith, pointing at a series of white and blue tinted roots that were protruding from the ground. “They need a lot of shade to grow, which is why they only grow in jungles.”
“Oh,” said Falcon, absent-mindedly. With his eyes, he was drilling a hole in Armeen’s back.
“What else?” asked Hiromy, standing a little behind Faith. Unlike Falcon, she was hanging on Faith’s every word. She listened intently as the holy wielder went on a long-winded description of the trees and the reason for their extreme height.
“Home!” cried Gertie, taking off at a sudden sprint. His legs were so chubby and short that watching the man run was almost comical. He bobbed from side to side, every step threatening to send him tumbling to the floor. Somehow, however, he didn’t fall as he took off toward the blur in the distance. Slowly, the blur turned to a collection of oval-shaped straw huts. Beside it stood a series of squared pieces of land that were being used to grow rice, squash, and corn. Bales of wheat were stacked high at the side of the farmlands. Seeing them reminded Falcon of the time he had spent farming alongside his master, K’ran.
The village itself didn’t seem all that spectacular. It looked run-down and sloppily made. Many of the huts had large openings in the roofs and walls, where the pieces of wooden sticks didn’t fit well over each other. There were a few holes in the ground with slabs of wood covering them.
Did someone actually live down there?
What Falcon saw above, however, left him speechless. It was as if someone had built a small city in the trees. Wood panels connected from one tree to another, providing crossing bridges. There were even railings on the side to prevent people from falling. Long, thick ropes were tied to small, wheel-less carriages. Falcon counted four of them. Two were waiting above, while the other two rested at the bottom.
“Fwooooot!”
Gertie’s whistle echoed across the air. Suddenly, the village that had been so quiet mere seconds ago became a hub of commotion. The slabs of wood on the ground were tossed aside, revealing people huddled beneath them.
Someone does live down there!
The sloppy hut doors opened, and out poured groups of men and women, hollering and cheering at the top of their lungs. They were all grimy, and their simple clothing was caked in dirt. Falcon presumed that they had been working on the small farmlands.
From above, dozens of beady eyes appeared, looking down at them.
“Armeen!” shouted three small voices at once. They belonged to a trio of children whose heads had just appeared over the railing above. “You’re back!”
“Don’t come down,” Armeen shouted. He held up his hand. “I’ll be up there in a short while.”
If Falcon thought that the children had been glad, he hadn’t seen anything yet. The villagers all ran to Armeen as if welcoming a conquering hero. They smiled and surrounded him, bombarding him with a multitude of questions. Men patted his back, women handed him flowers, and a few children tugged at his coat, vying for his attention.
“Calm yourselves!” ordered a woman. She had snow-white hair and deep wrinkles marring her long face. She walked slowly. Her luxurious jade cane seemed to be the only thing keeping her standing.
The small crowd parted, allowing the woman to approach.
“It is good to see you safe and sound,” she said. “You bring this old heart much joy.”
“It is good to see you too, Mother.” Armeen embraced the woman in a long hug. “Were there any problems while I was gone?” He motioned over to the clumsy-looking huts. “Besides the obvious one. It looks as if Jonas had a hard time with the homes.”
A tall, lanky man that Falcon assumed was Jonas spoke up. “I tried to build the huts just as you instructed me, Armeen. But the sticks wouldn’t stick together. I even tried letting the mud rest as you said. But no matter what I tried, nothing worked.”
“Don’t fret about it, Jonas. We will go over it first thing tomorrow morning before my departure.”
There was a wave of disappointment from the crowd of people.
“You’re leaving so soon?” asked the elder woman. Her voice trembled as she spoke. “But you barely returned to us. Won’t you stay at least until the next harvest?”
“My apologies, Mother. But I have given my word that I am to aid these Rohads. I am obliged to honor it.”
“Of course, my son. I understand.”
Falcon watched this exchange with great interest, still at a loss for what exactly was going on. He had gathered that the woman was Armeen’s mother, but he hadn’t figured much beyond that. The fact that Armeen was so young and was commanding people twice his elder was even more mind-boggling.
The young captain motioned to the crates that had been dragged behind him. “We relieved the governor of Terasa of the meats and rice he was hoarding for himself. Jonas, gather some men and carry the food to the kitchens. Have the women prepare it. We’re feasting tonight!”
A loud cheer from the people rang out. A second later, the crowd dispersed as they resumed their business. Many went to their farming; others headed back into the underground holes. Falcon could only assume that that was where the kitchen was located.
“So who are these fine people?” asked the elder lady. “I judge from the dragon insignias that they are Rohads.” She looked quizzically at her son. “That is strange. I have never before known you to side with Rohads, or anyone else for that matter. What brought this change?”
“They paid their dues,” said Armeen. “And one of them knows the seas quite well. Together we located the pass between Missea and the Coral Sea.”
She nodded. “That’s good to hear.”
Armeen introduced every single one of them by name. Afterward, the old lady headed underground.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” asked Falcon. He looked over at the small plots of land. A long evening working the lands seemed like a great way of spending some time. It would help ease his mind and give him time to concentrate on his holy wielding.
The captain called Gertie over. “Have him join you in making the rounds.”
Rounds?
Falcon didn’t like the sound of that. Usually when someone had to make rounds it was because there was someone about to attack. But considering that Armeen was a wanted criminal, it wasn’t all that surprising.
“Do you really think your enemies can find you deep in here?” asked Aya doubtfully.
Gertie answered. “The cap’n is just taking precautions. We’re so well hidden that it’s unlikely that we’ll ever be found by anyone. One can never be too careful, though. Especially now that Ferenzie has moved into the neighboring island.”
“Ferenzie?” asked Sheridan, voicing what Falcon was thinking.
“He’s a man who has been hunting the cap’n for some years now. He must have gotten information that we’re in the nearby area because he set up a temporary base on Chia Island, which is a little southwest of here.”
“He is of no importance,” said Armeen. He did not look worried in the slightest. “He’s a fool that knows nothing of the jungles or of tracking. He will give up his search and be gone in no time.”
Gertie scratched his head, not looking entirely convinced. “I don’t know, cap’n. When you stole the last batch from him he looked mighty furious. I don’t think he’ll be giving up his chase until he has hounded you to the ends of Va’siel. Especially since you were once part of his—”
“Your concern has been noted,” said Armeen, arching his eyebrows at the man. “Now do as instructed, Mr. Gertie, and make the rounds.”
Gertie seemed to understand that he had over spoken. Silenced, he stared at the captain for a split second and then looked away. It was only for a fleeting moment, but Falcon saw it. There was something they were both hiding. A secret, perhaps.
“Let’s go,” said Gertie, tugging at Falcon’s jacket.
“I’m going too,” said Sheridan.
Hiromy’s eyes lit up. “If you’re going, than so am I. I want to see more of those flowers.”
“This is no sightseeing tour, young lassie,” said Armeen. “It may be best if you stay here where it’s safe. I’m sure Miss Faith is eager to do some more of that media…er… mudata.”
“Meditation,” finished Faith.
Sheridan stepped in front of Hiromy defensively. “She can take care of herself.”
“So be it. Do not complain to me if the young lassie gets hurt.”
Feeling quite content that he wasn’t alone in his dislike for Captain Armeen, Falcon took off after Gertie. Faith headed into the underground tunnels and disappeared below.
He waited until they moved deeper into the trees. The air was thick with the aroma of fresh dirt, and in no time, the usual wild of the jungle returned. He sighed, wishing he had stayed back at the small camp. Trekking a forsaken, humid jungle wasn’t his first choice when it came to filling his empty schedule.
The silent walk was made even more uncomfortable by the fact that Sheridan was still not speaking to him. For someone so carefree, he could really hold a grudge.
“Quiet!” called Gertie, after yet another one of Hiromy’s high-pitched lullabies. She would break out in a song from time to time, which didn’t seem to be sitting to well with the short pirate.
“So?” asked Falcon. “What exactly is Armeen’s past with this Ferenzie fellow?”
A number of branches snapped in half as the pirate stepped over them. His mouth remained unmoving.
“So?” continued Falcon. “It sounds like your boss was once was in league with this Ferenzie. Did that gutless Armeen betray him and steal his gold or something? That is what he does, isn’t it?”
“Shut it,” said Gertie. “The cap’n is a great man. Something the likes of you wouldn’t understand.”
Falcon winced. It was clear that Gertie was loyal to Captain Armeen. If he was going to find out what they were hiding, he would have to do it another way.
“Can I hear your heartbeat?” asked a chirpy voice behind him. Falcon raised an eyebrow as Hiromy moved close to him. She put her ear on his chest and listened intently. “Wow. Such a beautiful heartbeat.”
“Shhhh…” hissed Gertie.
Falcon used this as his chance to take a step back.
The young princess frowned as she watched his retreat, but she quickly forgot all about him and returned to her humming.
“See that?” Gertie pointed to a small island obscured by a veil of misty fog.
Falcon nodded, crouched behind the green bushes as Gertie was doing. He was quiet for a long while as he examined the small fort. From this distance, he barely made out a large wooden fence that appeared to have been made out of freshly cut logs. He leaned forward, hoping to get a better view. It did not help much. He thought he saw movement, but he wasn’t entirely sure.
“What is that?” asked Sheridan.
“It’s Ferenzie’s temporary camp. He’s been launching search parties for the cap’n from there.”