Chapter 4: Stepping Into Renevia
1924 Words
Charlie
The fair was in full swing when we huddled in the middle of the forest, discussing our plans. The lads emptied out their pocket on the grass and I inspected the weapons of destruction with scrutiny.
“Dynamite? Too large. But the smoke bomb? This here might work,” I tossed the smoke bomb up and down in my hand.
“So, what’s the plan, Cap’n?” Ronny asked, looking towards the town square.
“Well, ye and Daggett move through the forest and towards the dock. Rudy, you walk towards the mountains and come in from there. When ye hearrr screams, head to the square. Use yer swords and not the guns. Jimmy and I will sneak into the square and throw in the smoke bomb, scattering them about like ants,” I explained, drawing an invisible map in the grass with a twig.
“What then, Cap’n? I doubt it will be easy to infiltrate the square. There are too many people about, not to mention the guards around,” Rudy voiced, his forehead squeezed in worry.
“That’s right. That is why we will walk through the smoke undetected. Once ye have a clear view, take someone hostage and keep a good eye on the guards. We’ll parley a deal to plunder in return fer the hostages,” I explained in detail.
The lads looked at each other before breaking out in cynical smiles and nods. I threw a smoke bomb at Jimmy and held another in my hand.
“Alright arr, mateys. It’s go time!” I declared before nodding at each one of them.
Here we go.
~.~
The five of us split up as discussed and I headed towards the edge of the forest with Jimmy not far behind. I stood behind a tree, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Cap’n, we’re still too farrr away. We need to move closer,” Jimmy whispered from opposite me, gesturing his fingers towards the fair.
Arrr, he’s right.
“Aye, let’s head towards the empty booth there and hide there. That’s the closest we can get,” I pointed at the empty red and white striped booth in the distance.
We hurried towards the booth, keeping our bodies hidden and our faces down on the way. I was about to enter the booth just after Jimmy when I felt a tug on my pants from behind, making me jolt in surprise. I turned to face my foe, ready for combat but all that stood before me, or rather below me, was a small girl looking up at me beamingly.
“Lady, I like your costume!” She exclaimed before dashing away towards the crowd.
I watched as the lassie ran up through her mother, making me smile. However, that mischievous child tugged at her mother’s skirt and pointed in my direction, sending me into a panic about being discovered.
Shiver me timbers! I need to be gone from here!
I quickly ran towards the nearby unattended stall and grabbed the first hat I could find to cover my face to blend in with the crowd. I didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention when I had an important task at hand.
I should have brought along me captain’s hat instead of leaving it in me cabin on the ship.
Without thinking twice, I placed the hat on my head, tucked my fiery hair under it, and sneaked into the booth, joining Jimmy who was crouching behind the counter.
“Sorry, I got sidetracked,” I apologized, my eyes hooked on the crowd before us.
Jimmy just looked at me with surprise as he tried his best to stifle a chuckle by covering his mouth with his hand.
“What be it?!”
“Um, Cap’n, since when did ye change yer identity? Did you find ye coven?” Jimmy said, pointing at my hat.
I peeled off the hat from my head only to realize that it was a tall and pointy witch hat, the most obvious hat in the whole fair.
Arrr, Charlie. Out of all the hats, ye choose this here.
I glared at Jimmy to silence him before turning my attention back to the fair. We had a clear view of the town square and the only thing missing was the right moment to attack. I clutched the smoke bomb in one hand while my other wrapped around the grip of my sword tightly. The sound of clashing cymbals and folk music filled the air, signaling the moment I had been waiting for.
“Jimmy, now! Fire!” I commanded with authority.
Jimmy and I ran towards the town fair and threw the bombs with all our might towards the center of the square before taking cover behind a stall.
AHHHHHHHH!
The sounds of innocent screams filled the air as the loyal subjects of Renevia scattered about just as planned. With one arm over my nose and mouth, I run towards the center of the square in search of my victim.
Who shall fall into the hands of the pirate, today?
With everyone bumping into each other in blind panic, I found myself being tossed about like a coconut in the ocean. But then, like a light at the end of the tunnel, my eyes met hazel ones for a split second. A feeling of recognition ran through my bones but not for long, especially when the stranger approached me with haste. The fog slowly disappeared and I realized that the stranger was a royal dressed in the finest garbs.
Shiver me timbers, ye won’t catch me royal!
I quickly picked up my feet and ran to take cover behind a giant rock. I peeked behind the rock to see the arrogant royal and some guards searching about towards the direction of the forest. Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned back to rest against the rock. However, soon I realized that someone was taking cover next to me, coughing violently.
The only thing was that he wasn’t just anyone. He was another royal, his golden cape sweeping the floor. As my eyes scanned his stature, I noticed the glittering crown resting on his head.
Begad! It’s the king! What a fine turn of events this has been. The people from this here peaceful little kingdom really should be more careful, they surely don’t know what be waiting fer them.
“Ahoy there, your majesty!” I greeted, my lips twisted in an evil grin.
The king turned towards me in a flash, his eyes still half-closed and watery, the side-effect of the smoke bomb. He eyed me up and down before his eyes bulged open while his face scrunched up in anger at the sight of me.
“You filthy pirate! How dare you step foot in Renevia! You will not be spared! Gua-”
“Oh no, ye won’t. Not after ye called me a filthy pirate. I will make ye eat yer words alive!” I drew my sword swiftly and pointed the tip of my two-edged Cutlass sword at his throat.
The King of Renevia halted in his steps, swallowing his saliva carefully but his eyes still glared daggers at me.
“Now, shall we go make an appearance fer yer loyal public?” I taunted smugly.
With a heave, I spun the king around and placed him in front of me, my arm wrapped tightly around his shoulders. With my sword still inches away from his Adam’s apple, I pushed the king towards the town square.
Have I been in this situation before? Have I met the king? I don’t think so, but then, why does it feel familiar?
~.~
Gasps and screams filled the now clear air as I stepped foot in the center of the square. Within seconds, my loyal lads stood by my side as the guards approached us with their swords drawn.
“Renevia! I have yer king! Put yer swords down!” I yelled at the top of my voice.
When the guards ignored my threat, I placed my sword closer to the perspiring throat of the king in a warning.
“You heard him, stand down!” The frightened king in my arms commanded and the guards obliged obediently.
“Him? Do I look like a lad to ye? Is this long red-hair and my body shape invisible to ye? Or do ye assume every pirate is a man and can never be a woman? Well, do ye think a female can’t be a pirate?!”
“N…no... I’m...sorry…”
“That’s better! Don’t ye dare make that mistake again or I will make ye regret it,” I whispered in his ear with in warning.
“Ahoy there Renevia! I been going to be jolly about this here but yer king and his rude remarks have made me angry. Now, in case it wasn’t clear, we’re pirates and we're here to loot yer kingdom!” I stated openly to the crowd.
“No, you won’t!” A voice shouted back in the distance in retaliation.
“Who said that?!” I demanded, my eyes scanning the crowd.
The very same royal stranger approached from behind the crowd histrionically, his gaze fixated on me with ferocity. He had a sturdy stature with short dark brown hair combed to perfection and mesmerizing hazel eyes but most alarmingly, he had a large sword attached to his belt.
“How dare you come here and hold the king hostage! Let him go and flee from here, and we will not chase you!” The mysterious stranger ordered with superiority.
“Or what?” I ridiculed him with a smug grin.
“Or we will fight and we will win, sending you rats of the sea to your rightful place in the Dungeon!!”
“Oh really? Wait, who in the seven seas are you?!”
“I’m King Edward’s nephew. Well sort of,” the dashing royal mumbled with uncertainty.
“Hah! Do ye not know who ye are? Typical rotten royal. Well, do ye have a name, sort of nephew of the King of Renevia? Or are ye just a stuck-up addle?!”
“Watch your mouth pirate! Just because we’re not attacking you does not give you the permission to run your mouth about the royal family,” he retorted, his eyes narrowed and his hand hovering over his sword.
“Hey! I will do as I wish, ye bilge-sucking addle! Now, answer the question, or should I put a dagger to yer throat as well?”
“Why you!” he revolted towards me, only to be stopped by Jimmy and Rudy.
“Lads, I think our little royal here needs some roughing to loosen his tongue,” I expressed with a smirk, my eyes still dead set on the stranger.
“Fine! It’s Prince Eric of Earadora!” the prince declared loudly, throwing his hands up in the air.
“So, we have a prince of another kingdom in our hands. How convenient!” I laughed out loud with the lads.
The twisted turn of events proved to be helpful for us in scoring details about another kingdom to pillage now that I had their prince under my control. I had no desire to spare mercy to anyone like I have been trained all my life for but there was still a weird sinking feeling in my gut I couldn’t shake off.
Why do I feel pity fer him, like I know him?
- Writer
