They sailed for a day, with no land in sight. Helen was beginning to miss the island, the simplicity of it. It was so calm and peaceful, despite the constant fighting amongst each other.
What had happened to them? They used to have little squabbles, but now it was like whenever somebody said anything to somebody it started a fight.
Helen realized that Skylar had essentially been a peacemaker, despite her own fights with Richard from time to time. Even though she was a warrior, she would still avoid violence unless it was absolutely necessary.
Helen remembered how Skylar had looked when she told the group that she accidentally killed a witch. She hadn’t meant to kill her, but because of her foot her aim didn’t work right, and she accidentally killed her.
Skylar told Helen afterward that she had never killed somebody before then, and she doubted she could ever do it again. The guilt and nightmares she experienced afterward were terrifying, and Skylar said it was the worst thing she’d ever done.
Helen didn’t realize how much they missed Skylar until she was gone, and now it was like a hole in everybody’s heart, including Richard’s.
But especially Luke’s.
Luke had become more distant, sad, and even irate at times. He missed the comfort of Skylar and the support when it came to conflict. Helen wondered how much more the poor boy could take.
But she couldn’t think of that now. Because ahead they saw a ship, the first one they’d seen since they started this journey.
It had black sails and was much bigger than The Bowen.
Adalene checked the compass and figured out it was coming from the South.
“Dueglesteiners,” Helen whispered.
Ruby popped her knuckles. “Good. I haven’t fought them in years.”
She drew her sword, ready for a fight.
“Wait,” Peter said, stopping his sister. “If they don’t figure out who we are, we won't have to fight them. Let’s avoid this conflict as much as possible. They already outnumber us, we don’t need to make the odds even more against us.”
The ship drew closer and started to stall close to The Bowen.
“Anchor your ship and prepare to be boarded, you are crossing into Dueglestein waters.” shouted a voice from the Dueglestein ship.
“Well, there goes that plan,” Richard shook his head, annoyed. He drew his short swords, ready for a fight himself.
“Wait,” Alice said, pushing his dual swords down to the ground, “We still don’t know if they’ll recognize us. If we stay peaceful, we might still come to Dueglestein free.
“If you do not anchor your ship in the next thirty seconds we will fire.” said the voice from the Dueglestein ship again.
“I don’t think they want to make peace,” Ruby smiled, her sword still drawn.
Luke walked over to the side of the ship, shouting over to the Dueglesteiners, “We’re anchoring! Don’t worry about us! We’re just humble fishermen!”
“How vill zey react ven zere are no fish?” Adalene asked.
Luke’s eyes widened as he realized how bad that made his plan sound. “Oh yeah. I didn’t think of that, sorry.”
“We could say we haven’t caught any fish,” Helen suggested. “That this is our fishing place.”
“And how will they react when they realize that we’ve never been in this place before fishing?” Ruby countered, once again making a good point.
“Look, we’re not very good at pretending to be allied with the Dueglesteiners,” Richard defended Helen, “Most of the time they’re already trying to kill us.”
“Are you anchoring?” the Dueglestiener asked.
Luke and Richard began to let the anchor go free, and they all put their weapons back in their hilts to appear peaceful but to be ready for a fight if it came to that.
Which it probably would.
The Dueglesteiners put a long piece of wood connecting both ships, and a few of them began to board.
“Alright, what do we have here?” the Dueglesteiner who had threatened to fire on them before said, sounding bored of the protocol.
“We are humble fishermen,” Luke said again, “And we have not started fishing yet.” He said rather quickly, trying to gloss over his mistake before about not having any fish.
“Fishermen…” The Dueglesteiner said, writing something down on a clipboard, “And have you fished here before?”
“No, sir,” Luke said, trying to be humble, “We decided to try something different today to get a better variety of fish.”
The Dueglesteiner narrowed his eyes, writing something else on his clipboard. “Everybody knows that the only fish in Dueglestein waters are cod, and besides, you do not have a permit to be fishing in these waters.”
“A-a permit?” Luke asked, and Helen saw the sweat bead on his forehead.
“Yes,” the Dueglesteiner answered, “And you seem a bit young to be fishing here all by yourselves without any adult supervision.”
“I’m the adult, sir,” Ruby answered, crossing her arms. “I just look younger than I actually am.”
The Dueglesteiner raised an eyebrow. “And how old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
The Dueglesteiner made a “hmmph,” sound, and wrote more down on his clipboard. “Well, everything seems to be in order, just next time bring a permit.” He began to walk away, muttering, “I hate these legal checkups,”
“Uh, sir?” one of his soldiers asked.
Helen silently cursed in her mind.
The soldier walked up to the Dueglesteiner, whispering something in his ear. The Dueglesteiner’s eyes widened, and he began to look at each of the children in turn.
Helen’s fingers itched near the hilt of her sword, knowing what would happen next.
The Dueglesteiner nodded, then shooed away the soldier, and said, “Have you children been anywhere near Hilgaria recently?”
Helen repeatedly cursed in her mind.
“No,” she explained, “We are from Bellona, and we came here for better fishing.”
The Dueglesteiner narrowed his eyes again. “Nobody fishes in Bellona, the mountains won’t allow it.”
Luke gave Helen a “What the heck?” look, and Richard pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.
They were so going to get caught.
“I…um…I’m sorry, I-” Helen started, but she couldn’t find words.
“And just how old are you children? Your actual age?”
Helen gave Luke a look, wondering if they should fight or not. It was already pretty clear they weren’t getting out of this peacefully.
When nobody answered the Dueglesteiner, he nodded to his men who began to start walking toward the children.
Without a word, all seven of them drew their weapons, ready for a fight.
The Dueglesteiner had brought six soldiers, so he was immediately outnumbered.
“So it is the fugitives,” he gasped, backing away.
“Yeah, took ya long enough,” Richard smiled.
“Yeah most people recognize us almost immediately,” Peter agreed.
“Guess he’s dumber than most,” Ruby said, her sword pointing at the nearest soldier.
“No, just as dumb as most Dueglesteiners,” Helen laughed, glad to insult them.
“I-I have many men on this ship…” the Dueglesteiner said, sweat trickling down the side of his head. “I could outnumber you in seconds. And-and then I’ll get a promotion.”
“Or a demotion when the children don’t come back with you,” Alice said, twirling her dagger around. “That would be bad, would it?”
“Enough of this taunting!” the Dueglesteiner shouted, although he still looked afraid. “You are wanted fugitives, and I am not leaving without all of you. Then he scanned them again and said, “Wait, where’s the brunette? The one with the moon birthmark like on the wanted poster?”
Helen looked over at Luke, whose eyes flashed with anger and pain. He lashed out at the nearest soldier, fighting him.
Everyone else took a cue from Luke, fighting the nearest soldier to them. Ruby walked over to the Dueglesteiner without a weapon, smiled at him, then promptly knocked him out with the hilt of her sword.
“That guy was getting on my nerves,” she said, then began mocking his voice, “I hate these legal checkups,”
Everyone smiled a little, glad for the humor. But it didn’t last long.
The Dueglesteiner was right. More soldiers came out of the ship, running across the bridge that connected their ships.
“Take the bridge down!” Luke shouted, and Richard kicked it with his boot and it fell into the water, taking a few soldiers with it. Some of the children cheered, but Adalene said, “Zis is not over yet.”
She was right.
The Dueglesteiners unhooked a few ropes connected to their ship and began to swing over to The Bowen.
They fought the Dueglesteieners, some easier than others.
Helen still wasn’t used to fighting, but she did her best. She took down two Dueglesteiners with a little more effort than the others, but it was the third that she had trouble with.
“Hello, girly.” he taunted, “You’ll make a fine profit.”
“Only if you take me!” she shouted to him and tried ducking under his legs like she’d done the others. But he seemed to anticipate this since he grabbed her as she tried to duck.
“Let go of me!” Helen shouted, and she bit his wrist. The Dueglesteiner screamed, and let go of Helen. She fell to the floor and looked up at him shaking his wrist in pain.
“I thought you’d be easier to catch,” he said.
“Harder than you think,” Helen smiled, and picked up her fallen sword.
The Dueglesteiner made a grab for her, but this time she swooped to the side, just out of reach. While he was distracted, she climbed up one of the ladders on a mast, then jumped on top of him.
He fell over a little, but spun around, trying to shake her off. He succeeded in some way, making her fall off of him and onto the edge of the ship.
Helen grabbed on for dear life as her feet dangled over the water.
“Not so hard now, huh?” The Dueglesteiner taunted, putting a boot up on the side of the ship, and kicking one of her hands.
Helen grimaced in pain, but her arms were beginning to shake from holding up her own body weight. She wasn’t Skylar, after all.
“I could kill you right now, but the poster said to bring you back alive.” The Dueglesteiner lifted her up from her armpits, and she tried to get out of his grip, but he was too strong.
“Didn’t say you had to be conscious,” The Dueglesteiner said as he picked up Helen’s own sword, holding the hilt above her head.
“No, no, no, no, no,” Helen begged, but he knocked her out before she could finish...
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