A Wee Bounty

"So this is the Island of Giants," Baldar said as he reached a hand out for me to take.

I grabbed it and stepped off of the boat after him. "Metal, one of the few places really built out of it," I said, stepping out of the way for the others to come. "It's why they started to build war-ships with it. Because of this place."

Juliet came next, still as soaking wet as me.

"Why is it called Island of Giants, then?"

I shrugged, peering towards the others before I followed after Juliet. We moved towards the end of the metal dock, other water dripping off of us.

"I don't know. There was a tale I used to be told as a kid. Something about this Giant who challenged Davy Jones to a contest, and won. His prize was getting a city that would never be cursed and survive anything that is thrown at it."

Juliet looked at me.

"What type of tale is that?"

I grinned, reaching out to stop her from hitting the saylor in front of her. "The type that a five-year-old gets told each night when they think there's something under their bed."

"You must of had a strange childhood." She shook her head. "Is that a bounty board?"

We were close to the entering the city, or two buildings where everyone else was going. I searched for the bounty board, noticing it at last. Saylors passed without taking the time to look at the posters that hanged.

I remember seeing one in Carlisle.

"With posters. Let's check it out," I said, already heading for it.

Reaching the board I looked to see there were nine posters in total.

Don Pedro Gibert

Bounty 10,000

Alive

The image was of what I imagined the pirate captain looked like in his youth. Before he had gotten the scar on his neck. The poster looked like the oldest one that had been hanged up.

Henry Jenning

Bounty 8,000

Dead

My lips twitched at the second poster. It wasn't often the posters would request the target to be dead. I've only seen it once before.

"Isn't this your name and picture?"

Juliet's question had me looking at her, a frown forming. Stepping closer to the spot, my frown deepened.

Rachel Schmidt
15,000
Dead

Both a high bounty and someone wanted me dead. That didn't spell good news. I hadn't done anything to have warranted that type of reaction.

My fingers tugged the page down, before I looked up. A few strange looks were thrown our way but no one stopped, most rushing to hurry further into the place. The others from our crew slowly made their way towards us, the Captain being held back by Saul.

I grabbed the two posters that came after mine. We were in trouble with these. In trouble if we didn't figure something out.

I wasn't the only one wanted.

Saul Burns
18,000
Dead

The image of him was as new as mine. Both couldn't have been taken very long before. How or where that before was, I didn't know. I didn't remember posing for a photo.

Bondi
13,000
Dead

Three of us wasn't that bad considering how big the crew was. But with how things already was, it spelt trouble. And each poster had a picture, painting to whoever looked at it, exactly how we appeared to look.

I looked at thew, seeing the grins that were on their faces. Juliet and I stood there at the broad and for the first time since I joined the pirate ship, I was seeing something I hadn't seen before. Yes, they were crude at times, and a few would snap at the drop of a coin from being on a ship for so long, but watching them I spotted something else.

Ernst and Semund were in front, the pair shoving each other. As the sun burned down on them, they looked different. The frown that threatened their faces was gone.

A few steps behind them were some of the saylors from before. It seemed that they were walking together, the two men turning as something was said.

They passed without stopping. Ernst acknowledged us with a head nod.

They weren't the only ones to get friendly with the saylors. Though I had a feeling that Gregor and Casimir were only doing it so they could find the best spot in the city.

As smoke raised in the air from under our feet, slowly the others walked past.

"I'll handle this."

I looked to Juliet, after seeing that Bondi and Saul were stopping the Captain from running off in front of everyone and staying away from the saylors. They were given a few odd looks, and the same saylor whose ship had hit us stopped.

I couldn't hear the conversation, but the devilish grin that suddenly appeared on Captain Velwyns face, told me there was nothing else to worry about.

"What are you going to do?" She asked.

I looked at the papers. "I don't know, but the crew needs a few hours. This is me making it up for the lost time when I joined you all. Go, have fun. Tomorrow, everyone will know."

She nodded, though she seemed so unsure about it.

But she joined Romeo as he passed. He shook his head, water droplets getting all over. A few pieces hit me, but the boy didn't look around to see who all it could have bothered.

I searched once more for the Captain, finding not too far behind him Seminario. His gaze seemed to simply go over me. It seemed that he wasn't interested in what happened out in the water and that he didn't recognize me.

It was something that I was thankful for.

I fell into step behind Saul, his hand still wrapped around Captains Velwyns. I could hear the conversation that was happening steps behind us, though bits and pieces became quieter.

"...Kyd crew who aren't... and she said that she was..."

"So is that?"

Bondi turned partly as Captain Velwyn tried to break off. "Come on, no need to go and try to blow the little pay we have, Macrina." He moved his arm and threw it over the Captains shoulders. "Isn't that right, Rachel?"

"If he wants to go spend his money, let him." I shrugged at him before he looked forward. "His own loss if he wastes it all here."

"Are you sure?"

My attention had been pulled off of them but as we reached the end of the two buildings, the question caught me off guard. Something about it brought a feeling that I couldn't explain. But as we went left, towards the overcrowded shops, I took a moment to look behind us.

They had gone the other way and it seemed as if they thought nothing more of us. It must just be me thinking too much about it.

More busts of stream raised through the air as we got closer to the shops. The ground under us seemed to have pipes connected to it and vents to let the air out.

"Now that we're alone, how about we do something freaky?" Captain Velwyn cursed suddenly, as we passed a baked seaweed shop. "Damn it, Saul. Why did you hit me?"

"We're not alone. Don't go be blowing our cover."

Sauls words reminded me of why I had waited for them. Spotting a cafe that would let us seat down, I pushed Bondi into them to change their direction. This got me a look.

"We need to talk. The three of us."

"No need to push, Love."

I rolled my eyes. "Captain, you're going to end up getting us hanged," I mumbled as he pushed his way through the crowd instead of doing what Saul was and side-stepping anyone who got in the way.

It seemed that Saul didn't think the Captain would run off now that we were even more surrounded. I doubted that with every fiber in my body.

Reaching the table, the four of us sat down.

"What is it that you wanted, Rachel?"

I placed the papers on the table, face down as a server came up to us.

"What can I get for you folks?"

Saul answered. "We'll let you know."

He nodded, looking at the four us. "I don't believe I've seen you around before. If you would like I can let you know about the house specials."

"No, thanks."

"Alright. I'll be back in a few minutes so you have time to decide what you want."

I watched him as he walked away before pushing the papers on the table.

"We have bounty's on our heads." I looked at the Captain. "Well, some of us. I don't know how you don't."

He snatched the papers, flipping them over.

"Come on! How is it that I lost my bounty and they continue to refuse to put it back. I have earned that bounty. I have killed for that bounty."

Saul took a paper as Captain Velwyn grumbled. "This isn't good. A city this size, built like this, would have more than one board. We're also surrounded by saylors."

"Wait, I have one?" Bondi leaned forward before dropping his head. "Come on. I didn't do anything!"

"How do you think I feel?" I asked pointing at mine. "I don't even know how I got one!"

"You do remember you killed someone the first day you joined us?" Captain Velwyn said, his eyes piercing. "But I'm the captain. So it should've been me. I threatened them."

I did remember. Thom was a face that haunted me.

"Threatened, but didn't kill. We expected it to happen," Saul said as he stared at the paper. "Recent photos. I can only think of them using Dragon Fish to get it out so quickly."

"But when would they have time to get photos of us?" Bondi asked.

"This looked like it was from the Kulon."

"That's impossible. We left before they really saw us." Bondi looked around as he talked.

"Yes, but that's the only time we ran into that group." Saul sat the paper down. "After, our clothing changed to blend in." He waved a hand at the saylor outfit that Bondi was wearing.

"So we either have a spy in our lot? Or one of the saylors that was still on the ship managed to get the word out?" Bondi asked.

"Isn't it possible that they were able to still get a quick shot before?" I asked leaning closer to the table. "This picture," I pointed at mine, "isn't that old, but that's the clothing I was wearing before we arrived at the island."

Bondi rubbed his forehead. "That doesn't tell us when. We only fought one ship and none of them would take pictures of us."

"I doubt we have a spy," Saul said, though he appeared to be thinking hard about it. "Velwyn..." He trailed off as we looked at our Captain.

He had been quiet, too quiet. I expected him to have joined in on the conversation. Though mainly more about him not having a poster.

"Do not," Saul said.

It was like he already knew what Captain Velwyn was planning. Which would be a surprise. I'm not even sure what our captain was up to.

"Only because we don't have a get away ship," he answered leaning back, through that wicked grin returned. "The three of you should return to the ship."

"That's a good idea, but we can't stay there for long. Someone might want to inspect it or ask to see the person who's commanding it."

Captain Velwyn looked at Saul. "You can handle it. I've got some catching up to do."

Catching up to do?

He pushed himself from the table, his palms resting on the top. I had a feeling the time we did spend here, would somehow get us all hanged. I could only hope that Captain Velwyn didn't do anything that would bring the city down onto us.

"Let's have some fun."

Saul shook his head. "I will make sure the crew lets you hang if you do anything."

"I won't."

Captain Velwyn turned and strided into the crowd. Blending in with the saylors, as if he belonged there instead in a pirate crew.

"We need to stay low," Saul said as his attention turned back to us. "If we get caught, we won't get free and we still have a ship to get. I'll handle that. You two, head back to the ship."

I nodded.

I knew that the days were going to feel even longer.