White Flag

Schwinn acknowledged the white flag with a nod. "Wave them in for approach. Direct them to our aft," he told one of his crew.

While the shipmate went to get the appropriate flag, Schwinn, Devrim, and Nurlan moved to the back of the ship. Alvar, Gandr, and Reyan followed close behind until Schwinn held up his hand. 

"Your Majesty, it might be better if Prince Alvar, the Brave Gnome Gandr, and the Esteemed Fairy remained out of sight for this exchange." The Captain sent an apologetic bow to the two males. 

Nurlan nodded. "Yellow skin at sea can be a sign of sickness. Although the prince looks golden and healthy, Gandr's skin has more of a greenish tinge. It might make the newcomers wary." 

"And what about me?" Reyan huffed.

"Let's just say that when one is dehydrated, seeing a flying man might be a sign that you are hallucinating." Schwinn did not want to add that sailors occasionally saw men just like him at sea flitting through the air with the weather. It was considered a sign of lunacy. There was no need to offend the fairy further. 

"They don't need to know our true strength," Devrim added. 

"Best to keep all that brawn out of sight as well," Reyan mumbled. He pointed to all the soldiers. Although most had changed out of their uniforms for more comfortable clothing, a few, like Nurlan, still wore the Empire's colors. 

"As you say," the Emperor agreed. "Other than General Nurlan, those in uniform should stay back. Can you relay that message for me? And...if possible..." 

"Spit it out, man!" Reyan rolled his eyes. They were losing time.

"If you can get to their ship without being seen, can you listen to see what they are saying? The more information that we have, the better." The Emperor felt a little bad about eavesdropping but decided it was more like reconnaissance instead. If they had nothing to hide, he would apologize later. 

"W-without being seen?! I am the king of stealth. Just you wait, Emperor. I'll bring you back more information than you could ever process." Reyan turned up his nose before walking back to the bow. He barked at a few of the soldiers to get out of sight. Then he fluttered over the railing and dipped below eye level. 

Alvar gave a short bow. "Best of luck." Then he, too, left with Gandr. 

Once the approaching ship had reached their rear, one of the sailors tried to guide the sinking ship between The Freiheit and the second-largest ship in the fleet. This was so that they could use ropes to bolster the watercraft long enough to have a conversation comfortably. 

To the Captain's surprise, the lilting ship turned sharply, presenting its lowered side to the aft of The Freiheit before drifting sideways to get within speaking range.

"Forgive us," the man with the white flag said. His thick coat bulged, but underneath his lightweight, pale pink shirt poked out and billowed in the wind. "It isn't that we dinna' want yer kindness. It is very hard to maneuver me Little Bess just now and I dinna' want to bring one of yers down with me' sloppy steering."

His thick accent was very difficult for Devrim to understand, but Schwinn did not seem to have the same trouble. He matched the other man's speech patterns instead.

"I be Captain Schwinn, and I appreciate yer consideration. From whence hail ye?"

"I be Zeng. Been fishing for a week in the Southern seas for 'them special fish. But then that squall kicked up and ruined me baby girl something awful. I think she's a goner." The other sailor, who was presumably the Captain, answered.

Nurlan and Schwinn exchanged a glance. While the story was plausible, the man had actually answered a different question than asked. It wasn't unusual for sailors to go around getting to the point, but in a sinking ship, Schwinn would have thought that the captain would have been more direct.

"You don't think you can patch her? I would hate for you to leave Little Bessie if she is salvageable. I doubt we are heading in the same direction." Schwinn studied the other man carefully. 

Zeng shook his head. "We have tried all we can. Can't even keep up with the bailing anymore. My men are just too tired." 

"I have a specialist who might be able to take a look..." Schwinn offered. His crewman Lucky didn't have any formal training, but the kid had a way of knowing what a boat needs. 

"Ye can look if ye like, but it'll do no good. We need a ride. Just drop us at any old port. We'll find our way from there." Zeng held the flag to his heart. 

Schwinn crossed his arms. He continued mirroring the other man's speech pattern to make his message clear. "We don't be passing by any port for many months yet. I would feel more comfortable having ye as our passengers if I knew there was no fixing yer Little Bess. Let me send Lucky to ye and then we can start hauling yer crew aboard." 

Devrim almost asked why Captain Schwinn had said he wouldn't take them to a port when that was one of the solutions he suggested before. Then the Emperor realized that it was likely a tactic to motivate Zeng to mend his ship if at all possible. 

Little Bess's captain pursed his lips but nodded. "Can ye send a line?" 

"I want to go with Lucky," Nurlan said. 

"I don't know how good of an idea that is." Schwinn stared at the Little Bess with a frown. "Most sailors get a little squirrely when the law is around. The sea is freedom and your uniform is the opposite of that."

"Just the same," Nurlan insisted. "I can't shake the feeling that Lucky would be safer with a sword by his side." 

While they were having this conversation, a sailor carefully aimed his bow towards the other ship. The arrow whizzed through the air and lodged just below the railing of Little Bess. The rope stretching between the two boats was quickly tied off. From that guideline, others could be added to lash the two ships together and make pathways for the men to cross. 

"What are they doing here?" Brinn's drowsy voice startled the focused men. 

Devrim spun on his heels to see his sleepy wife propped up by the elven princess. The Emperor had intended to tell the golden-skinned woman to stay out of sight until he processed her words.

He furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? Do you know them?"

"They were in the port of Whitewater when we were leaving. Rory and I assumed they were heading to the Pearl Islands based on their dress. How did they end up down here?" Brinn repeated her question.

"Are you sure it is the same ship?" Schwinn began to pace as he studied Little Bess.

"Unless there are a lot of ships with dark wood and green sails that look exactly like that, I am positive. The emblem on their sail has been patched over, but I recognize the man in the pink shirt." Brinn tilted her head toward Zeng.

"You are sure?" Schwinn calmed himself enough to focus fully on what the elf was about to say.

"Brinn doesn't forget faces," Aurora spoke on her friend's behalf. "I saw the man too." 

"He was yelling at a crewman to get moving or be thrown in the 'drink'." The princess recalled. 

"Are you thinking what I am?" Nurlan had his hand on his sword. "There is only one reason that a man lies about where he has been, changes his sails, and follows ships into the great unknown." 

Schwinn looked between The Freiheit and Little Bess. No one was crossing yet. "Lucky!" he called before the young man could start the journey. "Cut the rope." 

"Sir?" Lucky blinked at his Captain. 

"You heard me..." Schwinn nodded. 

"What's the meaning of this?" Zeng could see the commotion on the other deck. 

"We have a few more questions before we let you across," Schwinn placed his hands on his hips, his accent gone.

Feng did not like this turn of events. "I don't know what this is about but it better be quick. We are taking on water over here! Why I would think--"

"Men!" Reyan's frantic voice cut off any more chatter. "There are men down here!" 

The others looked aft over the railing at the water. 

As the fairy claimed, there were men on two of the three Imperial ships' rudders. Dripping from the frigid water, they were tampering with the ships' steering. 

It was startling, but not as startling as the transformation of Little Bess. Schwinn could barely believe his eyes. 

He bellowed orders. "Raise the flag. Rally the men. We are under attack!" 

He raised his voice so that even those below deck could hear.

"PIRATES!"