Page 73 of Mardon

The crews split up, each heading back to their ships.

“Cap’n, what’s goin’ on?” asked Coop, hurrying to his side.

“I’ll tell you all as soon as we’re safely on the ship and away from Nereus. Now, just trust me. And hurry!”

“Aye,” said Coop. “Come on, let’s go.”

Once all of Mardon’s men were back on the ship and the boarding plank was taken away, he looked up to the sterncastle and shouted out to Stitch. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Raise the anchor and set the sails,” shouted Aaron.

“Cap’n,” Stitch called from the helm. “Did we get the treasure?”

“Nay, they left it in exchange for the old woman,” shouted one of the crew.

“I’m no’ auld.” Nairnie swung the pan at the man and the rolled up parchment fell out.

“What’s this?” Ramble picked it up.

“Nairnie, go ahead,” said Mardon.

“Once again, it seems there was no treasure,” explained Nairnie. “But thankfully, while ye were all busy fightin’ I was able to at least steal the next clue.”

“So Nereus doesn’t have the treasure or the clue?” asked Ramble.

Nairnie chuckled. “Nay. Only a box of rocks, and bid the devil he is goin’ to be furious when he finds out.”

“Especially since he said no wench is worth giving up a treasure for,” said Mardon, laughing as well. “That reminds me. Where is Emmaline?” He looked around the deck.

“Cap’n,” said Ramble, handing the clue to Aaron and walking over. “Stitch and I looked everywhere for her but couldn’t find her.”

“What do you mean you couldn’t find her? I left you two here to protect her.”

“Sorry, Cap’n,” said Stitch from the helm. “Didn’t ye see her on the island?”

“On the island?” asked Mardon. “Why would she be there?”

“She told me that ye said she could join ye in diggin’ up the treasure,” explained Ramble.

“And you believed her?”

“Well, nay. That’s why I went to ask Stitch. She must have left the ship then.”

“Get out of my way.” Mardon pushed Ramble aside, heading for the stairs. “I’ve got to get higher to try to see her. We can’t leave without her.” As he hurried up the stairs, the bottom one creaked. He stopped, turned around and headed back down.

“Cap’n?” asked Ramble. “What are ye doin’?”

Reaching down, he pulled away the top of the creaky stair, throwing it to the side. “Devil take me,” he spat, seeing that the bottle of poison was gone. He noticed a hammer lying in the shadows. “Check the shuttle boats. Now!” he shouted.

“Cap’n, one of them is missin’,” called out Peg Leg Pate.

“What’s goin’ on, Mardon?” asked Nairnie. “Where is Emmaline?”

He ran to the side of the ship and everyone followed. Narrowing his eyes, he could see a small dot heading toward the shore. “She left me,” said Mardon, not able to believe his eyes. “She took the boat and . . . left.”

“Do ye think she’s comin’ back?” asked Ramble.

Mardon’s eyes shot over to the stairs again. “Damn it,” he spat, feeling like this was all his fault. He’d told her to take the poison and talk to the king about her father’s murder. He more or less told her to go, and that is why she left without even a goodbye. “Nay, she’s not coming back,” he whispered.