“Captain! We have to go now” Sezjeck shouted standing over the dead bodies of Jimothy and the other mutineers.

“Is there any more but us?” she asked.

“Everyone on board was in this fight.” he responded.

“What can be salvaged.” she asked. Though she could tell she did not want to admit to herself that her ship, already damaged by the kracken, was now well and truly sinking from having run aground on the reef turtle.

Sezjeck took two long strides to the gunwale and tore up a piece of the railing. He handed it to Esmerelda “the ship is decommissioned Captain” he said gravely.

Esmerelda looked down at the railing in her hands and took a deep breath. “Crew!” She shouted to those that remained “Make for the long boat, we should not be far from the coast of the southern continent two days at most of rowing should put us there. Quickly, go the ship is sinking not a moment to waste we need to be far when she goes down.” she ordered.

“But won't we need supplies if we'll be rowing?” Lark asked.

“Are you questioning me boy? If you try to go back below you will not come back up, now move!” Esmerelda shouted.

“I got the supplies” Petra said struggling up from below deck but none could hear her weak voice.

“Tor, Erika, ready the boat” the captain ordered.

Tor moved immediately but Erika remained clutching her husbands body. The captain knelt by her “Erika, we have to go now” she said with a hand on her navigator's back. Erika shook her head in response unable to speak. Esmerelda grasped her by the shoulders “Erika he's gone, but you're not I need you to come with me now.” Erika remained eyes full of tears unmoving.

“Kaleleonalani,” Esmerelda yelled at her and shook her by the shoulders. “come with me now!”

Erika snapped up at the sound of her sacred name. “Yes captain” she managed to whisper. She took her husband's ring off his finger, took his face in her hands, touched her forehead to his and breathed on him one last time. She stood up and walked swiftly past her captain to help Tornas with the boat.

Esmerelda stood up and looked around, “Where's Petrianna? Gods She's the reason we stood a chance against this where is she?”

“I'm here,” Petra shouted as loud she she could manage struggling up from below.

“Sezjeck, go” Esmerelda said and then went to assist with the boat.

Petra was barely standing clutching her cloak around her and holding her bag at the top of the stairs.

“I killed him, I killed Dimitri” Petra whispered.

“Good girl.” Sezjeck responded and scooped her with her bag up in his arms.

“He stabbed me. He wanted to kill me. He said he loved me, why did he want to kill me?” she was muttering under her breath.

“Quiet now Petrianna, he's dead be happy with your revenge.” He walked across the deck one last time towards the long boat with Petra in his arms.

“Get her in the boat, quickly now.” Esmerelda ordered standing ready to lower the boat to the water .

Sezjeck followed orders. Tornas, Erika, and Lark were already in the boat. Esmerelda lowered it to the water and then jumped down herself.

“Sezjeck, take Lark's oars, row.” she commanded and moved in the boat to hold Petrianna in her arms. Lark gave his oars to the first mate.

Petra was trembling “He wanted to kill me why did he want to kill me?'

“Because you are powerful, and loyal, and good. Far too good for him Girlie.” Her captain answered her.

Petra shivered violently and Esmerelda gently shushed her and draped her coat over her.

Petra looked to Lark. “Please, he took my magic, I can not heal this. Lark you have to do it.” She begged. She could barely keep her eyes open.

“I don't know how. I can't. Petra I'm sorry I can't help you.” Lark held her hand and fought back tears as he spoke. He felt utterly helpless.

Petra was crying now too. “ I am never cold, why am I so cold? I just wanted to find people that didn't know me. I just wanted to find something new. I just wanted to help people. I never meant to die so far away from home.” She whimpered.

“Enough of that now Girlie, you're not dying here. Your warning is the only reason we stood a chance against them. Now I am still your captain and I am ordering you not to die. You stay with me now.” Esmerelda did not allow herself to cry in front of others but she felt her eyes filling as she held the girl in her arms and bitterly fought against reality.

“Just play Lark, please,” Petra whimpered.

“I can't play a song to heal you.” he said.

“Then a song to die to.” she replied.

“No one else is dying today do you hear me? Those treacherous bastards are dead and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, they took half my crew they don't get to take you too.” Esmerelda said holding back sobs.

Petra began to mumble in Northern as she shivered in Esmerelda's arms and she attempted to sooth her.

“Hush now dear, we'll get you fixed up as soon as we get to land. It can't be more than a day. Your going to be fine girlie.” she looked up to Lark. “Boy, play her something.” Esmerelda snapped

“Captain I--” he began.

“What makes you think my orders are optional? Play a song for her.” Then to Tor and Sezjeck “ And you two, did I say to stop rowing? We need to make it to land.” Esmerelda yelled at the remnant of her crew losing the fight against her tears.

“Captain.” Sezjeck said gravely.

“We have to her get to land.”

“Captain” Sezjeck responded

“There will be a healer in the port”

“Captain” Sezjeck responded

“We have to try.” Sezjeck responded

“Captain”Sezjeck responded

“I can't just let her die”

“Esmerelda” Sezjeck responded with finality.

“Sezjeck” her voice broke in a sob.

He and Tornas remain still.

“You have to take me to my mother. Let her at least have my body to burry.” Petra pleaded looking up at her captain.

Esmerelda pushed down her hatred of the mutineers, her guilt for the girl's fate, forced a smile and responded. “Yes , yes Girlie, all right, I will. I'll get you home dear, I promise I will.” she gently stroked her face. She looked at Lark and said “Just play her something, anything.”

Lark took his concertina from its case at his hip. “There is one I remember from back home, the cleric used to sing it. I'm so sorry Petra.” and he sang:

“We will meet again my friend/ out there beyond the river/ where trees and blossoms always grow in fair and mild weather/ no toil no pain I long for it but rush not I know must I/ we shall meet again my friend/ so to thee I will not say goodbye.”

Petra took a ragged breath and looked at him then closed her eyes.

He repeated again pushing through tears “we will meet again my friend/ out there beyond the river/ where trees and blossoms always grow in sweet and mild weather/ no toil no pain I long for it but rush not I know must I/ we shall meet again my friend/ so to thee I will not say goodbye.” Lark continued to play on the instrument without singing, wishing, willing, that he could help his friend. As he played, he seemed to hear his song echoing. A dim light glowed across the gash on Petra's chest and from the deep wounds in her gut. Her eyes opened up. She felt a breath rush into her as the music of the song held her back from death. She felt her life stop running from her.. She looked to him and said “Thank you, bard.” and closed her eyes and fell into a restful sleep.

Esmerelda gently stroked her hair. “Thank you boy”, she said tears dripping off her smiling face “You saved her. Now lets head for shore.”

“Yes captain.” Sezjeck said. And he and Tornas rowed toward the Southern continent and what their future may hold.

THE END, FOR NOW