Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave."

"What is it." I took the bag from his hands, pulling the bag off. It exposed the very book we were looking for. A small leather bond journal with notes on the Ring of the Sea. I touched, twiling it in my hands.

"It's what you wanted, and a few pages of notes I gathered from the men in jail and people I spoke with." He pointed to the inside cover.

"Thank you, this means so much to me, Mr. Moore."

"I could imagine. During all my travels with your father, I always wondered what the ring held." He smiled, "Please share when you discover it. I am going to take my leave, in the house." He smiled, leaving me alone. I looked between Sebastain's room and the library, before leaving him to sleep. I opened the door to the library and sat at the desk. The book opened, and I pulled the few notes Cameron had left for me.

I scanned over them, picking up bits and pieces of his scrambled handwriting. PIrates, hired from Calston's father, thought to get rid of Mr. Madison to keep secret of Lucas' death. Ring of the Sea, sign of the owner of the trade world, sign of respect, riches are untold.

I set them aside, shaking my head. When will the death end, that was my only thought. I flipped through the pages of the books, scribbling down notes beside me. I lost track of time, reading about each thing the Ring held in different countries, no wonder how my father was beginning to gather so many new partners, I kept thinking. But nothing had answered how he recieved it. Till I reached the end of the book. I looked up, it was dark outside, with the moon shining in. My candle was burning low, and I realized it was probably midnight or later... I mummbled to myself, taking the last piece of paper.

It was Cameron's handwriting;

Camille,

I didn't put this with the beginning, because I knew you would wonder how he got ahold of such a thing, but I wanted you to understand what the ring meant before you got to far ahead of yourself. I hope you enjoyed learning about this ring. I did, as they spoke with me. It really does pull so much together, specially with Morocco and how I am still swimming with cash from there.... But he came across this ring, when we were searching through a wreckage on some small island. It had no people on it, just us. Your father pulled out the small box that it was in. He didn't seem to interested in it, just stuffed it in his pocket and kept searching. We found louds of things on this ship, most of which are now in your families possession and some in ours. I watched him, when we came to the next port. He took it to a man, who practiced some religion, that I couldn't figure out. I watched as him and your father spoke closely, and mummbled. He drew out a thing, and pointed to the ring. Your father, turned to me, and said this is the key.

Well after this "key" was found, things began to happen. We were welcomed anywhere, your father wore this ring. They called him Possidon in many places, God of the Sea, but I wasn't sure why, yet... But then we began getting threats, attacks, and so much more. The letters began coming in from Calston and many others. They wanted your father dead. I couldn't figure out why one ring caused so much pain. But now I do...

When I asked the other men on the ship, why they were staying, not fleeing. They said because your father, Our Captian, promised us this would pay off in the end. He wanted his crew and family to be well taken care of... But that came with the price of keeping all safe. We lost many brave men at sea, but their familes were taken care of. By all. I hope you realize that finding out this information wasn't easy. But I was willing to do it. You are the one who deserves to know... This ring, will cause death. But this will also be the reign of your trade. I promise my sword to you...

Good luck in your ventures,

Cameron Moore.

I put the note down, looking around the room now. It was dark, and cold, and I pulled the ring out from inside my dress. It was such a small thing, but held so much power. I could see my father wearing it on his neck, maybe some thought it belonged to my mother. And was a symbol of his love for her, but no it was a symbol of the sea. I touched it spinning it between my fingers. I took the pen writing all the information into three pages for Sebastian. I include pieces of Cameron's letter, and pieces of my own thoughts. I stood up, taking the pages that Cameron had wrote, and the book, and taking it into the corner of the library, where I had kept a small chest. It had the books my father had written in, notes, letters from Lucas, and other little things. I put the book and notes in there, shutting the chest. I sat in front of it for a moment, till something moved in the corner of my eye. It was a piece of paper that had fell from the book. I walked over picking it up.

I didn't look at it, for a good long minute. Just letting my mind race, and pick up on little things. But then I did look at it. I was from Cameron, Last piece of my notes, here is a shanty your father and us, would sing at night. He told me once, he sang it to you. I hope it brings back some good memories in this time of terrible news...

I read over the sea shanty, remembering my father singing it to me at night. I hummed to myself, taking this letter with me to my room. I sat it on my night stand, as I undressed myself. I grabbed a nightgown, sliding it over my head. As I closed my eyes, thinking of the sea shanty, I rememebered the nights when my father would read me a story. They were blurry moments, but still vivid. I could hear him singing this song, while he stroked my hair. He held me tight, and in the memory, I could see the outline of something under his shirt, and when he moved just right to begin a dance. I saw the ring... He always had it when I was small. I just never noticed what it was. I let myself be taken back to the dance he would do the song, and I found myself following the steps in front of my bed. I spun, feeling my hair fall around me, as it went up and down from the motion. I smiled, and threw my head back.

This was the first moment, since his passing that I felt I had a connection with him. He always joked I was born from the sea. I had been born while he was gone, and he said that is why. I was as free as the ocean, and as stubborn as a wave. He had always been a true salior, and my mother hated that. I stopped moving, and stood there for a moment. Remembering him tucking me into bed. I found my way to my bed, sitting there catching my breathe. I swore I could hear his voice, as I shifted my body under the covers, and reached for the note. I grabbed the note as I laid back in bed. And began singing it to myself as I drifted to sleep, which I thought would be peaceful, till my father's eyes that met me when I closed mine, turned to Henry's.

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There were two lofty ships from old England came,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

One was the Prince of Luther, and the other Prince of Wales,

Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

“Aloft there, aloft!” our jolly boatswain cries,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

“Look ahead, look astern, look aweather and alee,

Look along down the coast of the High Barbaree.”

There’s nought upon the stern, there’s nought upon the lee,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

But there’s a lofty ship to windward, and she’s sailing fast and free,

Sailing down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

“Oh, hail her, Oh, hail her,” our gallant captain cried,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

“Are you a man-o’-war or a privateer,” said he,

“Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree.”

“Oh, I am not a man-o’-war nor privateer,” said he,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

“But I’m a salt-sea pirate a-looking for my fee,

“Cruising down the coast of the High Barbaree.”

Oh, ’twas broadside to broadside a long time we lay,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

Until the Prince of Luther shot the pirate’s masts away,

Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

“Oh, quarter, Oh, quarter,” those pirates then did cry,

Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;

But the quarter that we gave them – we sunk them in the sea,

Coming down along the coast of the High Barbaree.

Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay