《To The Oceans End》


 Chapter 1 | Collector Of Tales

    Day in and day out Shell Harbour was humming with activity from traders through to pirates. It was a large neutral port, the only one along a stretch of coastal islands where naval officers, traders and pirates could stand side by side and not dare to take any action.


    Its sun beat hot, its waters crystal clear, and each day you could bet that one little girl in particular would be running up and down the beach, and back and forth along the piers that lined the port.


    While most kids her age would collect shells, rocks, or the occasional message in a bottle that washed up, Remy had a different collection. She would beg sailors and pirates for their stories about their travels, treasures and conquests ¡ª a collector of tales.


    Out of all the tales there was just one that would stay with her well into adulthood from the blistering afternoon she had heard it.


    It was that one scorching afternoon that she saw a pirate that she had never seen before. His thick black beard salted and his skin a tanned shade of red from a life on the ocean. He squinted as he looked around the pier, hiding his bright but sun damaged eyes from the vicious glare of the seas.


    He was slow but determined, using a makeshift cane to help steady his sea legs as he made his way along the dock. That was until he was rather abruptly stopped by what seemed to be an immovable object in front of him - a little girl ¡ª Remy.


    The side of his mouth pulled up into a subtle grin, surprised as anyone that she dared to stand in his way with a confidence only a child could truly hold.


    ¡°Is that your ship?¡± She asked.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    He nodded and attempted to move forward but the end of his cane landed right next to two small feet causing him to stop and raise his head again.


    ¡°One day I¡¯ll captain a ship faster than yours,¡± Remy said as she motioned over to his ship.


    The pirate caption let out an annoyed grunt, ¡°Oh you know of my ship do ye?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± she nodded.


    The ship in question was a schooner dipping up and down at the end of the pier. It was covered in worn black sails with a ragged old Jolly Roger sitting atop its main mast. Its cannons appeared battle hardened, much like the rest of the crew who were loading and unloading the ship.


    She knew this ship, though it was the first time she had laid eyes on it. The Sevens Reaper. The ship looked exactly like she had been told ¡ª fast, deadly, and agile.


    Although the port was neutral, people started to scatter as they too recognised the ship from stories. He was the feared unknown. Not Remy, though. She remained cool as the fresh sea breeze.


    He let out a boisterous laugh.


    ¡°Oh. Is that right, little girl?¡±


    The pirate captain then patted her on the head, gently swept her out of the way with his cane and continued down the pier.


    Not before too long, a tug at his side brought him to a halt a third time. His frustration became more evident.


    ¡°Annoying little pest, aren¡¯t you. What is it you want?¡± He snarled.


    ¡°A story.¡±


    His scarred hand ran from his chin down his thick beard as he contemplated what to tell her.


    ¡°If I tell you a story will you leave me alone?¡±


    Remy nodded in agreement and a smile began to stretch across her face.


    ¡°Okay girl. Take your pick.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found the rarest treasures. Stolen ships. Battled with the navy. Seen sea creatures as big as boats, vicious animals as tall as trees, and ¨C¡°


    His voice took on a more ominous tone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen the last dragons and the treasure they guard¡­ ¡±


    Remy¡¯s eyes widened on the pirate captain''s last words.


    ¡°Dragons? But they aren¡¯t real!¡± She exclaimed.


    ¡°Ah, but they are. They guard a pile of treasure that you could only dream of,¡± he said with a mischievous grin.


    ¡°They are held up on a mountain by the sea. The biggest you¡¯ve ever seen. The water boils yet your ship hits ice. The sand is as black as the rocks that protect it and the sun never sets nor rises for time on end ¡ª enough to drive the most experienced sailors crazy.¡±


    In awe as her imagination ran wild, the click-clack of the cane as the pirate Captain made his getaway snapped her back to reality.


    ¡°Wait mister. Where are they?¡±


    ¡°Go north to the ocean''s end.¡±

 Chapter 2 | Odd Jobs

    ¡°C¡¯mon Teo,¡± Pleaded Remy


    She held her hands together in a begging motion.


    ¡°There¡¯s just a few more jobs we gotta do.¡±


    ¡°No, I''ve had enough of these jobs. They''re always, well, odd!¡±


    ¡°This one isn¡¯t so odd, I promise. Please, please?¡±


    Teo, who was Remy¡¯s closest friend growing up, had always, rather reluctantly, been dragged around the small islands that surrounded Shell Harbour while she took on odd jobs. They were the ones that nobody else would take. So stupid and low paying that the only person who was willing to take them was the young girl with bigger dreams than purse.


    He found the jobs funny in hindsight, but when he was in the moment, he typically hated their adventures. Simple jobs turned inexplicably difficult. More often than not they got into scraps, and they had even been robbed a handful of times but Remy would always persevere and complete each one.


    She took these jobs not only to save up enough coin to purchase her own ship but to also hone in her abilities to captain a ship albeit small ones at the time.


    ¡°Alright, what is it then?¡± Muttered Teo, giving in to Remy¡¯s pleads.


    She jumped on the spot in delight and grabbed his shoulders.


    ¡°Aha! Knew I could count on you Teo. Meet you at the boat in ten minutes.¡±


    Watching Remy run off his face turned concerned.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he shouted. Remembering that she didn¡¯t actually tell him what they were going to do.


    ¡°You never told me what it was?¡±


    Remy turned her head while slowing down to a jog, a smile beaming across her face.


    ¡°Kylie lost his eye. A monkey has it,¡± shouted Remy before she turned back around and continued on, not giving Teo a chance to respond.


    ¡°Of course. Here we go again,¡± muttered Teo as he let out a sigh of regret that he had just agreed to joining another one of Remy''s adventures.


    ¡­


    As Teo arrived at the dock, he saw Remy prepping the cutter. It was a small single mast boat, about 30 feet in length ¡ª only just manageable for the two of them to sail.


    She borrowed it from Ned, who had a fleet of small merchant ships at their local port. He was old but not that old where he was a grump, so he gave Remy a deal on the promise that one day she¡¯d bring him something exotic or valuable once she ventured out to the world beyond their own shores.


    ¡°Hop in Teo,¡± chimed Remy.


    ¡°Uhg let¡¯s get it over with then shall we,¡± said Teo. ¡°By the way is it a man or a woman?¡±


    Remy let out a laugh at his question while she began checking the lines, making sure the ropes were free of tangles.


    ¡°What do you mean man or a woman!¡±


    ¡°Well you said their name was Kylie but you said he lost an eye?¡±


    ¡°Yes that¡¯s what I said,¡± said Remy as she hopped across the deck and loosened the cleats on the main sail. ¡°Are you going to help or just sit there all confused?¡±


    ¡°Strange name for a man. So how did the monkey get his eye?¡±


    Teo grabbed the halyard and started heaving the main sail, the rope already burning his hands. He hardly ever sailed, or at least avoided the laborious side of it. He wasn¡¯t posh by any means, he was better with his thinking rather than labour.


    The flutter of the sail was always music to Remy¡¯s ears as it caught the wind and slowly started to push them off the dock.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Secure the halyard,¡± shouted Remy.


    ¡°You can ask the monkey when we get there Teo.¡±


    Remy ran to the bow to hoist the ships single Jib, while Teo struggled to tie off the halyard for the mainsail. The ship started to pick up speed, the small waves underneath slapping against the hull. It was pure bliss, and Remy cherished every moment of a new voyage.


    She hung off the edge of the boat with one hand outreached and the other firmly gripped on the rope, taking in the salty sea air through her nose. Soon she¡¯d be sailing across the oceans and could already picture it.


    ¡°Teo, get on that rudder and head East.¡±


    ¡°Aye aye Captain,¡± Shouted Teo drearily with a touch of sarcasm


    The ship cut into the water, gracefully slicing through the rolling swell and whitecaps. The only sound were the splashes of waves against the hull, the flapping of the sails, and howls of the wind.


    They spent the next couple of hours exchanging banter between themselves and reminiscing on some of the fun adventures they¡¯ve had with one another.


    Teo had curled over in laughter recounting the time Remy had mistaken a small man for a child on one of their previous jobs.


    ¡°Why was he dressed like that,¡± said Remy as she tried to hide her smile and contain her laughter at the embarrassment.


    ¡ª


    As the pair reached the halfway mark, Remy spotted a storm on the horizon, already kicking the ocean to a stir ahead of them.


    ¡°The open side of Crab Cay looks too wild, we¡¯re going to have to go through the Narrows,¡± shouted Remy.


    Teo groaned, ¡°no way. ¡±You sure we can¡¯t go around the open side?¡±


    Neither of them enjoyed the Narrows. It was a stretch of water between two islands ¡ª Crab Cay and Fern Island. Between the two islands was a town built along the waters edge on either side with a deep channel that allowed ships safe passage from rough seas.


    The townsfolk were a rough mix of fishermen and pirates, usually heckling any ships passing through and if you were unlucky enough, you¡¯d get plundered as you passed through.


    As they approached the narrows they reefed the main sails and dropped the jib to slow down and to control the ship.


    Remy and Teo could feel the daggered stares as soon as they entered the Narrows, the town was bustling and had a charm to it that often tricked any passing ships into thinking it was perfectly pleasant.


    Traders and shopkeepers stepped out of their huts on the boardwalks and started to tout their wares until the less-than-ideal characters started appearing.


    Remy unsheathed her sword as a couple of rough looking men started walking along the boardwalks that flanked either side of the ship as it cruised along the channel.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t if I were you.¡±


    ¡°Or what? What¡¯s a little thing like you gonna do ¡®bout it?¡±


    Remy''s sword was old and she was in dire need of an upgrade but that kind of spend had to wait. Wait until she had enough coins to buy herself a ship that was bigger, faster, and capable of taking bigger jobs.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try me,¡± said Remy.


    The sides of his mouth tweaked up into a menacing smile as the wind started to pick up. The edge of storm Remy spotted earlier started to scrape by landfall and she was sure this was her preferred situation rather than battling the stormy seas on the open side of Crab Cay.


    ¡°Oh this will be easy.¡°


    The men looked at each other with menacing laughs before jumping onto the ship. The overly confident one ran straight for Remy while the other was left to handle Teo. They both seemed sure it would be a quick and easy fit taking on two young adults by themselves.


    Remy positioned herself, ready to fight as the man unsheathed his sword, swinging it around his hand before lunging forward.


    As their swords clashed, a dull thud of metal against metal rang out. It wasn¡¯t the usual cling of a sword fight, no, it was far from it.


    Another thud drew both their eyes to the deck. It was Remy¡¯s blade. It had finally had enough and the blade snapped perfectly at the hilt.


    The man bellowed with laughter. He raised his arm, the glint from what little left of the sun behind the clouds caught the blade before it came crashing down.


    Still holding tightly to the hilt she raised her hand, the guard the only thing protecting her from the force of an otherwise deadly strike. Remy rolled to the side to escape another blow before getting back up to her feet.


    ¡°Some help would be nice,¡± she called out to Teo.


    But he was preoccupied with the other man who luckily for him, was a little less coordinated than the one she was fighting.


    Teo was jumping side to side, evading sword strikes from the growingly puffed out delinquent.


    Knowing that Teo¡¯s knot of the halyard wouldn¡¯t be as secure as her own, she made a break for it. Using the hilt, she threw an unexpected jab at the man¡¯s nose making him bend over in shock.


    Remy used his back as a stepping stone to launch over to the halyard and with the lightest touch it unravelled, dropping the main sail.


    The storm wind suddenly captured by the sail gave the cutter a massive increase in speed. It knocked Teo¡¯s attacker overboard as they reached up to take another swing, throwing them off balance and over into the channel.


    With no one at the helm of the ship it started to scrap and bounce off the boardwalks that lined the channel between the town. The commotion and weather forced onlookers and any potential help back inside their shacks, and luckily for Remy and Teo it hadn¡¯t caught on any jagged timber yet. So far it had been guiding them on a speedy passage and toward a quick exit of the Narrows.


    Remy tumbled along the deck stopped only by the large man who had now regained his composure though blood was leaking from his nose down his face to his shirt, helped by the heavy rain that started to fall.


    He yelled in frustration, ready to launch another attack as he steadied his footing until another gust of howling wind caught the sails along with a sharp clash against the Portside hull.


    Teo went bottoms up and started rolling like a cannon ball on the loose down the deck striking Remy, still balled up herself, and he flew through the air collecting Remy¡¯s attacker for the ride.


    Teo spilled over the side of the ship, grabbing the rail for life as the man fell down into the channel.


    The rain on the slick wood lessened Teo¡¯s grip, he was certain he would drop into the channel and stuck to deal with the aftermath in the Narrows while the ship continued on without him.


    A hand quickly grabbed his own just as his grip slipped. Then another. It was Remy. Both her feet against the railing and leaning backwards while she held onto his slippery wet hand. Using her momentum she heaved him back aboard and started to laugh.


    Trying to mask his own laughter from Remy¡¯s contagious giggles he asked what she found so amusing.


    ¡°We¡¯re so terrible at fighting,¡± she laughed.


    ¡°Uh Remy,¡± said Teo, pointing ahead of them.


    ¡°Crap.¡±


    The exit out of the Narrows ahead had a slight turn to it, used to dampen any swell from entering, and they were headed right for a head-on collision.


    Remy jumped back to her feet and ran back to the helm. The ship was still catching the bursts of wind from the storm. She managed to get her hand close enough to the wheel to slap it into a spin, pitching the boat to its side as it just clipped the curved boardwalk and the narrows now at the stern of the cutter.

 Chapter 3 | Kylie

    With the Narrows behind them and the storm clearing, Remy took a moment to assess the damage their little detour caused them.


    Chips and chunks were taken out of the wood from the sword fights. Hull planks were warped and there were deep scratches from bow to stern. Still seaworthy but beaten up.


    They weren¡¯t far from Deadman Pass, a pirate cove protected cliffs and submerged rocks that Kylie had been residing in. She didn¡¯t actually know him too well besides a couple of meetings back in Shell Harbour and the shallows that surrounded.


    He knew that she took on jobs that others would never want to do so he sent her a parrot message offering the job to which of course she accepted right away though it was missing some key details.


    It only read:


    Me eyes been stolen. Monkey. Hidden Island. 100 coin.


    It was as poorly written as it was vague but that didn¡¯t deter her one ounce.


    The rocky outcrop that marked Deadman pass in the ocean grew larger letting them know it was time to approach with caution. Neither of them had ever actually sailed inside the cove but the sparkling shine from smashed mirrors across the rocks were a familiar sight.


    It was an ingenious method used as a daytime lighthouse and marker for dangerous rocks, and if you were in the ¡®know-how¡¯, you were able to use them to guide you safely into the cove.


    The navy would never attempt entry. They tried once but lost too many ships and men to try again. Instead they would occasionally anchor further out to sea and try to capture any pirates on their way in or out.


    A slight flicker off the top of a submerged rock to the Portside and left to the main outcrop guided Remy into the first entry point toward the cove.


    Teo stood out on the bowsprit calling back to her whenever another flicker was spotted. She flicked the wheel with precision. As long as Teo called out correctly, they would make it in.


    After a few close calls and some cursing they came to the main entrance of Deadman¡¯s Pass. The huge cliffs either side of the opening acted as a doorway into the pirate haven.


    After pushing through some chop the water became dead still and returned to a crystal clear blue as they entered. It widened significantly into a paradise of white sand, tropical trees, and the town spread across an area way larger than either of them expected.


    There were ships everywhere throughout the cove, some that appeared way too large to even enter through the cliff gates, but the pirates that frequented it were some of the best seafarers in the world so Remy didn¡¯t bat an eyelid at their presence as they sailed in.


    They heard calls echo out to notify others of a ship''s arrival as they approached the rickety old pier that extended out the centre of the cove. They tied off the cutter at the end and made their way into the little town that occupied it.


    ¡°You¡¯re brave ain¡¯t ya,¡± said an old pirate.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    He was perched up on a stump that had a small, old sail hanging over it for shade. A semi- permanent location for an old retired pirate to spend his days. The best of his days may have been behind him but he still looked as if he could do some damage if anyone were to get too close.


    ¡°Twelve coins,¡± he added.


    ¡°Twelve coins for what?¡± Scoffed Teo.


    ¡°To put your boat there you little cucumber.¡±


    Remy let out a laugh at the senile insult before it was interrupted with a shout.


    ¡°Manning. No!¡±


    Like a dog being scolded by its owner, Kylie came limping out from the town''s entrance.


    ¡°No charge for ¡®em. They¡¯re here to work.¡±


    The old pirate started muttering to himself before waving them past where they were greeted by Kylie.


    ***


    ¡°So how the hell did the monkey even get your eye?¡± Asked Teo


    It was the one question Teo was burning to ask since they set sail. They were in the tavern which was easily the biggest and most cared of all buildings in Deadman Pass.


    Kylie stared at him, almost offended.


    ¡°Well he was on the boat wasn¡¯t he. Came outa nowhere too the little bugger. Scared me right off me feet. Hit me head and the eye rolled across the deck.


    ¡°Before I knew it, he picked it up and jumped off the side, headin¡¯ for that small jungle island.¡±


    He pointed out to the sea, through the gap of the cliffs that protected the cove, and apparently at an island. Remy confused, pushed her head forward as if it¡¯d allow her to see it.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing there Kylie,¡± she said.


    ¡°Ah but there is,¡± said Kylie, his tone taking on a more mystical and ominous tone.


    ¡°There¡¯s an island there alright. Closer than you think, hidden by the blur of the sea meeting the sky.¡±


    Kylie continued to tell them both how to navigate there, but to be careful as the sea does strange things around the island as it sits on the edge where the shallows jump to the depths.


    When Teo questioned why he couldn¡¯t just go back himself to get the eye he simply said he didn¡¯t want to and left it at that, leaving Teo somewhat concerned at the reluctance of the man.


    ¡°Alright then. Off ya go,¡± announced Kylie.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t payin¡¯ ya to drink.¡±


    He took their mugs and abruptly ended the conversation and shooed them out of the tavern.


    ¡°Well this is going to be fun,¡± said Teo.


    A slight chuckle left Remy as they undocked the cutter. She too felt slightly concerned of a voyage to the edge of the shallows in search of a hidden island.


    They made sure to keep the cliff gates of Deadman¡¯s Pass aligned as they sailed out. They would need a point of reference as they sailed out toward the blur of the horizon and in the general direction of the hidden island.


    ***


    Even in the shallows the sea could be testing and it wasn¡¯t long before the chop started to wash across the boat from all directions.


    Each yank on the wheel to correct the cutter was met with an immediate need for another correction.


    ¡°Keep it together Teo, it will falter eventually!¡±


    He was slipping and sliding across the deck, adjusting the sails and rope for each change before a sudden head on gust raised the bow off a choppy wave.


    Teo tumbled toward the stern as Remy ripped the responsive little ship to the starboard side, giving them a slight reprieve for Teo to get back to his feet.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to tack Teo!¡±


    He hopped over to the main sail, and swung the boom to adjust to Remys starboard turn, and again for the portside turn.


    On the fourth turn of the tacking manuveuvres the wind dropped out of nowhere, bringing the cutter to a complete standstill


    A yelp raised Remy''s head which had been sitting between her two arms as she held onto the wheel, and then a splash.


    She managed to catch a glimpse of Teo slipping off the end of the boom and straight into the water. A funny sight if he weren¡¯t so close to death.


    ¡°The sky¡¯s the clearest I¡¯ve seen in a long time. We might be stuck here until the morning winds,¡± called out Remy.


    As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky began to darken, soft glows started to flicker on across the horizon as ships began to light their lanterns.


    As the sun set more than just lanterns became visible. A large shadowed mass caught both their eyes at the same time as a ship''s tiny specs of light suddenly disappeared behind it.


    ¡°That¡¯s got to be it,¡± cheered Teo.


    ¡°Yeah. Gotta be.¡±

 Chapter 4 | Monkey And The Eye

    ¡°Get back here you¡ª¡°


    ¡°You little ¡ª Arhh¡± shouted Teo, much to Remy¡¯s delight as he chased the monkey around the base of a large tree before it bolted up to a high overhanging branch.


    It¡¯s small stature made it fast and infuriating to try catch. It knew what they were there for, even pretending to drop the eye before swinging around the branch by its tail to grab it.


    ¡°Teo, go and hide in the bushes over there, I¡¯ll try make it run over there and you can catch him,¡± whispered Remy as she motioned over to bushes deeper into the tree line.


    She pulled out a shiny coin from her pocket and flicked it with her thumb, making it spin high into the air before snatching it up in her hand again. The coin glistened in the sunlight and the ringing from the spin was enough to captivate the curious primate.


    Remy tossed the coin with precision toward the bushes Teo had hidden in, making the monkey launch from its branch in a frantic panic to get the coin.


    It was howling as it jumped across and landed next to Teo¡¯s hiding spot, searching around everywhere for the coin before Teo launched out of the bushes with his arms extended in an attempt to catch it. The initial rustle of the bush gave him away, making the monkey jump out of the way with Teo going face first into the sandy, shrubby ground.


    ¡ª


    As the monkey led them further into the jungle, Teo spotted a rather unusual and odd item. Lightly moving in the wind was what appeared to be a worn out Jolly Roger just floating on its own.


    A pirate cursed island thought Teo as he nudged a distracted Remy.


    ¡°Uh Remy. It¡¯s not worth it we¡¯ll never catch this bloody monkey,¡± he said. His eyes not moving away from the floating flag.


    Remy ran ahead intrigued by this particular bad omen rather than frightened like Teo. As she got closer she saw that it in fact wasn¡¯t floating at all, but was rather attached to what appeared to be a mast.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a ship,¡± called out Remy as she unsheathed her sword and started pushing deeper into the jungle ahead.


    ¡°A what. Ship? In the middle of a jungle,¡± scoffed Teo at the impossible notion.


    Sure enough as they sliced through the thick brush of the jungle they came across a small lake, fed by a narrow and overgrown doglegged inlet, which was protected by a small cliff around it.


    Sat in the middle of the small lake was a worn down schooner that barely fit, sitting only just meters off either side of the cliffs edge.


    It¡¯s eroded hull was covered in a deep green moss with deep splits across the planks of woods of what would of once been a beautiful ship. Nature had started to reclaim it, boarding it from the bowsprit that protruded into the edge of the thick scrub.


    It was a sight that left Remy in awe but did nothing to ease Teo¡¯s mind of it being a cursed island.


    ¡°Uh how¡¯s there a ship in here¡ª¡°


    ¡°Shh. Wait a minute. I know this ship,¡± said Remy, her eyes opening even wider in surprise.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°The Sevens Reaper,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Sevens Reaper?¡± Scoffed Teo.


    The monkey, still holding the eyeball, ran around to the bowsprit and across to the deck before Remy jumped across from the small cliffs edge onto the ship.


    A large crack sent one of Remy¡¯s legs through the deck as a plank gave out from the sudden force. Enormous, what seemed like laughs came from the monkey as it bounced into the cabin.


    After a short debate, Remy had convinced Teo to climb aboard to help her get her leg free. It didn¡¯t take much to scare him into climbing aboard either, all she had to do was tell him that he¡¯d be stuck on the cursed island forever and on he hopped.


    The boards started to creak under each carefully placed step as they made their way to the broken down door that led into the cabin of the ship.


    A jolt of fright forced a scream out of Remy stared down a man, albeit a dead one, sitting behind a desk, the monkey sitting on his shoulder with its tail curled around the backside of his neck.


    Teo came racing in behind her.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the captain of the Sevens Reaper,¡± stuttered Remy, taken aback by the sight.


    How did he end up here, like this. She thought to herself.


    He was the most feared pirate just through word alone.


    She was certain it was him. The black salted beard intact, a walking cane nearby, and the trinkets spread around the cabin made it believable.


    As Remy scanned around the room further she noticed a tightly rolled, leather backed scroll in the decomposed hand of the Captain and an open scroll laid out on the desk in front of him, weighted down by some of his heavier trinkets that would have been laying around his cabin.


    She tiptoed over to the other side of the desk, moved away the trinkets and pinched a corner of the laid out scroll and slowly pulled it away from in front of the Captain as if he would suddenly wake up and grab her hand.


    This island has damned us. Providing refuge from prying eyes and enemies, it allowed us entry, only to close behind us.


    Our only luck will be if a ship stumbles upon this island. The men have spread to each side of the island to try their hand at a rescue with no debt to the sevens reaper, unlike myself.


    A captain''s glory is to go down with his ship. There¡¯s no glory here but it shall not deter me from dying with my ship.


    Captain G.R


    Remy let out a sigh, turned and blindly passed the letter to Teo. Shaking it around while he was impatiently tapping his foot waiting for his turn, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the opened scroll on the desk. It was the captain''s map.


    ¡°Go on, take it already.¡±


    Teo grabbed the scrolled note and started muttering the words as he read them and paced around the cabin.


    She leant over and dragged the palm of her hand across the map to remove he years of dust and grime that covered it. Her eyes widened in awe as she pulled it off the desk and away from the decaying Captain, the trinkets clanging as they were upended by the rapid movement. She didn¡¯t care for anything else in the cabin.


    ¡°T¡­Teo,¡± she muttered as she started to slowly pace with her head right up against the map.


    Teo was too busy with the letter to take any notice of Remy and the map, and she didn¡¯t bother calling him a second time.


    A thick black square delineated the map''s edges, with a sentence on each side tucked between the border and edge of the scroll that read ¡®The Oceans End¡¯.


    Inside the border was a detailed, almost completed map that contained islands and countries that Remy had never heard of.


    Lightly dashed lines were traced across the map with dates marked against them to seemingly keep track of each voyage. If it was a repeated voyage the dates would be one after another along the line. The voyage lines weaved across each other and between the intricate drawings sprawled across it, showing points of interest and fierce beasts.


    There was one particular voyage line that drew Remy in further, if it were even possible at that particular moment.


    A single line that barely intersected with any other. A voyage that was never repeated.


    On the top of the map, near the Oceans Northern end, was an island. It had the pointed peaks of mountains drawn across it and wrapped around it was a large, scaled beast ¡ª a dragon.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± She shouted.


    ¡°What is it,¡± called over Teo finally snapping to attention.


    ¡°It¡¯s the map. And it shows where


    ¡°Simple enough,¡± said Teo sarcastically.


    ¡°We¡¯ll just hop on our boat and sail across that big ole¡® ocean that¡¯s filled with monsters to go sight see that vicious looking dragon.¡±


    She rolled up the scroll and gave Teo a little boop on the nose with it.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we¡¯ll do,¡± said Remy.


    A thud, followed by a small rumble along the floorboards broke the silence. It was Kylie¡¯s eye rolling straight to Teo''s feet, dropped by the monkey who took up a seat on one of the cabin windows.


    ¡°Ugh gross.¡±


    He picked up the eye and inspected it. It was made of glass and although it was old and cloudy it had meticulous detail which was unusual for a fake eye, especially for a pirate.


    ¡°This thing gives me the creeps.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose it, that¡¯s our future there Teo.¡±


    He shoved the eye into his satchel to avoid its creepy glare.


    ¡°Come on then let¡®s get out of here.¡±