Jean looked out into a bright white light at the center of Death''s Yard. Like most of the nightsea, the space around the island was clear. The debris of Death''s Yard started a distance away, the rocks forming a block for any light escaping from the island and out into the greater nightsea.


    The Flying Dutchman sailed through the space in front of them, generating a wispy trail of green light behind it. With no more rocks to worry about, their own ship accelerated, following the ghost pirate ship.


    Jean smiled. Now, this was exciting—a hidden island at the center of a forbidden place. That was the kind of excitement for which he lived his second life. He closed his eyes as they crossed into the island''s bubble to keep from going blind.


    Pop.


    The distinctive pop of a change in air pressure cut through his ears as the ship shook through the island''s bubble. A dark night sky opened up around the ship as the Flying Dutchman led them across the sea and into the dark below with its green trail. In the distance, Jean could see an island marked by two peaks. He made his way down the deck, his duty no longer needed, and called Eliza back to him.


    She shot through the air and rested on his shoulders before he closed his gate and allowed her to rest. Alex and Sayed walked up next to him, both mesmerized by the new island as he was. Jean couldn''t keep the smile from his face. Fate had brought him some very interesting people indeed.


    "What''s that?" Alex nodded to the east as they circled around the island.


    "It would appear to be a giant mollusk consuming the mountain''s peak," Jean said, tapping his chin. "Though it appears to be carved from stone, and I doubt such a creature could actually exist."


    "We''ve seen weirder things." Alex frowned. "Just not something so big."


    "The whale from earlier was certainly large." Sayed pulled at the ropes around his chest. "Though that creature would be greater than a hundred of them together."


    "Look at the other peak," Alex said. "There''s a flat platform there, but nothing else."


    "And there are buildings down below," Jean said, looking down over the tops of the trees. "One set of buildings for each peak."


    "We''ll have to talk to Bargen once we''re there." Alex shook his head. "There are more questions here than answers."


    "That''s the fun of a mystery," Jean said. "You never know what the world will bring until you figure it out."


    The Flying Dutchman flew low and into the water as they approached the island''s far side. In the distance was a small outpost with buildings lining the coast and a water dock running out into the water. It wasn''t built for many ships, but Jean didn''t imagine the operation on the island needed that many.


    A single drim stood out on the docks, waiting for them, dressed in tattered garb like the pirates from the Flying Dutchman. He waved as the Flying Dutchman sailed into the docks but seemed less certain when their own ship pulled up the opposite side.


    "Captain Bargen," the drim yelled up at the ship. "The boss wants to see you and your men immediately."


    Thump.


    Bargen jumped down from his ship and landed on the deck in front of the drim. Bargen was taller than most of the other drim and looked a lot stronger in comparison. He bent over the drim, covering the drim''s smaller form in his shadow.


    "We''ve had a change of plans," Bargen said. "You can either be on board and escape with us, or you''ll have to die right here."


    "Captain," the drim gulped. "I don''t reckon I''m paid enough for this."


    "None of us are paid enough for this," Bargen said, bringing two fingers to his mouth and blowing a shrill whistle.


    Thump. Thump. Thump.


    Bargen''s crew jumped down from their ship and began to secure it to the docks. Alex turned to Jean as the hum of the Robin''s own lodestones quieted. Erin soon came out of the cabin to join them.


    "Let''s get this plan rolling," Alex said. "We need to make sure Bargen knows what we''re doing first."


    "Yes," Sayed agreed before pausing. "But what are we going to do, brother?"


    Jean looked over to Alex and saw a look of surprise on his face. Jean was sure then that Alex didn''t realize that he was the leader of the small group, even if he already seemed to be. No one had ever taken the three of them aside and figured it out.


    "I agree," Jean said, crossing his arms over his chest. "What is your plan?"


    "Simple," Alex said. "We take a look around on foot first to avoid attention, and then we either take out his boss or sweep in when he isn''t looking and take whatever is here for ourselves."


    "That''s not a very good plan," Erin said.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "To be fair, it isn''t the full plan at all." Alex grinned. "Let''s talk to Bargen and see what he knows first, and then we''ll actually have a real first part of the plan."


    Together, they left the ship to meet Bargen on the docks. The man was already working with his crew to tie down his ship in the water while he talked to a few of his crew off to the side. Jean didn''t completely trust Bargen. The drim captain had flipped loyalties far too easily. Jean was certain he would turn on them if given the opportunity, and he was prepared to deal with that when the time came.


    "Look at me, already thinking as part of the group," Jean whispered to Eliza, but she couldn''t hear him while his gate was closed.


    It had been far too long since he had the company of others who weren''t trying to hurt him. Jean embraced the experience like it was an old returning friend and delighted in the joy that rumbled through his old bones.


    Bargen stood at the end of the dock, issuing orders to his men as they approached. They no longer had the green glow around them, and Jean assumed that had something to do with their ship. Alex retook the lead, not that Jean was surprised, as the captain turned to them. The large drim crossed his arms and looked down on the four of them.


    "Tells us about the island," Alex said. "We need to know what''s going on here if we''re going to take down this Mister Deadman."


    "You''re making yourself look like a rank amateur," Bargen said, shaking his head. "You don''t go asking the people you just threatened for information."


    "I think you''re mistaken," Alex said as blue sparks of electricity lit the air around him, and several metal spikes appeared in the air. "I''m not asking. I''m telling you to give me the information."


    The floating spikes rested in a sem-circle around his head. Beside him, Sayed drew his saber, and Jean smiled. He wouldn''t need to participate. Instead, he just reached up and cracked his bones against each other.


    Crack. Crack.


    "I get it, I get it," Bargen said, holding his hands. "So long as I can get my men out of here, I''ll help you guys out. Let me tell you what you need to know."


    Bargen turned around and pointed up at the two peaks. The moon cast shadows from the side of the mountain down on them, but the stone statue of the mollusk on the peak of the east mountain was fully visible in the moonlight.


    "There are two temples out there in the forest," Bargen said. "One for each mountain. We used to maintain the camp on the one to the west, but now we just have a camp on the one to the east."


    "Why''d you give up on it?" Alex asked.


    "Because we couldn''t get in," Bargen said. "We dug there for a long time, but we finally hit a material we couldn''t drill through, break through or blow up. So Mister Deadman decided it would be a better use of our resources to try the other temple."


    "What''s he looking for?" Erin asked. "Why come all the way out here just to dig at some old buildings."


    "That''s above my station, miss," Bargen said, looking down at her. "I''m only paid to run supplies and run off any trespassers."


    "How often do you have people coming close enough?" Jean looked out to the south at the mountains. "This is an island no one knows about, in a place no one wants to go."


    "It is a boring job." Bargen sighed, scratching at his side with one finger as he looked out to the sea. "But it keeps me away from Mister Deadman. So long as I run people off, he isn''t going to kill me for being uncool."


    Alex frowned and narrowed his eyes but shook his head like he was ignoring a thought. Jean would have very much wanted to know what that thought was, but this wasn''t the time. Instead, Jean pushed further.


    "Your people are at the east camp, then?" Jean asked.


    "Yeah," Bargen nodded. "If I can just sneak them out, that''ll be best. There''s no need to provoke a fight, and if we run hard enough and fast enough, there''s a chance Mister Deadman will forget about us."


    "He''s that kind of boss?" Jean asked.


    "No, but I can hope, can''t I?" Bargen asked. "I just want my men to be free of this. They had no idea what they signed up for when we first took this job. Now, we can either die for not being killed by you or for betraying Mister Deadman. Betraying Mister Deadman just lets us live a little longer, and if you kill him, then we''re free."


    "That''s some positivity right there." Alex shook his head. "The way I see it, we should go and take a look around first. Scout out both temples to see what''s happening and then come back to form a plan."


    "Would you have one of us scout while we all wait?" Jean looked out over the island. "That seems like it would take more time."


    "No," Alex said. "We split into two teams. One team goes to the east temple, one to the west. Then we meet back here to make our plans."


    "I want to go to that temple," Sayed said immediately, pointing to the peak with the mollusk statue. "Wherever there are people in chains, that is where I want to be."


    "We''re not looking to start a fight yet." Alex raised his eyebrows. "We will, but I''d rather go in with a decent plan."


    "I can hold myself back for a time, brother." Sayed nodded. "But if it would aid those who are being forced to work, I cannot but want to go there."


    "That decides Sayed," Alex said, shaking his head. "What about the rest of us?"


    "If I may." Jean raised one hand. "Why not let fate decide?"


    He pulled out a small pouch from his pocket and emptied its contents into his hand. He then laid the pouch on the ground and began to rattle the bones between his hands, moving them back and forth in a rhythm next to his head.


    Rattle. Rattle.


    He threw the bones down onto the cloth and then looked them over. After a few moments of inspection, he was sure of his path forward. Jean smiled as he reached down and replaced the bones in his pouch. The path ahead felt right. He knew it in his bones.


    "I will go forward to the east camp with Sayed," Jean said, standing beside the swordsman. "I will be the most helpful there."


    "No fighting." Alex sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Promise me."


    "I promise, brother," Sayed said, smiling broadly and clapping Jean on the shoulder.


    "That leaves us," Erin said, shaking her head and looking at Alex.


    "I''ve got a bad feeling about this," Alex said before turning to Bargen. "What about your people?"


    "I will lead you both to the old temple," Bargen said, looking down at Alex. "And my first mate will take your companions to the camp. If we are just going to scout the surroundings, that will be best. My people won''t begrudge me a day."


    "What about the rest of your crew?" Alex asked.


    "They''ll sail away from the shore and hide both ships," Bargen said. "When we are ready, we''ll light a signal. That will keep our ride home safe."


    "That''s a lot of trust to put in you," Alex said.


    "Which is why I''m going with you." Bargen nodded. "We may be drim, but we stick together. My men won''t leave without me, and I won''t leave without the rest of my men."


    "Except for the ones on our deck when you wanted to run." Erin smirked.


    "The price of battle." Bargen narrowed his eyes. "When you work with your crew, sometimes you understand that one must be left behind for others to succeed."


    With the plans set, they began their path through the forest with Bargen and his first mate leading the way. Jean knew they were accepting a heavy risk by working with the pirates, but that was just one chance of many in the sea of fate. Maybe they would be betrayed. Maybe they would succeed. All that mattered was that he was strong enough to deal with either outcome.