Chapter 6

 

 

For two days the Jolly Jester sailed on a north-east heading. The weather stayed fine and a brisk wind pushed them along, the ship not needing its enchantment as it turned out. On the morning of the third day, Giselle was up early as Crimson Bone had said they would reach Nem-Nemon’s island toward mid-morning. As the sun rose in the east above the rim of the ocean, she was leaning over the ship’s prow, watching the sea foaming around it as the vessel surged through the water.

 

Dolphins had followed them for much of their journey and their sleek grey forms could be seen riding the ship’s bow wave. She watched them as they leapt out of the water every now and again in what looked like a whole lot of fun.

 

Her stomach made a gurgling sound of hunger and she smiled, thinking that Bloat Belly would no doubt have breakfast ready and waiting. The big-bellied would also no doubt have another yarn to tell about Crimson’s Bone’s exploits and she had to admit she enjoyed them, even though some sounded a little far fetched.

 

She turned away from the prow, intending on going down to his cabin. But as she looked south past the ship, she suddenly froze. All across the sky thick, dark grey clouds lay, a storm brewing and heading in their direction.

 

Funny, she thought. I didn’t notice them when I can on deck only a short time ago. Neither it seemed had the crew for a sudden shout went up from a pirate up in the crow’s-nest atop the main mast.

 

‘Storm, ‘ho!’ he yelled.

 

Other pirates on deck stopped what they were doing and looked south, surprise on their faces at the weather’s sudden change. Crimson Bone appeared, clothed in his crimson finery and a serious look on his face.

 

‘Where did this weather come?’ he muttered in concern as he went up to the ship’s wheel on the aft deck, Giselle a pace behind him. ‘There wasn’t a sign of bad weather during the night.’

 

Skarkbait was steering the ship and he shook his head.

 

‘It just suddenly seemed to appear, skipper,’ he said. ‘Doesn’t look natural to me.’

 

Crimson Bone frowned as Stone-Fist and Iron-Ear joined them. Giselle had a bad feeling about the storm. The dark clouds were moving toward them at a very fast rate and would reach them very soon. Then Stone-Fist gave a shout, pointing up at the sky ahead of the clouds. They all looked up and saw a dark clad figure flying astride a broomstick.

 

‘It’s Henbane!’ he yelled grimly.

 

‘She’ll land on the ship!’ a pirate said in dread. ‘Turn us into newts!’

 

‘That’s toads, Wartface!’ corrected another pirate.

 

‘No-one’s going to be changed into a newt or a toad!’ Crimson Bone said gruffly. ‘Not whilst I’m captain!’

 

He took the wheel from Sharkbait and closing his eyes, a look of concentration filled his face. From seemingly nowhere a wind rushed into the Jolly Jester’s sails and the ship surged forward.

 

‘I think the ship’s enchantment will keep her from trying to land,’ he said. ‘She’ll think a wizard’s on board and will be wary. But she’s no doubt conjured the storm to try and stop us. Batten down all hatches and get below decks!’

 

The crew raced to do his orders, bolting all the hatches and then heading below deck. There was nothing they could do now but leave the sailing to their captain. Stone-Fist and Iron-Ear went below deck too, but Giselle insisted on staying on deck with him.

 

‘I’m not going to hide cowering from her!’ she said with a steely tone. ‘I’ll go down with you all before I do that.’

 

Crimson Bone gave her stern look, but nodded.

 

‘Then let’s hope it won’t come to that,’ he shouted above the now moaning wind. ‘We can still make the island.’

 

* * *

 

For the next several hours the Jolly Jester struggled valiantly against the storm, crashing through huge swells and waves. Wind howled about her, whipping through its rigging and rain bucketed down in torrents.

 

Visibility was cut to bare yards and they were sailing blind. The sea bucked and tossed beneath them, the gallant ship’s old timbers groaning and creaking horribly, threatening at any moment to burst asunder under the onslaught.

 

But Crimson Bone willed her enchantment on, striving to keep the ship moving. He was also having the time of his life, having been a sailor, smuggler and then pirate for many years and had seen his fair share of storms. He loved them, revelling in the shrieking wind and pounding waves and he shouted his defiance at Henbane into the wind.

 

‘Come on, you cursed old sea hag! Do your worst!’ he roared. ‘The sea is full of pirates old sea bones and I’ll be honoured to join them!’

 

His humour was so infectious, Giselle couldn’t help but join in.

 

‘Yeah!’ she cried. ‘You haven’t got me yet, you old sea harpy!’

 

‘Sea harpy! I like that!’ Crimson Bone laughed. ‘Come on you festering sea harpy, is this the best you can do?’

 

And all the time the storm shrieked and howled in a fell voice that sounded like a witch’s enraged screams.

 

And then quite suddenly, towering cliffs of rock and stone loomed before the battered ship. Giselle gave a scream of terror as she envisaged them dashed to pieces against them. But Crimson Bone gave the wheel a furious spin and the ship lurched aside. It then surged through a narrow inlet hemmed by high and sheer rocky cliffs.

 

And then as if by magic, the storm fell away behind them and they drifted into a small, sheltered bay surrounded by high cliffs. Here the water was quite calm and Crimson Bone steered the ship toward a small stone wharf jutting out from one cliff.

 

The crew and the dwarves came stumbling out onto the deck, shouting in glee now that they were safe.

 

‘Is this Nem-Nemon’s island?’ Giselle asked.

 

Crimson Bone nodded.

 

‘It surely is,’ he replied.

 

‘How did you find it?’ Stone-Fist asked as he joined them. ‘You wouldn’t have been able to see a thing in the storm.’

 

‘The Jolly Jester’s been here before,’ he replied with a wink. ‘She knew which way to go.’

 

‘And we’ve given Henbane the slip for the moment,’ Iron-Ear said in relief. ‘The storm doesn’t appear to affect the island.’

 

He was quite right. The sky above them was a clear blue, whilst beyond the cliffs out to sea the storm still raged. Crimson Bone pointed to the top of the cliff above the wharf.

 

‘Nem-Nemon wouldn’t allow a witch’s storm to invade his home.’

 

They all looked up and could see a small, dark stoned castle perched near the top of the cliff. Seagulls circled above its walls and around a single tower with harsh cries. There was no way to tell if the wizard was home and they would only find out by going up to it.

 

They dropped anchor by the wharf, some of the crew leaping onto it and tying the gallant old ship down. Crimson left Sharkbait in charge, ordering that the crew were to rest and then see to any repairs. Bloat Belly was to join them on their visit to the wizard, apparently because like everyone else, he enjoyed his cooking.

 

Stone-Fist and Iron-Ear were coming of course and shortly all five were climbing a steep stairway up the cliff. When they reached the top of the stairs and the castle, Giselle saw that it had been carved out of the very cliff itself. It didn’t have a drawbridge, instead a solid wooden door that had imposing silver runes imbedded in it. It suddenly opened with a ponderous creaking as they approached and a shadowy entrance beckoned them in.

 

‘He’s home,’ Crimson Bone said with a grin. ‘The door wouldn’t open for anyone if he wasn’t.’

 

They entered and the door quickly closed behind them. They stepped down an arched passage till they came to courtyard shaded by slim, leafy trees. A solid looking keep and tower rose before them, the tower’s crown rising above the cliff top high above.

 

A door was open to the keep and they passed through into a wide hall, brightly lit by sunshine streaming through tall arched windows. A staircase rose to a landing at the far end and another door that stood open.

 

‘He’ll be in his study,’ he said as he led them through the door and down a corridor.

 

They passed several closed doors, till Crimson stopped at one. He knocked and a high, somewhat musical voice that didn’t at all sound like a wizard called out.

 

‘Come in!’

 

Crimson Bone gave a painful groan.

 

‘Troll’s breath! He’s got Dink with him!’

 

‘Dink?’ Giselle frowned.

 

‘His damn fairy!’ the pirate lamented. ‘Just be careful around her. Like all fairies she can cast a glamour on you and talk you almost to death.’

 

This was quite literally the truth… the death part that is. Fairies by their nature are a chatty folk, very much in love with their own sing-song voices.  They can cast a glamour over unsuspecting folk and many have suddenly woken up to find a week or more has gone by. Some have been close to death after not eating or drinking in that time.

 

Fairies certainly don’t do this on purpose mind you, but when they start to talk, they kind of don’t stop.

 

Crimson Bone opened the door and they all stepped into a large room that certainly looked like a study. Book cases filled with books, tomes and rolled up parchments stood against the two side walls. A heavily curtained window was in the far wall and beneath it was a large desk.

 

Nem-Nemon the wizard sat in a chair behind it and perched on his soldier was a tiny, silver winged fairy. The light from her wings fell over the book he was holding, assisting him to read it seemed.

 

‘Ooohhh… company!’ trilled Dink as she fluttered into the air. ‘Who wants to listen to a story?’

 

‘Evening, Crimson,’ Nem-Nemon said in a deep voice, ignoring Dink as he put the book down. ‘I’d ask you what brings you to my door, but the rather annoyed witch and bad weather flying about my island probably answers that. Have you brought some orphans in from the storm?’

 

‘You could say that, Nemon,’ Crimson replied.

 

Nem-Nemon’s dark blue eyes roved over the dwarves.

 

‘Now I’ll hazard a wild guess here and say you two are from the Dwarven Society for the Rescue of Princess from Wicked Stepmothers,’ he said.

 

Stone-Fist nodded.

 

‘That’s right,’ he said.

 

‘Are we that obvious,’ Iron-Ear put in lamely.

 

‘Only dwarves accompanying a girl who is most likely a princess,’ Nem-Nemon replied. ‘And I suppose you want me to kill the witch that’s no doubt after her?’

 

Giselle and the dwarves nodded hopefully.

 

‘Not a chance!’ Nem-Nemon replied bluntly.