[Episode 2] Spire and the Dragonwood Affair

[Novelette] Tales of Stonehaven [1,318 words]

Spire and the Dragonwood Affair is the first of five novelettes in The 5th Compass series. Captain Silverblade, the most feared and hated pirate in all of Stonehaven, has put her life in the hands of four of her most trusted pirates. Their mission is to each take possession of an enchanted compass and hide them where no one can ever find them. This is the story of Spire and how he got on with hiding the compass given to him.

According to Wendynn, there were no redeeming qualities about Spire. Even though he knew Spire was Silverblade’s most trusted captain, it didn’t change how he felt. He knew Spire’s motivations were ruled by two things alone: greed and lust. Wendynn had never known Spire to do anything out of loyalty or honor, unless Silverblade was watching. And yet, here he was, alone with Spire in his quarters, trying to complete a task placed on their shoulders by Silverblade.

“I hear Bellemere is lovely this time of the year,” Spire suggested.

Wendynn responded with an eye roll. “Are you by any chance speaking of the rumors they are having their strongest summer and men are traveling across vast oceans to see the scantily clad women? We are not on a pleasure cruise, Spire. We seek a place to hide something, not a place for your temporary frivolities.”

“Rumor has it many a man has lost things in Bellemere they can never find,” he said, stroking his chin and smiling mischievously. “But, if you refuse to take my suggestion and there is no way I will be caught alive going west of the Mere’s, perhaps a dagger can solve our disagreements?”

Spire brandished a dagger he kept tucked in his waistband. From the first time Wendynn met him, that was where his dagger had always been kept. Wendynn couldn’t recall ever seeing him use it and questioned its purpose to him on multiple occasions, though he never received a direct answer.

Unsure what Spire’s intent was with the dagger, Wendynn stood from his chair abruptly. “What exactly do you intend on doing with that?”

“Listen, Dragonwood isn’t exactly a place I’m looking forward to revisiting. I was hoping there was a compromise you and I could reach?” Spire continued to point his dagger at Wendynn who saw no means of escape or for a counterattack. When he entered Spire’s cabin, he was completely unarmed. It never occurred to him he would need to defend himself.

“What is it about Dragonwood that has you so afraid?”

This question threw Spire off guard. Afraid? He wasn’t afraid. He just didn’t want to go back home. And for Wendynn to make such a sweeping assumption seemed unfair to Spire. But Wendynn didn’t care about the answer Spire might give. He was only trying to buy himself a little more time. Then he remembered the compass he was still holding in his hand when he stood up.

“Catch,” Wendynn said, tossing the compass to Spire whose instinct was to catch it. Unfortunately, in doing so he dropped his dagger, giving Wendynn the perfect opportunity to grab it and this time he was the one brandishing it against Spire.

Seeing as he was no longer in a position to bargain Spire chuckled to himself. “Dragonwood?” He nodded, more to himself than anyone else. He admitted defeat and returned to his chair. “Now, give it back, Wen.”

“What, this?” Wendynn held up the dagger tightly. Its grip was smooth beneath his fingers, wrapped in a dark green leather, a color worn by the king of Gaspar’s men. “Where did you get it? I know it can’t be yours.”

“I stole it. Don’t you recognize it?”

Wendynn inspected it closely this time. He knew it had to have come from Gaspar. Perhaps during one of the many times Spire fought against King Rowan’s men? Then he saw it. The initials ‘L.W.’ carved into the flat bottom of its hilt. His eyes widened briefly, but he remembered Spire was observing his every facial expression and tried not to be so obvious that he knew exactly who this dagger belonged to. He thought it had been lost long ago, at least that is what Silverblade told him. Now he wonders if she told him that, afraid of a truth neither of them could afford to come to light right now; that it fell into the wrong hands and someone would discover her secret.

“I recognize it.” Spire smiled and crossed his arms, but Wendynn wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of saying from where. “You must have stolen it during one of our encounters with Gaspar ships.”

Spire raised an eyebrow of suspicion and disbelief. “I suppose you should prepare the men. Tell them to set sail for Dragonwood, without delay.”

“Me? Why me? They are your men. Besides, they’ll want to know why, after three days of drifting, we will order them to turn around and head back the way we came to make for Dragonwood.”

“Oh, no, my dear Wen, if you insist we follow the instructions on that bloody letter, written by a stranger to us both, then that is what we shall do. But don’t expect me to get behind it. I know they won’t like it,” Spire said, referring to his men.

Wendynn made for the door in a huff and opened it with a force that nearly pulled it from its hinges. He turned back and with the sharp end of the dagger dangling from his thumb and forefinger; he threw it down on the table, piercing through the many papers Spire had covering his desk. Then without a word, Wendynn walked out, leaving Spire to struggle to pull his dagger free from the table.

Just outside the door, men milled about aimlessly. Some of them were eating fruit they had rummaged from below deck, while others were playing a game.

Wendynn marched towards the wheel of the ship. Taking the wheel and giving orders was something he knew how to do very well. Silverblade had entrusted him with ordering about her men most of the time. But when it came to lying to them, it gave him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Are we bound for different waters, sir?” One of a pair of men untangling rope near him saw his far away glance.

Wendynn looked around him, startled at the voice and the question. He smiled at the pirate who returned one in kind. “Indeed, we are. Your captain and I have just been discussing a destination. Gather the men for my orders.”

The man who spoke dropped what he was doing and hurried down the steps, shouting for the men to cease their work and gather round. There were men hard at work in the ship's belly that he had to go down personally to retrieve.

“Might I ask a question, sir?” Wendynn nodded at the second man who did not stop untangling the pile of rope at his feet. “We’ve been just floating about for days. Funny isn’t it, that on the day we should have a destination, it is you and not our own cap’n come to tell us.”

“I thought you had a question?” Wendynn asked. He suddenly took a careful observation of this pirate as he did not quite recognize him. There were many pirates added to each ship by its captain that even Silverblade was not aware of. Wendynn warned against allowing her captains bring on their own as it could lead to mutiny, but Silverblade could not believe any of her captains would ever turn against her.

“Why isn’t Spire tellin’ us where to go? Who are ye anyway?” The pirate spat a dark brown liquid that nearly hit Wendynn’s leather boot.

“Captain,” Wendynn said, raising his eyebrows as if to signal he expected the word to be repeated. The pirate did not oblige. “Spire doesn’t allow his men to call him anything other than captain. What gives you the right?”

“I wouldn’t worry about me right now. The men will be wantin’ to hear the good news. It’s a small ship. I’m sure we will meet again.” The pirate winked and Wendynn took an instant dislike to him, but he could hardly stop to interrogate him. Especially since the man was doing as he was asked and gathering the men.