Chapter 19: The Sly Snatching - How the Stars Fall

The boat rocked gently as it sliced through the early morning waves, carrying Ryker and Nova towards Temple’s lair. The dawn was calm, the sea a glowing, citrus coloured expanse that stretched endlessly in all directions. Sable stood at the front of the small wooden boat, her keen eyes scanning the horizon, while two of her trusted crew members, Toadie and Marla, tended to the sails.

Ryker had woken as soon as the morning broke. He’d stayed in bed a while, transfixed on Nova’s peaceful sleeping face beside him. Holding her through the night had brought a soothing balm to the ache inside his chest. One that only a certain type of person could bring.

She was the colour in his grey washed world.

He glanced across to Nova, who sat beside him, her gaze fixed on the water. He reached out and squeezed her hand, offering a silent reassurance. Being careful not to linger with his touch for too long. It made her glow brighter than he’d care for Sable to see. Ryker preferred it when she shone only for him—though he shouldn’t.

Nova looked up and gave him a small, tentative smile.

He would do this for her. Find the item, get out of there and continue onto the woman in the mountains who could hopefully help Nova get home to Ara.

Sable’s voice cut through Ryker’s thoughts. “We’re getting close,” she announced. She turned to Ryker, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Remember, you need to get in, find the item, and get out without raising any alarms. My brother’s residence is heavily guarded.”

Ryker’s jaw clenched, biting his tongue. He nodded. If he was being honest with himself, he didn’t want to be a part of Sable’s shenanigans in any way, shape, or form. But it wasn’t about him anymore. It wasn’t the Ryker show—he had someone else to take care of.

He’d borrowed some attire from Sable, hoping it would help him blend in with Ratchet’s crew once they reached the island. A beige, loose-fitting, billowy shirt peeked out from beneath his black leather waistcoat. His pants were knee length, made of coarse cloth, tucked into worn leather boots that rose mid-calf. A wide, brightly coloured red sash wrapped around his waist. To complete his outfit, Sable had given him a headscarf—canary yellow.

The disguise felt ridiculous. Ryker was used to loose-fitting shirts, comfortable trousers and a coat. Unfortunately, his new ‘get up’ was a necessary precaution. “Remind me again what exactly I am looking for?” he asked.

Sable threw a glance over her shoulder. “It’s a small, ornate chest with the emblem of two sea serpents wrapped around a sword on the lid.”

“And you think it’s in Ratchet’s house?”

Sable nodded. “Most likely it will be in Rachet’s study.”

Ryker looked towards the approaching island. “And tell me again why you can’t ask for it back?”

“Because my brother warned me if I stepped foot on his island again, I wouldn’t live to tell the tale.”

“Good grief . . . what did you take from him?”

“Does it matter?” Sable threw Ryker a grin.

Nova shifted on the wooden bench to his right. “Not if it’s for the right reasons, right? Though, then you have to consider who decides what those reasons are.” Her soft voice floated through the morning air.

Ryker smiled at Nova’s boldness. She had a lot to learn about humans, but it seemed she’d learned enough to see through the pirate’s flawed logic.

Sable huffed, shrugging her shoulders before staring back out to sea. “You catch on quick.”

As they approached the island, the silhouette of rocky cliffs loomed ahead, dark and imposing against the early morning glow. Sable motioned for them to keep quiet as they neared the shore, the boat gliding silently into a hidden cove. Toadie and Marla skilfully manoeuvred the boat, ensuring it remained concealed from any patrolling guards.

Ryker mentally ran through his thrown together plan. Which comprised three things. Sneak in. Sneak out. Don’t get caught. Simple right? Too bad Sable hadn’t given him a shred of information about the layout of the island, claiming they wouldn’t be able to trust any intel they got, anyway. She seemed to have great confidence in his abilities.

“Remember, bring it back, and you and Nova get off this island safely,” Sable murmured.

Nova brushed his hand lightly just as he stood. He caught her eye and tried his best to offer her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back,” he murmured.

With a nod in Sables’s direction, Ryker jumped from the boat. He turned to look at Nova one last time, and though no words were physically spoken, a thousand were said internally. She offered him a soft smile, one that gave enough courage for Ryker to see this through. She was trusting him to get her home.

Ryker adjusted his borrowed pirate garb, pulling the wide-brimmed hat lower over his eyes to obscure his features. As his eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. The sun was rising higher in the sky, casting his shadow on the cliffs, but Ryker remained undetected as he climbed higher, inching closer to Sable’s brother’s residence.

At the top of the cliffs, he paused, crouching behind a cluster of boulders. Ryker spied a large round hut nestled among the trees. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their sharpened cutlasses glinting in the early morning light.

He surveyed them for a while, forming a plan in his mind. Perhaps it would be the simplest to waltz right into the already bustling crowd. Surely no one would even look his way if he looked like he was a villager in the marketplace selling wares or buying goods.

With this in mind, Ryker began to scale down the rocky cliff face, slipping into the trees that sat on the outskirts of the village.

Temple’s lair was a smaller island than Corsair’s, which gave Ryker a disadvantage. It would be a lot easier to spot an unfamiliar face in the crowd than it would be over on Sable’s island. So, despite his disguise, Ryker thought it best to stick to the side roads and the alleyways.

He slipped around the corner and spied Ratchet Bloodfin’s grand hut in the near distance. Sable had described it as a too-big-too-grand-looking-round-wooden-hut-covered-in-dead-grass. Ryker couldn’t stop the grin that crept across his face. Trust a sister to pick on her brother just because his house was bigger than hers.

His smile faded quickly. He needed some reason to be there—something that wouldn’t make the guard’s question him. Spying a discarded piece of paper on the ground, Ryker snatched it up and pretended to read it as he threaded his way through the crowds.

This was blending in . . . right?

His heart pounded in an abnormal rhythm, but his face remained calm, fixated on the hut ahead. There would be an opportunity for him to sneak around the side and try to enter through an open window.

The day was already quite warm, so there ought to be doors or windows open to let the morning breeze in.

To his luck, he was correct.

A small window halfway up the hut wall was wide open. Big enough to fit the body of a human. Even one as well built as he was.

Ryker slipped from the trees and snuck up to the side of Rachet’s large hut with surprising ease, his eyes darting to and fro. The slight crunch of boots on rocks could be heard as the pirate guards began the changeover. He’d have a very small amount of time to jump up and slip inside.

Without any more thought, Ryker pulled himself up and over the windowsill. Inside was empty, so he jumped down to the floor with as little sound as physically possible.

The room was rather large. Maps hung on walls. Piles of books littered the floor and stacks of paper and journals were piled high on the table in the centre of the room. It could have been tidier—but who was he to judge?

Ryker began his search, his eyes scanning the room for the small wooden chest Sable had described. He moved methodically, checking behind books, inside drawers, and under furniture.

Just as he was about to give up, he heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching. His breath hitched, and he quickly darted behind a large tapestry, pressing himself flat against the wall. The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by muffled voices. Ryker held his breath, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.

“Someone said they saw a small boat approach the island this morning, but then it disappeared,” one male grunted.

“Don’t think the captain will be too pleased about that, will he?” came a second voice.

They must have been talking about the boat he’d arrived on.

Nova.

Thoughts of her being discovered by Ratchet and his men sent his mind into a frenzy. Ryker knew he needed to get out of the room immediately. If only he could find the chest. No wonder Sable didn’t want to get it herself. She probably didn’t even know if it was here or not.

After what felt like an eternity, the guards finally left, their voices fading as they continued down the hallway.

Ryker exhaled slowly, stepping out from his hiding spot. He resumed his search, more cautious this time. After a few more minutes of searching, his eyes landed on a small, ornate chest hidden behind a stack of books on one of the shelves. He grabbed it, the sea serpent emblem gleaming faintly in the dim light.

“You better be worth it,” Ryker whispered to himself.

He lifted the lid of the box to find a set of nesting dolls buried in a dark blue satin lining. A hand-painted design of a woman surrounded by orange, violet and sunflower yellow flowers lay smiling up at him. Ryker wanted to be angry. A wooden doll set? That’s what Sable wanted?

She sent him into unknown territory with a high chance of being injured or killed . . . for this?

She was going to have some explaining to do.

With a shake of his head, Ryker pocketed the small wooden chest and headed for the window. But as he climbed, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it had all been too easy. His instincts proved correct when, just as he exited the window, a guard spotted him. The guard’s shout bounced off the exterior walls of the hut, and Ryker turned, ready to draw his sword.

Weathered skin and a flurry of movements were all Ryker saw as the guard lunged at him. He barely had time to react before the guard’s sword came slashing toward him. The sharp clang of steel rang out as Ryker quickly blocked the attack, drawing his own sword in one smooth motion. The guard, a tough-looking male with a stupidly large moustache, came at him again, striking hard and fast.

Ryker danced away, the guard’s blade just missing him. He deflected the next blow, using the opening to push the guard off balance. They circled each other between Ratchet’s hut and the edge of the forest, the dry dust and sand creating clouds at their feet.

The man lunged, aiming for Ryker’s chest, but Ryker sidestepped, slashing low at the man’s legs. The guard grunted, stumbling, but quickly regained his balance. With a smirk, Ryker pretended to shift left before spinning to the right, disarming the guard with a swift blow. The guard’s sword hit the ground, and Ryker placed his blade at the man’s throat before knocking him out with the hilt of his sword.

“Too easy,” Ryker muttered, before stepping back and slipping into the shadows, the wooden chest still safely tucked in his coat.

A commotion of sound and movement sounded through the air. His presence was fully known to Ratchet’s crew. It was time for plan b. Escape the island.

Ryker made a run for it.

He darted through the trees in the direction of the village. Figuring it would be easier to lose any unwanted guests in the crowds than to try to hide in the bushes.

As he ran, Ryker spied a wall of bamboo scaffolding leaning up against a house. There would be a much better vantage point for him if he could get up off the ground—so that’s exactly what he did. The wooden poles creaked under his weight, but he paid them no mind, his focus solely on reaching the rooftop above. With a final heave, he pulled himself up, his boots landing softly on the thatched roof. He sprinted across the rooftop, his feet barely making a sound as he ran.

“Stop!” came the cry below.

Ryker glanced over his shoulder and saw the small group of Ratchet’s pirate crew chasing him in the streets below.

This would never do.

Quick thinking had Ryker jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Soon, the group chasing him were struggling to find their way through the streets without facing dozens of merchants and their carts overflowing with vegetables and fruits.

He reached the edge of the roof and leapt, his body sailing through the air—until it wasn’t. One foot collapsed through the straw thatching, and before he could collect himself, Ryker crashed through the roof of the building.

Pain sliced through his side like a hot blade as he landed on the wooden floor. Knocking the air from his lungs. So much for avoiding more injuries.

He tried to sit up, but was quickly met with gasps and startled screams. Ryker glanced around, feeling quite warm in the face when he realised where he was—a brothel.

The women, all in various stages of undress, stared at him with wide eyes. He raised his hands in a gesture of apology, his face flushing with embarrassment. “Sorry, ladies. Wrong place.”

He hurriedly exited onto the balcony, glancing over the edge to spot his next move. A cart full of hay sat below, a perfect landing spot. He took in a heaving breath and leaped, his body falling until he hit the soft pile with a muffled thud.

Thankfully, the landing was softer than the last.

The shouts grew closer, and Ryker knew Ratchet’s crew were nearby. Best to stay hidden in the hay pile for a moment. It wasn’t long before familiar screams carried down from where he’d fallen before. Those poor girls were getting quite the fright today.

Now was the time to make a dash for the rocky cliffs where, hopefully, Nova and Sable were waiting for him. Ryker rolled out of the cart and dashed towards the rock cliffs where the boat was waiting. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm, his mind focused on the escape.

“You won’t get away with this!” came a cry behind him.

With a rushed look over his shoulder, Ryker spotted a male running after him, his red hair glinting in the sunlight. He was the male version of his sister.

“Take it up with Sable!” Ryker cried back.

His boots pounded the ground as he pushed himself harder. His body was going to need a really good nap after this . . . and a bath.

The sound of the ocean grew louder as he neared the cliffs, the salty breeze slapping him in the face as he scaled the rocks. Ratchet was close behind. With a final push, Ryker reached the top and began the descent down the other side.

“What’s taking you so long?” Sable called out.

Ryker grit his teeth. “Shut up, Sable.”

“Sable!” Ratchet’s voice rang from the top of the cliffs.

One final glance back and Ryker was down on the rocks below, heading for the boat. Sable, Nova and Marla all scrambled out of the way, sending their weight to the back of the brigantine as soon as they saw Ryker scurrying down the rocks. Toadie held it as steady as he could, given the rocking waves as Ryker leapt aboard and collapsed to the floor of the boat in victory.

Sable peered over him. “You all good Hound?”

Ryker glared at the redhead. “Fuck you, Sable.”