Chapter 44: The Visitors of the East Castle

When I woke up the next day, Tarnus and his men were already preparing the carriage and the horses. I saw Cecilia putting more logs to the fireplace. The children were still asleep, snoring lightly as they dreamed of hopefully good dreams. I combed my fingers to my hair as I fixed my eyes on Cecilia.

"Why did you betray the Pirate City?" I asked all of a sudden. I felt like I should try to know since she's already there in front of me.

She seemed to be surprised that I was already awake. She turned and looked at me and I thought I saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. She pulled the blanket up to Vivienne's shoulders and sighed.

"Aren't you happy that you're already home?"

I didn't like that she answered me with another question. It was like hitting her and she was able to dodge it and hit me back.

"I am happy to be home. But the thought of people who paid with their lives so I could have my ticket back to the mainland makes me sad. Why are you doing this? Can't you contain your happiness now?" I answered; bitterness was tracing its way through my words.

"If I didn't do that, I would never be able to see my children for a longer time – or maybe, not anymore. I had to do that so I could go home –"

"What? This is your home?" I cut her off.

She didn't answer. She must be thinking of the words she was about to say. And it was making me wonder why she needed to be careful around me. Was her treachery not yet the end of the story?

"Yes, this is my home. The North Land is my home," she answered. "You lighted a fire that is supposed to be long dead. If you really value the East Land, then go back to your homeland before it swallows us all in its avenging heat!"

And she turned her back to me reluctantly. I wasn't able to speak after that little confrontation. Tarnus decided to show up and told me that we are ready to travel home. Without a goodbye or even a single glance, I turned my back and walked to the entrance of the castle feeling bewildered of the conversation Cecilia and I had.

I spent the hours on the way back to the East Land looking blankly out the window of the carriage. Tarnus looked concerned and definitely wondering about what the woman and I talked about but he decided to keep silent and just watched me from a distance.

It was near noon when we reach the gate of the East Castle. We were immediately let in and when we stopped by the entrance, I saw Dorothy running towards me. My parents were following slowly behind her, both were looking worried.

"What have you done? The news circulated all over the mainland about you letting the pirates in our land. Have you gone out of your mind?" My father started as soon as I stepped out of the carriage. So, it seemed that my adventure to the North Land was already told in every corners and streets of the four lands. The news definitely traveled faster than my carriage.

"Well, we were caught by a snow storm on the way back to the East Land, but good thing, we're able to find a shelter to spend the night. Don't worry, father. We're able to manage it well," I answered instead.

"Are you alright?" It was my mother who reacted immediately upon hearing my misfortune. She hurried to my side and checked me for any bruises or wounds as if I had just braved the snow storm all night without any protection.

"I am not hurt, mother. You don't have to worry. I had the best men with me," I answered.

My father looked at me as if he could confirm what I had just said by just using his eyes. I smiled at him and walked up to his side. He put his hand around my shoulder when I leaned in for a hug. He could appear as hard as a rock but his daughter could always make him soft as a bun.

"I'll make sure next time that you'll be accompanied by me in every events you want to attend," he said protectively.

"So you could prevent me from making bad decisions?" I asked.

"I was about to say, so you won't be alone when you encounter disasters again but we can also add that one to the reasons," he answered.

We shared a laugh but it was immediately gone when I saw a figure emerged from the inside of the castle. It must have been watching us from a far and decided to announce itself at that particular moment. I let go of my father's arms and decided to face the outsider.

"Oh! Lord Chester led the pirates to the East Castle when the Northern soldiers and the council delivered what you've decided in the conference," my father said when he realized what had caught my attention.

Chester gave us his amused grin as he strode towards our direction. His features, which were so familiar, reminded me of that pirate who promised to come back for me but never did. His presence also made me remember the night that I was taken by the pirates – when he tried to take me by force. My fists clenched tightly on my side.

"I have to admit that I'm quite impressed by Lady Primrose's ability to pass a law. It is an incredible talent I didn't know she possessed before she was taken by those filthy pirates," he said.

"Would you have treated me with respect if you had known it from the start?" I asked sarcastically.

My parents stared at us quizzically. They were aware of the tension that was starting to build between us. Maybe, I should tell him about how this young lord snuck into my bedroom the night I was taken away by the pirates.

"You should rest for now, Primrose," my father stated. "Lord Chester will spend the night in the East Land. He's concerned about the troubles the pirates would bring to us."

I'm more concerned of his behavior. Instead of pointing it out, I decided to leave them and walked to my room grudgingly with Dorothy following behind me. The long travel was starting to take its toll on my body and I was starting to feel more tired. A short nap would be great before I face the pirates. I didn't think I still had the strength to deal with anything after seeing Lord Chester.

Dorothy seemed to sense my distress so she told me that I had to see her when I woke up. I agreed and she let me rest alone in my room. It reminded me that she's my responsibility and I should attend to her whenever she needs anything in the castle. My plate was apparently full and I needed the strength to face them again.

It was already late in the afternoon when I woke up. The exhaustion I was still feeling reminded me of the outcomes of my action that I had to face immediately. Fixing myself in front of my mirror, I stopped when I saw the tired, and yet, determined eyes that were staring back at me. They were telling me that things would not be easy but I promised myself that I would definitely get there. This is who I am now.

I saw Dorothy waiting for me in front of my door. Apparently, she was still considerate for she didn't knock while I was still sleeping. But the matter she wanted to tell me must be really important to stay and wait outside my room.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, concerned about her behavior.

"The handsome man you were talking with came earlier today with soldiers and eight odd-looking men," she started.

She must be talking about Lord Chester and the pirates. But what did it have to do with her?

"I know. I made a decision to transfer those odd-looking men in the East land and make them our citizens," I answered calmly.

"But I heard them talking about the ghosts in the woods! It must be my group!" she said.

I frowned at her. Was it possibly her group looking for her? I knew what she wanted for us to do. And I would like to help her. However, it was getting dark soon and the woods were much dangerous at night.

"We will look into it tomorrow," I promised.

"But what if they will be gone by tomorrow? What if we missed them? We have to go now!" she insisted. Her frantic voice was building up a headache and I had to rub my fingers on my temple to show her that it wasn't possible to do it at the moment.

"I promise you that we'll go to the woods tomorrow in the morning. For now, let's see those odd-looking men and ask them about what they were talking about," I reassured her.

"They're scary. They're going to chop our heads off if we come to them. No one gets near them," she said, eyes bulging this time.

I smiled at her and pushed her gently to the entrance of the castle. "Trust me, they're not going to hurt us." And we walked to the wooden house near the barn. Apparently, the East Castle would not treat them as guests but people who were going to work for the land. It was something I knew I had to change in the coming days. I couldn't tolerate discrimination among my people.

I saw them resting outside the large wooden house. They weren't caged anymore and they all looked pensive. They didn't notice me approaching them silently. Dorothy stayed walking behind me; wary of the "odd-looking men" she was scared of. It was Aiden who saw us first. His face lighted up like it was suddenly the morning of a feast day and immediately stood from where he was sitting. He ran to meet me and when the other pirates noticed his action, their eyes landed on us.

"Primrose! It's you! It's really you! I thought they're just luring us to meet our death!" Aiden greeted. And I couldn't help but smile at the way he greeted me.

"I'm sorry if it took me long to get you. I had to put things into papers so that it will be easier for me help all of you," I answered.

"You shouldn't be apologizing. You're the only one who can help us here. We appreciate it."

The rest of the men stood up when we reach them. I felt Dorothy stiffened at my side when their eyes landed on her. I smiled and introduced the young girl to the pirates.

"This is Dorothy. She's under my care." I looked at Dorothy and she nodded uncomfortably at them. "They are the pirates of the Pirate City and citizens of the East Land," I continued.

Dorothy's eyes widened when she heard the word 'pirate'. At that short time, I thought I saw a younger version of myself – the one who thought that pirates only exists in books and bedtime stories. I tightened my hold on her shoulder as if to tell her that the pirates in front of us were real.

"The odd-looking men are pirates?" she asked, probably still having difficulty believing.

We heard low snickers from the group. They seemed to be amused at the girl's reaction. It was only Aiden who was not really happy being called odd-looking. He straightened his tall and lean body and looked down at the girl.

"Odd-looking? Ha!" he mumbled.

Well, I could say that they're almost of the same age and surely, they had their own way of dealing with this. Dorothy pouted and crossed her arms. She refused to be intimidated by the young pirate in front of her.

"So, Jonah of the Obsidian," the eldest of them called. The title almost crushed my heart and I gritted my teeth to hide the pain it caused. I never thought that such title could bring lots of memories and melancholy. "Are you going to bring us back to the sea?" he asked.

I sighed deeply. I knew how much these pirates wanted to go back to the sea even though the Pirate City was already gone. It was their home. Probably, their families lived on one of those islands in the sea. It was where they belong.

"I'm afraid it isn't possible at the moment," I announced somberly. They seemed to be expecting my answer for they nodded in silence and looked down hopelessly. They knew that the only thing I did was to make the situation better. It wasn't the solution they were hoping.

"But I'll make sure that you're going to live peacefully in the East Land. People are just horrified of the pirate stories thus; they believe that you are monsters of the sea that walked out of a book. Just give them time and we'll show them that you're better than that," I said hoping that my words could ease their defeat.

They didn't answer. Hopelessness must have enveloped them that silence was the only comfort they can provide themselves. I was about to say goodbye and that I would meet them again in the morning the next day when Dorothy spoke.

"I heard you talking about the ghosts in the woods. Have you seen them? Did you see what they looked like?" Dorothy fired questions that surprised all of us. The pirates didn't answer and remained silent instead. It added to the frustration of the girl so she decided stepping towards them.

I immediately put my hand on her arm to stop her. I knew that it wasn't the right time to nag the pirates about it. We still had the next day for this thing.

"No, let me go. I need to know if they've seen my parents," she resisted and tried pulling her arm from my grasp.

Aiden walked to us and started pushing the girl back gently. He probably saw that I need a little help controlling the girl. Dorothy answered him with a deadly glare.

"We didn't see them," one of the pirates suddenly said and we all stopped struggling.

"What?" Dorothy gasped.

"If you're talking about the wanderers in the woods, then you won't be able to see them anymore unless you leave the mainland," the man continued.

"Markus! The deal!" the eldest of the pirate protested.

"I don't care about the deal! The fuckers do not respect that little treaty. And we didn't see them. They aren't the wanderers! They're something! They're ghosts!" the pirate called Markus insisted.

"Shut your stupid mouth, fool! Or we will serve you the punishment!" the eldest of the pirates growled angrily.

Markus gritted his teeth and stayed down on his ground. I was left confused but I knew better than to insist more answers. However, after a few seconds, I wasn't able to stop myself.

"You said that they're ghosts," I muttered.

"Right," Aiden agreed silently.

"But ghosts do not exist-" I started but was cut immediately by Markus.

"If ghosts do not exist, then why those people that are supposed to be dead roaming the Eastern woods?" he retorted.

The pirates glared at him. They started going back inside the house and I knew that a conversation we're not supposed to hear was going to happen. Aiden ushered us away from the house.

"It is best if you come back tomorrow. This place is completely new to us. We need to adjust to our surrounding before we decide what is right and wrong," Aiden explained.

I nodded. "I understand, Aiden. Just tell me if you need my help," I assured him.

Dorothy and I walked back to the East Castle with questions begging to be asked inside our heads. We both couldn't wait for tomorrow.