The light faded, and Alaron's consciousness returned to the present. Watching the thin faced man put away the pearl, the prince tried to figure out where he was. The wooden room in which they were rocked slightly and then swayed the other direction. Creaks and rattles accompanied each sideways movement. He guessed they must be on board a ship.

Alaron's hands were bound. He pulled his wrists apart only to cry out in pain as the knots tightened. Cafer was next to him with his hands and feet tied together as they sat on the wooden floor. The gnome took in the scene quietly.

"Glad you are both awake," the man said in a friendly voice. "I was a little worried that my toy would have ruined your minds. Welcome to my humble abode."

"Who are you?" Alaron said sharply.

The man chuckled. "You have been asleep a while so I will forgive you, but I am the one asking questions around here. Who are you? By your tone you must be someone very important." The man rolled his eyes. He wasn't a fan of self-important people. This boy's pride needed to be injured.

Cafer interrupted the prince. "By our carriage you must know who we are, or at least have a good guess. I believe you have seen a carriage like ours before," the gnome added meaningfully.

The man's face darkened. "Indeed I have. A decade ago, someone in a carriage much like yours made a fool of me and left me for dead out in the water. I have vowed my revenge on her ever since. How fortunate that you have come into my company!"

Cafer nodded. "We can help you settle the score, but not in the way you think."

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't just kill you and send your bodies to the Empress to make her weep." There was a gleam in the pirate's eyes that made the prince shiver.

The gnome, on the other hand, laid back on his elbows looking relaxed. "Because killing us would be a mistake. Because the Empress would celebrate my death with you. Because, Captain Xander, we have been looking for you."

Xander's eyes widened slightly at the mention of his name. He chuckled again. "So you are the fools that have been seeking me out. It's not wise to look for the devil, you know. You have been very bold. Tell me, if the Empress hates you so much, why are you riding in her Royal carriage?"

Cafer gave a viscous grin. "This is her son, Prince Alaron, and he would like to overthrow his mother and take the throne."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"And the woman has no idea?" Xander raised his eyebrows.

"None at all," Alaron said confidently.

The pirate rubbed his hands together greedily. "Come, come," he said to two of the sailors. "Please untie our friends. We have much to discuss!" To the former captives he asked, "Are you boys hungry?"

———————

Below the deck of the largest ship, a dining room was constructed for Xander and his guests. The pirate had a love for fine things, and the furniture he had stolen for the dining space was no exception. Cafer could appreciate the man's taste.

The food, though not as grand as the palace, was respectable. Xander bit into a leg of meat and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "I never do business without a good meal in my belly. Now, what can I do for you gentlemen?"

Cafer and Alaron finished their meal with proper etiquette and scooted back from the table. "We want your men to help take control of the palace," the prince said.

Cafer cringed. The young man had a lack of tact. With a gentle laugh to ease the tension, the gnome took over negotiations. "What His Highness means is that we would like to form an alliance with you to meet our common goal."

Xander tapped his fingers on the table, "Your words sound nicer, but his are more honest. It is no wonder you are a team."

Alaron began to object, but again Cafer was able to speak first. "I am only His Highness's servant. Prince Alaron is simply passionate about his cause."

"Mhmm," the captain could see how things stood. "I know what I bring to the table. Why should I work with you? I am not willing to cooperate with just anyone."

Xander put his guests on the defensive. They needed to prove their worth. "Let us off the ship and get me on solid ground. I will show you something you have never seen." Cafer was confident.

The pirate took them onto shore. The rest of Alaron's party was being held captive on the sand. "You will have to release them," the prince ordered.

"All in good time," Xander answered blandly. "First show me what you have got."

Cafer asked everyone but Xander and Alaron to move back from view. "Captain Xander, there is no easy way to say this, but I am a gnome." If he had expected the pirate to be shocked, he would have been disappointed.

Instead, Xander eyed him evenly and shrugged. "Prove it."

Rolling back the sleeves of his robe, the gnome removed his shoes and dug them slightly into the sand. He knew that letting the humans see his magic outright would attract the attention of the Fates, so he needed to be more covert. He shut his eyes and concentrated.

"What is he doing?" The pirate asked the boy. Then without warning, the sand began to shift as every manner of crab surfaced. The men had to step aside as the crustaceans ran into the water and disappeared. "How?" Xander was amazed.

"I pushed the crabs to the surface with my earth magic." Cafer said proudly. "I can sense them below the sand."

"Interesting. Remind me to have you come around next time we feast. And what about you, are you human?" Xander looked at the Prince.

"Yes, I am human." Alaron saw no reason to lie.

"Then show me what you got!" Xander said eagerly.

"Excuse me? I am a prince!"

"And I am a pirate king. Impress me." Xander circled his hand to hurry things along.

"Show him," Cafer encouraged.

Alaron was still upset that he needed to prove himself, but he decided to play along. He walked into the water until the waves were lapping above his ankles. He held out his hands and waved them above his head. Chanting the words just as he practiced them, the prince smiled as a ball of water lifted from the ocean.

The orb glistened in the sun as it moves across the beach toward Xander. The pirate marveled at the spectacle as it floated over his head. Then Alaron stopped chanting and dropped his arms. The water splashed across Xander, dousing him.

Cafer was filled with anger. The prince was being vindictive, and he was ruining their chances of forming an alliance. He opened his mouth to apologize on behalf of the boy when the pirate let out a roaring laugh.

"Ok, young Prince. You will have to teach me that trick. Though if you ever try that again, I will kill you." Xander clapped his hands. "Now, let us talk about this coup."