Jamie sat in silence beside his mate, his head down and his shoulders slumped, while the much larger man lay back against the wall lackadaisical, humming a jaunty little tune to himself as he worked. With dulling knives they were busy whittling away the skin from potatoes. Already a great pile of naked ones was set off beside Jamie in a towering cauldron, yet still a great heap still remained to be trimmed, protruding out from an old smelly burlap sack that was set beside Cook.

They heard the latch on the near door to the little cabin click, and the old wooden door creaked open upon its hinges, and inside crept the tall and handsome form of Captain Voyagan, who moved with a deliberated subtleness as if he felt that he were interrupting some kind of important meeting. Pulling over an empty chair, he fell wearily into it, and so cramped was the little cabin with the three of them together that Jamie felt their knees knock together.

“Evenin’ Cap.” Said Cook in greetings, though he still maintained his lackadaisical leaning. Voyagan merely made a grumbling sound in reply, scooping up several potatoes of his own, as well as one of the little kitchen knives.

Jamie stole little glances back and forth between the two men, feeling a bit out of place here beside two of the more important men in the crew. Voyagan was the Captain, of course, but Cook was just as much a leader and father-figure to the crew, not only preparing hearty meals to keep the men strong and morale high, but he would wander about and help where he was needed in other duties, or lend an ear to any who were going through a rough patch.

“Just had to dip out for a moment.” The Captain explained as he began to peel. “There’s already so much going on, I’ve got thirty six men to keep track of at a given moment, and now Cheshie and Loggart are at each other’s throats again!” And he exhaled in exasperation.

“Cheshie again?” Cook chuckled, shaking his head. “Is there anybody that she gets along with on this vessel?”

Voyagan grumbled again. “She’s still a kid, and she came from rough parts. She’ll grow out of it. Still, she’s just so…”

Cook turned to address Jamie. “Aren’t the two of yis about the same age? Why don’t you get along with her a bit better?”

Jamie sat back and put up both of his hands, as if to physically halt the very notion. “S-she jumped down my throat just last night! I thought she was gonna gut me!”

Cook threw back his head and laughed, while Voyagan’s handsome face became a grimace. “I’ll talk to her. She needs to learn how to make friends, real friends, if she’s going to survive in this world.”

“So what’d she get all salty with you about for?” Asked Cook, who obviously found the whole thing very entertaining.

Jamie did not immediately reply, for he did not know how much he should reveal to them. He had half a mind to simply spill the whole thing, consequences be damned, but between the lack of proof for his claims, as well as the aspect of some kind of dark and shamanistic magic afoot, the young Cabin Boy worried he’d be written off as a madman, and maybe even left ashore upon arrival at their coming destination. Still, he thought now, a little truth now might well play into his favor, especially if this conversation would end up disseminating amongst the rest of the crew.

“A couple days back I was askin’ Helgi what she did on her last shore leave, but she got all stiff with me and she left. Then, I hear Helgi and Santiago being all hush-hush, whispering to each other. And I hear them mention my name.”

“So what’s this gots to do with Cheshie?” Huffed Cook with some confusion.

“I dunno!” Replied Jamie. “She just ambushed me when I was about to bed down last night. Says I was the one being weird, and that I should stop!”

Voyagan and Cook exchanged glances through furrowed brows. “Helgi and Santiago..?” Cook murmured to himself, before reaching out and patting Jamie on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it lad, I’ll straighten this out. Ain’t no reason fer them two adults to be acting this way.”

Jamie smiled a bit, feeling more comforted now by his words than he ever had since he picked up that infernal necklace. “Thanks boss.” He said, feeling grateful.

Voyagan stood up from his seat, stretching his arms and legs and then cracking his neck. “Well, I had better get back up to the deck, before another disaster occurs while I’m not around.”

“Oh, you don’t need to go, Cap’n!” Cook called after him with feigned regret. “There’s many more potatoes need peeling!”

“No sir, I finished them off for you!” Voyagan called back over his shoulder, causing Cook’s head to shoot down towards his burlap sack, which now lay empty and sad upon the wooden floor!

Both Jamie and Cook looked over to Voyagan’s pile, which already towered above whatever the other two men had been able to accomplish in the same amount of time!

“Oi! You little bastard!” Cook cried, sitting up and shaking his fist in anger towards the Captain. “That was supposed to entertain me for a good while yet!”

Voyagan did not reply, and he simply let the door fall shut behind him with a clatter and he vanished from view. Cook folded his arms and growled in frustration, and Jamie could not help but laugh at the display between the two, the first laugh he had enjoyed in a very long time now.

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It was hours afterwards that Jamie and Cook spent preparing supper. With some stock vegetables and some flour and time and effort, they transformed those stone-like roots into a hot and creamy stew. Then, Cook revealed to Jamie his secret weapon. Cackling like some kind of mad alchemist, the larger man reached around behind some barrels and crates that sat at the side of the room, before he withdrew his hand to reveal a large something that was wrapped in an old moist-looking beige cloth. With two fingers, he delicately paired away the edges of the cloth, revealing a thick chunk-block of cowsmilk cheese! Jamie stared glowingly down upon the food as if he were being shown a vein of gold ore hewn freshly from the stone, and his mouth began to water.

Cook slowly began to lower his prize towards the bubbling stew, though as it was submerged he winced from a brief moment of regret stemming from his natural urge to simply bite into the thick wedge himself with his teeth. Dutifully, however, he packed down these feelings deep into his gut, ignoring his insurmountable hunger like all good cooks do.

“Ring the bell, lad!” He commanded to Jamie as he stirred the pot, and its contents began to grow distinctly more yellow. “Send the boys in fer supper! And make sure they knows they’re not gonna wanna miss this one!”

Outside of the door and a little bit of a ways down the hall, Jamie pulled out a brass bell at the end of a wooden handle, and began to wrack the instrument back-and-forth with as much strength as he could! His ears rang painfully from the sound, and he shouted over it.

“Supper! Supper! Get’cher stew!”

Soon the sounds of clomping feet could be heard approaching from all over, as famished crewmen excitedly dashed towards the Mess. Once he had done a round through the middle deck, Jamie descended down the wooden stairs to the lower deck to do the same. Any who had not heard were now swiftly alerted that food was ready, and more excited men and woman clambered past him on his way. Even Cheshie, who looked up at him with a familiar look of distaste when he first arrived, had her eyes widen like a cat’s at the sound of “Stew”.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Once the rest of the crew had departed for their meal, and he was left alone down in the depths of the vessel, Jamie found himself staring down in the the dark of the Hold, where what little light reached inside revealed many, many wooden boxes shut tight for transport. Jamie gulped, and his head began to buzz with an anxious wonder. It took a moment to gather the willpower to take the first step, and then he slowly began to make his way down the creaking wooden steps.

Patting around in the dark for a moment, his hand finally found the hinges of an old oil lamp which he lit, illuminating more boxes and storage. He barely breathed as he crept through, as if there was anybody here to disturb. The only sound was the sea rushing by, and the waves clattering against the hull. His eyes were wide as he peered about, both curious and terrified to find what he suspected he might. At first the path was very narrow, barely big enough to fit himself through moving sideways. Gradually it grew wider however, until her could almost have fit two of himself standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Then, he came to a little small…clearing amongst the wooden bins, wherein one of the boxes in particular could be accessed. It was very large, almost up to Jamie’s collarbone in height, and if he were to lay down beside it, he would find himself to be much shorter in height than it was wide. This deliberate clearing gave the young man the impression that the large container had been left out in order to be easily accessed, but hidden enough that it would only be found if one had come in to find it!

Worst of all, however, and which made his blood run cold, was that when Jamie peered down at the base of the thing there appeared to be some light spattering of brown against the base. He drew his eye slowly across its surface until it reached the upper left-hand corner, upon which had been roughly etched a small “X” into the wood!

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That had been the final straw for Jamie. It was one thing to witness such terrible acts within the realm of dreams, real as they might have felt, for they were still only just that, dreams. Even if what he was shown had truly been real acts, he knew not when or why they took place, and perhaps they were unrelated crimes from long ago, which the participants regretted and had long-since sought redemption for. But it was an entirely different story to see them huddled together, whispering in plot, and to find evidence that these horrid acts had been committed only recently, and were somehow connected!

I will think no more of it! I will never touch that blasted bauble again! Jamie commanded himself desperately. The Captain and Mr. Cook will settle this, I shall act the same to Helgi as I always had, and everything will go back to normal!

He desired nothing but, for this crew was all of the family he had ever known, but he was also a fellow of strong moral fiber. To witness his family commit such unspeakable evil felt like a wall of glass had been erected between them, and though he could still see them clearly as always, he could no longer interact with them like he was used to.

In his first act under his new resolution, Jamie cleared his mind of all ails and took a seat on the deck which looked out into the blue-purple night above a calm sea, as he enjoyed a fine meal. He kicked his feet over the side as he enjoyed the sharp bold flavors of Cook’s potato stew, as well as a mug of grog, and a few morsels of jerky that he had saved for such an occasion, when his spirits were low.

After he had finished his pleasant meal, and then sat in peaceful silence for a few moments listening to the waves, he arose feeling quite refreshed. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he smiled for the first time in a while.

He strode down the length of the deck and gave chipper greetings to all of his crewmates as he passed them, including the Captain, who had one hand clasped upon the wheel of the ship while in the other he held up an old compass to direct him.

I should go and help Cook clean up after the meal. He reminded himself, eager to finish with his duties so that he could turn in.

He galloped down the stairs to the lower deck, squeezing through claustrophobic hallways as men crowded past him on their own way, and winding around several corners until he once again came upon the doorway which led into the little cabin where he and Cook peeled potatoes.

“You bleedin’ morons!”

A loud, shouting voice brought the young lad to a skidding halt just before he was about to turn into the little room. Jamie was appalled, for he had never hear Cook sound so upset before!

Instinctively lowering himself to a crouch, Jamie crept up so that his eye could see around the hinges of the open doorway. Inside, Jamie could see Cook’s back, the man was standing with an authoritative posture, his shoulders were squared, and hands resting upon his hips. Before him was Helgi, her shoulders were slouched sheepishly as she clutched her wrist, while Santiago was leaned against the counter behind her, grimacing and crossing his arms, resembling a petulant child as he was being scolded.

“I understand that this might not be your first time around the bend, you all might not be comfortable yet to this kind of dealing… but fer Pete’s sake!”

“I apologize…” Helgi replied, sounding regretful, while Santiago simply clicked his tongue in a displeased way. Cook sighed with exasperation, raising up a hand to rub his forehead as he began to pace.

“Unless I am mistaken, the boy simply asked what you did on shore. He’s curious. He’s just a boy. Lie to him or somethin’!” Cook explained to them. “Now the boy’s grown suspicious. He got worried because the two of yis are all huddled and conspiring about him behind his back just fer askin’ a single question! And he tells it to the Captain!” And the man threw his hands up in the air.

There was a beat of silence where nobody replied. Cook huffed to himself in frustration, before he startled in realization. “Where’s Cheshie?” He demanded. “I told her to be here!”

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, not turning his gaze from where it was set upon the wooden floorboards. “You know Cheshie…”

“Fack!” Cook cursed to himself under his breath. “Her only saving grace is that she’s always a bitch to everyone.”

Helgi peered up at him, holding her hands together with her fingers interlaced. “Do you want me to go and get her?” She asked sheepishly.

“Nah, nah. I’ll talk to ‘er later.” Cook replied.

Jamie had steadily begun leaning in closer to better hear the conversation, but his eyes shot open wide as he felt the floorboard beneath his foreleg creak loudly!

Cook whirled about at the noise, and marched quickly over to the doorway! His head snapped around the corner and down at Jamie where he was crouched!

But there was nobody there.

Cook nursed a headache that was growing behind his sellion as he returned into the room. “Now yer all makin’ me just as paranoid as well!”

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Jamie stumbled back into the crew quarters with heaving breaths. Having learned from his first attempt at subterfuge, the moment he felt that a discernible noise had been made, the young lad no longer froze in fright, but dashed as quietly as he could from the spot and around the corner out of view! He kept on hustling away, lest Cook continue in his search, until he was safely far away that he could claim innocence if he were to be found.

But his quickened heartbeat and breaths was not due solely to the pace in which he had escaped. Cook, a man who he admired and looked to for comfort and protection, perhaps the person whom he was closest to upon this vessel, he was a conspirator to Helgi and Santiago and Cheshie as well? Jamie’s anxieties had warned him that this could have been the case, but to learn that this was in fact true was a betrayal worse than any that he had experienced thus far!

Does that mean Captain Voyagan is as well..? He thought to himself in a panic. Am I the only one? What will they do to me if they learn that I have found out? Are there authorities who wished to see us hanged? What will happen to me if they are all caught?

A thousand panicked voices rung his mind’s eye painfully, a silent cacophony who clamored and pushed him to more and more dreadful conclusions, despite his best efforts to shut them out.

Then his vision turned down towards his sack, wherein lay that infernal shrunken head. He lowered himself down to lift up the bag, and with a shaky, sweaty hand he reached inside to retrieve the ugly little bauble.