Open Wardrobes

I wrapped up a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with a stretch of NaNoWriMoing and am now at 52,000 words. Hoping for around 60,000 and a complete draft by the end of the day on Monday (the 30th).




"I think that is wise," Red agreed and decided to bring up another subject that plagued her. "And what of Blackfoot, do you think?" she asked Howl. "It has been clear to me that he is brewing some scheme, though I cannot say what it is."
"Aye, I have been thinkin' the same," Howl said. "He be wantin' yer throne, that I think be known to all, yet I cannot think how he be thinkin' to gain it. There are but one or two other captains all told who would e'er accept such a thing, even if Grey Fox himself had decreed it."
"Then he cannot be thinkin' to ask any to accept it," Jat pointed out. "He must have a plan that he thinks will make him king whether any others like it or no."
"Then what can it be but he looks to steal the Heart of Destiny for himself?" Red asked.
"With respect, Captain, I think not," Howl said. "If ye remember, he be but the last to believe such tales. He will not think such a thing could make him king, at least not on its own."
Red thought that over. "Yes, Howl, I think you are correct. He wants the Heart, but not for its own sake. It is but the price he must pay for what he seeks."
"I cannot say I follow ye, Captain," Howl said.
"Blackfoot may care nothing for the care of itself," Red explained, "but it is still a jewel of great value whatever other virtues it may possess. Blackfoot seeks to trade it to one who he believes can grant him the kingdom."
"Aye," said Jat, understanding at last, "and there can be only one such person who might be convincin' him of it, be it true or no."
"The Sorcerer," Red finished. "That is why he is so intent on following all our movements as of late. And while I have heard him over the device discussing many of our captains, not once has he mentioned Blackfoot."
"Because he need not worry about him," Howl said, "because they be in league already. Aye, that I can see."
"It may in fact have been Blackfoot who put the Sorcerer on the trail," Red said. "The Sorcerer wants the Heart, and Blackfoot wants the crown. I am certain the Sorcerer put many a pretty word into Blackfoot's ear that gave him the belief the Sorcerer could deliver on such a promise. But whether or not the Sorcerer intends to do so..."
"We must be keepin' an eye on him," Howl said. "It be no secret he be itchin' for a look at the map."
"Then we shall give it to him," Red said with an air of triumph. "Howl, you and Longboot must keep watch on Blackfoot for me. He shall expect such vigilance from myself, but perhaps he shall not look for it elsewhere. In the meantime, I shall give Blackfoot what he desires. But first I must make a copy of the map, one with some alterations."
"Aye, Captain," Howl grinned, "that be the trick."
"We shall invite other captains as well, but those we can trust shall be in the know," Red said. "Then we shall see what action Blackfoot takes next."
Red Foxx put her plan into action at once. She sent Howl to work with Longboot and other trusted captains and reveal to them the plan. Few had much love of Blackfoot and would surely welcome the chance to put this threat out of the way. Red and Jat meanwhile created a copy of the map with a few of their own inventions. Much remained the same, but in the last few steps Red altered some crucial details. She relied on Blackfoot to become too bold and attempt to complete the course on him own.
When all was prepared she invited on board the other captains, all those interested in seeing the map for themselves. She explained that the map, being as old at it was, had been too delicate and required the making of a copy that might better stand up to the rigors of their journey. They had but half a dozen steps left to take which Red walked the captains through in great detail, enough so they might carry on should anything happen to the Arrow or to otherwise separate the ships. She wove a cunning tale using Lemuel Drake as her villain, painting the Ruined fleet as the greatest obstacle between them and the restoration of the Heart to its sacred place.
Red watched Blackfoot carefully all the while and saw as he let each detail of the map engrave itself upon his memory. Later, as the captains returned to their own vessels, she saw him whisper much with the couple others who had clearly given him their loyalty. But Blackfoot also gave Red and Jat strange looks at their departure, as if some new fact had recently become known to him. As he prepared to swing down to the rowboat below, he gave Red a leering grin.
"Always be a pleasure, Captain," he said. "I know I be as eager as ye be to find this treasure."
"I do not recall you being so eager at the start," Red told him, "but I am glad you have come to my way of thinking."
Blackfoot slid down the rope without a further word, but he continued to watch Red as the small craft rowed its way back to his ship.
The next morning saw the pirate fleet, a dozen ships strong, arrive at the next stop on the map. Like most of the others it was a remote island with few to no inhabitants. Howl met Red and Jat on the shore, as had been the case at the past few stops, several other captains joined them as well. Blackfoot and his cronies were of course among them. They found their next heading with no trouble, but as they prepared to make for the ships they encountered their first real obstacle. Red looked back out to sea and saw at least half a dozen ships bearing the banners of the Ruined Kingdom off the shore. As best she could tell they had been hiding themselves in a small bay, hidden from view, but now revealed themselves as the pirate captains stood on land separated from their vessels. Most of the stops on the map had in fact been placed such that the ships themselves could not approach the shore too closely and rowboats instead must be used to land. It was a clever move, Red realized, for it forced the seekers of the Heart to place themselves in more vulnerable positions. Dain Melthew or some other Ruined lord must have sent word to their ships that the pirates were on the trail. Clearly the secret of at least one stop along the way had been passed along such that the Ruined folk could lay just such a trap.
The Ruined fleet did not confront the pirate ships direct, but they placed themselves between the pirates and the island and now Red saw them send many rowboats filled with men towards the shore. The pirates had brought but a few, not thinking to need many men or even to land for long and Red cursed their own lack of foresight.
"Well this be a pretty sight," Howl rued. "What be the plan now?"
"Jat!" Red called and the first mate came to her side. "Let the stone guide you and we shall take out who we can. Perhaps that shall deter them."
Jat nodded and Red instructed Howl and the others to prepare their pistols, all barrels loaded, and hand them to Jat and herself one by one. Red removed the Captain's Stone and Jat fingered the similar stone she carried. Red aimed her pistol at the first of the approaching boats and then, to the surprise of the others, closed her eyes. Jat did the same. After a brief pause Red shot off both barrels of her pistol and Howl was astonished to see that both hit a deadly mark. Jat did the same and so they went through all of the pistols the pirates had on land. In such a way they cleared the first such boat of all their enemies, a few more besides, and the others held back. Red Foxx had given them unexpected to consider. She ordered the pirates to reload as quick as possible, should such another volley be necessary.
"That be amazing!" Longboot exclaimed. "I have never seen the like!"
"Then you never listened much to my father when he spoke about the Stone," Red informed him. "Like the Heart it offers great benefit of sight."
"And yer first mate alike," Blackfoot growled. "I ne'er have heard tell of any other bearin' such a jewel."
"How I choose to arm my crew is my concern," Red stated. "They serve Foxx, king and captain, after all."
Blackfoot nodded with a grunt, but a new light was in his eye.
"Howe'er much we be surprised," offered Captain Longbeard, "it be a matter for another time. We still be much outnumbered should all these men out there be makin' a landin'."
"That is true enough," Red agreed. "Can we signal the ships?" she asked Jat.
"Certainly not in secret," Jat answered, "but it be worth it, I should think. They be not lookin' to turn away quite yet." And sure enough, the boats armed with many a Ruined man resumed they course to shore. They had fortified themselves as best they could against the marksmanship of the pirates and still outgunned the pirates four to one.