Captain Black Shadow Read online

  After Griffin had somewhat gathered himself, Skip led him on deck of the adjacent ship. It was rather small and dainty for a pirate ship. The sails and the hull were pitch black. He immediately recognized the type. It was one of the fastest and most agile ships in existence. Though this one appeared to have some adjustments made to it – for one thing, it had a second deck. It was also a little smaller than was the norm, seemingly adjusted to be handled by a smaller crew. Griffin didn’t even need to see the figurehead at the bow to recognize the ship. It was a bat with spread wings that covered half of the ship’s sides. Even though Griffin could only see part of it, he knew very well which ship this was.

  The Bat.

  All warmth left Griffin’s body. He grabbed Skip by the shoulder. “Black Shadow…?” Was the only thing he managed to say.

  Skip grinned. “My captain. I think you’ll like it with us. Can you cook?” he asked casually, as if he weren’t a part of the most feared pirate crew in Jianlah but merely a schoolboy inviting a friend over for the weekend.

  Dazed, Griffin nodded. What was happening? Was he really about to step onto the Bat, the most notoriously infamous ship of the bloodthirsty Captain Black Shadow? No, it had to be a dream. A nightmare! But deep in his heart Griffin knew this wasn’t his imagination. No, something this terrible he couldn’t think of himself. Like every boy, he’d hoped for adventures all his life, but unlike most young men he certainly lacked the courage to live through one! If he’d just stayed home like his parents had wanted…

  How had they reacted when they’d found the note in his room? Had his mother cried? Did they think he was already dead? Well, it wouldn’t be too long for that to become true.

  Skip stopped in front of a cabin. Griffin almost walked into him. The boy turned around and grinned.

  “This is your place from now on,” he explained. “Our last cook left a few weeks ago to start a family and since then we haven’t had a real one.”

  Griffin felt overloaded with information. “What’s going on? Why didn’t you kill me?” he mumbled.

  Skip watched him for a moment thoughtfully. Then he grinned again. “Because you seem like a decent sort!” He laughed. “Also, I’m fed up with Ryo’s cooking, it’s awful, I tell ya! Okay, so there’s got to be food for the whole crew around half past six. There are nine of us, ten with you, but you better cook for double that. Be punctual, the guys don’t like waiting.”

  With those words and an encouraging pat on the back, Skip disappeared. Griffin was left behind in front of the galley, scared and confused, prisoner to the most feared and the smallest pirate crew in Jianlah.

  CHAPTER 2

  He didn’t even consider trying to run away. They were at sea, with no other islands or ships within swimming distance. For now, Griffin had no choice but to do what they told him. As if in some sort of trance, he opened the door to his new domain. Shocked, he stood in the entrance. He had suspected pirates not to be the cleanest and most well-ordered people, but that a kitchen could be so filthy was new to him.

  There was a sink that was spilling over with cutlery, plates, and, Griffin noticed with disgust, remains of food that were beginning to grow new life. The floor was dirty with earth, spices and more leftovers. As he walked into the room, Griffin’s foot stuck to the floor here and there, but he didn’t dare look too closely at the cause. Garlic and other vegetables were hanging in sacks from the ceiling, but one look sufficed to tell him that about half of the bags contained things that had begun to rot or discarded peels. The barrels spread around the room were no different. In the back, there were signs of animals that had been kept there at one point or another – fur and feathers clumped together with excrement. The room carried a putrid smell, heavy with dampness.

  After a moment of disbelief, Griffin put on a grim face and began to clean the galley, leaving the door open for fresh air. He presumed that he wouldn’t be killed or tortured if he was good and cooked well. Luckily, he’d often helped his mother clean and had cooked for his parents every now and then.

  Griffin began by moving all of the rubbish and remains onto one pile so it could be dealt with later, separating out the goods that were still usable. He found some empty barrels, which he decided to use as bins for the moment, while he swept the floor. Just as he turned to the dirty dishes, a shadow covered the doorway. Griffin looked up to find the troll Maco nodding at him.

  “Weww…commmme,” he forced out with great effort. Like the rest of his species, it was difficult for Maco to articulate the human way. It really was no wonder. Anybody would have problems expressing themselves with two giant tusks coming out of their mouth pointing into the sky.

  Griffin managed a strained and confused smile. ‘Thanks?’

  “You haff…. A wiff… itor,” stammered the troll.

  “A visitor?” echoed Griffin warily. He wasn’t sure what to expect. Was this the moment when he would be given an ultimatum along the lines of serve us or die? Or perhaps they would torture him right away to teach him fear and obedience. Staring motionless at the entrance, he felt himself grow hot with anxiety. A well-built, grey-haired man stepped in behind Maco. The lines in his face indicated advanced age, but it wasn’t reflected in the way he held himself. He didn’t seem as intense as Griffin had expected a pirate to be, but rather he was smiling happily. Openly, he grinned at Griffin and bellowed, “So ye’re the new kid, heh? Kinda weedy, ain’t ya? Can ye cook?” His voice was loud and scratchy as if he was a heavy smoker.

  Griffin nodded quickly. “And I can build and repair ships. My father was a shipwright,” he added. It couldn’t do any harm to let the pirates know that he was worth more to them alive.

  The man nodded, satisfied. “Good. I’m Balthasar, the librarian an’ navigat’r. What’s yer name?”

  “Griffin.”

  Balthasar laughed. “Alrighty so, but hands off our Selene, we clear?” With those words, the librarian disappeared again. Silently, Griffin wondered since when did pirates have libraries or even the ability to read. He noticed suddenly that he had held his breath. He felt like he had passed some kind of test. Maybe they would leave him unharmed for a little while longer.

  Why were the members of the crew even introducing themselves? Wasn’t he something like their prisoner now, a slave? It made no sense. Griffin gnawed the inside of his lip. It unsettled him that they all appeared so friendly. Perhaps it was a trick. Yes, it had to be some strategy to gain his trust and… and what? They had no reason to keep him alive. There was no purpose in being nice to him, in gaining his trust. He had nothing they wanted. There was no end to his questions, but the boy decided to ignore them for now. He would be consumed by worry and fear for the rest of his days if he allowed himself. He was more likely to make a mistake and to fall into disgrace. He needed a clear head to assess the situation and perhaps he would find a way to escape at some point in the future. All he needed to do was stay alive until then and keep being useful.

  Maco had followed Balthasar out, so Griffin was alone again. With a sigh, he resumed his work. For a while, he was able to work in peace and quiet and was about to skin potatoes in preparation for dinner when the next ruffian stormed into the galley and slammed the door behind him. He was a colossus with short, brown hair, gleaming green eyes and incredible muscles who was trying to hide behind a barrel. His mouth gaping open, Griffin watched as a small blue-skinned man with long sharp teeth stepped into the door and asked, “Hasssss ssssomeone jussssst come in here? Big, crude and dim?” Every “s” was a hiss of which any snake would have been proud.

  The gestures of the colossus behind the barrel made Griffin shake his head. The little man grunted displeased and left. The guy stood up, giggling. “Thanks, mate! It’s so much fun every time!” His voice was raw and dark, but much softer than one would believe looking at his build. He giggled a bit to himself, then he turned to Griffin.

  “I’m Ryo, the unfortunate who had to cook before you. The little guy was the Klabauterman
n. Skip told me about you. Griffin, right?”

  Griffin nodded speechlessly.

  “We’re bunk buddies! You’re staying in my cabin! I’m sure we’ll get along well, as long as you have a sense of humor and aren’t as narrow-minded as the Klabautermann, Joe or Balthasar! Oh, and if you ever have any questions, just ask me. Hey, just think of me as your mentor or somethin’!”

  Griffin couldn’t resist Ryo’s giant grin. He seemed so open and friendly that the boy just couldn’t help liking him from the first moment, almost forgetting the circumstances. Ryo spoke as though he thought of Griffin as a new part of the crew instead of a prisoner. Was that the case? Did he have it all wrong? Whatever the case was, Griffin had to play along for the moment. Perhaps by getting to know Ryo, he could gather some information that might help him in his future escape.

  Griffin smiled back. “Sounds good! But who’s Joe?”

  Ryo rolled his eyes. “The most pompous and flamboyant guy of all times and our doctor. But he knows what he’s doing when it comes to meds and fighting. Someone you can rely on when you need him. You’ll know him when you see him. Old like a relic, but still a damn pretty man! Who have you met in the crew so far?”

  Griffin reflected for a moment and then listed, “Skip, Balthasar, Maco, the Klabautermann and you.”

  Ryo’s eyes widened with delight. “You’ll have fun meeting Zero and Ayalon later! Have you ever met a shapeshifter or a dwarf dragon before?” he chuckled.

  Griffin shook his head gingerly, which caused Ryo’s grin to stretch wider.

  Interesting… Griffin thought.

  Incredulously, he shook his head to clear it. He had actually met the infamous crew of the Bat. Despite his terror at the situation, he couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

  Ryo looked around the galley thoughtfully. Then his gaze lit up.

  “You really cleaned the place up! Do you need help cooking?” he offered. “I don’t have to do much today.”

  Griffin nodded gratefully.

  “Could you heat up the water?”

  Ryo began to work immediately. Griffin ensured that any knives were near him at all times and far away from Ryo, just to be safe. For a few minutes, both worked beside each other in silence. The calm was only disrupted by occasional questions and instructions. Eventually, Griffin wondered aloud, “Is Captain Black Shadow really as cruel as they say?”

  Ryo paused. For a moment his gaze seemed pensive, as if he was carefully weighing his opinion. Then he chuckled. “I wouldn’t call it cruel. But you’ll know what I mean soon enough. Soon you’ll meet the captain, then you can decide for yourself.”

  That sounded mysterious. Griffin’s interest was piqued. If the supposedly most cruel and bloodthirsty pirate in the world was as friendly and easy-going as his crew appeared to be, then he’d surely get along with him. Griffin got the feeling that living on the Bat as a cook might actually be pleasant. Maybe. But first he ought to wait until he’d met the rest of the crew.

  “So who’s Selene?” Griffin asked. “Balthasar mentioned her earlier.”

  Ryo almost choked. “I’ll… I’ll introduce you later.” He coughed for a few moments. “That’ll be the easiest…” He drifted off.

  Confused, Griffin left it at that. They would probably explain everything to him sooner or later. After all, they did seem intent on keeping him around, alive and unharmed.

  “Finished.”

  Proudly, Griffin regarded the food. It didn’t only look good, but he was sure it would also taste that way.

  Ryo patted him on the shoulder. Together they brought the food to the mess. It was a large room, decked out with two large tables made from bright wood. There were some small tokens nailed to the walls for decoration and portholes on both sides of the ship provided plenty of light during the day. Overall, it felt comfortable. There were even some cushions for sitting on the benches.

  Skip, Maco, and a tall, black-haired man with a rather androgynous, symmetrical face, presumably Joe, were already sitting at the long table, playing cards. They cheered as Griffin and Ryo entered with the food, then stuffed themselves almost immediately. Griffin intended to leave right away and return to the kitchen as he expected was appropriate for his position, but Ryo forced him into a seat between him and Skip.

  “Eat wif uf,” Maco suggested. Griffin didn’t dare argue even though he had no appetite. He used the opportunity to observe the crew instead. During the meal, everyone chatted cheerily and one after another, the rest of the crew appeared.

  The Klabautermann and Balthasar were arguing about some myth concerning pegasi and angels. Ayalon, the dwarf dragon, complained that his food was too cold, after which he heated it back up with his fiery breath. Ayalon’s serpentine body was as green as an emerald and about the size of a horse. He, too, welcomed Griffin with a friendly grunt and nudge with his nostrils after he had sniffed him thoroughly. During this, Griffin couldn’t help but worry that the dragon might be trying to decide whether he would taste nice.

  Zero entered in the form of a tiger and changed then to his human form. He was a rather small, unassuming man in his mid-thirties. He seemed nervous and careful. Griffin had expected the transformation to be more gross and astonishing than it was. It was almost too quick for him to follow. The last person to arrive was a girl, possibly about sixteen or seventeen years old. She had long, silky, blonde hair and green eyes. Her skin was the palest Griffin had ever seen, almost as white as spume. She wore leather trousers and carried a short sword on her belt. The neck of her shirt exposed a delicately ornamented amulet. The entire crew appeared to be overjoyed to have her with them.

  The girl, Selene, gave her pirate friends a radiant smile, which warmed even Griffin’s heart. She was pretty. Beautiful even. A completely accepted as part of the crew, despite her youth. She ate with gusto, but after a while, her gaze fixed on Griffin. Nervously, he fidgeted from side to side. Her eyes seemed to pierce through him. Then she said, “A newbie. Skip?”

  The young man leaned over. “He can cook.”

  “An’ he’s d’son of a shipwright,” Balthasar added.

  Selene gave them a strange look. She scanned Griffin again from head to toe before glancing at her emptied plate. Then she sighed.

  “Alright. If you’re sure.”

  Ryo patted Griffin on the shoulder again and gave him an encouraging smile.

  “But keep him away from me.”

  Those last words stung. Griffin didn’t know what he should say or do. Had he done something wrong? He knew he shouldn’t feel hurt, considering his situation. In fact, he should be happy: There was at least one pirate who didn’t seem to be trying to be his friend. But it also made him feel a little uneasy. If she didn’t like him, there was a good chance that she would rather have him dead. The girl turned away and left the room without another word.

  “I think ssshe likesssss you,” the Klabautermann smirked.

  Griffin hated dirty dishes. Especially when he had to clean them, but this was now one of his tasks. His hands worked almost by themselves while his mind wandered.

  His position in the midst of the pirates seemed to indicate that they meant to make him a part of their crew. They seemed friendly and accepting, but they were pirates nevertheless. Pirates who were known to be the most dangerous and bloodthirsty in Jianlah. He shuddered at the memory of the slaughter on the Crow. In all the fantasies he’d had of going to sea, being a pirate had never been among them. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. He didn’t even know if he even had the ability. Would they ask him to commit murder?

  And yet… For some reason, Griffin liked them. He felt welcome, at home. Perhaps he was intrigued by his unexpected situation, but he almost wished he was able to stay with them. He had longed for adventure and he’d gotten one. Now the only question was if he would accept or decline it. The decision was his alone. Or maybe not, considering they were pirates who might get rid of him in more violent ways should he refus
e to stay with them. Maybe it was best to just accept his fate. It wasn’t as if he could change much about it right now. His moral qualms had no place in his mind as long as he was in this situation. He should try to escape. Play along until the opportunity presented itself and then take it before they noticed. If he could get them to trust him, there would surely be a chance. Until then, he would have to bear it. The fear, the uncertainty, the disgust, all of it.

  “Come on, we’re not so bad.”

  Griffin’s head shot up as he heard the voice. Ryo stood in the door, leaning against the frame, grinning.

  “What?” the boy asked uncertainly. Had he accidentally spoken his thoughts aloud?

  “That face you’re making. I know it all too well. I never thought I would be on a pirate ship, either.”

  Griffin forced himself to smile. Ryo appeared friendly, but he was still a pirate. Griffin couldn’t let him think that he might try to escape, or bad things might happen.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked instead.

  Ryo laughed.

  “Oh, you’re really trying to go that route? Come on, bud! We all know that you’re in for more than you bargained for. You’ve probably never done a bad thing in your life!”

  Griffin didn’t reply. The man read him like an open book. He sat down in the doorway, cutting off the only way Griffin could have escaped from the conversation.

  “I was like you once,” he confessed bitterly. “Full of ideals and faith in the system. But let me tell you somethin’. Those dirty Marine bastards and nobles do nothing for anyone but themselves. If you stick around, you’ll see for yourself.”

  Griffin wasn’t sure what to say. Ryo spoke from experience; that much was obvious. There was a deep hatred for the people in power that drove him, which had probably caused him to become a pirate in the first place. However, it was unclear why Ryo was telling him this. Was he trying to change his mind about the situation? Griffin couldn’t tell.