Chapter 3

Everything went quiet for Tivon. He didn't hear the rain, the thunder, the waves crashing in. Tivon didn't dare to breath. He didn't even answer when The Masked man said, »Where were you hiding?«

When nothing came out of Tivon he asked again, drawing the sword nearer »Where were you hiding?«

»B-behind the barrels.« Shuttered Tivon, surprised that he even managed to answer him.

The Masked man looked at the barrels and back at Tivon. I'm done for. Tivon was ready to meet death, but The Masked man lowered his sword and turned around.

»The boy stays alive.«

»Why do we need this shary?« Asked the privateer with a big earring. Tivon didn't know what shary meant, but he knew that it didn't mean anything nice.

»He lives.« Said The Masked man, his voice full of acrimony. The pirate just sighed disappointingly.

Someone yanked Tivon to his feet from behind. »Move shary.«

Tivon had no other choice but to follow their orders, scared for what might have happen next, he remained silent.

He followed them on the ship and below the deck. As they were walking, Tivon gathered enough courage to ask. »W-where is the ship sailing to?«

A man that had a scar over one of his eye showed him forward into a room »None of yer business.« He slammed the door behind him.

Tivon was wet and trembling. Because of fear or cold, he didn't know. He knew what they could do to him, he saw it with his own eyes, but he knew The Rose Sparrows before all of the crew's stories. They were the enemy of The Kingdom of Naydawin since the ruling of his grandfather. Destroying the trade routs, killing the merchant people and stealing the money. Tivon shivered and sat down. I can't stay here. I need to get away from here.

He didn't sleep. He was tired, but he didn't dare to sleep. Tivon wanted to be alerted at all time. The storm must have stopped, because he couldn't hear any thundering or rain and neither did the ship rock anymore. The room had no windows so he didn't know if it was already morning or if they were already near a coast.

All of a sudden a door opened, blinding Tivon with a morning light. It was The Masked man.

When Tivons eyes finally adjusted to the light The Masked man said. »Common we have work to do.« He turned and walked out.

Tivon followed him, too scared to disobey him.

When they came to the deck, Tivon realized that they have already landed, but not in a harbour. They were at sea where the depth of the water was still enough for a ship. On the shore Tivon couldn't see any city or a town, it was just woods. The Masked man showed him his place in a boat where other pirates were already sitting. Tivon sat down quietly hugging his bag close to his chest.

They lowered the boat into the water and sailed to the shore. Tivon still didn't know why they let him live. They're probably just taking me to the woods to kill me. He didn't dare to look anyone in the eye, the only person he dared to look at was The Masked man. The only reason I'm alive right now is because of him. He wouldn't just kill me now. Unless...

The boat hit the shore and they headed into the woods. The Masked man was in the front leading the group and Tivon was somewhere in the middle, so he couldn't escape. Tivons head was unbearable. Wanting to run away, staying and possibly getting murdered and wanting to be closer to The Masked man. He didn't know why he wanted to be closer to him. It felt like the safest place at the time.

They were walking through a dense forest, still damp from the storm. There were only random rays of light coming through tall trees. Still too dark to see where they were going. Tivon slightly jumped every time he heard an animal sound, followed by a laughter of other pirates. Eventually they came by a path that lead them to a considerable big stone wall. Tivon could hear a distant sound of people talking.

»Now's your time shary.« Said The Masked man looking at the wall.

Tivon didn't know what he meant, so he just stood there. At last The Masked man turned and now Tivon could see a small hole in the wall, just big enough for him.

»You want me to go through that hole?«

The Masked man leaned on the wall, his arms and legs crossed »Yes. And when you get to the other side you'll attach this rope on the building inside the wall and throw it over the wall for us. Could you do that for us?«

Tivon didn't know if he could, but he still nodded. The Masked man threw him the rope that Tivon later attached to his bag. He fixed his coat, stepped forward, breathed in and out and climbed through the wall. He underestimated the size of the hole. He had to crawl through it. In time he got through to the other side. He looked back through the hole seeing The Masked man and others looking at him.

»Now attach the rope on the building.« Said The Masked man calmly.

Tivon looked at the rope and took it in his hand. This is your chance. He looked back at them. Run before they can get to you. Before he knew it, he dropped the rope and started running.

He could just hear the angry voices behind him before running into a narrow street into an open wide main street filled with people. He didn't stop. He continued running at a slower pace, not attracting peoples attention. I need to get far away from here. He thought to himself as he came to a less busy street.

His back was hurting. Because of his childhood accident, his back was slightly crooked, causing him pain when doing physical activity. It was the first time since he left the kingdom that he wished to be back in the comfort of his room. It was your decision to run away, now make sure that it wasn't a bad decision.

He took a left turn, finding himself in a street with a dead end. He breathed out, turned around to find another way and almost jumped when he saw The Masked man standing in front of him.

»A quick one are you?«

Before Tivon could say anything, The Masked man hit him with his elbow right in his temple.

Tivon woke up with a stinging pain in his right temple. He forced himself to sit up and look around. He found himself in some kind of a prison cell. He checked to see if his bag is on him. A panic rushed through his body when he found out that his bag and coat were missing.

»Don't worry. Your bag and coat are safe in my cabin.«

Tivon almost screamed when he heard The Masked man who was sitting outside the cell. Why does he always just appear out of nowhere? Tivon moved a bit further from The Masked man.

»What do you want with me?« He managed.

The Masked man relaxed his posture »Well, we wanted to use you for a job, because you are the only one who could fit through that hole. Anyway, we couldn't do the job because a particular person didn't want to take part in it.«

Tivon looked away. »Why put me in a cell when you can just kill me?«

»I don't need to kill you. You can still prove useful to us.« Tivon had to smile to the irony of his words.

»Says the murderer.«

The Masked man sighed »I see you heard the rumors.« He stood up and pushed a plate of food in his cell. »Eat.«

Tivon didn't moved. »It's not poisoned.« He opened a door to the shed and disappeared behind it.

The audacity of this guy. Tivon looked at the plate with food and smirked. He didn't want to eat, just out of spite. But he was hungry. He hadn't eaten for almost a day. He pushed his grudge aside and pulled a plate to himself and started eating. When he finished, he laid down. The tiredness of the passed couple days hit him and fell asleep.

The Masked man is standing in a captain's room. The room is dark and lightened only by one fading lantern, lighting only The Masked mans mask.

»You didn't do the job?« Said a figure sitting by a table turned away from The Masked man.

»Unfortunately, something came in between.«

»Something or someone? It was the boy wasn't it.« His deep voice was rumbling through the room. He stood up and fixed his golden brass knuckles on his hand.

»It's not the boy's fault. I miss calculated-«

A big swung hit The Masked man on his left side of the face, knocking his mask off.

»If that boy causes any more trouble, this mask will have more purpose than it has now.«

The Masked man looked him in his eyes. A wisp of black hair fell from his forehead. His cheek already swallowing from the hit. His deep blue eyes with a pinch of purple in it, were filled with anger. He took his mask and put it back on.

»That boy is your problem now.« and before The Masked man left, he slightly turned and said »Yes.«