The full crew of the Kraken Pirates turned out on deck. Captain Kraken’s voice was full and strong as he told of the night time meeting on the beach. No one interrupted. No one asked questions. Every face was locked onto Kraken’s stern expression. An expression that did not tolerate argument or dissension.
When Kraken finished speaking, he looked to each face. “Ask your questions, and make your statements now.”
Quiet conversations sprung up among the crew. Heads came together, and side glances were thrown at Cousin, Gabb and Kraken. After several minutes the conversations began to die down.
“She eats like the rest of us,” Jak said. “I see no difference.” His facial tattoos were distorted by his pinched expression.
“What about those Hunters? Are they coming back?” Harper asked from the rigging. The brand on his check stood out white under wide purple eyes.
“Of course they are,” Kor said. “Weren’t you listening?”
“Even I have to buy that,” Nickel said. His hawk eyes more narrow than usual.
“Funny, you wouldn’t buy anything else,” Raymond said. He pulled on his thick silver-gray braid, and worried the ornaments at the end.
“Nothing funny here,” Tuggy said. He coiled and uncoiled his whip. Thick muscles played under dark brown skin.
A murmur ran through the crew.
“That’s not the real question,” Kor said coming forward. “Are you still our Cousin? Captain says you are. You’re different though. I can see it. See it in the way you stand, the way you hold your face. I want to hear what Cousin has to say. Talk to us!”
“With the Captain’s permission,” Cousin said.
Kraken nodded.
Cousin jumped the rail of the quarterdeck, and landed in front of Kor. She smiled, and hugged the grizzled sailor. “Thanks,” she said.
Kor pushed her off, and batted her away. “Get off. What’s the matter with you?”
Cousin laughed, and the tension left the deck. The crew had seen the same thousands of times before.
“Well, Kor? She feel different?” Bry asked from his perch on a barrel.
“Not the point,” Kor said, his cheeks going ruddy.
“Come on Kor. What do you say?” Matty asked with a barely suppressed laugh.
Kor pressed his lips together, and stared hard at Cousin.
She leaned in and whispered, “You still owe me my cut from yesterday. And another sparring match.”
Kor’s laugh exploded from him, sounding like a mule.
“Yes, I am still your Cousin,” she said loud enough for her voice to carry, and echo off the cave walls. “I have my memory back. That does not change what I have experienced on this ship, with this crew. I am a Kraken Pirate! I am Cousin!”
A cheer went up. A chorus of “aye’s” rebounded from the cave walls.
Gabb sounded the whistle.
“It is my judgement that keeping Cousin with us puts us all in danger from the Al’Ri,” Kraken said. He stared down the beginning arguments. “It is also my judgement that this ship and crew are known to the Al’Ri. Should Cousin leave us, we are in danger from the Al’Ri, and less protected with her absence.” Kraken paused and looked around. His crew was fifteen men. Small by all standards. Haven could carry fifty men comfortably, ninety at most. Kraken was picky about those around him. He wanted loyalty through bond, not fear. Only those he felt that bond with stayed.
“Cousin is crew,” Kraken said. The cheers from the deck followed him all the way to his cabin. Now Haven sheltered a solid seventeen.
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