During the weeks following the angry squall that tore through Caesicius, the towns

occupants worked diligently to return the port to working order. Everyone, from the gruff
dock wollopers to the more dignified businessmen, scrambled to return the seaside town to
some type of former glory. Roofs were being mended, walls were being patched, and docks
were being rebuilt to accommodate the constant flow of ships that passed through the port
city. However, progress was not moving along quick enough especially for the citys dock
master.

You glaring at the docks wont make the work go any quicker.
Emily Ravenswood and Michael Van Anderson were standing in the midst of a
construction project taking place in the dockyards. The young merchant had wandered away
from his office for a few hours and decided to pay the dock master a visit. He found her
barking at a group of dock workers that were hammering away at a series of boards and
planks that were half-submerged in the gray, sea waters.
Emily was not amused. Do you see that!? she demanded, gesturing at the wrangled
mess of boards and beams, That used to be a dock! I am fed up with all of the construction
around here. With the royal trading fleet rerouting their trade passages and a quarter of the
dockyard still out of commission, Caesicius is head for some difficult times.
Michael gently patted his frazzled friend on the back, earning himself a poignant
glare. Youre doing the best you can, he assured her, Its not as if Caesicius hasnt
recovered from squalls, before.
The pair flinched when a long wooden beam was dropped carelessly amidst the chaos.
This extracted enraged yells from the dock master who began to shake her fists menacingly at
her dock workers. If they had ever doubted the effectiveness of their dock masters presence
around the yard, this moment erased all of their concerns. Emily Ravenswood was, in fact, a
spitfire of a woman with a quick tongue and an even quicker temper.
Michael, on the other hand, didnt shy away from his raving companion. Instead, he
watched over her head as the brusque wollopers quickened their pace and pounded heaver
into the thick nails that tied the dock boards together. He was unapologetically amused by the
spectacle; having spent what seemed like the past week shut in his library scribbling away on
shipping records and profit projections. Whenever his work felt suffocating, he would just
wander down to the dockyard for entertainment.
Michael Van Anderson was the only merchant wandering around the docks, making
his expensive clothes and groomed appearance stand out amidst the surlier crowd. Even
Emily blended into the rabble wearing dark skirts that were stained with tar around the hem
and a billowing white shirt, rolled at the elbows. Her hair was uncharacteristically unkempt

that morning with her brown tresses slipping out of a crude bun she had pinned at the back of
her head. Overall, she certainly looked the part of a distressed dock master.
Nathanial! Be careful!
Michael winced at the volume of her voice. And she sounds like one, too, he thought.
Emily rubbed the back of her neck, sighing. The goal is to get half of this dock done
by tonight. I would like to get the entire thing up and running by the end of the week. If the
Painted Duchess is still on its course, she should be pulling into harbor in a week and a half. I
really want those silks and fabrics unloaded and stored before the Caravan shows up.
The Caravan actually referred to a series of smaller caravans that crossed through the
mountains that cut the Ruber Peninsula off from the mainland. The entire troupe was led by a
clan of families that originated in the mountains hundreds of years before the Amydalian
Empire acquired them. Since this race of people was born into the mountains and knew every
pass and crevice in between, they were entrusted to bring shipments that were brought to the
peninsula through the mountains and into cities further inland. They also brought food,
timber, and other supplies back from the mainland into Caesicius. It was a flow of goods that
Caesicius relied on in terms of profit and a supply of natural resources not readily available
on the relatively isolated peninsula.
Im sure youll get your silks. The closest port city to us is Flammeus and thats a
fishing town on Albens Island. I doubt the Painted Duchess will be willing to go that far of
course, reasoned Michael.
But if there isnt a dock available for the shipments, I dont know if she will have a
choice! Her captain is neurotic when it comes to schedules
Michael looked up and started to survey the sprawling dockyard. Emily was not
exaggerating when she said one fourth of the yard was too damaged to hold crews and
shipments, but there were a couple of docks that appeared unoccupied. Aside from some
smaller ships and independent merchants anchored in the harbor, there appeared to be some
space for the large textiles vessel known as the Painted Duchess. Michael felt inclined to
voice his observations. It appears there is already a dock vacant for the ship.
The dock master cast him a worried look. Quickly glancing around to make sure they
werent overheard, Emily leaned towards Michael. Griffin says the Red Devil Tavern is
buzzing with rumors that pirates are headed this way, she said lowly, I need to make sure
theres at least one dock available for an unexpected arrival.
Michael shuddered. The last pirate ship to pull into Caesicius sailed away almost ten
years prior and the city had not seen a pirate crew since well, excluding Captain Andrea.
Many of the ships and crews that roamed the dockyard and the towns were privateers or

harmless vessels embarked for discovery. The more nefarious pirate company had abandoned
Caesicius for more lawless lands but it appeared the crippling squall made the struggling
port city an appealing destination for pirates once again.
Griffin is trying to gather more information about these rumored pirates, continued
Emily, but the sailors in the tavern are contradicting themselves. The only thing that is being
consistently mentioned is that there is at least one pirate ship sailing under an ancient flag is
headed our way.
When? whispered Michael.
Emily shrugged and leaned away from him to return her attention back on the docks.
Hard to say, but Id expect before the frost begins to settle. Maybe theyre looking for one
more pint in the Red Devil Tavern. Maybe theyre looking to pillage. Maybe something
else
Michael grimaced. None of these options sounded appealing. Suddenly, an odd
thought struck him. You dont think it has something to do with that mysterious compass
Andi is looking for, do you?
I dont think that thing exists, said Emily, shaking her head, Andi and Griffin have
been looking for that thing for almost a week. Nothing. I think that Julian guy made it up.
Julius, corrected Michael.
Whatever.

After Michael Van Anderson had finished his work and Emily Ravenswood was
moderately satisfied with the progress on her docks, the two of them met up at the Red Devil
Tavern later that evening. When the two of them arrived, they spotted Captain Andrea Carver
seated at one of the corner tables at the far end of the tavern, surrounded by various pieces of
parchment and books. She was illuminated by a pair of lanterns hanging from the ceiling
above her and the expression on her face was one of evident displeasure.
After collecting their tankards from Griffin, the merchant and the dock master joined
their captain friend at her tavern-table-turned-desk. How is the compass hunting going,
Andi? inquired Emily, leaning back in her chair and taking a swig of her beer.
Andi scowled. Terribly. You know, I have found plenty of hard-to-find items thats
why people come to me with jobs; I get them done however this one is looking
impossible. She was swirling her tankard around, its last remnants of beer sloshing back and
forth inside. Her dark eyes remained focused on the open book in front of her, quickly
skimming over the contents.

Michael picked up one of the pieces of parchment in front of them and studied its
contents. What are all of these documents for?
Im trying to find some hint about this compass in the taverns history. These are all
official documents, biographical novels, diaries, and even myths and legends, replied Andi.
Emily picked up a familiar book. She recognized it to be the book her grandfather had
written about the history of the Red Devil Tavern. It was typically kept in the flat above the
tavern; a place of residence reserved for the taverns owner. Griffin must have lent Andi the
book in hopes of helping her on her search. Ive read this book from cover to cover at least a
dozen times Im fairly theres no mention of the compass youre trying find.
At the beginning of her search, Captain Andrea described the physical qualities of the
compass to her friends. According to Julius, this was an average-sized compass that could fit
in the palm of a hand. Its shell was made out of black polished wood with mother-of-pearl
inlays. Andi also relayed that Julius informed her that the face of the compass was typical of
ancient pirate fashion: a design that went out of style once the Amydalian Empire took over.
But I think hes lying, said Andi. I could tell by the look in his eyes.
Emily rolled her eyes. I think hes lying about the whole thing.
Andi shook her head before tilting back to finish off the last of her ale. She gave a
drawn out exhale before pointedly looking at Emily. No, I could tell he was being honest
about the compass. But theres definitely something about it thats not normal.
So, according to your truth-detecting powers, the compass is absolutely in this
tavern, clarified Michael.
Andi nodded. Definitely.
Griffin, who had been leaning on the bar listening in on their conversation, offered his
thoughts. What makes you so certain its my tavern?
Andi, Emily, and Michael turned towards the bartender. Because this is the only
tavern in Caesicius, said his sister flatly, The one other tavern on the peninsula is in the
highway town of Glandus up by the Praesagium Mountains I doubt it would have ended up
there.
Griffin shrugged before picking up a forlorn tankard deposited by a sailor on his way
out. The tavern was relatively empty that evening. The only other patrons were a couple of
dock wollopers that made a point of avoiding their dock master. It could have ended up in
one of those smaller bars in town.

Andi shook her head. No those are all relatively new. They only really popped up
when the Pullian Trading Company began arriving in the harbor and they didnt appreciate
the fact that the only place for a drink was at the Red Devil Tavern.
I took great offense to that, said Griffin. They said something about this tavern
being a cesspool of ruffians? The nerve.
Emily could tell her brother wasnt really ruffled by this. He took great pride in the
lawless atmosphere of the tavern. He himself was an odd fixture in the tavern, with his
buoyant expressions and bright smiles. The amiable bartender was a contrast to the brooding
and sullen patrons that typically visited the establishment. But he found great joy in running
the tavern and typically had the respect of all of the sailors and dock workers that frequented
The Red Devil.
Griffin sniffed haughtily before continuing. I dont want them in my tavern, anyway.
They wear ribbons in their hair and they smell like flowers. He glanced at Michael out of the
corner of his eyes. No offense.
Michael scowled. I dont smell like flowers. And this ribbon is to tie my hair back
not for decoration.
In typical Amydalian fashion, Michael Van Anderson had grown his hair out to a
moderate length that allowed him to tie it back with a ribbon. Men from the more refined
cities in the Empire found that this style allowed them to keep their hair better groomed and
maintained. To rebel against these styles, coarse men of the sea either cropped their hair short
or grow it long and kept in matted plaits. Griffin kept his hair short and un-brushed allowing
his thick, dark curls to gather wildly around his head.
Anyway, interjected Andi, bringing them all back to the real topic of their
conversation, The only pieces of information that Ive been able to gather so far is a mention
in one of the myths of Captain John Dickinsons mysterious compass which everyone
knows about and the so-called black heart of the tavern mentioned in your grandfathers
book.
Those are really vague pieces of information, said Michael.
Andi thrust her tankard out towards the lanky merchant and gave him an annoyed
glare. Be useful and get me another pint, because your powers of observation are certainly
not helping.
Michael pursed his lips before yanking the tankard from her grasp. He knew better
than to argue with a bitter Andi. The usually happy-tempered pirate captain was certainly
borderline irate that evening. As you wish, princess.

Andi was about to make a retort when Emily interrupted. The myth states that John
Dickinsons compass was lost at sea at the end of the Great Pirate Wars, she said, reiterating
one of the myths her father frequently told her and her brother when they were children, He
would have mentioned if it in actuality had wound up in his tavern. Besides, its a myth.
Pirates have been looking for that compass for centuries without any luck.
Thats what the Empire wants you to think, Griffin said mysteriously, looking up
from the row of tankards he was distractedly cleaning.
Emily gave him a tired sigh. Stop with your conspiracy theories.
No, really, the tavern owner pressed, The Amydalian Empire has successfully
turned pirate history into lore in order to deter anyone from pursuing a career in piracy. If it is
all regarded as untrue and fantastical, the true nature of piracy will be thought of as nothing
but a bunch of dirty men drunk on a ship.
Hey, said Andi, bristling at Griffins description, Im not a dirty guy!
But you would say youve been drunk on a ship.
Andi avoided Griffins accusatory expression. Once or twice
Or all the time, offered Michael.
Andi snatched the tankard he held out to her and began to drink deeply in defiance.
After giving a dramatically satisfied sigh, she plopped the beer down noisily on the table and
picked up a parchment to read.
Emily opened her mouth to say something when she was startled by a familiar voice
behind her. Excuse me, dock master? Theres someone outside of your office looking for
you.
The young dock master whirled around to look up at a nervous William Farthsgood
standing unsurely by their table. His round eyes darted around the interior of the tavern,
avoiding the curious stare of the bartender and Captain Andreas bright smile. The upbeat
dock worker never wandered into the dusty tavern unless it was urgent. And he urgently
needed to find Emily Ravenswood.
Someone waiting for me? Emily repeated.
William nodded, his eyes finally meeting Emilys. Shes an architect? Said she just
got in from Undae.
Undae, mused Michael, bringing his tankard to his lips, Thats a port city in Chylia
Cove. Thats a weeks journey from here.

Much of the coastline that bordered the Andric Sea offered no natural harbors and a
large amount of the immediate inland was occupied by mountainous terrain. There were only
a couple of Amydalian cities along this coastline. Following the shores, one would eventually
arrive to the more habitable lands of Heliotropia and eventually Amydalia further to the East.
It was in the heart of this country where the capital of the Empire, Luteus, flourished. West of
the Ruben Peninsula lay the Avus Ocean, and beyond that were foreign lands unconquered by
the Amydalian Empire. In many respects, Caesicius was the final stop on the edge of the
Empire before the daunting expanse of the wild unknown.
What would somebody from Undae want with me? wondered Emily aloud. Much to
Williams distress, she remained seated in her chair, tankard still firmly in hand.
I dont know, he said quickly, his eyes finding the cold stare of an old painting
nailed to the wall across from him, But you should hurry and go find out.
Emily scowled. You really should have come to me with more information, she
said, scolding her dock worker, I dont know what Im walking into. I like to be kept
informed, you know.
William nodded hurriedly. Yes, Im sorry, but she seemed impatient so we should
really get back to the dockyard.

When Emily and William finally arrived to the dock masters quarters, she was
surprised to find that her mysterious visitor was in fact the architect Lucia Daniels. Emily had
met the young academic a year prior when she came to Caesicius to visit her childhood
friend, Michael Van Anderson. At the time Lucia had been working on the dock expansion in
the fishing town of Flammeus when she boarded one of the Van Anderson merchant ships
headed for the Ruben Peninsula.
Lucia! greeted Emily, hurrying towards the young woman, Welcome back to
Caesicius!
Lucia Daniels spun towards the dock masters voice and graced her with a wide smile.
The architect was in a fashionable floral gown that dipped in a round neckline around her
clavicle and ended at her elbows in tufts of dark satin. Her dark petticoats toned down the
relative glamor of her dress so that she did not stand too much apart from the dusty
townspeople that were strolling past.
She was slightly taller than the dock master and had the refined composure of a
woman raised amongst high society. Her long, distinguished features were highlighted by her
light curls that were loosely tied up in pins so that they tumbled purposefully over one
shoulder. She held in her possession a cluster of rolled pieces of parchment and several bound

notebooks. A bulging leather bag was hanging from her shoulder and required her to
periodically shift it upwards so it wouldnt fall off her arm.
Once she caught sight of Emily and William hurrying towards her, she nodded
towards them in a small greeting as her hands and arms were then occupied. Hello! Im
sorry that I got here at such a late hour. My ship was had been unexpectedly detained in
Undae. Apparently there was an issue with the shipment.
The sun had set an hour prior, leaving the port city to rely on the dim light of lanterns
bolted to the sides of buildings and the hazy candles in apartment windows. Lucia had opted
to stand underneath the flickering light of one of the large lanterns anchored above the door
leading into the dock masters quarters. The bustle of the city had significantly quieted over
the evening, leaving only a few dock workers heading further into town for a drink and
several shop owners pulling curtains together and flipping over closed signs.
No, no, replied Emily, Im sorry for not being in my office! Im not usually at the
tavern during this time. She heard William scoff behind her. Without turning, she quickly
thrust out her bent elbow, jabbing him harshly in the stomach.
Lucia gave a small chuckle. Thats completely understandable. Ive heard repairs
here have been hectic. Ive been in Undae finishing up construction, but their location in the
cove helped to protect them from most of the damaging storm.
Emily nodded before moving to unlock the door to her quarters and usher the architect
inside. Please, come in. After stepping aside to let Lucia go in ahead of her, she looked over
at William. Thanks for coming to get me. Youre free to go about your evening. Ill take care
of things, here.
William nodded gratefully before hurrying past to meet up with a rambunctious group
of dock wollopers heading into town. Emily sighed tiredly as she watched the bumbling
troupe stumble and laugh their way towards the closest bar. I dont care how hungover
theyre going to be tomorrow, she thought, Theyre going to be hammering at docks all day.
Emily Ravenswood did not particularly enjoy the harsh reputation she had been
developing in regards to the dockyards intense repairs, but she knew what needed to be done
for the sake of Caesicius. They could only rely on supplies brought in by the Caravan for so
much longer before winter would halt all land-based trade routes. Already the early weeks of
autumn had blown into town, leaving a sharp chill in the evening hours. Emily shivered;
because of the cold or because of the fear of hard times, she couldnt decipher.
What brings you to our humble pirate town? asked Emily, striding into her office.
Lucia had already taken a seat at one of the plush chairs across from the dock masters
desk. Her bag was settled by her feet and the rolled pieces of parchment she had been

cradling in her arms were spread out on the desks surface. She waited until Emily had
plopped into her chair before explaining her arrival.
Well, the repairs in Undae finished quicker than I anticipated. Since it is a large and
wealthy port city, the dock master there had employed a team of architects to rebuild all of
the damaged docks, explained Lucia.
Emily scowled. Undae Just a seaside town full of merchants and bankers. Not to
mention a hideaway for various corrupt royals and politicians. Theres always money, there.
Lucia noticed the look of resentment that stretched across Emilys face. Yes, there
was quite the investment made into the revival of the docks. And I especially want to make
you aware that theyve added on to the dockyard, allowing more ships to pull into the cove.
This especially bothered Caesicius dock master. Undae had been their biggest rival in
regards to merchant routes on the Andric Sea. Its growth was mainly attributed to the
favoritism the Pullian Trading Company exhibited towards the more refined city of Undae
forcing most of the profit Caesicius would have seen towards the Chylia Cove. And since the
squall that had blown in from the Avus Ocean devastated many of Caesicius docks, the
Pullian Trading Company rerouted all of their ships passages so that they were docked
primarily at Undae.
I wouldnt worry too much about the Pullian Trading Company rerouting their ships,
at the moment, assured Lucia, practically reading Emilys mind, Most of the merchants are
unhappy with the citys high tariffs and would much rather sail into Caesicius. Besides, the
mountain passes between the Ruben Peninsula and the country of Laconia are much safer
than the open highways. There is a much higher chance of robbery and loss of profit for the
merchants.
Emily nodded unsurely. I suppose youre right. But I wont know for sure until all of
my docks are up and running again.
Which is why Im here, said Lucia, beaming, I received word from Michael a
couple of months ago that the squall had swept away almost half of Caesicius docks, so after
I was employed in Undae and finished work there, I hurried here as quickly as I could.
But Emily did not share the architects enthusiasm. I really appreciate you coming,
but I dont have any money to pay you. Ive hardly had enough for materials. Work has had to
be paused over and over again to wait for revenue and the arrival of timber from further up
the peninsula.
Lucia shook her head as if to brush off Emilys doubts. No, I wont charge you. This
gives me and it gives me an excuse to stay in Caesicius for a while. The head architect I work
for is trying to send me to an official port closer to the capital how droll.

Emily perked up. At least let me give you the guest quarters while youre here. And
Ill make sure all of your drinks at the Red Devil Tavern are paid for; I have connections.
The dock master was not about to turn away Lucias offer, especially considering she was a
highly trained architect Caesicius wouldnt typically be able to afford. All of the dockyard
repairs that Emily had been orchestrating were derived from books and documents about port
design found in her office. She wasnt entirely qualified to build docks; only to maintain
them.
Thats all Ill require, laughed Lucia, A bed and some beer.
I knew I liked you.

After going over several of the blueprints Lucia had brought with her and the list of
remaining supplies that Emily kept filed in her office, the pair of them wandered over to the
Red Devil Tavern in hopes of grabbing a drink or two before Griffin closed up. When they
got there, they were delighted to see that Michael and Andi were still seated in the corner of
the pub, nursing small glasses of rum and perusing through a couple of worn leather books
that looked freshly added to Andis pile of research.
Well, I never thought Id see the day when a Van Anderson would be drinking with a
pirate captain in a nefarious looking pub, Lucia teased as she and Emily approached the
studious pair.
Griffin, who had just replaced one of the kegs of ale behind the bar, perked up at the
words nefarious pub. Thank you! he chirped, leaning against the keg and giving a mock
salute to the architect, I work very hard.
Emily rolled her eyes as Lucia laughed.
Miss Lucia Daniels! greeted Michael, surprised by the arrival of his friend, You
didnt tell me you were coming from Undae so soon!
Lucia waved him off as she sat down in a chair across from him and Andi. I wanted it to be a
surprise! Besides, I wasnt sure how long work in Undae was going to last, anyway.
After collecting a pair of full tankards from Griffin, Emily settled in a chair beside
Lucia. She handed one of the ales to the architect, and after a small cheers, they both took a
long drink. Andi, who was still deeply invested in her compass search, brightly greeted the
newly arrival. She happened to have been in town the first time Lucia visited Michael and
was happy to see the young woman again. She admired Lucia Daniels skills as an architect
and appreciated her calm, collected demeanor. She was a refreshing balance to their
somewhat manic group of friends.

At Michaels insistence, Lucia quickly divulged to them the purpose of her arrival and
her plans for the revival of Caesicius dockyard. They were all excited that Lucia was
committed to helping to repair the docks and bring Pullian merchant ships back into the
harbor. Although Griffin was a little remorseful that pirate patrons were unlikely to come by
with the return of official Amydalian ships, he was glad his sister would be getting reprieve
from all of the work she had been drowning in for the past few months. After Lucia was done
detailing her work in Undae and sharing some of her plans for Caesicius, she asked about
Andis research.
Im looking for a compass, said Andi, lifting her glass of rum and lightly swirling it
around, A single, important compass that I was hired to locate.
Oh, it seems like there is an awful lot of research materials for finding a compass
Michael scoffed before taking a sip from his own rum. Apparently its a mythical
compass hidden in this tavern. Weve been looking for it for a week. Emily and Griffin doubt
the compass exists, which is understandable considering they were raised here and have never
come across a black compass with mother-of-pearl inlays.
So you guys havent found anything else about a compass, have you? inquired
Emily Ravenswood, looking between him and Andi.
The pair shared a hesitant glance between them before Griffin interjected. Theyre
now thinking the compass is what grandfather referred to as the black heart of the tavern.
He was humoring his own glass of rum while still securely settled on the other side of the bar.
At this time of night, Andi, Michael, Emily, and Lucia were his only customers and he
intended to close up as soon as they left.
I mean, it makes sense, Andi reasoned, the compass is supposed to be black, after
all.
Lucia smiled. This exactly why I love coming to this town. Theres always an
adventure.
If you think finding a navigating tool in a dusty tavern is an adventure, you really
need to get out of the capital, more, teased Michael.
Lucia shot him a sharp glare as she continued to nurse her ale. Beside her, Emily was
lost in thought as she stared down at her drink. I remember grandfather saying something
about the heart when I was little, she recalled to herself, something that should never leave
the tavern Suddenly it hit her.
Leaping out of her seat, Emily strode over to her brother who was flustered by her
sudden outburst. Her companions were also startled when the dock master unexpectedly

pushed away from the table and hurried away. Griffin, do you remember what grandfather
said about what the tavern is built on? she demanded, ignoring her friends inquisitive stares.
Griffins expression grew nervous. You mean that thing he said to never tell anyone?
The Ravenswood secret and all that? He was eyeing the table of friends seated nearby. He
didnt like where his sisters trail of questions were headed, especially since there were
witnesses.
Griffin, said his sister darkly, dropping her voice, I think the secrets out. If
someones trying to find what I think the compass is, were going to be in trouble.
Andi grew annoyed with the siblings cryptic conversation. Hey! she barked,
slapping her hand on the table, This is my job and I demand to know whats going on!
Griffins face grew pale as he processed his sisters words. Silently, he nodded as if to
permit her to share this information with the others. After taking a deep breath, Emily turned
to address her friends. The Ravenswoods have kept the tavern in the family for a variety of
reasons. But the most important reason was one that was never to be shared outside of the
bloodline, she paused, and took another breath, the tavern isnt just a drinking hole
Michael suddenly grew nervous at the serious edge in the dock masters voice. What
is it, then? he pressed.
Its sort of a mausoleum, continued Griffin, picking up from where Emily trailed
off. You see, Captain John Dickinson is buried underneath of this tavern.
A suffocating hush settled on the tavern. For what seemed like minutes, the only
sounds were the soft snapping of candles and the tavern walls creaking with every gust of
wind that brushed by outside. Lucia, Michael, and Andi all wore vivid expressions of shock
and slight horror. They remained staring at the two members of the Ravenswood family who
shifted uncomfortably under their wide gazes.
It was Captain Andrea Carver who finally broke the stillness. That would have been
nice to know a week ago! she practically yelled, jumping to her feet. Michael and Lucia
reeled backwards in surprise.
You werent ever supposed to know, said Griffin, firmly, Especially you. Youre a
pirate.
We cant have pirates collecting Captain Dickinsons artifacts, explained Emily,
They supposedly hold mysterious powers and could be devastating if found in the wrong
hands. Weve always thought that grandfather was making it all up, but Emily glanced up
towards the faded portrait of John Dickinson that hung over the bar, If theres a mysterious
object someone is looking for in the tavern, I bet thats where it will be.

Michaels face grew pale. You mean

Emilys expression became grim. Yes, she said, It will be with Captain John
Dickinson himself.