The voice sounded like a gunshot in the night, "Quite the hiding spot you have there."
At those words, Red whirled, very nearly losing footing on the tree. Derrin's blade was out of his sheath, and his shockblasters joined a moment later. All of them grew tense at the sudden voice. Red glanced around, but all he could see was dark.
A soft chuckle reverberated around them, "Why so tense? You aren't in any danger at the moment. Not from me, at least."
None of them spoke as a figure suddenly appeared from the darkness in front of them. Whoever it was, they moved across the trees like a cat putting even Derrin's skill to shame. Red threw a glance at the pirates, but they were already fading away.
"You don't have to worry about them," the woman said as she crouched opposite them.
Red could barely make her out, and yet she seemed to take all of them in at a glance.
"Who…who…who are you?" Vizim sputtered.
"I should be asking you the same thing. It seems I've found the source of the pirates' recent anger. You three have caused quite the raucous across the island. Naturally, they assumed it was me, and naturally, I assumed they were dealing with leadership problems. It seems neither of us was right with our guesses. So, I'll ask the questions. How did you get here?"
"Red," Derrin's voice was tense, "Don't do anything stupid. She's much stronger than I am."
Red sniffed, "Me. Why do you think I'd do something stupid? You're the one who would probably throw yourself at her while yelling, Oh, this is for my honor, run while you can. Like I'm not an idiot."
Everyone stared at him.
"What?"
"Red…" his voice brittle, "I'm just saying…"
He waved his hand, "It doesn't matter. She's not a pirate. If she were, we'd already be dead based on what you said. She's clearly Valencian, and I'd take a bet that she's from the fort we've been trying to get to."
"You'd bet on that now, would you?" the woman snorted.
"Am I wrong?"
She sniffed, "No. But I'm the one asking the questions, and I'm beginning to think I might be better off just shooting you and going about my evening."
Red finally noticed the long object slung across the woman's shoulder. It didn't take a genius to realize what it was. A shock weapon. Nothing like his own shockblasters. This was a full-blown sniper. Red didn't need to see the strength behind its shots to know it could kill them in one blow.
"Well, that's sort of a long story…" Red trailed off.
"We have time," the woman said casually, "So tell me, how did you get here?"
Red glanced at his companions and shrugged.
Derrin replied, "By ship."
The woman pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation, "And where is your ship now?"
Red sighed, "In the sea."
What an insightful question that one is!
Derrin grunted, "What he meant to say is it is not so much as in the sea as at the bottom of it."
"Yeah, that's what I meant."
"Bloody hell…" She muttered under her breath.
"What's wrong?" Red asked worriedly, "You don't think we're pirates, do you?"
"No, I don't think you are pirates…" She grumbled softly.
"Good, cause we're…"
"Gods. Why did I get stuck with this job?"
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
"We came from the Fallen Isles," Derrin said.
She looked at them with suspicion, "Really? How did that happen?"
"It's a long story," Red waved his hand.
The woman just stared at him.
"Yes, yes, alright. We have time. It started when Derrin and I met on a Gearborn ship."
"Wait, a gearborn ship?" Both Vizim and the woman asked at once.
"Did I never tell you this part?" Red asked Vizim.
Derrin cut in, "None of this is important. What's important is when we get to the Fallen Isles."
"Right. We met with Finn. Well, I did, and Derrin just followed."
"You can't do that?" Derrin said, looking at him.
"Do what?"
He groaned, "You just don't call a king by their first name."
Red turned to him, "Who, Finn? He's not a king."
"Red. How many kings have you met before?"
"Like in what time span?"
"Your entire life."
"Well, I guess none."
Derrin shook his head like he was trying to clear away a fog, "Let me put it to you simply. Captain Finn…"
"Former captain," Red cut in.
"Just stop talking," Derrin glared at him, "Firstly, Captain Finn governs the Fallen Isles and Valencia. Secondly, he controls one of the sea hearts. Finally, he co-runs a school with two other monarchs. That makes him a king."
"That's not necessarily true."
"Would you two shut up?" Zara cut in.
"Sorry."
"My apologies."
"I want the full story on why the Captain would send you a lunatic and a Montrelan," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Red scratched his head in surprise. She had been able to tell that Derrin wasn't from Valencia in this gloom?
"Well, it wasn't really Finn that sent us. It was Ayjax."
"Ayjax? You mean Ayjax Centura?"
"Yeah. I guess he sent me here to find someone who could help me finish one of my engineering designs, and Derrin came with me, I guess."
"That blasted idiot," the woman began muttering curses under her breath.
The three of them glanced at each other.
"Well, Ayjax sent you here to meet me."
Red's eyes brightened, "Really. What a coincidence to run into you like this. How exactly are you supposed to help me, though? Ayjax didn't tell me anything."
"Not now. There are more pressing matters, like where is everyone else? I doubt the two of you came alone?"
"You are correct," Derrin replied.
"The ship got blown up by pirates in the harbor," Red commented.
Zara glanced between the two of them and then at Vizim, "What about him?"
"Wait, me?" Vizim was startled, having zoned out of the entire conversation.
"Yes, you, there's no one else here…"
"I was the engineer on the ship…when…when it got blown up."
"I see, long story short. You," She pointed to Red, "What's your name?"
"Red."
"You, Red, got sent here with Ayjax to meet with me so I can help publish your design, and these two ended up here on the way."
"Pretty much."
"Alright. Your story checks out. I'll bring you to the fort, but you need to follow me carefully."
They didn't argue. After numerous days of sneaking around the island, they were all ready to be done. Following the woman, the trio clambered down the trees behind the pirates and disappeared into the night.