Page 9

The small pirate ship made dock at Kracken’s Hole with a flag no one recognised and a crew that was just as unknown.

The flag had a red background, with the outline of a rooster’s head donning an eyepatch on it.

The hull of the boat read The Girthy cock-ral , the boat itself had better days, but then again so had most of the vessels docked at Kracken’s Hole.

Slowly, five members disembarked, all dressed as the quintessential pirate with hats so big you couldn’t see their faces.

Silently, they staked down the docks and into the town, not stopping until they reached the pub.

The Ferrett’s Mott was Kracken’s Hole’s one and only pub and watering hole.

Where the Hollow was the soul of the town, the pub was the heart as well as gossip central.

Whatever went on, the new always went through the Mott and through Maureen, the bar lady.

So, when five unknowns walked in, she was already prepared.

“Hey, duckies, what can I get you?”

Instead of answering immediately, the four walked off to one of the secluded alcoves. Luckily, it was free from randy pirates. No, that would be later on.

“Are you the owner?” the remaining pirate asked, with a crackly voice. Almost like someone who had just got over laryngitis.

“That be me, honey, you just docked? First time in Kracken’s Hole, is it?” Maureen asked, but again got no response.

“Five waters.” No please or thank you. Instead, the pirate turned and walked to join his crew members. Leaving Maureen a little dumbstruck.

“Well, I’ll be Blackbeard, that was a touch rude, wasn’t it, Denzel?”

The ghost parrot chirped in agreement before it, too, glared over at the corner where the five unknown pirates sat, heads bent.

“Ghost pirates most definitely have more manners,” Maureen huffed and filled up five pint glasses with water. She didn’t even run the tap. Let them have it lukewarm. Serves them right. Before sending the order off with a bar maid, Maureen made a note to let Will know about the newcomers.

The portal wouldn’t have let just any pirates into the Hole, so they had to be paras of some kind.

“Denzel, ducky, let your besties know about this, would you?” Maureen asked as Denzel chirped again, winked and vanished.

“We made it,” one of the five new pirates whispered after the bar maid had delivered the pints of water.

“Shush, they will hear you, why the fuck did you get water?” another said as they picked up their drink, the multiple rings making tinging sounds on the glass as they wrapped their hands around it.

“I dunno, okay? I panicked. She started asking questions. Remember, they guard this place like the Crown Jewels,” the leader spoke out.

“They can’t be that good. We got in, didn’t we? And it didn’t take much. That spell we bought is working and holding steady.”

“We can’t just rely on that, though; we need to grab the cargo and get gone. The Krackens….”

“Are mythical, it’s only a story to keep people away from this place. Hell, who would even come here? What kind of name is Ferrett’s Mott anyway? This place gives me the ick.”

“Everything gives you the ick, stop with your moaning. We’ve got a job to do. Drink your water then we scout the town, but don’t make it obvious. One of you find food and meet back at the ship in two hours.”

With a clink of glasses, they nodded.

Their hats were so big they missed Denzel sat above them, his eyes narrowing with each word. Before they left, he once again vanished back to the Ferrett’s Hole . A side building off the Mott just for the familiars.

The boys would need to know.