One-Eyed Jack

Fred looked at the man and his strange clothes, and the cutlass at his side. He could be only one thing, Fred thought. A pirate. And pirates were scoundrels and thieves. They would sell their own mothers to the devil himself if there was a gold crown in it for them. Fred had heard the minstrel tales in court and doubted not that they were true. And so now he had to make a choice. Lie to the man and lose his honor, or tell the pirate the truth and risk imprisonment, torture or even worse. Fred knew how much a ransom for a Duke's son would bring. But he also knew what and who he was. A D'Honaire, a Lord of the Kingdom, a man of honor.

With his jaw set, his back straight and his eyes clear, Fred answered the pirate plainly and truthfully. Whatever come, he would bring no shame to his family. That, he swore. "My name is Frederigo D'Honaire. I have come here through no will of my own. I am on a quest in the name of my liege lord; I am to kill the mighty dragon that dwells in the heart of the Southern Caves." The pirate eyed him warily, his hand securely set on the hilt of his cutlass. King's Men were dangerous men, whatever land they came from.

"And I am One-Eyed Jack," the pirate said and bowed his head. "So you be after the dragon, are ye? Perhaps ye not be so wise as I thought." The man chuckled softly. "But atleast ye no be a liar. If ye had told me ye were shipwrecked I woulda run ye through on the spot. I no put up with liars...they can't be trusted." The man winked at Fred and chuckled again, louder this time. "Well, no use us standin' here like pillars o' salt, why don't ye follow me and I'll steal up some slop and some grog to fill yer' belly and wet yer' tongue." The man stretched out his arm toward the crest above them, pointing Fred the way. Fred began the climb and One-Eyed Jack followed at his back.

1. Dragon's Cove

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