The Council

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The wind was howling and causing the ship’s bells to ring frantically. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” the deckhand continued to recite the verse of Psalm 23. The night sky had taken on an auburn hue. Annoying sea rats roamed throughout the sand of the long-gone island. The deckhand’s prayer could be heard until a path of twinkling lights presented itself. A wooden door appeared at the end of the path guarded by a mermaid. But mermaids held elusive magic. “The council awaits.” The mermaid waved her hand, and the wooden door opened. Shutting immediately behind, Krissel found himself in a room of four other pirates. All seated around a wooden table with a makeshift string of lightbulbs surrounding the roof around them. “At last, you have arrived!” A pirate with long blonde hair and a faded blue hat exclaimed from one side of the table. “Sit.” An older pirate with a red velvet hat and a lightening scar on his face gestured for Krissel to sit. Krissel removed his water-stricken overcoat and took a seat next to the older pirate. A woman, appeared from the shadows, dressed in green silk, and covered in colorful beads. Her long black hair tied in a meticulous bun and her eyes, a bright yellow. A spiritual being. “An offering is required for this council,” she remarked. Krissel noticed a pack of playing cards, a pair of black dice, a cup of black pepper and an old tin of shoeshine was placed in the middle of the table. Pirates always carried the most random things. Krissel pulled a pack of water crackers out of his pocket and placed it on the table. “Offering accepted.” The woman smiled and disappeared back into the shadows. A moment later, a pirate dressed in perfectly pressed burgundy garments appeared from the side of the room. Not wearing a hat, Krissel noticed his short curly black hair and a nicely trimmed beard. The pirate with long blonde hair shifted his chair and the newly arrived pirate took a seat at the end of the table. Pirate magic had manufactured a large wicker chair.

“Welcome. Introduce yourselves.”

The pirate with blonde hair spoke. “Sir Lord Jefferson of the Pacific Outlet.”

The older pirate with the lightening scar spoke. “Lord Geoff of the Outlaws of the Atlantic.”

A pirate wearing a faded black hat spoke. “Lord Bernard of the Deserted Pirates.”

Then, a woman pirate with perfectly embroidered black garments, spoke. “Kat Weathers of the Shield of Women.”

The group turned to Krissel. “Captain Joe Krissel.” Krissel did not belong to an outlet of pirates or did he lead a group of pirates. His crew consisted of a snarky black cat named Heart, a brown dog named Rufus, a devout Christian deckhand named Monty, and a very opinionated deckhand named Walter. All had been forgotten in one way or another, including Krissel himself. His ship had been his father’s. Holes plugged constantly and Krissel’s handiness had kept the ship on the sea.

“Welcome to you all.”

“I am Captain Winterfield. Last survivor of the Seven Pirates.” The words lay in the air. The Seven Pirates were a thing of mystical legend. Considered to be the originators of the pirating world, they had created the original outlets. Throughout time, outlets had been created from the original ones. Joe Krissel Sr. had been part of a revolutionary group of pirates that led action against greedy settlers that deemed pirates as wicked. They had also protected the penniless and the lost people of the world. Krissel had spent his adulthood serving those purposes as well.

“I have requested your presence because you are descendants of my fellow seven as presented to me by Athena.” The woman in green silk appeared from the shadows again. “Athena has powers beyond all of our control, hence her presence at this council.”

“I still wonder why you summoned us to this forsaken land.” Lord Jefferson pulled a bottle from his coat pocket and took a big swig. Captain Winterfield frowned. “This land is where your uncle came to seek refuge from an executioner.” Lord Jefferson’s face went a crimson red. “Executioner?” Winterfield continued to frown. “Do you think the Seven Pirates came here for vacation purposes?” Lord Jefferson seemed to shrink in his chair. “I assume it was of difficulty to reach this location, but security and secret is of the essence. There is a new threat among us.” A silence fell over the table. “A pirate named Barren has resurrected an ancient army of sea urchins with a plan to control the Pacific Ocean and extinguish the land beyond it.”

“Barren is not just a pirate. He can shift into different forms. He also has a lust for destruction and retribution,” Athena commented. “Retribution?” Kat asked. Athena looked solemn. “The settlers have committed massacres against pirates for years.” “And fellow pirates become a casualty?” Krissel was surprised at the sound of his voice. “Unfortunately, retribution clouds judgement,” Captain Winterfield responded.

“What is it that you expect from us?” Lord Bernard asked. Captain Winterfield folded his hands before him. “As descendants from the Seven Pirates, you have been commanded to band together to form an army against him.” Krissel thought of his makeshift crew, and he felt a hollow emptiness within. “Lead our fellow pirates to slaughter?” Lord Geoff tapped his cigar into a clay ashtray. Krissel could not even remember him lighting a cigar. “If you do not band together, he will take you all out one by one. That is slaughter of a different kind.” Captain Winterfield spoke with an even tone. “And what shall you do? Besides lay this task at our feet?!” Lord Jefferson had returned to a normal state and his incredulous tone.

Captain Winterfield stood from the table. Upon closer observation, Krissel noticed he had slight circles under his eyes and worn hands covered in scratches. “I have been fighting this battle alone for some time now.” Athena pressed her hands together and in a matter of seconds, a feast of roasted chicken and potatoes appeared before them. A golden pitcher and golden goblets also appeared. A loud raucous sound could be heard. “Your crews have arrived.” Athena disappeared into the background. “Please eat. Food is a necessity.” The pirates all looked around at each other but eventually piled their plates with food and began to eat. “There is a ticking clock on your returns. You must leave in the morning.” Krissel could hear Monty reciting the Psalm in his head. The trip was tiresome. Krissel anticipated the return would be even more so. Even though he did not have an outlet; he had a group of people who relied on him in differing ways. What would become of those people? Could he ask them to help him? Could he even cohabit with this group of pirates against common evil? As if he had read Krissel’s thoughts, Captain Winterfield spoke to him directly. “I will be coming with you. It will take certain explanations to convince common people. “As for the question of banding together, how can you call yourself a pirate, if you live in your own selfishness and reign and not the longevity of our kind?” The statement hung in the air for quite some time. “My brother does not believe you are capable of unity.” “Brother?” All the pirates looked up from their meals. Krissel caught the eye of Lord Geoff. Captain Winterfield looked at the group with a mix of grief and disappointment. “My brother is Barren.”