Princess Elodi's Arc

Chapter 39 of 55

The Serpent Corsair dropped anchor in a wide, calm bay. Elodi stood at the rail and stared at the island. Coconut trees leaned over white sand. Beyond them, green gardens spread across the slope, and people bent to work the rows. Smoke rose from cook fires. After weeks of empty sea, the sight of land felt unreal. But she knew the truth. The crew's water barrels ran low, and their salt meat was nearly gone. Without fresh food and water, they could not survive the voyage still ahead. Blackwell said it plainly. "We resupply here, or we die out there." A canoe pushed off from the beach and cut toward the ship. Two people rode in it. The man paddled hard, his gray-streaked dreadlocks swinging. He wore shell necklaces and carried himself like someone used to being obeyed. The woman beside him sat straight and calm. A deep red cloth wrapped her head, and gold hung at her ears and throat. Elodi gripped the rail. She had no idea if these people would offer aid or attack. Blackwell's hand rested near her blade. The canoe reached the hull. The man looked up and studied the crew. His face gave nothing away. Then the woman lifted a single coconut in both hands and held it high toward the deck. "We are Chief Manawa and Chieftess Valara," she called. "We saw your ship from the ridge. Come down. Drink with us. No blade needs to be drawn here." Elodi understood at once. The coconut was a gift, an offer of peace. She looked at Blackwell. The captain gave a short nod. Elodi climbed down the rope ladder first, her boots finding the rungs the way the rigging had taught her. She dropped into the shallows and waded to the sand. Chief Manawa met her there. Up close, his eyes were tired but kind. He pressed the coconut into her hands. "You have come far," he said. "Your people are thirsty. We have springs and gardens enough to share." "Thank you," Elodi said. "We can trade for what you give." Chieftess Valara smiled and shook her head. "Rest first. Trade later." She led them up the beach to a large tent draped in fur and thick green moss. Inside, mats and food waited. Elodi drank from the coconut. The water was sweet and cold. Behind her, the crew came ashore in waves, laughing for the first time in weeks. By dusk the barrels stood filled at the spring. Baskets of fruit and dried fish lined the sand, ready to load.