Chapter 86

• As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow across the restless sea, Leo and I stood side by side on the deck of the pirate ship. The ship was a weathered beast, sturdy and seasoned by countless battles, its sails billowing with the wind that carried us further from the shore. The decision had been made: we would stay aboard for the night, too weary and too uncertain of the waters to risk traveling back to land immediately.
• The pirate, who had introduced himself as Captain Roderick Flint, stood near the helm, barking orders at his crew. He was a rough-looking man, his face lined with scars, his beard thick and unruly. But there was a glint in his eyes, a sharpness that spoke of experience and cunning.
• “Captain Flint,” Leo called out, catching the man’s attention. “I never expected to see you again, not after all these years.”