The Quest, or perhaps The Task Set Before Her Part 20

Andy caught up to them just as Jeddi finished reading the letter. He could see the shock on Jeddi's face and the anger on Peleg's.

"What's going on?" Andy asked.

"Who's Seassa?" Jeddi questioned Peleg, not having heard Andy speak. "Is she really your daughter?"

"Ack! Well, ye see," Peleg stammered. "It's a wee bit complicated."

"I don't care how complicated it is!" Jeddi responded, irritation rising in him. "Tell me now."

Taken aback by Jeddi's change in demeanor, Peleg explained as best and as quickly as he could. "About twenty years ago, I was finishin' a raid on a merchant's ship when I discovered a hiddin door under a picture frame. Thinkin' it contained treasure, I opened da door. To me surprise, there was a child curled up in da corner! She had ragged clothes and short, messy blonde hair. I assumed, correctly as I later found out, that she had'a stowed away. Now, don't tell anyone, but I ain't never killed anyone before. I'm a feared and ferocious pirate, but I ain't never murdered. So I picked her up and carried her back to me ship fer she was sleepin'. I planned on droppin' her off at da next port, but she started showing excellent piratin' abilities. Her skills with a dagger were unmatched so I named her Seassa (she said she couldn't remember her birth name). She became me right hand. I taught her everything there was to know about da pirate life. I could trust her with any mission I assigned her. But sumfin' changed in her eighth year on me ship. Her missions started taking twice the normal amount of time. Me raids were bein' sabotaged. Then some of me most loyal crew tried to start a mutiny! I couldn't figure it out until I saw Seassa talkin' with a Symian. She was sellin' me secrets to other pirates and spreadin' deception through me crew! I taught her to be a thief, yes, but I also taught her to be loyal to yer crew. Ye give respect, ye gain it. Well, I guess she figured she was big enough to fight me for me ship. She stated her terms, but I couldn't fight her. I couldn't fight the wee child I'd raised fer eight years. So I had da crew that were still loyal tie her and the defectors up and put 'em on a raft to let 'em float. Later, I heard she'd become a bounty pirate werkin' fer whoever paid the most money. I haven't seen her since. If I'd have known them two men were with her, I'd never have made a deal with 'em." Placing a hand on Jeddi's shoulder, Peleg looked down into his eyes. "Please fergive me."

Jeddi met his eyes and saw tears in the pirate's eyes. Sighing, he said, "Of course I forgive you." To his surprise, Peleg pulled him into a bear hug. Jeddi's composure crumbled. He hadn't had a hug like this since that night long ago when he'd been welcomed back home. Jeddi hugged Peleg back letting the tears fall unashamedly.

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A couple days passed before someone finally opened her cell door. Seassa stood there next to a female crew member Frieda hadn't seen before.

"Tie her hands," Seassa said.

The woman followed her captain's orders. Soon, Frieda was being led out onto the deck. The brightness of the noonday sun almost blinded her. She hadn't seen anything more than a small pale strip of light for almost a week. When her eyes adjusted, Frieda saw a white sandy beach laid out before her. The water lapped gently along the shore. A few sweefts flew gracefully inland toward tall trees covered in the richest of green leaves. If not for the pirates beside her, Frieda would've thought she was in heaven. Her reverie was broken by a loud croak. She ducked as a raven flew by her and landed on Seassa's shoulder.

Without missing a beat, Seassa said, "Take her to the camp. I'll be there shortly." She turned around and headed back to her cabin.

Frieda was pushed down the gangplank. Not having walked for a while, she tripped on the bottom of the board and fell face-first into the sand.

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@Darth Pip Defender of Emus @Leeli Iggyfeather @Oskar N. Reteep (WTW) @Johannes the Warden (Mordecai) @Janna The Heart @Luke the Exasperated Squeeblin @Azog the Moderator

(Not much of an ending for this part, but I thought something comedic would be better than a cliffhanger)