The Windrider - Pt. 3

In the infirmary, Angel looked down at the person they found and sighed.
"Who are you?" She whispered and turned to Frederic.
"I will stay here if you don't mind."
The doctor nodded and she sat down in the chair next to the bed and looked at the sleeping stranger.
"No one should be alone." She said softly, more to herself than to him.
The man had a very calm sleep, but that could be because of the doctor. There was no wound to be seen on him. Though his hair was a wet mess now, the well trimmed beard revealed that he cared for his looks. Most sailors just cut their beards when they started to become a hindrance. Normally, there were other things to worry about than the looks. But of course, there were enough exceptions form that rule. Still, the stranger simply didn't look like a sailor, more like a rich passenger. Judging from the circumstances he was found in, Angel was sure some certain thieves were going to be highly disappointed when there were only empty pockets to clear. Not to mention that Frederic shooed them out of the infirmary each time they tried to obtain any of his patient's belongings.

Back on the Windrider, Lady Riddle gathered the other pirates.
"Has anyone found something aside from?"  she asked and Aisuru stepped up.
"Me thinks we all saw the hints of fighting", he assassin began.
"From what I understand, there is an order to these traces left behind.".
He glanced over to the captain, who crossed her arms and nodded to sign him to continue.
"From me understanding, someone was captured and escaped."
"Do you think it could be our new passenger?", Lady Riddle asked.
"Me can't tell", Aisuru replied simply.
The captain pondered for a moment and then announced:
"Aside from being completely deserted and some minor damages, this ship is in a good shape. It would be a shame to leave it rotting out on the sea. So we will take over and sail it to the next harbour to repair it. Grace, you'll be in charge of the Windrider. Select your crew. We'll set curse to the nearest island, which I think is called Osara. Now, time to call the dinghies back and see if they found something."
She returned to the Sangue-Padre and gave order for the search parties to return to the ship, and on an report on the passenger, before returning to her cabin.
It didn't take long until it filled with pirates. Aside from broken parts of railing, neither of the search parties had seen anything except for rain and calm sea.
The patient was still asleep, but according to the doctor, he should wake up soon. Lady Riddle dismissed the gathered pirates, who then left for the tasks given. Only Truth stayed behind.
"Captain, there is something I want to talk to you about in private", the blind farseer began.
"Speak your mind", Lady Riddle encouraged her and carefully guided Truth to one of the chairs, in case she wanted to sit down.
"I had a vision I am struggling to read", she said and described the vision she had in the dining hall.
"So far, I believe it's showing a ship from below the water. But I don't know what the name means, nor what is happening with the ship and all the blood."
"Maybe the blood is not meant to be taken literally...", Lady Riddle mused.
"You think this ship is ours?", Truth asked.
"It's just a thought. To be sure, I'd like you to ask Crystal about Rangur and also, I'd appreciate it if you and Rowan could be present when our passenger wakes up. There is something fishy about this whole thing. One man alone can't sail a ship like the Windrider."
"Aye, Captain", Truth said and slowly left the cabin.

Soon the rain finally stopped and both ships hoisted their sails. While the Sangue-Padre had simple white ones, the ones of the Windrider bore a huge and highly ornamented coat of arms. The crest in the middle didn't show a combination of typical tinctures. Instead of the typical heraldic colours, metals and/or fur, the main colour was simply grey with some orange stripes to it. The crest itself was held by two tigers. Lady Riddle knew not much about heraldic, but growing up at a court, she at least had learned enough to know that this was the made-up crest of someone who had a foible for tigers and was pretending to be a noble. The former owner surely suffered for a need for admiration. Lady Riddle had been thinking about keeping the Windrider, but surely not with such pretentious sails. There was even a motto written underneath the crest:
Time Ira Mea
Surely it was a deep or mysterious statement. Lady Riddle rolled her eyes. It was amazing how a single main sail could annoy her that much, but then, it was screaming nobility at her and she hated it when people or things did that.
Hopefully, it wouldn't become too embarrassing to get to Osara with that sail.
"Hu, now that's what I call ugly!", a voice next to the captain announced, which belonged to Seren.
The captain smiled at the little fairy.
"Aye. Luckily we can change it once we're docked in the next port", she answered.

A little later the passenger woke up and was brought into the captain's cabin. Truth, Rowan, Grace and Angel were there with him and Lady Riddle.
"I bet you wonder where you are", the captain began and the man nodded.
"You're aboard the Sangue-Padre. We found you drifting in the ocean, near an abandoned ship. Can you tell us what happened?"
"I take it you are the captain?", the man asked, sounding as if we was about to call for a superior in order to complain about bad service.
"Aye, Captain Lady Riddle. Now, Sir, if you could be so kind to tell me who you are and answer my questions", she answered with a smile on her painted face.
"You speak well for a sailor", the man remarked before he went on:
"My name is Henry Rangur and I should probably be thankful for my rescue."
"You better be", Grace muttered to herself, but still loud enough so that the others could hear her. Rangur turned around to her, while Lady Riddle pretended nothing had happened.
"Can you tell us what happened on the ship?"
"A mutiny", Rangur answered, causing a general confusion.
"Why would the crew abandon the ship instead of keeping it?", Angel wondered aloud.
"I don't know. Maybe you should ask them once you find them", Rangur gave back.
"As I tried to defend my life, I went overboard. Luckily, I was able to hold to a plank, which must have fallen into the water during the fighting."
"You ship was completely forsaken when we found it. There wasn't even a single rat left", Lady Riddle stated, keeping a close look on the strange passenger. Rangur shrugged his shoulders.
"As I just said, when I went overboard, the ship was full of people fighting. If you have nothing else you want to know, tell me where we're going."
The captain was sure she was the only one whose patience wasn't running thin with that rude man. She smiled at him.
"We set curse to Osara. It's the nearest island and I'm sure after what happened, you'd be more than happy to have solid ground beneath your feet."
Rangur nodded.
"Osara is actually perfect. I have powerful friends there. Take me there unharmed and they might even reward you and let's be honest here, it's money you're after, isn't it? "

As soon as Rangur left to take quarter in one of the spare cabins, Lady Riddle sighed with relief.
"What a jerk", Grace commented.
"I don't trust him", Angel declared.
"I want Aslansa, Reaper, Scratch and Aisuru to scout Osara before we get there. Is there anyone else who can teleport there?"
"Do you really want to take the reward Rangur mentioned, Captain?", Rowan asked.
"No. There is nothing this man or any of his friends-", Lady Riddle began, where there was a loud bang outside.
Quickly the pirates rushed outside and could only stare at the scenery before them.