Plan of Action

Bursting out of the mist into moonlight, his pupils narrowed instantly.  Far below, the shimmering trails on the surface of the water were rapidly dissipating, yet were ample evidence of the passage of a ship.  Noting the direction of travel, he folded his wings against his side, and plummeted toward the sea.  As he broke through the cloud ceiling once again, the wake pointed like a neon arrow toward a tall ship leaning into the rolling waves under full sail.  He dropped silently toward it, flaring at the last minute, and landing atop the main mast.

The watchman was aft, thus was spared the wonder of an eagle so far at sea, and landing at night.  Assuring himself that all was quiet, the eagle dropped down to the crow's nest, and in a flash of light became a tall bronze figure of a man.  His dark eyes swept the deck once again, then he swung his body out onto the rigging, and climbed down toward the deck.

In his quarters, Sicilian sat reading over his recent journal entry, pondering where the strange events of these past days were leading them.  He had a letter of marque and reprisal that had been taken from a captured pirate Captain.  It was supposed to allow them to attack only enemy shipping, but this ship had been using it for a license to pirate.  He had just spread it out on the table when he heard a distant eagle cry -- it was more in his mind than in his ear.  He immediately knew what it meant, and arose to go up on deck.

The bronze figure stepped from the shadows, and they clasped arms as old comrades, then Sicilian gestured down the hall.  "Let's go to my cabin, Goldeagle, my friend.  We have much to talk about."

Goldeagle laughed.  "We certainly do, my brother!"

~*~

The crimson fingers of sunrise had stretched above the ship, and cast her shadow on a reddened sea, before they stopped talking long enough for Sicilian to summon Captain Godwin to join them.  She was surprised and perplexed to discover that a stranger was aboard her ship, until Sicilian explained to her the method by which he had come aboard.  Once Goldeagle had demonstrated his powers to her, she was sworn to secrecy about them.

The trio discussed plans for surveillance and investigation of the ship's crew and the dock workers in the next few ports of call.  Somehow information was getting to the pirates, and Sicilian was determined to find out how.

Captain Godwin returned to the deck to order necessary course changes, and as the Strega De Lo Mare leaned in a new direction, the crew were too occupied to notice the eagle flying off the railing and disappearing into the distance.  The plan was in place!

Dallas D'Angelo-Gary 97