Cody returned to his aunt's house, where he found her standing guard at the door with her musket. He expined what happened at Balin's house and showed her the book, which his aunt took, confused.

  "My God," she said, flipping through it. "Maybe it's something compromising."

  "He said to throw it in the stove if he doesn't come back by midnight for it."

  The aunt put it in a cupboard and asked him to alert Sammy. They might be on the brink of danger. With his heart racing, the boy ran out of the house while Aunt Connie closed the door and took position in front of it with her musket, ready to shoot anything that might try to enter.

  Cody reached the tavern and made his way through the hall, pushing through drunken pirates and crazy women. He entered the kitchen, where Sally was serving stew to some patrons. When she saw him, she began reprimanding him.

  "Did you go to New York for the pies?... Where are they?" she asked.

  Cody felt like he couldn't speak; he was blocked. At that moment, Frank came over to tell Sally there was a fight in the tavern. The pirate rolled up her sleeves.

  "I haven't finished with you. Put on the apron and take these ptes to table three," she ordered Cody before heading out to restore order in the hall.

  The boy entered the kitchen, where Mrs. Marley was busy cooking and preparing stews, assisted by her helper Meg and her daughter, while Sammy was washing dishes, rinsing them in a rge wooden tub. The boy stood in front of her, nervously clenching his fists.

  “What do you need, jars or ptes? “Sammy said without looking at him.

  “Sammy, we’re in trouble,” he said.

  “Did you spill beer on the customers again?, “ the girl asked, turning to look at him with anger.

  “ Something worse, “ Cody replied.

  Pulling her by the shoulder, they left the kitchen, and went to the storage room, where sacks of flour, barrels, and baskets were kept. He then proceeded to tell her what had happened. After hearing the story, the girl ran to the door and left the tavern, followed by Cody, to head toward her house. Once on the street, she quickened her pace until she started running.

  As she ran, she felt her heart racing. The journey felt long until she finally saw her house on the cliff, but to her surprise, it was surrounded by British soldiers. She entered and saw them rummaging through all the rooms, emptying drawers and cabinets. In the study, Wilbur was examining each drawer and book, now scattered everywhere.

  “What’s going on?, “ the girl asked, disturbed.

  The sergeant looked at her and walked over.

  “Where’s your grandfather?,” he asked.

  “What’s happening?... Why are you here?... Where’s my grandfather?,” Sammy asked, visibly shaken by the sight of the military invading her home and, worst of all, digging through her belongings without any orders.

  A soldier came in and reported to the sergeant that there was no trace of Balin.

  “Do you know or not know where your grandfather is?,”the soldier asked.

  “I don’t know where he is... What are you doing here.”

  The sergeant looked around and, with a signal, ordered her arrest.

  Cody had stayed outside and only watched, terrified, as they took Sammy away in chains. Meanwhile, Wilbur continued searching through Balin’s office when a soldier notified him that they were returning to Queen Anne’s Fort.

  “I’ll catch up with you in a moment,” the elf said, staying alone in the room.

  He continued checking drawers until he saw a chest in the corner with part of its contents scattered. He approached, opened it, and rummaged to find some loose papers. When he picked them up and saw them, he realized they were written in Elvish. Intrigued, he tucked them into his pea coat. The elf began his journey back to the fort, deep in thought about the meaning of all this. He had read that novel, he knew what it was about, but couldn’t find any pusible connection that tied it to something real. It was fiction, fantasy.

  He crossed the port streets and began ascending the path that led to the fort when, out of nowhere, he was ambushed and dragged into the underbrush. Wilbur had no time to cry for help; a rag was shoved into his mouth as he was forced down the narrow trail toward the beach, nestled at the base of the cliffs beneath the fortress. They threw him roughly to the ground. He nded face-first in the sand, the gritty taste filling his mouth. As he lifted his head, he found himself staring at the imposing figure of a pirate—his expression grim, his eyes burning with a familiar, fierce intensity. It was Sebastián el Carioca. A chill surged down Wilbur’s spine.

  “Captain Sebastián,”Wilbur said, visibly nervous.

  “Well, well… Mr. Wilbur, it’s been a long time… too long. A shame that debts don’t expire,” the pirate said.

  Wilbur got on his knees and csped his hands together.

  “Captain, please forgive me... It’s truly a surprise to see you here, and believe me, I’ve never forgotten my debt,” Begged Wilbur.

  “It’s been quite some time, and from what I know, you’ve held a privileged position within the Corsair Hawk’s entourage... Or should I call him Mr. Governor. Does your boss know who you worked for before being his servant?”

  “No, sir… Of course not ”answered Wilbur.

  “Of course not, because if you did, you’d be hanging in the square”

  “Yes, sir, I beg you.”

  “I don’t think you’re in a position to beg. A traitor doesn’t deserve such grace... other than death.”

  Wilbur began to sob, terrified.

  “Don’t kill me, please, captain, I beg you. I’ll do anything, please,”he said.

  The Carioca, whose ferocious temper knew no bounds, moved closer to Wilbur with a malicious smile.

  “Are you sure you’d do anything?”

  “Yes, sir, please, spare my life. I promise to pay what I owe and do whatever you ask.”

  “Well, I don’t know if I can be magnanimous with a traitor.”

  The elf csped his hands together and looked pleadingly at the Carioca.

  “I’ll do anything, ask me for whatever you want… and I’ll do it,” he said, lowering his head while raising his hands in supplication.

  “We need to get into the fort” demanded the Carioca.

  Wilbur looked at him in surprise.

  “Get into the fort?, ” he asked.

  “Are you deaf?... Or should I tell my men to make a bigger hole in your head so you can hear better”, the pirate said.

  One of the men pulled out a pistol and pressed it against his temple.

  “Yes, I understand, sir” Wilbur replied.

  “Can you get us access? If not, we’ll relieve you of your debts and punishments.”

  The elf swallowed, terrified.

  “I can get you access… There’s a secret cave that leads to the fort. I’ll open a secret door from the inside, and you can get in,”the elf expined.

  The Carioca looked at his men and then at Wilbur.

  “Well, that seems like a fair deal,” the Carioca said.

  Wilbur breathed a sigh of relief, hopeful.

  "If you try to betray us, I’ll personally gut you, Wilbur," the pirate threatened.

  The pirates grabbed Wilbur and made him lead them to the entrance of the cave.