窃情谋欲

Just when they thought they couldn't endure any longer, a glimmer of hope emerged on the horizon. Aviora returned, swooping down gracefully and landing on the wooden plank with a small object clutched in her talons.

He hugged her as he landed and she handed him the piece of paper. It was from his father: Do not worry, son. We are coming.

He clutched the paper to his chest and laughed. Luther stirred in his seat, "What is it, young master?" He had a small smile, a glimmer of hope.

"They are coming," he said. "Father is coming."

Aviora bid them goodbye as she is needed to go back to lead the ships to them.

The next moments were filled with excitement and anticipation. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the outline of a ship became visible on the horizon. There were other small ships too, fighter jets. They are small and fast, made for avoiding the canon ranges and maneuvering freely on the water. Damien felt a flicker of relief as he recognized the familiar shape of the vessel.

The ship drew closer, the sound of its engines reverberating through the air. As it reached the position where Damien and Luther floated, a rope was thrown toward them.

Damien grabbed it and secured his grip before shouting, "Pull us in!"

The crew of the vessel obeyed, hauling them in with much effort and finally dropping them on the deck with a loud thud.

Luther stood up, stretching his body with a groan.

"Damien!" He heard a trembling voice and turned to see his father approaching them, tears streaming down his face.

"Father!" He felt a pang of guilt as he watched his father break down in tears. He didn't even notice him and the other guards when they boarded the ship.

He was too distracted to notice anything other than Luther and Aviora. He embraced his father, and the old man sobbed.

"My son...my son..." The man murmured as he held him tight. "It's been so long. Look at you, you became big." He said.

"And you look old, Father," Damien replied. "Seems like the months weren't good to you."

"They weren't, but they were good to you." His father said, releasing his hug.

Aviora squawked and flew in for a tight hug from Damien. He embraced her and caressed her.

"Smart bird," Lord Zad- Governer Zadkiel said. "She's smart and witty and annoying. When she came with the wood piece my knights tried to shoot her down but she outmaneuvered them and entered my chambers. Dead in the night." He gestures a sweeping motion. "The vile bird pecked my face and squawked like a baby, waking your mother also. I was perplexed and was screaming for the knights to come. But then she shoved the wooden piece on my chest and that's when I realized what was going on."

Damien stroked Aviora's feathers, his heart filled with gratitude and affection for the bird. "She can be a little too much but she's lovely and smart. I got her from the mountains. Smart. She can understand us." She squealed as the praises showered her.

"Not so much love though," Luther grumbled. "She nearly plucked my eyes out on the first day of our meeting. She's a vicious creature."

Aviora stirred and glared at Luther, squeaking with disdain.

"That was a joke, my lady, please don't punish this fool." He quickly said remembering the past.

A chorus of laughter erupted from the deck as Aviora wore a smug face. "Dad, this is Aviora. And Aviora, Dad. Now that the introductions are over I want to eat something. I'm so hungry that I could eat her."

She peeled away from him in horror and pecked his head in a rhythm. "Ouch, ouch, ouch. Sorry, sorry."

Laughter filled the air as Damien's hunger-induced jest brought a lightness to the moment. Luther rubbed his head, a mix of pain and amusement on his face. Governor Zadkiel chuckled heartily, his eyes brimming with relief and joy at the reunion with his son.

"Come, my boy," Zadkiel said, placing a hand on Damien's shoulder. "Let's get you something to eat. We have a feast prepared to celebrate your safe return."

Damien's stomach growled in agreement, and the three of them made their way to the ship's mess hall. The crew members greeted them with smiles and congratulations, happy to see their rescue mission come to a successful end.

As they feasted on warm food and shared stories of their respective journeys, Damien couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude. He was grateful for his father's love and protection, for Luther's unwavering loyalty and friendship, and for Aviora's courage and resourcefulness.

The merry time ended. It was time for serious matters. "The Pirates? How long have they been pillaging us?"

"For so long," said the governor. "The reason why Queen Serielle visited the Spring Kingdom was to ask for an alliance to protect the trade route. Unfortunately, we failed to protect it and now the pirates are in full control of the sea."

Damien's heart sank as he listened to his father's words. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon him. The pirates' control over the trade route meant not only the loss of valuable resources and goods but also the endangerment of countless lives.

"We cannot let them continue unchecked," Damien declared, determination shining in his eyes. "We must gather our forces and reclaim our waters. The pirates must be stopped."

His father nodded, his expression serious. "You are right, my son. We cannot allow them to hold sway over our kingdom any longer. We will rally our naval fleet and seek assistance from our allies. We shall put an end to their reign of terror. But not now. The tournament takes priority. After that, the Grand Master promised to help with this."

"The Tournament?" Damien barked. "It'll take time for it to complete. By that time, the pirates can even attack the island and take over it. This is madness!"

"This is the way. This is the way they rule."