"Pull!! Pull in the Goddess' name!!" The men pulled at their oars with cramped muscles. The cold sweat gives them goosebumps, and the salty drops blind them. Or are they just crying now? Most men already know that they will perish in the deep, cold sea. "Pull! Pull" They pull with all the willpower they have left. With heart and soul, with their last bit of strength. The entire crew, seventeen men, were exhausted and sick from the long journey. How can they win from the sea?
Calm as ever, the gruff captain emerges from his cabin. His tall, slender body, wrapped in dark leather, makes the men shiver even harder. Above his thin white lips rests a dark mustache with a silver streak here and there. With his pale eyes, he peers across the sodden deck, looking for his son... Reki. The son he didn't want. The son he didn't deserve. In his eyes, his son was dead. Reki should have died. Not Rochefort. And as he predicted, Reki was not helping. The boy wasn't built for pirate life. He was good for nothing in Captain Henry's eyes. The captain walks with brisk steps to the lower deck. The red feather that adorns his broad hat dances up and down with every step he takes. His long black jacket waves in the stormy wind.
When Reki notices the heavy footsteps of the captain, the child stiffens. "Reki", Henry roars in a shrill voice. "What the hell are you doing down here?" he reproaches and looks at the child, playing with a pile of cards. "I... I..." Reki stammers, trembling. Henry clearly shows his displeasure and grabs the lad by his leather collar. "Get up! The men need you! You must secure the cannons and quickly!" "Yes, father," Reki stammers, staggering hurriedly to the deck. The young lad's body was not half-healed before Father dragged him on this trip. His eye socket is still bloody and red and his ribs still hurt with every breath. But this time he had no excuse. This time he had to go. There was no brother to look after. Rochefort was gone and would never come back. Both Mother and Father had made it clear several times that this was his fault; it was because of this that Reki had boarded without protesting; but now... Now he regrets it more than ever.
"He Reki" greets a skinny pirate and hands Reki an abrasive wet rope. Reki nods in return and looks at the rope. With all his strength, he tries to hoist the cannons. A wave of icy wind hits his back, causing him to lose his balance. Hopelessly, Reki tries to hold on to the taut ropes. Groaning, he clenches his teeth and squeezes his eyes shut to protect them from the saltwater. "Reki" Henry roars loudly, but it's too late. Both Reki and the cannon land on the deck with a loud thud. For a moment, the Crying Virgin swings back and forth on the waves, and then dives into the deep with his flank towards the rocks. The waves grab the ship and throw it against the cliffs with a final blow.
"Reki", the skinny pirate whispers again, and helps the bleeding child up. Warmblood runs down Reki's spine. His torn blouse reveals a deep Z-shaped cut on his lower back. Frightened, Reki opens his eyes and stares at the deck, marked by a gaping hole. "Reki" Henry hisses and raises his hand. Instinctively, Reki turns his head away to absorb the blow. "What the hell were you doing?" Henry roars and turns instead of striking the promised blow. "I'm sorry," Reki mumbles. "I lost my balance because of the wind." "A real pirate doesn't lose his balance," Henry roars and turns again. "I didn't do it on purpose" Reki protests. "Captain, he's only" the skinny pirate begins, but Henry stops him. "You've used that excuse before, haven't you," Henry whispers viciously. Reki swallows. He knows he's talking about Rochefort. "Father I..." Henry stops him. "No apologies. You're just not a good pirate. Thanks to you, the ship is lost as well as its crew," he scolds. Tears well up in Reki's eyes. All he wants is that his father loves him for who he is. But he could no longer deny it. His father will never be proud of Reki. "Maybe I don't want to be a pirate at all," Reki roars abruptly. Henry stared at him in amazement. "You're not Reki! You're nothing!! Not a pirate... Not a crown prince. Not anymore! You're not even my son anymore", Henry hissed. Tears streamed down Reki's cheeks. Why? Why can't his father love him? Because he's not who he should be? "Lord" the skinny pirate protests again. "He's only a child." But Henry doesn't listen. He doesn't even look at the crying and broken toddler anymore. "Reki... I hereby banish you. Your title and your home have been taken. I immediately banish you from...
Suddenly, Henry stops his sentence to dodge the sharp rock that cleaves the prow. Wooden splinters fly through the air. The oak splits just as easily as a log under an ax. The pieces of wood fell onto the deck. The sea engulfs the ship. Everywhere screams are heard above the storm, abandoned oars fly around. Injured in his temples, a man collapses through his legs. Another man lies lifeless on the bench as a red stain saturates his tunic. Others stagger across the deck, screaming. Heart pounding wildly, Reki tries to get up. It is dangerous to stand up because the rocking deck sails to one side. A high wave engulfs them and Reki is up to his waist in the ice water. Moments later, the water flows away. The woodwork groans and is ripped to shreds. There's nowhere left to stand on the precariously rocking deck. The land is in sight not so far away; but this storm will kill them. As Reki turns, a high wave engulfs them. The water was in his nose, mouth, and ears. The driving force of the sea swallows everything. It seems as if an iron grip is closing around his chest as the sea carries him away.
"My Lord," the young man repeated. Hesitatingly, he waits at the tent entrance. Blurred, Reki lifts his head and stares at the young squire. "Come in," Reki mumbles. Sighing, he looks at the dark dresser on which his fists rest. "Lord Ward said you needed help?" Reki nods and turns to the young squire. He is at most about fifteen years old, but Reki can already see that he is capable of great things. He has become very attached to the boy. "Nervous, the boy lifts the heavy chain mail and staggers at the knight. "Relax" calms Reki. The boy nods, still trembling. "Believe me, I'll see to it that you are not in danger", Reki promises solemnly. A smile curls around the boy's lips, "I fear not for my safety, My Lord. But yours." Reki laughs loudly. "Matthis, what would I do without you?" "Dress yourself" Matthis jokes, and hands Reki his coat of arms. Laughing, Reki rubs Matthis's ocher curls.