My father turned as I ran towards him, but instead of looking pleased to see me, he looked plainly horrified.

“NO! Don’t come any closer, Casey! Go back to your room, boy! Run!”

I stopped flat in my tracks, nonplussed. The stranger lowered his sword and turned to face me. I noted the long, jagged scar that disfigured his face, the glittering, cruel eyes. He was at least seven feet tall and though he was slight of figure, there was an almost visible power in him that was held taut like a wire. He was no ordinary pirate

“Oho, so this is your ‘boy,’ eh? Can’t take care of himself, can he? Go ‘head, little boy, run back to mommy. We’ve got men’s business to take care of here.”

He may have been a foot and a half taller than me, but I wasn’t going to let no ugly old brute boss me around. I cocked my gun and aimed straight at his heart.

Before I could pull the trigger, though, the stranger dropped his sword and held up his hands. “Take it easy, lad. I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m just here for the map.”