Bounty Hunter Bash Pirate Lock Arc Part Seven

 The Singing Land

It turned out that the former Captain Herlock's crew made for some great additions to Captain Gerald's crew. They were all teamed up with others of Captain Gerald's crew that had already been cut in half by the merfolks and the syrens. It was as if they were meant to be there. However it was not until the following morning after they had joined when they saw the island ahead then they heard the sound of singing. All of them put up their guard. Then Cerpheres let out a chuckle.

"Relax, the singing isn't being caused by any merfolk or syrens. Look! You see those mountains and those hills?"

"Yes?"

"They're attained in such a way that when the wind blows in any direction it creates the sound of multiple people singing. The pitch of the notes depend entirely on which way the wind blows. As it is a low bass it means that the wind must be coming from the south."

They nodded as Steel and Gurra dropped the anchor. The group that were to come was; Captain Gerald, Bash, Chashathrophogh, Cerpheres, Gurter, Steel and Coran. They climbed into the rowboat and started paddling. As they did the wind and tune became higher and then it returned to the bass. They found it strange to hear the singing along with the sound of the paddles hitting the water like some strange beat. It created an integrating tune that all were able to appreciate and enjoy. Yet this pleasant tune came to an end when they arrived at the island. They noticed that the sound of singing was louder here as they all jumped out.

"Cerph'! Map please!"

"Here you go!" He purred.

"Thanks! Now accordin' te Borevers this is where we need te go." 

"And why is that?" Steel asked, looking at him suspiciously.

"'Cause i' says tha' we need te go te where the singin' is loudest!"

"And that makes sense because?"

"He was the one that decoded that map, you know!"

"And you know that because?"

"I was there! And they-they did it all within a day!" He moaned happily.

They all looked at him with disgusted looks on their faces.

"You sound as if you need some alone time!" Coran and Gurter commented.

He then looked at Chashathrophogh and licked his lips. His devious eyes looked at Gurter, who gave him a warning look. He then shrugged and closed his eyes then looked at Bash with a hungry look in his eyes. Chashathrophogh and gave him an angry look that if looks could kill Cerpheres would be dead. His mouth opened with a smile.

"Cerpheres!" Captain Gerald snapped.

He looked slightly grumpy but son returned to his smile.

"Ge' over 'ere!"

"Alright!"

They then walked on and used the volume of the singing to guide them. As they journeyed on the singing became louder and louder and the wind became stronger and stronger. Then as they went on the singing became extremely loud and the wind was blowing their hair all over the place. They went in further and the singing became so loud that they started to feel the pressure in their ears and the wind had lifted their hair up.

Bash looked over to Cerpheres who was smiling and enjoying himself way too much for her liking. While Chashathrophogh and Bash both put their arms out in front of them, shielding their eyes. Meanwhile Captain Gerald kept his hand on his tricorn. The others did the same as Bash and Chashathrophogh did. Cerpheres looked at the two.

"Close your eyes!" He purred as he closed his. 

He placed his hands on their shoulders. They both punched him as the cringe sank in. He caught their punches and his face became red. He smiled wide as he pulled in the fists and spun them around. His hands were again on their shoulders.

"Please! I'm only trying to help!" He moaned as he pulled them in and belt them firmly. "See, I'll show you!"

He closed his eyes as he walked on nudging them slightly. He was able to guide them better than the others could go. It soon dawned upon them that the direction of the singing that they were going was easier than their eyes made it out to be. So they closed their eyes, yet they could do nothing to help the wind become a gail as they felt leaves, twigs and small stones hit their raw cheeks that were becoming sore due to the cold. Yet as this carried on it was strangely easier to see, despite having their eyes closed. They walked on with a strut.

Then Bash felt something give way beneath her and she fell. She opened her eyes and looked down to see a sea of spikes beneath her. Then Cerpheres caught her by the back of her neck. She looked up as he let out a playful chuckle. She lined up and floated at him.

"Sorry. I forgot about them!" He laughed as he pulled her up.

"What? You forgot-wait. You have been here before!"

"Once! But that was a very long time ago." 

"Are you going to get off me?"

"Are you going to thank me?"

"Thank you."

Then they noticed that the singing had become so loud that they could feel that their eardrums were on the verge of bursting from the pressure. The wind had become so strong that they could sweat that they were on the verge of being blown away by it. They opened their eyes to see a parting in the mountains. Ahead they could see a small hutt on a flat field. Beyond that were several more mountains. So they continued, hoping that by going there they could catch a break. Once they reached the area the singing stopped and the wind ceased. They could still feel their ears pounding because of the pressure but at least here they could have a break.

"Is tha' were we're te go?"

"Well! There's only one way to find out!"

They soon approached the hutt. They soon noticed that there was a keyhole in the door. Captain Grasps looked at Cerpheres. He then walked up to the door and they moved aside. He plucked two of the spider's legs to reveal two small metal sticks. He then crouched down and straightened his back and started picking.

Why does it not surprise me that he can do that? Bash, Chashathrophogh, Coran and Steel thought.

"Done!"

"That was fast!" They said in unison.

He chuckled.

"Fast fingers!" He commented, opening the door. 

"Please! After you!" He purred as he held the door open.

They all walked in but a bucket and some cooking essentials to the left. They spotted a rich, red rectangular rug on the ground with golden frills. On it was a black and white diamond and heart pattern going along the square border. In the center was a spade.

"Borevers? Did-"

"Stop, Captain."

"Why?"

"Well if I had a piece of treasure, in a place like this, I would hide it."

"Go on!"

"Well if you look around you would notice things. One, one would think that this rug is out of place which leads me to believe that this hutt looks like it was built for a poor hermit. Yet that rig sticks out like a sore thumb. For example the bucket and cooking essentials look cheerily made,  yet that rug, made with such craftsmanship that you would expect it to be in the rooms of a castle, yet what is it doing in a place like this?"

"Go on!"

"The only one conclusion that one could come up with, is that the one that lived here was of a royal household. So why is it even here? Unless-" she said as she pulled the rug out revealing a trapdoor. "It was hiding something!"

They all looked at her speechless and stunned. All but Chashathrophogh took a moment to come back to their senses. Then the Captain looked at Cerpheres.

"Are you alrigh' Cerph'? Your noise's bleedin'!"

"Oh!"

He licked the blood away.

"Yes." He said as he clapped and the others followed. "Bravo!"

"Ye! I go'a admi' the ye go' a good 'ead on ye shoulders kid!"

"Yes…she does." Cerpheres purred.

He then crouched down next to her and plucked the legs and started picking. She looked down and watched him. Chashathrophogh also crouched to watch him pick the lock. He looked at then both and smirked and looked back as he continued his work.

"How would you like it if I taught you two how to do that one day?"

"Sh-sure!"

He smiled as he heard a click. He then pulled the keyhole up and dropped to the left. He then pushed it down and pulled it up. Then a set of ladders dropped into the darkness underneath. They all climbed down and entered a room lit by all types of precious stones and metals. Beside that was a small chest in front of a pool of water. Cerpheres took the chest and gave it to Bash.

"Impress me again by solving this."

She soon spotted that there was no lock. She could see that there was no other traditional way in. In fact, there was no lid on it. She then looked for any gaps but there were none. She hit it against the wall song that there was no other way but that did nothing.

So there's an enchantment on it.

She closed her eyes and summoned all her magic will and willed it to open. She then opened her eyes to see that it was opened. She then pulled out another permanent with a triangle. She then pulled it out and showed it to him. He smirked.

"Good girl."

Then the rest of the day they spent going to and fro collecting all the treasure and putting it on the ship.