"Arieshell!" Gus's voice reverberated in the direction Labyrinth had ushered her away. "Come back here, you fils de pute!"

His feet came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the dock, where the shimmering water brushed against the sun-bleached planks, sending forth a soft, rhythmic murmur that echoed the secrets of the deep. The salty breeze danced around him, mingling with the faint scent of fish and old wood, while the sunlight sparkled on the surface, casting a magical glow that beckoned him closer.

His piercing blue eyes, a vivid contrast against the backdrop of the deep azure ocean, scanned the horizon where the water met the sky, searching for any sign of the wizard's ethereal trail. The sun hung low, casting a golden glow that shimmered on the waves, intensifying his sense of urgency. A sinking sensation overwhelmed him as his heart collapsed under the weight of despair, sensing the precious moments slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.

Great! Jacques is still not moving, and now we've lost Arieshell! 

Gus staggered backward, his heart racing as he spun around to meet Abijam's keen, watchful gaze. With determination etched on his face, he slipped his arms beneath his father's powerful biceps, lifting him with a mix of strength and urgency, as if striving to elevate not just his body but the weight of their shared struggles.

"Please, I need a cloth! He needs to be dried," Abijam pleaded. 

Léa's voice rang out with urgency as she shouted, "I have a knife concealed in this cloth! Someone needs to untie us now!"

Gus surveyed the bewildered soldiers encircling Henry's captives, their faces taut with apprehension. Fingers clenched around their weapons, they exchanged hesitant glances, a silent question lingering in the charged atmosphere. Each expression mirrored a blend of confusion and concern, reflecting the turmoil of uncertainty that gripped them all.

One by one, they lowered their guns, unbinding the ropes of Jacques's crew. Relief flickered across the prisoners' faces as the cords slipped away, leaving red, aggravated imprints on their wrists. 

But even in that moment of liberation, Gus's gaze was drawn to the distant silhouette of the British ship. A nagging itch sparked in his mind. How had Henry reached Armand and Lou? What sinister game was afoot? Time's running out, and every heartbeat could tip the scales in their favor or seal their fate. With resolve firming in his chest, he realized the next move was critical, and he had no intention of letting fear dictate the outcome. 

He sprinted down the dock, the sound of his boots echoing against the weathered wood as he raced up the gangway. Gus's fingers slipped on the rough, splintered planks, a sharp contrast to the urgency coursing through him. As he glanced up, his eyes locked with those of the crew, the tension palpable in the air around them.

"Are you guys alright?" he asked.

"Eh, never been better," Quintion exclaimed. "It's not like we had to find a massive white shark this time," he chuckled. 

"Funny! I thought I was the comedic one," Caspian taunted.

Eda let out an exasperated sigh, her eyes rolling dramatically as she shifted her focus to Gus. He inspected all of them, taking notes of any wounds on their bodies. 

His gaze wandered towards Erasmus, who lingered in the shadows, a silent observer of the unfolding drama. An air of intrigue surrounded him, his keen eyes glimmering with curiosity as he took in every nuanced moment.

"What happened?" Gus gestured. "I thought you guys were following through with the plan?"

"We were!" he expressed. "Some of us stayed on Sparrow while others ventured off into the jungle. What we didn't anticipate was that Henry's ship sailed in and docked!"

"We had nowhere to go or hide," Léa protested. "There was no room for any of us to retreat! His soldiers dash around us! Then they hauled us back on Sparrow, with no room for arguing!"

"Damn it!" Gus snarled, clenching his fists. "I had a horrible feeling about this! We lost Belle and now Arieshell! What the hell are we supposed to do?" 

"You know," Abijam hollered down from the docks. "We could start reassessing our options and decide on a new plan." 

Gus raised an eyebrow, a skeptical expression crossing his face as he surveyed the scene before him. The reality was undeniable: Henry had bamboozled them all, weaving a web of deception that had left them reeling. Jacques lay motionless on the ground, his features pale and still, casting a shadow of despair over the group. 

The air was thick with tension, and whispers of uncertainty echoed among them. Their only flicker of hope rested on Abijam and his father, both formidable siren men shaped by the mysteries of the sea. Their eyes sparkled with the knowledge of ancient tides, and if anyone could navigate the chaos left in Henry's wake, it would be these two guardians of the ocean's depths.

If he could trust Arieshell, then he could try to trust them too. 

"Excuse me," a soldier blurted out. "Sorry for interrupting, but isn't anyone going to explain what the heck just occurred?" 

Right. Gus thought. 

His mind had been adrift on tumultuous tides ever since Henry's unexpected transformation, a shift none of them had anticipated. The shockwaves of that moment rippled through their lives, leaving them grappling with the profound changes that had upended their reality.

He knew he didn't hold the answer that they were seeking. He was a sailor, not a locksmith. As reality morphed, so did his beliefs. 

A hesitant voice broke through the stillness. A young man, scarcely older than seventeen, stood beside Armand, his disheveled blonde hair tousled as if caught in a gentle breeze. He was adorned in regal attire, rich fabrics of deep blue and gold that accentuated his youthful frame, yet there was an air of uncertainty about him that belied his noble appearance.

"I think I can clear up a few misunderstandings." 

"What's your name, young man?" Gus asked.

"James, I am... Well... was Henry's courtier," he stammered.

Gus's eyes widened in amazement, like a child discovering the world's greatest secret. The truth had been within reach all along, a hidden treasure waiting to be found. Yet, even as the secret was revealed, a new question started to form in his mind: How did this simple young boy grow up to become the king's trusted courtier?

With a click of his tongue, Gus remained still, gazing at the boy. 

The man crouched, his voice a rasp meant only for Gus.

"You want to know what you saw today," James said. "You want to know how he became... that."

Gus narrowed his eyes. "I don't need the details to know he's a monster."

James's lips twitched in a humorless smile. "A monster, yes. But a clever one. And he's been playing this game longer than you can imagine."

He glanced around, making sure everyone listened intently. 

"Labrynth wasn't born a king. He took the throne. The true king was a man loved by the court and by the people. He had a younger brother. His... his name..." James stammered, unsure of the ramifications of revealing the charade. 

Gus nodded. "His name?"

As the chains rattled in the hushed sounds of the wind, the onlookers drew closer, anticipating discovery of the impending truth. 

"Who do you think he is?" whispered Caspian. 

"Shhh! Listening," chastized Quintion. 

The docks groan as the waves splashed between the boards, soaking Jacques's limp body. 

"It's alright. You can say his name," Armand soothed. 

Biting his lip, James fidgeted with hesitation before fumbling over his words. His intimidated eyes met Armand's, and taking a deep breath, with trepidation, he uttered, "P-Prince H-Henry." 

Gasps echoed, and confusion arose throughout the docks, leaving them stunned and contemplating the revelation.

"What the hell am I supposed to do with that information?" Gus quipped, throwing his hands up in frustration.

"But my family... we knew," James continued. "Labyrinth, the man you know as King Henry, is a murderer, a liar, and now... a king no longer pretending to be human."

The dock creaked under a sudden wave. The sea seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of its own, and the silence broke as Gus pondered. 

So Henry, well, Labrinth, had murdered Prince Henry and his brother, taken his throne, lied to the kingdoms for decades—and now revealed himself for what he truly was.

It made Gus's blood boil; he swallowed hard, his throat dry.

"Then we better figure out how to kill him," he muttered, "before the sea does it for us."

James looked uneasy. "You'd have to be clever, sailor. He's not just Henry anymore. He's—"

A voice cut through the dark.

"No."

Both men turned. Abijam stood only a few paces away, his wrists bound but his back straight, eyes gleaming with a quiet fire. The young prince had been silent until now, watching and listening. But the word had weight when it left his mouth.

"First, we save Arieshell," Abijam said firmly. His gaze flicked toward the empty harbor where her tank had been carried away. "If she stays in his hands, she will be the weapon that drowns us all. Kill him now, or kill him later—it makes no difference if she is still his."

Gus met the man's eyes. He wanted to argue, but Abijam's words rang true. Arieshell was more than their friend—more than Jacques's undisclosed love. She was the keystone in Labrynth's plan. Without her, he was dangerous. With her... he was unstoppable.

"Aye," he muttered, his voice rough but steady. "We get her back. Then we kill the bastard."

Abijam gave a single, firm nod.