Ollie runs across the deck, dressed like one of the crew in a bandana, billowy T-shirt, and ripped pantaloons. Maxine is with him. “They’re with me, mates.” The pirates seem disappointed as they put their swords back in their scabbards and go back to cleaning.
“Ollie, don’t you think you’re taking this pirate fantasy a bit far?” Kayla asks. “What are we doing here?”
“Once a pirate, always a pirate,” says Ollie.
Blackbeard appears, putting an arm around Ollie. “This matey may not have sailed the seven seas with a pirate as fearsome as me, but I said I’d still invoke the pirate code and let ye meet on me decks.” Blackbeard elbows Maxine. “I love this lad’s tricks. Have you seen him make a dove appear under his hat? Bloody brilliant!” The other pirates applaud as Ollie bows. “Ye take all the time ye need, lad. I won’t tell a soul.”
Ollie and Blackbeard do a strange handshake and laugh before Blackbeard heads back to his quarters.
“Come and see the ship!” Ollie tells us excitedly, lifting a hatch in the deck to reveal steps that lead to the quarters below. “We’re safe from prying eyes here so it’s the perfect place to talk before the sun comes up.” He pauses. “As long as Gilly has her rose pin and sash off.”
I point to my blue nightgown. “I’m good. But why the need to meet outside the castle?”
Ollie leads the way down. “We’re trying to keep tabs on you! The girls told us what you overheard yesterday.”
“We figured news like that would probably make you do something rash and thiefy on your own,” Jax adds.
“I’ve learned my lesson about working alone,” I say, exhaling at the thought of it all. “We’re only going to be able to stop Alva if we work as a team, even if she is only after me.”
Jax stops near a room filled with snoring pirates in hammocks. “We won’t let her take you. We can stop her together. All of us.” Jax opens a door where Jocelyn is waiting.
CHAPTER 15
Riddle Me This
“She’s helping us?” I flip out. “You just said you heard her sister wants to hand me over to Alva!”
“She didn’t actually say that,” Jocelyn scoffs. “But it’s true that sometimes sacrifices have to be made.” Jax holds me back while Kayla blocks Jocelyn.
“Have you all lost your minds?” I hiss. “Harlow is working with Flora and Alva, which means Blackbeard probably is too. You’re trusting villains, and villains can’t be trusted. Jocelyn included!”
Jocelyn crosses her arms, showing off the intricate pattern of her black lace sleeves. “She’s as pigheaded as the Three Little Pigs. She’ll never listen to anything I have to say. You deserve to have your boot blown down!”
Jax steps between us. “Enough! Alva’s taking students and villagers, and Enchantasia and FTRS will be next. Do you want that to happen?” He looks from me to Jocelyn. We’re both quiet. “Now, there’s no one better to decipher villainous clues than the sister of the Evil Queen. Jocelyn’s figured out how to work the manifestos on her own, and she’s willing to help us sort through these clues, so we’re going to let her.”
I’ve never heard Jax so fired up before. I rub my sore arm and glare at Jocelyn. “I have one question first: Why do you want to help us?”
Jocelyn purses her purplish lips. “I think my sister is innocent.” I snort. “I think Harlow left with Alva because she’s secretly helping FTRS. Maybe she’s even the one clever enough to send these notes. Did you ever think of that?”
I snicker. “Yeah. And poison apples aren’t really poisonous.”
The wind picks up in the room, and Jocelyn begins to mumble what I suspect is a spell. I lunge for her. The two of us hit a sack of what must be gold coins—it’s that hard—and both wince. “Ow! Ow!” we both exclaim.
Ollie and Jax send us to opposite sides of the room. “You two are not allowed to talk to each other,” Jax says wearily. “Let’s fill Gilly in on what we know. Jocelyn?”
Jocelyn huffs, then finally looks at me. “All those fools who joined Alva yesterday? They did it by touching the manifesto.”
“Those scrolls are protected,” I snap. “You can’t pull one down or touch it.” Jax gives me a warning look. I back down with a sigh. “Can you?”
“You can if you’re questionable,” Jocelyn insists. “I’ve been hanging around the manifesto to see if anyone tries to use it. After yesterday’s attack, students flocked to it.”
“Traitors,” Ollie grumbles.
“Most of them got nowhere,” Jocelyn explains with an eye roll. “They were too reformed, I guess, but then that weasel Ronald Gertrude, who keeps trying to sneak off with Pegasi on school grounds, went up to it, and the scroll changed color.”