The desert thinned out as they neared Alubarna, the sand giving way to packed earth and stone roads that bore the marks of constant patrols, especially in the recent tense times. Towers rose ahead, pale and sun-bleached, banners snapping lazily in the heat. Guards moved in disciplined lines along the walls, spears catching the light.
Jack crouched behind a low rise with Augur and Crocodile, squinting at the gates. "Heavily guarded," he observed, as if narrating a story.
Augur adjusted his rifle strap and scanned the walls. "Rotating patrols. Two shifts overlapping near the west gate. Crossbowmen on the parapets. If we rush it—"
"We will cause a commotion, and maybe even get caught since other than the sniper, neither you and me are in condition to fight." Crocodile cut in flatly. She glanced at Jack. "If you suggest fighting the guards, I will kill you myself first."
Jack held up his hands. "I was merely thinking out loud."
Augur's expression darkened slightly. "And if you're thinking about stirring the people up—"
"Revolution?" Jack brightened. "I was going to say—"
"No," Augur said sharply. His face darkened as if remembering a dark past. Crocodile noticed. Her eyes flicked between them, curiosity sharpening.
Jack frowned. "Right. No revolutions. Touchy subject."
They fell silent again. Jack's gaze drifted to a cluster of supply barrels stacked near the outer gate, stamped with royal markings. He tilted his head. Slowly, a grin crept across his face.
"Gentleman. Lady," he said. "I have an idea."
Crocodile closed her eyes. "I already hate it."
Ten minutes later, three barrels began moving toward the gate.
They moved awkwardly, stopping whenever a guard looked their way, then resuming in short, jerky shuffles. One barrel wobbled more than the others. Another bumped into a cart and muttered something distinctly human.
A guard squinted. "Did… did those just move?"
His partner shrugged. "Wind?"
The barrels froze.
A tense second passed. Then, slowly, they continued rolling.
Inside the largest barrel, Jack was hunched with his knees jammed into his chest, hat crushed against his face. He tried not to breathe too loudly. In the barrel beside him, Crocodile was having the worst day of her life.
"If this breaks my spine," she hissed under her breath, "I will bury you alive."
Jack whispered back, "Technically, you already control sand."
"Shut up."
Augur, in the third barrel, was doing much better. He'd positioned himself efficiently, rifle broken down and strapped, breathing steady. Still, the heat was unbearable, and when a guard paused directly beside him, he felt sweat run down his neck.
The guard tapped the barrel with the butt of his spear.
Augur stopped breathing.
"Smells like grain," the guard said.
Another guard nodded. "Or wine."
The barrel containing Jack let out a very faint thunk as Crocodile's barrel bumped into it.
Jack winced.
"Move along," a captain barked from the gate. "We've got enough to worry about."
The guards moved on.
Moments later, the barrels crossed the threshold.
Inside the city, Augur rolled his barrel into the shadow of a narrow alley and carefully tipped it over. He slipped out, straightened his coat, and took a breath—then immediately froze.
The street behind him was empty.
No Jack. No Crocodile. No barrels.
Augur's jaw tightened. "Captain," he muttered.
Jack and Crocodile had missed the alley entirely.
Their barrels had rolled straight into a wider street, lined with shops and pedestrians. People stopped. Stared. Whispered.
"Are those… barrels?"
"Why are they moving?"
Jack froze. Crocodile's barrel bumped into his again.
"Careful," she snapped.
"I can't see!" Jack whispered.
Two guards approached, spears lowered.
One of them poked Jack's barrel.
Jack held his breath.
The guard poked it again. Harder.
Jack yelped.
Silence.
Slowly, the guards tipped the barrel over.
Jack tumbled out, landing flat on his back, hat askew. He looked up at a ring of faces—guards with spears, citizens gasping, children pointing.
"Hola?" Jack tried to be jovial.
Crocodile's barrel was yanked over next. She rolled out, swearing viciously, sand spilling from her sleeve. She shot Jack a glare that promised future violence.
A voice rang out. "PIRATES!"
The street exploded into chaos.
People screamed and scattered. Guards surged forward. Jack sprang to his feet and bolted, grabbing Crocodile's wrist and dragging her along.
"This is your fault!" she shouted.
"You agreed to the barrel!" he shot back.
They tore through alleys and markets, knocking over stalls, leaping carts. Guards poured after them, shouting orders. Jack zigzagged wildly, nearly colliding with a fruit stand, then vaulted it, apples flying.
Crocodile twisted free and vanished into a swirl of sand at the corner.
Jack skidded to a halt. "Oi—!"
Too late.
Augur appeared from the shadows of a side alley, rifle raised. Crocodile reformed beside him, breathing hard.
"You," Augur said.
She smirked. "Me."
They looked down the street to see Jack sprinting, arms flailing, yelling something unintelligible while half the city chased him.
Crocodile's smile widened. "Looks like your captain has problems."
She turned. Sand lifted around her feet.
Augur stepped forward. "Wait."
She paused, just long enough to glance back. "Good luck," she said sweetly, and dissolved.
Augur reached out, fingers closing on nothing but drifting grains.
"Damn it."
Jack finally stopped running when his lungs threatened mutiny.
He spun, sword drawn, pointing it wildly at the approaching guards. "Alright! That's far enough! Any closer and—"
Something cracked against the back of his head.
Jack dropped like a sack of flour.
The guards stared as a man lowered a broken rum bottle, hands shaking. "I—I was just doing my duty."
They bound Jack quickly, relieved.
"Take him to the palace," an officer ordered. "The king will decide."
Hours later, King Cobra listened to the report with a weary expression.
"A pirate?" he asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Captured within the city."
Cobra closed his eyes. "Dungeon. Interrogate him later."