Lintang and the Pirate Queen

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”
Bayani flinched at Lintang’s shout and gestured for her to keep quiet. The pixie zipped around the room delightedly. Now that Lintang’s eyes had adjusted to the bright glow, she could tell is was Pelita. She should’ve known.
“We his in one of the barrels,” Bayani siad.
Lintang exhaled through her teeth. her fear had eased, and her frustration billowed like storm clouds. “You gnome. Now we’re going to have to turn around!”
“No!” Bayani clamped his mouth shut and tried again in a softer voice. “Please don’t tell anyone I’m here. I need to go to Zaiben.”
“Why?” She couldn’t believe that Bayani – smart, mature, obedient Bayani – had stowed away. On a pirate ship, no less.
Pelita settled on his shoulder. her white glow illuminated his face, and for the first time Lintang saw the cuts and bruises that must’ve come from being transported in the barrel. He was in the previous night’s clothes, looking quite rumpled now, with his red shirt torn in one place and his pants still muddy.
“What were you thinking?” Lintang said, fighting a peculiar motherly urge to brush him down and wash his face. “What about your parents?”
“I left a note in the schoolroom explaining where I am. No one was there this morning because they were seeing you off. I needed enough time to sneak on board without anyone realizing I was missing.”
Lintang frownded. “At least this explains why you didn’t come to say goodbye.”
His posture relaxed, and he dared a smile.
“Don’t think I’m not angry with you,” Lintang said. “Now, come on. Let’s go see Captain Shafira.”
His smile vanished. “We can’t. Not yet. We’re still too close to Desa. She’ll make me go back.”
“Maybe she’ll give you a fair hearing. If you tell her why you want to go to
Zaiben-”
“No. It’s not… She won’t…” He blew his bangs from his eyes as if he had an excuse for being annoyed, when Lintang was the one who would get in trouble. What if Captain Shafira thought she’d helped him stow away?
“You can’t tell anyone we’re here,” Bayani said.
Pelita buzzed her wings in agreement.
“You can’t do that to me!” Lintang said. “I promised not to lie to Captain Shafira.”