Fornak, Nack, and Hite had not been a trio.
There had been four of them!
There had also been William!
And William had been the leader of the four.
Twenty years ago, as the four grew from boys into young men and their passion gradually cooled, they realized that going to sea would not fulfill their dreams.
So the four former pirates chose to return to land.
Under cover of night, they secretly lowered every boat aboard the pirate ship, loaded them with treasure, and set off for shore with enough food and water-before leaving, they had already punched holes through the ship's hull to ensure no one could pursue them. William, the head cook, had also drugged that evening's food.
The ship's hull had been breached, every boat lowered into the sea, and the food drugged.
All their fellow pirates had become fish food before they even realized what was happening.
Meanwhile, William, Fornak, Nack, and Hite cheered, imagining the wonderful lives awaiting them ashore.
Everything had seemed so perfect.
Until they encountered a storm.
The boats laden with treasure capsized.
Their food and fresh water were lost as well.
All four of them fell into the sea.
Fortunately, a passing merchant ship rescued them. They claimed to be crewmen from the White Wine Glass, a ship they had only recently plundered. News of the attack had not yet spread, so the merchants suspected nothing and provided them with food and hot soup.
It was aboard this ship that William's cooking skills brought him into contact with the Sunk Family, and he discovered how wealthy they were.
But they were different from his previous targets.
The Sunk Family was guarded, vigilant, and capable of fighting.
The family consisted of two parents and four children, and even the youngest could