We Take This to the Grave

Archive Entry

4 April 1692

Bulan, my love,

Being at sea, away from you, is misery. I count the days till I can hold you in my arms again.

Once, all I cared about was making a name for myself in this war through plundering, capturing and killing. But meeting you has changed me. I look back on the man I used to be and am ashamed of my cruel ways.

Victory cannot bring me the kind of joy your smile does. Yet, I must pretend in front of my crew and officers that my heart is still in this war.

Perhaps we are fools to pursue this. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you… but nor can I keep away from you.

Please, for my sake, be careful what you say and do around the Unbound. Trust no one, not even you friend Kartini. If the Rempah or Dutch discover our secret, they would skin us both alive.

This is betweenus and us alone.

Captain Hessel Lannert.