Buildings tilted over towards the roads, casting shadows on the streets. They seemed to haphazardly tower above those that walked on the streets below. If a strong gust of wind blew here, all of them would topple right over. The roads were cobbled and decently clean, unlike many of the neighboring villages. The town was poor and modest, but nobody was starving. The villagers were a close-knit group. If one family was ill or struggling, the entire town would pitch in to help out.
Two girls ran through the streets, laughing in delight at their antics. Coins jingled in their concealed pockets, bouncing up and down in tune to the girls. They were on their way to the Market Square. Having coins to spare was rare, but today was a special day. It was the girls' 12th birthday. Though they weren't related by blood, anyone could have mistaken them for sisters. They were very close friends. The two still had the childishness of youth, even though they were growing up very fast. Many of the villagers waved at the girls as they rushed past, calling out greetings. The girls beamed at each person, thrilled at the novelty of the special day. "Hello!" they would reply.
The old woman, who lounged in front of her house every day, called out, "Where are you two rushing off to today, hmm?" She was sitting on a rocking chair, holding a cup of tea. Wrinkles lined her friendly face, so deep they could almost have been carved. Grandma Opal was a gentle, frail woman in her late 70's. And though she had grandkids of her own, she never stopped treating the two girls just as special.
The smaller girl giggled, slowing to a stop in front of the porch. Her blond hair was almost white in the summer sun.
"We're off to the market. It's Anna's birthday today!" the other said. She had brown hair which was complemented by her chocolate eyes. They weren't different hues of brown or hazel, like so many others, but they were rich and sparked with life.
"My, isn't that special! Happy birthday," Grandma Opal said to the blond one. "Make sure to tell me all about it later." The old woman winked.
"We will," answered the girl. The two smiled with admiration at the elderly grandmother.
"Well hurry along now. We wouldn't want you to miss out on all of the good pastries." Grandma Opal exclaimed. They both gasped and sprinted off down the road. Finally, they reached the bustling Market Square.
The Market was a large open courtyard, overlooking the blue expanse of ocean, below it. It smelled of sweet pastries and the grass, with the tangy smell of sweat and perfume wafting from the crowds. Green, oak trees lined the outskirts of the Market, setting it in contrast of the earthy browns of the town. Many stalls, selling items from shawls to swords, were bunched in the center. Merchants called out deals and prices, charming customers over for a better look. Throngs of people milled and strolled around the stalls, content in the warm atmosphere. Down the street a ways, the town's port sat with ships: merchant ships, navy ships, sail ships, cargo ships, small fishing boats, and pirate ships. These ships brought multitudes of people from very different places. Some weren't the most desirable people to have around, but they all gave their business to the modest market.
The girls waded through the sea of people, making a bee line for the pastries stall. They each bought a roll, with a few coins, and sat in the shade of a nearby tree. The rolls were sweet, the gooey inside melting on their taste buds. They savored the flavors, each moaning with pleasure. The rare savory buns were every bit as good as they had smelled. Too soon the rolls were gone and the girls got up again. For a birthday present, the brown haired girl bought the smaller one a book. The book was about fearless adventurers and daring sword fights.
"I love it!" The smaller girl squealed. But her smile melted into a devastated frown, "But I don't know how to read."
"Don't worry," the older one laughed," I'll read it to you." And with that the two girls laughed and smiled, enjoying their special day together. The birthday turned into a very happy memory both girls cherished, almost as much as the book. That night the two crawled into bed and read in the candle light. The brunette narrated the tales of the book as the scenes almost appeared to be brought to life. Soon the characters lived on through the words and minds of the young girls who from then on out, searched for adventures wherever they went.
Glass shattered, instilling silence in the boisterous room. Then, the heavy thud of a body hit the floor. Kathryn whipped away from the body, rushing a panicked Anna out the back door, dropping the broken bottle of rum she held in her hand. She instinctively wanted to put as much distance between her and the men pursuing them as quickly as possible. Most of the tavern's goods were in ruins, nothing worth saving on the ground. The men that had almost reached the two women were starting to recover from the earlier confusion. It wouldn't take long for the men to catch up. They were bad enough drunk, but angry was not something Kathryn wanted to see.
Kathryn ran, pulling Anna along behind her, running blindly through the streets.
Following the girls out on the dusty streets of their village, the brutes quickly cornered the two women. Kathryn pushed Anna behind her in the cramped alley. The hulking figures mirrored hungry smirks on both of their pug-like mouths.
"I think we's could 'ave some fun. What 'bout you Joe? They look like fun?" The taller one sneered. The small, pudgier one almost smiled, twisting his face up even more.
"Sure thing, Tim. They'll be fun alright."
"Screw off before I have to bash in your ugly faces," Kathryn snarled.
Infuriating already drunk men, much stronger than she, was probably not the smartest thing she'd done, especially these brutes. The day had started out normal enough, until three of their more rowdy customers had too much to drink. Not unusual, but the owner of the tavern, a big, muscled fellow, had taken the day off. Usually, he would be there to keep drunkards in order, but since he was gone that day, some decided to try their luck.
A fist connected to Kathryn's jaw. Black stars danced across her vision, leaving her stunned on the ground. Dazed, she braced herself for the beating that was sure to follow. Instead she felt the weight of the brute, knocking away her breath, as he crumpled on top of her with closed eyes. Above her was the silhouette of a tall…pirate. A gun hung from the belt on his hip and a dagger was strapped to his leg. The man looked like a delinquent. Small scars and cuts crisscrossing up and down his well-muscled arms, yet they had an air of regality. The pirate scowled down at her, with shaggy black hair and one cold, grey eye. An eye patch clung to his face, covering his right eye. The other brute started staggering toward the man, but in his drunken state, the pirate easily subdued him.
"Damn, what 'a waste of time," he muttered. His eye flicked toward Kathryn who was staring at him.
"Thanks," she breathed. He smirked at her and jogged away towards the town without a second glance.
Shaking off the strange encounter, Kathryn turned toward Anna who had looked like she was trying to blend into the wall. Mockingly she scoffed. "Great help you were, Annie bell." Anna pushed her playfully at the casual use of the childish nickname.
"Thank you. For saving me back there." Anna smiled. Grinning back, Kathryn replied," Of course, anything for my beloved friend. Though… I could've taken their vile faces if I didn't have to lug you around everywhere."
Pretending to be offended, Anna sniffed and rushed ahead, only to stop a few paces away. She turned with a playful smile. "Coming, O beloved friend?