Cassandra stared at her father her mouth hanging open in complete disbelief.
"I wont!" she finally managed. Governor Callis closed his eyes signalling the onset of anger.
"I will not be drawn into an argument about this Cassandra," he turned his back to his daughter and gazed out of the window at the glittering bay of Port Dillon. "Commodore Callahan is an honourable man and you shall not reject his proposal tomorrow." her turned, his tiny round eyes peering at her from under is grey wig. Cassandra glared at him.
"Do I have any say at all in this gracious decision you have made for me?" she could feel the anger bubbling up inside her but what was more was the sad realisation that her father had already made his decision and was unlikely to change it.
"No, you are my daughter and I shall make sure that for the good of this port and this family that decisions that are made will fall through my own hands," again he turned to face the window silently telling her that he was finished with her.
"I do not need you to find a husband for me father, I will find one." Cassandra pleaded in vein she grasped at the hope he may give her a chance. As expected he turned to her rage imprinted on his balloon like face.
"You can do nothing for yourself Cassandra! Just like your mother. I will not be burdened with your lack of interest for this family!" he wagged a finger at her. "Every time you utter another word about this matter I will bring the wedding forward, do you understand me!" Cassandra sank back and looked at the floor.
"Yes sir," she said quietly before leaving the room, swiping at the tears that daring fall on her cheeks.
Sitting now staring miserably out of her own window Cassandra watched a departing merchant ship silently sailing out of the docks, it huge sails picking up what little wind there was and sending the ship forward towards the sun as it began to settle above the horizon. Cassandra wished she was on that ship where ever it was heading, away from her bullying father and his orders to marry the Commodore. The idea dawned on Cassandra slowly as the sun slipped further below the waterline casting an orange glow over the bay and onto her wet cheeks. The ship was gone now, the sea empty as darkness began seeping into the water like ink. Cassandra stood determined at the idea that had lodged itself into her head. Pulling from under her bed a floral bag she filled it quickly with clothes and any expensive jewellery she owned, she would need to offer payment to who ever was good enough to take her aboard there boat. She moved quickly from the manor unseen and silent as she stole away into the dark empty streets of Dillon.
A chill whipped round her bare arms as she neared the docks, the shadows thick and plenty as she caught sight of the first ship tied at one of the many piers. An elderly man sat at the helm a pipe in his mouth, he stared out towards the dark waters as a thin trickle of smoke was caught by the breeze and carried upwards towards the heavens.
"Excuse me sir, I'm looking for your captain?" she called up heaving the floral bag further up her shoulder. The old man looked down at her eyeing the bag. He took his pipe from his mouth and pointed it towards the opening of one of the narrow streets.
"In the Dog miss," he said replacing it and turning his gaze back to the sea. Cassandra took a mental note of the name of the ship as she headed quickly towards the well known little inn.
It was busy inside, the air was hot and smelled of alcohol and cigar smoke. The worn wooden floor was soaked in spilled drink and littered with discarded tankards. Sailors milled about pushing and being pushed amongst the drunken louts that blessed the inn with there company. Locals and sea men drinking and seeking the pleasurable company that crowded the small rustic inn. She caught sight of a man wearing a captains hat and jacket.
"Sir? Are you the captain of the Hackney?" she asked somewhat nervous at his adoring gaze as he looked at her.
"Yes dear, how can I be of service?" Cassandra cleared her throat.
"I was wondering if you were leaving the docks tomorrow," the captain shook his head and Cassandra's heart sank.
"Few days yet dear," he said slurping his beer and nodding towards a table in the corner. "I heard they are," he turned back to his fellow crew member ignoring her instantly. A few days was too long, Cassandra's father would have soldiers crawling the docks by tomorrow looking for her, she turned to the table in the corner. It was occupied with scruffy drunken men obviously intoxicated by the many empty tankards that littered the table.
"Sirs?" she addressed no one in particular, there was no indication of a captain. They glanced up suspicious at the well dressed girl. "I was wondering if I could speak with your captain?" she looked around the table hopefully.
"What do you want with him?" a dark skinned man asked taking a good look at her bag.
"I was wondering if you are leaving port tomorrow?"
"What of it?" another man asked his cheeks heavy with thick greying sideburns. Cassandra shifted uncomfortable on her feet. The inn felt suddenly too hot under the grilling stares she was receiving from the table.
"Well I was wondering if I could come aboard until you next made berth. For payment of course." she added quickly. The sailors looked at each other with sly smiles and chuckles.
"What's your name lass?" the older man said looking suspiciously at her fancy dress.
"Cassandra Callis." the crew looked at each other again this time smiling with what she could only make out as joy. The dark skinned man stood smiling or rather leering at her.
"Well my lady," he said reaching out and taking her hand, "To the captain we shall take you." The rabble of crew followed as she was led outside and turned in the opposite direction of the docks. She pulled her hand away quickly.
"This isn't the way to the bay," worry beginning to prickle in her bones. The dark man turned and grinned at her, his teeth glowing in the darkness.
"Indeed our ship would not be welcome in your docks," he grabbed her arm pulling her behind him, Cassandra pulled away again, this time trying to run away but the man tackled her knocking her to the cobbled street. She caught sight of a gold scull dangling from his ear.
"Pirates!" she gasped sick with fear, she got to her feet and tried again to get away but two more of the pirates had grabbed at her arms, Sobbing she struggled to shake them off tripping again and landing on her hands and knees. She felt blood oozing out her palms as the dark skinned devil snatched a handful of her hair hauling her to her feet. The older man with the side burns came up beside them.
"Cuttle man, don't be so rough with the lass," he said slapping away the pirates hand, "it'll be the captain that will be deciding what's to be done with her."
"Aye sir," Cuttle said reluctantly his hand dropping to his side. Cassandra took the advantage and pulled away, she got two strides before she felt the sharp blow to her head rendering her quickly to unconsciousness.
XXXX
When Cassandra woke she could hear first a steady dripping echoing around her ears. She looked about rubbing the sore lump at the back of her head. She was in the belly of a ship, locked in a cell like a caged animal. She stood shivering with cold, murky sea water lapped at her ankles it had already soaked her dress through. She heard the loud bang of a door and sloshing of feet coming towards her. Cuttle appeared out of the shadows with who she guessed was the captain behind him. He smiled coldly at her.
"Cassandra Callis." he proudly stated to the captain who stood forward squinting over her. Cassandra couldn't tell wither it was the ship that made him sway the way he did or the over use of alcohol.
"What's your business girl, you asked to speak with me?" he looked over her soaked clothing and wrinkled his nose.
"I have no business with pirate scum." she spat glaring at him. He looked down at himself as if somewhat surprised he was a pirate or checking that he wasn't scum satisfied he looked back at her, his dark eyes surveying her.
"Are you not the daughter of Jonathon Callis?" he slurred his hands pawing at the air.
"I am." she replied certain that the captain was indeed drunk or somewhat crazy. The corner of his mouth lifted into a rather charming smug smile.
"Then we have more business than you think luv," he turned to Cuttle.
"Get her out of here before she catches her death." and with a mocking nod of his hat he swaggered off through the water to the stairs.
"I wont!" she finally managed. Governor Callis closed his eyes signalling the onset of anger.
"I will not be drawn into an argument about this Cassandra," he turned his back to his daughter and gazed out of the window at the glittering bay of Port Dillon. "Commodore Callahan is an honourable man and you shall not reject his proposal tomorrow." her turned, his tiny round eyes peering at her from under is grey wig. Cassandra glared at him.
"Do I have any say at all in this gracious decision you have made for me?" she could feel the anger bubbling up inside her but what was more was the sad realisation that her father had already made his decision and was unlikely to change it.
"No, you are my daughter and I shall make sure that for the good of this port and this family that decisions that are made will fall through my own hands," again he turned to face the window silently telling her that he was finished with her.
"I do not need you to find a husband for me father, I will find one." Cassandra pleaded in vein she grasped at the hope he may give her a chance. As expected he turned to her rage imprinted on his balloon like face.
"You can do nothing for yourself Cassandra! Just like your mother. I will not be burdened with your lack of interest for this family!" he wagged a finger at her. "Every time you utter another word about this matter I will bring the wedding forward, do you understand me!" Cassandra sank back and looked at the floor.
"Yes sir," she said quietly before leaving the room, swiping at the tears that daring fall on her cheeks.
Sitting now staring miserably out of her own window Cassandra watched a departing merchant ship silently sailing out of the docks, it huge sails picking up what little wind there was and sending the ship forward towards the sun as it began to settle above the horizon. Cassandra wished she was on that ship where ever it was heading, away from her bullying father and his orders to marry the Commodore. The idea dawned on Cassandra slowly as the sun slipped further below the waterline casting an orange glow over the bay and onto her wet cheeks. The ship was gone now, the sea empty as darkness began seeping into the water like ink. Cassandra stood determined at the idea that had lodged itself into her head. Pulling from under her bed a floral bag she filled it quickly with clothes and any expensive jewellery she owned, she would need to offer payment to who ever was good enough to take her aboard there boat. She moved quickly from the manor unseen and silent as she stole away into the dark empty streets of Dillon.
A chill whipped round her bare arms as she neared the docks, the shadows thick and plenty as she caught sight of the first ship tied at one of the many piers. An elderly man sat at the helm a pipe in his mouth, he stared out towards the dark waters as a thin trickle of smoke was caught by the breeze and carried upwards towards the heavens.
"Excuse me sir, I'm looking for your captain?" she called up heaving the floral bag further up her shoulder. The old man looked down at her eyeing the bag. He took his pipe from his mouth and pointed it towards the opening of one of the narrow streets.
"In the Dog miss," he said replacing it and turning his gaze back to the sea. Cassandra took a mental note of the name of the ship as she headed quickly towards the well known little inn.
It was busy inside, the air was hot and smelled of alcohol and cigar smoke. The worn wooden floor was soaked in spilled drink and littered with discarded tankards. Sailors milled about pushing and being pushed amongst the drunken louts that blessed the inn with there company. Locals and sea men drinking and seeking the pleasurable company that crowded the small rustic inn. She caught sight of a man wearing a captains hat and jacket.
"Sir? Are you the captain of the Hackney?" she asked somewhat nervous at his adoring gaze as he looked at her.
"Yes dear, how can I be of service?" Cassandra cleared her throat.
"I was wondering if you were leaving the docks tomorrow," the captain shook his head and Cassandra's heart sank.
"Few days yet dear," he said slurping his beer and nodding towards a table in the corner. "I heard they are," he turned back to his fellow crew member ignoring her instantly. A few days was too long, Cassandra's father would have soldiers crawling the docks by tomorrow looking for her, she turned to the table in the corner. It was occupied with scruffy drunken men obviously intoxicated by the many empty tankards that littered the table.
"Sirs?" she addressed no one in particular, there was no indication of a captain. They glanced up suspicious at the well dressed girl. "I was wondering if I could speak with your captain?" she looked around the table hopefully.
"What do you want with him?" a dark skinned man asked taking a good look at her bag.
"I was wondering if you are leaving port tomorrow?"
"What of it?" another man asked his cheeks heavy with thick greying sideburns. Cassandra shifted uncomfortable on her feet. The inn felt suddenly too hot under the grilling stares she was receiving from the table.
"Well I was wondering if I could come aboard until you next made berth. For payment of course." she added quickly. The sailors looked at each other with sly smiles and chuckles.
"What's your name lass?" the older man said looking suspiciously at her fancy dress.
"Cassandra Callis." the crew looked at each other again this time smiling with what she could only make out as joy. The dark skinned man stood smiling or rather leering at her.
"Well my lady," he said reaching out and taking her hand, "To the captain we shall take you." The rabble of crew followed as she was led outside and turned in the opposite direction of the docks. She pulled her hand away quickly.
"This isn't the way to the bay," worry beginning to prickle in her bones. The dark man turned and grinned at her, his teeth glowing in the darkness.
"Indeed our ship would not be welcome in your docks," he grabbed her arm pulling her behind him, Cassandra pulled away again, this time trying to run away but the man tackled her knocking her to the cobbled street. She caught sight of a gold scull dangling from his ear.
"Pirates!" she gasped sick with fear, she got to her feet and tried again to get away but two more of the pirates had grabbed at her arms, Sobbing she struggled to shake them off tripping again and landing on her hands and knees. She felt blood oozing out her palms as the dark skinned devil snatched a handful of her hair hauling her to her feet. The older man with the side burns came up beside them.
"Cuttle man, don't be so rough with the lass," he said slapping away the pirates hand, "it'll be the captain that will be deciding what's to be done with her."
"Aye sir," Cuttle said reluctantly his hand dropping to his side. Cassandra took the advantage and pulled away, she got two strides before she felt the sharp blow to her head rendering her quickly to unconsciousness.
XXXX
When Cassandra woke she could hear first a steady dripping echoing around her ears. She looked about rubbing the sore lump at the back of her head. She was in the belly of a ship, locked in a cell like a caged animal. She stood shivering with cold, murky sea water lapped at her ankles it had already soaked her dress through. She heard the loud bang of a door and sloshing of feet coming towards her. Cuttle appeared out of the shadows with who she guessed was the captain behind him. He smiled coldly at her.
"Cassandra Callis." he proudly stated to the captain who stood forward squinting over her. Cassandra couldn't tell wither it was the ship that made him sway the way he did or the over use of alcohol.
"What's your business girl, you asked to speak with me?" he looked over her soaked clothing and wrinkled his nose.
"I have no business with pirate scum." she spat glaring at him. He looked down at himself as if somewhat surprised he was a pirate or checking that he wasn't scum satisfied he looked back at her, his dark eyes surveying her.
"Are you not the daughter of Jonathon Callis?" he slurred his hands pawing at the air.
"I am." she replied certain that the captain was indeed drunk or somewhat crazy. The corner of his mouth lifted into a rather charming smug smile.
"Then we have more business than you think luv," he turned to Cuttle.
"Get her out of here before she catches her death." and with a mocking nod of his hat he swaggered off through the water to the stairs.