~A Pirate's Life for Me~

~*~*~ Prologue ~*~*~

It was early dawn when I woke to the faint sound of doves flapping their wings against my window shutters. I cracked open my eyes and looked around before shutting them. A yawn escaped my lips as I slowly rose and sat up on my hay stuffed mattress. I stretched my arms above my head, got to my feet, walked over to my window and opened the heavy wooden shutters. The instant the shutters banged against the side of the small house, several doves flew away from the loud noise and landed on some nearby store rooftops. I looked out at the city of Port Royal and watched the city wake and come alive with the rising of the sun. A faint smile touched my lips as I watched some young boys run out of their homes and play pretend sword fights with sticks; while some young girls walked out into the street to meet their friends and play with their rag dolls. Their merry giggles filled the morning air while their parents and some other adults emerged from their houses to go to work for the day. It was about time I got prepared for the day's work. Today marked the first day I would be the Governor's cook. I was hired through a guard who found me in the local tavern as a waitress. I pushed away from the windowsill, strode over to the far corner of my small room and picked up my gown up off of the musty, old wood floor. It was just a simple gown really, but nonetheless the only one I owned. I lifted the heavy article of clothing over my head and slipped it on; the gown was a deep brick red except for a small patch of brown velvet that covers my bodice; I began to struggle tying the sides of the gown because where it tied was right under my arms. I finally was able to now tie my pink apron on under my bodice and then fasten my cap on, my thoughts carried me to the Swan Manor. What was it like inside? How big were the kitchens? Would I get paid a good amount? I walked out of my room and decided to just skip the morning fast and head straight for work. I walked out into the cool morning air and was greeted with a busy street full of men going to their jobs, children running about to go to school or help their parents and women bustling about looking for good prices on goods for the kitchens back home. I stepped out into the dirt road and began to weave in and out of the flow of crowds and passing many shops. I lived with my elderly parents who kept pestering me with every waking moment about how I should have been married to a good husband and should have beared many children by now. They both had planned on having me wed when I was no more than twelve. But now at the age of nineteen they gave up all hope for a suitor and just kept to whining and complaining about how unnatural and unhealthy I was to be single. 'People will think you a witch' my mother scolded and shook her finger at me as I would get ready to go out to the market for goods. I would just roll my eyes and kiss her on the cheek and go about my business. 'You should get married soon, you need a sturdy husband to calm and maybe beat the free spirit of your's till you are under control and act more like a woman that wants to be married and have big families!' my father would complain and sometimes scream. Even though he was considered elderly, he was still strong and once he had struck me hard across the face and I ended up running away to the docks and didn't return for three days. But now since he had stopped the striking, and just keep to the complains, I would just nod slightly while doing whatever chore I was working on and the either go up to my room or walk to the docks to try and clear my head but every time ended up in tears of helplessness and frustration. What my parents didn't know about me was that I had always wanted to be like my three older brothers; married and have a decent sized family to call my own. But how could I marry if no man took any interest in me? No matter where I traveled through the streets, I would find happy couples walk hand in hand enjoying a nice brisk walk through the town or through the docks. All my brothers were had wives, children, and money. Me on the other hand, had only my parents, no husband or children, and not a single penny to my name or call my own.

"Took you long enough. Lose your way did you?" I bowed my head avoiding eye contact with the maid that waited for me at the entrance of the Swan Mansion. "The names Tanneke. Come on! I don't have all day! The Gov is out with his daughter for the afternoon. I am to show you around." She lead me to a large kitchen that was empty at the moment, but what caught my eye was how clean the room was! It was spotless! Everything was so clean that I was afraid to touch anything. "You'll get used to it. Now prepare lunch for the Gov and young Miss Swan for when they return." Before Tanneke walked out of the kitchen's, I stopped her with one small question that needed answering.

"What about my pay?" I asked in a somewhat small voice.

"Huh?"

"You never mentioned the subject of payment. I would like to know when I get paid. I don't work for free." After the saucy comment, I wanted to slap my hands over my mouth and run out of the house. But what I got was a smirk from Tanneke.

"You're a funny lass. All right. At the end of the day, the Gov will give you your wages. By the way lass, what's your name?" Tanneke put her hands on her hips and waited for my answer. I stared at her with wonder and studied her features. She was a stout woman that seemed to be someone who wasn't easily fooled by a simple trick or prank. She was big boned and had some dark strands of hair that had poked out of the front of her cap. But all together, she somewhat frightened me. I didn't want to get on her bad side.

"Bethany." I absentmindedly answered the question. Whenever my name was asked for, my mother always told me to answer truthfully or else I would be jailed for lying. Even though it sounded absolutely ridiculous, I had believed it when I was small and was always afraid of everyone when they spoke to me with any kindness involved.

"Well Bethany; I can see us being good friends. I'll check up on you throughout the day." With that said and done, Tanneke left the kitchens to do whatever type of chore she needed to see done. I was left all alone in the kitchens to prepare a suitable lunch for my new boss and his daughter.

*-*-*

William Turner carefully set a newly made sword in a beautiful hand carved wooden case; then the young blacksmith slowly latched the case shut and tucked it under his arm. This particular order was for the Governor. Ever since Will made Commodore Norington a sword, the Governor seemed to acquire a hobby of collecting the young blacksmith's swords. Today however, William Turner was going to personally deliver this sword to the Governor himself.

*-*-*

Hidden in the shadows of an alley near the Swan Manor, stood a young lad the age of Nineteen. An expert thief and pick-pocket he was, his whole career as a trouble maker against the law started when he was not but seven years. Today, his target of choice was the Swan Mansion itself. The closer he got the more he sneered at the mere thought of finally becoming rich!