1 year later
I had almost forgotten just how loud a tavern could be, i had spent most my time on the ship with the Captain and Jay, it was easier to be around them than it was the normal lot. On shore i would stay with the crew, this past year had been the best one of my life. Fights on open sea, gold and glory around ever corner, at one point i had to return home, word had reached my father that i was taken by a group of pirates, naturally he wanted me back. So the Captain took me back, told me i could go home if i'd like, but the sea was now my home and the Sleeping Dragon was my new family, my family was less than pleased but i think they were all happy to know i was happy.
We are docked here for a few days, in Westare, a port town not far from the capital, it was the last night of our stay here and as she normally does, the Captain was hiding off in the darkest corner she could find. Watching, we let go of three sailors near a month ago and the Captain was looking for some to replace them. but no luck, everyone here seemed well behaved or at least they didn't get drunk and do something stupid. i silently laugh to myself remembering the man i used to be, when the Captain took me in i had a choice one i will never regret.
i was after my first few months that she spoke to me again, it was after dinner, i was wondering on the top deck thinking of what the life i was getting into was really about. i wanted to go home but i also didnt, i had met many new faces and made a few friends, Jay was the best, he made everything easier to deal with. I was only able to view the Captain from afar but she was a hard fair woman, she worked the ship like the rest of us and led every fight, she was just like the rest of us. it seemed like that for a while, but it wasn't until my first fight that i saw what she really could do. in this fight i was too frightened to even go near her as she threw fire and ice at people. the smell and the screams as she took down more and more men with her magic. i tried to shake the thoughts from my mind the fear of what she could do me. Jay tried to tell me that she swore to never use it on the crew but that didn't help i was too scared to even look her in the eye.
she had a sword that she used and her gun, so why did she need to use magic as well? she reminded me of my father, he was an adventurer in his younger years. He never talked about those olden days but you could see the years on him. His old war horse was still in the stables, his robes and armor still in the old trunk in the attic, but i don't really know why he gave up on the life? i don't even remember why my siblings and i were even there, he never acted like he cared like he even loved us. we didn't know who are mothers were, i remember my father teaching some of us about magic and others about swordplay. i myself never cared, i just wanted to make money, father seemed to respect that but i was never sure why he was so hard on me about it. i learned the family business and made more gold than father did by himself.
i stood on the bow of the ship, my arms resting on the worn wood. the wind of the sea on my face, it was cool and welcoming, i fell in love with the sea at this point, i had a rough introduction to it but as i stood there and took in her beauty i knew i could love no other. soft footsteps approached me from behind, but i was too busy to notice it then.
"my first and only love will ever be the sea, she is an unforgiving lover, cruel and hard to those who don't know how work her. but you i think understand her now,"
i jumped at the sound of her voice, it was soft and warm but against the angry feelings and thoughts running through my mind it was foreign.
"Jay tells me you were worried about my use of magic in that last fight?"
i shifted my weight and looked down, like a child whose mother was scorning him.
"My father is a wizard, i've had no good experiance with it."
The Captain sighed and shook her head looking down.
"by trade i fall in line with rouges, my father was also a wizard but my mother she….well she was something else. i can understand your mistrust, but know that will never use this power against you or anyone on this ship."
Mellina placed her hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"the boy….Malik...he is my mentors sons, she asked me take him away when he was just a babe. Being a pirate is not easy my friend, but."
she sighed and leaned next to me on the bow.
"but it's a life i couldn't think of leaving."
a question was nagging at my mind, why would someone give away their child so freely?
"Captain, you said Malik is your mentor's son correct?"
she nodded and turned her head to the sky, closing her eyes,
"aye that he is, my mentor, she had her enemies, and when she found out she was with child she had my hid him away. i was the only one she trusted, i have done my best to raise him, Jay helps but i fear that the boy will never grow to his full potential here on the ship."
"but why? why did she leave him here with you?"
Captain sighed and looked over to him.
"ever hear of a man named Fox?"
A shiver ran down my spine, Captain Fox was every port towns nightmare, he was cruel man who forced men into his service, he didn't care who he hurt. My father had once met the man, and returned with a new scar and my baby sister. i knew not where he had her but my father never spoke of why.
"that is Malik's father, my mentor was once his wife, but now….now she runs from him, if he ever found out about Malik,"
Mellina shuttered and covered herself with her arms.
"i dare not think of what he would do."
the thought that anyone would ever want to hurt that child angered me more than anything. Malik was the sweetest boy i knew and for one raised on a pirate ship he was very smart. A frustrated sigh passed my lips, Fox was known for being a cruel man, but what would he do his own kin? Mellina had said that her mentor was once his wife, did she know what he was doing? did she know who she was truly married to?
i turned to the Captain, she had her arms crossed and was leaning back on the bow of the ship. She closed her eyes and let her head drop a bit,small strands of black hair escaping from her braid. i reached over and placed my hand down on her shoulder like she had done to me not moments ago.
"Captain, i won't let that man find him, i swear. Malik will be safe, should anything happen i will take him away."
a soft smile danced across her pale lips as he thought over what i said, she looked up into my eyes and with her eyes thanked me before walking away.
A hand came down on my back hard making me jump a bit, a bit pissed i turned to see Jay, he smiled, childlike in his odd way and took a seat next to me. he was a large man, years of working the ship had given his body an excellent tone, refined his muscles and built him into a hard slab of muscle and skin. he giggled and lifted his tarken of ale, a toast of some sort and started to down the brow liquid. I laughed and did the same, making it a contest. the men around us began to cheer and take bets on who would win. That is when the door was thrown open, a gush of cold wind and rain flew into the room and caused people to go quiet.
a man entered, a strange ora hung over him, it was warm, almost inviting. he smelt heavily of earth and wood, i was unsure what to make of him, he seemed to me a traveller but he carried nothing and came with no one. I began looking around, most of the people nodded to him and went back to their own conversations other like myself watched him closely. He began to make his way to the bar and on his way he was stopped by a few people who shook his hand and thanked him for saving their town, he only smiled and nodded before continuing his journey to the bar. when he made it there the bartender smiled at him and gave him a loud warm welcome.
"well look who it is, our brave adventurer, back from killing those cobalts i see?"
the man smiled and nodded to him.
"aye that i am, lots of those little bastards, had to clear out the nest and collapse most of the cave to keep them from coming back. do you know if the jarl is in?"
"sorry lad you just missed him, he left for the next three days, something about those pirates over there."
the bartender nodded over in our direction and went back to his work.
the man on the other hand began to to make his way over to our table, his cloak swayed lightly at his ankles as he walked, he must have had a flare for the dramatics like the Captain, his black cloak was open showing his bark armor and bow at his side. I sighed and tapped the soul of my boot on the ground three time with a two second pause between the last two. as he closed in on us i look over to Jay who had his hands on the table, he was going for a fist fight. i nodded to the men and stood, turning to face the man. his face was calm and emotionless as he watched me, i could see his eyes jump across my face studying it.
"can i help you my friend?"
i tried to sound sure of myself but i'm sure i sounded more scared than what i was at defencive. he didn't say anything just watched me, his lilac eyes never leaving my own.
"i was told you scared the Jarl away from these lands, why?"
the men behind me stirred, i was hoping we talk this out without it coming to a fight but i don't think i could stop them. naturally my eyes darted to the Captain who was slowing making her way to us, trying to not make any noise.
"we chased a slaver away and nothing more. i'm going to guess you worked for the man?"
The man before him smirked, Jay slowly stood and took his place beside his friend.
"aye that is true, he owes me money for clearing the cobalt caves near by. so tell me why did you drive him out?"
"we don't like slavers, my crew found out that he was helping them kidnap people and provide them safe passage. so we stepped in and did what we had to."
the man snapped around and came face to face with Captain Mellina, with her hand on the hilt of her sword and her eyes alight with wonder, she stood before him. his lilac eyes graced over her body and then returned to face, lingering for a small moment on her lips before going to her eyes once more.
it was sudden, like the blast of a canon, whatever it was made the ground shake and the people who were outside scream and run. the Captain looked to us and ran for the door, pushing past the man.
"to arms!"
she yelled as the crew jumped to their feet and made way after her. i looked to Jay who nodded and without a second thought ran for the door, my blood was pounding in my ears and the smell of fresh magic was heavy in my lungs. Fear ran throughout my body as took those final steps to the door. i was the last of the crew to get there before the next explosion. the people in the tavern ran about, the man from before was hot on my heels and as i past the threshold i saw it.