Chapter 2

He's A Pirate

"Stop! Thief! Somebody Help!" a man screamed waving a loaf of bread in the air as a boy dashed madly around the corner from the village baker's shop. The boy merely laughed as two officers tried to grab for him, only to be squeezing thin air as the boy scurried on top of the nearest building.

"So much for that" he snorted and stowed the stolen bread away in his satchel. He was stick thin, with brown tousled hair wrapped up in a headband to keep the hair out of his dark green eyes. The officers now had spotted his little hiding place and began trying to scurry up to the top of the decorative French building.

The boy mad dashed across the rooftop and slid down the pipe to get to ground before the officers figured out his trick. He quickly leaped and skipped across the various streets with his lean but muscular legs trying to get far out of sight from the officers.

Heaving for a breathe of fresh air the boy stopped around a corner to catch himself before he weakened too fast.

"Hugo you daft boy! What er ya doin!" a scruffy man in a dirty waistcoat shouted at him from the alleyway.

"Oh, ya know" the boy said in gasps of air "Pirate stuff."

"Stealin' bread ain't no pirate stuff! If the captain hears about this or if ya get caught under me watch I'll-" the scruffy pirate scolded the boy.

"That's the only thing Joe, I'm not going to get caught" Hugo said with a wink and a smile.

"Boy, you be crazier than a chicken in a wolf's den! You better get back to the ship or yer father's gunna have me head!" Joe said carrying two crates in his gruff arms.

"I'll be there soon" Hugo said brushing dirt from his shirt. He wore almost the same fashion as most of his crew members. Dirty old shirt, ripped pants with various patches to show just how long he had them, and of course old sailor boots only meant for a pirate. He tucked the satchel tight under his arm as he made his way back into the crowd for a little fun before heading to the dock.

But Hugo's luck was not that great, as instantly as his face caught a glimmer of sunlight the officers were upon him again. There was one thing thought that he knew that they didn't, Hugo was a pirate's son, and could outmatch any man that challenged him.

Suddenly Hugo was at their left dashing past the crowd, scaring ladies and making gentleman yell at the very sight of his lighting figure. As soon as they thought they had Hugo trapped in an alley he was nowhere to be seen.

The officers looked astounded and bewildered before a crumbling piece of rooftop fell onto the officers hat that gave away Hugo was on another roof again escaping their grasp.

He gave a loud laugh as he dashed across the rooftop like a cat without fear. He knew what he was doing, he had done it almost a thousand times before, in a thousand different towns and kingdoms. He had once stolen the crown of a Spanish prince, laughing in the man's face as he sailed out of the kingdom window and through the maze of streets as his guards only tried to keep up.

But now was the time for haste and Hugo made his escape plan as he spotted his father's ship about to set sail. The guards were now on the top of the roof "Stop you little thief! Stop right there or we will have your head!"

Hugo stopped at a very high point on a rooftop and watched as the officers wiggled and wobbled to try and catch their balance. He saw that there were connecting wires hanging from house to house covered in clothing and various items hung out to dry. They scaled down the town right into the docks, making a almost perfect escape.

"Gentlemen, although it is my deepest regret to leave right now, I must bid you a due. Fair thee well!" Hugo said with a large grin as he grabbed the clothing wire and whipped out his sword from it's sheath. In one swing he went sailing across the roof to the next wire and went tumbling down from wire to wire till he reached the dock.

Laughing loudly at his cleverness he scurried to get to the loading dock to the ship before the sails were flying high in the air. He waved to his shipmates that were hauling large barrels of food and gunpowder before stopping short at the entrance to the ship.

There stood his father, a mountain of a man that would make any normal person feel small. His beard was gray and long, decorated with nick knacks and beads from his adventures with different tribes across the ocean, but his eyes were bright and showed that youth was still in him despite his age. He wore his captain's outfit as his big boots lumbered down the walkway.

"And what have you been up to?" he said gruffly looking down at Hugo.

Hugo pulled out the bread and held it up to his father "French glaze, just as you like" he said with a sarcastic grin. His father gave a hearty laugh and took the bread in his hand.

"You boy, are so much like your father" he said splitting the bread in two "But next time, ask for a gold piece so you can buy it and not risk the arrest of the whole crew" he said handing Hugo the second piece.

"I'm sorry captain, just wanted to give you a healthy breakfast" Hugo said looking down still smiling. He knew his father, and the comment was only one of protection for himself.

"It's fine boy, now go help the others with the load now" his father said turning around to discuss where the next destination was.

Hugo worked all morning hauling the gun powder into the ship and after setting sail once more into the sea, finally took a break and stared out into the ocean. He loved this life, and couldn't imagine anything else being better than a pirate. Although times like these made him wonder about one thing only, his mother.

He had never discussed it with his father, seeing the sadness come over him at even the mention of her made Hugo refrain from every asking. He had been told he had her eyes, but nobody knew where or how his father and her met. He didn't know if she was even still alive or not, but Hugo was smart, and he had only guessed by the look in his father's eyes, she was no longer with them.

Hugo closed his eyes and smelled the salty sea and the warm breeze brush against his skin. He untied the scarf around his head and felt the wind brush through his tangled mess of hair. He suddenly heard footsteps behind him and felt the big hand of his father on his shoulder.

"A shilling for yer thoughts?" his father said standing behind him.

"Just enjoying the horizon" Hugo said trying not to think of his mother.

"You know one day this will all be yours son" his father said behind him "but you must chart yer own course. I can't tell ye what to do with yer life, but a Pirate King does not earn his title by blood, but by the sweat of his back. If ye want to take that charter, I would stand behind ya till the world's end."

"Thank you father, that means a lot to me" Hugo said closing his eyes once more. His father walked away, saying his peace to his son and commanding the others to take the wind with them as they sailed farther away from the town.

As the sun set Hugo walked down below the deck and rolled into his swinging hammock among the others. He needed rest if he was to get up early in the morning, and as Hugo closed his eyes, he had a strange dream.

He was swimming in the water, it was dark and the only light was the reflection of the stars on the water. Suddenly he heard a splash behind him, and caught a glimpse of a tail in the water, it's scales bright red and glimmering in the starlight.

He remembered whispering only one thing in the dream, that still confused him in the early morning when he rose. "Mermaid."