Well hello there all. I bet you've been wondering where I've been. Well all I can say is that work is a drag and that I am sorry for neglecting all you readers. I thought I should get as much chapters out as I can as I am going to Phuket in a week and half so here is the third chapter promised to you. Hope it makes up for my neglect.
Enjoy.
Chapter 3
'Hey…'
'Hey…hear me…'
'Hey, can you hear me'?
Miles let out a painful groan and cerulean eyes opened sluggishly to peer out from behind droopy eyelids at the blurred shadowy figure standing above him, and who had, if ever the most pleasant scent he had ever come across. The sounds around him were so muffled he wondered if it was the gallons of water that seemed to be lodged in his ears. He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes as the blurry shadow above him started to become clearer and the face of a beautiful young lady was staring down at him. It was the girl he had saved earlier.
She had the biggest brown eyes he had ever seen. They were like liquid chocolate, just like the colour of her satin hair that fall around her heart-shaped face in soft strands. He wondered if they were as soft as they looked. Her charming mouth sat daintily on her face, but didn't do justice to her small button nose. His angel looked down on him in concern and worry and she reached out to move his wet bangs out of his eyes.
'Just be still. You must have taken in quite a lot of water.' His angel said cordially to him and he couldn't help but smile at her soft, delicate voice. He sat up slowly, at the aid of the young lass and looked around. He seemed to be onboard a ship, a badly damaged one at that. He noticed the many pairs of eyes on him. Looks of both scrutiny and curiosity. He reached up and held his head.
'What happened.'?
'Don't you remember? You saved me from Spariel.' Armeria told him and sat on the hunches of her feet. 'You were floating in the water. You must have hit your head.'
Recollection of what had occurred just previously hours ago started to float back to his water clogged mind with some form of clarity. He had managed to escape his confinements onboard Spariel's ship and ended up in the water where he heard a voice calling out to him. The same soft voice of the girl fussing over him at his side that without so much as a second thought, took the unexpected girl in his arms.
'So it was you who was calling out to me from above. I thought you were an angel. Yes, that is exactly what you are. My angel.' The girl in his arms started blushing profoundly. He found it oddly cute.
'Armeria.' A displeased shout came from behind them.
'Armeria, what a beautiful name' Miles looked up at the direction of the angry voice and found a fuming blonde pirate standing before him. He was covered in black smudges and his blonde locks were soiled with soot and gun-power. His blackened white shirt was open to the waist and Miles caught a glimpse of the tattoo on the man's chest. The Grim Reaper. So this is Captain Scar.' Miles thought smugly. He reluctantly released the girl in his arms and she was pulled back to stand behind the blonde pirate, who had his sword drawn and pointed towards Miles.
'Tell me why I shouldn't cut ya down right here, where ya stand.' Scar said in a low threatening voice. Miles sighed and stood up, holding his hands up in surrender.
'I mean no offence. I was only showing my gratitude to Miss…Armeria was it? A beautiful name, fit for a beautiful women.' Miles said and Armeria blushed behind Scar's back. But it seemed to agitate Scar further. He was already starting to find this newcomer rather bothersome.
'Cut the crap. You were on Spariel's ship weren't ya? Are ya one of his crew.' Scar spat. 'Or maybe his spy.'
'Hardly, more like his prisoner.' Miles said in amusement.
'Prisoner.' Scar said a little confused.
'Yes. He seemed to believe in the silly notion that I knew where some big treasure was located that my family had buried decades ago, so he kidnapped me and tried to force me to tell him where it was located. However…'
'However, what'?
Miles smiled. ' I never said it was a lie.'
'Just who the hell ya are. Answer now before ya find yourself on the bottom of the ocean.' Scar raised his sword again and that seemed to put his crew on alert.
'Oh how rude of me.' Miles said innocently and took a step forward and bowed before he stood up and looked over Scar's shoulder to where Armeria was standing with wide, doe eyes. He smiled never faulted. 'My name is Miles…Miles Sutherland. I am a descendant of the Sutherland noble line and I have just declared that Miss Armeria will be my Bride-to-be.'
'Bride-to-what.' Scar said in pure astonishment. It made Miles smile wider.
'My… fiancé if you will.'
'Like hell she is.'
'Why? Do you have a claim on her? If that is to be the case I will be glad to fight you for the lovely fair maiden.' Scar's eyes narrowed dangerously at the open challenge and took that time to openly assess this arrogant new comer. If nothing but tall and lanky, he was quite handsome and well polished. Nothing like the self-absorbed noblemen he has come across before.
Upon hearing quite enough for her to stand by quietly any longer, Armeria hit Scar across the back of the head and walked right up to Miles and poked him in the chest.
'Just who do you think you are, you jerk. You think, just because you saved my life doesn't mean what I have to marry you!' Armeria said loudly, much to the amusement of her blue-haired 'friend.' 'You men are all the same. Think you can do and say anything you please to a women just to get what you want. That we are all weak-kneed and naïve. Well, ya all mad.' Armeria went to poke Miles in the chest again but he caught her wrist and brought her hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss.
'But Cheri, when love is not madness, it can't possible be called love.' Miles quoted valiantly. Armeria raised an eyebrow at the absurdity of the man before her. Could he be anymore dense? Behind her she could feel Scar's seething glare burning a hole in her back but decided to ignore it. Miles looked at her for a moment then glanced behind her where the pirate captain was literally trembling with rage. He sighed reluctantly and relinquished his hold on Armeria's hand.
'Ah alas. For I see you are a strong women to be immune to my charms. A strong women indeed.' Miles said dramatically and stepped away from the young lady. ' I apologise for my forwardness. I seem to have taken leave of my sense today. It's all this sea air. It's not really my forte. I am more used to the dry land of my hometown.'
Scar snorted. 'That just goes the` show how weak-kneed ya are. The sea is for a real man.' Scar all but snickered. 'Go home to where ya nobles belong.' Armeria rolled her eyes at Scar's high and mighty demeanour and stared into Mile's azure eyes, where the sincerity of his affliction was apparent.
She sighed and the dull pull of an incoming headache was starting to creep up on Armeria. She put a hand to her forehead. 'I'm sorry, Sir Sutherland for all that you have endured at the hands of Spariel. He took you from your home, your family.'
'Please, call me Miles.' Miles touch his hand to his chest in a gentlemanly gesture and smiled charmingly to Armeria who blushed. Armeria stuttered.
'And…I am flattered but you have chosen me to be your wife but you find me indisposed Sir, for a can't marry you.' Armeria said with all the kindness she could muster. But, even she could see that her tactics of persuasion were severely lacking this day.
'Yes, a strong women indeed. But I will not be weathered my fair Armeria. For once you see my home, even you will be swayed by the loveliness and elegance which is Sutherland.' A sharp pain shot through Miles` arm and he drew out a hiss and grabbed his left arm.
'Are you alright Sir?' Armeria asked in concern. She reached to touch his arm.
'Its nothing. I must have jabbed it when Spariel kidnapped me.' Not releasing his hold on his arm he looked past Armeria at Scar. 'For all your efforts and the help of rescuing me from Spariel, I am willing to show you the course on which the Sutherland estate can be found. It's about 500 leagues from here, on the Island of Tangia. Due west off the port of Whighten.'
'I thought ya said there was no treasure.'
'Did I.' Miles said innocently.
'What makes ya think that I would believe anything ya say. Ya all but a stranger to this ship and me. For all I know you could double cross me and kill me in my sleep.' 'Though I like to see him try' Scar thought smugly.
'Possibly, but what purpose would that serve, my good pirate. You want innumerable riches and I know how to get them. It's a means of I scratch your back, you scratch mine.' Scar contemplated this for a moment. His forest green eyes bore into Miles` blue ones as he sized him up and searched for any ill-contempt in them but all he could see was a man firm to his word. Armeria stood in between the two warring males and shook her head their arrogance and vanity until she had enough
'All right that's it. I can't take it anymore. Either you two shape up and stop this ludicrous contest of male narcissism or so help me the both of you will be sleeping with the fishes.' Armeria's chest heaved after her outburst but it seemed to have done no good for both men refused break eye contact until one of them eventually caved. Silence descended over the ship as each and every pair of eyes were focused onto the heated staring match in front of them, each silently taking bets on who would win when everyone jumped, including Armeria and Miles when Scar's bellowing voice was the first one to break the silence.
'All right you lazy dogs. Full speed ahead. The ship isn't gonna repair itself. Down the sails and raise the anchor.' Scar barked but his men continued to stare at their captain as if he had sprouted a second limb. 'What are ya deaf. Do ya have cotton in ya ears? Hard to starboard.' Scar's crew jumped up in shock and started running around the haul of the ship, doing their captain's bidding. Men climbed and scampered up long ropes towards the top of the mast to release the large white sails. The anchor was raised and they surged forward, towards their destination.
Scar continued to bellowed orders to his men and stripped his dirty-stained shirt of as he went. He was given a clean towel on his way to the captain's deck to wipe off the dirt and grime from his face and stood on deck looking over the vast ocean ahead of them with his arms crossed over his sun-kissed chest and a knowing look his green eyes.
'Where are we headed.'? Miles and Armeria said from behind.
'The port of Southland.' Scar said without turning to look at them.
'Southland'?
'It's the closest port from here and my ship is in need of some major repairs. We will stop there for tonight and set off at first light. If ya are telling me the truth about this family fortune of yours, the quickest way to Whighten is if we cut through Nottington and across the crashing mountains.'
'The crashing Mountains? But isn't that a little…deep. Legend has it that who ever dares travel through the crashing mountains are never seen or heard from again.' Miles said with a daunting chill.
'Never.' Armeria shivered.
'Well its just a rumour. Most of the stories I heard when I was a boy were told by drunken fools who knew nothing better then drinking grog.' Miles said with a nervous laugh.
'What's the matter? Ya not scared, are ya'? Scar taunted.
Miles snorted heartily. 'Scared. Hardly. You may not believe it but I am quite the adventurous man. '
'Good cause this is not a pleasure trip. Where we're going ya would want a strong stomach.' Scar said with sureness. 'An` I don't take on stragglers. Its either sink or swim.'
Scar's battered and cracked ship cruised slowly into the bay and was manoeuvred into the long wooden docks before the anchor was dropped and the sails were drawn up as the ship came to a halt. Scores of seabirds flew around the tall haul and the mast of the long ship before diving into the water at an unexpected fish. The port of Southland was one of the biggest and busiest port in these part of the waters It was also the seediest. No matter what your business was; if you pay your fare, dock wardens wouldn't batter an eyelid. Sea farers from all over the vast ocean ventured to this industrious Island. Some were pirates, nobles, and navy men but most were just businessmen hoping to score the big bucks.
A long wooden plank was set down between the ship and the dock where a warden was already awaiting for them to come ashore with a large noted book to collect their dock fare. Scar was the first one to walk down the steps, with a small money purse clasped in one hand.
'Afternoon Sir, I hope you are aware that you are to pay a fee to dock your um…' the short, stoutly man said as he glanced at the disarrayed ship. '…Ship in this port.' Scar smiled cunningly and held up his money purse and gave the bag a slight shake. The sound of coins jingling inside seemed to of please the man greatly as he smiled and bowed deeply.
'Welcome to Southland.' Scar nodded and the man closed his book with a final snap and took the purse without further questions, before he turned and walked away. Scar eyed the insidious man one more time before turning to his crew, who stood with attention on deck.
'Alright men, we are here only to repair and reload the ship and that is`all. Tomorrow we leave at first light and if I see any man in or even near a brothel or halfway house, will wish he really were sleepin` with the fishes. This is not a holiday gentlemen so no monkey business.' His men groaned their disapproval over the command but he chose to ignore it. Broken wood and debris was hauled from the ship and new planks of wood and foresheets were brought aboard as the repairs on the ship were underway. Armeria however, had no problem disobeying orders despite Scar's warning and walked down the plank ladder and stepped on to the waft. Out of the corner of his eye, Scar caught sight of Armeria and ran to edge of the ship.
'Didn't ya listen to a damn word I said women. I said no one is ta go anywhere.' Scar cursed above her. 'Are ya deaf or just stupid.' She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face him and he almost stepped back at the frightful picture she displayed. With her hands planted firmly on her hips and her eyes blazing hot fire, it wouldn't be surprising if she strike Scar dead right then and there.
'If it is any of your business' Armeria said snidely. 'I was actually going to help you by purchasing a few essential supplies for the men. But I guess I'm too stupid to even do that. Now if you will excuse me.' She bowed mockingly and turned around to walk down the wooden waft. From a distance away Miles watched the interaction between the blonde pirate and his fiery, soon-to-be fiancé with enjoyed mirth. Now there was a woman, who in all rightness knew how to take care of herself. It was evident that Armeria felt something for the pirate, which required him to investigate that further but that made him even more determined to win her hand.
Scar watched her leave with a low scowl when he felt a presence beside him. ' It seems your not very good with women, are you'? Miles commented evenly, also watching Armeria disappear into the sea of bodies.
'Shut up! Who asked you.' Scar retorted back.
'I could give you some pointers. I am actually quite popular with the ladies.'
'How bout I point ya towards where ya final resting place will be.'
'I'm just saying.' He held up his hands in surrender. 'But seriously, if you don't watch out someone's gonna come along and steal her from right under your nose.' He paused briefly before he turned away and said. ' And I was serious when I said I wanted to make Armeria my wife.' Without so much as looking back, Miles walked off the ship in happy strides and followed in the direction Armeria had disappeared to. All the while Scar stood rooted to his ship, wondering with confusion and anger what had just happened moments ago.
To be continued…
So Miles has finally been introduced and Scar is not very happy over his infatuation over Armeria. Alls fair in love and war and I wonder if Scar has the stomach for it. But don't worry; Scar is also in a surprise when he receives his own suitor. So I hope you enjoyed that chapter and hang on for the next one. Hopefully it won't take as long as this one did.
