Winds of Change
I was tying up Hammer just as the boat I'd seen in the distance was docking. I started walking slowly towards the ship across the dock, when I finally was able to make out the design on the flag fluttering in the breeze on the main mast.
"What's an East India Trading Company vessel doing here?" I said to myself out loud, confused for sure now.
"It's come for supplies and to recruit a few sailors who'd like to make some money, if it's all the same to you, m'lady," said a voice from aboard the ship. I looked up at the railing, and there stood a tall man, wearing a blue uniform and white wig, obviously a commander of the Royal Navy of some sorts, if all those medals and ribbons meant anything. He continued speaking to me, "I've been told there are some decent sailors here that could use the income, and to prevent them from becoming pirates that we'd eventually have to take down, I'd rather have them on our side, on our ships, being of some use to us instead of getting in my way."
"SHIPS? You mean, there's more than one of you coming here?" I exclaimed, now beginning to worry that the EITC was really coming to shut my beloved home port down.
Two crewmen lowered a ramp down to the deck and the commander walked towards me as he talked. From his gait I could tell he was a well-trained man.
"Just one more, which happens to be the one that needs the extra hands. Do you know of anyone who needs a job, can sail, and could use a change of..." he looked around the almost desserted town, gave a harsh look at the port, and continued, "...scenery? The pay would be worth it."
I looked up at the man, and raised an eyebrow at him and gave him a sly little smile, "What kind of job? I feel the winds of change coming on."