I'm going to try for a little more action and adventure in the next chapter I promise! I feel like there isn't enough, or rather, any at all as of yet.
Thank you all so kindly for your reviews and kind words.
"Sir, I've just received the report from our fleet in the southern region." A stout young man announced as he entered commodore Edwards office cabin.
"And?" Garret inquired not looking up from his many maps, lying half-hazardly on his desk.
"There is no sign of them as of yet, Sir." He finished quickly.
Garret slammed his fist hard on the desk causing many quills and ink jars to tumble to the floor.
"Where the bloody hell are they?" He asked no one in particular as he moved one map away to inspect another.
"Sir, a note was sent with the report from the captain James Edwards." The young man walked quickly to the commodore's desk, dropped the note then wandered quickly back to the doorway.
Garret grabbed the note then read it through once, then again.
Dear father.
I have not found your daughter yet, but there is still hope.
I've asked many locals at our first stop if they've seen the group who took her.
Apparently these people are well known pirates around these waters.
They were last seen in a small port town at the Amazon River connection.
I'm taking my ships there now.
We can only hope at this moment that they will return to this place.
I will write you later with another thorough report, and don't worry father,
We will get her back, I promise.
-James.
Garret carefully folded the paper and placed it in a drawer to his right. He gestured for the two guards standing guard in his office to leave. Once he was alone he put his face in his hands and wept.
Back on the Widow Maker the sun was just beginning to set on Sage's fifth day aboard. There was a light breeze blowing through the sails and most of the crew were busy with a few last minute chores before bed. Moose was lighting oil lamps around the deck giving it a light glow in some places and shadowed corners in others. Rickety and Ratch were having an argument only they could understand. Dot was chatting with Sam as he wrapped a rope tightly together, and Falcon was sitting alone at the bow of the ship with a sketchbook and charcoal in hand.
Sage saw him and decided to be brave and go see what he was drawing. She slowly and quietly tiptoed over to him, trying her hardest not to bother him with any noise.
Falcon was hunched over on a barrel, sketchbook open and charcoal doing it's magic on the page of fresh parchment. He looked up at the sunrise every once in a while, tilted his head then looked back down at the page. Sage noticed little things about him then, such as how handsome he looking with the evening light gracing his sharp and handsome features. She couldn't believe she was admitting this, even if it was just to her self, but she felt an attraction for this young pirate.
Sage was just behind his shoulder, looking at the page with amazement. Although he was using black to draw, he used a certain shading technique that showed you where the different colors were. He was drawing the horizon and the sun setting beyond. It was truly breathtaking.
"Wow." Sage merely breathed the word, but because Falcon had no idea anyone was watching him, let alone her, he jump, dropping his sketchbook and his box of charcoal on the floor. "Oh, I'm so sorry." Sage gasped as many other drawings spilled from his book. She bent down immediately to help pick them up.
Falcon said nothing as he began filing papers together and replacing them within the book cover.
"Your drawings are very good." Sage ventured for a bit of light conversation.
"Thanks." Falcon nodded dryly.
"Have you always liked drawing and painting?" Sage asked.
"Sure." Falcon grabbed the last stack of papers from Sage and shoved them quickly back into his book, snapping it closed noisily.
"Oh, please don't stop drawing on my account, I'll leave if you wish." Sage backed away awkwardly, afraid she might have upset him.
Falcon sighed before rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "No, you can stay, I was almost done anyway." He said, gesturing to another barrel near his.
"Thank you." Sage gave a tiny curtsy before taking a seat, her bare feet poking out from under the pretty yellow sun dress Dot had given her to wear that morning.
Falcon flipped through some pages before finding his unfinished drawing. He took it out, placed it on the cover then continued to draw.
Sage watched in wonder as the sunset became alive on paper.
Within a matter of minutes Falcon had finished with a tiny splash of a signature at the bottom of the page. He smiled at his finished work then handed it to Sage.
"It's wonderful. You have a true talent for this." She said smiling, then handed it back.
"Keep it, it's yours." He said flatly before hoping off his seat and making his way to the back of the ship.
"Wait!" Sage called after him as she hurried to catch up with him.
Falcon continued to walk, but his pace had slowed steadily.
Sage walked beside him and found the courage to ask something she had been meaning to ask for a couple of days now.
"Could I see your room?" She asked.
Falcon stopped dead in his tracts and raised his eyebrows at her. "Beg your pardon?"
"Sam said you had lots of your art stashed away in your rooms, I'd like to see them." She said, not catching on to his astonishment.
"Right." Falcon blew out a heavy breath while he thought. "Only if you promise not to touch anything." He said forcefully.
"Promise." Sage said while holding up one hand in surrender.
"This way." He said, leading her through the big mermaid carved door, then through the right hand door and into his rooms.
It was dim but there were enough candles lit so that you could see around the room. The first room was full of wooden crates and tables covered in paints and brushes and coals and other art supplies. The walls had various paintings and drawings covering them, and the floor was bare in the middle for there was a large carved image there. It was a carved image of a forest full of night creatures and trolls and fairies. It was mysteriously charming in it's own way. On the right hand wall was another door. Sage walked over to it and was about to open it when Falcon grabbed her hand.
"What's through there?" She asked expectantly, looking into Falcon's cold eyes.
"That's where I sleep." He said coldly.
"Are there any pictures in there?" Sage asked.
"Yes." He answered.
"Then let me see." Sage said before rudely pushing him aside and opening the door. She gasped before her breath caught in her throat. Centered against the far wall was a large canopy bed. The bedposts were all carved with different creatures on them such as bears, deer, and wolves, even people. The floor was covered with a plush red Persian rug that felt like heaven on Sage's worn and cold bare feet. On the walls were some of the most beautiful pieces of art she had ever seen. There were paintings of raging seas, tropical islands, dry deserts and cozy cottages.
"What are all these pictures of?" She asked quietly as she traveled the room, taking in all the beauty.
"They're places the crew and I have seen and traveled to." Falcon said as he stood at the door, smiling a bit as he watched her gaze up in wonder at his work.
"Falcon, you know you could sell your art and become rich and never have to steal from another living soul again. You could be famous." She said.
"What is the fun in that? I rather like robbing rich, snobbish people with nothing better to do in their lives then rub it in to the poor that they have all the money." He said dryly, his smile gone.
"I'm not like that." Sage said defensively.
"I never said you were." He said smirking as he jumped onto his bed and lay on his back with his hands behind his head.
"Well you implied it." Sage crossed her arms across her chest.
"If that's what you want to think, then you go right on thinking it." He said looking up at the ceiling.
"You're insufferable, you know that?" Sage threw her arms up before storming to the door.
"Oh, Sage?" Falcon called causing Sage to stop in her tracks.
"What?" She snarled.
"Close the door, would you love?" He said before laughing as she yelled before slamming his door closed.
Back on deck Sage shuddered as a cold wind picked up her skirts making them dance against her legs. There was a sudden flash in the sky then a booming thunder.
"Storm approaching Sam!" Moose called from the crow's nest.
"Rickety, Ratch, secure the main mast." Sam ordered as he turned the wheel this way and that.
Sage walked up to the helm to see Sam. "What's going on?" She asked at his distressed look.
"There be a large storm approaching. You should be fine if you go and stay with Dot in her cabin." Sam grunted as a large wave hit them, pushing the rudder and ship in the wrong direction. Then he hissed as a big wind push against the boom sail giving him a hard time at holding the wheel. "It's best you get inside before it gets ugly out here, Sage." Sam said between breaths as he maneuvered the ship into the storm.
Sage nodded quickly before walking quickly down to the main deck then through the mermaid doors. A big wave had hit roughly on the side of the ship causing it to lurch to the right, also causing Sage to tumble to the right, falling onto Falcon in the process.
"Are you all right?" He asked from under her, subconsciously hold her still.
"Yes, sorry." Sage said blushing furiously with her eyes stuck on his.
"It's no problem." He replied, not letting go and not giving any sign that he was going to get up.
"I should probably get up." Sage said nervously, mentally slapping herself for being so awkward and clumsy.
"Probably." Falcon said leaning up.
Sage's eyes widened as she saw his face approaching hers. Memories from the governor's party entered her mind and she quickly rolled off of Falcon, backing into a wall.
"Whoa, I mean no harm, honest." Falcon said kneeling before her with his hands up in surrender.
"I need to get to Dot's room." Sage said quickly before getting up and running for Dot's room, slamming the door behind her.
Falcon scratched his head in confusion before heading out to the deck to give his crew orders.
"Are you all right," Dot asked, putting down her brush after having finished with her hair, "you looked flushed. Has the fever come back?" She asked worriedly.
"No, it's your brother." Sage said with her hand over her heart. "I think he just tried to kiss me." She put her hand on her forehead then wiped it over her face.
"Really?" Dot jumped up from her chair excitedly. "Does this mean you two are going to be married? Oh, I finally get to have a sister." She clapped joyfully before hugging the air out of Sage.
"Calm down Dot. We aren't getting married." Sage said pointedly. "We hardly seem to like each other as it is. I'm just very confused." She said before taking a seat on Dot's bed.
"Well I don't know about you, but my brother adores you." Dot said happily.
"What?" Sage looked surprised.
"It may seem as though he doesn't like you, but that's only because you intimidate him." Dot said smartly. "I think he's scared of being rejected or something." Dot said as she picked up the brush and began brushing Sage's hair.
"You really think he likes me?" Sage asked to be sure.
"Definitely." Dot nodded enthusiastically.
"Humm." Sage twirled a lock of hair around her finger as she thought about all the consequences there would be if she were to be with Falcon. Seeing a large list forming in her mind, Sage decided to ignore the consequences and just enjoy the feeling of being liked by a handsome pirate.
.GD.