6:
"Is she dead? Can we eat her? Is she dead? Can we eat her?"
"Shut your yap, you beast! We're in the presence of a lady."
"Whooo hooo pretty lady. I am lost. Help me. Help me, pretty lady. Whooo hooo."
"Who taught you to say that, Willy? You're not thinking of infringing on my territory, are you?"
"Pretty lady. Pretty lady!"
Aika's brown eyes opened into slits as she pushed herself up in the bed. She rubbed her eyes as she tried to take in her surroundings. She was sitting on a simple queen size bed in a room that had a sleek wood finish. The parrot whistling and making cat calls in her direction let her know that she was safe.
"Good to see you finally up." Gilder said.
"Up?" Aika scratched the back of her head. "When was I down?"
"Surely you remember your little freefall through the air." he pressed. He sat in a chair by the bed and Aika realized that she didn't know how long he had been there.
"Freefall?…"
"You know, I used to fantasize about beautiful women raining down from the sky." Gilder continued. "I never realized what a hazard they would be."
The air pirate tugged at the sling around his right arm until he was able to produce a metal case of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. Aika watched him, dazed, as he tried to open the case with his good hand.
"Did I do that to your arm?" Aika pointed towards his sling.
Gilder looked down at his useless limb and chuckled softly. "Wrist, actually and yes, you did." He replied. "You may not look like you weigh much now, but when you're soaring through the air at terminal velocity you can pack quite the punch." He chuckled then added, "Especially to a half-drunk captain who's feebly trying to save you from your untimely death."
"Oh my gosh!" Aika exclaimed. "Pow!"
"Is fine." Gilder reassured her. "He's already made best friends with my cook."
"I'm glad that he's alright." Aika sighed.
"You might be," Gilder smirked. "but my dear friend Willy doesn't share your opinion."
"Oh?" Aika cast a sidelong glance at the brightly colored parrot.
Willy fluffed his wings out with an air of self-importance. "Help me. Help me!" he cawed.
"Your huskra seemed to think he could make a quick snack out of poor Willy." Gilder explained. He pointed to his shoulder supporting the sling. "Without his usual perch, he doesn't have many places to hide either."
"I'm sorry, Gilder." Aika reached up and found a lock of red hair that had been torn loose from her braids and tangled during her plummet through the air. She tugged on the hair as she tried to concentrate on anything but the heat rising to her cheeks.
"Don't worry about it." Gilder finally managed to open his cigarette case. "Willy was in need of a good workout. What's the use of a portly parrot?"
"Pretty lady help me. Help me, pretty lady." Willy squawked.
Aika giggled. "So what were you doing sailing in this area?" she asked.
"The usual." Gilder shrugged with his good arm. "I'm in search of fine loqua, beautiful women and song. The good life. What were you doing dropping out of the sky?"
Aika felt her face burn as she fingered a braid carelessly. "The usual?" She grinned.
"I didn't realize that you made a habit of diving face-first through the air." Gilder said dryly. He propped a cigarette in his lips and asked, "You mind?"
Aika stuck out her tongue. "Ick."
Gilder frowned and plucked the cigarette from his mouth. He gave the cigarette one last wistful glance and with a sigh, tucked it back into his jacket pocket.
"What happened to you before the Claudia arrived?" he asked.
"Baltor and his Black Pirates." Aika scowled. "They blew me out of the sky because they could."
"Were you traveling with anyone else?" Gilder pushed his wire-rim glasses up his nose with a middle finger.
"No." Aika shook her head.
"Well, that's a relief." Gilder said. "What were you doing by yourself?"
"Well, that…" she trailed off. Aika tried to smile but it turned into a grimace. "It's really not that important."
"I thought it was important enough for me to break my wrist over, but if you say it's not important then I'll believe you." Gilder proceeded to yawn, but Aika realized that despite his outwardly casual demeanor the older man was regarding her carefully.
She shifted on the stiff mattress. "Thanks." she whispered.
"No worries." He shrugged. "We're heading in the direction of Crescent Isle anyway. We can drop you off."
"No!" Aika yelped before she could cover her mouth with a hand.
She blinked as the panic set in. Her brows furrowed and she attempted to project an air of business-like professionalism and disciplined self-control. One corner of Gilder's mouth twitched upwards in what would have been considered a smile if it weren't so devilish.
"I just assumed that after that disaster you'd be finished with your vacation." The devil-smirk died on his face, but his eyes betrayed him. Despite his seriousness, deep down Aika knew that Gilder was laughing at her.
"I'm not ready to go back to Crescent Isle just yet." Aika admitted. "Do you have room in your crew for another Blue Rogue?"
"This crew always welcomes attractive women." Gilder chuckled. "Granted, we don't get them very often. I'll have to supply you with a stick in case one of the boys gets too forward."
"So you'll let me join you?" Her smile reached to both her ears.
"Would you be able to cast Sacri on my wrist?" he asked.
"Absolutely." A blush flooded her cheeks.
"Welcome to the Claudia." Gilder nodded.
Aika laughed as she saluted her new captain.