Chapter 8 - Pirate's Lost Port

In spite of all her efforts to remain conscious, Blue had fallen asleep in the wagon. She dreamed, but the images soon were lost as she was shaken gently awake by Green.

"Wait, no, come back..." Blue mumbled, her head rolling from side to side.

"Wake up," Green prodded kindly. Blue refused to open her eyes; Legolas had been trying to tell her something. "Blue."

"Uh-uh."

"GET UP YOU RUDDY LITTLE FAIRY LOVER! WE'RE HERE!"

Blue threw her hands over her sensitive ears and shot up. Red frowned at her, then as Blue opened her eyes, Red's face broke into a smile.

"Awake now?" she asked, with that stupid, innocent little look on her face. Blue glared at the blonde woman malevolently. Air-head, she thought.

Blue shifted her focus now to the land in the distance. She scooted around the barrels in the back of the wagon to sit closer up to the front.

Before them was a small port town. Huts built of wooden planks were crowded closely together for a mile of two it seemed; numerous narrow dirt roads created an elaborate maze around and through the many buildings. At the water's edge stood a vast network of docks, where many ships of various make were moored.

"Welcome to Pirate's Lost Port," said Green.

Blue gaped. She had never seen a real ship before, only in paintings.

"Pirate?" she asked absent-mindedly.

Green sighed. "Let's see...pirates are...well..." she furrowed a brow. "Thieves on boats, basically."

Not more thieves, thought Blue. Anything but that.

Red giggled suddenly.

"What?" demanded Blue, not liking the gleeful glint in Red's eye one bit.

"Pirates," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"Oh, jeez..."

They made their way into the heart of the mini metropolis, Green humming contentedly, nodding occasionally to the passers-by. Red eyed every passing sea-man, Blue could see the blonde woman's excitement growing with each swashbuckler that walked by. Blue was weary. If this town was filled with people like Green, things would be quiet and comfortable, with people going about, minding their own business. Blue could handle that. If the town were filled with people like Red, on the other hand, it'd be a constant contest of slippery fingers, and she imagined there'd be a lot of drinking. Worse still, if they were all like Black...Blue shuddered. She made a mental note to avoid offending these people...she liked her tongue.

Green pulled the cart to a halt outside a large inn, complete with attached livery, known as The Eagle's Nest. As soon as Green stepped down from the driver's seat, a small, wiry boy perhaps ten, stood before prepared to take the horses and wagon to the stables. Green handed over the reins and informed the boy, "I expect to come back and not find any one of these barrels even the slightest bit lighter, understand?" The boy nodded and Green tossed him a few gold pieces. He politely stowed them in a pocket, bowed, and led the horses and cart away.

"My, but that boy has grown," Green mused. "He was only six years and yea high last I saw him." She shrugged and pushed her way though the faded green door. Red was right behind her, Blue followed a little more reluctantly; this might be a good time to flee if she was ever to escape these bandits.

The room was crowded and loud and filled with the smell of smoke, ale, and saltwater. A middle-aged man with a thick head of hair and full brown beard stood behind the bar, wearing an apron and drying a tankard.

"Oy!" he called out suddenly, waving to the party of women. "Jade! Over here!" he waved at Green enthusiastically with his rag; a smile lighting his face from ear to ear.

Green smiled and waved in turn as she made her way passed the tables of sailors. Blue stayed close to Green, she was fairly sure it was not a wise thing to be the lone woman in a place full of drunk, rowdy men. Red, however, was gone. Blue flicked her keen eyes once quickly around the room. The flirtatious blonde had already found her way onto the lap of some clean-shaved, blue-eyed man wearing a similar blue kerchief around his neck. Red said something to one of his companions, and the whole table threw their heads back in laughter.

Green dragged over a stool and plopped onto it and immediately engaged in a conversation with the admittedly good looking bar tender, if beards were your thing.

"Where is your dark friend?" asked the bartender as Green became situated. "The one that likes to sit in the corner and glare out at the crowd from underneath her black hood?"

The man had a sense of humor.

"Off on some errand of her own, I suppose," Green answered, "as she often does. She's supposed to meet us here in a day or two, just before we set sail again."

"Well let us hope that she meets some unexpected traffic along the way, shall we? She has a tendency to chase away well-paying customers," the man's eyes twinkled. "What of that Red woman who was with you before? Is she to meet you here as well?"

"No. Red's here somewhere." Green waved a hand around her head.

"I figured as much," the man replied. He put his elbows on the counter and leaned forward. "But you tell her to keep her twitching fingers out of my customers' pockets, or I'll have to escort her out, just like the last time."

Green chuckled. "Beld."

He smiled again. He had a nice smile.

"How have you been, Jade?" he asked, his eyes intent upon Green's.

Green sighed. "It's been much too long," she replied. Blue shifted uncomfortably on her stool. "Blue," Green said quickly, "why don't you go check on the cart? Make sure no people of questionable nature are hanging about it?" Blue took the hint, nodded, and left the pub.

Once Blue had disappeared through the door, Green met and held Beld's gaze. They said nothing for awhile, until Beld lowered his eyes, picking up another metal mug to dry off.

"How long did you say you were staying?" he asked.

"Two days or so," Green answered. "However long it takes to find a boat. I know there aren't many for sale this time of year."

"Aye," Beld agreed. Lifting his head from the tankard he said, "There's a crew staying here whose captain is rather fond of drink."

"Aye, and every other man within a ten league radius."

"He is also rather fond of cards," he added.

Green grinned. "And I imagine this Captain you speak of doesn't make too good of a gambler?"

Beld grinned back. "He'll be here at eight tomorrow night."

Blue strolled into the livery where the little blue-eyed boy was standing on a step stool to groom one of the large cart horses. The wagon itself was roped off at the back of the barn along with several others. She heard the screech of a sea bird, and decided to go out to the docks.

She walked down the boardwalks, looking the boats over in wonderment. There was a whistle and a shout from behind her, Blue walked faster.

Red loved pubs, and Inns were even better, because Inns had ale and food, and guests with heavy purses. The woman wrapped her arms around the blonde sailor's neck and batted her eyelashes. "I'm thirsty," she said. The man smiled more jovially and shouted across the room.

"Innkeeper! Why is this woman's hand empty? Innkeeper!"

A tall, bearded man soon came striding over and placed a mug of ale in front of Red.

"Watch yer purses, lads," warned the man, "this woman's fingers have a tendency to be slippery." Red glared at him.

"I don't mind her slippery fingers, so long as she don't mind mine," the sailor said, letting his hand slide lower down Red's back. The other men all laughed, and Red giggled girlishly.

"I won't hesitate to throw you out on yer bum, woman," the bearded man whispered in Red's ear. "I did once, and I'll do it again." Red gave him a nasty look before returning her attention to the pretty blonde sailor.