April 17 Ninth Morning Bell
I greatly wish you could have seen all of the traders! They had stalls set up in a long strip. Everywhere ye would look, something would catch ye eyes. A sparkle of perfectly cut jewels, the shimmer of delicately dyed silks, the gentle meowing of kittens, oh the possibilities were endless. Father gave me 10 shillings, 5 doubloons, and a purse full of English gems from the Stephany. We sunk her at least three weeks ago after looting her of her treasures, which included sixty and eight shillings, a small chest of gems, and many necessary armory supplies. I had found the chest of gems so Father let me keep half. The rest went to the ship. Father let me roam the stalls with the accompany of Doctor and Steven, doctor's accomplice, who is sixteen. Steven is very nice and has the prettiest blue eyes that accompanies blond locks. He is two feet taller then I but sometimes I believe I can hold more weight then he can. I was surprised to see the traders as well as the buyers look at my arm and my sword strangely. I believe they are wondering why a girl would have an arm in a splint and a sword by her side. Nevertheless, Steven smiled at me while we went to a stall full of powders, hooks, and blades. I waited patiently for as long as I possibly could listen to Doctor and the trader talk about the latest medication available. Finally, Doctor turned to me while the trader dealt with another person. He told me to go with Steven, since he will be at this stall a while. Steven was glad to accompany me instead of listening to Doctor and the trader drone on. We went to a stall where silks glistened in the sun. The trader was very nice when I told him I would like to purchase one of the silk shawls. He picked out the very best ones he had and showed them to me. The trader said that the silk is made from silk worms. I can not imagine an insect making something as beautiful as silk. With the help of the trader, we narrowed the shawls down to two both being the perfect width and length for me in the present and for the future. One was jet black and the other was a deep plum. I held them up to Steven and asked for his opinion. He said either one will look beautiful on ye. After much thought, I chose the plum and asked the trader if one of the precious gems would cover the price. He gladly said yes, as I handed him a deep green rectangular gem. Here, money is precious since they barter most of the time. The trader wrapped the shawl in thin paper that resembled bee's wings and I tucked the parcel neatly under my arm as I gave the trader my gratitude. Steven, who hardly ever talks, asked me if we could look in the stall next to the silks. Immediately, I saw the glint of steel and smiled at Steven as we walked over to the booth. Swords were delicately placed on the wood of the stall. Daggers to broad swords-the length of the blade twice the size of my palm rested neatly on wooden pegs. The trader was very big and scowled at us until I saw his little eyes glance down at my sword. Immediately, he became very welcoming and nice, showing us different swords until he came up to a savor with an ivory handle engraved with the Spanish tongue. The blade was folded steel and was the width of my entire hand. I could see Steven's fascination with the sword and so could the greedy trader. Steven asked how much the sword was and the trader said it was thirty shillings. Steven gaped at the high price since Father gave him only 5 shillings. 5 shillings was a very generous amount for a captain to give an apprentice. I must admit the sword was worth the high price. I simply told the trader we'd take it as long as he accepted English gems, holding out two identical blue pear shaped gems. The trader greedily looked at the gems and said it was a deal. I gave him the gems as he gave Steven the sword. As I turned to leave, the trader asked if he could ask me a question but did not want to be rude. I stood quiet for a second and turned to face the trader. He asked what type of sword I had at my side. I took out my sword and handed it to the trader to inspect. I must say I can not wait for this splint to come off; it is very hard for me to get my sword out of its sheaf with it on. He handed it back to me commenting that it was a very expensive sword. Then he asked what type of symbol was branded on the sheaf. I took off my belt and showed the trader the symbol. He took one look at it and stared at me wide-eyed. He asked if I knew what this symbol was. I laughed and proceeded to tell him that was my father's mark. This shocked the trader as he stepped a pace back and asked if I was a pirate as well. I told him I was and I am proud to be. He then hurried back to his stall and grabbed a belt made out of leather dyed a deep blue with a matching sheaf that looked magnificent against the ivory of Steven's sword. This is complements of my stall. I have great respect for pirates said he. He then asked if I had hurt my arm out on the pirate ship and I said yes as I proceeded to tell him how. We then gave him our thanks and left. As soon as we were out of an earshot of the trader, Steven asked why ye did that. I responded that was my thanks for staying with me. He said that he owes me now. I told him that as long as he comes with me every time we trade, he can consider it even. Steven pointed to a booth that had walls draped with dresses and asked if I wanted to look at them. I eagerly ran over to the dresses and looked at each one carefully. We had gone to at least a dozen booths when the sun was even with the top of the…chapel I believe it is called. It is a beautiful structure with a tower sticking straight up to the sky. There is a white cross on top of the tower. Father told us to meet him at the dock when the sun touched the top of the tower. Luckily, we were right at the dock so we went right to where the ship was docked. Father smiled as he looked at me with many parcels at my side. I gave him the leftover gems and doubloons while apologizing for spending all of the shillings. Father said that shillings were not as valuable as gems or doubloons. He told me to put my parcels in his cabin and lock it for safekeeping while we look at the stalls together. I said yes sir and we went down the long road of stalls until Father suddenly told me to go to a stall on the starboard side. Strange noises came from within its closed tent behind the stall's counters. A trader no taller then I appeared behind the counter. His spectacles enlarged his eyes to be like a bug. He said Good Afternoon Capt. Father said good afternoon back as he walked into the entrance at the right f the stall with me tagging close behind like a canoe tags behind a ship. The tent was a little dark with maroon light shining inside the tent. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw dozens of cages stacked neatly upon boxes as pedestals. I gasped in delight, as I peered into every cage to find monkeys, brightly colored parrots, strange furless cats, and a huge turtle. The ones that caught my eye were the monkeys. These monkeys were not brown like the other monkeys I had seen. Five were a bright orange with a blue rump. Two were a deep gold. Three more were gray with a pink tinge. Then there was a monkey that was all black with a white chest and the tip of his tail was white. This monkey was very friendly and went right over to me when I peered into his cage. He was as fascinated with my hair as I was with his fur. Father tapped my shoulder and whispered to me pick whichever one you like. I gasped in glee and immediately, my eyes went to the striking gold monkeys. As if to state his opinion, the black monkey pulled a lock of my hair and I smiled at him. This one I told my father and he told the man it would be the black one. The man smiled at me and told me that he was a spider monkey and is very valuable. The man put a key in the lock on the monkey's cage and the monkey obediently sat on my shoulder. As we walked up the deck of the ship, everyone was staring at my strange monkey. Steven was even curious enough to ask me what type of monkey he is. I proceeded to tell him that he was a rare spider monkey. As if to prove himself, Spider, the name I chose for my monkey, climbed up to the crow's nest and back down in record time as he went back on my shoulder. As I turned to leave, I saw Steven's sword in its sheaf by his side. I smiled at Steven and he smiled back, hand resting on the sword's sheaf. Father then called me into his cabin so I could show him what I got with the allowance he gave me. First, I had shown him the airy light blue and the soft sea green dresses. Then I had shown him the beautiful pearls that dangled from a delicate chain to go around my neck like a necklace. I had then shown him the huge medicine book I bought for Doctor as thanks for teaching me about medicine. I shown Father the two belts made from…cow…I believe next. The fur is white with big patches of black. There is blue silk around the edges. Father asked why I had bought two and I told him the trader gave me one as a complement from buying one of his items. I showed him the deep blue leather and deep green Spanish heel boots next. The insides are lined with velvet of black. They are so very comfortable and light on my feet. Lastly, I showed Father the deep plum silk shawl. I took it out carefully not to rip the paper and put it around my shoulders. Father said it was very nice as he felt the shawl. I asked Father how a worm can make something as beautiful as silk. Father nodded and told me that nature is very beautiful, just like when the frost covers a spider web. I smiled as I proceeded to carry my things down to my chamber, which is located under the captain's cabin, when father told me he had bought me something. I told him that he had already gotten me Spider and there was no need for anything else. He smiled and told me to sit down. Therefore, I sat down on his bed as Father sat a wooden chest, the size of both my hands together, on my lap. The chest was carved from a Cedar tree and smelled like a forest. I had only seen a forest once and it was on an island that was deserted. The crew spent three days time on the island since we buried treasure there. The ship can rest sure since only my Father knows the location. He hasn't even trusted me upon the secret. I loved the forest because ye mind says ye are lost, but ye find ye's self back on the shore. The forest smells of this wood. The chest bears my initials as well as father's crest entangled in a weave of vines carved into the wood. Father smiles as I look up to him and told me to open the chest. I open the chest and a black shell with blue streaks is nestled between a scarf of gold silk. The shell has gold around the edges and a lock on one side to open the shell. I open the shell to reveal a delicate black pearl inside. It is beautiful .Father says it is my present and as long as I keep the pearl inside the shell, my life will be at peace. It is an old legend that bears black shells found with a black pearl inside. They are very rare and very valuable. I thank my father and give him a great hug. Father then dismissed me to my chambers. To get to my chamber, ye must go to the bow of the ship and go down a flight of steps. There is a heavy wooden door covering the entrance in case of a storm. I am very glad the stairs is the only way to my chamber since the sailors are always banging around in their part of the ship. Even though there is a thick, wooden wall separating me from them, ye can hear them moving about in untold hours. Since I have been on this ship since I was five, I am used to it. My chamber is not that huge. There is just enough room for my sailor-size hammock and my beautiful chest made from rosewood. I keep all of my belongings in the chest. My hammock is very big for me, but I think it is better that way. I have a quilt made out of fur that I use as a blanket. Ye can most likely fit three of me comfortably underneath it so it is the exact width of my hammock. Alas, Father calls for me. I hope that I can write later.