Chapter Three ~
For the next three weeks they sailed aboard the SAFARI, Rivka and Zaralinda learned a lot about sailing. Zaralinda also build a special bond with Mr. Gibbs. Though Rivka wasn't as close to the man as her friend, she most definitly enjoyed being in the presence of the man.
She also, finally, understood what Zaralinda found so interesting in the tall tales of the sailors - why Zaralinda tended to sneak into the tavens in Argus just to listen to the talk of the seas. Gibbs could tell exagerated, but captivating tales indeed. And what's more, they were that interesting to listen to.
When they finally arrived in Tortuga, Gibbs abondened ship to stay with the two ladies. He didn't want them roaming through the streets of Tortuga unsupervised. He had a soft spot in his heart for the ladies, and didn't have any problem with showing so.
Another reason he sticked with them was because he felt like he had a peice of his sister when he was close to Zaralinda. Almost everythinhg she did reminded him of her. Except, probably the way she talked and at times acted. She was raised a royal after all and her mother a pirate. What the two mainly had in coimmn was their love of the sea.
When she start talking so passionately about the sea, Gibbs would get tears in his eyes as they would sound just like Kailasa.
Once they did get to Tortuga, they spent a total of ttwo days there before Zaralinda wanted to set out to sea again. She didn't care if she had to worked for a pirate or a merchant sailor as long as she could be out in the open sea. Tortuga was way to stuffy for her taste.
Mr Gibbs promised to find work in a ship for her. He didn't want anyone taking advantage of the lady, especially with the ways she looked.
However, it was another three weeks before he could find someone who was looking for a crew.
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Zaralinda, who didn't want to be stuck in her room all night, told Rivka that she was going to go search for and escaped from the confines of her room.
While she hadn't exactly lied to Rivka, she wasn't going out just to search for Mr. Gibbs. In fact she didn't need to look for the man - she knew where she will be able to find him. No, rather, her destination was the docks.
No she wasn't going to search for a job - she left that up to the very capable hands of her uncle. The reason she went to the docks was to get some fresh air. Though she was outside, she felt like the docks is the only place where she got fresh air. The rum smelling streets filles with drunkards and wenchs really wasn't to her taste.
The route she took to the docks was mainly not used. She had to pass by the back of the faithful bride to get to the docks and she made a note to have an eye out for Mr Gibbs as she passed the popular tavern.
As she neared the place she knew that her uncle would be passed out on, she spotted two men standing by the pig sty, buckets of who knew what in their hands.
From the place she was standing, she couldn't clearly see whether her uncle was passed out there or not. Slowly, trying not to make any noise, Zaralinda inched closer to the two men.
One of the two men threw the bucket - it turned out to be water - of water over the sleeping man.
"CURSE YOU FOR BREATHING YOU SLACK JAWED IDIOT" he yelled, weilding a dagger at the rough way he was woken up.
Stifling a gasp, she hurried her steps toward the three men.
"Mothers love, Jack?" Gibbs questioned with recognition in his voice as he finally noticed who had woken him up. This caused Zaralinda to pause in her steps, unsure. Her uncle seemed to know those men - or at least one of them since he hadn't acknowledged the other.
But just to be sure, she stayed where she was - instead of continueing on her way to her docks. She didn't want to have to deal with Tortuga without the help of a man. That much she could admit to herself.
"You should know better than to wake a man when he's sleeping. Ms bad luck." Gibbs told to the man - whom Zaralinda still couldn't see properly - not making a move to get off the floor.
"Fortunately, I know how to counter it." The man, the one in the three-cone hat and long coat said, kneeling in front of the older man. "The man who did the waking buys the man who who was sleeping a drink. That man who was sleeping,drinks it while listening to a proposition by the man who did the waking." He got out in one breath, confusing both his companion and Zaralinda's inform.
Zaralinda, so had been listening to the conversation this whole time wasn't confused by what the man said. In fact, she had understand the man almost perfectly fine. What confused her was how what he said could counter the curse her buncle had talked about.
Not realising she had been waking forward, she felt drawn to her uncles conversation. Something about the way the man in he three-cone hat sounded familliar, though she could Serafina she haven't seen the man before. She knew she's recognise someone like him imediately.
Gibbs deciding that he didn't want to decipher Jacks words, said, "Aye, that'll about do it."
The man in the three-cone hat held his hand out and pulled Gibbs up to his feet. The moment the man had stepped back, his companion threw water, in the bucket, in his hand, at Gibbs.
"Blast, I'm already awake!" Gibbs yelled as Zaralinda sucked in a deep breath - that was drowned out by her uncles yelling - and hurried up to the men.
"That was for the smell." The man who threw the bucket of water, stated with a careless shrug of his shoulder.
She couldn't help herself. The whole thing had been too funny to watch - from the very start, that before she could hold it in, a giggled escaped her lips. And just like than, she found three pairs of eyes staring a her. The man not wearing a hat even had his sword pulled out.
In his defence,she had startled him. He hadn't expected anyone to be listening in on them. After all the alley had been rather deserted when they had come out back there.
Jacks and Wills eyebrows raised upon seeing a girl - and she didn't look like the whores they had passed to get their. She was actually wearing a gown that covered her whole and a cloak with the good pulled up that they couldn't even see half her face. Gibbs instantly recognised the girls as his niece and blinked doing confusion.
"Zaralinda, what are you doing walking down an alley all alone at this time?" He question/demanded near the girl as she stepped closer to the three men. Now that she had been spotted, she didn't feel the need to stay hidden.
"Why uncle, I feel offended, looking for you of course." She mocked hurt as she answered him, a sweet smile taking over her lips as she said she was looking for him.
At the moment she said uncle, Jack looked from the girl - whom he still couldn't see properly - to Gibbs with a puzzled expression. For all he knew Gibbs, he was puzzled why this strangers girl was calling the man uncle. And whats more, though she was here in Tortuga, she didn't look like she belonged in there. The way she held herself, the way she talked, they all spoke like someone who could actually afford studying.
Besides no whore in Tortuga would be able to talk the way she did, nor hold themselves with the dignity she just seemed to radiate. No this stranger girl was someone of worth and this didn't escape Jack.
Gibbs, not falling for Zaralinda's half truth, gave her a blank look.
"Okay, fine. I was on my way to the docks." She admitted, not looking - or sounding - slightly sheepish than she had been caught on her lie. "But I was gonna look for you on my way back." She added with a beaming smile that was totaly lost on the men so couldn't see it - due to the light being behind her and the good of the cloak she had pulled over half her face.
"You've been gone for three days and no more what-so-ever. We were worried." She added, pouting as she crossed her hand over her chest. Too bad the cloak covered her curvy figure. "Well... since you seem all fine and all, I'll be on my way then." She added cheerfully and tried making her escape before her uncle could stop her.
Tried, being the key word.
Because Jack - seeing Gibbs about to protest - quickly stepped on her path, blocking her way.
Zaralinda stopped short, her nose lightly grazing on the mans chest. Quickly taking a step back, she looked up at the man with her head cocked.
Surprisingly her hood didn't fall back when she did that.
But even more surprising was that Jack felt something shift around her as he blocked her way. What he didn't know was that she had used her powers too keep her hood from falling back and revealing her face, that was what he had felt.
"Zaralinda, 'ts not a good thing to be walking about at this time." Gibbs warned her, gaining back her attention before Jack could say something.
"Not to worry uncle. I've got my best friend right here." She said confidently as she lightly pushed the sword hidden beneath her cloak up from her thumb, flashing the men a silver of the blade.
Jack and Will were surely startld to find her flash a sword, but Jack hid his surprise well.
Gibbs sighed, but didn't tell anything. He knew nothing would happen to his neice. She could very well as take care of herself. Still, he couldn't help worrying about the girl. She was too sweet and friendly for her own good. He feared that one of these days, someone would take advantage of her trusting nature and use it against her.
This time when she walked away, no one stopped her.
"Where did you find that fine piece of work?" Jack asked Gibbs, staring at the bellowing cloak - for that was all they could see of the retreating lady.
"She's Kailasa's daughter, Jack." Gibbs told, staring after the lady with worry etched in his features. "Found her a few weeks ago aboard the SAFARI."
"How did she end up aboard a pirate ship?" Jack question, looking away from the lady long enough to give Gibbs a incredulous look.
Gibbs saying she's Kailasa's daughter was explanation enough for Jack to recognise the royal princess of Agnes.
"She ran away." Gibbs said in a way of explanation. Then turned back to Jack - they could no longer see the retreating form of Zaralinda. "Now, how about that drink?"