Short stories

Rowans story: part 3

Rowan dropped his mop with a clatter, and skidded across the slick deck to stop at the captain's feet who was standing at the bow of the ship with another crew member, who he was talking to.

"Captain!" Rowan said, running up, skidding to a halt behind them, interrupting their conversation. Captain Monty slowly turned around, and looked down at him.

"What is it?" he asked, obviously annoyed.

"That island there," Rowan pointed to it. "There's a village smack in the middle of it. Good plunder and plenty of food to be pillaged."

"Oh? And how have you come about this information boy?" The captain glanced over at the island skeptically.

"Because that island is where I used to live." Rowan said with a twinge of spite.

"Okay then, what makes me so sure you won't just abandon us if we go ashore?"

"Well... they won't take me back," Rowan said simply. "They threw me off a cliff with full intentions to kill me. Why would I go back to them?"

"Aye, that's true." The captain said with consideration. Then he turned back to look at the island, his hands folded behind his back for a long, silent minute. Then, swiftly, he turned, and raised his hand to signal the man steering the ship. "Turn left! Raise the flags! Prepare to go a shore!" He called loudly to the whole crew. A cry of glee rose up as men strapped on pistols, grabbed axes and lit torches, readying themselves.

  They drifted up a little ways to the island, then the sails were hoisted up and tucked away. The anchor was dropped into the water. They drifted a little more until they came to a stop a good 100 feet away from shore. Some of the crew hopped into rowboats and were lowered into the water. Rowan was sure he would just stay here, all the times before he had been ordered to stay and guard the ship with a few others. He went to work helping load supplies and lower the boats. He was just helping load the last one boat when he was given a rough push from behind. He turned to scowl at the person, but saw the captain standing there. He quickly cleared the look from his face and stood at attention.

"Get in boy, unless of course you're too cranky and want to stay," he went past Rowan and into the boat himself.

  Rowan smiled, shouting at a man on deck to take the rope, then hopped into the boat himself. He was actually going to go this time, and he felt excited. He was the one they had row to shore, but he hardly noticed the hard work, waves fighting against him, and kept steady the entire time.

  They reached the shore, and after everyone got off, he drug the boat furth4r up onto the beach so it didn't float away. The others were already waiting for the captain to give orders. Rowan walked up to the captain.

"May I suggest something?" He asked, a little scared.

"What is it." The captain said, obviously not used to suggestions. It was usually what he said went, and everyone just followed that.

"I suggest that we sneak up. There's a good bit of ground in between us and the village. And it is all forest." He stretched out his arm, indicating to the trees back away from the beach. "If we storm through, they will hear us and be ready with their weapons. I know that they have a ready set of defenses." He expressed in a tone of warning.

  The captain listened to him, nodded, then grunted in reluctance. He narrowed his eyes, looking out to the forest.

"Not a bad idea," he mumbled to Rowan, turning his gaze back. Then he stood and raised his hands, immediately the rest of the crew quieted and turned their attention to him.

"We are going to go quietly until we reach the village," he called in a demanding tone. Some of them groaned but the captain shot them a look that could stop their heart. "If I hear a grumble out of any one of you, we will be one man short and I don't want that to happen." He gazed over the men. "Is that understood?" All of the men nodded their heads. 

"Good. Let's go. You lead the way boy." The captain shoved Rowan forwards.

  Rowan was surprised, but then again it was right, since he knew where the village was. He began walking, nimbly avoiding fallen branches, stepping over the crunchy stems, and stepped around any patches of dry nettles. As for the crew, it sounded like a bear was making its way through after he had a few to many to drink, but Rowan just hoped it wasn't loud enough for the village to hear.

  Before long they were close to the village. Rowan could see the back of a house, and a worn dirt path leading into the town. However, it was then that they had enough of waiting. Captain Monty gave a loud shout, and everyone hollered and roared. They ran with a great cry and blazing of torches into the town.

  People that were in the town screamed in horror. Clouds of dust rose up into the air from the many stampeding feet. Everyone dispersed, tearing down fences, ripping up plants, rampaging houses. A great orange blaze caught Rowan's eye as one of the pirates tossed a torch onto a house, which immediately spread across the whole straw roof, flames licking high into the air.

  Rowan felt the energy, drew his sword in one hand, torch in the other, and charged into the town, yelling. He ran down the street, pushing past an old man. He soon came to the main building. A spark of anger ignited in his chest. The last time he was here... the memories came back to him with burning hatred.nhe was wronged here by the chief, who sentenced him to death. Unfairly. And his parents... his parents. He growled at the thought. They didn't do anything in his defense. 

Rowan went up to door and tried to open it, but yanked on the handle in frustration w hen he found it locked. He stepped back, and kicked it hard. On impact it cracked down the edge and fell down into the room. Rowan stepped on it and went inside, holding the torch tightly. He charged into the throne room, brining the touch out in front of him to see.

It was empty.

Rowan ran back out and into another room, which was also empty. It was a smallish building, but there was one room left. He went to go in, but the door was closed, and also locked. Rowan went to kick it, but when his foot hit it, it bounced back off, the door to solid to kick down. Anger knitted Rowan's face. He reeled back, and kicked it again, this time harder. The door ripped off the frame, flying into the room, hitting the back wall, clattering to the floor. He stepped inside, and immediately saw why it was locked. All assortment of priceless objects were inside. Jeweled statues, stacks of gold, a silver framed mirror, a bowl of rings, necklaces, and many other things. At the end of the room, a wooden pedestal stood, and perched on it was a golden crown, streaked with silver and embedded with rubies, presenting it as the most prized possession of all.

"Hah! To bad its all going away," Rowan sneered. He snatched the crown, placing it mockingly on his head. Then he grabbed a fistful of gold coins and rings, shoving them in his pocket. He spied a sword sheath near the door. It had a silver handle, embedded with blue stones, and the sheath was silver with beautiful engravings all along it. Rowan smiled, grabbing it and slinging it on his back. Then he ran out the front door, hollering.

"In there! There's treasure in there!" He waved his hand to the main building and yelled in the direction of some of the crew. They perked their heads up, and one of them dropped a barrel of food they were holding, which cracked open, spilling corn all over the ground. They ran into the main building, and Rowan ran down a street to his left.

  Rowan had a different mission now. He ran down the road, scanning the houses. Most of them were being raided, pirates smashing windows, breaking things, and setting them on fire. But Rowan ran past most of them, searching for a specific house. His old house. He was going to pay his parents a little visit.