The Shores of God, Traitors Gold

Prologue

"Mesa!" My mother cried, as she rushed to the ships edge, snatching my sister up and away from its edge. "Please," she pleaded, "I can't bare to see you so close to the edge."

"Oh mom, please?" Mesa begged as she was gently placed back on the deck. "Moore gets to looks over."

I turned around to face my sister and gave her a taunting smile. Mesa almost always got her way, when she didn't I couldn't help but tease her about it. What bothered her the most was when I got to do things that she didn't, we were twins after all.

"Mommy please, why can't I look over?" Mesa begged again.

"Because," my father answered grabbing my sister from behind. He through her into the air then caught her in his arms. "We don't want to lose you, your the only little lady we've got."
Mesa laughed, and through her arms up in the air asking for father to toss her up again as usual, it worked.

"Crag!" I yelled after I had had enough of watching Mesa.

"What?" Crag hollered from across the ship.

"Let's fight." I suggested running for my wooden practice blade. Crag said nothing but ran just as fast as I did, we raced for our swords.

Crag got to his first but he still couldn't match my speed when dueling. We faced off for only a minute then lurched into a fierce battle. I cut to his outside arm but Crag blocked it, I then went for his legs but that too was countered. This must be how it feels to battle pirates! I took in a deep breath and lunged forward poking Crag in the gut.

"Aww," he yelled. "That's not fair dad hasn't taught us that yet!"

"There's no rule about that." I yelled back.

"YES TH-." Crag was cut off.

"Fight with your swords," Atoll suggested from where he stood on the bow, "not your mouths."

Crag and I began again thrusting and slashing at each other vigorously. What fun especially when I was the one winning. Crag and I fought and fought I could have kept on fighting for hours.

"Hey Moore, wanna fight me?" Gulch asked, after I had beaten Crag at least three times more.

I nodded and another battle ensued. Gulch was much taller and older then I, but I was still able to hold my own. We fought for a good ten minutes until Gulch had finally managed to drive his old wooden sword into my side. I winced at the splintering pain but didn't cry, I was tougher than that.

"I want to try!" Mesa said grabbing herself a practice sword and running to meet Gulch and I.

"I don't think so," Gulch answered.

"Your just to little." I said. Mesa wrinkled her nose and huffed out of anger.

"But Moore I am so bored, please?" She asked looking into my eyes. Stupidly I looked straight back at her, I couldn't help but smile she was my best friend, most of the time.

"Okay fine, after I beat Gulch." I answered.

She frowned. "But Moore I don't want to wait."

"Then go help momma watch Field." Atoll told Mesa as he came over to join us. Mesa walked off with her head down.

Gulch and I began again with even more energy than before but this time I wasn't able to last, and was quickly overthrown.

"All right Moore," Atoll said. "let's fight."

I swallowed. I had promised Mesa she could be next but I had never really fought Atoll, he was just so much older and stronger than I was. I was only ten and he was sixteen. But I wasn't going to say no, I wasn't a wimp. "Sorry Mesa" I whispered aloud. She would just have to wait.

I took my stance and straightened up. So did Atoll, and we fought. I was very surprised by his strength and speed but I was still going to try my best, even though I was bound to lose. As we fought we traveled up and down the main deck, to the bow then the stern, I was starting to feel slightly proud of myself for lasting so long.

I took a swing at Atolls head, which was hard considering his height, as he ducked I saw Mesa leaning head first over the ships railing. My body went stiff as I saw her feet leave the surface of the deck.

Atoll turned, "Mesa!" He cried lurching his body forward and rushing to the edge, we both knew that he would not make it in time. Before I could even move my legs I heard the frightful splash of water.

My fathers footsteps thudded loudly against the planks of the ship as he ran and through himself over the edge of the ship into the water after Mesa.

I ran after them to the ships edge and stood frozen with Atoll, as the rest of the family anxiously joined us. I stared into the water and watched my father reemerge alone. He took a deep breath and dived back into the deep. Tears began to leave my eyes. My mother sobbed uncontrollably.

And father surfaced once again empty handed and alone...