Captain's Will

19. Weigh Anchors

With his hands on his hips, Hongjoong stood to stare up at the Dungeness. She was bigger than the Grief, weightier. Contrary to a lightly equipped pirate ship that was meant for speed and agile steering, the massive battleship in their midst was loaded to the brink with cannons. The frigate stood taller than the Grief; her sails mightier, as she outshone the dodgy pirate ship.

Jongho had counted the cannons earlier. 56 on each broadside, four at the bow, and eight at the stern. A total of 124 cannons, all ready to shred the kraken into a heap of flesh.

The Dungeness was a ship unlike any vessel even the most honourable pirate would ever get his hands on. She was a treasure, a shining star, a beacon to bestow terror on any enemy foolish enough to challenge her. And she needed a captain.

The Grief lay in the waters, waiting for the crew to pick up their voyage. Hongjoong got the honours of steering the Dungeness out of her spot, putting Mingi's carpenting expertise to the test.

His crew was much too small to man all those cannons, but they were just enough to set the sails and weigh anchor on both ships. With Hongjoong behind the wheel of the majestic vessel, they listened to her creaking with strained ears. Mingi was downstairs with Jongho and Yeosang, keeping an eye on the leaks they had patched up. If any of them caved, they would be stranded for another while.

Now that he stood behind the wheel of such a mighty ship, Hongjoong wondered how anyone had ever dared sail her through the vicious reefs. At this size, she would get caught everywhere, and she lay deeper in the water than the Grief.

Beginner's mistakes, as he viewed it.

The Dungeness held up against getting put a spring upon. Accompanied by the cheers of the crew, Hongjoong manoeuvred her past the reefs and the concealed maelstroms that Wooyoung pointed out for him. Once they were out of the dangerous zone and the two ships comfortably rested next to each other, Hongjoong met with his crew on the deck.

"What say ye? Will she make it through a fight with the kraken?" Hongjoong asked Mingi. The man with the eye patch beamed a radiant smile.

"Aye, Captain, I think she will. If she goes to the depths, it be with the might o' a fallin' giant."

"Very well," Hongjoong smirked back. That was exactly what they had wanted.

"We need to sail fer land to 'ire a lot o' men. Pick up any treasure ye can find on yer way there. I want them cannons stuffed to the brim by the time we visit our old bucko in the briney deep."

"Aye, Captain!"

Hongjoong turned to his left. Seonghwa stood there with his hands crossed behind his back and his heels clasped. Mingi was by his side, ever the shrewd pirate, as he awaited his orders. San waited next to them, smaller than the boatswain, but with no less threat wafting off him.

Hongjoong's heart had already made its decision. Only one of them could steer the Dungeness. She was a ship most fitting to him, in every way aside from the obvious one.

"Ye steer the Dungeness, Cabezon. Draw as many mateys as ye need."

Surprise crossed Seonghwa's face more than those of the other two. Mingi stalked off immediately to bark at the crew that they better listened to the commodore, or else he would get the cat. With a subtle smirk, San backed away to discuss the route with Wooyoung.

The wind ran invisible fingers through his hair as Seonghwa remained with Hongjoong.

"Me?"

Hongjoong gestured at the gorgeous ship they stood on.