The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 6: Rebel of the Heart

As Michael stepped off the landing and into the galley, the pungent smell of catfish and onions filled his nostrils. His stomach groaned in longing. He was one of the stragglers, having been the one to oversee that they'd weighed anchor for the night and that all lanterns on the main deck were extinguished before he could get supper. Those who weren't too busy filling up on that night's supper, or in the midst of conversation with their fellow tablemates, hailed the sight of the first mate. Another long day in the life of a sailor. Especially one that sailed under the flag of Dread Pirate Robin. Yet no man in that galley would have traded it for any other way of living.

Michael headed to the food line that went down the middle of the mess hall. As the first mate passed by, he heard snatches of busy conversation that used the words Atlantis and Calypso interchangeably. Not many days passed after The Jolly Roger had sailed clear out of Tarym for the Pirate King to tersely inform his crew about the dual mission they were setting toward. Now all any of the men talked about day and night was either the riches they could find in Atlantis or the perils of searching for the sea goddess and her powerful instrument. Michael, like any sailor on The Jolly Roger, had been scared stiff when they were informed that the Wall of Death was one of their destinations. Yet, while the other men still reeled over that information and endlessly counted the probability of surviving, the first mate had faith that his captain would deliver them safely. Or at least the majority of them.

When Michael fell in line behind a slightly shorter fellow humming absentmindedly to himself, he said, "Hello there, Matt. How'd the work go today?"

Matt turned around to see the first mate. He was a handful of years Michael's senior with a mop of russet hair and a nose as round as a button. A light scar ran through his graying left eyebrow. Matt smiled crookedly at the first mate, revealing equally crooked teeth. " 'Sall good, mate." Having lived more than half his life in the busy seaside towns of Delta Point before turning to piracy, Matt's high voice still contained the laidback but clipped accent of the region. "I took a few licks from the captain when I fell asleep in the mi'l of tarring the hull."

Michael's blue eyes trailed over the faded black lines running diagonally across Matt's freckled face. One corner of Michael's mouth lifted. "Maybe next time you'll think twice about staying up sharing a sack of grog with John and Dillweed," he said. "I remember last time I fell asleep on the job, the captain took a nearby peg and walloped me across the arse."

Matt's russet head bobbed up and down as he laughed. "You got off easy. He near tarred me hisself!" Dissolving into chuckles, Matt faced forward. He and Michael were nearing the front.

The usual long table had been placed just outside the kitchen portion of the galley. Joshua stood on the far left side with a steaming pot in front of him and a ladle in one hand. Lady Louise had been assigned as his helper, so she stood on the far right end attending to the same job with her own pot. Stacks of bowls and tin cups were near at hand as well as eating utensils. At the very end of each side were open barrels of watered-down rum which the men were allowed one cup each with their supper. On every table in the galley, loaves of bread had been placed beforehand for the men to share amongst themselves. The main line broke off into two tangents with each going to either Joshua or Lady Louise. Michael noticed that very few men actually went over to Lady Louise's side, which was aggravating Joshua. If the woman on the other side was affected by this preference, or even noticed it, her blank face was not showing it.

When it came time for Michael to part with Matt, the latter said over his shoulder as he walked to Joshua's side, "I'll save a seat for you, mate."

"Thanks, Matt." Michael strode over to Lady Louise. As he drew closer, the white steam that floated from the pot became easier to see through. Michael smiled at her when she held out a bowl. "My thanks, Louise," he said as he took it. Now that Michael was closer to her, he could see that she appeared more distracted and haggard-looking than the steam had wanted to show.