Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The boys were awestruck. It was the first time they'd seen sand. Its gold color and the sun so bright in the sky. The water was aquamarine and the ship buoyant; its decorum surpassed their wildest imaginations. Weathered oak wood and wafting sails, tall and folded; the crews' sinister crest rippled in the masts. Even when the children skylarked adventures, they'd only imagined more poor villages.
The crews' feet knocked against the wooden drawbridge leading to the ship's interior. As they walked, Eli and Amias bore the same expression of puzzlement. Were we sold like common goods?
Most of the company went to deck; two oafs lead the shackled boys to their holding cells. They descended a flight of stairs and moved past the artillery room. It was a long, sweltering, smog filled row. The smell of gunpowder lingered and they'd several cannons facing shuttered wooden windows. They turned left at the end of the row and moved towards the prison cells; there were six total, three cells on either side. There was only one other prisoner, a blond haired youth with glasses. Prostrated for prayer, the blond teen mumbled to himself.
Keying open a door, the brigands tossed the boys inside the cell across.
Eli peeped his nose through the cage bars and watched the twins teeter away. Eli turned to Amias. "We have to escape somehow."
Amias settled in a corner of the cell. The sun seeped passed barred windows and glinted his silvery tresses. His grey eyes dulled in the afternoon light. Amias peaked from beneath his mane and answered. "To what end, Eli? I don't think they're going to kill us. They would've already done so."
"Maybe not, but we have to tell the village." Eli's fists balled.
Amias sighed; his eyes sharpened silver. "You're on your own. There's nothing back there for us. Everyone is either senile or hopeless."
Eli did not waver. "I cannot quit. You know. I love her."
Amias shook his head. "You're so optimistic I can only envy you."
Their cell door hinged open. The boys glared. It was the shorter of the mutton chopped twins from earlier. He was a stout man with legs like parentheses; his hairy arms glistened sweat. Eli pinched his nose; the wafting odor of spiced rum flooded the cell.
"Just the silver haired one." He snatched Amias by the arm. "Captains, got plans for you." He formed a grin absent several teeth and lead Amias upstairs.
Eli collapsed into the wooden wall; his stomach gurgled. "I'm hungry."
**********************
Amias and the oaf emerged at quarterdeck. Amias winced as his eyes adjusted to the afternoon glare; brine scented the breeze. The sea glittered like sapphires and even from this distance. Amias could see the ravens dotted along the coastland tree line; it was a swath of yellow, orange, maroon and dotted black hues. A shadow poured over Amias' view. He turned and it was the lieutenant. A single silver ring jostled from his left ear; his arms folded across his chest. The cut of his shirt exposed his torso and then Amias noticed his skin; the boy's face contorted. He was dark, darker than the Fellow or any man Amias had ever seen and the lieutenant's eyes. His eyes gleamed a strange shade of amber, unnatural as a wolf in daylight.
"Unlike the other one, you seem to have some guile." His gruff voice matched his sinewy frame. "A fair warning about our captain, she hates liars." Amias knew he was telling the truth. The man turned and motioned the boy to follow. Amias did and the oaf returned to revelry at deck.
Amias and the lieutenant approached the captain's quarters; Rebecca met them just outside her door.
"There you are darling," her smile revealed dimples. Rebecca's attire had changed since their noon encounter. Her tastes and colors reminisced the autumn season, her dress orange, flowing, and her swashbuckling demeanor dissipated and replaced by cascading ruddy hair and jade, gleaming eyes. "Ban," she addressed her lieutenant. "Have the men at ease tonight. We have a long day tomorrow."
"Aye." Ban answered and departed.
"You," she eyed Amias. "Follow me." Her index curled.
Amias and Rebecca started walking. Amias' wrists were still rope tied; he candidly tried to break the tension.
"So, are you seeing anyone?" Amias inquired with a wry grin.
She stifled her laughter. "Hmm? Oh, you know me, just an old ship captain married to the sea."
"How old are you?"
"I'll be twenty-six with the winter solstice. You?"
"I'm fifteen."
Rebecca blinked twice. "Is that so? You've got a bright future." she smiled.
"What do you want with us? Ship hands?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes. "I'll leave it to your imagination." They stopped and Rebecca opened the door to her quarters. "The night is long. Let's enjoy it at our leisure."
