Confessions of a Pirate's Heart

Chapter Eleven

“I better go inform my brother,” Scarlett said, walking towards the cabin door.

The Captain followed closely behind as they stepped out into the chilly, damp air of the night. The mist-laden deck was nearly empty, save for one man at the helm and another in the crow's nest. Their eyes were keen for any glimpse of life around them. Scarlett watched the man at the helm peering sternly into the black distance and shivered at the prospect of looming danger upon their heels. Suddenly, it felt so overwhelmingly real.

“My crew must be underdeck for supper,” Alexander said. “Follow me, you must be famished.”

The Captain walked over to the hatch that led underdeck and began to climb down. A warm glow of candlelight and lively chatter welcomed Scarlett as she followed, a stagnant air filling her lungs in contrast to the cold above deck. The room looked just as it had when she first entered as a captive on the ship. She recalled venturing down for some food and finding herself at the table with pirates crowded around her, all who gave her suspicious glares, as the Captain sat across from her as a stranger. However, this time was different. Now she recognized faces and they welcomed her to the table with a rousing greeting. As she approached them, she almost felt like she belonged.

The Captain glanced around the crowded room and then turned to Scarlett. “Perhaps you and your brother would like to dine with me in my cabin tonight.”

“That would be lovely. Thank you.”

He gave a single nod. “Perfect, I'll go inform the cook,” he said, stepping away and disappearing into the galley.

“Oi!” came a shrill voice. “You forget about me?”

“James!” Scarlett said, turning to face the cabin boy and enveloping him in a hug. “Of course I wouldn't. Let me get a look at you.”

James stood before her, his face as dirty as ever and his mousy hair sticking out in tuffs from underneath his tricorn hat. He beamed at the sight of her and Scarlett couldn't help but smile back at the young boy she had befriended while on the Captain's ship. His bravery to help her escape and her intervention during his punishment from the Captain had unexpectedly brought them together.

“I could almost swear you've grown,” Scarlett added.

“By the day, as I'm told.”

“Are the crew treating you alright these days?”

“Aye, a pirate's life is a hard one but I wouldn't have it any other way.”

“You're starting to sound like your captain,” Scarlett said with a smirk.

“Speaking of, he's been awfully moody since you've been gone,” James said in a low voice with a sneaky grin on his face. “But I'm sure he'll liven up now that you're back.”

“Ever so prudent to what's around you,” Scarlett said teasingly. “I'll only be here for a while, though. My brother and I are traveling to find our sister, which reminds me, would you like to meet him?”

James nodded and after spotting William at the end of the table, Scarlett led him over. Though he sat squeezed in between two rowdy pirates and looked unamused with the company around him, William had already gotten his hands on a tankard. He took a sip of the liquid and grimaced as he swallowed. A look of relief swept over him as Scarlett and James approached.

“Would you like some of this God-awful substance?” William said. “I can't tell if it's gruel or watered-down rum.”

James snickered. “It's a little bit of both. You'll get used to it.”

William didn't look convinced as he offered some to Scarlett anyway but she shook her head. “We will be having supper with the Captain in his cabin tonight,” she said. “But first, I'd like you to meet James.”