The Trinity Guild: Sunken Legends

|| Chapter One - Hidden Pirates ||

Pop.

The last thread of the silky crimson corset loosened, sending the delicate material to the ground, circling my ankles. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. One more minute in that dress and I may of just passed out. The sides of that thing dug so deep into a woman's skin, I'm surprised girls around town weren't bleeding out from their hips. I hastily stepped away from the dress, scooped it up and folded the fragile fabric, setting it aside for it to be washed. Unlike most people here, I didn't have servants and such. Just me and my father. It's not like I wanted any anyways. Having people trailing after every move you made would get irritating over time.

Combing my fingers through my dark locks, I stalked over to the oak dresser, pulling on a pair of black trousers and a loose dark shirt. Whenever I was out of the house, my father made me wear the usual proper dress and matching head pieces for the public eye. He worked for the British Royal Navy as their top blacksmith. We may not have been showered in riches and wealth, but we had enough to own a decent home and make a fair living.

I was grateful for this life. I may not have had a mother, but I had a father to show me the ropes.

"Ava!" a ruff voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and before I had a chance to respond, my father barged through the door. "Great news!"

I lifted an interested brow, puling my hair back. "You finally learned to knock?"

"Better," my father opened out his arms in excitement, disregarding my sarcasm. "General Talias ordered an entire new shipment of weapons. He's givin' us a boat load of coin!"

"That's great," I breathed, sporting a bright smile. "When does he want everything? We have a lot to do."

"Two days time" my father happily paced through out my room. "We're gettin' in an order of steel and iron for the forge tomorrow morning. Our hammers need polishin'. We need the - "

"I got it, I got it" I held up a hand and plopped down on my bed, slipping on my leather working books. "I'll start polishing the hammers. You go get some rest."

"It's late, Ava. It's surely exciting news, but you need your rest, don't you think?"

"You need your rest. I'm fine. You work all day, it's time you get a break," pulling up my sleeves, I gave my father a pat on the back and headed out. We gained decent wealth by providing for the navy, though this may help our financial situation even more. It's not like my father slaves  away. He loved his job, as did I. I actually was able to do something, unlike most of the other girls who dined, wined and searched for a perfect suitor. My father was thoroughly against marriage for money, as was I. He married with my mother because he loved her, not because she came with piles of coin on her back. And even though she's gone, he still loves her. Just the thought of that made me smile.

On my way down to the shop, I stopped momentarily to give our dog Francis a few pets and a treat. He was my motheres, and usually guarded the shop after dark, yet there really was no point. I'd be here the entire time.

Before I entered, I plucked up a halfway melted candle and placed it on is holder, quickly lighting it with the nearby matches. The shop was connected to our house on the side. It was fairly large and held an assortment of swords, muskets and barrels of gun power. The place usually smelt of damp stone mixed with stale smoke from the flames we had burning almost all day. Other people may have found the shop unsanitary and unappealing, but this was my home. One of the only places where I felt at ease. All I needed was my father, the forge and Francis.

I plucked the keys up from one of the drawers just outside the 'employee only' entrance and unlocked the series of padlocks my father had set up. Just as the heavy stone door opened, a heavy thump against some sort of wood caught my attention. For a few moments, I stood in pure silence, only listening for a following sound. I curiously glanced over my shoulder - Francis was nowhere in sight. My father was probably off to bed.