Heart of the Sun

Chapter 20: Smoke in the Air

Alister's point of view:
I stood outside smoking, letting the gray whips of smoke gracfully vanish. The tobbaco calms my nevers. Arthur was plotting again. I was getting tired of it. I didn't want to chase after some lass who could be God-knows where, including dead. Not to metion she hated him. I didn't understand it. I find it ironic now, how I complained in his taste in woman before. I now I wish he could have fallen for a bar maid or and pretty village lass. It would have been a lot easlier to abtain and most likely easier to manage too. But no. He had to have some stubborn, highbreed, woman who demands repect. Not to metion an even crazier brother who's on the hunt and he not shooting to miss.

This has to end.

But there's only one way to do it and have total support from the crew. We'll have to fight a match for dominace. I must become Captain once more.

Arthur's point of view:
I had been years ago since I last competed for the role of Captain. I remember it being a rather difficult task that would take weeks to fully recover from. But that victory immediatly won the full dovotion of the crew. If you win the challenage to the supposed strongest, that makes you the new best.

But the fact Alister choose to challanage me now, out of nowhere, surprises me. I don't know why, but I know I can't lose. The crew now gathers in a ring. Seamus steppes forward with a gold piece with the King of England's profile poorly minted on one side.

"Itsa heads or tailyas for choice of yer weapons. Cap'pin?"
"Heads"

The sweet ding is sounded as the coin is fliped.

"Tailyas it tis"

I curse as I know thw answer already.

"Hand to hand."

I was far leaner than Alister. He use to always beat me as a kid. Even as I got older, I never grew to be as buff as my cousin. I could beat him any day with pistols or swords, just not my fist.

The ring was now tighter around the two of us as our match began, stripped of all weapons. We circled other, sizing and searching. For some weakness, a single slip up. Alister must have seen it as he swiftly swung the first blow.

My reaction is too slow as I take the impact on my cheek. I already losing and the fight just began. I swung when I could, trying to copy Ali's techineque. I would be rewarded with some good hits delivered from me. I continued to hold up, as I have greatly improved since the last time we went toe-to-toe. But this only last so long as I could not keep up with his stead rain of blows. Then before I know it, the old Captain Kirkland is back.

I stared at his worn leather boots in defeat as fresh ashes began to fall from a fresh cigar.

Julchen's point of view:
Many weeks have passed and Isabel has started to greatly improved. She now understands some basic hand-to-hand. Her sword skills are pretty good but she's taken a great deal of effort have her skill with the axe shine above all else. She's well on her way to becoming the best I know, if she can keep it up.

Isabel and I had almost completed the moring routine when Francis called our attention.

"I just got confirmation that a ship is within our sights and we will be crossing with them soon."

I assume that it's an enmey ship and am already planning defense tactics in my mind. But when I glace to Isabel, her gren eyes shone with hope. Oh yeah, I forgot she's wanting to find her brother. I look to Francis for confirmation the idenity of the ship.

"It's the Vögelchen . So if you two what to clean up a bit that's fine."

Oh mein got, I forgot I've wanted to see my brother. I snap from my train of thought and run to the edge of the ship. As I smoothen the knots out of my hair, I search, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ship. As soon as I remember, I turn back and help Isabel clean up, there's weaponry laying on the deck. But Isabel calmly pushes away my help.

"No, go wait and watch for you brother. It's probably been awhile since you've seen him and it feels like even longer."

She then flashes me one of her signature smiles.

"I would feel the same way and you would insist upon the same actions. So go."

So without a second thought, I ran back anxious as ever to my spot on the deck, a bit over the rail.