The Last StormRider

Boats and Bruises

The journey was long, very long. Of course it didn't help that I never had  any free days. All of  my days, from dawn till dusk, where crammed full of training and studying. When I wasn't being put through ridiculous training scenarios by Rodrick with some new weapon from his stash, than I was being verbally abused by Darius as he stuffed fact, after agonizing fact into my head. Causing my head hurt when I simply thought of books.

It wasn't all that bad though, Rodrick was very kind, always finding a silver lining. Even in the beginning when I had little to no skill he showed positivity in every aspect pointing out that I had potential. Darius on the other hand hardly gave any compliments, and when I did gain these rarities they were immediately followed by a smack to my head, then another hour of studying.

And then every other day, I had a reprieve from the conventional training to go sailing with the Captain on a little schooner they kept raised up in the rigging. Those days we're equally as challenging, even though I wasn't abused by anyone, the sea and the wind kept me at work.

At first the Captain helped telling which knots to tie, and which ropes to pull. He taught me how to read the stars and feel the sea. Our lessons ranged from chasing the wind, to the age old dream of touching the sky. In those long hours of me managing the boat on my own the Captain provided entertainment. Pulling out different music items each time he'd fill the hours with songs of ancient times, and distant lands. His voice carrying across the ocean causing all manner of sea creatures to gather. Of stories that even Darius had never heard. Sometimes he wouldn't say anything at all, and would just sit their plucking away at his favorite lute.

On one such lull I asked him curiously "Captain...Do-eh-do you think that my training will be enough?" I sat there watching him in the growing dark as I adjusted the tiller.

His plucking ceasing he turned towards me, his sea blue eyes studying me, calculating my value he said, "What Rodrick and Darius are teaching ya has done ye well," Relief flooded through me, "But when it comes to it...the other Pirate Princes will drown ya faster than any siren could." Fear tightened my throat as what he said sunk in. "If ya really want my opinion ye're gonna need more than some Shorelander's methods to prepare ya."

"Than help m-" I started to say, but was cut off as the wind picked up filling our sail. Pushing myself up from where I'd fallen backwards I continued, "Than help me, help me get fighting chance."

For a long time we gazed at each other, so long that I soon saw the ship in the horizon, finally coming to a decision he said, "Okay, tomorrow ye're new training begins. Tomorrow I train ya to become a Pirate Prince Aaron."

As we boarded the Patchwork I couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.

After what seemed like a nearly endless night tomorrow finally came, and it was painful.

Soon the weeks turned into months, rarely did we put in for port as we traveled along, not that I cared all I cared about was the challenges the Captain gave me. Some days it was fight against half the fully armed crew with only a dull dagger they used for whittling, other days it was the whole crew, minus the knife. Other days he'd put a lute in my hands and teach me a note or two.

I hardly ever saw Rodrick, or even Darius. My training kept me busy as I raced up and down the rigging, or learned how to properly throw a knife. Soon hardly turned into never, at first I blamed the training schedule, but that was soon put to rest as I found out they had left the ship at one of the ports to head back home saying 'We've taught him all we can, now we can only pray the Captain can finish the rest.'

After a while I could see a subtle change in the crew, in the beginning they resented the attention the Captain gave me, shouting in delight when they were pitted against me during my training sessions, but over time their demeanor shifted to one of respect, they soon valued my opinion and thoughts seconded only by the Captain's. Curious I soon looked at myself and soon saw a change as well, no longer did I see the challenges the Captain gave me as a chore, but as a lesson that taught me more than books. Soon when I started to win the combat portion of the challenges the Captain changed focus. Spending more time on the culture of sailors, and pirates.

Finally, during the morning gathering for assignments, the Captain announced "Tomorrow we'll be in the Spiral Kingdoms, and tomorrow night we'll be sleeping, and drinking in The Crowded Sailboat Inn." Hoots and hollers followed this statement as the Captain continued, "After that you all want to be looking ye're best, cause we've been invited to the Royal Feast, in celebration for the Day of Captains, At the end of the week."

And then through all of the cheering and shouting I saw and heard him look down at me and say "Then, Aaron, the real challenge begins."