Raw Winter

Chapter 3: Bigger Dogs

They didn't bother to keep Winter locked away because they didn't need to. The open sea left no escape, and the crew were a bigger danger to her than she was for them. She mostly stayed in the room she woke up in, but slowly emerged. Most people left her alone, but Tert kept watching her.

She liked Tert least of all. He seemed like the only member of Hades' crew that didn't take pride in himself. If Tert were a dog, he would have mange and have no teeth. His eyes wouldn't focus but had no problem staring at her, and his wooden leg was rotten. That he was missing his leg didn't bother her. It was the way he seemed to brag about it with each step, jutting out his hip in a sort of rooster's swagger.

The only pirate she hated more than Tert was Daverel. He did nothing to harm her, and didn't pay her much attention, but she couldn't stop thinking about his last conversation with her mom. Seeing him made her feel homesick and angry and there was nothing she could do nothing about either.

The Captain kept her close at hand most days, and she obliged, staying at his side. She adored Captain Hades. He made sure at night she slept in a little cot near his bed and listening to him sleep felt almost like she was with her mother again, though his snoring sounded more like a bear, but she didn't mind. Her mother had those nights from time to time.

"Where does a little girl like you get such a big name like Wylfric?" He said, sitting at his desk and looking at her papers. "What happened to your daddy?"

"I don't know who my father is," she said. She was sitting on the floor by his leg, and his hand pet her head thoughtlessly. "That's my mother's last name."

"Did it come from him?" He asked.

"Nuh uh. We know nothing about my father and we got nothing from him," she said, looking up. "That's my mom's name. She says it belonged to her mom too. She says we're a long line of women that don't know their men long." She grinned at him, and Hades chuckled.

"Is that so? I can't imagine how that'll fair for you. Did your mother teach you what the ocean is? Do you know about the old gods?" He asked, his voice low and secret.

"My mama only taught me about the virtue of work. She also told me there's bigger countries than ours with forests and I think I want to see one someday," she answered. "What about you, Captain?"

"The sea is in my blood, and my blood is the sea," he answered gruffly with a laugh. "I don't have no business with any forest, but if that's your dream you should hold on to it. You're going to need it."

He looked down at her, and she was staring at him intensely. He felt a thrill go up his spine and couldn't help but laugh at such a serious face, but grew solemn as she said, "Do you know what happened to my mother?"

He looked away and said simply, "She's a Wylfric, isn't she?"

"That's right," she said.

"Then she's fine."

She was relieved, and he amused. He didn't have to tell her anything, and she could die never knowing, and that would be just fine. It always amazed him what faith people put in names. His name was Smith, and he wouldn't likely hold a hammer in all his days. Hers was Wlyfric, and he didn't doubt she would know a man before all was said and done.

~
There was a day when Hades had important work to do and didn't want to risk distraction, so he locked her out of his cabin. By now, his will was clear to the sound of mind of his crew.

Tert wasn't one of those things and continued to watch her like a starving dog. Most of the crew was busy that day, and no one seemed to keep an eye on them as she sat on the deck and stared out at the sea. He licked his lips, drawing closer and closer as he pretended to check the rails. He watched her like she was a plump rat. He only paused when she looked at him. Her dark, dull eyes didn't seem to impress him, only made him more eager to spring.