The Sea, The stars and The Void

Chapter 4

Athena wakes up early and gets dressed in a pair of borrowed trousers and a tunic. She straps the blue dagger her father gave her to her hip, hidden under her tunic. Once dressed she grabs her satchel with a few of her gold coins in it and grabs the apple from the table by her bed and leaves her room.

Once in the upper deck of the ship Athena notices that she can see land a few hundred yards in the distance. We must be close to the Island of Sapphire. The flag that is usually billowing in the wind at the front of the ship has been lowered, it must be so the islands natives don't question the unfamiliar pirate flag. Without the flag the ship can easily pass for a royal naval ship with the beautiful detailing on the ship and the extensive weaponry.

Athena roams about the ship, munching on her apple for a while, just exploring the many rooms and people on the ship. Everyone is friendly and helpful to her as she greets them. Many of the pirates are taking a count of what needs to be purchased today.

Athena eventually comes across first mate Arch who tells her that they will be docking soon. That she should meet him at the dock shortly after they port.

She wonders around the ship searching for the friendly face of the captain. She knows he must be very busy but she just wants to say hello. She ships anchor is released and the ship comes to a slow and grinding halt by a small port at the back of the island.

Athena finishes her apple while she looks around the ship, once she finishes it she tosses the core over the side of the ship and makes her way down the dock. Athena climbs over the side of the boat and jumps down onto the wood below her. Her feet sway as they touch solid ground again. Once she gains her balance Athena walks a bit down the dock and finds Arch leaning against a bunch of crates, talking to an unfamiliar man.

Athena politely waits a few feet away for the two men to finishes their discussion. Arch notices her shortly after she arrives and waves her over and bids the man a good day.

"G'morning Miss Athena! I assume all was well aboard Calypso in your new room?" Arch says as the two start walking towards the village.

Athena nods her head yes and the two walk side by side, chatting about the ship and the island as they make their way to a tailor.

Once at the tailors shop Arch tells the shop owner that I need to be fitted for 5 pairs of trousers, 5 tunics, and a few lose fitting dresses that she has a full range of motion in. As well as a cloak to keep her warm. Archer tosses a small bag of gold coins on the table and says, "I trust this will cover the expenses, no?"

Athena try's to protest and put her own coins on the table but Arch grabs her hand to stop her.

The small woman behind the counter nods her head ferociously and snatches the bag of coins quickly and grabs my arm and rushes me behind a curtain as she says to Arch, "You wait here. I will take her measurements and pin the garments in place and I will bring her back out here to you shortly."

The woman tells Athena to remove her clothes. She takes off her bag and tunic and sets them down on a chair. Athena asks the woman to turn around for a moment and the woman looks at her strangely, "Dear, I've got all the same parts as yourself. I've seen it all..." but she turns regardless.

Athena quickly pulls the dagger off of her hip and shoves it in her bag. She then pulls off her trousers and lays them on top of her bag.

The woman goes straight to work laying half finished garments on her body and pinning them in place to fit her properly. The older woman measures, pins and cuts fabrics for quite a while before she tells Athena that she has everything she needs, that she can redress and come back in a few hours to pick up the finished pieces.