Pieces of Eight

Storm

If you looked out the window through almost any house in the town, you could see the ocean. Usually there was a blue sky with a few white, fluffy clouds hanging around. But not today. Today stormy, gray clouds covered the whole sky and the air was heavy. A storm was coming and so were the fishing boats that went out early in the morning.
   On the plaza in the center of the town stood a single girl. Her hair as golden as the sunlight, her eyes as green as the grass on a spring day. She looked up at the sky and smiled.
   “They’re coming” she said in a low tone. She started walking towards the harbor. Her navy blue knee-length skirt caught a gust from the side, not that she cared at all. Even though she was now 17 years old and her father wanted her married off to some bloody aristocrat or something. She stopped to catch her breath and looked out on the ocean.
   The wind had started to pick up and the waves slammed through the cliffs nearby. She felt wonderful, this was her true environment, and not some room where sewing and gossiping was all you ever did. All the boats were now in harbor and the fishermen ran with the little fish they had caught, passing her and telling her to take cover. But she just smiled, waited.
   On the horizon she could now catch glimpses of boats with black or white sails, several of them came at the same time. She started jumping of excitement but before she knew it a carriage stopped in front of her view. The door opened and a big, strong-looking man squeezed himself out and plucked her up before she even realized what just happened.
   She now sat on the seat in front of her father, who did not look pleased. The carriage started moving and she could barely see the ships entering the harbor. They had figurines in their fronts, cannon holes on their sides and a skull on their sails. That was all she saw before they were out of sight. She glared at her father.
   “Jacqueline, you know what I have said to you. During these times, especially in this weather, you are not to go to the harbor!” he said when he saw her glare.
   “But father, it’s far more interesting than sewing and gossiping” she answered. He just sighed. He was a middle aristocrat who had good connections with merchants and buyers. He had his own company, where he took in and sold jewels and jewelry. For a good price, of course. Jacqueline sat now in the corner, still with her father’s eyes on her, keeping a good eye on her so that she couldn’t escape.

“Captain, we’re closing in!”
“Heave to and reduce sails! Prepare for shore!” the captain answered. His men slowly started preparing. There was a storm behind them, but there was no need to rush. They had been doing this for decades now. The orders were heeded, but since the captain was only 17 years, no one really respected him. And still he was the son of their former captain.
   Azor stood at the rudder and steered the ship toward the docks. He stretched and let his first mate take over as he walked into his cabin. He could hear how the boat slowly stopped as the crew put down the anchor and put out the sweeps. He had been on this ship since he was a baby. His mother had died giving birth to him and his father was on the sea all the time, so he really had lived all his life on the ship. He started working as soon as his father allowed him to. He was eight at first and his first job was up in the rig, scouting for islands. He liked those times, but everything got harder as he grew up. He had to clean the deck and learn knots as well as cook meals for the crew. At least he knew how to cook with unusual herbs and ingredients. He stretched out and picked up his captain jacket, an old black coat. It was his father’s old coat that he had inherited. He put it on as he walked up on deck. As he came up they stopped at the harbor.
   “Men! We have reached shore. Make sure nothing can get loose in the storm and then go warm yourself at the usual inn!” he screamed over the wind.
   “Aye aye captain!” was the only answer from a few of them before they heeded the orders. After that they tied the boat to the pier and then they all walked away from the young man. He had his eyes on the light brown carriage. He saw it every time they got to this harbor and it made him a little curious. He looked at the boat, saw that the crew had set watchmen on their own, as usual. Azor shrugged before he aswell left the ship. He didn’t go to the same inn as his crew, he knew they didn’t enjoy being in his company anyway so why should he? He started walking the streets. This was his home harbor, this is where he was born. But he had sold the house when his father died. Azor looked up at the sky. It had gotten darker and night was closing in. He should find somewhere to sleep, or get back to the ship. He chose the latter and started walking back towards the ship. He started humming on an old pirate song that his father taught him, letting the notes be heard throughout the streets, slowly as the song proceeded. It was supposed to go quicker, but he liked it better slowly.
    When he reached the ship the moon was shining up in the sky with no clouds nearby. It was in the middle of the storm, he thought. It was going to rain in the morning, so he quickly fixed things accordingly. He sighed and looked at the fellows who stayed behind. He could feel the stench of alcohol as strongly as he heard their snoring.
    He looked at the sky one last time before going into his cabin to sleep. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.