Out to Sea

I got up early. I could hardly sleep. I couldn’t wait for the sun to set. Mom was already making breakfast for me, and my brother. He was a few years younger than me at seventeen. My sister was twenty-two, and off at school.

“Oh, Elena since your up can you take your father his lunch. He forgot it again.” I loved any excuse to go to dad’s boat, and she knew it.

“I still don’t see why your so captivated with boats, and sailing.” My brother was going though an annoying habit of questioning every thing I liked, and did. Which didn’t normally bother me, but it had gotten worse since Lucy left for school. They had been close like two peas in a pod. Mom said once he got used to not having her here he’d grow out of it. Still it was hard not to be reminded that although I loved my family I didn’t feel ‘connected’ to any of them. Not the way Lucy, and Henry had.

“Because her father does.” Was all mom said as she handed me a brown paper bag. I finished eating and was off. Our house was on the water. There was a very small square dock with a row boat with two seats. A shed for bait. You could see the lighthouse across the water from here. Another island. Clearstone. Our Kindom was Bridgen. Ours was big but the on across the way was small. Ours had palm tree, tropical flowers. There island was mostly empty with a settlement on the other side so I could see it. There was tall green hills, a beach, moss covered trees. There was moors. It was pretty, but I always preferred our scenery. Still my father would row us out together. Sometimes to the island, sometimes just put on the water. We would talk and fish. Most of the time my father was silent being a quite person, but he opened up when ever we where on the water. I missed doing that with him, but he had been busy lately. His boss was an asshole. I made my way down the beach to wear the docks where. We had a large docking area. Next to it was the center of town where the shops where, behind that was where the bigger houses and offices was. There wasn’t many but we had good trade and fishing here so some could make a pretty-copper. You could also sell or rent out boats for a good price. My father’s crews boat was owned by his boss Captain Gage. I was small was far as fishing boats went. My father was talented but they hadn’t gotten a good catch yet this year. I tried not to worry. I made it to the docks. It was easy to spot The Gallant. It was supposed to be named after heroics and bravery, but I always loved my interpretation more. Which I gladly pointed out to the Captain who named it. That gallant could also mean a man who was a flirt with women. He seemed rather annoyed when I told him. It was quite satisfying. I walked onto deck without a problem. Everyone aboard knew me. I walked up to my dad’s friend the first mate. Before I could even ask where he was, he pointed towards starboard. I thanked him. My dad was untangling a net. I helped him.

“Forgot your lunch again.” I told him.

“I’m sorry. We’ve been so busy lately. And he keeps firing people. I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up.” He spoke quietly. They kept making complaints to the higher ups, told changes would be made, he had been suspended a few times. But it never seemed to do any good. They needed this job, and the people of this crew weren’t the kind of people who would break rules, even if it get them results. They wouldn’t make a seen. Call him out on his behavior, question him to much, lie at least to get him fired, or my favorite idea punch him in his very hit-able face. I had offered but dad refused. They where too civil for any of that. Made no sense to me, but what else could I do but try to respect it. I sighed handing him his lunch.

“Ok, let’s cast off.” Captain Gage stopped near the wheel. He was wearing well made blue long coat and a white shirt. He was dressed nicer than he could probably reasonably afford. He probably had a lot of debt with his expensive taste, and still my father pulled off the look better. It wasn’t as expensive, it was a bit worn, and a lighter blue, but it fit him. It did not ‘fit’ Gage. He walked down the steps and over to me.

“What is she doing here Mr. Kestrel?” Ignoring me to question my father.

“She was just dropping off my lunch.” Gage nodded then my father in a rush added. “I was thinking with us being so short of staff, and with Clara Fisher taking a sick day. Could she come aboard for the day. She could use the experience.” And we could use the money. We weren’t poor, but things were tighter than we liked, which is why I had been taking extra shifts at Jill’s. My dad also knew although I didn’t have a passion for fishing I did for sailing. Gage glared at me a moment. He didn’t like me much. I spoke my mind to often and clearly didn’t like him.

“Fine. Just for today though.”

“Thank you Captain.” Dad said.

“I didn’t want any trouble though.” My reputation proceeded me.

“No trouble sir.” I said. He nodded. We got to work. We didn’t talk much. Which was fine with me. Being on the water was enough. I was content until we went west away from the island Clearstone. That didn’t make sense. It was almost summer the fish would most likely be on the other side of the island. Towards the east. I looked at father just to make sure my information was right. He nodded his head. He new what I was thinking. I smiled.

“Captain.” I said walking up to him.

“Yes Elena?”

“Wouldn’t the fish be to the east this time of year.” I said with mock innocents. He looked as if he was about to dismiss me, and he realized I was right. You could practically see the steam coming out of his ears. I walked away satisfied. I wondered if he often did this. They probably didn’t listen to his crew. A sign of a bad Captain to be sure.

“Crew we’re going to move to the east. I think the fishing will be better there.” He took my idea as his own.

“That yellow-bellied, minnow hearted, motherfucker.” I whispered under my breath.

“We’ll you sure swear like a sailor.” Said Jamesy. Another friend of my fathers. The ships grey-hound at his side. His to take home and take care of every night.

“Damn strait.” I said as I helped him tie off a rope. “That man is stupid, and idiot. I don’t know who hired him, but there an idiot too.”

“Some Lord.” Said Jamesy.

“A Lord in Hushville?” I scoffed.

“No, no they send letters. He’s the distributor. The businessman.”

“When my dad gets his own boat he’s going to be his own boss.” I said. That was the dream anyway. I set out of the next task. I could see another ship in the distance. Then another. We pulled in the nets twice before we heard it. A distant boom. The first mate pulled out his spy glass.

“Pirates.” Was all he staid.

“Get moving!” Said the Captain. He didn’t need to warn us of being the next victim. People were already moving back and forth across the deck. I helped heave up the anchor. I ran to the back of the boat. The first mate silently handed me his spyglass. I looked out it. The boat was already half way in the water. I could make out maybe two life boats. People in the water. Then the boat. Clearly making there way after us. Blood red flags and a symbol. Why did it look familiar? Of two black snakes coiled together. I handed him back his spyglass, but he shook his head pushing my full hand back towards myself.

“Are you sure.”

“Yes. It’s just our luck on the day you join us something like this happens.”

“There hitting close to home.” He gestured with his thumb behind him. I wondered if that was his way of telling me to get back to work, or if he just didn’t want me to keep looking at the sinking ship. We made it to the docks no problem. We lost the ship. Although is was faster than ours it was by no means the fastest with thoughts six heavy cannons built inside. Plus they had been a long way off. The Captain stood frozen at the wheel. My father jumped from ship before we had even dropped the ramp. He stumbled and kept running. The pirate ship wouldn’t likely come to the docks. I could still sea the red sails though. I jumped after my father. I landed on my feet with no trouble. My father had gotten the attention of the nearest Kings Guard stationed at the docks. I recognized him as Blake. He ordered guards to go rescue the survivors. Then he set of on his own small ship. Half the size of ours. Miss Valor. People were moving. Some were filling the docks to watch others to get as far away as possible. Someone was crying. Another calling out someone’s name. I used the spyglass to see Blake close in on the ship. They seemed to be yelling things to each other, but I could see who the Captain was with the crowd of people on deck. I saw Blake stop talking. He held out his hand palm up. In his hand formed a ball of yellow light. He threw it. It was small the size of pool ball. It made quite a dent in the haul of the ship though. It disappeared the second it made contact. I had alway been told by Blake about the power he was born with but I had never seen it in person. Another ball of light went though the sail. Haul. Then sail. Then the deck. It was then that the crew started panicking. A cannon went off but Blake kept firing. The back of the Miss. Valor was grazed but it don’t seemed to be taking water. The red flagged ship began retreating. Cheers went up. I went home with dad. I passed a group of sailors, fisherfolk, the survivors. A group was running towards the them across the beach. There was hugging. Crying. Worried talk. Concerned people.

“They took it. All our money and valuables.” Cause that’s what they needed to worry about a pirate stealin’. Someone said. Me and dad got the rest of the day off.