A Pirates Tale

Scarlet sat in a rickety wooden chair in Captain George’s cabin of The Master's Betrayal. It was a decently sized room with a desk to her right, a wobbly table behind her to the back of the room, and a bed to her left. She watched as George paced the room impatiently, waiting for his first mate to arrive. His face twisted as he came to an abrupt stop and looked at her, causing tears to sting her eyes. His stare was disturbed when she screeched at the man barging through the door.

“Where have you been? I called for you an hour ago!” George glared at his first mate. But the man did not meet his Captain’s eyes; instead stared at the tiny girl sitting the chair.

“What is she doing here?” the First Mate spat, pointing a bloody finger at Scarlet. “Ya’ told us ta’ kill everythin’ and here ya’ are, holdin’ hostage the royal heir to the damned thrown!  What’s in yer head, sir?” he screamed through the cabin, stomping to Scarlet’s chair. She quivered and cried silently.

“That's enough outa you, Rusty! I have my reasons. I don't need you questioning my judgment.” George spat, keeping his face stony to hide his surprise at Rusty’s outburst.

Rusty sighed and ran a hand over his face. “You’re daft, man! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

“Fine!” George shouted and Scarlet jumped in her seat. “If you have such a problem, then you kill her!” rushing to the back of the room he unsheathed his dagger and stabbed it into the desk. Scarlet stared at the blade wobbling back and forth and noticed the bloodstains. Not able to hold her sobs any longer she burst into tears.

“Please!” Scarlet shouted, “Please! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she repeated the words mindlessly. “Please! I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Rusty groaned, passing George to Scarlet. He crouched and leaned close to her, his nose touching hers. “Shhh,” he whispered into her shouts and pleas. “Shhhh.” He repeated, patting her leg gently. Much to everyone’s surprise, her screams ceased, but her lips continued to babble and whimper.

“Make Jack do it.” Standing to his feet he loomed over her and smiled revealing silver and gold teeth. ‘This would be perfect for Jack,’ he thought.

“Puh!” George spat, yanking the dagger from the desk and pointed it at Scarlet. “What difference would it make if it were Jack or you?”

“Well, maybe he needs to start proving himself?” Rusty retorted. “The men don’t like havin' a tree-huggin’ animal lover on the crew as it is, George. I’ve been keepin’ em at bay for months!” He shouted, pointing at the door behind him. “He need's ta earn his keep.” He took the dagger from George and began cleaning it with his bloody shirt. “He has to. It’s been too long.”

“He's a friend, Rusty.” George stepped back. “My friend. I’m the Captain and I say what goes. The answer is no!” George protested, his face hard. Rusty shook his head and tossed the dagger back to the table. The thud made Scarlet jump.

“On with your duties,” George said flatly. Shaking his head, Rusty sighed and made for the door. When he got to Scarlet’s chair he stopped and looked down at her.  

“You’ve gone soft, George.” Rusty whispered hoarsely, taking a lock of Scarlet’s hair and twirling it between his fingers. “The men and I think you have a bit of a soft spot for this mate. If that be the case,” He relinquished the locks and began stroking her head, “It’d be best you fix it,” he looked over his shoulder to his captain, who retained his stone-like features, “Or I’m gonna have ta step in.” giving Scarlet’s head a pat, he left the cabin. With a heavy heart George padded to his desk, letting his head rest in his hands.

Scarlet sat rigid in the chair, holding her breath, unable to move since Rusty had stood next to her and fondled her hair. Now, however, watching Captain George rest she was able to take a breath. He had less of a temper which made her less anxious, and he hadn’t assaulted her with his grotesque, playful touches. Watching George’s chest rise and fall she reached for her necklace and began twisting the charm over on end.

George looked up from his hands at the girl and sighed heavily. ‘I didn’t know who she was when I found her in the woods!’  He shouted to himself, mentally continuing the argument with Rusty. ‘I saw a pair of eyes and a head of dirty blonde hair.’ He recalled the moment from his memory like a moving picture. ‘It was too dark to see what was around her neck for God’s sake!’

He was scouting the woods when he heard chatter not far off. Approaching a patch of bushes the sounds grew louder. He cocked his pistol and took a deep breath. The noise stopped. Only rustling leaves and chirping crickets could be heard. He hastily pushed aside the foliage and took aim to be met by a girl crouching in the dirt. She didn’t move or cry out, but sat stone still. He could have easily mistaken her for a statue if the moonlight had not lit her hair blowing in the breeze. He knew he was supposed to kill her. He had ordered his men to kill anyone who stood in their way. But … was this little girl in his way? Unable to rethink his decision he holstered his gun and scooped up the frightened girl, keeping to the shadows as he run back to The Master's Betrayal.

Upon entering his cabin aboard the vessel he placed the girl gently into a chair and brought her some water. ‘Why does she look familiar?’ He’d thought. Tilting his head with puzzlement, he glimpsed an hourglass shape peaking from the top of her dress. Without hesitation he pulled at the shape frightening the girl and making her spill the water on herself.

“Oh!” He’d retracted his arm and apologized. Explaining that he only wanted to see her necklace. Thinking he meant her no harm she pulled the charm from under her bodice. The diamonds inside the hourglass clinked against the glass and George lost his breath. ‘What have I done?’  

Scarlet whimpered in the chair pulling George from the memory and back to the ever-painful present. Rusty had a point. Jack was his friend; true as gold, but George took Jack onto the crew without the knowledge if Jack could cut it as a pirate. Jack had always been a soft soul but he was a good man. No pirate by George’s standards however. George remembered the day Jack came to his house, pleading for a way out.

“I need your help, George.” The two sat in front of his house in Kemp - an hour and a half carriage ride out of Maylen - an oil lamp between them as they sipped mead George’s wife Sarah, had made. He remembered how desperate Jack was to join his crew. He had been blacklisted in Lucinda, located outside the capital city of Conifer, and couldn’t get a job in Kemp because of it. Sarah was a seamstress and refused to allow their son Robyn to get a job, no matter how Jack insisted. Sarah asserted her authority on Robyn staying in school for as long as possible. “My work helps us get by just enough.” She’d said. “My son is going to be educated to the fullest extent!” Jack felt horribly useless to his family but knew if George could let him join of his crew, he could properly provide for his family and show his face in public again with pride. He could hold his head high as he tossed a large sack of gold and jewels on his kitchen table! “Please George.” Jack had pleaded. “Please. You’re my last hope.” George had been hesitant to bring him on but it was hard to say no to his best mate. That was over six months ago. Lately, The Master's Betrayal had a dry spell of raids so George never knew if Jack could stomach pirate life. He had to do it. He knew Jack would protest, but for the sake of his position he had to do something; especially after Rusty’s threat to take matters into his own hands. He had to prove that he hadn’t gone soft or mutiny would not be far off.

Rising from his chair he looked back at Scarlet and then to the table. “Aaron!” he called to his cabin keeper standing watch outside the door.

“Aye, sir?” Aaron poked his head in.

“I need Jack.”

“Aye.”

Shouts of orders were bellowed about the ship and George nodded the justification of his decision. Standing at the back table he sliced some bread for Scarlet and placed it on her lap. She needed no invitation and scarfed down the food. George chuckled and handed her the rest of the loaf. She looked hastily at him and with no trust, but took the bread and ate greedily. Turning from her he approached the window and watched.