This is my first attempt at a longer fiction of this nature and I anticipate there will be a fair bit of build up and scene setting. Fear not, the 'juicy bits' will come into the story! I shall try and get an update once a week too. I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts. Thanks in advance
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The relentless Swari sun beamed down on Molly's head, she pushed fragments of her dark hair out of her face and smiled up at it. It beat the rainy streets of Karana any day. She sat on the forecastle deck mending one of the sails that had been torn in a recent storm. The damage wasn't bad but it needed doing. The work was monotonous and she still needed to concentrate on making the stitches small yet strong enough. The beautiful wind tugged at her hair loose fitting shirt, the smell of the sea washed over her with every small gust; there was nothing like sailing on the sea, even if it was under the command of Captain Bess Rackham, or Iron Bess as she was known among these waters. Her cruel words hadn't yet managed to kill Molly's spirit yet, anything was better than where she'd come from.
She pushed the thoughts aside and continued her stitching. She'd worked on the main tear and now began to work the frayed edges. The canvass was heavy over her knee but once she found her rhythm she found it soothing somehow. The noise of the crew behind her drowned away and the soft rocking of the ship on the waves were calming. They were due to pull into Nass in the next couple of days and the chance to get off ship was a welcome one. She'd enjoyed her first venture into piracy but relished the idea of sleeping in a bed rather than a rickety hammock surrounded by the other crew members.
"How's that sail coming?" Molly jumped. She'd not heard the approach of the boatswain, "Easy lass, I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, that's ok, I was day dreaming," she said.
"So, the sail?"
"I'm almost done," she said indicating the stitching.
"Go and see Bess when you're done, she's asking after you."
"Thanks Davie."
The boatswain strode off and Molly resumed stitching, she wondered what Bess would want from her. Aside from the captain, she was the only other woman on board so it was probably to talk about her evil ex-husband or something else along those lines. She had started to do so mid voyage and from time to time she would send for her. The rest of the time she was treated like the rest of the crew -- as a new member of the crew -- which was to say not very well at all. She got the worst of the jobs, the worst of the rations and the least sleep. Rules were rules though and that was the way of it aboard the Red Plunder.
Molly cast off the thread and stuck it through her loose blouse. She then did her best to fold the sail. It was a huge piece of cloth and she measured a little over five foot so it wasn't the easiest task but she managed. She stood and stretched the muscles in her lower back; she'd been hunched over that rag for hours! She motioned to Davie before climbing the stairs to the quarter deck. Bess was standing at the helm discussing something with the navigator, Joe. She placed a rough hand on the wheel before looking up at Molly.
"Just a moment." Molly waited to one side while Bess continued her orders. She wasn't long. "Come on," she said beckoning Molly to follow her into her quarters.
Molly always felt small when she was in Bess's living space. One of the first things she never failed to notice was the pristine bed, always well made; it was huge, bolted to the floor and would beat the swinging hammock she had herself. Bess also had a giant oak desk bolted to the floor with several books on it. There was a chest at the foot of the bed but the best thing of all was the set of plush sofas. The decorations and beauty of the place seemed insignificant when Molly sat on those chairs. There was nothing but wood and deck and uncomfortableness on the rest of the entire ship, it was a real treat to sit on something so wonderful. Not until she was told to though, it would be a crime to do so. Bess waved her arm and Molly relaxed into the feathery comfort. It was worth it just for the opportunity to sit on something so lovely. "What can I do for you Captain?" Molly said.
"I want to know what you're plans are when we hit Nass," Bess said. She pulled two glasses out of a cabinet and poured two glasses of rum, small ones, Molly was technically still on duty and to be caught drunk on duty was to risk a flogging.
"I don't know," she said, taking her glass and swigging the warm amber liquid. It settled in her stomach and she began to glow.
"You should think about it. I need to know how many more I need to take on before we leave and if you intend to jump ship, as so many crew members do, I'd like to know," Bess said her fair eyebrow rising as she spoke. It tilted the hat she wore to a jaunty angle and emphasised her pretty round face. Molly couldn't help feel a pudding when she was next to Bess. She was tall, slender with masses of straight yellow hair, a classical beauty. Whereas Molly was short, curvaceous with heaps of unruly brown curls. She'd never considered herself much to look at and as the years had rolled by; she'd picked up more than one or two grey hairs. She was by no means old, twenty five if she remembered right, but nor was she as young as she once was. Karana had definitely disagreed with her.
"Are you asking me to leave?" she said.
"No, I'm asking for your loyalty," her smile was disarming and Molly couldn't help but smile back.
"It's been an experience here," she said, "One I have found... different but not altogether bad but I don't know if I will come back yet. I want some time to think about it and to sleep on something that isn't rocking or swaying," Molly said.
"I see. Time ashore is something everyone needs from time to time."
"Will you go ashore?" Molly said, unable to keep herself from asking.
"Of course. I need a change from these quarters and to find a man decent enough to occupy some time," she said with a laugh. Molly nodded and lowered her gaze, "You tell me that you've not found anyone to amuse you while you're on board?"
"Captain. How can you ask me that after everything you know?" Molly said.
"Of course, I forgot you were an 'unfortunate' before you were here. Men are all blige rats anyway, sure they're useful for the odd pleasure here or there but when you let one in they take everything from you and leave you dry," she said. Here it comes, the rant about the ex-husband. Bess remained silent however, the words hung in the air unspoken, Molly drained her glass and replaced it on the floor. Bess began muttering about her ex. Molly had heard this before of course. According to Bess, she'd caught him in the arms of another woman, one who Bess insisted was an 'unfortunate', he'd then stolen her maps and made off in his ship and beaten her to all the locations of her treasure bar one. Bess's rage at the mention of her ex-husband was all consuming yet Molly couldn't help wonder what his side of the tale was, why had he been driven to another woman in the first place? She'd never dare to ask Bess though, that would be suicide. She didn't elaborate this time "Tell me of the worst man that you ever fucked," she said.
This was another of Bess's favourite games, "More than one stand out but the worst was the one who drank nothing but coffee and smoked heavily. He never washed and would come visiting while in the worst states of drunk. It would take forever for him to get it up and then forever to get it done. After a while, I'd lay there and wait for him to sort himself out," Molly said unable to look up from the planks of the floor.
"And you had to do him anyway?" The smirk on Bess' face was a picture.
"I had no choice, it was that or starve, why else do you think I stowed away here?" Molly said.
Bess shrugged, "I find it hard to believe you had no other choice," she placed her glass back on the table and stood up. "Think on what I said though, you're becoming a decent member of this crew and I would hate to see you back where you started." Molly took this as her queue and rose from the soft couch. She'd miss sitting on it that she was sure of. She wasn't so sure of the welcome she'd receive if she did come back but that decision was yet before her. She exited the cabin and returned to the deck, where she was soon given work to do by the boatswain.
Four days later, Molly stood on the gangplank leading onto the island town of Nass. The breeze made the heat bearable but only just. It was amazing how much hotter the island was compared to the open sea. This was where she'd caught the ship from in the first place and it was nice to see some familiar ground. Admittedly, she'd not been there for very long but still, it wasn't rocking, it was solid, it was firm and it was filled with people she's not been forced to spend time with for the last three months. She placed her hand on the cutlass at her side, it was a poor looking thing but she knew how to use it in a tight spot, she was reassured by its presence at least. She stepped off the plank and onto the quay. She was disturbed to notice how still it was. The world seemed to continue lurching from side to side; she had to throw out her arms to stop herself from falling. Behind her she could hear the laughs from the crew.
"Strange ain't it!" Len shouted down to her.
"You're telling me!" she called back. She took a deep breath before continuing along her way. She'd agreed to meet some of the lads in a local inn for a few drinks and was looking forward to the next few days. Davie had invited her and she was pleased for the inclusion, maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed, the lads seemed to like her at least. Her first call however was to purchase some new clothes and some better weapons. The money she'd made on board wasn't much but it was enough to keep her going for a while. Then a bath, wash the scent of the sea and sweat from her skin, maybe then she'd feel more of a human again.
It worked, when she entered the bar she felt more than human, she felt divine. She hoped that some of the crew had managed to find the bath house too, smelling bad at sea was understandable but on shore it was unforgiveable. She knew they wouldn't have done so, she remembered the stench of the places before she'd signed up. She threw back the door of the tavern and strode to the bar, "Hey. Moll," it was Davie waving at her from one of the booths. With him was Len, and Rog, next to them were two men she didn't recognise. Must be friends from town. She thought as she ordered a mug of frothy grog. She took the brimming mug and joined her shipmates.
"Has the town stopped rolling yet?" Len asked as she gulped down a mouthful of the bitter liquid.
