The Clipper cut through the clear waters of the Bay of Bogota' at a fast pace. The Fiery Wench had only been under way for two days. They took their time, steering carefully through secret coves of the bay to avoid the Spanish Navy that were patrolling the waters. The deck was bustling with activity that was abruptly interrupted by the limp body of a wench thrown onto the deck through the door leading into the hold. The Captain burst through the door only a moment after the wench's body stopped moving.
Captain Edward the Edible was a formidable man. Now that might not sound like the most impressive of nicknames for a pirate Captain to have, but it wasn't given to him by men, but rather the women that he had ravished all over the world. You see, Captain Edward was a delectable piece of man. Unfortunately, as we come upon him here in this story, my dear readers, he is not so delectable as his name points him out to be.
"All hands hoay!"
The crew had stopped all movement as the Captain came on deck, but as he bellowed for all hands, the deck suddenly became a hornet's nest of activity as every man on board ship spilled onto the deck to await the Captain's orders. At this time the wench at the Captain's feet moved and moaned softly.
The Captain's boot sharply kicked her in the ribs, "Don't ye move a muscle lass! Or I'll have you up in the hempen halter so fast your head will spin within it!"
As the crew stood restlessly on deck waiting for the Captain to speak he removed his eyes from the wench to rake his steely gaze across each man. He could see fear in many eyes, as he was known for his unpredictable behavior. He'd been known for keelhauling a man for just looking at him wrong. So they had good reason to fear him.
"Tell me lads. Which one of ye brought this wench aboard my ship?"
His gaze drifted across the men again, looking each of them in the eyes and assessing them for guilt. His sweep finished, he states, "So be it. If none of you be confessin' to this crime I'll just have to take it out on this wench."
The Captain lunged for the wench, grabbed her arm, and started dragging her to the door leading to his quarters. The wench, still groggy from her earlier beating from before he had dragged her up to the deck, desperately tried to gain her feet so she could keep up with the Captain rather than being dragged along the deck. She stumbled through the door, finally gaining her feet before the Captain threw her through the door of his cabin and onto the floor.
He slammed the door behind him, clicking the key in the lock as he turned and demanded, "Who be you wench?"
The wench sobbed on the floor, unable to answer through her tears. Captain Edward drew his arm back and struck her across the cheek.
"Answer me wench! Who be you and why are ye on my ship?"
She raised her face to him, eyes filled with tears, taking a deep breath to calm her voice and said, "My name is Sera and I am a stowaway."
Captain Edward scowled at her. "A stowaway? Lass are ye touched in the head? Or did ye have a death wish? Stowaway on a pirate's ship? Wench, ye be crazy!"
"Oh please sir! Don't kill me! I didn't have any choice! I was shipwrecked in the small cove your ship came to and I was the only survivor! My entire family was on that ship sir," her tears welled up once again, but she steeled herself to continue, "I had been left there for days on end and I never thought anyone would ever come. I thought I was going to die.
"So when your ship pulled into the cove I thought to signal you, but then I saw your ship flying the pirate ensign. I . . I . . I didn't think you would give me safe passage, so I found the cargo your men were uploading to the ship and climbed into one of the barrels. I would have stayed hidden but I was so hungry . . ." Her eye strayed to the table laden with the Captain's meal, "Please don't kill me sir. I'll . . I'll . ." You could see the wench visibly steel her resolve, "I'll do anything if only you let me live."
