The rope ladder creaked ominously as Maeve clambered up the side of the Sand Skipper's ship, Shay following close behind her. She was a good climber and she scaled the side of the vessel in no time, hopping over the railing onto the deck into a semi-circle created by the waiting pirates. They were a raggedy bunch; mostly human, although she did spy a couple of dwarfs amongst their number, dressed in loose fitting shirts and trousers with bandannas wrapped around their heads and cutlasses strapped to their waists. A few brandished hand cannons, antiques compared to the newer muskets favoured by Everdale's elite soldiers, but still a rare sight outside of a military setting.
She turned and helped Shay onto the ship, the two women turning to face the crew as the captain stepped forwards. He was much older than Maeve had originally thought him and it was clear that his oily hair was a result of an attempt to dye it with tar. He smiled, revealing a row of crooked teeth, and bowed deeply to them both.
"Welcome aboard the Desert Rose," he growled. "Captain Abraham, at your service."
Shay stepped forwards and extended her hand. "We are most gracious for your assistance, Captain," she said cooly.
Abraham smirked as he kissed the back of Shay's hand. "Gold does wonders for my generosity, Miss Shay," he replied. "Speaking of..."
Shay smiled, though there was little amusement in her eyes. "Of course," she replied. "Though, perhaps we would be better discussing the finer points of our deal in a more private setting?"
The captain looked around before laughing. "Aye, we can do that. You and Miss Maeve can follow me to my quarters. The rest of you!" he added, looking around at his crew. "Clear out! Get this tub movin' again!"
"Aye, sir!" the crew chorused, scrabbling away like naughty children caught napping by their parents.
Abraham chuckled to himself as he beckoned to Shay and Maeve. They followed him to the rear of the ship, into a cabin situated beneath the ship's flybridge. Windows lined the rear of the cabin, flooding the spacious room with plenty of light. There was a large desk in the centre of the room, its gilded legs faded with age, and another round table in the corner of the room, the surface of which was strewn with charts and maps. What parts of the walls there were that were showing were covered in a striped yellow and cream wallpaper, though most of the wall space was taken up by hanging trophies of past raids, including a beautiful tapestry that looked to be of elven origin, its corners only lightly fire damaged. Maeve also noticed several bookcases crammed full of leather bound tomes and in the corner of the cabin was a curtained of section that she presumed hid the captain's cot and washing facilities.
"Tilly!" Abraham boomed as he marched towards his desk. "Fetch our guests some refreshments!"
"Yes, Captain."
A beautiful woman with ebony skin and black, kinky hair appeared from behind the curtained off section of the cabin. She wore red, silk trousers and a matching crop top that left her cleavage on display. Gold disks dangled from the hem of the crop top and the belt that she wore around her waist and her bellybutton, lips and ears were all pierced with various gold studs and gems. A metal collar, not dissimilar to the one that Maeve wore, rested around her neck and she wore gold cuffs around her wrists and ankles too. She crossed to one of the cabinets and withdrew a bottle of dark rum and three glasses of various sizes, pouring a finger of rum into each before placing them on a tray and walking over to the desk.
"Thank you," Maeve said quietly as she took her glass from the tray. The woman met her gaze and smiled before retreating to the corner of the room.
"So," Abraham said once he had downed his rum. "About my money?"
Shay reached into her bag and pulled out a leather pouch which made a distinctive jangling sound as she placed it on the captain's desk. "Half now. Half when we get to the Golden City," she said firmly.
Abraham picked up the pouch and emptied the contents onto his desk, his one remaining eye gleaming greedily as he sifted through the piles of little gold coins. "Aye," he said eagerly. "A deal's a deal. We'll get you where you need to go."
"Thank you, Captain," Shay replied smoothly. "How long do you anticipate the voyage will take."
Abraham sat back in his chair and blew out his cheeks. "Four days, I'd wager," he said. "We got a job to do in the Zardin Straights. After that, it'll plain sailin' to the Golden CIty."
"And we can't convince you to drop us at the city first?" Shay ventured.
He laughed. "No way! This job is time sensitive, if you catch my meaning?"
"Very well," Shay said. "If we can help, we will. Otherwise, we would appreciate our privacy until we arrive at our destination."
Abraham chortled. "Privacy don't really exist on a ship like this, lass," he said. "You got a choice though. You can bunk with the rest of the crew, or you can take the brig. It's dark and cramped but if it's privacy you be wanting then that's about the only place aboard that you'll get it!"
"We understand," Shay said. "We'll take the brig for now."
Abraham shrugged. "Suit yourselves," he said. "Tilly. Show 'em the way."
"Yes, Captain," she replied, stepping forwards and smiling at Shay and Maeve in turn. "Please, come with me," she said.
She led them out of the cabin back onto the main deck into the sun. The crew were busy preparing the ship for travel once again but as soon as they saw Tilly they stopped what they were doing to whistle and call out to her. She smiled serenely, brushing off the catcalls with a casual wave before leading them below deck via one of the open hatches. It was hot and stuffy below the main deck and the air was thick with the musky scent of sweat. Tilly led them between the rows of guns and ballistae down another steep flight of steps to the bowels of the ship. They passed through the hold to the brig which was located in the bow of the ship. It was a dark, windowless room with two iron cages either side of a narrow corridor. The air smelt stale and it was hot but it was at least quieter than anywhere else on the ship.
"Make yourselves comfortable," Tilly said. "Your lucky we haven't taken any prisoners so you can spread out as much as you want. Can I fetch you anything?"
"Some water," Shay said. "And some blankets if you have any spare."
"It does get draughty down here at night," Tilly said cheerfully. "Let me see what I can find for you."
Maeve watched her go before turning to Shay. "Are you sure about this?" she whispered. "I don't trust these people."
"These pirates are simple people," Shay replied. "All they care about is money and we are paying. It wouldn't be worth their while betraying us."
"What if they decide what we're paying them isn't enough?"
"Then we will deal with them," Shay replied firmly. "That's why I hired you, remember?"
