Accidental Pirates

It was the night before arrival that Morgan was forced to make an admission, she was happy. She had spent a considerable amount of time pondering, reflecting, and generally perplexed by this fact. It was hard to pin down the very moment that it had crept up on her, yet she realised the state amidst a hotly contested round of Captain’s bastard, the jovial atmosphere bringing yet another smile to her face. Marlo, who was grumpily firing jibes at Sha, threw his cards down, his complaints heard ship wide, “There is no way you didn’t cheat. It’s not possible to get the fool, three hands in a row,” Sha’s infectious smile inflaming things further. “Well, then, you aren’t going to like this either,” Sha announced, before placing his cards down with an exaggerated flourish. A round of boisterous laughter followed, the crew’s amusement insufficient in drowning out Marlo’s profanity, his selection which involved Sha’s mother, further escalating the crew’s mirth. The day’s activities had mostly ...

  Sha, l ike the assembled crew, was captured by Morgan’s intense gaze, her speech forced into the morning, demanding his consideration, “We are about to embark on a dangerous mission in which we know little about our enemy. As always, I will give you the chance to leave before we set sail. If you stay, I expect your loyalty, respect, and skills. In return I can assure you that our dead will be avenged. Remember, a sword in a scabbard is safe.” “ but that is not what swords are made for ,” The crew chimed in, completing their captain’s sentence before dispersing to undertake their various duties. Sha watched a deckhand hauling , moving to the call of the sea. Amidst the bustle he felt like an outsider, still trying to fit in. Despite his desire to belong signs of bonding through hardship, hard work and strife were everywhere. Lost in his pondering, he awoke to find that they were sailing into the light of a rising sun. The thought of Marlo’s grumpy façade reminded him of duty, and ...

Morgan words were fueled by a need to strip the room of all pretence, “Seriously Castain, you can’t expect me to believe that B S story.” Sha was gripping his hilt tightly enough to make his anger evident, she offered him sound advice, “I wouldn’t Sha, this one’s good, better than you.” Her counterpart was visibly stung by the words, yet she spared no time for the stroking of ego’s, instead choosing to seek the safety of her desk. Castain was an enigma of the most dangerous kind, she thought of him as more of a spy master, than a pirate. Choosing her words carefully, she spoke as openly as the situation allowed, “Explain yourself Castain, I do not have time for your normal allusions. I leave on the morning tide.” Castain sat, the casual action unsurprising, Morgan had never seen him act like a pirate, why would their current situation be any different. “I don’t tell tales, Morgan.” Castain’s reprimand leaving her in silence, feeling tense, she gripped the side of her chair, his next wo...

Sha watched as the command of the Brothel Beauty paraded past him, Marlo the only man a towering thorn among deadly roses, their breastplates, pants, and boots adorned with panels of coloured leather. The sight of Morgan stole his breath, the crowd shrinking away from her as if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Under the brim of her captain’s hat, she wore an icy stare, a thick line of black paint across her eyes adding further intensity to her gaze. But Sha knew better, he even found himself pondering that the overall effect made the crew of the Beauty look like peahens in mating season. Of course, instead of feathers they had cruel looking swords and colourful leather straps tied and woven into their arms and hair. If he didn’t know any better, he would have taken their icy looks to mean they were unapproachable. Matter-of-factly as the retinue strolled past, Bella punched a pirate in the face for appraising Meena from behind, stating, “I would gladly give her the...

Restless, Morgan lay awake listening to the sound of Piper making noises in her sleep. A need to be comforted had sent her into the cabin. Morgan had instinctively made space, resting a hand upon the child, leaving it there even after the little one had drifted off to sleep. She found herself pondering if the connection was more for Piper’s benefit or hers. The sound of comfortingly peaceful breaths sending her back six years, to the fateful day that Piper had lightened her chaotic life.     _______________   Morgan was trying to keep it together. Staging an attack on the most heavily fortified ship in Crewtown was apparently an impossible task. The discussion with her cohorts was going absolutely nowhere. Worse still, she had a splitting headache, although a sharp smack against a headboard would do that to anyone. Nia had given her a foul concoction to help lessen the effect of a muddled brain. It was amidst that perfect mix of strained happenings that she exercised forc...

Forced out of recollection by a persistent knock, Morgan dispatched lingering thoughts of innocence lost and leapt up from the dusty floor. After hurriedly unlocking the door, she moved towards the safety of her desk. Still wiping her eyes, she threw out a surprisingly calm request, “Come in.” It was the cabin boy that entered; his defiant stance matching the forceful closing of a door. As if it was an instinctual act, Sha stood to attention, then quickly hid the action in an awkward manner. Morgan hid her amusement. “You called for me, Captain,” He rumbled disrespectfully. Morgan smiled, offering polite words, “Hello Sha. Would you like to start, or shall I?” Her words had the desired effect; he was understandably confused by her sudden change in tack.  “Wasn’t me, wait maybe it was. Wait, what were we actually talking about?” Sha babbled. She continued in earnest, “Firstly, I would like to apologise for making you a cabin boy. I’m sure you respect; it is hard to trust in ...

Not even sturdy boards and a newly washed deck could bring comfort, her mind overflowing with uncontrolled emotions. Desperately seeking a semblance of control Morgan ordered Marlo to organise the ships new charges and sought the seclusion of her cabin. Located at the stern beneath the quarter deck, the captains quarters were accessed from the main deck. The cabin itself divided into two distinct rooms, the day room was filled with chairs and tables, its walls decorated with all manner of weapons, there was space for an alcohol cabinet and almost as an afterthought a desk occupied the corner. Hidden behind the desk was a wooden panel that slid open giving one access to the night room. Morgan’s night room was a place of sanctuary, its shiny glass windows painting distorted patterns upon the bed, an effect that she could no longer do without. She locked the door as soon as the threshold was behind. Her hands shaking as she poured amber-coloured liquid, a whisky for just such an occasion....