Best of Me

The sea sang a song of rest and calm weather that starry night. Even as the air grew cool and fog surrounded the large, white ship, I sat in the crow's nest hiding from Ewald, Rosa, and Baldor. I was waiting for them to disappear back to the crews' quarters so I could continue to keep watch in peace and alone.

My hand still sting when I moved it, the cut deeper than I had originally thought. I wasn't expecting the blades to be so sharp but it at least meant the sword was well taken care of. It was that reason I was trying to hide from the three, who kept bringing me back to the stinging pain.

Besides those three, there weren't many others awake that night, as we needed only a few to keep watch on the calm waters. For the last two weeks, the days have been long but nights were longer after we left Carlisle. Besides the tongue lashing I got for bringing trouble abroad the ship when I hadn't been a pirate for longer than a few hours, there was no other sort of punishment.

Well, if nightwatch, scrubbing the wooden floors, and cooking their meals didn't count towards other punishments.

It wouldn't be long, just a few more days, before we hit another city. We could restock the little supplies we had once we reached it.

Releasing a yawn, I turned to search the open sea. The fog wasn't as bad as the night before, so I was sure if there was something out there I would see it. Even if it tried to blend in with the darkness.

The hours ticked slowly and it had been when the sun peeked just over the horizon when I spotted it. Another ship. It was large with the sun reflecting off of it. Or, reflecting off of something on it. It was hard to make out with how the sun seemed to bounce off it.

I couldn't even see what type of ship it was. If it was a friend or foe.

It was the first ship I had seen during my night watch. Usually, it was later in the day when someone in the crew spotted one. Though nothing came out out of it. They were either going in the wrong direction, too fast, or Velwyn didn't want to waste his time and energy.

When he said that, I had to wonder just what type of pirate captain he was. He and his crew were different from the ones that I knew.

"Hey, there's a ship towards port!" I called out, narrowing my eyes against the bright sun.

It wasn't natural the way the sun seemed to bounce off of it. It reminded me of mirrors.

Looking down to see if they heard me, I watched as Ewald climbed on the ship's railing, one of his hands grabbing ahold of a rope that went up to the mast, so he wouldn't slip off. It didn't take long for him to spot it, as he called back to me the second he did, asking about the sails.

I called back that I wasn't sure. Even as we slowly got closer from the waves that pushed against the ship, I couldn't tell. It was starting to bother me that I couldn't see what type of ship we were heading toward.

Ewald appeared after a few minutes, climbing over the small railing that surrounded the crows' nest.

"What do you mean you don't know?" He asked, pulling a telescope from his side.

"Exactly that. Can you see it?" I folded my arms over my chest.

Ewald didn't reply as he placed the telescope to his eye. It was long and simple, with a single sight that looked like a flower. For some reason, it made me wonder if the telescope had belonged to a child before him but I didn't see a point in asking.

"Well?" I asked, tapping my fingers on my arm.

He raised a hand for me to be quiet before placing it back onto the telescope. A sigh escaped me as I waited for his answer.

"You might want to grab something and hold tight." His warning was too calm for what came next.

The water exploded, the wind whistling as a cannon hit the silver water next to us. The ship rocked as another hit, before the third one. Each as ear-splitting as the last.

"What the hell!" I shouted, feeling myself rock with the ship as I grabbed onto him. "They're firing at us?"

"We are pirates." He continued to sound way too calm for that kind of answer. "Time to wake up the crew who's still asleep after that."

I stared at him, still dazed, as he pulled my hands off of his arm. He didn't seem the least bit worried or like this was a matter that needed to be dealt with right away.

What was wrong with him? Shouldn't he be more panicked or worried? Shouldn't he be hurrying to get the rest?

"Hey, I wouldn't stay up there if I was you," Ewald said before he started down the rope ladder. "We'll need all hands on deck to fight back. Captain won't be happy if you're not in it."

Water splashed, the cannons defying sound following. Of course, I had to go and join a pirate ship. Of course, the silver waters wouldn't remain calm and we, of course, would be attacked.

Rubbing my face, I followed. It wasn't like I would be safe hiding up in the crows' nest. Not with all those cannons being fired at us.

As my feet hit the unsteady ground, I felt as the ship once more rocked as it turned, someone at the helm that was able to stop us from being hit. More of the crew appearing, grumbling as they released yawns, still half asleep. It was like they weren't registering the sound of cannons hitting the water near us.

"Fuck, are we getting fired out?" The words were slurred slightly.

"Too tired. Wake me up when it's done."

"I'm hungry. Do you think they'll have food?"

Just what type of pirate crew did I join? Water splashed over the edge of the ship, spraying some of the ones complaining. It felt like ice getting dumped on me.

"Everyone to your places. I wanted those cannons loaded and fired five minutes ago!" Saul ordered as he appeared from below with a devil sword attached to his side. "Wiley, I see you slacking there. Go help Lorena and figure out where we are!"

The crew listened, looking sharper and more alert than the seconds before. Some went below, a majority staying a top to pull out their pistols or swords to prepare for the upcoming fight. Having neither a sword or pistol, I went below to help with the cannons so I wasn't just standing there.

Seconds ticked as the crew moved around, no longer grumbling about a shaking ship or loud noises waking them. Jacob and William appeared, before they started to run around like a pair of chickens that got their heads cut off. They listened to the orders that the pirates gave them, going back and forth between things gunpowder; swords; and pistols.

The cannons were large and gave a big kickback. There were eight of them in total, four facing each side of the ship. I didn't know how far the balls would fire but I was sure with the right person using it, it would do plenty of damage.

Helmut, Gregor, Herbert, and Juliet took charge of the cannons.

The four loading them, making sure that they were positioned right before lightning the match. I stood beside Helmut, listening to his orders, even if I didn't completely get it.

The balls were heavy as I carried them to him. Smoke filled the air with each cannon that was fired.

As the two ships grew closer to each other, cannons on both sides became forgotten. The pirates started to go up top. I went to follow but paused, grabbing Jacob's arm as he tried to join. A frown was clear on his face.

His eyes were a reminder of what I had down. They seemed to haunt me, even on his face. Even when he and Thom were so different.

I wanted to tell him to stay below, but who was I to tell him what he could and couldn't do?

Shaking my head, I dropped my hand and went up the stairs without a word. I couldn't tell him not to go. I couldn't bring myself to. Even if I wanted to protect him.

Even if I wanted to know if he and Thoms were brothers. And if he and William had been lying to me.

The ships were side by side as I reached the deck. The one next to us was bigger and higher off the sea than ours. I looked up, towards the sails to spot a black flag. The symbol of a skull with crossbones with an added touch showed who this ship belonged to.

Don Gibert.

It was unexpected to find the pirate and his ship, The Ghost, out here. I had heard that he was headed towards the North. But that had been a few months before, when I had last seen him and his crew.

Unexpected or not, it looked like we were enemies out here.

[to be cont.]