Ships

Chapter 2. Landlubber’s Paradise. (Buccaneer Jones and the Fires of Peace)

~ Matthew Roys ~ Leave a comment

It was an hour later when Bucc finally managed to get away from his parents. He found Jesse and Adward playing cards out on the forecastle. It looked as though Adward would win again. He always did, but that never stopped Jesse from trying.

Jesse looked at the cards in her hand, tried to maintain a neutral expression, then sighed. She dropped the cards and turned to Bucc, welcoming the distraction from her inevitable defeat.

“You look tired. Your folks find out that you didn’t actually fight?”

“No. That’s the trouble,” Bucc said quietly. He leant against the railings and stared out at the endless blue below. “Trying to play up to their expectations is exhausting me. They’re so confident that one day I’ll open my eyes and realise how great this life is. This is a phase to them. They say that I loved battles as a kid, and that I’ll love them again when it’s time. It seems alien to them that people can have different ideas about how to live life.”

“So firing that cannon didn’t send tingles down your spine?” Jesse pressed, her eyes taking on that slightly manic glint. She had a weird fondness for gunpowder.

“Not the good kind. Look, I want to create, not destroy. Is that really such a weird dream to have? We all saw what violence can do when we lost Kaz three years ago, but nobody cares. Everyone grieved then went straight back to doing the same stupid things that led to his death in the first place.” He looked to Adward for support. “You’re not a fighter either. Back me up.”

Adward nodded. “A pirate’s life isn’t about fighting.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s about adventure.”

“What? No!”

“Sorry, Bucc. That’s the way it is. Sailing stormy seas, exploring new islands, testing your skills in combat, it all fulfills a pirate’s basic need for adventure. That’s what Kaz taught me. Staying in one place watching plants grow over several months just isn’t very adventurous.”

“Well, neither is looking at the stars.”

Adward glanced up at the sky. “True. The stars are a map to be studied though. If you can navigate them then you can travel anywhere. Even to the Shores of the Nexus if we could just work out the way. Now that would be an adventure.”

Jesse snorted. “Now who’s living in a dream world?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Remind me how your goal of becoming a captain is going, little miss Can’t String a Sentence Together While Being Looked At,” Adward snapped.

Jesse seemed to deflate. All three sighed. They remained silent for a while, locked in their own thoughts. Bucc looked out over the rails and watched the waves. The ocean stretched out as an infinite expanse of blue that connected with the even bigger infinite expanse of blue that was the sky. There wasn’t a single island or ship in sight. Only the endless blue. The sight couldn’t have been more boring if it tried.

It was Jesse who broke the quiet. She played with her pigtails absently as she spoke. “We all seem a little lost without Kaz. Do you think everything becomes clearer after the Awakening?”

“Of course it will,” Adward said with confidence. “Adults always know what to do. You never see them worrying about the future because they’re living it, you know. It stands to reason that things get easier.”

Bucc thought about this. It seemed to him that all of the adults were somehow too similar. They all acted the same. Maybe the ceremony didn’t give them the wisdom of being an adult, but instead took away the curiosity of childhood. The thought secretly terrified him.

“Land ho!” came a call from atop the crowsnest. “Cantruug is on the horizon!”

Bucc squinted but couldn’t see anything yet. Jesse and Adward joined him at the railing. They peered ahead for a few minutes until Adward finally spotted a dark smear between the sea and sky. Following the direction of Adward’s finger, Bucc caught sight of the distant spec. Slowly but steadily the dot grew until it took on the clear silhouette of a wooded island. As they came nearer, the sea became shallower and the whole world seemed to change.

Vague shapes moved through the afternoon light, both swimming in the waters below them and floating through the air. Bucc pointed them out excitedly.

“Look there! I’m not used to seeing this many blanks together. Some of them even have forms!”

Blanks were the only living creatures in the world other than humans. They were transparent spheres that looked like head-sized bubbles, each one identical other than slight colour variants of their translucent skin.

“You think we should try and catch some?” Jesse asked. “Having a familiar would be awesome.”

“We aren’t allowed familiars until after the ceremony. You know that,” said Adward. Despite his words, he too watched the blanks with thinly veiled longing.

“I wonder why?” Bucc asked nobody in particular. “Can’t the blanks join with children, or is it just a silly rule?”

“We’re pirates, Bucc. I doubt it’s just a rule. Life is all about freedom from rules.”

“Is it? We obey the captain. That’s a rule. We have instructions about running the ship that need to be obeyed. They’re also rules.”

“Yeah, but they’re just common sense, aren’t they?” Jesse argued. “Nobody would get far with a badly run ship. We aren’t talking about silly stuff like ‘no dessert before supper’, or ‘be in bed by sundown’. We’re free to do what we want as long as it doesn’t risk the ship. Makes sense to me.”

Bucc shrugged. “I guess you’re right. We’ll find out soon enough.”

In the centre of the blanks was a large fish with a series of tentacles around it. Bucc watched it with wonder and sadness. Blanks were the only creatures in the world, but they had the ability to evolve. From the dawn of humanity, blanks had developed a relationship with humans. When a human and blank connected with one another, the blank would take on attributes of the human’s personality, the human’s soul giving the blank a new form. These were what became known as familiars.

Once a familiar was formed, it stayed by its human’s side for life. Only, familiars lived for hundreds of years while humans had a much shorter life. When a human died, their familiar was left to wander the world alone. Most returned to nature, never again to be joined with a human. Every wild familiar was a reminder of a lost human life, and a soul cursed to be alone.

By now the deck was beginning to fill with people again as the pirates began preparing to dock. The island of Cantruug dominated the horizon at this point. At several miles long and covered in rolling hills and trees, Cantruug was the largest landmass in a hundred leagues.

A large shadow loomed over the children. They turned to see Captain Gus standing over them. He wasn’t a big man, but his status as captain made him intimidating even if his appearance didn’t.

“Now then, me hearties, can I trust you three not to cause trouble when we dock?”

Jesse took a deep breath and tried to speak. “Y-y-y-y-ye.” She slammed her mouth shut and swallowed audibly. 

The captain scowled at them. “This time next week you three scamps will be real pirates. Watch your elders closely, because very soon you’ll all be working and fighting alongside them. I don’t have room for anxiety, pacifism, or people who try to be too smart for their own good. Don’t forget that.”

He left them, shouting orders at any pirate who so much as crossed his sight. Bucc ignored him and returned to watching the island. The captain was a grumpy man who hated to part with anything, especially coin. Rumour had it that he had sold his own sister for the funds to become a captain. He didn’t like anybody that didn’t make him richer.

The settlement of Three-Potatoes was clearly visible now. The small traders’ port was a shanty town of wooden buildings that were vibrant with greenery. The Singing Seal pulled into the port and was greeted by a team of workmen from the island. The ship made the village look small and squat as it loomed over the collection of shacks. Captain Gus was the first pirate to disembark. He met the islanders and instantly launched into haggling with the workmen over repair costs.

A number of pirates made their way straight to the tavern. Others carried bundles towards the merchant quarter to buy and repair items and clothing, or sell what they had plundered from other ships.

Bucc didn’t care about any of that. He ran down the gangplank then tried to take off his shoes and socks without stopping. After nearly falling over, he threw them to the floor and jogged across to the nearby beach. He felt the warm sand between his toes and giggled. 

Sand was nice, but it wasn’t quite perfect. Enjoying every footstep, Bucc made his way further inland, leaving the beach behind as he took to the woods. The sand gave way to soil that felt cold in the shade of the canopy. This was bliss. Nothing on a ship could replicate the feel of nature around you. The crunch of fallen leaves, the smell of hundreds of unique scents filling the air, all of the colours and sounds, it was beautiful.

He slowed his pace and allowed himself to soak in the peace and quiet. There was no creak of wood or background murmur of voices. Even the waves sounded distant. His fingers brushed against the smooth bark of a birch tree, then tall strands of wild grass, and dried leaves that had yet to fall from the branches. He tried to touch everything he could reach as he let the sounds and smells of the woods wash over him. 

Only a small patch of woodland remained on the island. Most of the area had been dedicated to farming. The few islands that dotted the ocean were the backbone of life for all pirates. They produced the food to eat, wood for ships, and metal for weapons and tools. For a culture that lived on the waves, the sea offered very little to help humans to survive there since all the fish had mysteriously disappeared over fifty years ago, along with every other animal in the world. It was for this reason that the few pirates born with earth affinity were so important. Without their ability to nurture plants to grow faster there simply wouldn’t be enough resources.

Bucc stepped out from the trees into a clearing filled with golden wheat. Wheat was Cantruug’s main produce. It was the staple crop for a pirate’s diet since it was used to make bread, and more importantly, spaghetti. Since spaghetti was light weight, easy to store, long lasting, and easy to cook, it suited a life at sea well. Side portions of fruit and vegetables filled in any nutrients the filling main was missing. The wheat was highly valued, second only to the sugarcane that was turned into rum.

A single farmer watched over the field, a pale ribbon of smoke rising up from his pipe. He was a squat man with greying hair called Scratch Blackfoot. He nodded amicably to Bucc when he noticed the boy. Bucc had been to the island a few times over the years and had taken to watching the farmer work. 

“Wasn’t expecting to see the Singing Seal back here for a few weeks yet,” Blackfoot said after greeting Bucc. His familiar, a mole like creature with a long tail, dozed lazily beside him. “Tell me, did you have your Awakening yet? Is that why you’re here?”

“Afraid not, Mister Blackfoot. The ceremony is next week. We’re only here for repairs after a skirmish with the Vigilous.”

“The Vigilous you say? Well. They were here a few days before you for repairs themselves. No doubt you’ve damaged them again now. You seafolk sure know how to keep us islanders busy. If you’re not careful we’re all going to run out of supplies. I’ve heard that a lot of islands are already hard pressed to meet demands. Then there’s talk of war up in the north. Troublesome times these are, young Bucc.”

“Hasn’t it always been this way though? Pirates fight each other, things get broken, then they get fixed again. Rinse and repeat.”

“Aye, that’s the way it’s always been. Trouble is there’s a lot more of us about these days. The leviathans and other predators used to keep folk on their toes. My old pops said that they couldn’t waste anything back then because one mistake would lead to a quick death. Without any predators there’s nothing stopping the number of humans from swelling. That’s more food and more ships that are needed. That’s why I hope you do turn out to be one of us earthers. We’re always needing more hands.”

Bucc gave the farmer a thumbs up. “On that subject, do you have any work I can help you with while I’m here?”

“Afraid not, lad. It won’t be long until it’s dark and most of my work is done in the mornings. Go, explore the village for a change. By the sounds of it you’ll be back here after next week anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

Bucc took Mister Blackfoot’s advice and headed into the village to try and find Jesse or Adward. He expected the other boy was off in the hills waiting for the stars to come out. He was usually somewhere quiet with a notebook. Jesse on the other hand was likely easier to find. 

His instincts told him to follow the sound of hammering to the blacksmith’s forge. Set up beside it was a storefront filled with weapons of all kinds. It had a good crowd viewing its wares, and as expected, Jesse was staring longingly at a large blunderbuss. Bucc approached her and tapped her shoulder to get her attention over the hustle of the crowd. Jesse jumped and let out a startled cry.

“Do-don’t d-d-d-do that!” she stammered. She took a step back and pulled Bucc to the side. Away from the crowd Jesse recovered herself quickly. “I think I’ve figured it out,” she told him confidently.

“Figured what out?”

“How to get over my anxiety. I think I get nervous because I doubt myself in front of others. My mind goes blank and I just imagine all the bad things that could happen. If I want to be a captain I need to be top dog. So what I need is a ginormous gun!”

“Er…”

“Just think about it! With a big gun in your hands you don’t have to worry about anyone. Then there’s the thick smell of gunpowder filling your nostrils with its beautiful scent. Who could be nervous in that position?”

“I would be,” Bucc pointed out blandly. “Everyone has a gun. How would that help?”

“I just get a bigger one. People respect two things: charisma and superior firepower. Also, look how nice that blunderbuss is. That’s genuine bone, not wood, and black iron too. That’s a real relic of the past. The monochrome look and silver inlay are breathtaking. I want it so badly. Just thinking about it sets my heart fluttering.”

“I can’t tell if that’s an unhealthy attitude to take or if my pacifism in a culture of pillage is the truly damaging mindset.”

“What?” 

“Nothing. Never mind. Have you heard how long repairs will take?”

Jesse shook her head. “When I was passing by the captain he was still haggling over basic labour charges. The damage wasn’t too bad though. I’d expect us to be back on the seas before tomorrow night.”

“I was hoping we’d be here a little longer.”

“Maybe you want to waste your time here, but nobody else does. Can you imagine how much chaos there would be if a few hundred pirates were left bored for days with nothing to do but drink and fight?”

“Sounds pretty normal to me.”

“It’s worse,” she answered knowingly. She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s the soil, you see. Too much exposure to dirt makes a pirate go crazy. They get landsick. Someone starts out feeling real antsy, then irritable, until full blown paranoia sets in. That’s what an old geezer told me when I was at the Klamnet bazaar last year. Only the earthers can stomach it.”

 “Huh. I guess that means I really am going to have an affinity for earth. Awesome!”

Jesse shook her head with a grin. The crowd around the store had become smaller now. She fixed her eyes back onto the blunderbuss. 

“I’m still holding out for fire. Water is a realistic second, but fire is without doubt the best. Just think of the respect I would have with that kind of power,” she said dreamily. She snapped herself back to reality. “Failing that complete miracle, I need to save up a lot of doubloons for a nice weapon.” She held out her hand toward the gun. “Wait for me, my sweet prince. We will be reunited.”

“Maybe if you just imagine everyone as a weapon of destruction then you’ll suddenly be okay. You do seem pretty comfortable speaking to them.”

“Shut it, or you’ll be the first person I make lick my boots once I’m captain.”

Previous – Chapter 1. Why Must it be a Pirate’s Life for Me?

Next – Chapter 3. Pirate Practice.

Chapter 1. Why Must it be a Pirate’s Life For Me? (Buccaneer Jones and the Fires of Peace)

~ Matthew Roys ~ Leave a comment

A cannonball crashed through the wall of Buccaneer Jones’ tiny cabin. He yelped and fell out of his bunk, then frantically scurried underneath it. Through the hole in the wall he could see the raging ocean outside, and the pirate ship that was rapidly approaching.

There was a thunderous noise from above as the Singing Seal returned fire with her own cannons. Bells began to ring through the floating village that Buccaneer called home. It was a call to action, but the only action that Buccaneer took was to grab a padded hat from a hook and ram it onto his head. The thick material covered his ears and muffled the sounds enough for him to ignore them. He picked up an old, dog-eared, botanical encyclopedia, then shuffled back beneath his bunk and tried his hardest to forget about the battle, even as sea water sloshed into his cabin from the hole and the smell of gunpowder swirled around him. 

The two ships closed the distance until men and women could swing from one to the other with cutlasses gripped between their teeth. Shouts and laughter filled the air, punctuated with pistol shots and the clang of swords. To them it was all a big game.

Buccaneer sighed and started to hum loudly. Despite his name, Buccaneer didn’t like fighting. In fact, he hated it, just like he hated his name. To his friends he was just Bucc. Not that he had many. Bucc was considered odd by most people. He didn’t like violence, couldn’t stand loud noises, and he willingly washed at least once a week. The other pirates didn’t know how they were supposed to treat someone who didn’t like to fight, pillage, and drink. 

Bucc’s door was kicked open and his parents rushed into the cabin. His dad was tall and gangly with a bald head, while his mum was a stout woman with thick blonde braids. Both were grinning excitedly and had their weapons drawn. As his dad approached him, the black scaled, snake-like creature that was draped around his neck lifted its head and hissed towards the growing puddle that was leaking in through the hole. Its spiked fins quivered agitatedly.

“What are you still doing in here, Buccaneer?” asked his dad. As he spoke, he absently motioned with one hand towards the water. The water rose up and snaked its way back through the hole. He always cast magic with his injured hand, the missing thumb made it more difficult to hold his cutlass. “Come quick. Big Tim got a splinter in his eye. We need you to man the cannon.”

“You’re not serious.”

His mum shifted her two iron mallets then grabbed him by the hand. Their weight didn’t seem to bother her in the slightest. Bucc tried to huddle further away but a six-legged cat with horns pulled itself from under a blonde braid and dropped from his mum’s shoulder, moving behind him. His mum pulled him forward, her clothing making a swirl of bright colours with every movement. “It’s time for you to become a real pirate. When the adrenaline starts pumping through you, you’ll realise what you’re missing out on. It’ll be just like back in the old days.”

Bucc didn’t have time to argue. He was pulled from his cabin and dragged through the maze of wooden corridors up to the deck, where he emerged into a scene of chaos as pirates fought all around them. Some swung above their heads on ropes, while others fell into the water below where they continued to fight. 

Tendrils of water rose up from the waves to lash out at anything nearby while jets of fierce wind knocked unwary pirates overboard and blew into others’ eyes as they tried to aim their pistols. Familiars of all shapes and sizes scurried across the deck or swooped through the sky. Bucc had no idea how anybody could tell friend from foe through the pandemonium.

His dad pushed him towards an unmanned cannon. “Go and shoot some seadogs. Do us proud, my boy!”

His parents rushed off into the thick of the battle. His mum’s familiar, Shayla, immediately leapt at the closest attacker and clawed his face while Nadir, his dad’s familiar, wrapped around his master’s arm and lashed out at anybody who got too close. His parents’ ferocity and teamwork saw them cut a clean path through the chaos.

Bucc stared at the cannon, then at the battle. All of the movement and noise was too much for him. He just needed to do something so he could leave as quickly as possible. The cannon was already aimed perfectly at the other ship but Bucc didn’t want to damage someone else’s home. There would be young children and injured people still on the ship, just like there were on the Singing Seal. 

Bucc unlocked the cannon’s pivot and tried to turn it but the cannon didn’t budge. The metal suddenly lurched. Bucc looked to his side to see Jesse and Adward Reeds, fair haired siblings and Bucc’s only friends.

“What you doing?” Jesse asked in her soft, slightly playful manner.

“My parents won’t let me stay in my cabin. They said I have to take part in this stupid battle. I don’t want to hurt anyone though. But if they find I haven’t fired a single shot then they’ll make me walk the plank!”

Adward made a sympathetic shrug. “It was only a matter of time until they put their foot down about it. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Look, just help me aim at that figurehead on the front of their ship. It causes wanton destruction without hurting anybody. Everyone’s happy.”

“If you say so,” Adward said. “Skin grows back. Art doesn’t. But whatever. It isn’t a very good carving anyway.”

The three strained against the heavy metal, slowly bringing it around until it clicked. The weapon was built to lock every few inches to stop it from swinging around in rough weather. Bucc pulled the lever to unlock it again then moved the cannonslightly further until it was staring down the shark-shaped figurehead. 

He grabbed a cannonball and barely managed to lift it off the ground. Adward helped him to lift it into the barrel of the cannon while Jesse lit the fuse with an excited giggle. Bucc took several steps back and put his fingers in his ears. The ship hit a wave and the cannon fired, shooting the cannonball over the figurehead to splash harmlessly into the sea beyond.

Bucc sighed with relief. “Well, we tried our best. Nothing more we can do here. Let’s leave the fighting to the experts, eh?”

“Come on, Bucc. We can at least try one more time,” said Jesse. She was already replacing the gunpowder and fuse. “Just think of the reputation we’d get for blowing up that ugly shark head.”

“Fine. One more shot.” 

He took a step towards the cannon only to be thrown back as a cannonball smashed into it from the opposite ship. Bucc picked himself up and stared at the twisted metal. Jesse stood with the torch held above the wreckage, her face white. Adward was laid on his back but gave a shaky thumbs up.

“On second thought, one shot was plenty. That’s enough battle for the next, ah, I don’t know… fifty years at least. I’m out!”

Bucc ran to the door and skidded down the stairs. Breathing heavily, his feet pounded across the wood until he threw himself into his cabin. He sat in the corner beside an old boot filled with dirt and hugged his knees as he tried to curl into himself. Jesse and Adward joined him a few moments later.

“Not to point out the obvious,” started Adward, “but you do know that you’ll not be able to avoid fighting for much longer. In a few days we’ll have our Awakening and then we’ll be full pirates. You’ll have to fight then. It’s who we are.”

“But why is that who we are?” Bucc snapped back. “I don’t want to be a pirate. After the ceremony I’m going to have an affinity for earth and go to an island to become a farmer. That’s my dream.”

“Earth is a pretty rare gift. Not as rare as fire, but there’s no guarantee that’s what you’ll get,” Jesse tried to point out gently. She pulled on one of her pigtails as she spoke.

“Maybe there isn’t, but our affinities are supposed to represent our soul. I love nature, and watching plants grow. I know all about them, and have already grown some myself. I’m gentle and nurturing, what other element could I be?” Bucc picked up the old boot and showed it off proudly as he spoke. Inside was the first shoot of a daffodil.

There were a series of cheers from above. Through the hole in his wall, Bucc could see the other ship pull away. The sounds of gunshots and fighting fell quiet.

“Looks like we won this one,” Jesse said with a small smile. She had the heart of a true pirate, it was everything else that let her down. She was small for her age, spoke softly, and had major anxiety around people. It would take a lot for her to win respect as a warrior but she was the kind of person who would always try anyway.

“Good,” muttered Bucc. “At least my parents should be in a good mood. They’re always happy when we win a skirmish.”

A bell rang out to call the Seal’s crew to the deck. Bucc placed the shoe in the light that spilled out from the damaged wall, then the three of them made their way out of the cabin. As they emerged into the hustle of the deck, some pirates were putting out fires and clearing debris, while others were already breaking open casks of rum to celebrate. Hundreds of people were crammed onto the deck. A near equal number of familiars filled the remaining space, clinging to their owners or darting through the crowds playfully. Together, they were the Singing Seal family.

This was how Pirate society was formed in Hylantia. With so little land to support settlements, vast ships were built over many years. These ships became mobile villages where hundreds of pirates lived. Most pirates only spent a day or two on dry land each year.

Bucc found his parents standing over the remains of the cannon he had been asked to man. His mum held her hat in her hands solemnly as his father inspected the crumpled metal.

“Poor thing,” his father said quietly. “She was a good cannon, wasn’t she? Pity it had to end like this.”

“Err, I’m okay,” Bucc announced. “Just in case you were wondering what had happened to me.”

“Course you are,” his mum said. “You’re a Jones. Mine and your Pa’s families have survived since the dawn of time. That takes a special luck, that does. Born survivors, you see. Why, the chances of you dying early just seem ridiculous.”

Bucc frowned. He passed the words through his head a second time but it didn’t make any more sense. 

“You know that everyone alive today is only alive because their families survived, right?”

“See! That’s you thinking with your head again instead of your heart. Bad habit, is that,” his father said sagely. 

“Hearts don’t think, they pump blood!” Bucc started to argue. 

A gunshot cut through the noise and silenced the crowd as a man in a yellow frock coat stepped up onto the helm. It was the captain of the Singing Seal, Golden Gus. He held a smoking pistol in his hand and an oversized hat rested atop his matted hair. He looked fairly plain aside from a fake nose made of gold that was strapped to his face.

“Well done, me hearties!” Captain Gus announced in a bellowing voice. “Those seadogs thought they could pluck a crow with us but we proved them wrong, didn’t we!”

The crowds cheered and raised mugs of ale in celebration. 

“It was a good fight. Just enough to get the old blood pumping. A few bumps and bruises were passed around, but all in all a fun little encounter with the devils, eh?” 

This was met with more shouts and cheers. Captain Gus motioned for calm again. “Our poor Seal took a beating though. Sightsaw has confirmed that Cantruug is vacant, so we set sail for the island to make our repairs and restock. The Seal’s too unstable for the riftways. I want a team of wayfarers assembled and ready. Everyone else to your stations!”

The captain’s familiar, a winged bat-like creature with a wicked beak, cawed assertively. It surveyed the crew before taking off into the air. Sightsaw was the captain’s eyes and ears.

Bucc watched the pirates return to their business. Only a few crewmembers were needed to actually man the giant ship. Most of them simply resumed their drinking while a large group gathered at the base of the front mast. These were the Seal’s chosen Wayfarers.  

There wasn’t anything special about these particular men and women. Most pirates were wayfarers. Any pirate with an affinity for water or air, the two most common elements, were suitable wayfarers. Individually, they could barely affect the raw power of the sea and wind, but in large enough groups they could change the tides and bring favourable winds. Some could even create cyclones or whirlpools.

The wayfarers stood in a wide circle and held up their hands. Each had their own method for channeling their powers. Some waved their arms, others wiggled their fingers, and a few chanted words under their breath. 

Bucc felt the wind change direction and the tides calmed. That was the one good thing about all of the battles that the other pirates found so fun. A good skirmish meant that repairs were needed, and repairs meant that Bucc could spend a few peaceful hours away from the lifeless planks of the floating village. He was eager to be back on land. Nothing was better than feeling the earth beneath his feet and embracing the smells of flowers and trees.

Knowing that his parents would start to question him about his exploits in the skirmish, Bucc quickly slipped away from the deck to make his way through the labyrinth of passageways within the hull. His cabin was too obvious a place to hide so instead he made his way down to the galley.

The cook was a round man called Grim Jimmy. His parents had envisioned him as a warlord, but it had quickly become apparent that his calling was cookery. He had a huge handlebar moustache that he usually wore pulled back and tied behind his neck, and had a giant tattoo of a chef’s hat across the top of his bald head. He offered Bucc a slight nod as he chopped potatoes. Bucc was a frequent visitor.

Seated beside the cook was the giant of a man known as Big Tim. He was prodding tentatively at a new eyepatch he was wearing. When Big Tim saw Bucc he smiled broadly and pointed at it proudly.

“Look what I’ve got.”

“Looking good,” Bucc said with false enthusiasm. Pirate skirmishes were more of an exciting game than a real battle. Serious injuries were rare, but any wound was a sign of honour. Peglegs, hooks, and eye patches were the ultimate status symbols. “How bad’s the damage?”

Big Tim’s face dropped slightly. “Not bad. Only a little splinter. The surgeon said it’ll be all better in a few weeks. I had to beg him just to give me this cool eyepatch.”

Bucc offered him a supportive thumbs up. “It suits you. Really adds to the whole intimidation thing you have going.” Big Tim grinned like a child at that and clapped his hands together excitedly, breaking the illusion. 

Bucc watched the two men’s familiars as they scurried around the floor, playfully fighting over an apple. His eyes were only drawn away when the distinctive sound of footsteps became audible from the corridor outside. Bucc recognised their rhythm instantly. 

“Noodle protect me, they’ve found me already. Quick! Tell me where to hide.”

“You’re on your own kid,” the cook said with a disinterested grunt. 

Bucc didn’t have time to run. The door opened and his mum stepped into the galley.

“I thought I might find you here. Replenishing your energy after your first battle?”

“Err, yeah, sure. I’m totally doing that. I’m just so hungry after all that action.”

The cook eyed Bucc wearily then threw a banana over to him. Bucc tried to catch it and failed. It hit his head then fell to the floor.

His mum’s smile only made Bucc feel a sense of guilt. It was a good job that he’d at least been born with a pirate’s innate ability to lie and tell tall tales. She ushered him out of the galley.

“Come on lad, your Pa and I want to hear all about your first skirmish.”

“Okay, Ma,” he sighed.

Next – Chapter 2. Landlubber’s Paradise.