Vixandra
Everything well in hand!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2003
- Posts
- 6,512
I have been called a wanderer for the past two decades of my 23 years. First with my father aboard his ship, the Fyre Hawk and now on my own ship, the Vixen.
My crew, a mixture of men and women in men's clothing, sent up a howl of celebration as the new year ticked in. 1685 the year was now, though it made little difference to me.
I was a man as far as the world of 'normals' was concerend, though the woman I owed my alleigance to, Queen Elizabeth of England, knew who I was, what I was. As long as I served her interestes she cared not a flip what I did.
These days- those interests were in the feild of the "Privateer" which is just a nice word for pirate. Sounds more legitimate.
I stood on the deck of the Vixen, spy glass at my eye, searching for a Spanish trade galleon I'd been told was passing through here. My ship, a three masted frigate, was smaller but faster and fare more manuverable then the larger cargo ship, named the Isabella.
A smiled curved my red lips, the color from a balm I used to keep them from chapping in the salty air. My hair was caught up in a tight braid that reached the small of my back, a cobalt bandana over my head to keep the whisps away from my heart-shaped face.
"Oy, me harties," I called out softly, not wanting my voice to carry over the water to my newfound prey. "Run up the Jolly Roger, Alex. Mira, wake those of the crew that are sleeping. I see a fat Spanish bird waiting to be plucked."
A low chuckle ran through the crew as they hurried to prepair the large 18 pound cannons that lined the decks on both sides. Others grabbed muskets and supply bags for them and hid away in the riggings.
The rest of my crew, a hand picked boarding team, joined me on the main gun deck, bristling with weapons as I myself was.
The belt around my slim waist bore a single shot pistol on my right hip and a wicked cutlass on the other. Knives were strapped to my forearms and in the tops of my boots, one thigh high, the other rolled down to knee height because I thought it looked interesting. A short sword was hidden under my billowy shirt on my back, the hilt hidden by my hair and the bandana.
I whispered to my gunners as we drew closer to the Isabella, my first mate Ayla at the helm.
"I want her holed solidly, at the waterline. Need enough time to board, loot, take the women and cast off," I reminded them. The gunners, all burly men, nodded with grins. We'd been at sea for two months about, with only a single short stop to reprovision ourselves.
We drew up near the Isabella, the bow or forward guns took aim and fired on my command, two of the shells taking the galleon at the waterline, just as I'd wanted.
I yelled, my voice carrying easily over the waves, "Surrender, Isabella, and do it now so we'll let the menfolk and most the women live and leave in the row boats I see. Resist and death to all!"
I waited for thier response with a smile, eyes on a young woman who stood at the deck...
My crew, a mixture of men and women in men's clothing, sent up a howl of celebration as the new year ticked in. 1685 the year was now, though it made little difference to me.
I was a man as far as the world of 'normals' was concerend, though the woman I owed my alleigance to, Queen Elizabeth of England, knew who I was, what I was. As long as I served her interestes she cared not a flip what I did.
These days- those interests were in the feild of the "Privateer" which is just a nice word for pirate. Sounds more legitimate.
I stood on the deck of the Vixen, spy glass at my eye, searching for a Spanish trade galleon I'd been told was passing through here. My ship, a three masted frigate, was smaller but faster and fare more manuverable then the larger cargo ship, named the Isabella.
A smiled curved my red lips, the color from a balm I used to keep them from chapping in the salty air. My hair was caught up in a tight braid that reached the small of my back, a cobalt bandana over my head to keep the whisps away from my heart-shaped face.
"Oy, me harties," I called out softly, not wanting my voice to carry over the water to my newfound prey. "Run up the Jolly Roger, Alex. Mira, wake those of the crew that are sleeping. I see a fat Spanish bird waiting to be plucked."
A low chuckle ran through the crew as they hurried to prepair the large 18 pound cannons that lined the decks on both sides. Others grabbed muskets and supply bags for them and hid away in the riggings.
The rest of my crew, a hand picked boarding team, joined me on the main gun deck, bristling with weapons as I myself was.
The belt around my slim waist bore a single shot pistol on my right hip and a wicked cutlass on the other. Knives were strapped to my forearms and in the tops of my boots, one thigh high, the other rolled down to knee height because I thought it looked interesting. A short sword was hidden under my billowy shirt on my back, the hilt hidden by my hair and the bandana.
I whispered to my gunners as we drew closer to the Isabella, my first mate Ayla at the helm.
"I want her holed solidly, at the waterline. Need enough time to board, loot, take the women and cast off," I reminded them. The gunners, all burly men, nodded with grins. We'd been at sea for two months about, with only a single short stop to reprovision ourselves.
We drew up near the Isabella, the bow or forward guns took aim and fired on my command, two of the shells taking the galleon at the waterline, just as I'd wanted.
I yelled, my voice carrying easily over the waves, "Surrender, Isabella, and do it now so we'll let the menfolk and most the women live and leave in the row boats I see. Resist and death to all!"
I waited for thier response with a smile, eyes on a young woman who stood at the deck...