For he who was lost at sea [Closed to vampireelf]

[esmeraldaflame]

The town of Hensly-on-the-Sea, in eastern England, was the ideal spot for a mariner to put in. It wasn't home to any of the big charter companies, but there were enough sea men from the surrounding fishing villages and countryside for an independant shipper to draw upon for a crew. And that was precisely what James was looking for.

Hensly-on-the-Sea also had an even better quality: if one knew where to look, one could find all manner of miscreants. Highwaymen from the moors came down to spend thier loot. Some "merchants" were actually smugglers running goods between England and the continent. Supposedly, there was even a community of Catholics in league with the Spanish in the Netherlands operating there. This too served James' purposes.

James was a pirate, one of the best. While not exactly the terror of the Spanish Main, his name was known across the criminal underworld as Captain Blackheart. Normally, he plied the pirate infested waters between Florida and Venezuala, but he was still a man, and he still got homesick. He surprised his crew one day when he ordered them to set a course across the Atlantic for England. As a way of thumbing his nose at his enemies in the Royal Navy, he even dropped anchor in Portsmouth on the Channel, within sight of the ships of the Fleet. Then he put in at Hensly-on-the-Sea. While his crew enjoyed thier time ashore, he attended some personal business. Afterwards, he returned to the village to prepare to put back out to sea.

His first order of business was to recruit new sailors to replace those he'd lost to either the sea, battle, or whatever hazards befell sailors on land (women, bar fights, ect.). Although he was no stranger to Hensly-on-the-Sea as a village, he wasn't exactly privy to the workings of its criminal low-lifes. That's where his first officer, Morgan, came in. The young woman had reeled James into this life with her feminine charms, and had helped him adjust to it. She was far more versed in criminal lore than James, and he trusted her to represent him.

Morgan spread the rumor: "Captain Blackheart himself is seeking men brave enough to sail under his colors. Any man who thinks himself worthy should come to the Fish and Gull tavern to make himself known."

 

[vampireelf]

Melissa Van was the youngest daughter of a very welthy Aristocrat liveing in Hencely-on-the-sea Melisa was also a very talented songstress for her age. Melissa was standing in her window when she saw the colors of the pirate ship pull in near port and she smiled. "Today is the day" she smiled and walked over to her desk and left a note for her father saying she was leaving out for a while and she would be back as soon as she could. Carefuly she folded the letter and put it in an envelope and addressed it to her father. Marissa moved back to her desk and rummaged through the dresser and pulled out bindeing tape and sheers pulling her long blond hair back she griped it tight and looked at her self in the mirror and with a swift movement she berought the sissorsdown on her hair cleanly snipping off most of it. As Marissa watched It the floor she reminded herself of why she was doing this.

"I have to do this " She pulled her remaining hair she had in to a loose male pony tail and slipping off her dress and corset she looked at herself takeing the binding tape she began wraping it around her rather large breasts as tightly as she could makeing her chest flat as a possible. Soon as she was done she walked to her closet and pulled out the clothes she had secretly bought a while back. Pulling the clothes on that were purposly tattered a bit and dingy she looked out the door of her room. Closeing it she quickly shut and locked the door. Grabing the rope from beneeth her bed as long with her pack she tied the rope to the balcony rail and threw it over the side. Marissa looked back at the room before slideing down the rope and on to the empty lawn below. Running she made it out the east gate unseen and into the town. Sure enough she found someone with the rummor of Captain Blackheart. Ariveing soon after dark at rhe mentioned place she took a deep breath and pushed the door open and steped inside it was unusualy quite for a tavern letting the door slam she scaned the room and found a table with a few burly males in a line and she got behind them and waited after a while she she found herself next in line.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

James felt rather bored. For some time now, he'd been sipping some dark English ale, spending more time comparing it the freshly distilled rum he'd grown used to in the Carribean. He'd made up his mind: this was the last pint he was ever tasting. It was water compared to rum. It was hard to believe how much his perception of something he once enjoyed had changed during his time away. But then again, so had he.

No one recognized him. His own family almost didn't, until his mother and sister said something. He still had his brownish colored hair and average build, but the tropical sun had darkened his skin, and combined with the salty spray, had damaged him quite a bit. The clothes he now wore further confused his own friends. He no longer belonged here. He'd come to say good bye. He probably should have said something to Melissa, but for some reason, he didn't have the heart to face her. After all, how would he explain to her that a woman - and not the type of woman sailors refered to when they were speaking of the Sea - had tricked him into going to sea.

He was letting Morgan and the ship's boatswain handle creating the roster. So far, all the recruits were the same. Some were poor fisherman who wanted to make fast money. Some were highwaymen who decided thier proffession was no different from a pirate's and wanted to stay one step ahead of the law. And then there were the kids who simply wanted to get away, like this next kid coming up (Melissa). He looked to be only 15, maybe 16, not even old enough to grow facial hair. And he looked soft, almost like James had looked when he first woke up aboard the Poseidon's Rage after Morgan's treachery.

"Name?" Morgan asked the boy. She looked every inch a pirate wench - a large busted woman with dark hair and wearing ill-fitting men's clothes, since these were best suited for work aboard ship, that were arranged to still show off some feminine features. It was hard to imagine her in a dress, though that was what she wore when she duped James. James eyed the boy from beneath his tricorne hat, trying to see if he too would fall for this siren. "Name, and why do you think you should sail with Captain Blackheart?"

 

[vampireelf]

Melissa Looked back at the female before she gathered her answer "My name is Max Vane and i'm a navigator" She waited to see if the woman would take her answer. Melissa held her breath and watched the woman scrawl something across the page before her and told Marissa to sit down and wait that she had to consult with the captain.

Marissa pulled out some coin and ordered herself some sweet ale and waited quietly for a response.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

"He says he's a navigator," Morgan reported to James, motioning toward the boy, Max Vane. Why does the name Vane sound so familiar? Oh right, that's Melissa's name. James pushed his thoughts out of his head.

"A navigator, huh?" asked James. That had been his position when he started. He knew his numbers and his Euclidean geometry, so the pirates apprenticed him the ship's elder navigator. That was the whole reason why they had Morgan target him specifically. Secertly, James had been hoping to retire after this voyage - perhaps settling in America. He couldn't return to England. Though his family might still accept him, many of his peers were officers or knew officers in the Royal Navy, and these officers might recognize James. Furthermore, while he'd been thought dead due to his absence (murdered by his predecessor among the pirates, was one popular rumor), he'd been struck from his father's will. There was nothing for him here. And nothing for him out at sea: at first it was his prison, now it was his means to an end. Perhaps on the long voyage back to American waters, he could train this kid to take his place as navigator, since none of the other potential candidates for captain were as learned as him.

"Sure, take him - " began James. He stopped when he saw the kid sipping on an ale. He rose and walked up to the boy.

"So, boy," he said. "I hear you want to join my crew. Navigator is it? Do you really think you're man enough." Morgan hovered quietly behind him.

 

[vampireelf]

She set her cup down and and looked over her shoulder at the man who had silently come up behind her and spoken. "Yes sir i am i know my number and i know bits of geometry as well i can read and write " Marissa practiced what to say over and over for the past month. She had to take up fighting lessons so that she knew how to defend herself as well in her bag she had a small knife and two twin daggers. Melissa was graceful so it was easyer for her to wield two blades than one.

Turning she stood up and looked at the male he looked worn and tired he was dark skinned and his hair was brown and he looked the same build as her beloved but this man before her was foreign and strange. Marissa was shorter that him only standing at 5'6. "So do i have the position sir or not" She didn't have enough time to wait around or false hopes she had to find the one responsible for killing her love and kill them.

Marissa sat back down on her seat and took a sip of her ale she looked at the male her blue eyes sparkling from behind some slim reading. She began to cross her legs and stopped and righted herself before she did.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

"So you think you're tough, don't you?" James sneered at Marissa. The way the boy seemed so confident and cocky annoyed him, and with good reason: he'd seen boys like him before, so confident and eager to go to sea, fall apart under the pressures of naval life, battle, or subcome to other ills. Many of the men at first thought James was such a boy, until the story of his abduction and reluctance circulated completely.

Furthermore, the boy looked - soft. He was obviously very young. His hands looked as delicate as a girl's. He'd obviously never done a bit of work at all in his life. True, James hadn't either, but whenever all hands had to pitch in to keep the ship afloat in a gale or some other emergency, James didn't shirk away from doing his part, be it manning the ropes or shifting heavy crates. After all, he was a prisoner, and figured it was best he did as he was told. This kid looked like a spoiled brat pretending to be a man. No doubt he'd gripe he was an educated navigator, not a common deck hand. James decided first to try and scare him.

"I suppose I could use an apprentice navigator, but this is no pleasure ride down a river. The sea is very dangerous and unforgiving. You can't drink the water if you're thirsty, and once scurvy is a bigger killer than battle. And a real battle isn't a pretty thing: the roar of cannons, the whizz of musket balls, the splintering of wood, the screams of men impaled on broken planks, the wet splats of bullets and swords on flesh... And we're pirates, boy, not bargemen. We're already damned to Hell. You're not religious, are you? If you die, you know where you're going. Do you really want this?"

 

[vampireelf]

Melissa wasn't quite ready for this type of question and she may have looked a little sick but she kept her composure. "Where i go matters not to me what matters to me is If i have accomplished what i want to do before i get there. .My soul was damned along time ago." She had finished her ale and continued to wait for an answer. Melissa had know that if she were to pursue killing the one who killed her love she would be damned to hell. To Melissa living here on this earth was like hell with out James. "I already know how to fight as well and i understand that this is no walk in the Roses Captain Blackheart. I promise if you take me on you wont regret it." once again she stood to her feet and looked up at the captain her eyes going in to slight puppy dog.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

James snorted. He admired the boy's spirit, but he was still unsure of wether or not he was humble enough do work with his hands. Still, he needed an apprentice navigator, and this boy fit the bill.

"Very well, then," he said. "You think you're man enough? Well I think you're just a little boy. A little boy who wants to run away to sea. But I need a navigator, and you're as good as I'm going to get, I see. Okay then. You're in. The sea will make a man out of you, boy. Pray that she doesn't kill you. And for God's sake, wipe those stupid puppy dog-eyes off your face! Or I'll put them out, and then you won't be going anywhere without a tapping stick!"

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa blinked not knowing that she had done that. "Yes sir. where can i acquire a tapping stick" after listening to the captains directions to the shop and to the ship she made her way back to her house. Looking up at the house she said a silent good bye and turned away from the house and began to walk through the town stopping in various shops getting things she would need to keep who she was a secret. Gathering binding tape, sharpening stones, quill pens, ink, and some scissors. It was about sunset when she had finished shopping and began making her way through the tight and narrow streets a few other men she had seen at the pub were walking beside her and behind her. After about ten minutes she arrived the the larges ship docked in the port stopping just at the gang plank she looked up at the ship and took a deep breath. Taking the few strides it took to make it up on to the deck it was relativity quiet as she stepped off the gang plank and on to the sturdy wood of the ship itself. "Well i'm here. Now to start my research.. i will find the bastard that killed you..." she said quietly to her self. Marissa climbed up on to a railing and sat down waiting for some one to tell her where she will be staying.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

Smart ass, thought James as the kid scuttled off to prepare his sea chest. The rest of the evening passed smoothly. James was able to accrue about twenty new sea men. He had to admit, it was surprising how lousy fishing had been, and how many men were desperate to earn money. A pity most, if not all of them, would probably never lay eyes on England again. James had to admit, he was lucky to at least get a chance to say goodbye.

Late that evening, past midnight, he and Morgan left the tavern, and returned to the ship. The pier was abuzz with activity, even this late into the night. Sailors were loading the ship with provisions for the long journey back across the Atlantic. As they approached the ship, James noticed kid standing idly on deck, staring stupidly ahead. He rolled his eyes.

"You're first officer," he told Morgan. "You deal with this."

Morgan nodded. "Hey, you, boy!" she shouted. "If you're done gawking like an idiot, find something to make yourself useful. Otherwise you can just sit on shore and watch like a common street urchin!"

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa flipped off the rail and on to the deck below and growled beneath her breath as she was talked to that way. Removing some charts she had stolen from from her fathers house and laid them out on the table she had her belongings on and then pulled out a quill and ink well and waited for them to come aboard. she had bee about half sleep when that girl called out to her startling her out of a memory of along ago.

Marissa was thinking back to the first time she had met James and how they spent a lot of time together talking and enjoying each others company. then she remembered the night he was supposed to come see her... the night of his abduction she was waiting for him in the garden under the old tree she waited well in to the night for him. Marissa became sleepy and wandered back in side figuring that he could not get away that night so she had gone to bed. The next morning Marissa was awoken by a made only to tell her of the horrible news that James had been abducted in the night by pirates. Marissa waited for months in hopes that he would return to her and then one day she cried. Marissa cried her self sick she was in bed for weeks after never speaking to any one but Hanna her maid. then one night she formed the plan she was now enacting. For A few months she planed and formulated how she would do this Marissa was a smart girl so she knew if she proved it she would be valuable. Marissa knew that no captain would willing hire a female so she would have to hide it as she was doing now.

Brought back to reality she began to scrawl across the page and make a few geographical things. Watching the captain and the female walk on board and give a few commands.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

"Idiot kid, where did he go?" asked Morgan, scanning the deck for Marissa.

"How am I supposed to know?" snorted James. "I didn't see him."

"Well I'll go look for him. He probably ran off below decks. Hopefully he found something to keep himself busy."

"Right, I'll go work out a course. Perhaps I was thinking we could slip out around through the Channel again. Thumb our noses at the Navy."

"Yeah, you do that..." Morgan said, walking off. "I'll go see about that kid and check how our stores are coming along." James grunted. That was one of the things he disliked about Morgan. She was alright, but she reveled in her ignorance. She had niether the attention nor the patience to discuss much with James outside of sailing and pirating. At least Marissa had been learned and intellegent. She was also much more of a lady. Morgan was born at sea, and with the exception of her mother and older sister, was surrounded by men. Marissa was by far a cultured and refined lady. Hopefully she'd found a nice husband by now. Maybe even had started a family. James only wished he could have said good-bye to her. He hoped she hadn't gone insane with grief, waiting for a ransom demand that never came, like so many tragic heroines in plays and operas.

As he headed toward his cabin, he spotted the kid through an open hatch down on the deck below, scribbling on some sheets of paper. Morgan had apparently gone the wrong way.

"Boy!" shouted James. "What on Earth are you doing down there?"

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa watched the captain and the female known as Morgan talk and make a few faces Melissa thought personalty were quite funny. She watched and after a few minutes she watched Morgan walk off to what she believed to be the below deck areas in a huffy manner. She then turned her attention back to her papers only to hear from behind her come the voice of the captain.

"Boy!" shouted James. "What on Earth are you doing down there?"

Marissa snapped her head around and looked through the small window and sighed at the obviously stupid question. "Looking at some navy ship charts i recently acquired from my fa- my friend" She had to catch her self she had almost given away herself. Marissa's father was the navy's chart maker. That's where she had learned to read, draw, and decryption of a map. Looking at the captain "Would you like a look?" she offered him she watched as he came out of his cabin and look at her with a disbelieving eyes. Laid out before them were several navy ship charts and locations of other pirate crews that were known to the navy.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

James found an access ladder down to the next deck and approached the boy. He had plenty of charts himself that he accrued from both honest and dishonest means. He even had some of this coast. He was prepared to shout at the kid for getting too over eager to be a navigator rather than be a good little apprentice and start from the bottom up. What he saw killed the words in his mouth.

This particular chart was of the Thames Estuary, a few miles south of where James was going. It was expertly drawn, showing reefs and shoals James' charts didn't. This was no mere fisherman's or merchant's chart. It was Royal Navy. James didn't even need to see the seal, half buried under another chart, to realize that. More important than that, he recognized the cartographer. Only one man had the skill to create a chart with such detail, explicitly for the Royal Navy. Lord Van. Marissa's father.

"Where did you get that boy?" James asked in a soft voice. There was a slight menacing tone behind it.

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa watch the wide variety of expressions that crossed his face and she laughed internally. Until she saw an expression of sadness that perplexed her for a few moments and being brought back to reality b the sound of his voice "Where did you get that boy?" she heard him say in a tone that had made her shiver with in her boots. She panicked a bit inside. What to tell him i cant tell him that there my fathers then for sure he would know I am. Everyone that comes in and out of this port knows who I am. she thought to herself. "Um i.." she stammered and looked at him "Um i got them from a friend she gave them to me before i left." Yeah that might work i just need to ad more stuff to the story and be careful though i don't want to make it too unbelievable "Marissa gave them to me we have been friends for a while now but. She wanted me to do some thing for her so i made her a promise and became a pirate" Marissa nodded to herself and looked back to the charts. "But i don't see why your worried about were i got the charts they should be valuable right? So whats the problem" she said in a matera fact tone.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

There was a problem with the kid's story. Marissa knew the value of her father's work, and would certainly not give it to some kid, no matter what the circumstances. These charts were very valuable. They had the latest positions of Spanish and French fleets operating in the North Sea and the English Channel. They were not something to be bartered away, no matter what the circumstances were. Besides, what was Marissa doing giving charts away to some rich kid who wanted to run away and turn pirate? And how did she know a pirate vessel was even in town? James had been very careful to guard his arrival, putting in with the evening tide, and timing his departure to go out with the pre-dawn tide. That's when he noticed some lines drawn with a graphite pencil rather than a pen. They were coming up from the south, and forming a semi-circle a few leagues in front of the harbor, just out of sight from land, but in the main shipping lanes used by merchant ships on thier way Dover and the entrance to the Channel.

"What are these?" he asked, motioning to the lines. "Ship movements? Whose?"

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa looked at the lines and shook her head as the memories of the day she drew them came back "Marissa drew them she told me if i followed them i would find what she seeks. I don't exactly know what i'm looking for but she figured about a month ago a pirate ship would come in sooner or later with knowledge or whereabouts to which she seeks. So she gave me these charts and taught me all she knew about map making and navigation" She looked at him and hoped he bought the story and would leave it alone. She was running out of things to tell him before she got to possibly figuring who she was and they were only just making it out of the port and back in to open ocean.

Looking at the map she recognized a few things that were on the map and drew a few things that weren't "I have skills just as good has his" She mumbled and continued drawing bits and pieces on the map.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

James breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay," he said. "For a moment, I thought they were naval manuvours. The last thing I want is to have the Royal Navy out there waiting for us." He didn't bother questioning the kid's cryptic explaination. It hurt his head just thinking about it - or was it that piss that passed as alcohol called "ale"?

"Well, if you're through playing with your maps, you can help finish packing the supplies," James continued. "We sail out with the tide. Tomorrow we can get started."

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa bundled up her charts and walked over to the ones packing the supply's that were streaming on board and began moving things she could carry. For being small and delicate she could move quite heavy things with the simple ease. She was about on her 8th box moving it below deck when some thing caught her eye setting the box down she picked it up and put it in her pocket and continued on moving things. Finally well in to the night when the moon was high she was done tired she was leaned against the railing as everyone else lounged waiting for there next orders. Pulling front her pack she pulled an apple and began to eat it slowly as she looked at the towns sparkling lights and sighed. Marissa could see her house and everything from the ship.

It was very late her ears caught sound of a ruckus on land slipping behind a pile of things she watched as a bunch of guards and solders ran past the ships yelling "Find her the Lord wants her back safe and sound. Find her men!" Marissa's heart stopped they were already looking for her and she knew it . After the guards passed she slipped into the navigators room and sat down on the small chair and sighed a bit. Marissa was sure no one could recognize her but she needed to stay out of the guards view just in case her maid told them she was masquerading as a male pirate. "That could have been messy." she laughed to herself.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

The loading was complete, and most of the crew had drifted below decks to catch some sleep before departure. James had warned them against going back into town for any last minute fun. Any man stumbling back too late would just have to find some other form of work. James himself took some time out to catnap. He was awakened by the sound of feet pounding on the wharf. Looking out his cabin window, he saw the darkened form of night watchmen scuttling past with lanterns, and - soldiers(?) - accompanying them.

"Morgan," he whispered, crossing into the next room to rouse his first officer. "Morgan! Trouble!"

"Huh? What is it?" asked Morgan. James started to explain, but stopped when he heard hushed voices coming from the main deck.

"Rouse the crew and tell them to be prepared to get on deck at a moment's notice," instructed James. "I'll go see if this is all worth the trouble." Leaving Morgan to finish waking up, James pulled on his boots, coat, and hat. Outside, it was cold - a welcome change from those hot, humid tropical nights he'd grown used to. His attention turned amidship where the pair of sailors on watch were arguing the sherrif and a team of soldiers on the wharf.

"The gangplank is drawn," one of the sailors hollered. "I don't care if you're Jesus Christ himself come down from heaven; no one gets on this ship."

"Good evening," James hailed the men on the wharf, taking on the air of a harmless merchant. "What can I do for you fine gentleman."

"We demand to come aboard and search your vessel," the sherrif shouted.

"Well, we aren't carrying contraband, if that's what you're looking for," James said. "I can show you the manefest. We're on our way to Portsmouth in the morning. We only took on some provisions - biscuits, fresh water, oranges, salt pork - the usual."

"We're not searching for contraband," the sherrif said. "We have reason to believe there's been a kidnapping. A young woman, the daughter of Lord Van, is missing. We fear she may have been abducted by pirates." James felt his blood freeze. Marissa[i/]!

"When did this happen?"

"Just this evening. A chambermaid found a rope attached to her balcony. Look, Captain, I don't have the patience nor the breath to stand here arguing all night. In the name of the King, I order you to let us aboard to search your ship."

James didn't answer at first, but he felt himself fuming. If something happened to Marissa, he didn't know what he'd do. All he did know, was that if he found the man responsible, he'd make that man suffer and beg for death. James just stood on deck, clenching his fists.

 

[vampireelf]

Marissa was closed to the wall listening to the conversation that was going on outside the do or her heart was pounding and she couldn't breathe. They were looking for her she listened closed. "Just this evening. A chambermaid found a rope attached to her balcony. Look, Captain, I don't have the patience nor the breath to stand here arguing all night. In the name of the King, I order you to let us aboard to search your ship." looking through the small window she watched the captain exhibit strange behavior as he watched the wharf and talked to the Men. Suddenly she observed him wave his hand and the men beside him lowered the gang plank and she froze. "Act natural like you belong here Marissa everything will be fine" Lighting her lamp and moving over to the desk that she guessed was hers and pulled out a few simple maps and began planning merchant routes to different places. Marissa watched the men begin to come aboard and she just hummed a calming tune to herself a sea shanty she had learned from someone.

Marissa watched them finally looked up when the door swung open and they looked in at her drawing on the maps. One of the other men came over and took a look at all the maps and then looked at her.

"What is your name boy?" the sheriff said in a gruff and tired tone

"Max" She simply said continuing her charts slowly pushing the bag of charts from her fathers place out of easy view and after she inspected them a bit more she handed them to the captain. "This is the best route out out of port and safely to our destination Captain"

 

[esmeraldaflame]

It didn't take very long for the king's men to finish searching the ship. When they were finished and disembarked, James was joined by Morgan.

"What was that about?" she asked. "Some of the men were very jumpy when the soldiers boarded." James explained the situation, though he hid his concern. As far as Morgan was concerned, Marissa was just another European aristocrat.

"After what you did to me, the authorities aren't taking any chances," he concluded. "Thankfully, they didn't think to check to see if we were operating legally."

"Do you think we should head out?" asked Morgan. "Some of the men are getting jumpy with all the activity, and having the authorities come aboard didn't help." At that moment, Marissa arrived. James and Morgan gave her a funny look.

"You should get some sleep, kid," Morgan suggested. James didn't even bother looking over the charts. "Do you even know where we're going?" he asked. "We haven't even left port."

 

[vampireelf]

She laughed and turned the map around and it was completely blank even though moments ago it clearly had a route and destination on it and she smiled as she rolled it placing it into the slot she got it from and picked up her back pack she walked down on deck and found a quite place ti set herself down away from the rest of the crew and sat down with her back to the railing and she sighs rubs her chest to take the stress off her chest for a few moments and she looks up at the night sky. Laying back on her pack she closes her eyes and drifts in to a light sleep her dreams drifting in and out of a rather familiar dream about James.

She woke up about an hour before dawn and jumped up some of the crew was already milling about. She rubs he eyes and yawned picking up her back pack she walks over to the other side of the boat and smile as she sun began to peek over the horizon. "Well today is going to begin the little adventure" She smiled to her self and slung her back pack over her shoulder.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

((sorry about the prolonged absence. Things just got busy.))

James got little rest the remainder of the evening. He was too busy thinking about Marissa. Before he knew it, Morgan was rousing him to begin making the preperations to sail. She and the rest of the crew wanted more than ever to be under way the moment the tide started running out, even if it was still dark.

With whispered commands, the men set to work running up the smaller sails to catch the early morning breezes, and casting loose the mooring lines attaching them to the pier. The ship began to turn back toward the entrance of the harbor. They ran without running lights - a dark shape against the still night sky.

Spotting Marissa lurking about on deck, James called out to her, "Boy, get over here! Quick test: find me the North Star."