Snippet #2193368

The morning sun broke over the water’s edge. Orange and pink and purple coloured the sky and the water. There was just enough breeze to sail by but not enough to make the water too choppy so the colours flowed and meshed, making it hard to tell where sky ended and ocean began. It was just the kind of sunrise that Maxime lived for. The reason he came to sea and stayed there, was to see beauty one could not experience on land. Through the slight waver of the hangover Maxime was still breathlessly watching the horizon from his perch high above deck. He could hear the rest of the crew beginning to waken and say their goodbyes as they returned to their own ship or helped their fellows to theirs.

Maxime smiled as the memories of the previous night came back to him. Some might think allowing the crews to carouse as they would showed a lack of discipline on the captains part. Maxime disagreed. The camaraderie that both crews established, and the mingling of the sailors and marines, would go a long way in the coming battles.

While the anecdotes and actions of last night reverberated through his memories, Maxime watched the sun continue to rise. Eventually the whistle calling the crew to assemble broke him out of his reverie and he slid down the ropes to join the others facing a very formal looking Gareth.

*
Ryo stood at the helm of the Jade Moon. Though he noticed the wondrous sunrise he was focused on his task at hand. Carefully separating the ships again, now that the two crews had mostly been able to return to their appropriate assignments. Ryo smirked slightly at the thought of those few who, too hungover to wake, were going to have to beg a row to their home ship. He wondered how many would try to pretend to be members of the crew of the ship they awoke on, just to avoid the embarrassment.

His smirk turned into a genuine smile as he thought of the woman he met last night. No doubt Kaitsu would be having a similar experience, getting her ship in order. And though he knew she would be completely focused on her task he still wondered if she thought fondly of their too brief card game. Next time, I will bring the sake, he thought as he deftly moved the Moon into a parallel path to the Star.

*
Jillian’s head throbbed with each gentle rock of the ship. She was half convinced the Obsidian Star had run into a storm given how queasy her stomach felt. Yet when she opened her eyes and saw the blue sky and dawn’s light she had her suspicions. Then she noticed that she was waking up on deck, surrounded by other passed out sailors and marines. She groaned. At least she was wearing all her clothes still.

She slowly gathered herself and sat up. Watching as the last stragglers crossed the planks between ships. The planks were pulled up as the ships moved away from each other. Jillian was sure that she saw Gareth leap the last few feet just in time to make it. She chuckled but quickly stopped as that just made her head pound. She took a measure of the men and women around her.

Ah, it looks like our numbers have grown overnight.

She stood up and noticed Gareth again, looking to be giving orders already. As one of the cabin boys ran off Gareth headed to the foredeck. Jillian winced, knowing what was coming next and yet the shrill whistle still pierced her ears and made the nausea almost too much to bear. She stumbled to find her place in line as the rest of the sleeping crew grumbled and began to assemble. Some looking to Gareth and some forming a line along the rails, noisily ejecting the remains of last night’s drink.

*
The sunrise peeked in the window, casting its rays across her eyes. Olivia frowned, her eyes still closed and nestled closer to the warm body next to her.

“Not yet.” It was breathed against his skin. Her face buried into his arm. They had been apart for too long and they had joined again as if the years had not separated them.

Olivia’s fingers entwined with Gareth’s and she pulled his hand to her lips. Kissing each of his fingers she sighed. The boats would be preparing to separate and begin the assault on the pirate’s battlements. First, the Jade Moon would move on allowing the Star to deal with their trial. Then the two boats would meet up to take on the pirate’s cannons.

Olivia turned in Gareth’s arms. He would have a heavy day. How it was handled would go a long way to how much his crew would respect him. She wished she could take it all from him, let him go back to the marine he was. Responsible, shy and kind. Free of shadows and hatred. Not that she did not understand. She had been part of that crew as well. If she and Gareth hadn’t been on the island looking for supplies to repair the ship they might not being lying here now.

She kissed his neck, pushing thoughts of the past away and focusing on the present. They were together again. Not permanently and not even on the same ship but working together was better than the distance of before.

Her fingers went into his hair. He looked so untroubled in his sleep. Olivia hated the idea of waking him. She hated the idea of leaving the bed even more but duty called for both of them.

“Sun is up. We must take advantage of the current. If we head out soon we can be there before noon. There is hope that by this evening we can take their cannons.” Olivia’s voice was soft but commanding. One captain to another, despite their closeness under the blankets.

“We may have reason to celebrate. Perhaps in your quarters next time.” She smiled and kissed him.

Gareth became aware of Olivia’s gentle caresses. Her observations sinking in quickly, he sighed, “Yes, of course. We’ll need to work our crews back to shape and through the effects of the carousing. There will be grumbling, but now they’ve learned their friends and the hard work will knit them together in a joint cause of recovery.”

He chuckled lightly, knowing that this could backfire if the planned attack on the pirates didn’t pan out. He was confident that the crew would be in shape for this evening’s raid though and the battle would be the last tempering fire to secure this crew for a long, hard fought war on the pirate band.

He kissed Olivia softly and slid out of bed. He dressed as he continued speaking, “Another celebration like last night for the crew might be too much. We should temper the enthusiasm. However, I will be very happy to welcome you to my ship. It’s only fair to return the hospitality.”

Olivia pulled the blankets up to cover herself as she watched him dress. Her legs tucked up, her chin resting on her knees, “Very true but a victory will want to be celebrated. We will think of something. Perhaps something more... organized.”

She smirked and slid out of the bed. Walking over to him, Olivia fixed the collar of his shirt, “I would be honoured to accept your hospitality Captain.”

She kissed him fully and then stepped away. Donning clean clothes, Olivia brushed her hair smooth and bound it back. She finished it with a bandanna.

Turning she smiled at him, her hands on her hips, “Ready?”

Gareth and Olivia emerged from her quarters. No sense pretending they weren’t in there together. Too many sharp eyes. If they wanted to talk, let them. Gareth’s and Olivia’s story was known by enough people among the crew that it wouldn’t stay secret even if they tried. Olivia shouted orders to move the ships apart. Gareth took her hand in his one last time and kissed the back of it as he bowed. Donning his hat he said, “Though it is hard to leave a beautiful woman, this day looks to be almost as beautiful and does take the edge off. Until tonight.”

He turned and with a few steps and a leap made it back to the Star just as the last plank was being removed from between the two ships.

As soon as he was on board he called for the cabin boys. He sent messages out to gather John from the brig and call the crew to order. He knew it was going to take a bit of time to get everything ready, but no sense delaying. He sent orders to start on the course Pavati set to the island. He was confident that John’s sentence was just but knew he needed the backing of his crew. Since John’s crimes did not take place in battle the captain’s word was not final. The representative of the crew would need to pass final judgement. After last night Gareth thought the crew should have mingled enough to be able to choose a spokesperson. Now was the time to find out who that would be.

He strode up to the fore deck and watched as the crew tried to come to order. Some needed to pause along the rails before the did, but eventually all members were in line. Gareth chuckled at the less than straight lines that formed and the swaying he saw among the crowd. Almost like I have a bunch of land lubbers here. Ah, nothing a little work won’t cure. We’ll sweat it out of them.

Gareth turned to another of the cabin boys and ordered enough fresh water set about to ensure no one was going to be short. Gareth knew it was a quick use of precious supplies, but he needed his crew in fighting shape and if they were dehydrated they would not be. If they put down this first ship they would have more than enough time and ability to refill their water supply.

Now John was being paraded out on deck, in shackles and made to stand below the captain on the main deck. He was clearly angry and hurting. The lack of alcohol in his system was showing. John looked strained. Eyes blinked in the harsh sunlight.

Gareth barely contained a sneer of contempt at having to see the man again. He began, “I have gathered the crew to pass judgement. This man is accused of dereliction of duty. He has not been fit to perform his role since he set foot upon this ship. He has passed off the work of another as his own in an attempt to dupe the officers, and this ship’s crew, into thinking he is a capable sailing master. He is also accused of abusing a fellow crew member. Of uttering threats to officers and discreditable conduct in general. I propose a sentence of marooning. Let fate deal with the man as she deems fit.”

John looked up at Gareth, the colour draining from his face. His mouth opened as if he would argue but the murmurs that began behind him gave him pause. He glanced fearfully from side to side.

Gareth paused, looking over the whole crew, meeting as many gazes as he could with confidence in his decision. “Since these crimes were not during a time of war it is the crew’s responsibility to pass judgement. Therefore I call upon the spokesperson for the crew to pass judgement on this man. You have time to choose your representative. I will await your decision in my quarters and the prisoner will be returned to the brig.”

Gareth nodded to his officers as he turned toward his quarters, “I trust you will gather the crew’s opinions appropriately. Thank you.” He then entered his quarters and began catching up in his logbook.

John struggled as he was led back towards the brig. He wanted to plead his case. He caught Pavati’s face in the crowd. “You! You are the cause of this!” He continued to yell as he was led away.