The Chronicles of Rapina, Chapters 5-9 Back to the River page This page includes: [Rapina]005 Pirates [Rapina]006 Pirates In Training [Rapina]007 Red Jack's Isle [Rapina]008 Training and Battle [Rapina]009 Basic Pirates [Rapina]005 Pirates Drake was the first to notice the longship bearing down on them. It flew a black flag with a large red X. "It's...it's...it's," Drake stammered with his jaw hanging open. "Red Jack!", Drake and Kent gasped in unison. Quick! Signal them so that they know we are friendly!", Drake ordered. "How?" Kent raised his hands in surrender. "You mean that all this time you didn't know of anyway to signal them?!?!?!" Drake asked. "They'll probably assume we're trying to stop them and kill us all! This is just great!" "Sure! Blame me! How am I supposed to know the correct signal?" Kent shot back defensively. "Well TRY and be useful! Go wake up Edgar!" Drake yelled not noticing that Edgar was already awake. Edgar stumbled forward. As he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes he noticed the ship. "Who is that?" He was jolted awake by the answer. "Red Jack?!?!?! THE Red Jack?!?!?!" Rapina was as stunned as the boys, but she was steering while the boys were gawking and arguing, and that gave her some feeling of control. She'd been through way too much not to want to make a good first impression. After all, the reverend's family would soon come hunting, and without the protection of outlaws, she would be doomed. Rather than trying to stop, she headed the boat on a course that would bring her along side the longship and tried to keep her nerve and her tiller steady. The three boys looked helplessly at each other as the ship closed. Before they could come up with a plan the pirate ship pulled up alongside theirs. "Lay down yer weapons and prepare t'be boarded!" A gruff voice barked. As their tiny boat neared the longship, Rapina's nose prickled. She could sense lust and she had the sneaking suspicion that a bit of the lust was not directed at her. "Ahoy! we're unarmed and looking to join Captain Red Jack and his crew! Is that you?" Rapina tried to sound enthusiastic, but her voice quavered a bit by the time she said, "Is that you?" "Oh well," Rapina thought. At least she had managed to say something before the pirates swarmed aboard. And swarm they did. They pulled the fishing boat against their ship with hooks on poles. Before she knew it, a burly pirate told her to keep her hands where he could see them, grabbed her roughly and handed her up to a couple of crewmen on the long ship. For the moment, she was not sure what had happened to the boys. "Ouuu!" Rapina squealed as one of the crewmen who had taken her searched her for weapons and squeezed her in a few places that she could not possibly have had a knife. "Aye this one's a woman all right," The crewman said as he held his dirk dangerously close to her throat. Rapina stood quite still. By pulling her neck back from the edge of the dirk, she unwittingly arched her back, making her breasts jut out. She waited, hoping things would settle down and someone in charge would decide what to do. The crowd of dangerous-looking pirates parted as a tall-brightly dressed figure stepped forward. On his head, he wore a proper pirate captain's hat. It was crimson with gold trim. Under his hat, his head was covered with a scarlet bandana emblazoned with thousands of tiny black crosses. His eyes were hazel and had a way of boring right through a person. His face, though not unattractive, was scarred and weather- beaten. A medium sized handlebar moustache graced his upper lip and a tiny pointed beard resided on his chin. When he smiled his sinister smile Rapina and the boys noticed he had gold teeth in place of those apparently knocked out in some past battle. He wore a long red jacket trimmed with gold tassels and bars of rank. His white chemise seemed the only departure from the red theme of his wardrobe. His breeches, which were crimson with black stripes, disappeared into calf-high black leather boots. If Red Jack was anything it certainly wasn't subtle. He looked Rapina up and down with a lusty eye and spoke, "Are ye sherr she's a woman? 'Ave ye checked?" He turned and shot a challenging look at his crew and then completed his turn face to face with Rapina. His hand shot out and clasped onto Rapina's loins. His fingers danced around a moment exploring every place they could reach. He withdrew his hand and smiled. Rapina was rather terrified, but too stubborn to admit it. "Eee!" She squealed and blushed as the captain grabbed her. An entire crew of pirates was focusing on her, and the lust was nearly overwhelming. Rapina's nose so tickled it felt like it buzzed. Her whole body flushed, her nipples stood up, her loins took heat, she panted for breath, and for a moment, she forgot to be afraid. "Most definitely a woman," he said approvingly. "And from what I understand She and her three boys want to be pirates!" This last comment elicited a round of raucous laughter from the crew. Still ablush from all the lust, Rapina smiled, nodded and licked her lips. "We're not HER boys! Drake said. "She's our prisoner AND she's our gift to you!" Drake shouted. A threatening glare from Red Jack stopped him cold, however. "Number one! She's not YOUR prisoner. She's mine. And so are you three. And if ye'd like to remain that way I'd suggest ye shut yer mouth boy. Believe me, ye wouldn't like the alternative." He smiled wickedly and turned to his crew. "What say ye men? Do we take these vagabonds into our midst or do we feed em ta the fish?" The crew erupted in cheers and it was quite some time before they quieted down enough for Red Jack to continue. "Since I'm captain and I get first pick of the booty I pick...the wench!" this statement elicited grumbles from the crew, but they quickly subsided under Red Jack's withering stare. "As for the boys...well I'm sher we can put em ta good use..." Red Jack purposely let his voice trail off as he turned to wink at the boys. The trio gulped in unison and looked at each other with frightened eyes. "Roger! Take these guppies aboard and put em ta work! If they don't pull their weight let Froggy take em fer a little 'chat' Heh." A tall muscled crewman detached himself from the others and led the three boys away with the help of two other crewmen. "I'll take care of giving the wench a proper pirate's welcome...right after we get underway. You two! Take her to my quarters! And make sure she's tied up good and tight with my best silk rope. Oh and if she is harmed or touched by you in any way other than that I've stated I'll cut yer balls off!" The men were clearly scared to death of Red Jack. They made all haste to do as he asked and then get as far away from her as possible. Red Jack began barking orders to get the pirate ship underway... Before Rapina could recover her wits, she was dragged off to a structure a bit back from the middle of the ship. The captain's cabin was the only structure on the long ship, and it was none too big, for the longship was designed for speed, not comfort. Like the ship, the room was long and narrow. The ceiling was probably not over a foot higher than the top of the captain's head and the walls were lined with shelves with tall slats above their lower edges to keep objects from falling out. The crewmen pushed Rapina onto the captain's bed and tied her there with red silk rope. Red Jack could evidently read and write, for he had books and charts, and there was a small desk next to the foot of the bed. Rapina had passed it on the way into the room. It seemed like an eternity before the pirate captain came in, but that was only because the pirates had taken the "tie her good and tight," order a bit too literally. The pirate captain chuckled as he entered the room. "Make sure the men put their backs into it," he said to someone outside, then shut the door. "Comfortable?" The captain grinned as he glanced at Rapina. He carried a sack that he dumped out on the desk. "Well, most of me. They tied my wrists awful tight" Rapina said. "Good," The captain smiled. "You're something of a puzzle," he said as he pulled Rapina's borrowed shirt up over her head onto the ropes that secured her hands and leered at what he saw beneath it. "And what are ye, a 'farm girl' doin' in silk lingerie, and where did ye and yer boys come by this?" The captain pulled the reverend's mage light out of a pouch by its gold chain illuminating the chamber. "Um, it's a long story. I'd be glad to tell it to you if my hands weren't about to fall off." The captain checked her bonds. "Ye'll be all right for a while yet. What about these items?" The captain held up Rapina's dream stone pendant and pointed to the reverend's signet ring." The captain's stare was penetrating. Rapina could tell he was no dummy. She would have to come much closer to the truth than she had with the boys. "Well, I'm not a farm girl exactly; My father is a grocer." "A grocer?" Jack said dubiously. Rapina sighed. "Yes, but most of the things there belonged to reverend Evangeline. He was a holy priest and nobleman to most, and a despicable lecher who preyed on the young women of my town under the guise of holiness to those who knew his dark side. I've known about him for years, my Aunt used to sell curses against him to the women he'd wronged until he had her executed for it. Anyhow, Dad caught me with one of my boyfriends and it was not the first time." "One of your boyfriends?" Rapina blushed, "I was quite careful not to get caught, really. If my father knew how much time I really spent playing with boys he'd have died from the stresses." Jack chuckled and caressed Rapina's thigh. The pirate patted her abdomen. "You're not pregnant." "Well, my Auntie was an herbalist. She taught me the plants that control a woman's menses and fertility and the healing plants too. After daddy caught me that time, mother decided I was beyond their ability to correct, so they sent me to reverend Evangeline." The pirate nodded as if considering this new information. "Anyways, the reverend kept me locked up under his temple and tried to convince me that the more he raped me, the purer I'd become." The captain laughed, "Now thar's an angle." "I just wanted to tire him out and escape." "and?" Red Jack asked. "Um, well, I guess I overdid it," Rapina said sheepishly. The captain raised an eyebrow. "He must have broken a blood vessel or something." "He died?" The captain asked. Rapina nodded. His family will probably blame me too. "For bewitching him?" Rapina nodded. "That's probably what they will call it. I wish I knew magic, but they killed Auntie when I was still a girl. Maybe I have a natural talent that way. I've always enjoyed boys, but It never *killed* anyone, not before or since." "Anyway, after the reverend died on me, I took the things he had in his dungeon and escaped to the river. The constable almost caught me, but I found a log floating in the river, freed it and rode it. The river kept getting bigger and joining other rivers for about a week, then I nearly died going over a big water fall. After That was when the guys found me. I had passed out on a log. They fished me out of the river. I didn't realize the boys had my things. I thought the river had claimed them. I had them tied to my garter straps in pouches. I guess the guys took them when they first found me. They could not stomach a life of farming. They were on their way to find you when they found me. I hope the reverend's family will just forget me, but I am sure they have probably made me an outlaw, so I decided to stay with Drake and his friends and look for you." "I hope that answers your questions because I can't even feel my hands anymore." "Let me see those wraps," Jack said. He turned Rapina sideways so he could get a better view of the bonds. "Gads! M'boys did a fine job of tying ye up, Yessir! I'll remove the bonds fer a bit seein' as you've been so honest with me." Jack eyed Rapina with a look that said, "Cross me in ANY way and you'll regret it." Jack tossed the bonds to the floor and stood up. His hot breath washed over Rapina's back and neck as he did so. Rapina kept her hands where Jack could see them. "Don't worry, I've no plans to cross you. Actually, I think I'll be a fine crewman, once I learn how. Um, there is one problem though," Rapina lowered her voice to a whisper, "I really can't help fooling around. Daddy used to beat me when he caught me, but I still couldn't stop." Jack arched an eyebrow. "Can't control yerself ye say? Hmmmm. Ye must have been quite the popular lass back home! That is reason enough to keep ye around...for a while. Don't see too many women like you in our line of work. Most of the women we see are running around screaming bloody murder. "Oh please Mr. Pirate sir. Please don't rape me. Oh that would be awful. I'd just die." Jack mimicked in a deep woman's voice. He paused. "Funny thing is when we've finally had our way with them they practically shake our hands! Gads! Are pirates the only people on Ilfreann that know how to please a woman?" The pirate captain removed a bottle and two glasses from a chest bolted to the floor. "It's time ye received a proper pirate's welcome. We'll begin with a toast to the most beautiful woman to ever grace this ship with her presence. To...eh just what is yer name lass?" Rapina looked at the way the captain held his goblet and did the same. "My name is Rapina." She raised her glass to the captain's. "To Rapina then" The captain drank. Rapina drank some of the wine. "Mmmm, this is good. Daddy never used to let me drink." "...It ought to be, the barge it came from was on it's way to a baron's castle. I'm a pirate, I'll teach you plenty 'o bad habits, Red chuckled. Rapina's not yer real name is it?" Red Jack gave her a piercing look. "It's something Auntie used to call me in private." Rapina shrugged. "She said she dreamed it. I haven't gone by my given name since I left my hometown; this way it's harder for the reverend's family to find me. Aye, it's a good idea to have a pirate name, like Red Jack for instance, and Rapina's a good one. Don't ever tell a soul yer real name, just try to forget it, and don't tell the crew anything more than ye've already told yer boyfriends, understand? Rapina nodded. "Yes, you're right. I probably told them more than I should have. They don't know the man I escaped was a reverend or that he died, but they know I'm likely to be hunted by the gentry. I probably shouldn't have even said that, but I was not thinking straight when they found me." "Finish yer drink, I'll be back in a minute. The captain left and returned a few minutes later. He scrutinized the room to see if Rapina had touched anything, gave her a satisfied look and refilled the glasses." "I was tempted to look at your books, but I thought better of it," Rapina said. Red Jack chuckled. "Well now, what would ye have done with a book, can ye read?" Rapina nodded. "Auntie said that her magic would have been much stronger if she could have read the secrets of the ancients in books and scrolls. She told me I should try very hard to pick up the skill so I could help her one day. They killed her so my reading never helped her, but I thought I still might learn some magic somewhere one day. I picked some knowledge of letters up from a gentlewoman who helped with the Sunday school and later from a boyfriend whose father was teaching him. I am not the best, but books were very hard to come by in a grocer's family. Daddy taught my brothers about mathematics and coins so they could help him at the grocery. I was stuck home with mom, but I helped them practice and learned what they knew just the same. Rapina had another drink of wine." "Ye sound resourceful, thar's a good quality in any vocation, includin' piracy. On any ship, knowin' yer letters and numbers is important because ye can't read charts or navigate accurately without 'em, especially in open water. If ye can't navigate you'll never be a captain, pilot or mate, and if ye can't keep accurate records you'll never be a quartermaster neither. Rapina nodded. "Mmmm," she said rubbing her belly. This wine makes your belly warm." "That's the whole idea," Jack grinned as his hand glided up under Rapina's bustier to rub her wine-warmed belly. Rapina blushed. Jack's desire was considerable, and she could feel her body responding to it. Red Jack grinned as Rapina's nipples dented the fabric of her bustier. "What 'ave we 'ere," he said sliding the straps off her shoulders and pulling the bustier down to expose her breasts. "They have a mind of their own," Rapina blushed. Well then, mayhap they'd like a drink. The pirate grinned as he raised his goblet to one of Rapina's nipples and tipped up the glass. After her nipple had been bathed in wine the pirate began kissing it. Rapina moaned and hugged the captain's head to her breast. Red Jack knew how to please a woman. He had spent years in the court of the Li'Yeiraun family wooing every available female he could and even some that were not available. He had run into trouble when he had been caught bedding Henrich Li'Yeiraun's wife Cynid. He never could resist half-elven women. He smiled and thought how Cynid paled in comparison with Rapina. He kissed her breasts and moved down towards her navel. Jack traced circles around Rapina's stomach with his tongue. He could tell by Rapina's reactions what she liked and what she didn't. Jack put that knowledge to good use as he drifted lower... It was a few hours before Rapina emerged from the captain's quarters wearing a contented smile. Along with the smile, she wore a pair of loose scarlet silk drawstring pants and a scarlet cape that the captain had found to complement her bustier and panties. The sounds they had heard through the walls of the captain's quarters left the crew with no doubt that Rapina had received a proper pirate's welcome. Not to mention the fact that Red Jack could drive a woman wild if he had a mind to. The pirate captain emerged just after Rapina. He looked as though he'd had a bracing workout, but the salty grin he could not seem to wipe off his face told all. --- [Rapina]006 Pirates In Training The same tall muscular man that had escorted the boys away earlier came up to Jack now. "There's been no sign of pursuit and the men seem to be in high spirits." He said matter-of-factly. "Good. Good. Roger I'd like you to meet Rapina. She'll be joining our crew. It's been too long since we had such a pretty face in our midst. I want you to teach her how to read the charts and the stars, how to steer like a pilot and sail like a seaman. Make sure the men behave around her. I'd hate to feed 'em to the elf when we get back." A vicious smile crept onto his face. Roger looked at Rapina evenly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Rapina. The name's Roger. I'm the first mate. If you'll follow me I'll show you the charts." He motioned toward the bow of the ship and walked off. He had a very stoic manner and was polite without being personable. "Pleased to meet you too Roger and thank you." Rapina followed Roger, noting that he was not a very enthusiastic sort though at least he did not outwardly show that he thought Rapina had just slept her way into navigation training. Whether his stoic manner hid that conclusion or not, Rapina suspected that it very easily could. She decided that, now that she was an outlaw, she would no longer fake having, "the weak mind of a woman," so as not to create friction with stupid people who believed such things. She would take things in just as fast as she could. Rapina had taken little more energy from the captain than he had naturally given her, but Red Jack had brought her to her peak so many times Rapina had lost count. She had not tried to touch his mind with suggestions at all during her orgasms. Though some of her joy had probably leaked by her pleasure-loosened will and touched him without her direction. Much of the energy was currently bouncing around in her head. To say she felt stimulated was an understatement. Her whole body tingled and she could not stop smiling. She felt so good. When she arrived where the charts were kept, Kent was already there as were a few young men Rapina did not know. Rapina nodded to Kent and Drake and smiled. "This is where we keep the current charts, at least when the weather's fair," Roger said. "Now before you can be a navigator or understand what's written here, you've got to know how to read, and you've got to understand what you're reading. Those of you who can't read, you can still be a sailor, but you'll not be a navigator until you have letters. That takes too long to teach, so don't expect me to do it. Sailing's as important as rowing, so whether you can read or not, if you're lean and agile, and have a quick mind you're in the right place. I've got a list of terms we commonly use on the ship, and one day you are going to know all 200 of them or be lost without them. I'll read them and explain them once, and then you'll have some time to try to learn them. After that I'm going see how many of them each of you can remember and if you know what they mean. Meanwhile the rest of you will work on learning your knots from Sack. Tomorrow, we will go over them again. One day you'll know them all. Roger went through a long list from A to Z and then let the trainees have some time to study and ask questions. Rapina threw herself into her work but the best she could do was to get a long enough look at the list to read it once, there were so many boys in the way. After about half an hour Roger called her over to see what she knew. Roger led Rapina on a walk around the ship. "Can you remember any of the terms off the top of your head? Rapina nodded and recited the list back to Roger from A to Z: "Abeam, ahead, amidships...port, port tack,...wind shadow, windward, wing and wing. Those are the ones I remember." "You forgot three," Roger observed stoically. "Now can you tell me what they all mean? " As they walked, Roger asked Rapina the meaning of each term. She had a little trouble on one or two, but not a lot. Towards the stern of the longship, Rapina spotted Edgar passed out on the planking next to one of the rowing benches. She slowed to step over him and looked at Roger inquiringly "Oarmaster Pike, What happened to the boy?" "'e's a hothead, got disagreeable on me. This time I gave 'im a warnin' punch. Next time he's goin' on a date wif Froggy, har-heh-har-har." Roger nodded and walked on. "What sort of guy is Edgar." "Blood thirsty," Rapina reacted. "He's not nice. He will probably be a problem, but I think he's a natural born killer." "Well then, maybe we can find a use for him after all. Now back to work, what does it mean to jibe? "That's when you go from one tack to the other when sailing with the wind coming over the stern." Roger pointed out important areas of the ship as they passed them and kept giving her new words from the list to define. She kept defining them until at last they finished the list. "You got, 198 of them. Was your father a fisherman?" "No sir, but Kent and the boys used some of those words, and Kent and I figured out how to sail the little boat, though we are no experts. Most of the words I learned just now from your list. Roger nodded, betraying no emotion, as usual. They arrived back near the ship's bow shortly after Rapina finished the list. Roger took the next student and left Rapina and the other trainees to continue to learn and practice knots with Sak. After quite a while, Roger finished with his testing and addressed the pirate trainees. "That's all the word training for now. Most of you now have an idea of just how much there is to learn. People, at least most people, don't learn two hundred words in a day. You're going to have to work hard. If you thought being a pirate was going to be easy, you were wrong. There's a lot of work to be done aboard any ship, and this one's no exception. You're going to be given to a more experienced crewman, and for the rest of the day you will be getting work done. Since the work needs to get done right, we are going to try to match you with a job you already have some skills at. Once you are good at that job, we may find you another, or we may leave you at it. Raise up your hand if you have any experience at all in the areas I mention: Astronomy, blacksmithing or grinding and sharpening, bowyering- fletching carpentry, cleaning, cleaning fish, cooking, fishing and net-mending, rowing, rope splicing, sewing, swimming and diving, signaling, mathematics." Roger wrote down the skills of each trainee as they raised their hands. Rapina raised her hand for cleaning, cleaning fish, cooking and sewing, none of which she particularly liked, and also mathematics and swimming. Drake's hand went up for grinding and sharpening, carpentry, fishing, rowing, rope-splicing, swimming and diving. He did not look too thrilled at his current situation. Apparently being a pirate was not as much fun as he had thought. Kent looked considerably more content than Drake. He eagerly raised his hand for cleaning fish, cooking, fishing, net-mending, rope-splicing, signaling, astronomy, and mathematics. Before Roger assigned each trainee to a crewman he spoke. "We don't have a lot of room on this ship to train you right in all of the things I talked about, but you will be given hands-on training when possible. You will observe an experienced crewman before you are allowed to try your hand at it. The reason is simple; a pirate's ship is his castle. If you mistreat it in any way we'll kill you." There was no hint of humor on Roger's face at all. "You've got two choices here. Be a pirate or die. What'll it be?" Apparently everyone wanted to be a pirate. A few crewman escorted the trainees away. Moments later they were being instructed in the ways of sailing. "Rapina, you'll be helping Piggy, the cook, a little closer to dinner time. Since you can read, you and Kent will be getting some additional training until then concerning the charts." Roger stated. "I've never seen a ship run so efficiently!" Kent gasped. Roger just looked at him. There was something about his emotionless gaze that unnerved Kent. "You'd do well to learn by their example, boy. Jack is an unforgiving captain. Do your job well and you will not have a problem with him...or me. Fail to pull your weight and we'll dump your carcass overboard." Roger retorted. "Now follow me to the captain's quarters and we'll get to studying the charts." A voice floated down from up the mast. "Rocks to port! Rocks to port!" Roger walked swiftly to the portside of the ship and looked out into the water. Sure enough there was a clump of rocks ahead and to port. The ship would hit the rocks and most likely sink if they didn't turn quickly. "Hard to Starboard! Hard to Starboard!" Roger ordered. The ship turned smoothly and safely avoided the rocks. Roger joined Rapina and Kent and motioned towards the captain's quarters. "I hope neither of you are afraid of heights, because if you are too bad. Everyone takes a turn at lookout, even me." he said. The three spent the remainder of the afternoon and all of the early evening studying navigational charts. They learned the difference between latitude and longitude and how to use them to plot a course. They learned how to read a map key, and how to use a few navigational tools. Rapina and Kent listened as the first officer went over a list of navigational terms. "Steady means maintain heading and speed. Full ahead means maintain heading and increase speed to fastest possible. Bear port means turn left, Hard port means turn as sharply to the left immediately. The same terms apply to the Starboard of the ship, which is the right. Bear starboard and hard starboard. Full astern means back up as fast as possible. All rest means to stop, and hull strikes means fire at the enemies hull." Some of the terms were repeats from the earlier ones that she had learned with the sailors. Rapina had little difficulty with any of them. She found the charts and information on astronomy interesting. She could see that the pirate ship could be a prison in some ways but she also saw it as an opportunity to learn things that no on in normal society would ever teach her. Evening came and Rapina was ushered off to help Piggy, the cook, prepare the meal. Piggy was a heavyset middle-aged balding man with bushy grey eyebrows and a pinched face. He didn't say a word to Rapina. Instead, he pointed or demonstrated what he wanted done. Eventually Rapina realized that he had no tongue. Later she learned Piggy had mouthed off to Jack once and paid for it. After dinner many of the men were able to loaf and see to personal chores in the last few light hours of the evening, Rapina and Kent were obliged to do the dishes. Their extra training was coming right out of their personal time. The last rays of the sun were illuminating the horizon when Rapina finally got off work. Rapina looked around for a crewman who's name she knew. Excuse me, oarmaster Pike, How do I take a bath around here? Ye either do it in the river in the dark with the men after we weigh anchor each night, or ye get the wash tub and do it on deck. I might be able to score ye some soap, if ye're willing ta let me rub it on ya," Pike grinned. Rapina considered a moment. "If you'll toss keeping the mongrel hordes back while I bathe into the bargain, then it's a deal." "Sure, I can keep 'em back save for the few officers that out-rank me. I can't put any guarantees on them, but I'd be willin' ta keep the rest out o' the way." "Okay, then it's a deal." Rapina extended her hand. Pike grinned and shook Rapina's hand. "Head fer the stern. I'll be with ye in a moment." Rapina had been given a sea chest under one of the rowing benches not far from the captain's quarters rear of the center of the ship. She fetched the long shirt she still had from Drake and returned to the stern. Soon pike came wearing a lusty grin and a wash tub, and carrying a tea kettle. "Got ye some hot water and some soap too heh-heh. I'm hopin' to earn me a bonus." Pike winked. Pike set down the kettle and lowered the tub into the river to fill it. Rapina smirked at Pike's comment. "First lets do my hair and clothes." "Clothes? That's going ta be extra," Pike winked. Rapina took off the baggy drawstring pants and then undid her bustier. Pike sat down on a rowing bench and handed her the soap. "Ahh, what a view. Wish the light was better," Pike chuckled. A small crowd gathered about five feet away from the proceedings, but three burly oarsman kept anyone from coming any closer than that. In so doing they were guaranteed ring-side seats. Rapina felt like a circus attraction, but she really needed to clean up. A crewman found a torch, lit it and gained new popularity as Rapina finished washing her bustier and pants. "Hand those here and I'll get them hung out to dry," Pike said. Rapina handed her clothing over. "Milo, see that those get hung on a line." About a quarter of the crew gathered near the stern to watch Rapina bathe and the rest were none too happy they had been unable to see anything from behind the first few ranks of men. With many of the men gathered astern watching oarmaster Pike bathe Rapina, the area around the captain's quarters was rather quiet. Within, Roger reported his observations about various new recruits to captain Red Jack. "Edgar's the runt of the litter. He hasn't learned to mind. He may never, but I hear he's bloodthirsty. My recommendation is that we give him a little weapons training and set him loose on our next raid. If he lives through it, then maybe he will be worth something to us." "'An if he don't live we'll be rid of 'im. I like it. What of the others?" "Drake's athletic, charismatic and not too stupid," Roger said. "He'll make a good sailor, oarsman and raider. Tim's lean, he'll be a decent sailor, but I wouldn't count on him in a raid. Jake's like Drake without the charisma. As for Kent, I can picture him as a future officer in any navy. He's intelligent, interested in sailing and navigation and the best of the bunch in my opinion, sir." "What about the girl, Rapina?" Roger scratched his head. "She... well sir, she scares the pants off me." "Why?" asked Jack. "You know that thing I do the first day when I give the trainees 200 nautical terms. I go over them once, and then they get a few minutes to look at the list, but most of them could not read it to save their souls anyway." Jack nodded Roger continued. "Most of them can remember ten or fifteen terms plus a few of the more common ones. Maybe they can tell you what 20 or 25 of 'em mean. If I can teach them five or ten new ones a day, they are all set in a month. Rapina, she got a look at the list maybe enough to read it, maybe not. There were plenty of strong boys who wanted to see the words shouldering in ahead of her, and asking questions." "Didn't she do very well?" Jack asked. "Sir, that whole exercise was to show the trainees how much there was to learn, but, well sir, she remembered 197 of the words, and recited them to me in order. And when given the word to start with, she could define 198 of them. It was spooky sir, and she doesn't get it. I told her she missed three and the look on her face was easy to read. She was thinking she really should have paid closer attention." "There's something not quite human about her, sir. I just can't place her. When I think of Kent, I can picture him as a ship's officer. With Rapina, I just can't picture her. I tried a whole lot of professions, and could not place her for the longest time, until..." "Until What?" Jack asked. "You know those wizard's, not the fortune tellers in the gaudy costumes, but _real_ wizards." "Ya mean the rare ones who can make balls o' fire come from nowhere and torch a ship in a eye-blink?" "Yes sir, that's precisely what I mean. If I met one of those wizards, Rapina would not be out of place as the wizard's apprentice. The uncanny intellect, the flawless beauty, the taint of magic, everything, it all fits, sir." "She told me her Aunt was some sort of witch, I guess she wasn't liein'." "Yes sir." "Do you think she's a danger to my ship?" "Hard to say, sir. I don't think she bears us ill will. She seems to enjoy learning, but at the rate she learns, sir, we're all going to run out of things to teach her in short order." Under ordinary circumstances, Red Jack dealt swiftly and ruthlessly with any possible threat to his ship or his sovereignty over his ship, but the circumstances were not ordinary. Jack had already slept with Rapina, and he had a weakness for beautiful women. Getting in trouble for bedding a nobleman's wife was what had made him an outlaw and a pirate in the first place. Now that he had Rapina, he was unwilling to let her go. "I 'preciate your observations, Roger. She's a two- edged sword; she could be real good for us, or real bad. Ordinarily I don't like to gamble, but life's a whole lot 'o nothin' without a little joy, so in her case, I am going to take my chances. Keep an eye on 'er. If she's got magic, maybe we can use it, but if we're going to use it, we'd better understand it." Back near the Stern of the ship, Rapina had finished washing her clothes, and Pike had washed her hair, face and neck and was working on Rapina's full breasts. "No question about it, mates, roundest, fullest, firmest, pair I've had occasion to play with." "'zat a bulge in yer pants, I see oarmaster?" Froggy asked. Rapina snuck a look. "Is that why they call you pike?" Rapina giggled. "That'd be it." The crewmen had a good chuckle. Rapina had never been one to make a spectacle of herself, but she needed to take a bath sometime, and the lust being aimed at her was making her tingle pleasantly. Her nipples stood out with excitement as Pike washed her chest. Rapina grinned, "Pike, I think they're clean a few times over." "Heh-heh, just think of it as part 'o my bonus," the oarmaster winked. Pike soaped Rapina, back and front, down to her waist, then poured water over her chest and back. "'ave a seat on the end of the bench there and I'll do yer feet." Pike washed Rapina's feet, then her legs. He spent some extra time caressing her thighs. "I won't even try to describe it mates, soft as silk and twice the spice," Pike grinned. "Okay, stand up there are we'll get the last bit of ye." Rapina stood and pike turned her around with his soapy hands. Pike soaped up Rapina's high, beautifully rounded rump, then gave it a slap. "Oooowch, hey that wasn't scrubbing," Rapina squealed. Pike chuckled, "Quite an ass there, wouldn't ye say, boys? Pike soaped Rapina between the legs. "Now bend over and I'll rinse ye off. The oarmaster poured water over Rapina's bottom, finishing her body and giving the men quite a bit to look at. We got us the prettiest woman on the Augustana river, right here on the crew 'o Jack's longship, and clean as a whistle," Pike smiled as he toweled Rapina off. There ye go, girl. No sense you bein' as dirty as a bunch o' 'ol pirates. "Thank you oarmaster Pike." Rapina kissed Pike on the cheek. "My pleasure," Pike grinned. "Soap, mates, it's the best investment a man can make," Pike winked at the assembled crewmen as Rapina put on the oversized tunic shirt she had from Drake. "I got ta admit I liked what ye were wearing before lots better, Rapina, although this outfit shows off a good bit more leg. One 'o these days men, lets get together and pillage our wench some more o' that lacy lady's finery so she's got more to parade around in and drive us to distraction," heh- heh-heh. I'll bet one o' you sail-sewers could whip somethin' up for 'er till then, but if ye give it a try, make sure not to use too much fabric, heh-heh- heh." That night Captain Red Jack invited Rapina to his cabin and she got to read one of his books while he was finishing up his day's records. Later he made love to her and afterwards Rapina slept contentedly by his side. The next day went by rapidly. Rapina spent most of the time in training or working for Piggy, the cook. She got to climb the rigging, tug on lines and tie knots. One thing she realized, she was more flexible and as dexterous as any of the boys, but pretty much every one of them was stronger than she was. Life as a pirate hadn't been living up to Edgar's expectations. He had been knocked unconscious the day before for mouthing off. He glared at everything that moved as he scrubbed the deck. He would make them pay for the humiliation he suffered at their hands. The same pirate that had knocked him out the day before walked by and spat on the deck in front of Edgar. "Ya missed a spot lad! Ha!" he guffawed. Edgar fought the urge to pound his face in. He had no desire to repeat the events of the day before. A voice reached his ears. He looked up and saw Kent conversing with the first mate. "Figures," he thought "Kent becomes Red Jack's lackey-boy and that bitch gets free run of the ship because she has great tits and a firm ass. Life just isn't fair!" Edgar scanned the deck to see what Drake was doing. He saw him hoisting the main sail. The wind was picking up. Drake would not even have noticed the subtle changes in the air before, but now that he knew what to look for there was no mistaking it. He had to get the sail up soon or else the wind would be too strong and he would have to fight to hoist the sail too much. Drake knew that hoisting sails and checking rigging was a waste of his talents. He also knew that Red Jack had something bigger and better in mind for him. He had heard him talking to Roger the night before. They had mentioned something about him having potential and the qualities of a leader. Soon they would be having him learn every aspect of the ship so that he could better understand how to command it one day. Drake wondered why they would want to train him to be a captain. They already had enough people to run the ship under Jack's command. Maybe Jack was getting ready to expand. Maybe one of the existing pilots had crossed Jack. Either way Drake knew that he had to do his best no matter what the task. He had no desire to become shark food. Pike seemed only too eager to wash Rapina again the next evening, so she remained quite clean and was rapidly becoming something of a celebrity aboard the longship. On this particular evening, the captain did not invite Rapina to his quarters so she was obliged to bed down like any crewman. Rapina had been given a sea chest and bedroll stored under one of the rowing benches aft of the main mast. Rapina bedded down and slept rather lightly until someone squeezed her foot. It was oarmaster Pike. He had whispered in her ear while soaping her thighs that if the captain did not call for her, he would wake early for his watch and would squeeze her foot on the way by if she cared to dally. She crept towards the Stern of the ship soon after the signal. Pike whispered to her and guided her to a rush mat he had put down. There he caressed her body much as he had while washing it, but with even greater heat. He lingered long moments over the full majesty of her breasts, kissing them passionately and making her nipples swell and blush red with arousal. His lust made Rapina's senses and her loins tingle with anticipation and before long she was wet and eager for him. She found the object of her desire, freed it and plunged its throbbing immensity into her hungry warmth. At first, the shear size of him scared her even as it aroused her, but there were only a few moments of pain and trepidation as he thrust in his entirety to stretch her to her limits. Then Rapina's body seemed to warm to its task, gradually she made the accommodation, transforming pain to pleasure and trepidation to lust. After a time, she wetly thrust her hips in answer to the pikeman's charge. Many exquisite moments of ecstasy passed, then Rapina's mind blazed with pleasure. Before the wave of bliss had fully passed from her mind, her body supped at the delicious fountaining flood of the oarmaster's energy. Rapina slept deeply that night, the modest portion of oarmaster's energy she had drawn more than made up for the time her tryst with him had taken away from her night's rest. The next day Captain Red Jack guided his ship briskly down the river until lunchtime, then he dallied, letting the men teach more sailing technique to the new recruits in the widened area of the river they had reached. In the late afternoon, the captain again sent the ship briskly down the river, and as the late afternoon shadows lengthened, the longship quietly sailed into a marsh teaming with cypress trees. The captain himself guided the ship through the marsh where one slip could have grounded the vessel. Within the marsh, the channel deepened and the ship sailed into a hidden lake fed by many channels. That evening Rapina and the other new recruits stepped onto Red Jack's isle, and had their first taste of life at a pirate camp. Rumor had it that it was here that Red Jack's recruits would train to fight like true pirates. --- [Rapina]007 Red Jack's Isle Red Jack felt the new recruits were doing well. Most of them were, anyway. One tried to make a break for it as soon as the ships were unloaded, but he did not get very far. A few of the pirates had chased him down and surrounded him. To his credit the would-be escapee had lasted through twenty-five minutes of constant pummeling. He would have made a great pirate had he the stomach for it. Jack shrugged and surveyed his base camp. Logan appeared from inside one of the many tents and shacks the camp was composed of. Jack was pleased to hear that everything went smoothly during his absence. He knew that Logan was a trustworthy and capable man. Jack dismissed him and took a walk through the camp. "Why do pirates have to plunder such heavy things?" Drake mumbled to himself as he hefted a large chest out of the rowboat. He had never really stopped to consider how much actual work was involved with being a pirate. He almost wished he had stayed a farmer. No. A farmer's life was not what he wanted. He wanted to lead men into glorious battle. "I guess I could have always joined the King's army," he mused. That thought came a little late. It was beginning to look increasingly like he was going to be a pirate for the rest of his life. He wondered when he was going to learn all the important stuff about being a pirate captain. He had heard Roger and Red Jack discussing it a few nights ago. At least he thought they were talking about him. Drake decided that he would do his best to prove how capable he was. They would not be able to overlook the great feats he would accomplish. Kent had just finished stowing the oars and checking the rigging. Only a few more checks to go before he would row to the island with the remaining crew. Roger was directing the few men who were left on the ship. The first mate walked up to Kent looked him straight in the eye and set about checking Kent's work. He turned to face the young man and said, "Not bad...for a land- lubber that is. We'll make a sailor out of you yet. Yes. That's right. I said sailor. You can be a pirate after you learn to sail. Think of it as a sort of graduation. Until then keep working hard." Roger turned and walked away without any hint of emotion playing on his face. Kent pondered his words for a moment. He had never heard it put that way before, but he had to admit that it made sense. What was a pirate, but a ruthless and cunning sailor? He picked up his things and went back to work. After finishing his duties, Edgar sat heavily on the ground. Could they give him duties that were any more boring and humiliating? He was itching for a fight but he realized that he would most likely get the stuffing beat out of him again if he tried something. Edgar decided to explore the camp instead. He noticed that the pirates kept a very close eye on his every movement, but that was to be expected. "I'm dangerous and they know it!" he muttered to himself. A chill ran down his spine and he stopped abruptly. Looking around Edgar could not find who it was, but he knew that someone was watching him intensely. He turned and almost jumped back ten feet when he saw the eyes staring at him. They were an emerald green and possessed an intense savagery. He inadvertently took a step backwards. The eyes were peering at him through the bars of a metal cage. It looked like an oversized birdcage hanging from a large tree. Edgar squinted as he tried to get a better look at the inhabitant of the cage. He dared not get too close, but from what he could see, it looked like some island savage. The savage had coppery-red hair, bronze skin with blotches all over it, and deep penetrating green eyes. Edgar was startled when Froggy came up behind him and slapped him on the back. "I see ye've met our pet elf, boy! Come say hi. He won't bite. Oh. Wait. Yes he will bite." Froggy laughed and then stepped up to the cage and shined his lantern into it. Edgar saw that the savage was indeed an elf. He also saw that what he had mistaken for blotches on the savage's skin were actually a series of tattoos. They were the most intricate tattoos he had ever seen. They seemed to twist all over the elf's body in a colorful struggle for dominance. Some of the tattoos seemed graceful and elegant and others seemed harsh and sinister. Talk about contrast! A sound that could only have been described as feral startled Edgar from his reverie. The cage swayed as the elf tried to grab at Froggy who was hitting the bars of the cage with a stick. For a moment, Edgar thought the elf would surely escape as his muscles bulged and the bars whined in protest. The bars held and he leaned back with a growl. "Aye. Ye'd do well to calm yerself elf! Either ya gets a better attitude or ya gets dead." Froggy laughed as he walked away. "C'mere kid! Time to fix up some grub." He grabbed Edgar roughly by the shirt and pulled him along. Jack could not help but smile to himself as he watched the scene with the elf, Froggy, and Edgar unfold. Although the elf was too dangerous to let out of the cage, he was useful in another way. Everyone was afraid of him, including Jack although he never would admit it. The threat of rooming with the elf was enough to keep every man in the camp in line. He would keep the elf as long as this was the case. Jack was hungry and the smell of cooking food reached his nostrils. He smacked his lips and headed off in search of its source. --- Rapina was sent to Red Jack's Isle with Piggy not long after the longship weighed anchor in the hidden lake. The first thing Rapina noticed about the marsh was the great number of biting insects that called it home. Rapina swatted her shapely calf. Of course it didn't help that she was wearing only a very short sail-cloth skirt that Milo had made for her, and a small rough silk tunic with a v-neck that oar master Pike had won for her by beating one of the smaller sailors at knuckle bones. After the ship's boat that carried them to shore landed, Piggy led her up a trail through the encampment to the central fires where they met the camp cook. "Oi, what 'av we 'ere, a prisoner?" the cook said, rubbing his hands together. Rapina thrust her chest forward and cocked her head. "I'm a crewman, not a prisoner." "Crewman, prisoner, it's six 'o one half a dozen o' the other for a green recruit it is," Fishy chuckled. "Me name be Fishy, once I war a stout pirate, but ill luck struck me down. 'Least that's what I call 'im, I ne'r got 'is name. A woodcutter 'e war, swung an 8 foot length 'o log and shattered both o' me knees. Hurt like the devil, but I were movin' fast enough that I fell forward and gutted 'im with me sword. Leach Kennon, fashioned me legs o' cypress wood, but I canna' run no more." Rapina swatted a fat mosquito on her thigh. "These bugs are horrible!" Heh, heh, heh, you got a lot o' fetchin' skin showin' thar, you'll be wantin' some o' Leech Kennon's bug ointment. I gots me a bottle, but I had ta pay for it. I'd consider lettin' a bit o' ointment go fer free long as I were controlin' that amount by puttin' it on ye meself. Rapina looked at the stout cook. "You and oar master Pike must think alike." "We do? Na what would a man o' my short stature have in common with that muscle-bound North man?" "He suggested the same arrangement as you did, only with regard to soap." "'Ee did? Why 'ee stole me idea then, the rapscallion. Did ye take 'im up on it?" Rapina nodded, "He washes me each evening." Lucky devil. Glad ye told me though, Ifn' I were ta pinch ye too hard, Pike 'd likely crack me jaw for me trouble. 'Might be worth it, but I be needin' me jaw for tastin' the food. If I can't taste it an' I make it bad, Red Jack'd have me roomin' with th' wild elf in yonder cage. Rapina turned and looked across the central clearing. There were a few rough buildings to the right and to the left was a cage hanging from a tree. Inside she could make out a humanoid shape, but the shadows of evening were too long for her to make out more than that. Rapina turned towards Fishy, behind him she could see another building, a house of sorts, built with greater care than any of the other buildings in the compound. She guessed the little house must belong to Red Jack himself. Just then, another bug bit her on the neck. Rapina swatted it. Ouch! Fishy grinned. "Oh, all right put it on me." "heh heh heh, th' pleasure be all mine." Fishy produced a bottle and rubbed ointment from it on Rapina's feet, and up her legs. He lingered as he went up her thighs. Rapina looked down at him, "hey." "Well, we wouldna want ye'er precious gettin' bit up would we," Fishy chuckled and moved on. Two weeks ago, Rapina would never have dreamed of letting a stout, scarred and muscular raider lustfully rub ointment under her skirts, but for better or worse, things, and Rapina herself had changed considerably. The drooling, grabby men were much more appealing if one's senses were attuned to lust. Rapina drifted into thought. Surrounded by pirates, Rapina's senses tingled most of the time, and her own lust had been kindled to such a degree that waiting for night when she might have a man seemed like a longer eternity every day. "Perhaps if I could contrive to have more than one man each night," Rapina mused. "Maybe that would make the day seem less long." Rapina snapped out of her reverie as she realized that Fishy had his hands down her shirt and had been anointing the fullness of her breasts for far too long. Rapina glared at the pirate. Fishy chuckled and moved on, finishing his job on the captivating young woman. "Thar now, thar be cookin' ta do, and now that th' bugs won't be eatin' ya, ye can help Piggy 'an me cook the eatin' fer the men. After the cooking was done, Rapina weathered the swats and pinches from the men as she helped serve the food. She really didn't mind the coarse attention she got from the pirates, save the ones that pinched too hard. She was sure she would have been greatly annoyed if not terrified had things been different, but the mens' lust lubricated her senses, and somehow all the coarse attention she got just made her that much hungrier for a lover. When the captain emerged from his house and sat at a table not far from the central fires, The cooks sent Rapina with his tray of food. "Here you are Captain Red Jack, sir," Rapina said, maintaining a certain mannerly formality in front of the men. "Thank ye wench," Red Jack grinned as he patted Rapina's rump. Rapina's chest flushed, and her errant nipples swelled at Jack's touch, denting the raw silk tunic she wore. "Now thar's a wench!" Jack chuckled. Rapina noticed that Jack's pirate-like mannerisms were much thicker when he was with the men. In private, he seemed more cultured and educated. Either way, Rapina's body was schooled to the fact that he was as fine lover as she had been with when he wanted to be. She had great difficulty not responding to his touch. "Make no mistake, mates, this pretty wench, crewman Rapina, be captured booty belongin' ta me, just like me ships. I've nothin' against ye enjoyin' 'er bein' 'ere and I'm enjoyin' this sail skirt Milo made for 'er as much as the rest o' ye," the captain said making Rapina squirm as he reached under the short skirt and fondled her. "But ye best treat 'er well. Ye wreck me wench, and ruin me fun, ye'll suffer the same as if ye wrecked me ship. An' if ye damage 'er w' yer gloms 'er tryin to force yer salty spar on 'er, ye'll be roomin' with the elf." Jack pointed at the cage hanging at the edge of the central clearing wherein the men sat. Jack's grin gleamed above the central fire as he saw some of the men swallow in fear. After the captain's speech, there seemed to be a consensus among the men that a pat was safer than a pinch. Rapina was much happier with the new arrangement. After the meal was served, Fishy put together a gruel jumble of what was left into the large leaf of a swamp plant set in a wooden bowl with a long handle on it. This'n be fer the caged elf. Offer it up to 'im, but don't ye get too close, and don' let 'im grab the bowl from ye. If he tries it, yank it away an' 'e don' get no dinner if 'e grabs the bowl, understand? 'Ee grabs the leaf out o' the bowl or 'e gets nothin'. 'E's a wily an, a dangerous sa watch ye're self. Fishy handed Rapina a torch on a long spear handle. Plant this'n in th' ground well away, so ye have light an both hands free for manin' the feed bowl pole. Rapina nodded. After taking the feeding instrument and torch across the clearing Rapina planted the torch a dozen feet from the cage and took up the pole-handled bowl. The elf was quite a sight; his body was a tapestry of tattoos that seemed almost alive in the flickering torchlight. Rapina stood well back from the cage and stretched out the bowl, hoping the elf would take the leaf, but steeling her grip in case he tried to take the bowl instead. The elf stared at Rapina for a long time. His emerald eyes seemed to be able to see right into her soul. His gaze never wavered the whole time their eyes met. Despite the savagery he had exhibited earlier the elf's eyes possessed a strong sense of lucidity. The cage swayed gently as he leaned forward. A heavily muscled arm reached through the bars and towards the bowl. A macabre mix of tattoos danced their way up and down and around his arm. Delicate vines wrapping around his arm were being eaten and hacked away at by demonic creatures. A beautiful full moon on his shoulder was marred by a tortured face within its diameter. Graceful steeds galloping across his forearm were being chased by foul creatures, and a falcon in flight on the back of his hand was flying through a sky of dripping blood. These were the first of the elf's tattoos to come close enough to Rapina for examination. As his hand neared her, the tattoos seemed to flare up with an unearthly light. A muffled sound escaped the elf's lips as he withdrew his hand and sat back in the cage. He had not grabbed the leaf or the bowl. He was just sitting there looking at Rapina with his head cocked to one side. His eyes narrowed and a moment later he spoke. The words were unintelligible, but were harsh on the ears. They almost hurt. It was like listening to someone describe the most horrible thing that could ever happen to a person. "I can't understand what you are saying, or what happened to you, but it sounded terrible and sad. I am sorry; you must have been through a lot. Aren't elves supposed to live a long time and be more civilized than humans?" Doanthalas waited for a moment and then leaned forward in the cage once again. The elf reached out and deftly removed the leaf from the bowl. The cage swayed slightly as he sat back. Before he started eating he looked Rapina straight in the eyes and said,"Théau luneah." This time his voice sounded soothing and gentle. He sat back and started eating his food quickly. Rapina watched the elf eat. He was about the right height for an elf, she supposed, but he was certainly more powerfully built than she had heard of elves being, and his movements were much more savage. Rapina smiled as she felt the elf's lust dance through her sensitive nose. Certainly, he was a man, and he had revealed a hint of something not at all savage just now that left her confused. Rapina imagined how it might be to make love with him -so much rippling muscle covered in magical tattoos. Her errant nipples responded instantly, denting the fabric of her tunic so rapidly that it made her blush. She bid the elf goodbye and decided she would have to ask an elf what "Théau luneah," meant if she ever ran into one who spoke common. After the dishes, oarmaster Pike appeared and he and Fishy contrived to give Rapina a bath. She was just getting dressed when word came that the captain wanted to see her. Captain Red Jack's house was small, but well built. There was a guard posted outside the door who let Rapina in and motioned towards the door on the left. Inside was the captain's parlor. It was not very big, but it was surprisingly luxurious. Tapestries bedecked the walls and bee's wax candles lit the room. Inside sitting on a comfortable chair, was a man Rapina had never seen. Jack himself sat on a couch. "'ave a seat thar Rapina," Captain Red Jack said. "This here is Leech Kennon, 'e's our camp doctor. Ye'll be off kitchen duty now, Kennon will be usin' ye in the afternoon after ye do combat practice w' the recruits. Right now I want ye to see if ye and Kennon can fix ye up with those same herbs ye told me about that keep ye from conceivin'. A pirate camp's no place for children." Rapina named the herbs she used, but Kennon was only familiar with the one that brought back a woman's menses when she feared she might already be pregnant. The herb Rapina had used on a daily basis was unknown to him. "Sorry Captain, I'm a Leech not a midwife. I'll be taking the girl to hunt and pick herbs to be dried for poultices for the men's wounds, maybe she can locate the plant she needs. If she can, then we can set up a supply for her." "That'll have to be the plan then, Kennon. See that ye locate the plant soon and put up a supply." "Yes sir," Kennon said. "Rapina, yer ta report to Leech Kennon's hut straight away after arms practice tomorrow, understand?" "Yes sir," Rapina replied. "That'll be all then, Leech Kennon, dismissed." Red Jack nodded towards the door. "Aye sir." The healer got up, and let himself out. Rapina relaxed a bit as the captain put his arms around her. "There now, I've some ship's logs to finish up, would you like to do some reading before bed time?" "Yes, I'd like that," Rapina said, barely disguising the enthusiasm in her voice. Of all the people she'd known, perhaps only the late reverend Evangeline owned more books than Captain Red Jack, but the Reverend's books were mostly religious texts. Aboard the longship the captain had nautical books, and one book had maritime stories. "Well then, I guess ye'll be wanting to see me library. The captain took Rapina's hand and led her out the back door of the parlor and up a tight spiral staircase. Soon he opened a door to a room with a table, shelves and a great many volumes. A great oak desk stood against one wall. The captain lit the room's candles, hung Rapina's mage light from the chandelier in the center of the room and settled in at the desk. "There we are, find ye'rself a book and do some reading if ye like. \Rapina\ "Thank you Captain. I had no idea there were so many books not about religion." Rapina was nearly overwhelmed. The captain had maybe thirty volumes aboard his ship but here were hundreds, enough that she was unsure whether the reverend had more than the captain did. She did not know where to start. The captain chuckled. "Ye'll find better caches in the houses of most noblemen, but I've gleaned many a volume headed for a nobleman's library by raiding ships and towns over the years." "It's a wonderful collection," Rapina smiled as she looked at books. Rapina looked at one book; it was all maps. She put it back, she wanted to read words, not look at pictures. The next book left her mouth wide open. "What's a matter, did ye find a dirty joke in there?" The captain laughed heartily. "This book, it's all words." "That'd be a dictionary. It's a reference book, all the words are in alphabetical order. If ye get stuck on a word in another book, ye can look it up in there and see what it means." "Can't I read this one? I had no idea there were so many words." The captain grinned. "Sure ye can read it if ye like, but I'll caution ye not ta try out the words on me men. They'll think yer speakin' code or talkin' down to 'em." \Rapina\ "Okay," Rapina said softly, her mind already fascinated by the number of words she had never seen before. At first, the wordbook was frustrating. Many of the definitions contained words that Rapina did not understand. When she looked up those words, sometimes their definitions had other words that were also new to her. Nevertheless she found the book as fascinating as it was puzzling, and spent the entire evening reading about words starting with the letter "A." By the end of the evening, she was understanding most of the definitions much better, and did not have to look up so many words beginning with letters other than "A," just to figure out what the "A" words meant. The captain chuckled every time he looked up from his logbooks at the enthralled expression on Rapina's beautiful face. Had anyone asked him the name of the most fascinating book in his collection, he would have rated the dictionary right near the last just before the few holy books he owned. The next morning the captain rose early. He rummaged around in a sea chest and came up with a narrow swatch of cloth. \Captain Red Jack\ "You're going to combat training this morning. Here, take this and bind yer breasts tight ta yer chest. Ye'll be running a lot today, and yer a big girl, I wouldn't want to see yer pretty tits loose their shape on my account." --- \Arms master Hock\ Hock looked the men over and raised an eyebrow when his eyes lit on Rapina. "Why the captain even bothered sending a wench to him, he would never know. The sooner she washed out, the better. Let her spend her time on her back, cooking and washing dishes, not wasting his time," Hock thought. "So, ye all want to be pirates eh?" Hock asked gruffly. "Yes sir" "What did ye say? I couldn't hear yer pansy voices." "YES SIR!!" "That's better. Now, The thing that separates a pirate from a common sailor is steel. The arms master held up a cutlass. This is the traditional weapon o' sea pirates, the cutlass. It's relatively heavy, and it's made o' cheap steel, but it hacks pretty good if ye know how to use it. Bein' as how we are inland, we also run up against plenty 'o village guards wielding' short swords. They're a little lighter and made o' the same cheap steel. They don't hack as well, but they have a better stabbing point." "Now I know what ye're thinkin'. You don't see these weapons on the veterans here about. The preference is for Viking swords, axes, long swords, broad swords and the like, but we don't issue those kind of blades to recruits. They aren't as common, there's more steel in 'em, and it's harder to make one that's serviceable. If ye want a good sword once ye're out o' basic training, then ye'll have to pillage it or save yer loot and buy one from someone who's got a spare. Here we're going to whip ye into shape and teach ye the basics 'o sword and shield. Fletcher Arzael will teach ye a bit o' archery." "First thing we're gonna do is run ye 'round Red Jack's Isle ta see how tough ye are. Then we'll separate ye into groups. Yer going to see some walls and obstacles set up. They're not there for ye to run around, they're there for ye to climb or jump over, understand?" "Yes sir!" the recruits hollered. "I don't cater ta wimps here, an' this trainin' is orientated ta survival o' the fittest. When ye get back here, ye're going ta form a line. If ye get back first, ye'll be first in line. Me an' Froggy an' Buck are goin' ta help each of ye select a weapon. We have a motley assortment here; some weapons are lots better than others are. If ye get back first, ye get yer pick; if ye get back last, ye get yer pick of the few trashy items that're left, understand? Stay ta the course, it's clearly marked. I got men watchin'. If ye take a short cut, I got somethin' for ye. Hock patted a whip at his side. Okay now, get lined up here behind this length o' rope, and when I blow me horn, head between them two barked trees over there and foller the course. "The horn sounded and Rapina ran with the boys. She was so glad Pike had found her a pair of men's sandals that fit her. She ran as fast as she could, but soon realized that most of the boys were passing her. She out-paced only a few of the smallest sailors, and one with a bad leg. The first obstacle she jumped without difficulty, but the second required climbing. Thanks to the river trip, her arms were stronger than they had ever been before, but she was still no match for most of the other recruits. Her long legs and good coordination carried her through jumps, over logs and low fences, but climbing walls and embankments slowed her down. By the middle of the course, Rapina was exhausted and all but a few of the boys had run by her. Her breath came rasping from her throat. As she ran, she flashed back; she was running down the river in calf-deep water. She could hear Constable Rasper and his dog Blitz crashing through the brush in the distance behind her. She remembered bits of the river trip and the power, the Reverend's power, the life force that had sustained her through her escape. Rapina smiled. Drake, Kent, Edward, Pike and Red Jack had all contributed small bits to her current store of power. It had been a while since she had done it, but she now drew on that power. As she ran, her aching muscles eased, her rasping throat knitted, her stride lengthened and she overtook a few of the boys who had passed her earlier. The climbing still slowed her, but her arms did not feel the horrible fatigue they had been feeling. Rapina began to pass exhausted recruits, one after another, until there were more behind her than there were ahead of her by the time she broke out of the forest. There she gritted her teeth and with a final burst of speed, she ran through the clearing. She passed two more recruits before getting in line. Ahead of her, she could See Drake, Jake, and many of the more athletic recruits she did not know. Surprisingly, she saw Edgar only a few recruits behind Drake. He had not seemed as athletic as Drake, perhaps what he lacked in physique, he made up for in will power. Either that or he had gotten away with a short cut. After the boys ahead of her had selected blades, Froggy took Rapina out to look at what was left. "Fer a wench, you'll want a short sword. There's less strength, more dexterity and cunning involved with the short sword. Froggy pointed out three blades. "Those are the best ones left, but take what you want." Rapina tried each of the three. One had some fairly fancy workmanship on the hilt and she was tempted to take that one. After trying all three, she decided on the second one; it too had some hilt workmanship, though not as flashy, and it seemed a little lighter and easier to swing. "Good choice. That one came from a village garrison sergeant; it's not a bad blade, better steel than the others. Now take a shield, ya might as well have this one, it belonged to the same man. Froggy grinned and handed a shield to Rapina. "It's a scutum." The shield was rather large, but Rapina trusted the man whose sword she now possessed knew more about what went with a short sword than she did. Next Hock sent Rapina across the field to Fletcher Arzael. He was lean, wiry and not as tall as Rapina. His features were fine and the tops of his ears nearly came to points. He was dressed in forest brown with green accents, and he wore a long thin blade of a type unfamiliar to Rapina. From the shape of his ears she decided one of his parents or grand parents must have been an elf. He grinned at Rapina as she approached. It was a welcome change from arms master Hock's scowl. "Hello sir," Rapina said. "Hello," Arzael nodded to the first female recruit he had seen in quite some time, and without a doubt the most beautiful. Her raven hair and emerald eyes enhanced her pretty face, the curves of her body were more magnificent than any he had laid eyes on, and he was older than he looked. "How strong are ye lass? Pull my arms apart like so. Use all your strength." Rapina tried to pull Arzael's arms apart, but he was deceptively strong. "Strength isn't my best feature," Rapina sighed. "In Archery a good eye and a dexterous hand are of as much importance as strength. You've done all right for yourself in running the course. Many of the stronger boys have been here already, but they've taken up the stronger bows. You'll need a lighter bow, and they've hardly been touched. This one here is the best of the bunch. It'll be a bit stiff for you, but if you can bend it, it'll treat you well. Rapina smiled. The bow was long and not easy to bend, but she could do it. She was tempted to take a lighter or shorter bow, but the evident quality of the bow, and the fletcher's charming manner convinced her to do as he said. "It will take some growing into, but it has a good feel to it. I'll take good care of it." Arzael beamed with approval at Rapina's promised care, as if the bows he gave the recruits were living things, entrusted with some ill ease to careless youths. After the new recruits had weapons, they were instructed in their care, then the recruits were taught some basic moves with their weapons. After their first training with weapons, the recruits were sent to lunch with instructions to stow their weapons in their sea chests and their bows on the pegs in their barracks. From then on, they were told to bring their weapons only after lunch, for the morning exercises would be conducted with practice swords made of wood on practice dummies filled with straw. This first day things were reversed and the real weapons were to remain stowed until tomorrow after lunch. Rapina found her sea chest in the barracks where the rest of the recruits were assigned to sleep. Rapina wondered how often she would really be sleeping here. She hoped it would not be often. Red Jack had so many interesting books, Rapina would have preferred to do nothing but read. The remaining two or three hours of practice was filled with grueling exercises and knocking into dummies with shields. Rapina did not hit hard enough, and received a tongue-lashing from the arms master. At last the arms practice ended and Rapina joined Leach Kennon at the medical hut. It was a welcome change from assisting the cook. During the remaining daylight hours, the leech and three pirates, Duke, Rabid, and Gash delved through the marsh and the surrounding forest in search of herbs. Duke was a large, powerfully built man; both Rabid and Gash were lean and wiry with long legs. Rapina suspected they were along to do more than protect the doctor. Duke and Rabid stuck to Leach Kennon like glue, and Gash never let Rapina out of his sight. Although sometimes one or two of the pirates would lend a hand, at least one would always stand on alert watching. As it turned out, Rapina was unable to find a stand of the herbs she needed. At first, Leech Kennon looked as if he felt their existence was dubious, but by the end of the day, Rapina had identified enough unrelated plants that the Leech had a little more confidence in her ability. At last they passed an area that was about right for the plant Rapina was looking for, but since it was already beginning to get dark, Leach Kennon said that they would have to continue the search tomorrow. The leach had some of the herbs he had been looking for, and employed Rapina in washing and hanging them for drying once they had returned to camp. At last the cooks served dinner and Rapina got off work. She did not miss having to do the dishes. Her new job was superior to the old one in that respect. At last she'd have an hour or two when she could sit around the fires with the men. Then maybe she would dally with one or two of them in a thicket to renew the supply of energy she had begun to tap during the morning arms practice. At dinner, Rapina talked to Drake who was stationed in the same ramshackle barracks as she was. "What did I miss not sleeping at the barracks last night?" Rapina asked between spoonfuls of fish soup. Drake gulped down the last of his soup and grimaced. "What foul swill that was! Ack!" He turned to Rapina with a Roguish grin. "What did you miss at the barracks? Well not much. Only about an hour's worth of complaining, five fist fights, and a bunch of smelly snoring pirate 'recruits'. That's all. Heh!" He seemed to be in good spirits although he was obviously tired from the day's work. Drake had done well in almost every area of the training. His technique was not very refined yet, but he had the strength, stamina, and will to succeed. The fact that he was very likeable did not hurt either. He had already made quite a few friends at the camp. A few of them were sitting around him as were Kent and Edgar. Kent was not enduring the physical exertion as well as Drake and Edgar were. He had practically come in last during the obstacle course and had been berated just as much, if not more, than Rapina during weapons practice. He had a lot of work to do yet. Although normally quite talkative, Kent did not say a word. It looked like he might fall asleep in his soup at any moment. Edgar shoved Kent who almost fell onto the ground. "Wake up pretty boy! Isn't time for you to go shine Roger's ass? Hmmmm? I hear he's teaching you ALL the tricks it takes to be a good little pirate boy. Too bad your skull will most likely be crushed by one of these pirate thugs before the end of the week." That said Edgar shrugged and went back to eating his soup. After dinner, everyone went about his duties. Kent went and studied with Roger, Drake went to work with Arms master Hock, and Edgar got stuck doing guard duty with one of the most unfriendly pirates in existence. He never did tell Edgar his name, but anytime Edgar started to doze off he was awakened by a big meaty hand pounding him in the head. Dinner last evening had been especially late, much as it often was aboard ship when the captain wanted to take advantage of all of the daylight hours for sailing. This evening it had been a little earlier. Rapina was due to go back to Leech Kennon's after the dinner hour, but she had a few minutes left. She found Fishy loading up a large leaf with a jumble of the nights leftovers for the caged elf. "Can I feed him?" "Aye, ye can; me wooden legs 'd be glad ta be spared the walk. Careful though. Remember ta keep a good grip on th' handle and not go too close." Rapina nodded she took the food to the elf. She could see a few more of his tattoos this evening. They had an eerie appearance bathed in the glow of the setting sun. The reflections made them seem almost alive, but without the flicker of the torch to impart as much a sense of movement, they looked as if they were frozen, waiting for the darkness to grant them life. "Hello, sir elf, time to eat," Rapina spoke, planting her feet carefully and extending the bowl on its pole. The elf-savage gazed at Rapina with his deep emerald eyes for a long moment, but did not say a word. He seemed calmer when Rapina was about. He never tried anything when she walked by, but if any of the pirates strayed too close to the cage, he would always try to grab them. Some were lucky and jumped out of the way in time. Others still bore the scars from their run-in with the elf. None of them ever got too close to the cage again. The cage swayed as the elf-savage reached through the bars and gently lifted the leaf with his food out of the bowl and pulled it back into his cage. His gaze lingered on Rapina for a moment more before he began eating. He desired her. There was no doubt of that. What man didn't desire Rapina? The difference was that the elf-savage did not allow his desire for Rapina to influence his actions in any way. Rapina returned the pole-bowl to Fishy. Thankee darlin'. Ye be sure ta come by a little later. Pike an' me be fixin' ta give ye a bath. I heard tell from a good source the captain be pleased with ye bein' clean fer 'is pleasure, sa we be more like th' official bath 'ouse men now. Rapina smiled, she enjoyed being clean, and having a tall, burly Norseman like Pike do the cleaning just made it all the more memorable. "Okay, I'll come as soon as Leech Kennon lets me out. See you." "Aye, lass we'll be seein' ye later." Leech Kennon spoke to Rpina. "For now, I'll be using this couple of hours after dinner as a teaching period. The captain says you can read?" "Yes sir, though I have some trouble with some of the words. I need a dictionary nearby." "I have a healer's dictionary of sorts, I'll let you use that. I have a book on herbs I would like you to read. You can start with the first chapter tonight." Rapina nodded. Kennon sat Rapina at a desk in his back room, in front of an array of tallow candles that he lit. "There now, here's the book, and here's the dictionary. I'll ask you some questions at the end to see how much you understand." Rapina nodded. She was already formulating a plan. All the words educated people knew that she did not were to found in dictionaries. They were like whole books of cheat notes that only wealthy people owned. Rapina was determined to read them while she had the chance. When Kennon left her, she opened the herb book and got an idea of how many pages she would have to read. Then she pushed hard, forcing herself to read as fast as she could and keeping a finger earlier in the chapter. Kennon came in to check her twice, but she heard him and flipped back to an earlier part of the chapter. In spite of having to look up a few words, she finished in just under an hour and began to read the dictionary. Some of the "A" words were the same as in Captain Red Jack's dictionary, but some were different. When Kennon returned to check her, she pretended she was looking up a word from the chapter. By the time Kennon returned to quiz her on the chapter, Rapina had read all of the "A", "B", and "C" words and was in the midst of the "D" words. She stopped when she heard Kennon coming and pretended as if she were just finishing the chapter. In spite of having read the chapter quickly, Rapina had no trouble answering the Leech's questions. When she was finished, he let her leave for her bath. Pike and Fishy had put their heads and backs together and set up Fishy's largest caldron in the middle of the pantry shack. It was full of steamy water, and the men were at least as steamy as the bath water. Their lust drove Rapina to distraction. After using up a portion of her store of power during the obstacle course, Rapina was hungry for more. When Pike began to wash between Rapina's thighs, she thrust her hips against his hand several times and sighed. Pike looked at Fishy. Fishy looked at Pike - both men grinned, as their hands flew to loose their pants. Rapina felt like lust incarnate as first Pike, then Fishy, then Pike again filled her with his lust and power. Rapina was amazed at Pike's stamina, for she pulled just a bit more energy from the two men than she had yet taken from pirates. She was hungry, and knew she would need what they gave her. Arms master Hock, though he did not seem like he was picking on her, had paired her with Beck, a wiry recruit about Rapina's height who was lean, fast and practically immune to fatigue. Though most would have forgotten, Rapina remembered that the boy had been second in the line after the obstacle course. After her bath, Rapina had a little time to talk around the camp fires with the men before the recruits were called to return to their barracks. There they faced another horror of pirate camp life. Brackston watched gleefully and chuckled as the recruits filed into the ramshackle barracks. Next to him was a large, dirty, yellow dog whose look was as mean as his master's. "Dare now, I am Brackston and dis be me dog Thumper, heh, heh heh. Standing in da doorway here is me friend Froggy, and last night we had de joy to watch yew fight and listen to yew grousin' and complainin'. Heh, heh, heh. Now I know who is de trouble and who is not. Now I let yew in on de rules here. If yew want ta complain, yew complain to me, hear? 'An I love ta here yer pretty voices, come an' wine any time yew like, hear? Maybe we can work sumfin out... Heh, heh, heh." "Now to de rules. Ye foller orders snappy like, yew get here when de recruit horn sounds fer bed, yew get ta yer practice an' other duties snappy like, yew don' question de orders of a superior. Yew do what yew'r told. Yew go ta sleep when I tell ya, yew get up when I tell ya. If yew want ta fight somebody, yew come an' set it up wif me, otherwise yew're in trouble, understan'? If yew slip up, anytime, anywhere yer problem is gonna be told ta de Brackston. Brackston poked his scared and burly chest with his index finger. But that's jus' fine, I like boys plenty, like ta deal with yer problems. Me an' Froggy, we're good with problem boys, real good. Heh, heh, heh. Maybe yew have a problem yew need help wif. Yew come to Froggy, or me, we can work sumfin' out with yew. Heh, heh, heh." "Now, see dis Connor boy? Before Connor could react, Brackston had clamped a black iron collar around Connor's neck. Brackston jerked on the chain attached to it and the young man's head was dragged down near the foot of Brackston's bed, where the chain passed through an iron eye set in a buried stone. Brackston's bed was the only bed that was not a bunk. It was just beside the door to the barracks. "I notice two things about de Connor boy yesterday. He has a big mouf, full of complainin' and he has a big ass, just de kind me and Froggy like de best. Heh, heh, heh. Brackston locked the chain to another iron eye near the head of his bed. Now let us look at Connor's complainin' butt. Brackston jerked the recruit's pants down. Not bad aaye?" The burly pirate took off his belt and gave Connor a few lashes until his buttocks were an angry red. Then looked at the other recruits. "I know, some of yew are thinkin' me father did that, so what, I don' have no problem wit it. Now I show yew what de father did not... Brackston dropped his drawers revealing a long, wicked erection. He smeared it with a bit of lard from an earthenware container sitting by his bed, then cleaned his hand off between Connor's buttocks. Before the poor boy could react, the dirty pirate impaled him. The boy screamed. The other recruits stood by incredulously while Brackston wickedly abused the boy. When Brackston finished, Froggy laughed heartily and made Connor scream anew. When it was over, the bravado had completely drained from the eyes of the recruits. "Dere now, yew complain all yew want, yew be late as much as yew want, de Brackston is happy when yew are bad. Now Froggy and me be done, but Connor, he complain so much. Look at his sorry butt, any yew want to make him scream, I give you free dis time. Heh, heh, heh." The recruits did not say another word. Most were too scared even to breathe. One recruit, however, was sitting there rocking back and forth. His lips moved as if he was speaking, but no words came out. He had an intense and wild look in his eyes. His name was Trevor and he was one of the more savage recruits. He had already beaten a few recruits to within an inch of their lives during weapons practice. The sight of him was intimidating. But for the ripple of lust from a few of the more sadistic recruits, Rapina saw nothing but fear and dread in the eyes of most of the boys. In spite of the brutal demonstration, Rapina slept well on the hard barracks bunk, the glow imparted her by Pike and Fishy fortified her strength. [Rapina]008 Training and Battle The next day was almost identical to the first minus the race and weapons selection. More time was devoted to the physics of sailing and the finer points of cleaving your enemies' skull in two. Again Kent struggled through combat training, although he excelled at the more cerebral activities. Drake did well as did Edgar. Towards the end of combat practice, Arms master Hock called everyone together. "Well now ye've got tha basics down it be time fer seeing how well ye fare against a real foe. Killin' dummies is easy. Killin' people isn't. People hit back. We'll be usin' wood swords an' shields fer now. We can't 'ave too many of ye dyin' on yer second day 'ere now can we?" He snickered and doled out the weapons. The recruits paired off and went at it. For the most part it was a sorry sight. Fishy's movements were more agile and graceful than a lot of the recruits. The winners of the first round paired off and fought again while the losers did the same. This happened a few more times until only a few recruits were left in the winners group. Among the winners were Jake, Edgar, Tim, Drake, and four other recruits. Hock paired them off. Jake fought a recruit named Jonas. Jonas was strong and dexterous, but just wasn't fast enough to stop Jakes lightning fast strikes. Jonas quickly fell. Tim fought a recruit named Wilden, Drake fought Ducretes, and Edgar fought a loud mouth called Jink. Edgar's bout was by far the most interesting of the four. Edgar hefted his wooden sword and stepped into the circle. He had met Jink the night before and already he didn't like him. Jink had a big mouth and a bad attitude. He had said some nasty things about Edgar, but a couple pirates had prevented him from pounding on Jink. "Ready to get your face pounded in Jink?" Edgar asked as he circled him. "I'd ask you the same thing, but it looks like somebody already beat me to it. By the gods I HOPE your mother isn't THAT ugly," he retorted. Jink shrugged, "She's probably worse. I don't even want to think about your father! Ugh!" Jink was muscular and agile and had a handsome face. He leered at Edgar as they circled each other. He was going to enjoy beating Edgar down. Edgar's lunge caught Jink off guard, but he recovered in time to block the attack and trip Edgar up. "You'll pay for that!", Edgar hissed as he stood up. Jink attacked this time and landed a glancing blow on Edgar's cheek. Jink was tougher than Edgar had expected, but no matter he would just have to use more skill and less brute force to defeat him. Well maybe not MUCH less brute force. "Well, you coming at me or do I have time for a nap here?" Jink taunted. Why wasn't Edgar attacking? He just kept circling and watching. "Enough of this play. It's time to finish the job!" Jink yelled as he lunged at Edgar. His training had paid off! By watching Jink's stance and the way he switched his weight, Edgar knew that the lunge was coming. He deftly parried Jink's lunge and smashed an elbow into Jink's face. Jink stumbled back dazed and bleeding. He looked at Edgar incredulously. Edgar just smiled a wicked smile and pressed his attack. Jink parried a few of Edgar's blows, but far more of them found their mark. Soon it was all Jink could do to keep his sword in his hand. "You have a big mouth Jink. I don't like people with big mouths," Edgar said. With a quick strike he knocked Jink's sword from his hand. Time seemed to slow as Edgar began a graceful turn that brought his sword to bear on Jink's head. A loud crack pierced the air. Jink's head lolled to the side in an unnatural way as his body struck the ground. The camp seemed silent for a long moment before Hock spoke, "Now thar's some'un who's been payin' attenshun! Good work me boy." He motioned to a few of the recruits. "Drag Jink's body to Dulgar. He'll dispose of it. Well watchya all starin' at!?!? Get back to yer trainin'!" No one paid too much attention as Tim and Drake won their fights. Everyone was still thinking about the death of Jink at Edgar's hands. The reality of a pirate's life was beginning to settle in on the recruits. Rapina had been glad to get some rest while watching the bouts take place. Arms master Hock seemed always to pair her with one of the smaller boys who had the greatest endurance. Rapina wondered what the arms master was up to. She tried to save her limited supply of magical energy for when she really needed it, but she knew she was using more than she was replacing, and that did not sit well with her. Now that she had a little time at the end of the day to talk to the pirates, she hoped maybe she could find one or two more to help her beat arms master Hock's game. Seeing Edgar murder the other boy did not sit well with Rapina. She was a desperate woman hunted by the nobility. Drake and Kent were naive boys who wanted to escape a life of farming, but Edgar was truly bloodthirsty. He _enjoyed_ killing. Rapina shuddered. Before long, Edgar would fit right in with the most murderous of the pirates. At archery practice Rapina did better and she was tempted to nibble Fletcher Arzael's nearly pointed ear when he was close to her helping her with her stance. Rapina's relationship with the archery trainer was quite the opposite of her relationship with the arms master. Whereas the arms master was cold and acted a bit like Rapina was a waste of his time, the Fletcher could not help but give Rapina a little more attention and much more contact than he gave the other recruits. Her arrows did not fly as far or go as straight to the target as the arrows of the boys because they wielded much heavier bows. Nevertheless, Rapina was intelligent enough to calculate her range and arc of fire to make up for her weaker bow when ranges were not extreme. She was already showing that she had what it took to be a competent archer. While being tempted to nibble the handsome Fletcher's ear, Rapina realized that Arzeal must be partly elvish and whispered, "The wild elf in the cage told me, "théau luneah," do you know if that means anything? "Théau luneah you say? Hmmmmm." Fletcher considered the words for a few seconds, "I'm not quite sure. That savage-elf must speak a different elvish tongue than I do, but I do have a guess. Most of the elvish tongues derived from the same language millennia ago so...théau sounds like it was derived from théaulai which means 'shining'. And luneah...now that one's a bit more difficult. But if I had to venture a guess I'd have to say it means 'moon' or 'moonlight'. So he either said 'shining moon' or 'shining moonlight'. Now what that means in elvish isn't the same thing in means in your 'crude' human tongue. Elvish isn't as literal as common is. We tend to say things in a more...beautiful way." Noticing that Rapina was getting annoyed that he wasn't getting to the point he continued, "Basically it means 'thank you'. You see? It sounds much better in our language. Don't you agree?" The fletcher seemed to be subtly flirting with Rapina which was quite a change from the rest of the pirates. Most of them probably didn't even know what subtle meant, much less how to behave that way. "Shining moon means thank you? It is more beautiful, but I find the connection between moons and gratitude so abstract it's difficult to grasp. Perhaps Brackston would see a clearer connection," Rapina smirked. The next three days went by in a flash. The boys were unusually well-behaved after Brackston's horrible demonstration, but Rapina only saw them on two of the three nights because Captain Red Jack had her over on the first and second nights. Not surprisingly, Brackston gave Rapina no trouble for being invited to sleep in the captain's luxurious bed, though he was quick to tell the boys they were lovely and soft, just the way he liked boys. This had the effect of making them all try to seem extremely tough. Rapina had to hide a smirk. The brutal Brackston knew how to handle boys. Rapina put the time in the captain's library to good use. She was currently reading words beginning with "q" and was still convinced that the dictionary was a way scholars and noblemen maintained an intellectual superiority over commoners. Rapina found Leech Kennon's books nearly as interesting as Captain Red Jack's large dictionary. She was digesting them as rapidly as she could. Thankfully, Rapina had also been able to locate the herbs she needed to keep her from conceiving and was hoping she was not too late. During the day, arms master Hock continued to beat Rapina down by assigning her to the indefatigable Beck, and the nearly equally tireless Emery. Both took turns sapping her energy faster than she could replace it and making her dip deep into her limited stores of magical energy. By the second day Rapina knew she needed a plan and needed one fast. On the third day she had to stifle a smile. She had to be subtle and very careful of Hock's roving eyes, but Rapina began to subtly change her body language. Mentally she pulled at her opponents' lust all morning and into the afternoon. They became distracted, prone to more errors and somewhat easier to deal with, but they were nearly as tireless as ever and seemed almost to be purposefully trying to exhaust her. Rapina's plan had largely failed. She was scared what might happen if she did not come up with something better. She had thought about telling the captain, but she felt it would be impossible for her to prove that Hock was really assigning the most tireless boys in her size range to practice with her. She didn't want to seem like she was whining. --------- Rapina was tired and sitting by the fire talking to the men at the end of her third day when Beck looked at her from the other side of the fire. His lust was palpable. This was not surprising given what Rapina had subjected him to during arms practice. Suddenly an amorous smile lit Rapina's face. She stood and walked around the fire. On her way past Beck she drew her thigh across the seated boy's back and gave his lust a tug. Rapina wandered to some bushes she'd seen behind the pantry shanty. Before long, Beck appeared from the shadows. She smiled at him and embraced him. Already she could feel his hardness through the fabric of her short, sail-cloth skirt. In minutes, Rapina had his pants down and he was taking her beneath the bush. He did not last long before he filled Rapina with his energy. Rapina drank him in with the same kind of enthusiastic gusto he used to tire her with during arms practice. Unwittingly she brought him more ecstasy than he had ever imagined possible. She had pulled firmly at his energy, and she had developed much better control than when she had last fed deeply at the hands of the despicable reverend Evangeline. Astonishingly, although his muffled moan of bliss lasted over a minute, and he collapsed on Rapina for several minutes thereafter, he recovered his excitement and began thrusting insistently again. Rapina thought better of bewitching him when he brought her to a magnificent orgasm just before pouring himself into her for the second time. She drank less deeply of his essence this second time, but even so, his eyes bulged, his mouth opened and pleasure overwhelmed him all over again. Rapina let him rest on her for several minutes, then the horn calling the recruits to their barracks blew and Rapina spent several tense moments shaking the boy before he came to his senses. All aglow with Beck's energy, Rapina slept contentedly while Beck slept like the dead, his body attempting to recuperate its considerable losses. -------- Drake, Kent, and Edgar didn't get to spend too much time together any more. The pirates kept Kent busy learning how to navigate while Drake learned how to clean and care for weapons. Edgar didn't spend much time with the other two even when he had the time to spare. He was feeling alienated and humiliated by the menial tasks he was given to perform every day. When night fell things changed for Edgar. He was on watch as he usually was, but instead of the normal uneventful watch he was used to he instead found himself confronted with a dilemma. The pirate he was assigned to keep watch with had fallen asleep almost as soon as Edgar had joined him. The pirate's name was Kipper and Edgar didn't like him. Kipper had been abusive to Edgar during their previous watches and Edgar was none too happy about that. As Kipper slept Edgar's eyes focused on a point just over his left shoulder. There he saw a man dressed in a dark suit sneaking up on their watch post. Edgar knew that if he waited too long to wake Kipper, the man would kill him. He waited anyway and woke Kipper just in time for him to stare down at the sword protruding through his chest. Edgar raised the alarm before lunging at the man with his sword. The man rolled to the side as Kipper's body slumped to the ground. Edgar noticed that the man's sword was still stuck in Kipper's chest. He smiled as he pressed his attack on the now unarmed man. Back in the camp pirates were rushing around grabbing weapons and torches as they prepared to defend themselves. The pirates on the ships raised anchor and rowed away from shore lest they be boarded with too small a crew to defend the ships. Soon pirates were rushing to meet the attack of the men dressed in black who were emerging from the woods. Arrows flew back and forth before the first combatants were close enough for melee. -- Rapina had been awakened by Brackston as were the other recruits and told to arm for battle. She boiled out of the barracks with the rest, but Brackston told her to report to the pantry with her bow. Fishy hoisted her up where she took her place lying on the far side of the peaked roof shooting arrows at the foes with various archers, Fletcher Arzeal among them. "I know you aren't used to killing, Rapina, but if any of those men get across the clearing, they'll be up here and cutting you and the rest of us down with swords before they realize you're a woman," the Fletcher cautioned. "Don't shoot too close to one of our men, you're not accurate enough for the risk. Get the close ones that break through well into the clearing. I'll be concentrating on the far ones in the dim light and the other archers here will be dealing with the ones they can see at the edge of the clearing. Arzeal was deadly accurate and had keen night vision. Hardly an arrow left the Fletcher's bow that didn't transfix the chest of an enemy. Fishy, though less accurate was a good archer who shot a heavy bow. Rapina was the novice of the group. Her arrows usually missed, and her rate of fire was about half that of the others. Sometimes she could not find anyone close enough to shoot at, but that meant she looked around the clearing more than the others who were intent on battle did. Somehow five of the black-clad men had gotten through the defenses and were coming at the pantry shed from the opposite side of the clearing as the main enemy forces. A few of the five men had torches and pottery jugs with rags protruding from their narrow necks. Rapina shot at the lead man and yelped, "behind us." The arrow fell a little short and stuck smartly into the man's hip. His leg failed him and he fell forward. The jug broke to pieces, and when the man's torch hit the ground, the area in front of him erupted in flames. A second man lit the rag on his jug and hauled back to throw but an arrow from Arzael's bow shattered the jug drenching the man in burning liquid that smelled of pine resin. Fishy shot a third man in the chest as Rapina's second arrow transfixed the right shoulder of a fourth, ruining his throw. After that, a few pirate recruits led by Hock and Froggy including, Drake, Kent, Connor and Beck finished the team of five enemies off. Beck who was still wearing a crooked smile, seemed wholly unperturbed by the battle. His unnatural calm seemed to give him an edge over the other combatants. While Kent used his wits and struck primarily at the men who were wounded by arrows. Beck maneuvered around his opponents and cut them down while they were paying too much attention to Hock and Froggy. Rapina was quite shaky after the incident with the five men, but the battle did not last much longer. Men dropped on both sides as the battle ensued. The battle itself was short, but it WAS bloody. A lot of lives were lost on both sides. In the end the pirates won. They had an intimate familiarity with the immediate area that the attackers didn't have. Just when the attackers seemed to be winning Red Jack would order his men to alter their attack and would succeed in pushing the enemy back. After the last attacker was killed, Red Jack called a group of men to him. "Listen up ye scurvy dawgs! Thar could be more of 'em out thar. Hunt 'em down and bring me any survivors. Otherwise bring me thar 'eads." Red Jack turned as Logan came running up to him from the middle of the camp. "Captain! Sir!" Logan barely managed to say as he came up to the group breathing heavily. "The camp's secure, but...the...the...elf. He's escaped sir! He killed one of the men. I'm not sure which one..." "What do you mean you're not sure which one?" the captain asked. "It's his face sir...well...there's not much left of it." He blurted out. "It's like he ripped it of with his bare hands. I've not seen the like of it before captain." The men were quiet as the realization sank in. The elf-savage was free. No one would be getting much sleep this evening. When that battle was over, Rapina was assigned to help Leech Kennon tend to the many wounded pirates. During that time she found out that the wild elf had escaped. From what anyone could tell, in the confusion, some unlucky soul had ventured too close to the elf's cage and paid with his life. Theories of how the elf had gotten out of his cage abounded. Leech Kennon believed that the elf had ruined the dead man's sword weakening a couple of the bars of the cage that the elf had then bent apart. Somehow, he had squeezed through the modest aperture thus created and made his escape. The next evening, Captain Red Jack gave most of the men time off so he could honor the dead and recognize the heroes of the battle. "I've called ye all together tanight ta pay respects ta are dead and ta recognize the heroes o' last night's battle. First let's see ta the dead. Roger, read 'em off. "We lost Kipper, Rabid, Ducretes, Tim, Jason, Artie, Bastar, Hammer, Denton, Badger, Conol and Ren. They will be missed, Roger intoned in an emotionless voice." After a moment of silence the captain spoke again, "We got many wounded as well, Leech Kennon, who's out o' commission? The leech read off a list. Rapina was all too familiar with the list of wounded, though she had not seen them all. She'd heard Drake had been wounded, by some reports badly, Beck, Trevor and Connor had taken bad gashes but would likely recover fully. Kent had taken a minor wound and would be fine after a while, Roger, Piggy, Sak, Logon, Hock, and Buck had been wounded, and Arzael had been deeply grazed under the arm by an enemy archer. "Now let us do honor to our heroes. O' them fighting on foot, Brackston teamed with 'is dog Thumper made the most kills. Give 'im a cheer!" The pirate men hailed bloody Brackston and his mean yellow dog. "Tween screetchin' orders and lookin' out fer the rest of ye, Logan still managed ta out do ye all save Brackston in combat. Provin' once again why he commands Red Jack's Isle. Give 'im a hand." The men cheered. "'O the archers, nobody touches the Fletcher. He was supportin' the men at battle way 'cross the clearing from 'im an' as usual 'is kill total is second ta none. We found a whole quiver o' his signature arrows in enemy chests and none stuck in our own. Now I know archery ain't as dangerous as combat up close and personal, but it's damned efficient killin'. Give 'em a hand. " The pirates applauded, a few thanking the Fletcher for picking men off their flanks when they were outnumbered. "We got us a good bunch o' recruits. I'll recognize a few of 'em here tanight. Edgar raised th' alarm and saved all of are butts. Kipper went ta sleep at the switch and paid for it with a sword through 'is chest. I know 'im well enough ta know he's a better swordsman than ta get run through like that when 'e's awake. It took a couple a men ta pull the sword out. Edgar sounded the alarm, finished the man who killed the Kipper and made more kills in the battle than any other recruit save Beck 'an Trevor. Let's give 'im a hand." The pirates cheered, and many slapped Edgar on the back in congratulations. Edgar had suddenly earned himself a reputation that few recruits could boast. Beck killed far 'an away more enemies than any other recruit, 'an he killed as many as some 'o me seasoned crew. That 'an he was wounded in action, first time. Give 'im a fine hand! The men roared their approval, Beck grinned and wore his wounds proudly. Trevor did some fair killin' as well, he's got a small commendation comin'. The pirates cheered for a short moment. "An in case ye've been wondering why I keep Rapina around other than as a fondlin' toy, Jack winked..." The men laughed. "...She was up with the archers. She still can't shoot too good, but she's got a sharp eye an' a quick wit. The enemy sent a special little team ta take out are efficient killin' archers. Five men with fire bombs. Rapina shot the first, spoiled 'is throw an' had the brains ta tell the other archers what was up behind 'em while she was loosin' 'er first shaft. The archers took out a few more 'afore Hock 'an Froggy arrived with a band o' recruits and put the' rest down fer good. Ta her I'll grant a wee little reward. "Now, those I mentioned 'ave a special reward comin' to em in keepin' with their deeds. Near as we could tell these men were little more than pirates theirselves. They're a band o' mercenary bounty hunters. The nobles here about must have taken up a collection, an' we got a better price on 'are heads than we did a month ago. Fer booty we got a good selection of arms and armor, an a bit 'o money. Lay out the booty there boys." "A few trusted lieutenants spread out an array of weapons and armor." "Now those of ye who 'ave a special reward comin' to ye, name it, boon or booty. If it's a boon ye seek and it is not beyond what ye've earned, then I will grant it to ye. If it's booty ye be wantin' then choose from what's here, if it's no greater than yer deeds, then it's yours." "Brackston, have at it." Bloody Brackston glanced at the booty. "Yew know, I've got me weapons 'an spares. Let's see..." Brackston scrutinized the better-looking boys who immediately blanched. Heh, heh, heh. Boon! \Captain Red Jack\ What'll it be? "I'd like permission to add me own hut, er cottage, onto me end of the recruit barracks." "Done!" The men cheered. "Logon, what'll it be?" the captain asked. "Booty Sir, gold, silver as much as ye'll part with. I've been meaning to get some things for my place. "Heh, I was anticipating that request. Consider yer palm greased with what's in the urn on the left." The men applauded. "Fletcher Arzael, what would ye be having?" Arzael whispered something in Red Jack's ear. The captain whispered something back and then said, "Done!" and chuckled heartily. The men laughed with the captain. The Fletcher smiled. "I'll be taking the Rapier and Main gauche." "Now, ye recruit heroes, ye won't be gettin' out o' basic so don't even think about askin' for that kind o' boon, but thar be plenty o' good hardware here, and I'm offering ye a chance at it. Ye can have a weapon and maybe armor if any fits ye. Just remember one thing, armor on a ship is double edged. If ye fall off th' deck in a suit o' chain ye sink like a rock." "First off, I'd like ta reward Edgar fer soundin' th' alarm and for his impressive killin'. It's true, 'e didn't have as many kills as Beck, but 'e had quite a few an 'e sounded the alarm ta boot, savin' are butts. Feel free ta consult with th' arms master er' one o' the men on yer choice if need be. What'll ya have?" Edgar had been looking eagerly at the pile of booty on the ground for some time. A particularly stylish and wicked looking sword had caught his eye. "There will be no need for any consulting Captain," Edgar answered. "I would like that sword and...a suit of armor...although I don't know if any will fit..." He looked from suit to suit. There were a few suits of leather armor, two suits of studded leather, some padded armor, and a suit of chain mail armor. "I like yer style, Edgar. Yer not so huge an' burly, but ye got brains, instincts an' the bloodthirstiness of a true reaver. Armor that fits yer size could be hard ta find raidin' towns and such, but I got many a suit o' leather armor here. If any fit ye, then it be yours ta go along with the blade." Red Jack had just gained a tiny bit of respect for Edgar. The sword he had chosen, a bastard sword, was small enough to be wielded with one hand, but had a handle long enough to be wielded with two. It was a very versatile blade and a smart choice for any warrior. He also noticed that Edgar had ignored the metal-based armor and concentrated mainly on the leather and studded leather armor. Anything else would be too cumbersome for a pirate. He nodded approvingly to Edgar Next, with the help of the arms master, Beck chose a fine broad sword for himself, and Red Jack let him try on the leather armors. The men cheered, and then Trevor followed in Beck's footsteps. "Now fer Rapina. What ye did was good. It showed a quick wit, saved a few important lives, and it proved yer loyalty, but I dare say those men ye saved will thank ye in their own ways. For meself, I'll grant ye a tiny boon. I've a special book I'll be letin' ye see, soon as ye finish that herb book Kennon's got ye on." "That be it, Fishy, Piggy, roll out the barrel!" The pirates cheered heartily and most of the men began drinking and celebrating. Rapina must have danced with 30 men that evening, and she snuck off with Pike, Fishy, and Emery at different times during the festivities. Emery had been rather quick, but given her need for magical energy, Rapina had not minded that at all. [Rapina]009 Basic Pirates \Narration\ The next few days went by much more smoothly for Rapina. Beck was wounded and could not practice at arms. No one else Hock paired her with had quite the staying power of Beck. Moreover, Rapina was beginning to adapt to the constant activity, something she would not have been able to do so well had it not been for the powers she'd inherited from the lust sprit. Rapina finished Red Jack's dictionary at the end of the week. In front of the men he'd promised to let her see the new book after she'd finished with Leech Kennon's book, but in truth he had told her she could see it when she was done with the dictionary. According to Jack, it was a cryptic book which even he could not make heads or tails of, and Rapina would need a large vocabulary even to begin to understand it. On the seventh day, Captain Red Jack gave everyone a day off. Most of the men used it to wash their clothes, take a bath and take care of personal business. Since Pike and Fishy washed Rapina's clothes and her body each night, Rapina thought she had some spare time, until Fletcher Arzael caught up with her... "Rapina, I was waiting for the right moment to tell you how much I appreciated you saving us from the fire- throwers the other night." Rapina blushed. "I was glad I could do something for you, my shooting wasn't exactly stellar." Arzael smiled, "Nor would I expect it to be after just a few days of archery training. I have a gift for you. Arzael brought a hand-tooled weapons belt from behind his back. On it hung the rapier and main gauche he had selected from the booty the night after the battle. "I've noticed you haven't the build for a broad sword. Neither do I. I think these weapons will serve you better, but these are just things, the real gift I'd like to give you is the training in how to use them." "Rapina smiled brightly. Thank you Arzael. This belt is beautiful. Did you carve all the flowers into it?" Rapina put the belt on. It fit well and lent itself to the deadly grace of the weapons." "Yes, I did. Leather working was something I originally picked up so I could make my own quivers and arm guards, but it's become something of a hobby in recent years." "I can see you've gotten very good at it," Rapina smiled. "When did you want to train me to use these?" "I was thinking we could start today, and I will work something out with Kennon to lend you to me from the time you get back from the fields and forests until dinner at least a few days a week. He may keep you at work a little longer after dinner, but at least you stand to gain a means to defend yourself with weapons more sophisticated and suitable to your build than short sword and shield." "I think it will be a good thing," Rapina affirmed. The training Arzael gave Rapina in the use of the rapier was worlds apart from the training she was getting from arms master Hock in short sword. Hock taught toughness, mercilessness, drill and repetition, whereas Arzael seemed more like a dance instructor than a drill sergeant. There were stretches, exercises, positions, stances and moves, each with it's own little tune that Arzael hummed or strummed on his lute. Where Rapina struggled and gritted her teeth under Hock's training, she laughed and jumped and danced her way through Arzael's. Rapina spent most of her day off dancing and laughing and learning the basics of the graceful art of fencing. The practice yard was the whole of Red Jack's isle. By the time it began to get dark, Rapina knew she was going to enjoy her time with Arzael more than anything else. "Ah, I see the sun says our time is up." Arzael grinned. "Already? Goodness, where did the hours go? It's been so fun! When you first proposed it I thought I'd be spending more grueling hours bumping into dummies." "What did you say? Hock's style of teaching is suitable only for dummies? Oh I quite agree, but never let him hear that. He'll flay you alive," Arzael smiled. Rapina grinned. "Thank you Arzael, for the finest day I've had since arriving here on the isle." Rapina hugged the fletcher and could not resist nibbling his ear. When they parted, it was Arzael who was blushing. "I couldn't help it. You have such cute ears," Rapina smirked. "Do you really think so? I have heard such more than once," Arzael feigned vanity. I'm so glad you enjoyed fencing. I'll be looking forward to our next lesson." "Me too." Rapina replied. Although the camp was in high spirits due to their recent victory, no one was sleeping well. The savage- elf was still on the loose. He had been spotted a few times by the night watch, but had easily eluded any pursuit. Stories about his evil supernatural powers spread throughout the ranks of the pirates. Some were convinced he was a ghost. Others thought he was a demon. Whatever the opinion the reaction was always the same. Fear. Drake had heard all of the stories twenty times over. Drake had been grievously wounded during the battle. The bloody bandage wrapped around his chest was testament to that fact. He had fought valiantly and saved many lives including Kent's. He had proved himself a capable fighter that night and a few pirates had come to visit to express their thanks. Drake humbly accepted their thanks and talked amiably with them until they had to return to duty. Kent was the only one who hadn't come to visit him yet. This bothered Drake. Kent was his friend and should be here. After all he didn't blame Kent for his condition. A smile crossed Drake's face as Kent walked in. "Hey Drake," Kent said meekly. "How are you feeling?" Drake tried to shrug, but stopped as fingers of pain shot through his body. "Ugh! Surprisingly well for having been skewered," he replied. "You know Kent..." "Drake! Listen...I'm sorry!" he pleaded as he knelt next to Drake. "I know it was my fault that you were wounded. I...I just don't have what it takes to be a good pirate..." "Listen to you!" Drake practically laughed. "A good pirate? Is there such a thing? A good pirate is about as rare as a good meal from Piggy or Fishy. Heh. Don't worry Kent...it wasn't your fault." 'Yes. It was!" "No! It wasn't. I made the choice to take on two people at once. I was the one who foolishly let one of them get behind me..." "Yes, but if I hadn't gotten myself in trouble in the first place you would still be fine." "Kent. Listen to me. You're my friend. Friends look out for each other. You were in trouble. I couldn't just stand by and watch you get killed. So what if I was wounded? I'm not dead! And I WILL get better. Don't worry so much about this. You would have done the same for me." Drake reached out and squeezed Kent's shoulder. He smiled as Kent looked up. "I'm okay. You're okay. So what's the problem? I don't see one. Now go away. I'm tired." Kent smiled back at Drake. He was glad that Drake was alive. He still felt bad, but Drake had eased his mind a lot. "Okay. Rest up my friend. I'll visit you again tomorrow." "Okay. See you tomorrow." The captain had been watching the exchange from just outside the door. He stepped through as Kent turned to leave. "Thar ye are Kent! Roger's bin lookin fer ye! So quit yer lollygagging and get to yer lesson!" "Yes sir! Sorry sir!" Kent practically sprinted out the door. Red Jack waited for Kent to leave before closing the door and sitting down next to Drake. He studied the young man for a few moments. "Captain? Uh...good evening...um...Is there something I can..." "Yes. There is. Be quiet." He paused before continuing. "I've heard a lot of good things about you from my men. And most of them came from men who were trustworthy." He paused and smiled inwardly. His dramatic pauses always made the men nervous. Jack loved that. "It looks like even Kent owes you a debt of gratitude. Tell me about it." He paused as he awaited Drake's response. "well sir...Kent and Tim had gotten themselves cornered by three of the raiders and were in deep trouble. I was busy fighting off my own raider just a few paces away. Kent isn't very good in combat...at least not yet...so he wasn't much help for Tim. To his credit Tim fought bravely right up until...until those bastards killed him!" Drake paused long enough to collect himself. Kent didn't stand a chance against three raiders. Luckily I had just dispatched my opponent and was able to help him. I jumped in front of the raiders and positioned myself so that only one of them could get at Kent. Kent was able to hold off his attacker while I did what I could to hold off the other two." Drake paused and winced in pain. "sorry sir. Sometimes the pain is too great for me to continue speaking." "That's quite all right. Continue. Please." "Kent's opponent was a better swordsman than him and apparently disarmed him. But before dispatching Kent he turned and stabbed me through the back. I thought I was dead for sure. I don't really remember much after that, but from what I understand a few of the men came to our rescue and finished off the raiders." Drake winced again and looked to the captain. "Hmmmm. Interesting story." He paused. "And it matches the story Logan related to me. There aren't too many men here who would risk their lives like you did. They would rather save their own hides than help out a comrade. That's why I like to keep the men like you close to me. Roger, Logan, Arzael...they're all like that. It's what has kept us all alive this long. What I'm saying is this: When you're all healed I want you to report directly to me. I have something special in mind for you. Until then take this." Red Jack handed a flask to Drake. "what is it captain?" "A little something to speed up the healing process...you didn't get a chance to choose your boon or booty the other night so this is your substitute. With that elixir you should be up and ready for action in a matter of weeks instead of months. Drink most of it and then pour the rest on your wounds." "Thank you captain." Drake said as the captain walked out the door without replying. He smiled to himself when he reflected upon the captain's words. He was startled from his reverie when Rapina walked in. Rapina had been cleaning wounds, changing dressings and applying herbal poultices to various men's wounds since the end of the day's arms training. Now it was Drake's turn. Rapina got more herbs and bandages from Leech Kennon's stores, cleansed, and then refilled her basin. She walked into the infirmary room where Drake was staying just off the main room. "Hi Drake, time to change your dressings." A dark figure peeked in through the window. The figure was well concealed from the eyes of the pirates. The savage-elf was very adept at staying out of sight. It was how his people had survived unmolested for so long. He had been listening in since Kent had arrived. He would have continued listening to Drake and Rapina had a drunken pirate not wandered too close to his hiding spot. The pirate stumbled around the corner of the infirmary and belched loudly. The belch startled the savage-elf and was loud enough to be heard by Rapina and Drake. Light from the pirate's torch fell upon the savage-elf's face just as Rapina and Drake turned to look out the window. Rapina's head turned as a pirate belched near the window. What she saw in addition to the pirate's face, closer in, was writhing images that caught the light - the wild elf's tattoos. Rapina blinked, "was that...? I thought I saw the wild elf." The drunken pirate stared in horror at the savage-elf and was about to scream when a powerful fist slammed into his throat. The pirate crumpled to the ground clutching his throat. He couldn't breathe let alone make a sound. The savage-elf stealthily made his way to the tree line. No one save Rapina, Drake and the pirate had seen him. The pirate wouldn't be raising the alarm anytime soon. Rapina heard the sound of a fist slamming into firm flesh and then nothing. She waited for just an instant before running back into the main room of the infirmary. "Leech Kennon, it's the wild elf, Drake and I just saw him out the window. I think he's hit someone." Rapina rushed out the door with the Leech and his burly guard, but all they could do was help the man who'd been punched. The elf was nowhere to be seen... That night, Brackston told Rapina to report to the Captain's house after her bath. When she arrived, the Captain took her up to the library. There on the table was a large, heavy volume bound in ancient leather. "We found it years ago on a merchant ship that carried a few passengers. There was a man there who made a torch he threw flare up bigger than a bon-fire as it hit are rigging. But for the strength of are men at th' oars, that ship would have out-run us. The torch man jumped overboard as we boarded, and we never found him. We were a goodly distance from shore too. No man I know could have made the swim under water. If we hadn't been busy with the ship's crew, we'd have nabbed 'im, but he got away clean. Are archers never saw his head come above water once 'e jumped in." "We found his stateroom and belongings aboard the ship though. There were two books originally, this one and another. Deeth, one of the ship's mates looked through this book, and then the second. The second volume burst into flame when Deeth looked at the first page. Deeth was blinded and burned beyond recognition. Blind and in pain, useless as a pirate, he stabbed himself through the heart. It was a sad day. Deeth was a promising officer. I had another man look through this book again, just in case. I'm in no mood ta see yer pretty face torched." The captain said. "Thank you Captain Red Jack." "When we're alone, Jack or Red'll do fine." "Okay Cap, er Red," Rapina smiled. "See if ye can make any sense of that thar book. I've looked at it meself, I don't have the patience fer it. It's cryptic as code even though it's usin' real words. I know it's about magic, but It'll be a chore ta make heads 'er tails of it." Rapina's face brightened. "Magic? Wow! Thank you Jack," Rapina said hugging the pirate captain. "I'll try to figure it out." Jack had not been kidding about the book. It was about magic - magical theory, and it was very difficult to understand. Rapina's vocabulary had grown tremendously from reading the dictionary, but there were still words in the book that she had no definition for. The book also seemed to assume prior knowledge. Some of the knowledge, such as knowledge of herbs or gem stones, Rapina had or could come across in Jack or Leech Kennon's libraries, or by asking one of Jack's officers. There was even a section on sex magic, one that Rapina found quite interesting. A week or so later when she found the section, she read a few of the more fascinating lines to Jack. Sometimes Rapina just couldn't understand a passage without doing more research than she was willing to do until she had at least read the book once through. On those occasions she just kept doggedly reading in hopes that some later passage would give some clue as to the meaning of the earlier one. After two weeks, Rapina had read the book once, and had a pretty good feel for it. It was a book on magical theory. It contained no spells unless one counted a few odd exercises. Many of these were mental exercises that Rapina started trying on nights she could not look at the book because she had to sleep in the barracks. On nights when she visited Jack, she continued to do research trying to understand the innumerable difficult passages she had bookmarked. In many cases, understanding a single passage required reading several other books in Jack's library. It was a daunting task, but to Rapina it was the most interesting kind of puzzle. In addition, during the weeks after the battle, Rapina continued to struggle in arms master Hock's basic training. The wily arms master seemed determined that she was a waste of his time, and that he would make sure she washed out. Luckily, he couldn't be too overt in his methods or Captain Red Jack would hang him from a yard arm. During one of her enjoyable fencing training sessions with Fletcher Arzael, Rapina dropped a hint. She said she could swear Hock deliberately paired her with the most durable boys, the ones that had claimed the top positions in the obstacle course race. That is, as long as they were not so huge as to make the mismatch painfully obvious. She had noticed that Arzael had looked over from the archery butts at the training grounds more often during the morning while he trained another group of recruits at archery. Yet, even if he too suspected Hock's methods, they were too subtle to make the arms master culpable of anything. With Beck wounded the arms master could not use his finest agent of exhaustion on Rapina. He still used Emery, but Rapina had been able to seduce the boy at the party after the battle. Once he had made love to her, he had treated her better. Often she was able to sneak off with him in the evening so that he would "donate" enough energy to make the others Hock threw at her less of a problem. Unfortunately, Hock had a good eye for when a boy was tired and inevitably paired Rapina with someone stronger. She could not possibly make love with every recruit possessed of a strong constitution, but she had found a few good men who helped fortify her against Hock's daily onslaught. In spite of the powers she had gained from the lust spirit, Rapina was hard pressed against Hock's astute attack. She was frequently tired, and her power reserves often dwindled dangerously low. On the other hand, in the four weeks of basic training thus far, the power she had expended had not gone to waste. Captain Red Jack, who was the only one who regularly saw Rapina nude under good light had told her, "I don't know what Hock's got ye doin' girl, but yer gettin' darn right muscular. If it weren't fer the fact that yer shaped nothin' like a boy, I'd be complainin', but ye look good, fit an' vital." In the four weeks of exhaustive drill and repetition thus far, Rapina had learned to be handy with a short sword and shield, but not nearly as skilled as she was becoming at the art of fencing. Arzael's training methods were uncanny. Fencing was a song and dance Rapina enjoyed. It was a pleasure to wield a rapier. Often she did not realize what progress she was making. Arzael made it so fun it never really occurred to her that she was practicing something that could be potentially deadly to her foes. Rapina's archery was slowly improving as well. The bow that had originally been too strong for her now bent easily enough, and her arrows flew true to the target more often than they once had. Arzael had upped the ante, however, and was sometimes using sliding and swinging targets that were more difficult for the recruits to hit. Thankfully, a great deal of hitting a moving target depended on intelligence and dexterity, two qualities Rapina had in greater abundance than most of the boys. The fact that Arzael seemed to spend just a little bit more time during practice helping Rapina with the finer points of archery than he did with the other recruits had not hurt either. A few weeks after the battle, Drake was well enough to resume his duties. He reported to the Captain as ordered. Red Jack was engrossed in one of his many books when Drake entered. Drake waited a moment before speaking up. "Reporting...as...um...ordered sir." "Ah yes. Drake. Come. Sit." Red Jack motioned towards one of the chairs in the room. "How are you feeling? Better? Good. Has Roger been tutoring ye as I instructed?" "Yes sir. He has. I'm not sure why, but..." "That's why ye're here Drake. Ya see...I like what I've seen. Ye're going to make a fine leader. But ye lack a few of the essential skills...such as bein' able ta read, but I have set Roger to remedy that, and I'm going to have ye trained in th' skills ye lack." "Why? Ye may ask. Because I need a man like yerself ta help Logan keep an eye on things here at the camp. Logan's done a damn fine job, but it's a lot of work an' he needs some help. Ye're going ta provide that help. Do ye understand?" "Yes sir." "Good. Now report ta Logan. He'll begin yer trainin'." --- It was evening and Leech Kennon had just let Rapina off work. Earlier she had a lesson with Arzael so her usual time to dally with the men before bed had been cut in two. Pike and Fishy probably had a bath ready for her. There was no question that she needed one after the day's exercises. Rapina made her way through the trees on the edge of the clearing. As she passed the cage that had once held the wild elf captive she noticed that the bent bars had been put back in place. There was a new horizontal bar wove its way around the cage reinforcing the vertical bars, including the ones that the elf had bent. Fishy and another man had used their grasp of the blacksmith's art to reinforce the cage during the week immediately after the battle. The wild elf had been spotted only a few times during the last few weeks, and there was a contest going between Brackston and Arzael as to who could first recapture the wild elf. While after the wild elf, Brackston's dog Thumper had more than once got a nose full of pungent herbs that had ruined his ability to track the elf for a day or so. Leech Kennon had helped by contributing a sleep-inducing drug that could be used to coat arrows, traps or darts, but neither contestant had been successful thus far. In a way, Rapina was glad. It was not right for the wild elf to be caged and displayed. Rapina continued walking as she neared her favorite stand of bushes behind the pantry shed. After she passed them she would enter the clearing and go around the shed to where the door was. Then Pike and Fishy would welcome her to her bath. Suddenly the wild elf dropped from a tree in front of her. Rapina let out a squeal of surprise, jumped to the side and was caught in the bushes. The savage-elf looked around quickly. Once satisfied that they were alone he held out his hand to Rapina. Rapina looked at the elf's hand for a second and then put her own on top of it. The elf gripped her hand and shook it. His grip was very strong, but he did not hurt her. "Set fear aside glowing one. Our lives flow together. Our shadows mingle." The savage-elf paused. His emerald eyes drank deeply of Rapina. Rapina was a little confused by the elf's flowery language, but guessed he wanted to be her friend, either that or he was making a prophesy. Rapina could not be sure, Elves were so poetic. Rapina's senses quivered with the vitality the elf's strength and ambient lust, and she realized she had best do something to distract her mind from her senses before her body did anything untoward. "What is your name?" Rapina asked. "Doanthalas...to chase away the clouds. Your tongue can not speak my true name as your ears do not hear it entirely." Doanthalas looked around once more to see if anyone had snuck up on them. Satisfied he began anew. "Rapina, though you are the favorite of the pack you still walk the precipice." "I think I understand what you mean, Doanthalis," Rapina pronounced the name slowly so she would get it right. "There is danger here and I must be careful. In the world away from these pirates, an evil man of rank and power tried to enslave me, and failed. I fled the greater danger of his vengeful family, but those who harbor me are dangerous too." "Events have been set into motion which threaten this camp with destruction. You are the eye of the storm." Do you mean those soldiers who attacked? Are there more to come? I don't understand how I am the eye of the storm. How do you know these things? "The children of the forest see everything and hear all. They know. Soon the winds will come and blow all this away." Doanthalas indicated the camp with a sweep of his arm. What will cause this destruction? How can we be prepared? "Warn your friend Drake and any others you wish. I shall return with the sun." As Doanthalas turned to leave a sound reached his ears. Fletcher Arzael had noticed that the wild elf, thus far, had been sighted on the outskirts of camp in the late evening before bed. He did not understand why the wild elf had not left the area, but it was obvious that he had not. The Archer had made up special arrows; small game blunts tipped with needles coated with Kennon's sleep-inducing drug. Arzael now customarily spent the evening sneaking around the outskirts of the camp with an arrow knocked, trying to catch the wild elf as he spied on the camp for a reason that eluded the Fletcher. Arzael was moving stealthily through the trees when he barely heard a sharp squeal from far off. It took him a little time to silently reach the location, but as he neared it he saw in the distance that Rapina was cornered by the wild elf. He aimed low to make doubly sure that he would not hit Rapina's eye in the unlikely event that he missed his target. The arrow flew true, nailing the elf in the thigh. The drug would not put the elf to sleep immediately, but in a minute or two the elf's leg would be numb and unusable. Arzael knew that if he could track the elf for just five or ten minutes, sleep would overtake his quarry. Arzael would best Brackston and claim the prize Captain Red Jack was offering for the return of the wild elf. In an instant the wild-elf was tensed and ready to make his move. Unfortunately Arzael had already made his. The arrow made a muffled thwacking sound as it embedded itself deeply into Doanthalas' thigh. The only sound the wild-elf made in reply was a snarl as he leapt towards his assailant. His movements were swift even with an arrow embedded in his leg. Arzael was a seasoned warrior, but never before had he fought anything like the wild-elf. He made the mistake of slipping his bow into the case on his back and did not have enough time to draw his rapier and main gauche before the wild elf was upon him. Doanthalas grabbed Arzael's wrists as he drew his swords and pressed his thumbs into the flesh as he moved Arzael's arms out and apart. Arzael's grip was compromised and his blades were flung out of reach. Doanthalis then dropped the half-elf's hands and grabed Arzael's neck. As the wild-elf's steel-like grip tightened around his throat there was only one thought going through Arzael's mind, "I'm dead!" Rapina ran after Doanthalis and picked up the arrow that had fallen as Doanthalis ran at Arzael. It was a small game blunt fitted with a long needle. She recognized the drug Kennon had made at the base of the needle. When she reached the two elves she dropped the arrow and pulled with all her strength at Doanthalis' arms to no avail. "Stop that! The whole camp is afraid of you; don't you see? They don't think they are safe with you sneaking around. I know the pirates have not been kind to you, but Arzael was just trying to protect his mates. He is a good man and part elf, his arrow was drugged, not deadly, and if you kill him the Captain will kill you, can't you see? The half-elf slumped to the ground as he hacked and coughed trying to catch his breath. His terror- stricken eyes never left Doanthalas as the wild-elf released his grip and stumbled backwards. Doanthalas' eyes fell upon Rapina. The look on his face was unmistakable; it spoke only of betrayal. "Wh...wha...whu...", was all that he managed to utter before turning and sprinting into the forest. His sprint, more of a fast-paced limp than an actual sprint, carried him swiftly away. It wasn't long before Rapina and Arzael lost sight of him in the forest. Arzael coughed but stood. "Go fetch Brackston, I must follow his trail," Arzael said in a hoarse voice. Rapina ran to the nearby barracks but found Brackston gone. Drake was there, so Rapina very briefly told him what had happened before she ran back to see if she could catch up with Arzael. Thankfully, she found him. At first, the trail was hard to follow. A few random drops of blood and some displaced leaves were the only evidence of the wild-elf's passage. As the sleep poison set in, Doanthalas dragged his bad leg increasingly, leaving a clearer trail. It was all that Doanthalas could do to keep moving. About thirty minutes later Arzael and Rapina knew that they had almost caught up to him. "Did you hear that? It sounded like a dog barking." Rapina nodded, "Let's hurry, it sounded like Thumper." Arzael and Rapina broke into a small clearing and found Brackston and his dog Thumper assaulting the now nearly helpless elf. Blood ran freely from countless wounds on the wild-elf's body. Thumper had torn through Doanthalas' flesh in many areas. Meanwhile Brackston was busy pummeling and kicking the elf. "That's it Thumper! Git 'em! Yer not so tough now are ye elf?" Brackston spat at the elf and turned as he noticed Rapina and Arzael. "Ey! Lookee what I caught." Thumper had a firm grip on the elf's already wounded thigh and was violently tearing a large gash in it. Doanthalas feebly attempted to fend off the dog, but could do little is his drugged up state. "Dammit man! Call off your dog! The elf is helpless. I already hit him with an arrow laced with sleep poison." "Oh no ya don't! I caught im fair and square. He's just...resistin'...ah...arrest...heh." "Resisting nothing! He's practically unconscious. Call off your dog!" "Nah. Not just yet." Arzael pulled another drugged arrow from his quiver and pulled the sheath from the needle-tip. He nocked the arrow, "Call off your dog!" "You wouldn't!" Brackston seemed incredulous. The bow twanged and the dog yelped as the arrow sank into his shank. "Damn you! I'll kill yo..." He stopped abruptly when he felt the cool metal of Arzael's rapier against his neck. "Thumper is only slightly wounded. The sleep poison will give you enough time to clean and dress that wound. I'd suggest you get started before he wakes up and tears you apart like he did the elf." "Cap'n Jack will hear about this!" Brackston shouted as he stomped off with his wounded dog cradled in his arms. The master archer waved Brackston away and hurried over to the elf. Doanthalas had been badly beaten by Brackston and mauled by Thumper. "this is bad. I'm going to need your help Rapina...otherwise he'll bleed to death." When Arzael turned back to look at the wild elf he saw that Rapina had already started cleaning and bandaging the elf's wounds. Arzael and Rapina finished attending to Doanthalas' wounds. He was barely conscious, but still he struggled. The soothing words they uttered did nothing to calm the wild-elf. Not until Arzael started to sing. It was a beautiful and haunting melody. Rapina couldn't understand the words, but they sounded beautiful whatever they meant. And they seemed to calm the wild-elf. "This leg is in bad shape. Thumper has torn an artery. We'll have to get him back to camp to properly deal with it. Let's wrap it for now." Rapina applied a tourniquet to the artery as Leech Kennon had taught her. The wild-elf was covered in blood and sweat. His eyes tried vainly to focus on something, anything. How he was still conscious Arzael could not figure out. The sleep poison should have knocked him out a long time ago. "I thought you were going to kill me for sure." Arzael said to the elf. "I'm guessing Rapina helped me out there, but whatever the reason...Theau lunea. And for what it's worth...I'm sorry." The wild-elf's eyes cleared for a moment. Doanthalas grabbed Arzael's hand and fixed his emerald eyes on the archer. He uttered a single word before finally passing into unconsciousness. "Chubrité." The master archer's body straightened and then trembled as if hit with a massive shock. "Come Rapina, Let's get him back to camp." Arzael barely managed to say the words. He seemed choked up over something. Rapina guessed, now that Arzael realized that Doanthalas was not both mute and insane, he was feeling very badly about the way the wild elf had been treated. With Rapina's help, Arzael was able to convince Red Jack to allow the elf to be treated in a guarded hut instead of his cage. The wounds were severe enough that he would not be able to escape easily. Guards were assigned to keep an eye on the elf and Logan was charged with overseeing the reinforcement of the hut. As his assistant, Drake was responsible for ensuring Doanthalas did not escape as well. Logan inspected the door. "This door will have to be changed. I want thicker wood and it should bar from the outside. Make sure the hinges are mounted on the outside as well." Logan looked at the wall and rapped on it with his fist. "These walls will have to be reinforced. Come here and take a look at these windows Drake." Drake walked over and examined the windows. "Hmmm. These windows will never hold him as is." "So what do you think we should do about it?" Logan asked. Drake scratched his head. "Well at first I thought about boarding them up completely, but then we'd be going in blind every time we opened the door. So I'd suggest barring the windows instead. We'll have to take out these windows and replace them with specially constructed windows." Logan nodded his head approvingly but said nothing. He then ushered Drake inside. The wild elf was lying unconscious on the sole bed in the room. His wrists and his ankles were tied down. "Looks quite peaceful for a savage...eh, Drake?" Drake muttered, "Yeah." He was in awe of the elf. His tattoos were magnificent and Drake had never seen an elf before. He was shorter than the average human and a bit leaner. Yet he looked solid for an elf. Drake imagined elves to be a lot less muscular than the wild elf. He looked just a strong, if not stronger, than most any man in the camp. Drake feared him. He had heard all the stories. The hut was reinforced and the elf's rope bonds were replaced with manacles. Drake visited every night to check up on things. Leech Kennon and Rapina were put in charge of seeing to the elf's recovery. Captain Red Jack stopped by the day before he was to leave on a raid. Rapina was cleaning Doanthalas' wounds when he entered. "Thar's me beauty! How's me pet elf doin'?" Doanthalas glared at the captain with steely eyes. He didn't utter a word. He just fixed his emerald eyes on the captain and stared. "Thankfully he is a strong elf and that really nasty bite has not become infected." "Come. Walk with me Rapina. Ye can do that later." The captain escorted her outside. "Now thar's a reason I put ye on 'elf' duty. Heh. I understand he has a soft spot for ye so I'd like ye to talk to 'im. See if ye can get through to him. We could use someone like 'im. What d'ya think?" "You could do lots worse than having an elf like him under your command. He's stealthy and a good fighter. I'm not sure what his past is or why he stayed around camp. I'll try to figure out his interest and if he wants to join the crew instead of spying on us, you'll be the first to know what he decides." "Ye realize that things are strained 'tween Arzael and Brackston concernin' the elf, don't ye? They're not happy that I made em split the reward. I don't think it'll affect ye...just be careful." Rapina nodded, "I think it will be okay. If that arrow had been a broad-head instead of a needle-tipped blunt, I don't think they'd ever make up. As it was, the wound looked nastier than it really was once the arrow was pulled out. Brackston pretends he doesn't love anyone or anything, but he loves that mean old dog," Rapina smiled. Rapina decided she would try to get to know Doanthalis before she broached the subject of joining the crew. It occurred to her that the wild elf might join the crew just so he could get free of his bonds. Then he might try to escape. Rapina could not blame him if that was what he wanted to do, but she could give him a fighting chance by not mentioning the captain's offer until Doanthalis' wounds healed. At the end of the forth week of basic training everything changed. Captain Red Jack, his ship and his crew, including oarmaster Pike left to go raiding to, "pay the bills." Meanwhile the recruits still had their second month of basic training to endure. Logan now took full control of the camp. Rapina could no longer visit the Captain's bed, nor would Pike be seeing her at bath time. Both were far away, sailing the river Augustana. Rapina was given access to the captain's library by Logan at least once a week, usually on her day off. He allowed her to borrow up to ten volumes to be kept on Leech Kennon's shelf during the week; thus Rapina was able to continue her work deciphering the puzzling treatise on magic. As soon as the captain left, arms master Hock started a program to train the small and weak to defend themselves against the big and strong. Hock made sure Rapina got her exposure to big and strong first thing in the morning, the better to exhaust her and let her fatigue guarantee that she would take a beating in the rest of the day's practice. Rapina was inevitably subjected to the biggest and strongest of the big, namely Lester, or Jake who was nearly as big as Les, but faster. With Pike gone, Rapina had one less lover to help her heal from Hock's clever ploys. Thankfully, other lovers had become available. Both Drake and Beck had recovered from their wounds. Even so, Rapina was often forced to expend the full amount of magical energy gained on a previous evening just to partly heal her many bruises and to keep fatigue from overwhelming her. The number of bruises was a problem too. Rapina did not dare do more than partly heal the area below the skin because she knew revealing her magic would be big trouble. Partly healed bruises still caused pain, especially if a person had enough of them. Some days she had little or no power to expend on fatigue because of the number of painful bruises inflicted by the large, strong recruits. During these times she counted on will power and her improved physical condition to carry her through the rigors that Hock happily threw her way. Thankfully, Rapina was much stronger than she had been four weeks ago, but Hock was really bringing out his big guns. Had Rapina been a normal girl, the accumulated debility of the minor injuries she was sustaining every day would surely have made it impossible for her to continue. Yet, thanks to the lust spirit, she could heal those hurts, if only partly for fear of revealing her magic. As it turned out, Rapina often lacked the power to do more than take the edge off her injuries anyway. Some days she encountered more lovers or faired better in the combat training and accumulated energy, but just as often she sustained a worse than normal battering and had to drain her stores of power. It seemed the longer Captain Red Jack was away, the meaner and cleverer Hock got. On the first morning of the second week after Captain Red Jack left, Hock started Rapina with Jake, then switched in Les. After that he paired her with Domonic, a boy who combined endurance nearly as great as Beck's with strength and speed approaching Jake's. After Dominic, he paired her with Trevor, and then Edgar, the two meanest, deadliest and most sadistic recruits around. Rapina literally limped to archery practice. Her face was red and she was holding back an immense flood of tears. Rapina sniffled her way through archery practice, doing quite poorly considering her skill. After practice she got her Rapier and reported to Arzael's workshop for a fencing lesson. After limping in and closing the door, Rapina just fell on Arzael and burst into tears as half-elf held her. "I saw it lass, I saw it too. It wasn't fair at all. I saw what he did to you. He used big, strong boys first to wear you out, then Trevor and Edgar to hurt you. He might as well have taken you aside and beat you himself. I know about those two boys. They already have reputations around camp. Hock's usually a good man, but he has a blind spot about women. He thinks they don't belong at an arms practice." "If I didn't know the recruits as well as I do from training them at archery, I wouldn't have been able to see that Hock's been picking on you, but today, any fool could have seen it. Logan doesn't know the recruits like I do, but he knows Trevor and Edgar. If Hock does that again, I can take it to Logan. I wish I could take it to him now, but Hock would shrug it off as just sour luck that you got both bad apples in one day." For today's practice, Arzael led Rapina into a room she hadn't seen before and pointed to a neatly made bed. Let's dress your wounds and then you can take a nap. There's no sense in aggravating those cuts and bruises. A good trainer knows when his student has had enough. Rapina reluctantly let go of Arzael and let him cleanse the deep scratches she'd sustained from the dull points of the wooden practice swords. Her bruises were worse than the scratches, but there was little that Arzael could do about them. Afterwards she held Arzael for a moment then collapsed, too exhausted to ask for the love that she needed to heal. After her nap, Rapina felt a little better. She was still badly beat up, and Arzael mentioned this fact to Kennon after he walked her over to work. Kennon shook his head all the while he applied herbs to Rapina's scratches and bruises. "I'd say this was excessive for a day at arms practice, Kennon frowned. I won't even bother telling Hock, he already knows, but I can mention it to Logan. It won't amount to a hill of beans unless it happens more than once, but it won't hurt either. I need you in one piece if I am going to get any good work out of you. Fact is I've never had a better assistant. Captain Jack's never given me a recruit with half your intelligence, and I'll be damned if I'm going to stand by while Hock lets some stupid, sadistic half-wit pirate recruit brain you with a practice sword." That evening Rapina was well enough to feel the hunger. Fishy started her off at bath time. After that Rapina found Drake and Emry. The truth of it was Rapina was fighting mad at Hock and she was storming inside. She began to use her powers with a certain detached ruthlessness, enjoying Beck, and then seducing Dominic and Jake in rapid succession. As Jake sweated over her, and she drank his power like a wanton lush drinks wine, just by chance she thought of Hock and wondered why. She'd been given an answer - Hock didn't like women, but did that explain what was going on in his mind? Rapina moaned and pulled Jake into her with all the might of her strong thighs as he gushed his lusty power into her. Rapina smiled but not as genuinely as she normally would have. She was using Jake for power. Had Jake known what was going on and welcomed it just the same, then Rapina would have felt much better, but she really didn't even particularly like Jake. She was using him, and she did not like herself for it. "Mmmm, that felt so good," Rapina said, trying to steal the genuineness from the memory of a simpler time with oarmaster Pike, and surprising herself with what a good job she had done. "We'd better get back to the fires though. I love men, but if it were too plain that I spent a lot of time with other men, I don't think Jack would appreciate it. Jake stiffened as if stabbed. "Yeah, you're right. Ah, damn you're dangerous. I could really get in trouble. Jake grinned, but I'd die happy." "I think Red knows me well enough to know that I'm not going to be a nun while he's gone, but it doesn't hurt to make it appear as though I am. It's certainly not something you want to brag about doing." Jake wagged his head from side to side. "No bragging here ma'am, that would be suicide. Lord knows what Brackston would do to me." Rapina got up and mopped herself off a bit with some leaves. "See you later," she whispered huskily. Jake got his pants on quickly. "Uh-huh," he said, making tracks. As she walked the outskirts of camp, Rapina put herself in Hock's place. "Women don't belong in combat, so she'll wash out in a week or two. She's not washing out, but the minute things get tough, she'll wash out. Damn, I can tell Beck is too much for her, why hasn't she folded?... Rapina traced a possible progression from disdain to curiosity to alarm. She tried to imagine Hock's reports to the captain. "Captain, that woman's tougher than any I've ever seen. It just ain't natural..." "Keep an eye on her for me Hock, her Aunt was a witch. I need to know if she's got powers she's not telling us about." Rapina could imagine what might have been happening behind the scenes in her mind. On the other hand, Hock could just be doggedly trying to get her to wash out. He might be utterly convinced that women washed out, and determined not to prove himself wrong. The trouble was, though Rapina had just made love with a hoard of men, the only thing she could possibly do if she used the power they'd given her was to implicate herself as a witch. Even though she had tried to make sure she stored the power away rather than letting it flow to her wounds, her control was not perfect. She could feel that her wounds lacked the depth of pain that they had had earlier in the evening. Rapina would have to be very careful. She was in a very difficult situation. If she showed magic she had failed to tell the captain about, then she was doomed, but if she did not use her power more strongly, Hock's latest onslaught would wash her out. How could she win? As the newly gained power ricocheted around Rapina's stimulated mind, she quickly saw there was only one way out. She must not heal any faster than she had been. She could use her power against fatigue to attempt to avoid and minimize wounds, but she would have to continue to limit its use on wounds already sustained. Any trick she could use to prevent wounds would be essential, and she would have to do all she could to learn more. Rapina wracked her brains for the names of the smallest of the pirates. Certainly Arzael would be an invaluable resource, but Rapina would have to use every ounce of her intelligence to save herself from Hock's impossible trap. Rapina worried about who she might trust. Unfortunately, if there was a test of her magic going, it was most likely the inner circle of officers who were in on it. Rapina needed to make sure that her background information was good before she asked anyone with too much rank to help her learn to weather the big men. She started at the bottom of the heap with Dulgar, the pirate who disposed of bodies, cleaned latrines and did every other horrible job no one else wanted. She caught up with the pirate scooping sewage out of an over-filled latrine for dumping in the swamp. The smell was hideous. "Dulgar, of the small men, which do the best in raids and fights?" Dulgar pulled a piece of hard roll out of a pouch with his filthy hand and took a bite. He blinked at Rapina in momentary confusion. "Why you askin' me?" "You clean up the dead bodies, don't you?" "Uh-hu." "Then you must know which of the small men has been around for a while that you haven't planted in the ground, right?" "Dulgar scratched his head. Dulgar knows," He said succinctly. "Why you want to know." "For arms practice. They're doing big against little and the big guys are bruising me to a pulp." "Hoho, I see. Take these buckets to the boat, an I tell you." Rapina wrinkled her nose involuntarily but complied. With only a skirt on there was nothing preventing her spilling on her bare legs. She tried not to but was not entirely successful. "You go look for Skitch down by the shore. He's the little man you want to see. He raids, but Captain left him here to help protect de camp dis time. He is a horse trader, but smart, you know? You go see him, work somethin' out." Rapina thanked Dulgar, and After a visit to the well to fetch water to wash her legs, Rapina found a man nearly a head shorter than she on watch at the lake shore. "Um, are you Skitch?" "That'd be me," Skitch grinned. "Now what's the captain's lady doin' lookin' for a humble pirate like me? Carryin' oders?" "No, actually I need your help." "What seems to be the problem?" "Hock is training big against little, and strong against weak. The big men are hurting me, they're beating me bad." "'Least you got someone else beatin' ya. Stuck on this island the only one beatin' me is meself. It's a real ferocious problem." "You beat yourself?" Rapina asked in confusion. Skitch grinned, "in a manner o' speakin' a man has ta get relief somehow." Rapina's tingling lust sense told her Skitch's meaning even if her small-town upbringing didn't. "Those big guys bruise me up bad every day and it's really hurting. If you can teach me some things that really work, I would be so grateful." "An how grateful would that be?" "As grateful as my body was bruisless." "I got the tricks ya need, and I see ye've got the currency I'm needin,' but how do I know yer gonna give it over? "How do I know your tricks are going to work?" "Hmm, na I'll tell ya what I'll do. Fer just the littlest taste o' currency, I'll teach ya one o' my best tricks, an' if it works, then maybe we do some swappin in th' evenin's ta come, deal?" "Deal," Rapina agreed. "Na I'd like that taste." Rapina blinked. "Um, what were you interested in?" Skitch cupped his fingers under Rapina's left breast. And grinned like a sea dog when he saw both of Rapina's nipples rise in unison and dent the fabric of her tunic. "I've been noticin' ye've got quite a pair here, been wantin' a taste fer quite some time." Rapina blushed and looked around to make sure the coast was clear. She smoothed back her raven hair and lifted her tunic over her head. Her breasts came free of her shirt, moving just slightly as it came up over her head. After the band of men she'd seen this evening, her breasts were extra full and flushed, and her nipples protruded pinkly. Skitch inhaled, "Mother o' all the gods, such divine majesty I have never afore beheld. I must bow down and worship at the holy altar of the first fetishical church o' the holy nipple." Skitch fondled Rapina's breasts with greedy fascination. Then he bowed down and began kissing, suckling and worshipping Rapina's, "holy orbs." Rapina giggled, then moaned and then practically writhed with sensation. After a while she struggled to regain her composure, "A taste, you have a taste." Skitch threw back his head and sighed, "Ahhh, indeed I have, and a good taste it was. Now fer the first trick, and one ye can use right away tomorrow if ye practice it with me a few times." Skitch grinned, and taught and grinned. The trick was brilliant and took advantage of the high center of gravity of large, tall men. It was a little difficult to practice on Skitch, since he was neither large nor tall, but Rapina made do. She went over it several times with the pirate before she heard horn calling the recruits to come to bed at the barracks. Rapina fell asleep replaying the trick in her mind with Jake, Les, Drake and every other big, tall man she had ever sparred with. Rapina still took a beating during the remainder of the fifth week of basic training. Thanks to tricks from Skitch, Rapina's beating was not quite so severe, and Rapina happily nixed the wily pirate's need to beat himself. The sixth week was a mixed bag. The wounds she sustained were not due to lack of preparation. Skitch was truly inspired, and Arzael had done everything he could do to teach Rapina the considerable number of tricks he knew for beating big and strong men ever since the day she limped into his shop. Rapina was now using more energy to banish fatigue, keep alert and avoid being hit badly than to actually heal wounds. She used every trick and dodge she could think of to minimize damage, and to get the friendly boys not to hit her with the full force their arms could generate. Every night as she fell asleep she went over the things that had worked and the things that had failed and why. She tried to invent new tricks and she made sure to visit Skitch whenever she could. She also tried to visit as many of her most energetic lovers as she could squeeze in on the side. In spite of this, during practice Trevor crushed her foot by stamping on it. Rapina fell and rolled clutching her foot and then got up stepping very gingerly. The sadistic boy had hated it when he was outwitted by one of Rapina's many tricks, and this had been his revenge. Rapina had felt bones snap. She did not dare heal the wound until the bones had been set, but she could not let Leech Kennon do it or he would know she had a broken foot. Instead, Rapina limped and grimaced her way through to archery practice and then took a break to, "relieve herself." In the trees, She gritted her teeth and snapped her own bones back in place just as Kennon had taught her on a wounded pirate not so long ago. She then tried very carefully to knit the bones without healing the bruises on the top of her foot. She managed a certain degree of success, and then collapsed into a crying heap. Never in her short life had she endured so much, but she knew that revealing her power could bring her a quick death at the hands of the pirates. In time, she hoped to learn other magical talents and then she would pretend to learn sex magic as well. That night Rapina talked to Skitch. "Crushed yer foot did 'e, I outta brain 'im meself. Did he break it?" "I think he cracked the bones. I was really lucky, the turf was soft. " "Skitch nodded. "No more Mr. nice guy! Tanight I teach ye some dirty, mean, low down tricks ye can use 'gainst scum like Trevor who ain't got enough sense ta take it easy on a lady." And teach he did, ears, noses, balls, kidneys, no vulnerable body part was taboo on Skitch's short list of the dirtiest dirty tricks. To top it off, the pirate threw in the clean trick he had been going to teach Rapina before she told him what Trevor had done. Rapina enjoyed amply rewarding her diminutive lover. The end of the seventh week of basic training saw Hock in a sourer mood than ever before. He practically raged at Lester, Jake, Jonas and Dominic, not to pull their punches just because Rapina was a woman. Lester really tried to hit Rapina. To his credit, Jake took the arms master's abuse and undermined him at every turn, refusing to hit Rapina hard. Jake was a loyal friend of Drake's and although she had originally seduced him out of pain, he had since earned her respect and genuine affection. Drake, though he tried to keep Rapina on her toes, never hit Rapina with his full strength. This was not surprising given that Drake had made love to Rapina many times since they had met, and Rapina had largely been the one who tended Drake's wounds when he was down. Lester honestly tried to hit hard, and he was the biggest of the big, but not too bright. With her arsenal of tricks from Skitch and Arzael, Rapina felled the poor boy as a lumberjack fells an oak every time Hock threw him her way. Jonas was another story, Hock was able to scowl the boy into hitting hard and he was faster than Lester ever thought of being. Even with Rapina's growing hoard of clever tricks, Jonas hurt her every time she was forced to spar with him. Dominic was clearly intimidated by Hock's brusque manner and he was even more effective than Jonas was against smaller people. Fortunately, He had a soft spot for Rapina, and even when Hock was on his case, he was careful not to do more than give Rapina a few bruises. Trevor and Edgar were by far the most dangerous boys to practice with although they were not as big as some of the others. Both were bloodthirsty and sadistic. Both enjoyed hurting people, and both thought nothing of using the kind of dirty tricks that Skitch had taught Rapina, but that Rapina was too honorable to use. Early in the training, Beck had been better than both Trevor and Edgar, but after being wounded in battle, Beck had only been able to watch training for a couple of weeks. Edgar and Trevor were now more than a match for him as long as they were able to use some of the dirty tricks they'd devised. Near the end of the seventh week, Skitch somehow wheeled and dealed some time off during Rapina's arms practice and spent most of his time watching Jonas, though he appeared to be watching everyone. For the remainder of the week, Rapina spent a portion of her evenings, attending Skitch's class on, "harpooning" Jonas. The next week Jonas really did not know what hit him. Hock's mood went immediately foul. His best weapon bested by a girl! On Wednesday Hock's theme was, "surviving a fight with someone more skilled than you." The arms master brought in several pirates from camp including Brackston. Rapina was saddled with Buck, Hock's right hand man. He was unnecessarily brutal until he missed taking off Rapina's left nipple by a fraction of an inch. To Rapina's surprise, it was Bloody Brackston, "mother" to her recruit barracks that spoke up. "Go ahead an' hurt 'er Buck, take off 'er nipple. I want ta watch Red Jack feed yew yer balls as an appetizer ta that first meal ye'll be havin' wif the wild elf. Heh, heh, heh." Buck's face went so pale it was nearly blue. He realized the truth in Brackston's words. A recruit might be forgiven if he inadvertently damaged the Captain's wench, but Buck was not a recruit, and he knew how Jack's mind worked. Piggy mouthed off, so Jack cut out his tongue. If Buck damaged Jack's red- hot wench, he would be loosing his balls, just as Brackston said. Buck's manner was transformed, and though badly bruised at the beginning, Rapina actually learned a few things from Buck that day and the next about fighting an overwhelming foe. Friday was the first day of final fights. By the end of Saturday, the best recruits would be known. The elimination fights were short. The first person to get in three good hits won. Anyone who lost three fights was eliminated from the competition. There were around 32 recruits and they were divided into four groups of eight by a random drawing to start. Rapina breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that she was in group two, whereas both Edgar and Trevor were in group one. The battle between them would be that group's first fight. With any luck, they would mangle each other so badly that no one would have a problem with them. Oddly, when they fought each other, though Edgar lost, the fight was clean. Somehow, this made Rapina nervous. Rapina, Drake and Jonas were the top finishers from group two and went on to compete in another elimination. When it was over, Rapina, Drake and Jonas were still in the running along with Trevor, Edgar and Dominic. The next day would determine the winners. Rapina's first fight would be with Dominic, while Drake's would be with Jonas. The most interesting fight would likely be the third one, Edgar's first fight. Edgar and Trevor would again face each other. Rapina wondered if they would fight clean this time. The Archery practice was shortened that day because of the time it took to do the eliminations. The Archery eliminations were much easier. The first test was a fixed target at medium range. Each recruit took three shots. The markings on their arrows identified the top twelve shooters. The top twelve archers then fired at a moving target, also at medium range. The top six were selected for the next day's contest. Rapina barely managed to be one of the twelve best archers on the initial fixed target test. For moving targets she came out number four and would thus play a role in both the missile and hand-to-hand competitions the next day. In archery, she would be competing against Drake, Trevor, Beck, Jonas, and Dominic. That evening, while Rapina was busy preparing for the next day's competition by wrapping her lovely, long legs around as many of her favorite boyfriends as was practical, Captain Red Jack's longship slid onto the marsh and docked at Red Jack's Isle. The captain was to have been in port two days ago but a river blockade erected by the local nobles had delayed him. Since the trouble with the mercenaries, the captain had been using a "fishing boat" to scout the waters ahead of the longship for major difficulties and potential targets. A well-organized land assault using a skeleton crew aboard the longship to draw the enemy's attention had cleared the blockade and netted the pirates another cache of arms and armor. That night in the captain's hall, Red Jack conferred with his officers. "...Good and what have ye found out about Rapina, arms master?" Hock scowled, "That yer damned wench is smarter than me, that's what! Let me tell ya captain, I tried real hard. At first, I was sure she'd wash right out, but that was stupid. The obstacle course ain't everything, but it's a pretty good indicator and she came in bettern' half the recruits, but sometimes my head's just a bit on th' thick side. I had ta justify how a wench could be doin' so well, so when I talked ta ya and ya said ta watch fer magic, I was sure that's what was up. That wench was magicin' 'er way through training." "I was all convinced about it, but I'll tell ye, she didn't fight like magic. She be bright as they come, but she got bruised up like the rest 'o the recruits, more so 'cause a who I had ta pit 'er against ta see all them spells I thought she must be usin'. Well now, fact is I can't say if she be using magic 'er not. She heals right fast but so does Beck, an he ain't a witch, I'm pretty sure. It's hard even fer me ta tell just how bad a blow is. I can tell within reason, but the bruisin' don't appear till later, and Rapina, she don't bruise easy, but you an' I both 'ave seen bruises on 'er." "Hock shook his head. One time I really hurt her, put 'er in with Trevor 'an then Edgar. They both fight dirty, an let me tell ya, after Kennon and Arzael here worked me over about it I felt like a real cad. They acted like they couldn't talk to an old salt like me about such a thing to the lady, but that didn't prevent 'em from comin' over an' given me hell in private. I hurt the poor wench an them two saw the wounds. They healed quick, but magic quick? I can't say 'less the magic's mighty sluggish. "'One thing's certain, she's a devil with that damn pussy a her's. I had 'er watched clandestine-like off 'an on. I know she tol' ye she couldn't help foolin' around right from the start, so I didn't do nothin' about it, but I'll tell ya, that wench's frisky as a rabbit in heat an' she knows how ta use it. Every time I foun' a boy who'd really tire 'er out and knock 'er around, she'd make eyes at 'im all durin' their fightin' anytime when I wasn't lookin'. No boy could stand up ta a wench like that makin' eyes at 'im. Every one, 'ed loose it right there. 'Ventually some evenin' she'd take 'im behind the pantry 'an, bang 'is balls ta th' moon. After that 'ed be worthless as a wooden nickel. No magic in it, what man would want ta endanger 'is chances ta get back between _them_ legs again? "It weren't magic that spoilt my plan ta wash 'er out or detect 'er magic though. It twer' lots simpler: Brains and determination. That wench endured more pain, spent more brainpower and time trainin' at arms than any other recruit I had. When she kept endurin' an' not washin out 'er castin' magery a man like me could detect; I threw the big guys at 'er. I thought I had 'er. She turned around, an' foun' that damn Skitch without the help of o' single officer here, I might add. That Skitch is the wiliest damn pip-squeak on th' isle, an' she got 'im ta teach 'er all about how the small, weak, fast an' brainy can bust up the big dumbs. Pretty soon my big guys were trippin' all over makin fools of 'emselves tryin' ta fight 'er." 'f ye ask me, th' only magic I can be sure she has is th' magic 'tween 'er ears and the magic 'tween 'er legs." Captain Jack smiled, "Any observations Fletcher?" "I was puzzled about Hock's treatment of her, but now I understand. She is a very healthy and affectionate woman. It was all I could do not to sleep with her, especially when she nibbled my ear." The officers laughed. Arzael waved his hand, "I make it a point not to sleep with my basic students. It wouldn't be right. She is the most unusual recruit I've ever known, so much so that I wonder why we got her at all." "I wish I could say she has no good reason ta be here, but I can't. Even in two-bit small towns, the powerful are not always honest 'r kind." "Enough 'o the wench fer now. Truth is if she's got magic, she don't trust us enough ta tell us. 'Can't imagine why neither, don't I have a honest face?" Coarse laughter filled the air. "I figured the combat angle might be a long shot, that's why I let 'er read that damned magic book. Gods know I can't make sense of it. How's she doin' on that Kennon?" "Well sir, it's hard to keep track of her intellectual abilities. At first she seemed kind of average in her reading ability, but after you told me how fascinating she found your dictionary, I tried a few tests of my own. I think while she was reading my herb book and looking up words as she went along, she absorbed the contents of my medicinal dictionary. Now I can use any word in that book and I never get a blank stare from her. It wasn't that way at first, mind you, but now there's not a word in that book I can't use. After about the third week when she probably finished both dictionaries, she could read anything on my shelf, and she just keeps getting faster, sir." "This magic book of yours has had her engaged for quite a while. Sure, I could be wrong, but it looks to me like she is really applying herself to figure it out. It doesn't seem like she knows it already." "Logan, what's yer view." "I agree with Kennon. The book interests her a lot, and she's been borrowin' volumes from your library every week trying to get enough background to figure it out. I don't know how in hell she reads more'n a chapter outa ten volumes, but I guess it's like Kennon says, she's gettin' fast. Sometimes your library is just not up to it an' she can't find the answer she's lookin' for. If this is all a fake, It's so damned good she'd have ta be a wizard, and if that's the case 'an she don't like us, then we can all kiss are ass g'bye. Want my opinion? She's just a brilliant kid with heart-stompin' good looks." Red Jack grinned, "Enough 'o the wench then. We may not know all 'er secrets, but she's never struck out at anyone, Hock 'ere ain't been turned into a frog and 'e still's got 'is wits about 'im. Th' way I look at it, she passed th' test. If she's not tellin' us everything, she'll do it in 'er own good time. I'm sure glad we got the results we did, 'cause I'm fixin ta dip me wand in 'er magic soon as I can. I been with a lot 'o women, but she's hotter an sweeter than any five of 'em put tagether." "What about the festivities tamorrow, Hock, who's gonna be competin'" "In hand-ta-hand we'll have Drake, Dominic, Edgar, Jonas, Trevor, and Rapina, sir. That last one's my fault. I kept pittin' her up against the best of 'em tryin' ta make 'er wash out 'er cast spells. Instead she just learned ta manage 'em." Hock shook his head. Red Jack smiled, "An' what o' th' archers, Fletcher?" "Beck, Drake, Dominic, Trevor, Jonas, and Rapina, sir." "Sounds like a good group. If no one has anything ta add, let's all get some rest. We won't be gettin' any tomorrow night, thar's gonna be one hell of a party ye won't want ta miss." The next day was packed with activity. Practically the whole pirate camp had gathered to watch the best recruits in their rite of passage. It was a fun and boisterous occasion for the spectators and the winners. The losers, while still far ahead of everyone else in skill, had a less enjoyable experience. The first three bouts were between Rapina and Dominic, Drake and Jonas, and Edgar and Trevor. Rapina and Drake both won, but no one noticed since everyone was fixated on Edgar and Trevor's fight. The curious thing about the fight was that nothing happened. Well nothing DIRTY happened. It was a clean fight. Trevor won, but no one was sure if he was better or if Edgar had just let him win. Rapina won her next fight against Jonas. Jonas was good, but her extra training with Skitch had given Rapina the edge. Drake and Edgar fought next. It was a down and dirty fight. Both recruits beat each other severely. In the end, Drake won out. Edgar's dirty tricks could not compare to Drake's strength and skill. After the bout with Edgar, Drake was in no condition to take on Trevor. Still he held his own and managed to keep Trevor from mauling him. Edgar and Dominic's bout was over quickly. Edgar managed to knee the unfortunate Dominic in the groin before he pummeled him into submission. Somehow Rapina managed to squeak past Trevor in the next fight. It almost seemed like he let her win. Still he did leave a few nasty wounds as reminders. Drake, although badly battered, was able to defeat Dominic. Rapina and Edgar's match was next and everyone gathered to watch. Rapina's training helped her to stay alive, but that was about it. Edgar beat her mercilessly. He was much better than anyone had ever guessed. It seemed that he had also found himself a mentor, but had managed to hide it from everyone until now. Edgar's last fight was with Jonas. Jonas had to be carried to the infirmary after the match. The last scheduled bout of the day was between Drake and Rapina. It appeared as though Rapina could barely stand up, let alone fight, but she won the match. It looked to some that she had landed a lucky blow to knock Drake unconscious. In truth, she had an ace up her sleeve. She was beat to a pulp after Edgar, but she still had a good store of magical energy because her other fights had gone relatively well. She healed the underbellies of her wounds but acted as though still devastated. Drake had fallen for a clever trap based on her favoring her "damaged" right side. It happened that the part Drake had left open was his head, and Rapina's over-eager reflexes and her training from Skitch had done the rest. There was the possibility that Drake had thrown the bout for her, that her head blow had not been accurate or powerful enough to fell Drake for the full fifteen seconds. That was something only Drake could know for sure. It was no wonder Edgar had put Jonas in the infirmary. Trevor had bruised the poor boy to a pulp in the previous match, and then Edgar unleashed his nasty tricks and training on poor Jonas in the next bout. Since Trevor had also bested Jonas, that left both Trevor and Rapina, each with only one loss. Drake and Edgar had two losses each. "We 'ave a close battle 'ere. Rapina an' Trevor each 'ave four wins in five bouts, an Edgar an' Drake Each 'ave three wins in five bouts." That means we 'ave ta make some new bouts till we got a clear winner. Rapina an Trevor'll be up for a rematch next while Drake regains 'is wits. Trevor looked at Edgar and smiled the devil's smile. Rapina swallowed hard. She wondered if Edgar had not thrown the bought to Trevor in return for him throwing the bout to someone they both thought had little chance of winning - Rapina herself. Rapina knew what she had to do, she just was not sure she would be able to do it. She dug into what little remained of her magical energy and released some of it into her mind to keep herself alert. Trevor came on strong circling towards Rapina vigorously, trying to keep her on the defensive, raining blows off her shield as she sidled and backed in the face of his mighty onslaught. He knew she would weaken, she was a girl, and he only had to hurt her good and she would be out of the battle. Trevor bashed the lighter woman with his shield throwing her backward, and then he rushed her off-hand side and scored. He only wished he could have hit her harder. The wench had turned too quickly. Edgar had not hit her hard enough earlier. She was somehow recovering her mobility, but now she was shaken and Trevor would press the advantage and find her weakness. Rapina kept moving, trying not to get clubbed in her off side again. Trevor was watching her very closely, just waiting for an opportunity. Trevor saw his chance. The stupid girl had her foot out just a little too far. He had put her out of commission this way once before. Suddenly he stepped in and slammed his foot down. As he came in, he swung towards her head. Rapina felt the vibration on the ground as Trevor's foot slammed into the area hers had been only a fraction of a second earlier. She ducked straight down with all of her strength she brought the edge of her large shield slamming towards Trevor's instep. She felt the wind of his practice sword as it swished over her head and then heard the most hideous crunching sound as her shield struck its mark. She smiled behind her shield as she realized that Trevor had fallen for her trap. Trevor screamed as several bones in his foot broke under the edge of Rapina's shield. She had brought it down like on his foot like an axe. Rapina pushed forward and Trevor fell backwards. She moved her shield aside and smacked Trevor's broken foot with everything she was worth. "Break! That's one hit each. You got 15 seconds ta get up Trevor, or ye loose." Somehow Trevor forced himself to stand though horrible pain lanced up his leg. The damn wench had figured his favorite trick and used it against him. This time it was Rapina who circled rapidly and rained a few blows against Trevor's shield. She went faster and faster then slammed her shield into his shield, forcing him to catch himself with his broken foot or fall backwards. Trevor grimaced and launched a blow at Rapina's head. Her shield caught the brunt of it, but it gave her enough of a rap that it counted as a hit. As she tried to fend off the head hit, Rapina spun Trevor and jabbed her practice sword into his kidney with every ounce of her strength for her second score. For a few moments after the head blow, her vision swam, but she managed to recover her wits if not her bruised skull. Trevor stared daggers at her for the kidney blow and his mangled foot. "Shieldless!" Trevor challenged. "If you were behind in scoring, you could demand a style change, but we're even, challenge denied," Rapina smiled menacingly. "I'm going ta kill you, you bleedin' bitch!" Hock rang the bell. Rapina circled to Trevor's off side again, keeping low and compact, then she slammed into him like a bullet. He fell backwards but pulled his feet away too fast for her to hit them. After he was up again, Rapina circled in the opposite direction, she crossed swords with him for a few blows then pivoted and bashed him down once again, this time rapping him on the thigh. She was now ahead, 3 hits to 2. "Shieldless!" "Doff yer shields." Rapina carefully put her shield aside and met Trevor once again. Trevor launched a rapid series of blows, feinted and punched Rapina hard in her right breast. Rapina screamed in pain and jumped to the side too late as Trevor landed a practice sword blow and a big bruise on her left arm. "Three hits ta three!" Trevor swung for the wench's pretty face then launched an unexpected kick at her knee with his bad foot. Rapina jumped above the kick and parried. The blow glanced off her sword. Her fencing training had saved her. As she landed, she stepped in. Trevor grabbed the bitch's ear and was about to rip it off when her knee hammered into his balls like a battering ram. Trevor roared with pain. Rapina felt Trevor's grip on her ear loosen and she pushed him hard. She had not telegraphed her move because she had not needed to glance down at his groin. His sexual energy had guided her. He fell on his back and pulled his feet in, but Rapina was already swinging her practice sword. Its tip thumped against Trevor's good foot, and then she jumped to the side. "Four ta three!" Trevor got up, but even his good foot was hurt now. He'd fix that wench. Rapina kept her knees bent, she knew Trevor would try to do something unexpected. Trevor hopped forward tangled swords, and overbore Rapina, pushing her down with his superior weight. Rapina went into a backwards somersault and came up standing. She parried Trevor's sword and stepped backward as she caught his fist in her hand and jerked it towards her. Trevor felt his arm being pulled, he could not keep up the pace, not without stepping forward on his useless foot. Rapina could see the pain in Trevor's face as he took the weight on his bad foot then quickly stepped forward back onto his good foot. Rapina reversed direction and stamped his good instep with everything she had. Trevor roared with pain and fell forward onto his knees. Rapina slammed her knee into Trevor's nose with a crunch at the same time as she crowned him the with hilt of her practice sword. Trevor felt a blow near the top of the back of his head and then everything went black. "Five ta three. Rapina wins. See here, in a raid, a good pirate fights dirty 'an ta the death, but fightin' dirty in a friendly bout is double-edged. Pretty soon them folks who usually fight clean is gonna make an exception in yer case. Thisn' gives Rapina five wins outa six. The winner O' Drake and Edgar is going ta have four outa six, same as Trevor. That means Drake or Edgar is goin' ta be fightin' Trevor, assumin' Trevor wakes up. Seems ta me anybody who can't beat a boy w' two broken feet ain't worth a sack o' potatoes." Although he was still hurting from his earlier bouts Drake was feeling much better after his short rest. He stretched his sore muscles before stepping into the ring. "Well my 'friend'. It's time to see what you're really made of." Drake raised his sword and shield and beckoned Edgar forth. Edgar was also a little worse for wear, but he definitely had enough energy to make Drake eat his words. He smiled inwardly. "I held back last time. You won't be so lucky this time, heh." Edgar brought his sword and shield to bear and stepped towards Drake. Edgar had indeed been holding back. Drake was having a more difficult time of fending off his attacks and landing blows of his own. Fortunately, Drake had not needed to use all of his skill to defeat Edgar in their previous bout. Now, however, he would have to use every ounce of skill he possessed. Their wooden swords clattered against each other, off their shields, and even found their mark occasionally. So far, it was a dead heat. Neither attacker could gain the advantage. Edgar frowned. He was exhausted from his earlier matches. Yet he was sure that Drake was feeling no better. Nevertheless, if he did not score a decisive hit soon he would have too little energy left to stand let alone win. Drake was tired. His muscles ached and he had more bruises than he could ever remember having. Still he fought on. Edgar would have to use every bit of his energy if he wanted to beat Drake. Drake patiently waited for Edgar to make a mistake. He knew that eventually one of them would. He just hoped that Edgar would be the first to slip up. Unfortunately Drake's leg cramped up horribly and gave out on him. Drake crumpled to the ground and Edgar saw his opportunity. He brought his sword around in an arc hoping to bash Drake's skull in with it. Fortunately Drake was cool headed enough to retain his senses and brought his shield up just in time to fend off the blow. "Damn!" Edgar hissed as he stumbled past Drake. He had put too much behind his swing and had lost his balance. As Edgar stumbled past, Drake brought his sword to bear on the back of Edgar's knees. His sword found its mark and Edgar toppled backwards. Edgar looked up in astonishment just in time to see the hilt of Drake's sword. A moment of pain was followed by darkness. "Ouch! Drake wins! Forget tha score! Edgar's out cold! It looks like it's just you and Trevor left Drake." Hock rolled his eyes. "This oughta be an excitin' match." Hock yawned. The match between Drake and Trevor did not last long. Trevor could barely stand. Drake just danced around him and landed his blows easily. He could have really walloped Trevor, but he just settled for landing scoring hits. The archery contest took far less time to complete than had the hand-to-hand contest. The six archers took five shots each at a moving target at close, medium and long range. In the end, Rapina came in third. Dominic won first place, and Drake came in second beating Rapina by equaling her at the two closer ranges and besting her at long range. Beck came in forth, Jonas fifth, and Trevor, who could presently neither stand nor see straight, came in last. The contests finished in the late afternoon, and the pirates returned to the central clearing where Fishy and Piggy were already to begin serving a feast. "Before I reward these fine winners taday, I've got an announcement ta make," Red Jack hollered so that all could hear. "We was late gettin' back here because we had ta knock out a blockade. Luckily are scouts saw it before we was on top of it 'an we were able ta sneak aroun' one side by land an' take 'em by surprise. It took a while for the toadies on th' the other side o' the river ta figure out what was happenin.' They tried ta come over the blockadin' barges ta help their mates, but by then we was just about done killin' 'em and were ready as each wave 'o soldiers arrived down the narrow neck o' barges blockin' the river. We slaughtered 'em with arrows. We got some wounded, but we did mighty well considerin'." "Now this blockade was in the narrows o' the river before she widens out and starts gettin' marshy here about. What I'm thinkin' is that the men in black we fought a month back were missed by whoever paid 'em. They know we have a camp in this marsh an that's why their soldiers in black never came back. They figured ta catch are boat, and then use captured pirates ta lead 'em here through the confusion o' the marsh. Instead we killed the soldiers and smashed the blockade, an' now they ain't got many soldiers left ta attack us with. But ya got ta understand nobles. They got deep pockets from taxin' the snot outa' the peasants. Taxin's just like raidin' only it keeps the peasants alive an' producin' year after year. Most nobles are tight-wads in spite of their hoards, an' they don't much like throwin' money down a rat-hole searchin' for are ships which amount ta a needle in a haystack. Unfortunately now they got are general location, and they got their spoilt brat noblemans' pride hurt. They'll dig deep, hire 'em selves an army an' maybe call on the bigger lords fer aid. Ya can bet on it." The blockade was mostly a string o' barges spannin' the river, but close ta shore there was a big merchant ship housin' the officers. We captured that boat an' got it parked closer ta the mouth o' the marsh. Tanight we party, but not as hard as I'd like, 'cause tamarra we're goin' ta strike this camp an' take loads a stuff in the longships out ta the merchant ship and stuff 'er full. Then we're going ta get the hell otta here, set up a camp somewhere else, an go back ta bein' a needle in a haystack again. This was a great secret camp, but it ain't secret no more." "The up side 'o the blockade destroyin' is we got a new hoard o' weapons an' armor and I'm going ta give the winners here first stab at 'em. I see some of ye winners were also former battle heroes. Ye may already have better weapons then these. If ye do, take a spare or ask fer a boon. I'll see what I can do. Now, don't be too disappointed, ye still can party hard, we're jus' going ta have ta double the watch and get are drinkin' done early so as we can get ta bed before dawn and get us a few hours o' sleep. Now, back ta the rewardin'. The surprise winner in taday's hand-ta-hand was Rapina. I watched 'er fight. She's fast, she's alert 'an she keeps goin' even when she's beat ta shit. Any o' the top six might o' won. It was a close match. Seein' as how we have a good hoard 'o blades, I'm offerin' every one o' the six a weapon. Fifth an' sixth place gives ye one item, third an fourth gives ye two items, first an' second gives ye three items. If ye won at hand-ta-hand and archery, add 'em up. First place gives ye a special winner's boon or another item. If ye already got the weapons ye want, then ask fer a boon. Rapina, ye've a winner's boon, plus ye got 3 items fer bein' first in hand ta hand, an two items for bein' third in archery. What'll ya have? While Red Jack was talking, Rapina had looked over the weapons. "May I ask Arzael to inspect the rapiers for me, Sir? "Indeed ye can." There were only three rapiers. They had all of them carried by officers, no doubt. Arzael tested each blade, and handed one of them to Rapina. "I see this one has had a few gems removed from it's sheath, hilt, and guard. It is a blade of utmost quality, at least as good as my own, probably better, and obviously quite new. The steel is unusual. I see no signs of rust. I've never seen such a clear and elaborate tang mark before, either. It's a tiny coat of arms. The script makes it clear that the blade was forged in Montfort." Arzael handed the blade and sheath to Rapina. "Aye, it warr a nobleman's blade, the commander an' chief o' the blockade, an' a fine swordsman. Thar's a main gauche that goes with it over thar." Arzael nodded and handed the main gauche to Rapina. Rapina smiled, she had never seen weapons of such quality. Rapina looked at the armor, but it was easy to see none of it was shaped as she was. She found a throwing knife in a kidskin sheath, but that was the only other item of interest. "Is that all ye can find girl? What else will ye have? Ye still have yer two items from th' archery contest an' th' winner's boon." "Boon, Sir," Rapina said. What'll it be? The captain asked. Rapina went to the captain and whispered in his ear. Whisper and counter whisper traveled back and forth between Rapina and the captain. "Ye drive a hard bargain, wench. DONE!" "Rapina's no longer me own booty. She's a free wench!" The men cheered! Red Jack grinned a salty grin, "She says I got certain qualities guaranteein' I'll not be sleepin' alone if I asks 'er over, so get one thing straight. My wench 'er not, any 'a ye sea dogs hurts 'er an' ruins me fun, ye'll be suppin' on yer own balls, understand? Don't ye worry too much. If ye don't hurt 'er too bad I'll serve 'em to ye cooked 'stead 'a raw," the captain glared at the men with a look so deadly that the men involuntarily felt themselves being castrated by the captain's knife. "Y'er, not ta fight over 'er nor treat 'er like yer property, neither. When I free a wench, damn it! She stays free. Don't be thinkin' yer gonna sweet talk 'er an' get 'er all ta yerself Neither. That aint goin' ta happen. She's a pirate not a nun. That wench is hotter'n a bank o' embers, an ye try ta steal 'er fer yerself, ye'll be facin' down half an' army o' fightin' mad pirates. One more thing, I'll have no pimpin'. There'll be no makin' deals with each other fer the wench's favors. Now that I've freed 'er, the only one in charge o' Rapina's favors is Rapina. Understand? Yes Sir! The men replied. The captain wiped his brow. "That's the biggest winner's boon I've granted in years, but the odds o' a wench winnin' hand ta hand over thirty some strong men are so long as ta be near impossible. Th' way I see it, she earned everything she got." "Now ye got two more items comin' to ya girl, what'll it be?" Rapina smiled, "Permission to build my own place at the new camp, sir?" "Now ordinarily that would be a boon I'd never grant ta a new crewman, but Leech Kennon has told me that ye are fast becomin' th' finest medic he's ever had th' pleasure ta train. Lots' o' times ye'll be tendin' the wounded at odd times' o' the night so as Kennon can get some sleep 'least half the time. That an' bein' as ye moan like a hyena when ye're under a good lover, I'm goin' ta have ta grant somethin' just so me men can get a decent night's sleep," Jack chuckled. Rapina blushed. "As are chief nurse, I'll give ye yer own room off the infirmary, done!" "Now, ye got one more, wench, make it good." "There were a few things on our little boat the boys had from me, and then you got them when we joined up. I'd like them back." "Oi, now girl, ye had some good stuff there," the captain chuckled. Ye had a goodly bit o' coin an' a chunk 'o gold but I've gone and spent most o' that. But I tell ye what, I'll give ye back the few silvers remainin', plus any clothes an' weapons ye're presently usin' from me stores, 'an th' two pendants ye had, includin' the lighted one. No sense in yer goin' blind readin' in th' dark. A blind wench can't 'preciate a man's... good looks," Captain Red Jack winked. The pirates laughed. "Well now, I've been hard pressed fer boons. Imagine that, givin' a wench both 'er freedom an' 'er possessions back in one day. Ye'd think I warr some kind 'o gentleman." The crewmen gasped. "I'll have ta do some raidin' and torcherin' just ta get me bad name back," the captain chuckled. "Now who do we 'ave next? Edgar pushed his way to the front. "I am sir!" he belted out as he scanned the booty. "Now hold on there Edgar, ye finished fourth in hand ta hand. Ye'll get yer things, but ye'll have ta wait fer them that finished before ye." Drake patiently waited for Edgar to finish his outburst before stepping forward to claim a splendid sword and parrying dagger. Ye still 'ave another item fer yer second place in hand-ta-hand and three more fer yer archery win, Drake. Use 'em 'er loose 'em. We got quite a selection 'o armor. I've seen a few suits that might fit ye. If yer done with takin' blades I'll let the next winner have a go at it. Drake nodded and went to try on a couple of suits of armor. After the others had gone, Edgar found a particularly wicked looking dagger and sword that he claimed as his own. Drake found a fine suit of leather armor. The leather plates smelled good as they had been boiled in bees wax for extra strength. The captain again spoke to Drake, "Ye're nearly as big o' winner taday as Rapina, ye got 3 more items fer yer second place in Archery, Drake. Arzael, show the man some 'o them bows we captured." Arzael handed Drake a heavy bow. "Try it, if you can bend it, you'll never need another bow. That's elven craftsmanship there, and there is none better." Drake could bend the bow but it was not easy. Although an elf had made it, the bow had obviously been made for a burly human officer. When he saw that Drake was able to bend the bow, the fletcher handed the quiver of arrows that went with it to Drake. Ye 'ave another two ta go, what'll it be? Drake could not think of much else, but then realized there were a couple of things he could use. "Boon, Sir. " "What da ye want?" "Broadsword training, and ship's pilot training as soon as I am ready, Sir?" "Done! Ye'll have the broadsword trainin' first an' when ye 'ave yer letters down ye'll be gettin' pilot's training." The other winners took weapons, armor, special duties, weapons training or job training, as their rewards. Inside Rapina glowed with the triumph of victory, but outside she felt like one huge, painful, walking bruise. The feast the followed the prizes was the best she had eaten so far. During and after the feast one pirate after another congratulated her. Many of them clapped her on the back or touched her bruised arm. Rapina was in even more pain than she had been before the rush of victory had subsided. Rapina found that a pint of ale helped ease her suffering. Two pints made her belly swell but allowed her to completely forget her pain. Three pints and her coordination and better judgment dissolved like salt in water. She danced too close to lusty men often bumping against them. Sometimes she groped back when she was groped, and she practically jumped oarmaster Pike and dragged him into the bushes. Had it not become such a habit, she would never have remembered to control the energy to prevent healing her wounds too completely. She barely managed to keep from letting her need drain too much energy from her lover. The tryst with Pike helped; it eased her wounds a bit and momentarily cleared her head a little. Rapina realized she would be in big trouble if she did not curb her drinking. She decided she had better avoid the center of the party for a while and took a second mug of ale and some food to the infirmary for Doanthalis. The wild elf's numerous wounds were almost healed. Rapina did not know what Captain Red Jack planned to do with Doanthalis now that the pirates were moving, but she decided she had better see if he wanted to join the crew before the Captain made any irreversible decisions. "Hi Doanthalis. I brought you food and ale. How are the wounds?" Rapina asked. Doanthalas' emerald eyes settled on Rapina, but he didn't smile. He never seemed to smile...ever. "My strength returns as does the sun at the dawn." He looked down at his manacles and tugged at them absently. The elf sighed and looked back to Rapina. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I felt like one big bruise before I drank too much ale," Rapina grinned; but I was so lucky today. We had the final combat bouts for arms training and I took first place in hand- to-hand combat and third in archery. Now we're having a big party. I've brought some news, too. I am a little more of a free woman today. For our winning, we got to choose several items of booty, arms and such, or boons, getting the captain to grant us some favor. By a boon, I am no longer the captain's property, so I am a freer woman, though I'm still a pirate. That's kind of a necessity. I crossed a powerful man who wanted to enslave me, so now I'm stuck as an outlaw keeping the company of outlaws. You should know something else too. The captain's ship destroyed a river blockade on the way here. The local nobles know there is a pirate camp somewhere in this marsh. Captain Red Jack said that we have to be difficult to find or the nobles will use their wealth to hire an army to put us down. Since our camp is no longer secret, we're going to strike it tomorrow and leave this area. "So far, the Captain hasn't said what he plans to do with you. I don't know what brought you here to this marsh or if you are attached to this area, but I think I can get Captain Red Jack to let you join the crew if you want to. I've heard him make remarks in praise of your fighting technique." The muscles in the elf's face tightened and a troubled look entered his eyes. One hand absently traced the outline of one of the more demonic looking tattoos. "For countless seasons my life has not been my own. It seems that my life may never again be my own." Doanthalas looked away and swallowed hard. "My only attachment to this place are the manacles that bind me to this bed. My...home...lies...many dawns away." A deep melancholy seemed to settle in over the elf. He was quiet for a long time before continuing. "Your...captain...is right in that I fight with the ferocity of a cornered forest child." Noticing Rapina's confused look he said, "A forest child...as in a panther or wolf...or bear..." Tremors seemed to ripple through his body. "The...the spirits that dwell in darkness were my guides. They killed the elf and gave life to the savage." Doanthalas looked at his hands. "The taint of their vile spirits and the blood of those I have killed will always stain these hands." The tattooed elf closed his eyes. "Your captain already controls my life. It seems as if we are already joined. Tell this captain that if these bonds are removed I will do his bidding." --- Later that night, the captain invited Rapina to his bed and she slept with him until early the next morning. Logan got the camp up and running, hangovers and all. While she was dressing, Captain Red Jack came with her things. Here now, don't put yer shirt on just yet, I'd like ta admire those tits fer a minute 'er two more, an' I got yer things. That damn Trevor punched ye pretty hard in the right one, I expected a much bigger bruise. Ye sure ye ain't got some magic power? "Aunti said I'd have my own set of talents. Maybe healing fast is one of them, or maybe I was just lucky," Rapina shrugged. "It really hurt when he punched me." Aye, I could tell. An' if it weren't fer th' fact ye broke 'is feet, I'd a had Brackston work 'im over fer damagin' me goods. Ye've got quite a collection o' bruises there, but ye're doin' pretty well considerin'. Most times th' recruits're sore for a couple o' weeks after th' end o' basic. "Here's th' silver an' agate pendant," the captain put the pendant around Rapina's neck and looked at the way the dreamstone nestled just between the fullness of her breasts. "Heh, if it warr any bigger it wouldn't fit," The captain grinned. "Here's the crystal light. I'm throwin' in th' little black leather pouch ta keep it from lightin up yer lower chest. Arzael made it. Lucky that chain's a bit longer'n th' other or ye'd never be able ta wear 'em both. Looks good, but I'll bet that gold chain came off from the holy symbol I already sold off." Rapina nodded emphatically, her breasts bouncing buoyantly as she did. "Yes, it did, but the light was more useful to me on a chain than the holy symbol was." "That be th' case always," The captain chuckled. I sold the symbol an' the signet off, but I foun' out the name o' th' family yer reverend Evangeline belonged to. His father warr th' Marquis of Avengene. Th' way I understand it, th' marquis was the son o' a Northern baron, who was killed by orcs or some such. His dad gettin' killed must a made 'im madder'n hell 'cause 'e made 'imself into a war lord, an' expanded 'is holdin's considerably. He grabbed a lot o' land, an' 'is barony gave th' crown some fine military service in the border wars 'bout twenty-five years back. 'Cause a those things th' crown granted 'im a bigger title. Now 'es got ta be seventy ta eighty w' one foot in the grave. Chances are good 'is first born is already filin' half 'is shoes. I'll say one thing for ye, when ya go about getting yerself in trouble, ye get in trouble w' the best." Rapina frowned. "Just my luck, a Marquis. Why couldn't he have been the second son of a landless knight?" "Look at the bright side, girl, ye've got extra motivation ta become a wizard," the captain smiled. Rapina nodded. "Now that I'm out of basic, maybe I'll have more time to study." "Ye should have a little bit more, though not as much as ye might like. We're goin' ta be catchin' ye up with Kent in navigation trainin' and Leech Kennon is goin' ta keep ye goin' on medicine 'till 'e runs out 'o books. Right now we'd better get dressed and help w' th' move. Here's a lighter version o' th' money pouch ye brought. It's all silver an copper, but at least it's spendable. Now let's get goin', I've got an elf ta free an' a camp ta pack up," the captain smiled. For the rest of the day the pirate camp was a flurry of activity. A small crew including Kent and oarmaster Pike took Red Jack's longship back and forth between the merchant vessel nearer the river and the camp itself. Everything movable had to go. Rapina spent most of her time helping Leech Kennon and his guards load up as much of the infirmary as they could fit in the boat. By evening, every pirate looked exhausted as he ate a simple meal. "Ye did good, men, but ye're not done yet," Captain Red Jack announced. "Are scouts say th' way is open tanight, but we can't count on it stayin' that way. We're goin' ta do some dangerous sailin' tanight while th' nobles are still lickin' their wounds an' meetin' w' one another. Sailin' in th' dark is th' only way we can slip the nobles without 'em knowin we left, 'er whether we went downstream 'er up. Load up the last of it and git yerself on a boat. Doanthalis, I 'ave a special job for ye. I don't much like entrustin' it to a green recruit, but It'll give ye a chance ta prove yerself. I know ye elves can see in th' dark, an though the wind be favorable for us this eve, I can see by the clouds its goin' ta be darker'n a wolf's mouth. I want ye ta climb the mast an' be th' look-out. Arzael, yer goin' ta pilot. An the other ships are goin' ta follow us in a line. We'll have bullseye lanterns kept flashin' at are other boats if need be, but that'll be the only light on are ship, hardly more'n a firefly. I got some green tinted glass we can use ta make it the firefly color. Two longships and a large, bargish merchant vessel slipped out of the marsh that night and headed upstream - West on the river Augustana. It was the opposite of the logical direction, so Red Jack took it. Rapina helped man the sails for the first part of the night, then went to bed and slept very soundly. When she woke, the ships were moored in a bayou that was surrounded by thick forest. Rapina spent most of the rest of the day learning navigation from Roger and reading Jack's magic book. She took a nap in the late afternoon and was up in time to help get the ships underway. The second night went much like the first, but this time Rapina was up all night helping with the sails and signal light. The third night the wind was calm and both longships were used to tow the merchant ship. Oarsmen took twenty minute stints at the oars, rowing as hard as they could, then resting until it was again their turn. After a week of night sailing, Captain Red Jack changed the schedule. For the next seven days the ships sailed day and night. When the captain was satisfied that he had traveled far enough, scouts were sent out to find a new camp. Red Jack preferred large marshes for his pirate camps. They were difficult places for large, organized armies of foot soldiers to attack, and ships could easily run aground or become lost in them. Unfortunately, the banks of the river in this area were high, and marshes were scarce and small. Eventually the pirates found a large lake that opened into the river. At the center of the lake was an isle, one Red Jack claimed as his own. The story continues in [Rapina]010 New Beginnings.