This choice: The ship is attacked by pirates • Go Back...Chapter #4Prepare for Perilous Privateers by: max   Captain Dalia stood on the deck of the Oystergull staring out over the Ocean. Letting the calm salty wind blow past her. She smiled, this was a good life. She had her ship, even if she was only part owner, she sailed the traditional trade routes, well maintained by each continent's navy. While that meant longer voyages and higher taxes, it also meant not having to deal with sea monsters, wandering dragons, or islands owned by half mad mages. It made for a very calm life, that she valued greatly. The only real threat to her and her crew would be pirates. It was for just that reason she had bought a smaller ship and set her cannons on the deck. To a pirate such a ship wasn't worth the trouble. A small ship meant not a lot of cargo, on a target that could maneuver tightly. Add to that twelve cannons, and it meant a serious fight. It made her ship a low reward, high risk target. Which was true, even now the most valuable thing in the cargo was a bulk order of alchemical elixirs from one of her more eccentric employers. Yes it would be madness itself to attack her ship. Which is what made the sudden clash of thunder and eruption of water a few hundred yards off so alarming.
Dalia whipped around towards her first mate.
“Damien!” Was all she had to shout. The man already had a spyglass to his face.
“Pirates Captain. They're raising the jolly roger now. Signage on the ship identifies her as…ah hell, It's the Dragon's Curse!” Damien shouted. Dalia let out a curse and called all hands to the deck for battle. She knew of the Dragon's Curse, and while she didn't know what drove the crew, they had a reputation for their greed that made demons seem philanthropic.
*Meanwhile on the gun deck of Dragon's Curse*
“Sally I swear, you miss another shot by that much and I'll fire your cute little ass out of the cannon next.” said a tall, burly blonde haired woman.
“Lay off Amelia. Tha’ damn cannon's at fault not me. Things been fired so many times tha’ bores gone smooth. There's more curve to tha captain's ass than the groves of this iron bitch.” Sally shot back.
“Please, my culverns have twice the curve of that plank.” Amelia said, putting her ponytail into a tight bun. She had it about perfect when a boot slammed her forward. She whipped around hauling a cannon ball up with her. Intent to ruin the day of the idiot that kicked her. Only to see her captain standing there. At 5’ 4” with hair as dark as the night that glimmered with gold highlights. A cute nose, delicate if wiry frame, and almost no curves. She looked less like the captain of a pirate ship and more like a noble's daughter in uniform
“Ami, get ready to board. Sally's shit shooting gave us away, but the wind's with us. I told Briar to lower the iron plates. We'll soak their return fire and ram them.” The captain said. Amelia kept the cannon ball held aloft thinking carefully.
“Oh for graks sake you mutinous bitch, it was just a kick. Put the ammo down, it's expensive, ya can take a swing at me later.” the captain said walking away.
“Aye aye, Evelyn.” Amelia said, watching as the captain's shoulders tensed.
“That's Eve or Captain….now get ready.” Eve said heading up to the main deck.
A small chase across the sea's ensued. But Eve had been right. The wind was blowing in their favor. The Dragon's Curse overtook the Oystergull in under ten minutes. With almost now chance for the Oystergull to return fire.
“Dammit! Loose the cannons and free aim at the first bloody pirate to set foot on these planks!” Dalia shouted and her men lept to work. It was a dangerously clever plan. They'd risk shredding their own ship, but not many people, pirate or otherwise, would continue to board under threat of direct cannon fire. Dalia watched as the first four pirates lowered gangplanks and charged forth. When she heard a distinct lack of cannon fire she turned her attention back to her men briefly, and realized the flaw in her plan.
The entirety of the Dragon's Curse's crew was female. Dalia's almost entirely male crew had failed to fire when they saw a bunch of scantily clad women approaching. Women wearing some of the tightest leather britches and what appeared to be studded leather corsets for tops Dalia had ever seen boarded her ship. Her compatriots were disarmed and over taken in minutes. She drew her cutlass just as she heard the sound of steel on steel.
She turned to see Damien fighting off a smaller woman. Probably the best dressed of the pirates and no doubt the captain. Dalia rushed to her first mate's aide.
“Take her and the rest will fold!” Dalia shouted, as she rushed up the deck.
“Is what I figured too captain. But she's surprisingly good with a blade.” Damien replied.
“While true, you'd be doing better if you'd stop staring at my ass every chance you got.” Eve replied.
“Please lass, if you're gonna lie make it believable. Can't stare at what's not there.” Damien countered as he lunged forward. Making use of his taller frame and reach. Trying to force the pirate back, directly into the charging Dalia. Much to his surprise his opponent stepped forward. Blocking his balde with her own, and in one smooth motion flinging a dagger from her sleeve. Damien let out a gurgling cry as the balde sunk into his neck. Dalia screamed as she closed the distance. Stepping forward she brought her cutlass to bear upon the pirate captain. Steel biting deep into her foes' armor Dalia continued her charge, lifting the surprised pirate one her blade and letting her weight drive her further down the blade.
“Now that's passion. I promise not to hold this against you.” Eve said, drawing a small glass sphere from her overcoat. She threw it at Dalia, it shattered against her coat and released a blinding flash. Dalia felt a searing pain set into her head, clouding her vision and her mind. She tried to take a step forward and fire lit up her whole body. Collapsing forward the last thing she saw was the grinning pirate captain.
Within minutes Eve's crew had subdued every person on the Oystergull. Most of the pirates then set about looting the ship. Save for Briar, the first mate, who began searching for her Captain. As Briar walked up stairs of the Main deck she spotted her Captain Eve next to two fallen sailors. One clearly the captain of this vessel judging by her vibrant blue overcoat. That wasn't surprising, Eve was one of the best fighters on the crew. What was surprising was the pool of red slowly spreading through Eve's frock coat.
“Captain!” Briar shouted rushing forward.
“Briar, about time. I only knocked out the captain. Need to assess if…if she'll make for good crew…ugh.” Eve began to pale lightly.
“We have plenty of crew captain. You shouldn't have risked…this!” Briar said, motioning to the wound in Eve's side. She put one hand on the blade and Eve's hand shot out.
“Don't be stupid girl! The blades ta’ only thing slowing the bleeding. Fetch a healing potion.” Eve said harshly.
“We don't have any Eve.” Briar whispered.
“What?” Eve said, eyes widening in fear.
“Amelia drank the last ones a week ago to help with her monthly bleeding.”
“They don't help with that! That bitch jist wanted us out so, Urgh!” Ebe let out a groan of pain. “Fine search their ship. A vessel this small and well armed must have something that can help!”
“True, and they didn't have a doc on board. So that means they must have some form of healing. Okay Stay here and try not to die.” Briar said hustling away. Moving with determination but not in such a way as to draw attention or panick anyone.
Next…   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2025 max (UN: maxim at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
thescientist77 has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author