Posted by Leif G.S. in Fantasy, Flash Fiction, The Wicked Cat Series, The World of Niris (Manuscript World) | 0 Comments
Pirate Fantasy Flash Fiction: The Wicked Cat (Deal)
The 7th entry in the Pirate Fantasy Flash Fiction series The Wicked Cat, the high seas adventure involving pirate, cursed birds, princesses and a little magic too. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
The ‘Sorrow’s Bell’ swayed against the sea, the timbers groaning with every move. The sound of men working on deck rang out over the ship, each sharing vivid stories followed by hearty laughter as the dolphins swam by. The sky was clear, showing the morning sun in all its glory. In the west, the two moons hung above the northern mountain range; their dil white now gleaming against the blue canvas. Brynn nodded with satisfaction as she strolled to the fore, whistling a tune to herself.
As she took her first step on the small staircase leading to the deck, a large feline had poked from around the corner. Brynn stopped, her hand clutching the rail as she kept her eyes on the predator. After some tense moments spent in silence, the large cat yawned and padded away, allowing Brynn to exhale. She released her grip on the rail, noticing her knuckles were bone white and her hand was shaking. “Damned joke keeps backfiring on me; I brought the mage onboard so his familiar can torment that worthless blue devil. The only person the beast’s managed to scare is me!”
Brynn reached the top of the stairs, her eyes locking with the carving of two topless women looking out to sea as they draped themselves over a cracked bell. She rolled her eyes and turned her gaze to the man sitting on the deck. She let her eyes scan over his features. He wore a black pleated skirt with numerous pouches woven in the fabric. His dark skin was flawless; smooth and without wrinkles or scars. His muscles were so tight and defined that it looked as if he were carved from a block of granite. His brown hair was cut short to his scalp but she could still spot the curls and a cowlick on the crown of his head. The man opened his eyes, the blue orbs matching the sky’s color as they shimmered like the ocean when it reflected the sunlight. His voice seemed as though it was coming from the Eight themselves. “Excuse me Captain, is there anything I can help you with?”
Brynn blinked as she turned her head back to look at the carving, attempting to hide the color on her cheeks. “What? I was lost in thought; I didn’t hear what you said.”
“That seems to happen often when you seek me out, Captain. I believe you have too much on your plate to make another visit with Natt and I.”
Brynn’s face turned a deeper red as she cleared her throat, her right hand in her chest as she struggled to find the right words to say. “Y- You’ll have to excuse me on that, Fodd. I worry about all members of my crew and their safety is my top concern. I know my men have confronted you on a few occasions and I didn’t want you to think everyone on the ‘Sorrow’s Bell’ felt the same way.”
“I am used to this treatment, Captain. They react as I expected them to. Most of these men were raised in the South. All people there have some fear of magic and what it can do, treating it with distant and vague threats instead of learning more about it. This is why I have Natt, he helps me stay aware of my surroundings as I cast.” Fodd said.
Brynn tilted her head, her eyebrows lifting as she stared at the bell carving. Moments later, she gasped. She turned to Fodd with a girlish smile across her lips, her eyelids squeezed together hard enough to reveal the small crow’s feet by her eyes. “Ah, yes. The Lost Hope, I forgot in all the excitement over the past few days. Tell me, have you had any luck finding her so far?”
Fodd exhaled and placed his hand on his scalp, running his fingers across his short hair. “We are proceeding on the correct course, Captain. I feel the call from the ship in the distance, faint and weak but it is still there. She seems to be strafing along the King’s Watch Islands.”
Brynn bit her lip and groaned as the blood rushed to her cheeks once more. She turned her back to Fodd, looking out toward the Lyon Mountains in the south. She took a deep breath, her hands shaking as she tried to hide them in front of her. “The last thing I need is to get the attention of the Hyrilan military on King’s Watch. They are doing their best to impede privateers from starting. We are a desired target to use as an example to deter others from rebelling. We need to find a way to lure the damned ghost ship away from those islands so we can have a chance to recover it before she disappears again.”
Fodd rose to his feet, taking a moment to brush the dirt from his clothing. Brynn turned her head and released a tiny yelp as she looked away. She tried to keep her body from trembling as she heard his footsteps behind her. When Fodd spoke again, she emitted a frustrated growl low enough to not be heard. “If I might make a suggestion, we have an item onboard that will draw the Lost Hope to us.”
“If you’re talking about that blue rodent, I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of saving this ship and our lives. The peanut head thinks he runs this vessel as it is, if he manages to get wind he can lure the Lost Hope to us we’ll never hear the end of it. Keep tracking the ship, I want to know when it sails away from King’s Watch!” Brynn snapped.
Fodd stopped, reeling back as Brynn stormed off the deck. He looked at Natt who offered an uninterested yawn in reply. “Yes Captain.”
Brynn stormed down the steps to the main deck, her hands moving through the air while she muttered under her breath. Her shoulder hit Myrilda’s arm, causing her to spin on her heel and thrust her finger at her passenger. Brynn’s mouth opened wide as her eyes narrowed. After a few moments, she closed her mouth and walked away while continuing to grumble. Myrilda turned to Bluefeather and raised an eyebrow. Bluefeather shrugged, stretched his wings and flapped his way to Myrilda’s shoulder. “Come on, lass. There be a little bell on the fore I wish to be showin’ ye.”
If you enjoyed this piece and are new to the series, please click on the link below to start from the beginning. Thanks for the interest and I hope you enjoyed the piece!
