SurfAngel_1031

  “Get ye over’n here d, me be havin’ word’s with ya.” A grizzled pirate named Crence ‘The Crazed’ called out over the white sandy beach. “Tis be important…” Crence ughed, “…mayhaps tis important, all the same get ye over here.”

  A young boy lifted his head in response, still eating his fresh dinner of chicken, potatoes and some leafy green thing he didn’t know the name of. “I, um…name is J-J-Jonny..” He sighed, and ruffled his shaggy brown hair nervously. “C-can I finish e-eating, Crence?”

  Another pirate with a bck bandana outlined in fishbones spoke up. “Ye be bringing the grub with ya, you should, Cap’n feeds us well, she does. Lay to that d.” He pointed to Crence, “Me thinks Crazed, just want’n a small yap.”

  Jonny shrugged and gathered his pack along with the food he was eating. “I-I don’t know everyone’s name yet.” He offered his hand to the bck bandana cd pirate.

  Spitting in his hand, and grinning wide, the man stood up and shook Jonny’s hand. “Honored to cmp paws with’n ya, Jonny-boy. Me goes by Rupert.” Rupert gave the young man a stern look, “Me dun take kindness with mak’n funny with me name, nay.” He plucked a bone from his head and with almost zero effort, affixed it tightly to Jonny’s hair. “Now friends we be.”

  Jonny gave a slight bow and walked over to Crence, then sat down in front of the pirate. “So…so I keep eating?” Jonny asked permission.

  “Aye, ye be feed’n. Ol’Crence not stop’n ya.” He tossed another log on the small campfire. “Few things ya be need’n ta know, ya do.” He waved his arms around, “This here be Rum Runner isle, We keeps our stock here mostly, you get me boy?”

  “I don’t drink, but I think I understand.” Jonny chomped on a chicken leg. “Important pce, got it.”

  Crence ughed and patted the boy on his shoulder. “Aye, you un’erstand. Now hush you, while me tell’n you more.” Crence slipped a devilish wink to the other pirates in the circle. “Alright, listen you here, boy. Me has it on good authority, me does, that the Capt’n wants ta see ya over the ridge there.” The aged pirate pulled the boy close, “When ye go to Ruby One-Eye, mind your tongue, or she be cut’n it out she will.”

  Jonny’s brown eyes went wide, “I, wow…she wouldn’t do that would she?” He asked and saw the entire circle of pirates nod at the same time. “Oh my. So, urence, what do I say?”

  Waiting for the boy to finish his dinner, Crence pulled Jonny to his feet. “Ye announce yerself and stand by, ya do.” He paused, “Be sure that ya be tell’n the capt’n that Crence sent ya.” He winked. “Now boy, scupper your hide over’n that hill.”

  Seeing the confused look on Jonny’s face, Rupert snickered and added, “He means for ya to get away from him and go.” He pointed over the hill.

  Taking a few seconds to clean himself up, Johnny walked to the ocean water and cleaned the dirt and grime from his face and hands, all the while the crew ughed and jeered. “A pretty d we gots, boys!” Jonny did the best he could to ignore the comments and dashed over the sand dune.

  After walking a good hundred feet, Jonny spotted two women huddled together around another fire. Jonny recognized Ruby’s captain’s cap hanging on a small stick. “Welp, that’s her.” He muttered to himself.

  A lean and blue skinned woman leaned up from where she’d been holding onto the captain. “I zee we have a little one watching us, that or he’z lots lost.” She lightly giggled and motioned for Jonny to approach. “I am Avanora. What can we azzist you with new friend?” Her voice came out with a light Russian accent.

  “I, we…the guys..” Jonny stood as straight as he could and tried to keep talking, “…they said the captain wanted to see me. Something important. I am to stand here until told otherwise.”

  A hearty ugh came from the opposite side of Avanora. “Told ya that did they?” Ruby One-Eye sat up and grabbed a bottle of rum that had been ying between her and Ava. Downing a hefty amount, Ruby didn’t bother to cover her bare chest. “Ava, darling. Should we be entertaining this young d? Him looks virginly.”

  Ava turned and her white eyes shimmered lightly. “I can zee that my Ruby iz in a pyful mood.” She looked to Jonny, “Your captain is being a little joker thiz evening.” She pinched Ruby on the arm, “You might give the boy a heart attack with that body of yours, darling.”

  Adjusting her eyepatch over her missing right eye, Ruby pulled on a vish and well-tanned red and bck leather chest-piece of armor, buckling it with the ruby toggles on the sides. “There we be, nay the boy be dying this eve.” Ruby grabbed set of form fitting bck trousers and then tossed them aside, choosing to stay bare. She motioned for Jonny to come over. “Well come ye here boy, let the fire be warm’n ya.”

  “Yes, Captain.” Jonny took a seat on the opposite side of the couple. He took the time to study his captain closely.

  It was easy to see that Ruby-One eye was a fair bit taller than most women, with the exception of the blue skinned Russian beside her. She sported long bck and gray hair, under a red bandana weaved with ce rose petals for an extra seductive look. Her cheeks had a few battle scars that lead up to her missing right eye. While typical scarring detracted from many women, these were in such a way across the bold woman’s face that it added to her beauty. Retaining much of her feminine features, Ruby was both a lean pirate that could swing mast to mast and had enough curves that her clothing hugged her modest hips and fair-sized breasts.

  Training her one remaining dazzling hazel eye on the young man, Ruby smiled and offered him the rum bottle. “Drink up d, spirits shared are spirit bonds, they be.” Ruby took a swig first and handed Jonny the bottle. “Tis an order, boy.”

  “Yes, Captain, Ma’am…I have never had spirits before.” He sheepishly confessed.

  “There be always a first time, little Jonny. Rum will calm ya a wee, go on.” Ruby urged and deftly put her arm around Ava, pulling the blue woman close.

  Jonny closed his eyes and poured the brown liquid down his throat. Burning its way down, the boy got a good portion of the drink down before coughing and pounding on his chest. “That burns, Captain..” Jonny rasped the best he could.

  “Good, ye now part of me crew, official like it is.” Ruby turned and rummaged through a small chest, and pulled out a shiny bck tricorn hat. “Took this off’n marine officer on ya former ship. Tis yours now.” Ruby walked over and fit the hat on the boy’s head, pushing his stringy hair from his face. “Dontcha be tell’n them me did that. Ol’Ruby would hate to be kill’n ya and the others that know me was a touch soft.”

  “Oh ztop, Ruby love.” Avanora giggled and shook her head, “You didn’t save himz just to stab him terz, yez?”

  “Fair enough.” Ruby ughed and settled down with Avanora once more. “Mayhaps a keel haul’n.”

  Shaking his head desperately, Jonny sputtered. “By the captains orders, I won’t say anything.”

  “Ya need’n ta learn the nguage, Jonny. Ya should have been say’n som’fin like, ‘By me life me swear it be that me trap stay shut it will. Lay to it.’ – see how that sounds?”

  Trying to fit in Jonny coined his first term to Ruby, “Aye, Captain.”

  “Good boy. Unfortunately, Jonny-good-shoes, Ye was sent on a wild trek ya was. The crew be haz’n ya a bit. Be want’n me to get all onery and send ya back with fresh scars.”

  “That doesn’t sound like fun, Captain. I would prefer to remain like I am…please.” Jonny adjusted his new hat.

  “How’s about a compromise? Ye stay up here a wee and listen to a tale or two from yer captain and I will send ya back with light scarring, so they won’t keep teas’n ya.” Ruby winked her sparkling hazel eye. “Tis a better offer than meself got.”

  “Yes, Captain.” Jonny nibbled on his lip a second and outstretched his hand.

  “Now ya gett’n it boy.” Ruby shook his hand and then to Ava, “Tis an accord..be seal’n it can ya Ava?”

  “Your wizh, lovely Captain.” Ava raised her palm and a light blue light pulsed and encircled Ruby and Jonny’s hand. “Bound and down, the magic in pce..my sweetz.”

  Ruby sat down and tossed a bit of rum on the fire to make it bze higher. “Well then where to start?” Ruby picked up a handful of pristine white sand and let he fall through her fingers. “Every tale has a beginning, let’s us be there ta start.”

  Avanora leaned on Ruby’s shoulder, “I love this talez, my sweetz.” She looked at Jonny, “If I am right, this is her wedding day.”

  Ruby nodded and drank from her rum bottle. “It all started one fine September day…”