A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates! (Part Six: Blog Thirty-three)
By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series
Master Jo Anne clenches the scrying ball in her left hand as she sits on the bowsprit with her chin jutting out as she peers through the wet wind. Raven had called out that a ship was stuck and listing near the shore of an island called Nasty To Get Off.
She can now see that the mainmast was broken off just below the crow’s nest. She wonders if Peg leg’s Surprise had cannon shot or did the Cannibals? As the Nagua gets closer she knows it isn’t the Cannibal ship but the Surprise. She turns to the ‘Harlot’ and sees the red rimmed eyes under her hand that she uses as a visor. The ‘Harlot’s’ lips are also cracked.
“Is that the Surprise?” the ‘Harlot’ asks in a raspy voice full of worry.
“It is,” Master Jo Anne replies. “But there’s no pinnace aboard and they had two.”
“I want to go ashore,” the ‘Harlot’ says and there’s no room for argument.
“We need to get to the Surprise first, see what’s usable before we check the shore.” Master Jo Anne reaches back and pats the ‘Harlot’s’ shoulder. “The Surprise is listing Northeast!” she shouts.
“Surprise Northeast!” she hears Umi shout from the fo’c’sle, “Wake Captain! Surprise listing!”
Faintly from a distance she hears Aarini’s ragged voice reply, “Aye, aye, ‘Ship Protector’!”
“I’m going to get the Master-at-Arms to teach me how to kill if they ate my Humphrey,” the ‘Harlot’ croaks out. “If they did, by Crazy Bumbee’s hairy arse, I’ll kill them all!”
“You’ll need to eat first and no more rum!” Master Jo Anne tells her with true concern in her voice. Never has she seen the ‘Harlot’ appear so distraught.
As the Nagua nears the Surprise Master Jo Anne hears Aarini shout out the Captain’s orders. “Lower the sails and prepare to drop anchor!” ‘One Eye’ and Zala must still be sleeping if Aarini is repeating the Captian. “Roll call for the pinnace is–,” Aarini continues to shout when the ‘Harlot’ takes off down the fo’c’sle’s steps.
“Me!” Master Jo Anne hears the ‘Harlot’ cries out.
There’s silence for a moment. A moment later Aarini shouts out: “Thelma is chosen! Navigator wake the Master-at-Arms, and if you live wake Zala.” Drunken laughter erupts through the ship. “First Mate Olanis will be in charge of the ship,” Aarini continues, “with me as her First Mate. Our most esteemed Captain will be joining the others on the pinnace. The Captain says, and I quote, ‘A final rule me lovely crew of Mary Reads, if you see any horsemen cantering on the shore, especially if they’re starkers, no catcalls!’”
Dan Watt is the author of BARD an epic fantasy story
Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis: taynorris@gmail.com
With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com;
Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;
Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier: http://fireandsteel.ca/
Alex Watt for background pictures
Daiana Duca for background pictures
Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures
A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates! (Part Six: Blog Thirty-Four)
By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series
Dan Watt is the author of BARD an epic fantasy story
Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis: taynorris@gmail.com
With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com;
Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;
Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier: http://fireandsteel.ca/
Alex Watt for background pictures
Daiana Duca for background pictures
Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures
Tags: Action Adventure, Female Pirates, Pirates, story blog