A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-Two)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

With Zala, Amelie, and Ship Protector in toll, First Mate “One Eye” Olanis goes through each room and section of the enemy’s ship–her ship.

On the deck Canneta and Areso with the help of Janice and “Unibrow” are bandaging and stitching the wounds of the injured, including the Captain.  “Dizzying Blade” and “Storm Caller” are asleep against the Main Mast from exhaustion.  “Ship Protector” is swimming around the Nagua to see if there is any damage.  Arsema will do the same to the new ship as soon as it’s confirmed no enemy remain alive.  The Cannibal Melinda looks deathly pale but not from wounds.

The outlay of the ship is nearly identical to the Nagua’s.  As they enter the Galley, Olanis notices the enemy cook is bleeding out by the stove.  He has a beautifully crafted espada ropera laying beside him.  She picks up the rapier.  “ “Dizzying Blade” will appreciate this she says with a grin.  Next, she undoes the sheath and grimaces as the cook’s blood drips off it.  At least she doesn’t need to kill him—he’s already expired.

With a grunt Ship Builder pulls the heavyset body towards the doorway to the deck.  “Let’s check out the rest of the ship she says, deftly stepping over the bloody streak left by the dragged body.

They open the hatch to the Hold.  “Ready?” she asks Amelie who is holding a short cross-bow found on one of the enemy sailor’s corpses.

“Oui—yes,” Amelie answers tiredly.

Olanis steps down the stairs.  There’s enough light coming through the open cannon windows to see.  “Dizzying Blade” had been down here.  The corpses of male sailors are everywhere.  She sees a few female pirates.  Belinda, a Spanish girl lies still near Karidia, a girl from the Ivory Coast.  She has to keep her composure.  As the captain of this ship, she must high her true feelings in front of the crew.  She gently brushes away the damp bangs that cover Belinda’s eyes.  The eyes stare lifelessly back.  “Rest love,” Olanis whispers as she pulls the girl’s eyelids down.  She goes over to Karidia.  The girl is still breathing. 

Olanis waves for Zala and Amelie to come down.  She carefully feels around Karidia until she her fingers touch sticky dampness.  “A belly wound just above her navel,” she whispers. 

Amelie passes her crossbow to Zala.  “I will get the Ship Builder,” she says quietly.

Zala stands by the stairs. 

“You’re going to make it,” Olanis assures Karidia as she cuts the sleeve off one of the dead enemy sailors.  She makes sure it is fairly clean before she wraps it around Karidia’s waist.

“Belinda?” Karidia asks in her Ivory Coast accent.

“No, but the two of you helped win the day,” Olanis says with as much enthusiasm as she can muster.  Belinda’s death and that Karidia may survive have brought her closer to the feeling of motherhood then she ever thought possible.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

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;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures