Demetrius Jones

It was two weeks later that the anchor of The Sovereign finally splashed heavily into the turquoise waters of Bruvendär. Above us, hundreds of seagulls squawked greedily, hovering close to the fishermen who were unloading their catch of the day. Ships akin to ours, though smaller in size, bobbed silently by the docks while its crew dragged their weary feet to inns or the bar. I breathed in deeply as the light wind hit my face, which probably wasn't the best idea according to my nose, and stored the scent of this new country into my memory. It was completely different from Hath'eruil. Back home, the smell of fish and damp wood filled the air. As a fishing town, it was unavoidable and the daily invasion of the mist never left the surfaces dry for too long. Bruvendär had an abundance of scents. One moment there would be the scent of meats cooking and bread baking, then a swift change to fresh fish and then without warning the drifting waft of a crowd of men who hadn't bathed in weeks would assault my nose.

The sun shone brilliantly directly above in the sky and the crew were ordered to restock the ship before being allowed to relax in the port. I volunteered to store the last of the cargo into the storage cabin since I didn't want anyone finding Jasper and Jelma in case they were punished for being stowaways or having the two orphans rat me out. I heaved the last sack of potatoes over my shoulder as a drop of sweat dripped from my brow onto the deck and walked the last distance to the storage cabin. The entire crew, including Captain Boltar, had disappeared into the town the moment I volunteered to finish the restocking.

During the weeks out at sea, it had become apparent to me that Captain Boltar was hiding something. Not in the literal sense, but it seemed as though his personality would leap from strict and polished captain to suspicious and unreliable sailor. I shrugged my tired shoulders and wiped the sheen of sweat from my forehead. Perhaps I was imagining it all, after all I was new to sea, but there was something that wasn't quite right about the captain. It kept me on edge and wary of his mood any time I was within his vicinity, which happened to be quite often as I was navigating the way.

"Alright, Jasper... Jelma, you can come out." I called out to the seemingly empty corner of the storage room. Two dark haired heads popped up from behind a crate and waited a moment before standing up and manoeuvring towards me. Behind them, Bones trotted out from their hiding spot. He had taken to the children with surprising affection and would usually be found sleeping between them. "Okay, you stay behind me. I'll walk up first, check if the coast is clear then you two are free to leave and start a new life in Bruvendär."

"Thank you, Demetrius!" They smiled in unison. They looked so similar they could have passed as twins and I felt myself smiling back at the two children who made my first voyage at sea a memorable one. Every night since the night I discovered them I had managed to sneak food out from the kitchens and deliver it to them undetected. Within those weeks the two of them had already been able to gain some proper weight on them to the point where they genuinely looked healthy. Cook, as I found out was how he preferred to be called, constantly had dagger-like eyes boring into me. By a happy coincidence, Cook never mentioned a word to Captain Boltar of the missing rations because of a personal stock of sweets and rum that he brought on board and would sneak late at night, which was prohibited.

It was easy to sneak Jasper and Jelma out of the ship and onto the solid ground of the port. There was no sign of the crew anywhere close by, but just in case I happened to miss one, we continued walking until we were behind a large tree. Bones stretched out his legs and circled around to sniff the trunk. "Well, looks like my part is done." I said with an awkward nod.

"Thanks for everythin' Demetrius!" Jasper replied, holding his sister's hand. "You're one of the good ones!"

"You'll be alright by yourselves?" I asked, pushing down the worrying feeling in my chest. These orphans couldn't be more than eleven or twelve years old and I couldn't shake the feeling of guardianship over them.

"We've always bin by ourselves, Demetrius. Ain't nothin' new. We'll be fine! I'm already liking Bruvendär better than back home." Jasper laughed. He threw his small and callused hand out and I couldn't help the tug in the corner of my lips as I shook his hand.

Next, I turned to Jelma and handed her a small pouch. She tilted her head in confusion but opened it up. "Demetrius...! Thank you!"

I waved my hand and patted her gently on the shoulder. "It's just a few baltiks..."

With that, I turned and walked away but stopped when Jasper called out with a chuckle. "For our trouble?"

I grinned. "To keep you out of trouble."

***

As night fell, I was once again struck with the differences between Bruvendär and Hath'eruil. The sun had set and the night sky was splashed with stars that twinkled so astoundingly bright that they may as well have been jewels. Back home in Hath'eruil, to be able to view the stars at night was a rarity given that the mist only grew thicker as the sun dipped lower. Bones had disappeared in town to try all the new scents but I knew without a doubt that once I returned to The Sovereign he would be asleep yet again on board. I dug my hands into the pockets of my coat and wondered into a bar called The Siren's Grotto.

Warmth immediately wrapped around me and my ears were assaulted with raucous laughter, the tinkering of glass, loud conversations and a cheerful song that was played on a piano I couldn't find. Grabbing a stool by the bar I ordered food and a glass of whisky. The food was pleasant enough but their particular whisky burned down my throat like fire water. I grimaced, coughed and then ordered another one.

"Not a single rumour!" The familiar loud voice of Captain Boltar shouted next to me as he suddenly plopped himself onto a vacant stool. His voice was slurred and he looked completely dishevelled as he knocked back another glass of whatever he was drinking. "I've enquired around all the bars and a not a single rumour of the Pirate Queen's whereabouts was told, not even a whisper!"

"Do you think the people are frightened, Captain? Or maybe no one has actually seen her?" I shrugged.

"They're frightened, Quartermaster! Cowards! The bunch of them!" He growled. "I want that Pirate Queen... I have grand plans once I capture her. The King wants her alive, you see. Figures she could be valuable to another country, or even as a warning to others. I don't know... All I know is he is keen to have her alive, and I bet my ship he would pay a fortune to have her in his grasp."

I stared at Captain Boltar from the side of my eyes and I realised that, not only was he drunk, but he was a rogue hidden amongst the King's men - dare I even think a pirate! He actually planned to capture the Pirate Queen not for our King, but for his own greed. I shook my head and ignored the Captain talking to himself. He was a liar, a scoundrel and hungry for money. As I reflected over the fact that I was sailing under the direction of a rogue King's man I looked up and noticed a woman walk into the bar with tall, confident grace. The more I watched her, the more I realised that while her confidence caught my attention, it was also the delicate features on her pretty face that held me. She was more beautiful than the fishermen's daughters in Hath'eruil. I watched her stride across the bar and sit in the far, shadowy corner. The sailor's hat she wore over her hair was pulled off and tossed in front of her, allowing a cascade of hair to tumble down her back, but the darkness of the corner prevented me in seeing much else.

I had minimal experience with the likes of women. I could recount the tales of stars or switch back and forth between several languages with ease... but the thought of introducing myself to the woman and asking her name caused heat to warm my cheeks. However, whether that was due to blushing or the after effects of quite a few whiskeys, I wasn't entirely certain.

Beside me, I hadn't realised the Captain had continued talking, but rather than continue my attempt at listening to this rogue, I stood and turned to him. "Sir, I think I might circulate and see if anyone is willing to whisper any information about the Pirate Queen."

"Good job, Quartermaster. Relay anything you find useful."

I replied with a nod and turned to leave. As I neared the woman in the shadows I felt the warmth of the whiskey in my stomach. My confidence grew and I stood tall as my quick stride slowed down to a steady saunter. Once I was next to the mystery woman I recalled the Bruvendärian language, tilted the corner of my mouth up and asked her, "May I buy you a drink, m'lady?"

Fallon Avery

We sailed for a month after finding the Bruvendärian maps and books and finally, finally the Bruvendär Port came into view. I had spent night after night staring at the maps, trying to decipher the words of the books and parchments. I was becoming slightly obsessed, I could feel it, but with the offer of a new adventure just dangling in front of me I couldn't stop myself. We sailed outside the border of Bruvendär until night fell so as to hide the identity of our ship. As we pulled in closer, the only source of light was the full moon that hung low and bright with the scattering of stars surrounding it.

I stood, hands on my hips, at the helm while the crew ran to their respective areas. I had tucked my hair beneath my hat and overlooked everything ran smoothly. A light wind still blew in the air and it was always a good omen for us. In case we needed a quick escape we still had that on our side.

"Drop the anchor! Furl the sails! Alright men, I want the ship restocked within the hour. You have until sunrise to be back on the ship... then if all goes well, we shall find ourselves on a brand new adventure!" Their roar of excitement had me smirking once more, but before they rushed off to restock the ship I held a hand up. "Be warned! If you are not on the ship by the time we set sail, we do not come back for you. Drink, eat and whatever you wish to do, but keep your mouths shut and your ears open for the signal in case our plans are blown to dust."

I glared around at the men who had served as my crew for the longest period of time and tried to drive home the point I was making. We were wanted pirates but to the people ashore we were but a myth or a ghost that could never be caught... and I wanted to keep it that way. My glare was met with nods and the calls of 'Ay, Captain' of the men before they crossed the plank to the dock. I ventured back down to the Captain's quarters and decided to bid my time until I ventured out for my translator.

The thuds of the men's boots on the deck above my quarters had ceased long ago and I decided it was the perfect time to begin my endeavour for my Bruvendärian translator. After locking the maps and books away I pulled on my coat, tucked my hair beneath my hat and ensured my leather strap across my chest carried my dagger, pistol and baltiks.

The air was warm as I sauntered through the cobblestone streets. Boisterous laughs of drunken men with ladies clinging just as drunkenly to them were almost everywhere now that the night was in full stride. The respectable merchants, wives and children were home in bed and the less than respectable men and women crawled out to play. I sneered at the man who tipped his hat in my direction and did a double take at a bar whose sign read The Siren's Grotto.

I peered through the doors and then glanced down the street at the competing bars and inns. The Siren's Grotto had people spilling out the doors, the music and laughter was louder and there was a plethora of beautiful and brassy women all about. The latter practically made the decision for me to choose this bar. From experience, I knew that where there were women, there were also many men vying for attention. I raised my chin and sauntered forward confidently into the bar and despite the crowd standing in any available space I pushed forward and never had to break my stride. I found the perfect spot at the back corner of the bar, it was dark and over shadowed by the side of the stage that housed a man with a dull expression playing an oddly cheerful tune on the worn out piano.

I slid into the seat and gazed around at the different people settled inside while I removed my hat and let my hair tumble down around my shoulders, it was dark enough that it appeared brown. Before I even had the chance to call over the man behind the bar there was a light tap on my shoulder. Slightly turning my head I barely stopped my eyes from gazing up and down at the man in front of me. He was tall, quite tall in fact, with dark features and a kind smile that seemed out of place in such an atmosphere. He tilted hat in greeting and spoke to me in Bruvendärian. He didn't seem overly drunk, nor was he exuding any notion of becoming too familiar. He stood far enough out of my personal space to keep me comfortable and as he spoke he gestured to the barman. I was no master at Bruvendärian, but it was simple enough to realise he was questioning whether I would like a drink.

I smiled and nodded my head. "Yes, thank you." I replied in Teramirin, my own language.

His eyebrows shot upwards in surprise before he relaxed and smiled. "What may I buy you, m'lady?"

Suddenly it was my turn to be surprised. Had I truly stumbled across my translator without even having to lift a finger? "Double whiskey, hold the ice."

The man blinked twice before chuckling to himself and giving his and my order to the barman. "Two double whiskeys, no ice. Thank you." As the barman slammed our glasses onto the bench the man turned his body towards me and leaned against the bar. "So, you're from Teramir?"

"I was, once upon a time. You, however, are not from Teramir as I can gather from your accent." I replied as I tilted my head back and gulped the entire contents of my glass in one go. I sighed contently at the warm sensation that burned down my throat and into my stomach. The Siren's Grotto served quality whiskey.

He stared at my empty glass and lightly shook his head, ordering another double whiskey for me and indicating to leave the bottle. "No, m'lady, I'm not. I'm originally from Hath'eruil, though I speak many languages."

It seemed too easy...

"Is that so? I'm genuinely interested...!" I leaned forward and smiled brightly at this curious man. If I pitched my offer just right and he agreed, this would have been the easiest proposition to arrange.

The man smiled and nodded, tipping back his glass and coughing. I laughed, somewhat shocked at the sound of my own laughter, and clapped him on the back until his coughs eased into splutters. "I apologise, m'lady. I wasn't paying attention. Though, I daresay I have forgotten my manners as well, my name is Demetrius Jones, pleased to have made your acquaintance."

He held a hand out. I stared down at it, almost feeling as though this man... Demetrius, he said, was quite atypical of a place like this. He was too respectful and polite and if I was being honest, it was making me feel a little unnerved. Nonetheless, I shook his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Demetrius."

"You didn't tell me your name, m'lady." He laughed.

I smiled in return and swallowed another glass of whiskey. "No, I didn't."

Demetrius and I spoke for what seemed like hours. My previous suspicions that he didn't frequent bars very often rang true when I realised he wasn't a heavy drinker. The more we drank, the more his words slurred, though he never moved into my personal space... choosing instead to lean backwards against the bar to keep upright. I figured this was the best time to hammer down the important questions.

"So what precisely are you doing here, Demetrius? It's obvious you don't drink much, and as a sailor that's a bit odd, in my experience." I asked while pushing another drink towards him from the bottle we were quickly emptying.

For the first time since we began conversing, Demetrius sobered up slightly and narrowed his eyes at me. He waited a beat before deciding to answer, "I am sailing in a quest, ordered by the King of Hath-reel... Hath-er-wheel... Hath'eruil, to seek, capture and return back home with a certain legendary Pirate Queen. However, recently I have discovered my captain is not quite pure-hearted in his obligation to the King. I am quite disheartened to think he may be a rogue in disguise."

A smirk curved the corner of my lips and I raised my eyebrows in question. "Is that so? How about you, Demetrius, where does your sense of duty lie?"

Demetrius straightened on the stool and puffed his chest out. "I am a respectable sailor, m'lady. I am no rogue, nor pirate! I would follow my King's orders, however, I do not wish to return back to the tiny fishing town I grew up in."

I leaned forward, close enough for him to hear my whispers. "There is a vacancy in my crew aboard my ship. I require a translator who reads and understands Bruvendärian. Surely this chase for the Pirate Queen is futile. No one has ever, or will ever, capture her. If ever they do meet her, they never return to their King or Lord with her. Surely, you find my offer for a new expedition more exciting?"

I leaned back, using my body as I means of distraction, to persuade Demetrius into agreeing. I despised when men leered at my body simply because I was a woman, but I was pleasantly surprised that that wasn't the case with Demetrius. Instead I could see the cogs in his head churning... very slowly. The amount of alcohol we consumed was making it difficult for him to think properly, but I could see he was trying to work something out.

"Your crew? I don't mean to offend you, m'lady, but it is a rare occurrence that a woman has... her own... crew..." It was then that I realised he was piecing two and two together to slowly add up to four. Just as the answer clicked, there was loud shouting behind us as a fight broke out. The sound of a gunshot ricocheted around the bar and the blast from the gun powder momentarily lit up the shadowy corner we sat in - enough to show the true colour of my hair and coat.

"Pirate Queen!" Demetrius shouted in surprise.

The brawl behind us was growing louder and closer, my time was running out much too quickly, but I focused on remaining calm. "In the flesh, Demetrius... Yes or no to accompanying my crew? You have five seconds..."

***

A/N

What will Demetrius' answer be?

Just a reminder to everyone that I have entered this story into the #Wattys2016 competition. Please help me by commenting/voting/sharing the story with your friends/family/followers. It's a quick click but would mean the world to me!

I'm also open to covers for this story :)

Also, for the moment, I wait until I receive at least 200 reads on a chapter to update the next one!

Nix<3