Ben's NaNoWriMo Log

Chapter 33 added Sep 23, 2005
Captain Mordial took his hat off and put it on the table. "Forget it. You're crazy." "Oh, come on," said Sarah, pushing the hat back toward him. "At least consider it." The Midlander leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. "All right, I'll consider it. Let's see... you want to take one ship up against a heavily armed Royal Navy vessel and steal a cargo that's so important to the king that it may as well be next in line for the throne. You and your little bunch don't know a mizzenmast from a yardarm, and I've got two months to prepare. Did I miss anything? Do you need me to do all this blindfolded?" "That doesn't sound so difficult for a man with your reputation." When she heard it put like that, though, Sarah could see where her plan might sound a bit unlikely. Mordial's eyes lit up for a moment at the flattery before he shook it off. "Plus," he continued, "the shipment will undoubtedly be guarded by wizards, as well. If there's one thing any good pirate knows, it's that you leave ships with mages alone." Sarah smiled. "Don't worry about that. I have a secret weapon." The pirate sniffed. "Oh yes, I've heard about your little trick at Sienda." "You have?" Sarah blinked. She felt her stomach clench; she hadn't realized that she would become famous. "Well, the song didn't mention you by name, but by the description and your complete insanity I can only assume it was you. And I can guarantee you that we won't get anywhere close enough to that ship for you to make your bold charge into the jaws of danger." "That wasn't my plan." Mordial still looked utterly unconvinced, so she added, "Okay, I'll make you a deal. Bear with me until I get a chance to show you what the last part of my plan is. If you still think it won't work, I'll let you go on your way." Mordial rubbed his stubbly chin as he considered the proposition. Sarah had taken a great risk, she knew: all he had to so was say no when the time came and all her planning would be for naught. She had taken worse risks before. Finally, the captain grabbed the hat from the table and put it back on his head. "I'll go along with you. For now." Sarah beamed. "Excellent. Let's go take a look at my ship now." She had been worried that Mordial's ship would be a leaky wreck, but she was pleasantly surprised to find a sleek caravel freshly painted in bright red and white. She didn't know much about ships, but it -- she, Mordial corrected her -- seemed the equal of any other in port, save a few larger galleons. The crew was a mix of men from all across the continent. unsurprisingly, there were no women on board, but there were enough Kufriti sailors that Sarah didn't expect too much resistance to their new commander based on gender alone. As they came across the gangplank, Sarah recognized a few faces on board from earlier in the tavern. The crew eyed her warily as Mordial led her back to the poopdeck, followed by her mercenary contingent. There was little surprise as he announced: "I'd like you all to meet the ship's new owner, Miss Sarah Caldwell." The reaction was mixed, ranging from cheers and clapping to scowls. She wasn't sure what to make of it. The cheers were encouraging, though they could just be trying to curry favor with the new person in charge. Likewise, those who were scowling might cause her problems, or they might just be displaying an honest skepticism. It would take some work to turn them all to her side. She stepped up to the edge of the deck, hands clasped behind her back. Her only true friends stood at her back as she addressed the assembled sailors. "I know many of you are concerned about your new commander being a landlubber," let alone a little girl, "but I don't plan to be one for long. I trust that you fine men will be able to instruct me in the ways of the sea." She ignored the lascivious chuckles that emerged from various points in the crowd. "In return," she continued, "I will make you all rich men. Beginning now." She turned to Mordial. "What wages do you normally pay these men?" "A crown each month for seamen, two for masters and pilots." Sarah weighed her pouch in her hand, estimating the value of its contents. Mordial must have been gambling away most of his ship's profits. She handed the pouch to Molly. "Miss Tanner, pay these men double that." A cheer went up, this time from the majority of the crew. She couldn't buy their loyalty, but hopefully she could buy the chance to earn it.
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