1) The Adventure Begins...
Thirty-three minutes. That’s all Alicia has to prevent herself from dying from boredom. It was true that she was on the biggest ship the navy could offer, still, it was a monotonous journey. Apart from rigging a few ropes, straightening or folding the mast and helping her fellow workers cook, the seas had little to offer. Since dinner was hours away, she found herself sitting on the port beam and settling her blue star eyes into the wide blue expanse of the sea.
“Hey!” she heard a gruff voice behind her. She looked around to find herself face to face staring into the hazel eyes of Lucus. “I got drinks,” he said, handing a green plastic cup just like the one he was holding.
“Is it apple juice again?”
“Haven’t got much of an option, have we?” he responded. Though he was right in a way, Alicia still sighed. The more the days on a ship the more boring it was getting.
“You are tired from our journey.” he noticed, making himself comfortable beside her.
“Tired is a strong word.” she sipped her juice “I just want a chance to stretch my legs.” he nodded at her thoughts.
“I agree that we need to relax a bit one of these days, but I don’t see the need to be on land,” he replied in a sincere tone turning his head away from her and looking towards the armoury. A huge grin worked on Alicia’s face which infected him as soon as he looked at her.
“After you, Hermano mayor,” she said standing up.
Lucus Montero had met Alicia Castillo five weeks ago when their journey started on this ship. However, he soon adopted her as his little sister. He was a year older than her but being the only one under twenty on the ship the two had formed a stronger bond than any other.
“Here. Take it and get ready. I won’t be as lenient as last time.” he said, handing her a cutlass while himself grabbing a cavalry sword.
Alicia smiled at that memory. Lucus had a brawny build, which often gave him a lot more strength advantage than she had. Being slender and slinky she usually lost all her sword fights with him. However, last time, she had gone lucky and using her fast pace and taking defence as her move, she had finally been able to defeat him. He had detested the idea for two whole days before taking on the ‘mercy idea’ as a vindication strategy. Of course, Alicia knew that she will pay for it today, but she was nevertheless happy at the idea.
“Why do you prefer cavalry swords to cutlasses? Aren’t cutlasses more stable on a naval platform?” she asked him curiously.
He shrugged. “They might be. But cavalry swords just kind of fit well in my hand.” Waving the topic aside, he took his position on the deck. “Are you ready?” he asked playfully.
“Born ready.” she replied. He started running towards her raising his word to bring it down on her left side. Alicia easily dodged it turning towards her right, sending an easy blow on his left abdomen.
“Whew...” a large cry escaped the sailors those who had formed a ring around them watching the fight. It was a common practice to watch people do fights on a deck and somehow Alicia never minded. It was a change of sight if nothing else.
“Careful Castillo.” the captain called out from near the rudder. “We don’t want him dead two days before he turned twenty. His mother wouldn’t be proud you know,” he said satirically.
Lucus made a sour face as others busted out laughing. “I can take her,” he said, though his voice betrayed his confidence. He advanced at Alicia again going for her right this time but her fast pace again helped her to cover up. However, this time he was successful in keeping his defence thereby preventing any attacks from the opposition. Trying to keep her balance and find an open corner, Alicia struck her sword towards his right shoulder. Even so, Lucus saw the attack coming. He ducked towards his left, saw an opening and slashed his sword at her right leg.
“How’s that!” he commented showing his teeth through his wide grin.
“I guess we are even,” Alicia commented shifting her weight on her legs.
“I still haven’t won.” He said matter of factly.
They were at a distance of two swords now, closer than what’s usual. He touched the tip of her cutlass with his sword. She instinctively moved in swinging her sword to deflect his when he dropped it under hers and attacked from the other side. Her blade was too far away to respond in time as he swished around grabbing her cutlass hilt on his sword and gently flicking it away from her, therefore disarming her.
“I won,” he said in a jolly sing-song tone.
Alicia sighed. “Guess you did,” she said, clearly lacking his enthusiasm. “It was a good move though. You will have to teach me.”
“As you say hermanita” he bowed giving her a lopsided smile.
The captain had already started to make people go back to their positions as he made his way to the wheel. “Castillo put the swords back in the armoury and rigg the starboard quarter ropes Montero. It’s enough enjoyment. I want all hands to the deck.” the captain barked his orders.
Someone handed her her cutlass as she made her way to the armoury after picking up Lucus’ sword. As soon as she stepped inside, her heart seemed to fill with joy. The armoury was the only place she felt safe on the ship. Ever since her father’s incident, she had a constant fear of being attacked from behind her back. It was difficult for her to cope, but she had already made up her mind when she had decided to join the navy for her father’s sake. God forbid, her father was not only the reason for her joining the forces, in fact, he also became her medium. He was the only reason a nineteen-year-old girl was allowed to be on the biggest navy ship Stanfield could offer.
Her mother never wanted her to leave. Being their only daughter, she was her only life after her father was brutally murdered. She had to promise her a lot of things before her ‘Ma’ actually agreed- the biggest one being revenge.
The captain never made things easy for her. He was always too cautious and observant for her. Captain Ruford, being an elderly man knew that anger can bring out really bad things in a human. Nevertheless, he had agreed to give Commander Edgar Castillo’s daughter a chance, for which she was utterly grateful to him. It was only him and Lucus who knew her real reason to be on a voyage yet she didn’t doubt that the crew would have made her last name’s connection to the fieriest man who ever served the naval forces.
Arranging the swords properly she made her way out of the armoury. She was closing the doors when she heard a voice from above her.
“Captain, there is a ship approaching from the starboard bow. It’s gaining fast and it doesn’t look friendly.”
It was Fiore, the ship’s navigator. Alicia could see him in the crow’s nest with his binoculars on his eyes. Impulsively all of the crew’s heads turned towards the position he had just pointed to.
As Alicia made her way through the amidships, she began to see the outline of a very large ship. Seeing the ship, she remembered her first day in the navy. The captain had very proudly told the crew members that they should be thrilled to be part of the biggest navy war machine. However, the approaching ship was definitely way bigger than their own. This could mean only one possibility, the turning ship was not in the company of the navy.
As if on cue, the captain called for attention. “Everybody, arm yourself,” he shouts from near the wheel. “People on the vessel are unquestionably not friendly. I want two men at each cannon and four people to raise the mainmast. The wind is close reached and we might get a chance to pull off from here before it gets dirty.” he commanded with a monotonous voice yet with an injunction in it.
Alicia ran to arm herself. As she was strapping her knives on her arms Lucus sprang up from behind her. “I don’t think we will make up from this alive,” he told her while strapping up her armour.
“Don’t think negative, Luc” she said in a motivational way. “There is always a way out. You taught me that. Besides you know that I have to make it out alive and I need you on my side when my moment comes.”
“I think your moment has already come Ali,” he said looking into my eyes. I looked towards him curiously when I saw the ship in his eyes and realisation dawned on me. “The time has come to revenge your father.”
