Writer - PreciousPeach, Character - Vince "Icarus" Rye

Seagulls were flying high above, along with the waves lapping at the hull of my ship, which were the only sounds I could hear. I was calmly standing up on the quarter deck, my hands gripping the handles of the ship’s wheel. My eyes were closed momentarily as the sun’s harsh rays were blinding me from time to time as the wind swept the half raised sails to and fro which were otherwise covered by the large pieces of fabric. 

- Ship up ahead!

I looked up towards the crows nest, above the sails. The man stationed there waved and hollered down towards me and the rest of the men on deck. I reached for my spyglass, extending it before placing it against my left eye whilst closing the other. As the sails were half-mast I could easily see past the bowsprit of my ship and further towards the horizon. Indeed there was a ship, painted in a dark royal blue colour with golden accents, with a large union jack waving in the wind. A royal navy ship of the british empire. What on earth was a single ship of this size doing so far from home? Possibly escorting a person or goods of importance and thus possibly Interesting enough to approach. 

- Dawn!

I called upon my right-hand, Alex Dawn, wanting her opinion if it was truly wise to pursue the ship. Not long after I had called out for her, I heard a pair of light feet make their way across the main deck and up the set of stairs to my current position by the ship’s wheel. If I had been more attentive when younger, the woman before me could very likely have been my betrothed, yet we were companions and life long friends, but no real romance had blossomed between us. Both being content with sharing bed and bread between the two of us as well as our friend and navigator of my ship, David. Us three had always had a strong kinship, which was perhaps odd to most, but nothing that bothered any of us.  

- Aey, Captain! What is the matter?

- The ship up ahead is a lone ship from the empire.

Her hair was flowing free halfway down to her shoulders, in curls of chestnut brown, a pair of hooped earrings in gold moving with the wind as she’d tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Alex’s forrest green eyes were alluring, with a hint of danger as she eyed the small yet distinct shape of the ship further ahead of us by what seemed to be the end of the world, tipping over the horizon, yet we all knew it was a mere illusion of the spherical shape of our earth. 

- So you think we should engage?

- Why even ask me? You know I love to bathe my swords in the blood of British men. 

- I thought perhaps you too would suspect the ship to carry valuable goods, why else would it be all alone?

- My thoughts exactly captain, I too think it is worth engaging. 

We both looked up only to find David now standing on the last step of the stairs leading up to the quarter deck where both I and Alex were still standing. He moved closer to me, hand holding onto his own spyglass. David was a more reserved soul in contrast to Alex, his wavy dark hair reaching to his shoulders, eyes dark and filled with secrets, lips plump yet manly as he fixed them in a neutral expression.

- It is unusual for you to seek danger with the Brits my friend. 

- Aye, you usually don’t chime in whenever we wish to plunder the empire. Why the change of hearts David?

- I believe the danger is worth the reward in this instance. We just need to sink the ship, leave no survivors to tell the tale and lead the empire to us. They could have just as easily been victim to the unrulling sea.

- I agree. We take no hostages, unless they are worth the gold, and sink the ship to the bottom of the sea. 

- Aye! Is that an order, Captain?

- Yes.

Alex didn't need another word as she began to holler to the crew below, to set sail towards the lone ship up ahead, no hostages unless worth the gold, and to sink the ship. The men were excited, beginning to reel down the sails to full mast. My ship, The Lone Rose, now picking up in speed as we gained on our chosen foe. 

It didn’t take long before we were within hearing distance, the Brits were just as loud as my own crew, yelling to each other and preparing for battle. I called upon one of the gunmen, a low whisper of “prepare the front guns”. His rotten toothed smile was wide, eyes ablaze with lust of death upon the British men ahead, right by our fingertips. We were now barely two ships behind the large vessel, closing in on their steer. They must wonder why we were not engaging, steering to creep up their side so both could engage and fire their cannons.   

- Ready when you are, Captain!

I let out a long breath, readying my mind for the chaos that would consume us for the time being, until every last Briton on the large vessel ahead had pleaded for mercy, before tasting the steel of my unlawful crew.

- Fire!

With loud booms, the tripled sets of cannons pointed forwards on the ship, fired, shooting through and splitting the wood and windows of the captain’s hut and the hull. My men cheered as they quickly reloaded the guns for another round. Now realising their position, the royal ship began turning, ever so slowly due to its size and width. It was not a ship built for speed or evasion.

- Fire!

The second round had made contact with the large ship’s rudder, making it shatter into large chunks along with more damage to the hull of the ship. I quickly ordered the men to refocus onto our cannons that would be facing the Brits, as I began turning the ship to face them sideways. My ship was nimbler, and thus it wasn’t a difficult task to do, the British ship was barely half-turned before they had the time to get a good shot of us, we fired our twenty cannons at once, now damaging the ship even further along its side. Large holes could now be seen on the hull of the ship and along the deck. People were screaming both in fear and agony as they opened fire with their batons and pistols. I quickly pulled out my own pistols, one in each hand before ordering my men to re-load the cannons and open fire towards the Englishmen. 

The chaos that ensued was just as bloody and exciting as I would have hoped. 

The empire trained their men well, but all the same, and thus they were predictable. It wasn’t long before my men had begun to swing over to the royal ship, exchanging both swords and bullets between them. The now quickly shrinking amount of the British crewmen was a clear indication enough for me to now swing over in search of their Captain. A few english men tried and quickly failed to stand in my way, letting my pistols blow out a large crevice in their chest or head. Making my way to the captain’s cabin, I quickly kicked in the door, now faced with a cowering man in a wig and powdered face. 

- I should not be surprised to find a distinguished Englishman such as yourself cowering in fear as your own men are being slaughtered.

- Silence Pirate! You know nothing of grace and serving under the crown of the British empire!

- I do not. I can not say I am so inklined to find out after finding you here, cowering like a hurt mut in the corner.

- I-

- A Captain so weak does not deserve to die by my hands, as you are worth less than that of a dog.

At this the powdered face of the captain became just as rosy as his rouged cheeks, his cutlass now drawn, not a single drop of blood on its steel surface, indicating the coward had yet to engage himself in a fight. A man with no gut nor honor. 

I quickly replaced my pistols with my own sword, a rapier, before approaching the Brit, beginning to spar with the coward. Unlike what one could suspect of a man in hiding, he was skilled with his sword. I found myself time and time again barely missing the blade as it was thrust through the air, barely missing my body as I twisted and turned to avoid his attacks. 

By the time I had unhanded the Captain, my arm had been cut, and was steadily spilling onto the floor of the captain’s cabin. I let the tip of my Rapier press against his pale neck, as he was now on his knees. I heard someone coming in through the door behind me, releasing it must have been one of my own men as his steps were calm rather than rushing to attack me from behind. 

- Yes. Can I help you?

- Oh aye Captain, we have killed all on board.

- Good, you can tell me to start plundering this ship for anything valuable. Before you leave, get rope and tie this one up.

- Aye, Captain.

I didn’t look at the man beneath me, waiting for the crewman to return with rope and bind this gutless man to his own ship. The crewman quickly returned with rope, and began to tie the Brit to the metal rings that were used to secure his own desk to the ship. With that the crewman left us once again. I now finally looked down onto the brit who was cautiously watching me, his eyes shaking in fear as he realised his fate.

- I will not kill you, for your blood is not worthy of my sword.

- Then what will become of me, pirate?

- You shall die as a Captain should. By being claimed by the sea, and go down with your ship.

The man watched in horror, his eyes wide as saucers when hearing his fate. I didn’t bother listening to his pleas as I turned around, letting my sword return to it’s sheath before closing the door to the captain’s cabin behind me. Just as I looked up to meet the crew loading food and other goods onto my own ship, I was called upon from further down the deck.

- Captain! We found a lone man, he seeks parlay!

Parlay? Such a term was seldom used by anyone but a pirate, or a madman. I sighed as I made my way towards the stairs leading down below deck. As I descended the stairs I was faced with Alex and a few other crewmen. Once I was by their side, they all parted way until I was faced with a man who I did not recognise amongst my crew. A man with well-tailored clothes in red, black and white, golden details decorated the fine jacket but nothing compared to the man who wore the clothing. His skin was of the same colour as English fudge, with light blonde unruly hair and eyes that were unnaturally purple. He was beautiful for lack of better words, even ethereal in his presence if it weren’t for his sour expression and mood.

- Are you the Captain?

- Aye, and to whom do I owe the pleasure of discussing parlay?

- Me. I am not to be killed by your men.

- Oh? What do you have to bargain with?

- In return, you will have a member of the royal family to do with what you wish.

So the ship had been carrying precious cargo, though I had not been expecting it to be of this high value.

- Is that so?

- Yes. I am Regnard II of Yorkshire, the first cousin of Crown Prince Edward I.

- Would your excellency like to walk his royal arse over to my ship by himself or would he prefer if I carried him like a sack of coal?

My crew was laughing at my remark, but the supposed royal did not seem too faced by my language. He let his hand flick a strand of his blonde hair away from his face, my eyes following the movement intently as his nimble fingers caught my attention. 

- I am quite able to walk by myself.

- Fine.

I motioned for two of my crewmen to take a hold of the royal. The princeling did not seem happy to be manhandled by pirates, his eyes now glowering daggers into my own.

- Lead him back onto my ship, and give him a nice chair to be tied down in. In my cabin.

- Aye, Captain!

The three of them began walking up to the deck, leaving me and Alex alone, finding her quiet as she watched me in silence. As it was out of character for her to be so silent, I found myself unnerved by her change in behaviour.

- You think this is wise?

- You think I am making a mistake?

- I said no such thing. I’m simply asking you to speak honestly. I have not once before seen you take a live hostage before, royal or otherwise. Since when have you cared to keep them alive?

- I am simply seeing him as gold.

- Are you truly, Icarus?

I didn’t give an answer, as I knew I had none to give that would satisfy her, nor myself.