Chapter 21 #2
She always feared he’d reject her if she’d tried seeking comfort in him. To have a crying, emotional woman finally release her inner turmoil? Not many men appreciated witnessing it, nor did they understand it was the final bridge of trust that needed to be crossed to gain all of who they were.
For Rosetta, it was just easier to keep it all buried away. I’m used to bottling everything up. Still, despite it all, she felt irrevocably and despairingly alone.
“Looks like the stocks are good enough,” Rosetta said, nodding her head in approval.
It was thanks to Alister, though, that she was able to count the barrels of food and estimate how long it would last with over ninety mouths to feed. She could even do the head count herself.
Before long, they were pushing off the Luxor pier and sailing out to open ocean, heading as far south as she possibly could.
Quiet and uneventful days passed.
“Sail, ho!” someone called from the crow’s nest.
“What kind of ship?” she asked, making her way from the main deck to the helm.
“It’s a fishing boat.”
Rosetta pulled her spyglass from the box and extended its tapered sections. She looked through it to see the small boat in the distance.
She thought for long moments. That looks like a Luxor fishing vessel. They were still rather close to shore, even though they’d been sailing for three days. Hmmm.
She turned her head in the direction of the helm while still looking through her magnifying spyglass. “Mr Andrews, turn starboard side. Head for that ship.”
“But it’s a fishing boat.” His dark brows knotted deeply. “It’s not worth raiding one of them.”
“I know. We can’t leave anyone behind to know which way we’re heading.” When she didn’t get a response, nor feel her ship turning, she lowered it to look at him. “Well? I’ve given you an order.”
“But they’re innocent men, Rosetta.”
“Aren’t those we kill on trading ships innocent men? Aren’t those on fleet ships innocent men? I don’t care what they are. If they recognise this ship from afar, they may tell Queen Mary Anne where we’re heading.”
She didn’t want anyone after her knowing where she was going. Once she was in southern waters, she knew she’d be free. Rosetta was hoping she’d be able to take a proper breath.
“Yes, Captain.” He sighed, turning the ship to the right.
Since it was nothing but a fishing boat with spears and nets, they had been no match for the Laughing Siren and her cannons. Just one cycle of cannon fire and she watched that little boat sink as she pressed on into the horizon.
They started their journey south uninterrupted, mostly.
They dealt with a few difficult storms as they changed oceans and hemispheres. They also passed a trading boat she raided in the hope of gaining additional supplies.
It was a trading boat from the south, one she didn’t need to sink on principle.
They spoke a different language and had darker skin than her.
There were a few men in her crew who were familiar with the language and were able to relay her commands.
The crew easily laid down their weapons and surrendered.
Unfortunately, it was just a ship of wares and only held food enough for the trip they’d been making. She took most of it, leaving them just enough to make it to port.
After that, a solid month on the seas passed, their supplies steadily dwindling. Rosetta knew they were going to have to make port soon.
“How are we going, Mr Andrews?” she asked as she came up beside him and patted his shoulder lightly.
“We’re going well.” He flashed a wide grin at her.
Any transgressions or arguments were generally left in the moment as they tried to hold onto hope and high spirits.
“I’m thankful it seems we’ve passed all the storms. We’ve had clear skies for almost a week now.
It makes manning the helm for long periods easier. ”
She gave a small laugh, unable to wrestle up a real one. “Now that I know. Naeem is asleep?”
She looked up at the bright noon sun. Their shifts had changed again and Naeem was having a nap in the morning so he could take the afternoon into evening shift.
“Yeah, he’s still passed out, but he should wake soon to take over. How about you?” He eyed her up and down, giving a shake of his head with thinned lips. “How are you feeling?”
“Better every day.” Rosetta had been dealt a deep injury and had been trying to heal it. “Thank you for taking the wheel in my stead.”
“Excellent!” he exclaimed, a bright grin spreading across his face. “We’ve all been so worried about you, and I’m surely pleased I won’t have to work so hard soon. How’s the girl?”
Rosetta had really come to enjoy speaking with Mr Andrews. He reminded her of John, just half his age. He was friendly, smart, and held strength in both body and will.
He wasn’t as jolly or funny as Naeem, but he did try to be optimistic – which is exactly how John had always tried to be when he wasn’t acting like a stern father. Considering he’d taken Thomas under his wing, it was no surprise he’d shaped him into someone Rosetta would need in his absence.
“Elizabeth?” She gave a snort of humour. “She’s getting used to the waves, but she’s a landlubber.”
She mostly stayed in the navigation room except to eat. She wasn’t comfortable around the men, no matter how many times Rosetta assured her they were safe.
“What about–”
“Sail, ho! It’s a fleet ship!”
Those words ended their conversation and sent relief soaring through her. Just what they needed – a good, solid ship to take down.
“Which way?” she asked as she reached for her spyglass.
Keat yelled back, “Port side! Three clicks away.”
That meant it was right on the horizon and far away in the distance.
“Head that way, Mr Andrews. Port side.”
She felt the Laughing Siren turn to the left.
“What’s a fleet ship doing this way?” she muttered to herself as she raised her lens.
It wasn’t rare for the north and south to trade, but Queen Mary Anne mostly traded with the west.
“Maybe she’s been opening up her trades,” Thomas remarked, answering her muttering. “It would be wise if she opened her borders. The Southeast Trading Company could easily have a trading route through Luxor.”
“That’s true,” she conceded with a sigh, searching the horizon. “We’ve been out of the loop while we were with the Howling Death.”
Ever since she’d gained her ship, Rosetta stopped paying attention to the shipping routes of the royal fleet. It’s been over a year since I took my ship and looked at the last updated trading alliances and routes.
“You’re right,” she yelled to the man above. “It is a fleet ship.”
With crisp white sails, she could see the queen’s green flag flapping high in the air, attached to the centre mast. She lowered the lens to laugh.
“Looks like we’ll be getting our supplies, boys!”
From what she could see, it was a decent-sized ship. If it was on a long journey, it should have more than enough stock to fix hers.
She wouldn’t need to worry about the life of the men on board since she’d be sending it down to the bottom of the ocean. Rosetta never left those men alive.
She started stomping one of her boots against the ground, hard enough for the sound to echo. “Naeem, you lazy sod. Wake up!”
He’d often told her he could hear her stepping around like she was an elephant. Hopefully, she’d wake him.
When he didn’t emerge and she could see the enemy vessel with her naked eye, she went to the main deck and opened the door. She tried to flip him out of his hammock.
“Hey, I said wake up!”
“What do you want?” He started pushing at her face. “I’m tired, since you do jack shit these days.”
“You can miss out on all the action, then. We’re approaching a fleet ship.”
“Well, why didn’t you start with that?” he exclaimed, laughing as he rolled out and landed on his feet with ease. He started tugging his boots on, hopping around on one foot. “We always need to be quick with those ships. Otherwise, we sink them before we get what we want.”
“Exactly. I’ll need you to take the lead with this. You know I can’t go over in my state.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He put his weapons belt on and double-checked everything was in order. “Alright, let’s go.”
Rosetta walked back up to the quarterdeck with Naeem in tow. She raised her spyglass once more, looking over the ship better now that it was closer.
The queen’s green flag with the royal coat of arms flapped in the wind. She examined the white crisp sails her ships always displayed and moved her lens over the red cedar timber that had recently been polished until it shined. Dark forest-green railings were obviously freshly painted.
As always, the fleet ship was in pristine and excellent condition – clean, painted, and restored like it was on its first adventure.
Now, let’s guess what your name is.
She’d heard multiple names for her ship besides the Laughing Siren: the Happy Sea Maid, the Jolly Mermaid, the Giggling Water Nymph.
That last one was Rosetta’s favourite, considering she was the captain.
The moment Rosetta scanned her spyglass over the bow of the ship, it fell from her hands to hit the ground with a distinct shatter. She’d broken the glass inside it.
Without a care for her poor tool, she quickly turned and pushed up on the wheel of the helm, turning it in the other direction.
“Whoa!” Mr Andrews gasped, releasing it to put his hands up in surrender and let her take over. “What are you–”
“That is no fleet ship!” She yelled so loudly, it almost came out as a screech. “Get us out of here!”
A hitch of breath caught in her lungs as a sharp pain shot through her. She had to stop, almost sagging to her knees in agony.
Naeem stepped forward to help her. She managed to stay on her feet, but she couldn’t stop the deep pounding of fear accelerating her heart rate. Rosetta was choking on her anxiety.
We need to get away. We need to run.
Following her commands, everyone jumped to action immediately to get them moving as fast as they could in the opposite direction.