The shrill cries of sea birds sounded over the docks on the small island of Y’Ahno. Two ships were in port. Merchants and thieves plied their trade while the ships sought to restock their stores. The stench of rotting fish, oil, and salt blended into a sea side stench. The ship flags danced and snapped in the ocean wind. Both flags bore a Jolly Roger.
A girl walked along the beach toward the docks. She was drawn to the flags. A vague memory of a man sailing away on a ship with such a flag drove her. For nearly eighteen years she had come to the flags. She walked onto the wooden pier, and searched the faces of the men there.
A pirate grabbed her shoulder. “Hey, beautiful. Are you looking for a man?” Taking in her filthy, battered state, he smiled a rotten tooth smile.
“Yes,” she said with a distant voice. “Do you know Curtis Lee?” Her eyes slid over the people around her seeing nothing.
“I’m Curtis,” the pirate said. “Aren’t you in luck. Found me first off.”
She looked into the face of the man, and shook her head. “No. No. You’re not my father.”
He laughed and gripped her tighter. “Don’t matter. You’re coming with me.”
A face caught her attention. The grip on her shoulder was distant to her mind. Black hair and dark eyes in an oval face pulled her forward. She made small sounds. “Pa. Pa. Pa.”
The familiar face turned, and their eyes met. Her wide eyes closed, and her head dropped. The face was too young. It was the face she remembered, but still not the man she looked for. “No. Not him. Not him,” she said to no one.
The hold on her shoulder became a pulling, bruising force. “I saw you first. You’re mine until I’m through with you.”
The familiar face walked forward. “It’s good to see you again, Cousin. I’m glad you came to see us.”
“Bug off. This one is mine.”
“No. She is the Captain’s cousin. She belongs to no one.”
“What?” The rough hand fell away.
The familiar face smiled death, and the first pirate stumbled back. “This way, Cousin. I’ll take you to see Kraken.”
The girl looked at the extended hand, and flat eyes.
“Kraken? Cousin?”
“This way.”
The girl placed a rough hand into the rougher one of the familiar face, and he tucked it into his elbow. She let him lead her through the chaos of the docks. His form dwarfed her. She could feel a Depth of Strength like deep ocean currents, and wondered if he was a Mer in human skin. His voice was pleasant as he talked about an adventure the crew had before coming to the island. He laughed like rolling waves, and she felt her fear and loneliness slide away. They walked in the pub before she knew where they were.
“Get out. That freak isn’t welcome here.” The bar keep threw salt at them.
The girl cringed and began to back up. She whimpered, flinched and fell.
“That’s okay,” a voice from farther in said. “We’ll just take our business elsewhere. Gabb help the young lady up.”
“Aye, Captain.” Strong hands picked the girl up, and set her on the feet. “Sorry, about that, Cousin. The blame is all mine.”
The girl shook her head, and tried to stop shivering.
“This way, Gabb,” said the Captain.
Gabb tucked her hand back at his elbow and followed. He continued the story, and said nothing when she leaned into him.
The group tried three pubs. None would allow the girl. They walked to a little beach outside of town, and sat on the sand.
“Gabb, go back and get the tent and the tub. Send Matty out right away. Pass the word: no one does business with those pubs.”
“Aye, Captain.” Gabb smiled with molten eyes at the girl. “You’re safe here, Cousin.”
Captain Kraken looked the girl over. Gabb never took an interest in locals. What was it about this damaged girl, who stared at the ships, that drew him? Why call her cousin?
“I’m Kraken,” he said. “Gabb is my First Mate.” He smiled what he hoped was a friendly, open smile.
The girl looked at him. Her eyes were empty, bottomless.
“And you are?”
The girl withered, her shoulder bowed in. “Don’t know,” she whispered.
Kraken knew then why Gabb had helped her.
“Well, I can’t just call you Girl, so, I guess Cousin will do until something better comes along. Why were you at the dock, Cousin, and what’s up with the town? Why are they picking on you?”
The girl looked at Kraken. Three straight scars, like claw marks, ran from his hair line over his left eye to his ear. The scars were faded. They just missed the eye. Rust colored hair hung down over ocean green eyes. “Do you know Curtis Lee? He left when I was two. He looked like Gabb then.”
Kraken saw something move in her eyes. A shadow like a Deep Serpent. His soul smiled. The Serpent Shadows reminded him of his crewman, Ghost, and how he shifted like black silk on the breeze. “No, I’ve never met a Curtis Lee. You sure he became a pirate?”
Cousin nodded, and looked over the bay. “Left with pirates. Flag like . . .” Cousin pointed to the flag on his ship.
“Who takes care of you, Cousin?”
“No one.”
“You don’t have family?”
Cousin shook her head.
Kraken leaned back on his elbows, and stretched his legs out in front of himself. He watched Cousin out of the corner of his eye. She had survived from age two on her own? Was she lying? Or just not able to know the difference? She was a ragged, matted mess. She looked malnourished. Her skin was thin and sallow, and Kraken couldn’t tell what color her hair was for all the dirt. Colorless eyes were too large for her face. Rags hung loose on her body held on by a series of knots.
“Beach, ahoy,” Matty called out as he walked up.
Cousin looked at a man in a flowing black shirt at odds with his sand white hair. He gave a flamboyant salute.
Kraken waved him forward. “This is Cousin. She needs a bath, clean clothes, and food. Also, a hair cut. I doubt you can get all the tangles out. Go to town and get six changes of clothes, three pairs of boots, and a set of good leathers. What colors do you like, Cousin?”
“Colors?”
Kraken stared, his mouth open. He snapped his jaw shut, and inhaled through his nose. “Pick what you think will be nice. Something functional, Matty. And don’t forget the blacks.”
“Blacks, Captain?” Matty looked at the waif with more than a little doubt in crystal clear eyes.
“You want to set sail with us, Cousin? Have adventures? Look for Curtis Lee? Get away from this place? Be a Kraken Pirate? It will be dangerous. You could die. But no one will hurt you on my ship. You will be free on Haven.” Kraken pointed to the smaller ship at anchor.
Cousin looked at the small ship. The figure head was a writhing black dragon with wings spread down either side of the bow. “Yes,” came the soft answer.
“Hop to,” Kraken said, and Matty ran. “So, why don’t you tell me about what is happening between you and the town?”
Cousin looked up and met Kraken’s eyes. “I am a wielder. They are afraid.”
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