“I’ve been really itchy lately. Not really sure why though. I mean there could be tons of answers out there. The fact that I haven’t had a bath in two or three month could make it the case but there was that dog sitting next to me a few days ago. He could have giving me a flea or two but now that I think about his owner is that woman who owns the sixth dock area. She wears one of those really expensive blue Fox fur scarf around here neck and it just makes me so angry!

I don’t see how people can look beautiful or stylish for that matter wearing a dead animal around their collar. There’s nothing stunning about going into your backyard and shooting the first fuzzy animal you see.”

I placed the cup I was holding down on the ground. There I was ranting to all the people walking the docks of Port Refea and it wasn’t doing me any good.

Port Refea is a small fishing town off the coast of Tryler one of the big waterways that supplied the whole western Astera. Food, weapons, cows, you name it; it’ll probably comes down here at least once a moon cycle. Many a time I snuck aboard a trade ship or two trying to get myself some better accommodation but I usual got kicked out before the ship set sail.

I raised my cup to a bunch of sailors that were coming down steps. They all took there turn to spit on me and huffed off towards the Grey Piston the largest ship ever to be see in this type of port. The massive warships were all farther down the coast battling with Hyscri our so-called enemies. I never liked the fact that we were constantly battles a nation far inferior to us in technology. It was like our king didn’t want us to roll over and crush them like this war was some type of legacy for him.

I reached into my tattered pant pocket and pulled out my fathers golden pocket watch. The willow tree embedded in its front cap shined in the midday sun making me squint. This was the only legacy I’d live for. I was one of the fortunate kids to watch their parents go off to war and never return. My father gave me this watch before he left saying that it would unlock something only I could have, something precious like I was to him.

“That’s a nice watch you have there Ms. Maine. May I ask who you stole it from?”

I flinched in surprise to the man infront and quickly placed it back in my pocket. I was about to give him a cold frown but realized it was Captain Ramose a famous sailor around these docks. His blue over coat with only three of its five buckles latch blew in the breeze.  “It was my father’s sir…no one else’s…” I bowed my head. I rarely show this type of respect being a beggar but when it came to military men I didn’t want to cross any bad swords.

He scratched his brown beard and laughed. “Aye, I’ll believe you this time.”  He stuck his palm out. “Just let me have a look…”
I reluctantly took it out and placed it in his hand but before he withdrew his hand I grabbed onto it. Two of the sailors behind him unsheathed their swords slightly to my sudden action. I leaned forward a bit and looked into the brown eyes of the Captain. “You better give it back.” This prompted the sailors to walk at us but Captain Ramose raised his hand to stop them.
He smiled to me and nodded. “I promise you I will. I’m not like the scurvy captains around here and I’d hope you’d see me that way.”

I looked away and let go of him. He raised the watch up into the sky and watched it twist and twinkle in the light. He brought it down and moved his finger over the willow tree and it seemed to spark something in his eye. I turned my head to the sudden change and quickly stood up which again made the sailors step up only to be stopped by the Captain again.

I stuck my tongue out at them and looked to the Captain. “What do you know about this watch?”

The Captain looked at me and smiled. He placed the watch in my hand and began. “Nothing it just looks like something I’ve seen on my travels. Besides my real reason here to explain your situation in this Port, you have been begging here for quite sometime and it’s beginning to upset many of the locals. They want you arrested and I can see from your bold and rash actions that most of their stories are probably true.”

I raised my fist and wanted to protest to that remark but I realized it would only prove his point. I sighed and cleared my throat. “So are you arresting me? I’d like a proper place to sleep tonight.”

He laughed and scratched his beard. “I’m sure you do.” He called one of his sailors towards us and took a parchment from it. “This however may prove to be much more enjoyable. I was looking through your record and notice you have an affinity for climbing aboard vessels to embark with them. Woman of the sea?”

I brushed a clump of dark hair away from my face. “Ya so?”

“Well how would you like to be a sailor on my ship?”

Too be Continued.....