CHAPTER FOUR
A/N: I realize that in Spain the people should speak Spanish, but for obvious purposes, they all speak perfect English, and remember this is still set back in the 1650's but I have tweaked it a bit. Say...modernized the history a little, never claimed to be a historian.
Anyway enjoy
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Giles was not as excited as the rest to be visiting Spain, he had many enemies in many ports around the world seeing how old he was and how long he had been sea side. Only natural to gain a few, but he had a open warrant on his hand with the local coppers for his detention.
Of course that was many years ago, say when he was the age of a young chap making his way around Europe on nothing but gods good humor and a band of people he used to call friends.
He went by Ripper then of course, and they dabbled in a bit of the “unknown“. Even got accused of being a witch - he got away from the hoard in time - sadly enough his friends weren’t as lucky as he. But it all worked out for the better, he decided to skip his idea to travel the rest of Europe's great empires, and caught the first American bound ship from the nearest port. Much safer that way.
Did him well to, only on the sea you never really got to settle down much. At least Angel had a maiden waiting for him in Spain, the young lad thought he didn’t know; but he was a very perceptive old man, and Angel was still a young boy with much to learn in the ways of secrecy.
Giles once met a nice woman in France in a six month stay many years ago, she was a simple farm hand of course, the daughter to a ox cattle owner, and she was usually dressed in rags. But had he the coin, he would have placed her in the finest corsets and gowns that Paris could abode him. She would have easily out shown the rest of the nobles. He very well would have been the envious eye of many men with her on his arm.
But alas he had not enough Franks, and she had a overbearing father with a hard hand and more then a few steady weapons. She had long black hair, silk almost, and reminded him of caverns in the night. Her eyes were a deep chocolate brown and her skin was sun kissed but still fairly light for her occupation.
He remembered his last days seeing her, she wore a light blue cotton dress that was dirty and hole ridden and a brown leather apron and a dirty white long-sleeved blouse underneath with no shoes. And even then she was a ravishing wonder to him.
Jenny Calendar was her name. He wished many a time that he had taken her as a stow away on the ship with him. He would have even left his contract with Captain Ernest, leaving him with yet another bounty atop his head, and married the common gurl.
She was but seventeen when he last laid his eyes on her, and he was near twenty five at the time. A fond memory with many regrets, he only got to kiss her once, and no kiss since had compared to her strawberry colored lips.
But dwelling on the past did no good for him as a pirate or a sailor, but reminiscing once in awhile was good for anyone.
But Spain, oh Spain, he had many a enemy on her shores, and let Lindsey know that he would be stayin’ abroad for the fortnights stay, having Xander and Faith fetch the wood he would need and the nails.
Lindsey readily agreed, he would always move a inch or so for the best carpenter in the world. And that's what the crew considered him.
“Only Giles could replace a plank in the bellows and not sink her whole!” Faith would declare to all the deck hands proudly when he would set up wood working on the upper deck.
He would also teach the trade to a few of the new deck hands that had time on there hands, take on apprentices as you will; gave Giles a hobby and made him feel better that his skills would not die with him when his time came. And Angel understood, often letting a few of the boys off duty to go work with the older man.
If only the crew understood why he had so many enemies on Spain's shores, they might think differently of him. But he knew no one would still be telling stories of a tale after so many years, and Giles was definitely not going to fill them in.
But contrary to what most of the crew, both temporary and permanent thought of him as good with his hands; he was still much more knowledgeable then he let on, and could most likely could give Wesley a run for his money on country politics. But he preferred his quiet simple carpenters life, exactly that, simple - and intended to keep it that way at all costs.
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Xander couldn’t wait till they reached port and were able to dock in the bay. Faith was up in the rigs sittin’ on one of the smaller mast booms watching the approaching land just as eagerly if not more so then him.
“Shouldn’t you be doin’ something with the lines Faith?” Xander yelled the twenty feet between them to her.
“Not till we see a steerage, then I’ll just pull this one down with my weight.” She yelled back indicating the mean looking rope she was holding, which would pull up the entire first set of small sails.
He would never understand how she did it, she wasn’t exactly a heavy person, and didn’t have as much body mass as a man, but she could easily jump off the boom and pull up a two hundred by four hundred middle mast up with no help at all.
A task that he saw many grown and experienced men have trouble with alone, or even with a extra set of hands.
He remembered asking her once how she did it.
“I simply know how to thread the rope to work to my advantage. I did grow up a proper woman you know, and I learned how to thread and sow, it’s simple, I just treat it like a very oversized quilt, and five by five it works
Faith didn’t know that she just set up the rope as a giant pulley system instead of the simpler thread though the mast and around the boom, no she had the riggin’ done in a very unique way. But a hundred times more effective then the normal riggin’ practices.
It looked like a intricate spiders web, and took more upkeep then normal, and every other ship looked at them as if they were mad men. But she always held up in a storm, she was easier for one man or woman in this case to manage, just took more pre-work and upkeep.
“There is always more then one way to do things, so we may be odd ones out, but we’re better for being wrong, are we not?” She would often challenge in a statement as they were up three hundred feet above the top deck.
“
“Don’t see a problem with doing the rigging differently, we do everything else that way after all...” And he took a pause, his eyes lighting up, a smile gracing his features “We are after all Pirates....”
“And a pirates life for me!” Faith and Xander finished together, smiles on there faces.
She liked the boy, found him annoying often times, and his antics very buoyant, but liked him. He had a jokesters attitude that could place a smile on anyone's face, and sometimes even Lindsey’s. He had that charm about him, but he could also annoy everyone to the point of jumping off the planks willingly; he had that not so charming quality as well.
“I see your steerage commin’ along, might want to consider...” Before he could even finish, Faith was soaring down to the bottom deck below, her long legs wrapped around the rope and her whole body swinging wildly. Her clothes were billowing around her and her hair was flying upwards. She let out a series of loud long yells of pleasure until she hit a pile of salt bags, sending particles into the air around her.
That was most definitely going to leave bruises, but she wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.
Noting that the main mast was up in its place, along with the first five sails. Deck hands took the rope form the petite woman, in awe, before it threatened to hang her by her ankles, and secured it to a hook line. A few extra deck hands started climbing the rig to tie the rest of the lines into place and bring the other sails up as well.
Xander also remembered to pull there skull and cross bows down long before he ever spotted land and hung up the British flag in her place along with the red dicket, showing claim that they did intend to anchor in the port and that assistance for the size of Cascade would be needed.
He thought to himself chuckling, if Spain only knew they would be harboring Temperance the entire country would be in fits. Not knowing exactly what to do with themselves and calling the navy a second to late, as they watched the black flag sail into the horizon of the Atlantic. And as funny to him as that would be, he reckoned that it would get him a good flogging from the Cap’n as well.
Maybe this time, Angel would take him along to the Brothel when he took the rest of the deck hands for there trollop on shore. He was quite the age, and had his coin saved up for this, it was time to get himself a woman in a bed and turn into a man.
It would be interesting to see how far his determination and false bravado would get him, for he didn’t know the first thing about Brothels and Kat house prostitutes, how to treat them, or even approach them.
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Lindsey breathed in the trashy smell of Spain, she was a beautiful port stop - no one could deny it - but her port waters were brown with the garbage and trestle of the common city life. The dock men would help unload for a price, but they were very messy and unkempt, and would most likely lose a few crates into the watery oblivion.
But it was custom to hire dock hands from the Dock Master or your ship was considered a gerhardtren, and no one would bother to pay a Shilling for anything you had to offer. Very uptight and stuck up people if you asked him.
He was, though, looking forward to stepping a polished boot onto the docks and finding a quite tavern to sip some Brandy or Shirley, smoke cigars and converse with other high statue men about being the kings of the universe. Not that he believed any of the rubbish like they did; but it was nice to act normal and senseless after a voyage once in awhile. It wasn’t like he indulged in pointless pleasures often.
But as the steerage ropes were tethered to Temperance he could see her breaking the murky water as they closed in on the dock she would be stationed at for the fortnight. The tolls would be high, but the booty obtained later would be a even better compensation for it.
He was all to aware that he would be needing to talk to his crew about conduct on these shores. He didn’t need to fill out paperwork for having to pick them up from the constable in the morning, for there undoubtedly to be raw behavior, if he let them off without a stern warning first.
There would be the few that didn’t abide, and he would leave them without second thought, it was a easy way to weed out the sour apples in his newly picked bunch without to much hassle on his part as a ships commander. And that set with him just fine.
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Wesley wasn’t looking forward to his stop as much as he though he would, he was doing a very hefty mental tally of just about everything that needed to be purchased and the tasks needing completion.
It was rather annoying to him, and tedious, but it was his job to think up and then consult with the captain.
Him and Lindsey actually went much farther back then most realized. Lindsey was his neighbor for many years and there families attended many balls and gallows together.
They even learned to fence and box, horse ride and play instruments together. The studies from books though, were done alone, because they could never focus on the material with each other close by. They grew up together really, and it was common in there society to have male companions.
He would often remember how uptight Lindsey had been in many ways, never wanting to treat a lady as a object, but often doing so appease everyone. Constantly arguing about morals and objectivities with Wesley who believed firmly that society was correct for a reason. Even if that reason was unbeknownst to them.
He remembered his friends wedding day as well...
Lady Caterine was a sight to behold, in her lacy white gown, that proved true to her innocence seeing as Lindsey would bed her for her first time tonight, consummating there marriage.
She had a ring of flowers tapered into her pinned up gold locks, and she was painted like a porcelain doll, so delicate and fresh.
Lindsey was dressed in his best broach and robes, waiting for her to arrive in front of the priest. Her brother Dieter, escorting her in her arranged marriage to the Duke of Gambrel. It was his first time he had laid eyes on his upcoming wife.
Of course she was promised to him at a young age by both parents, she was the youngest daughter of the Sire of Huttenberg. She had a forced smile on her painted lips, one that he would later learn was often there even after the marriage.
She was a good wife, a honorable woman, and true to the family’s word a pure flower when he took her to his chambers. He didn’t love her, and he had no doubt that she didn’t love him, but it wasn’t as if much say could be had.
The woman he wanted, Lady Lilah of Brentsern was promised already to Duke of Frasch, which happened to be his friend Wesley. Wesley was going to be wed to Lindsey’s love in a moons time. So he was trying to untie his heartstrings from hers. Many a moons light him and Lilah had spent out in the forest, gazing up into the trees above them, and sometimes at each other or the lake in front of them.
It was a big mess as far as Lindsey had been concerned. Lady Caterine didn’t love him and never would, her heart had long ago been given to his enemy Charles, Duke of Tilchron, and he had the distinct feeling Caterine forced her smiles because she despised him for agreeing to take her hand before her love Charles ever had the chance to ask the blessings from her father.
And when Wesley refused to wed Lady Lilah, all hell broke loose. And to keep a long story short, Wesley and Lindsey strapped up there horses and rode to the sea side, catching the first ship they could, to run away from the troubles they were in.
To this day Lindsey was still married to Caterine, and still in love with Lilah, but he would never go back. Ever. It was a mutual agreement between the two, and it was never spoken of. The past was the past and they let sleeping dogs lie.
But Wesley never enjoyed visits to Spain, she was to rich with beautiful women, and he never got to enjoy it. Mostly because he never wanted to break up someone else's hearts as he had with Lindsey and Lilah, so he would never approach a beautiful lady in her skirts. To him she was taken, and Spain being the country of romance, and the country he was supposed to have moved to with Lady Lilah, plucked at his heart strings far to heavily for his liking.
He still had a duty to do though, he needed to take inventory in order to send Lorne on a supply fetch before they made permanent anchor.
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It was the third day in port and Angel had finally decided to take the young boys ashore. He had been wantin’ off the ship more then anyone else aboard, but chores had to be done and completed first before anyone was to be allowed to visit the ports surrounding city.
They had to unload the cargo and they even loaded more on, the ship was cleaned and Xander had even gone ashore for supply’s as told, for the first time, without a argument slashing out from that tongue of his.
He was itching to get off and go see his lady, he had been gone for many months before this, and the more time he spent in port, not seeing her was slowly torturing him.
He made sure to set the crew strait first, stopping at the top of the gangplank, blocking the boys only exit. Causing a groan from all the surrounding boys.
“Everyone knows the rules” He affirmed sternly, glancing among the boys with narrowed eyes and a otherwise blank face. The boys nodded, some bouncing excitedly.
“I expect you to abide them” Angel started again, even more stern then before “If I find otherwise, you will be left at the docks without pay, or a second look is that understood” Again the boys nodded there heads.
And off they headed to the city.
Of course it wasn’t a schooling trip, and it wasn’t like they were his to really look after, but Lindsey wanted his ship to have a good reputation for the Dock Master, so they would be welcomed back again, or even lacked in pay compared to the regular coin required.
Angel gave firm orders not to get plastered, not to pick a Kat up unless they could pay her first, and to not lose in a bar fight if one were to come up. And they were all expected to bathe before the fortnight was out, and get there clothing washed by some launder maids, maybe even purchase new ones.
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Faith was with Xander at the moment, she had him carrying her bags of purchases, apparently she had stole so much pocketbooks with so much coin that she purchased herself a bonafied corset and silk skirts, even had a hoop to push out the silks the way the propers did. And had healed lace up women's shoes to boot.
She wouldn’t dare pay that much for anything again. Took her seventeen pocketbooks and a good run from the constable to get just one dress, and it wasn’t even the most expensive and it was rather plain.
She couldn’t wait to get back to Temperence and put it all on, of course she was going to need someone’s help, like Lorne’s, he had to know how to put one of these dresses on for surely he had taken plenty off. And she trusted him the most on the ship to help her.
She wondered what Weselys reaction would be seeing her in a full blown nobles gown. It fit well with her complexion as well, a nice baby blue color with some darker silks woven in. She wasn’t to sure she liked the dress much, but then again, she was much more comfortable in men’s clothing.
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Angel just entered a nearby Brothel with a few of the boys following him, seeing as they didn’t know the ways around the city, and there lead deck hand obviously did. The rest of the deck hand crew took there chances with the town and headed off in separate directions.
The Brothel he entered was called Rose Court. Inside it was cramped and musty, the small tavern, smelled of smoke and sweat and was made even more prominent with all the drunk swaggers about, that Angel doubted ever bathed in there lifes.
He pushed his way confidently through the cramped quarters up to the bar table. Pushing to men aside, who were about to protest, but upon seeing Angel’s large frame compared to their much smaller ones; let it drop quickly, and blended in with the shadows of the Brothel.
“Angel, good to see ye’ again, Lookin’ for your gurl I suppose, I’ll go back and get er’ for ya!” A bouncy red head gleamed, rushing into the back. When she returned he threw her a silver coin, and she smiled crooked teeth at him.
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The other deck hands were in wonder, women were dressed in nearly nothing, bosom hangin’ out freely, there hair down and tousled, and the majority barefooted and dirty. But the men seemed to be drinking them up just as much as the ale.
One girl with frizzy brown hair pranced up to one of the deck hands Thomas. He was only fifteen, and rather inexperienced in the sailors life, as well as other things, and she could tell.
“Aren’t ye’ a pretty lil’ thing, care to sit with Margaree?” She asked in a sugar sweet voice, placing a hand on his nervous shoulder. He just nodded his head and she guided him to a unoccupied booth in the back.
“Ye’ new to this life I be reckoning’.” Then she leaned forward into his ear “Ye’ ever bed lain a lady, I’ll have ye for little coin.” she whispered and Thomas’s eyes grew wide.
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“My darling boy!” the woman ran up to Angel and threw her hands around his neck, pressing her entire body into his. He accepted her whole heartedly and picked her up and spun her around in the small space, a small squeal eliciting from her lips.
“You’ve returned to me.” She smiled, her voice was low and sultry as always, and she had a grace that none of the other barmaids and prostitutes had. You could tell that at one point she had been well above this stature of life, but her luck had run out.
“That I have my love.” Angel whispered back. Giving her a chaste kiss on the lips as she ran a hand up his chest. “Thought of you every day while at sea.” He reached up a hand and ran it through her short tresses, they were silky smooth, and had little grime, she kept herself well cleaned.
“Shall we retire to the gardens, there we can have a quaint walk?” She asked shyly “perhaps I could show you my world again.” She hinted sweetly, Angel’s eyes just darkened. As he let her lead him out of the tavern, into the cold night air and down the cobble stone streets.
A good mile away from the tavern was the Spanish Gardens, they held every type of rose imaginable that had been brought back from Spanish travelers. It was the most reputable place near port, locked up at night of course, for it was only a nobles boding. But that didn’t stop the two lovers from jumpin’ the wrought iron and taking a midnight stroll.
“Tell me Angelus,” She stressed his true Catholic name “How was your travels?” She asked in fake interest.
“You don’t want to hear of them my dear.” He answered in the same air of monotone bored-ness that the nobles often used, causing her to chuckle slightly. “Tell me my lady, how was ye’ life?”
“I have not been chaste of just you, I am a wanted woman Angelus.” She answered honestly, and he knew that she had been sleeping with other men, that was simply there relationship.
She often confessed her love to him, her desire for him, and on more then one occasion asked if he would like to be shown the world. That she would do it if only he would give up the sea. But she of all knew that he couldn’t do that, and he knew she would never give up her work at the Brothel Rose Court otherwise.
He had often asked his maiden to come onboard the ship with him but she would always shake her head, sayin’ the life of the land was hers to take. She would boast that she would conquer the lands one day, possibly marry a king, and he had little doubt that a woman like his Darla wouldn’t keep good on her word one day.
Darla was a special woman, had a air of darkness around her, and confidence that drew him to her. She had been his only maiden for nearly two years now, and his heart was to her.
But he knew it was a mistake to give his heart to a prostitute, especially one that despised the ocean so, and even the daylight hours. It would only lead to pain and darkness. But yet he was addicted to her. He knew that one day he would return to Spain’s port and find her gone from Rose Court, his love lost to him forever.
Angelus O’Conelle was in love with a Brothel’s woman.
And Brothel’s women never brought good into a mans life.
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Hee Hee and you thought his maiden was going to be Cordelia or Willow did you all not...Anyway Cordy will be in the next chapter, and there will also be a interesting Wesely Faith scene...Oh the ideas my inner moppet thinks up.
Please read and review, and I shall return the favor.
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