Chapter 6: Rough Winds

“HEADS UP!!” Flint ducked instantly, dodging a heavy beam swinging loose; broken from its holding. The large piece of wood crashed onto the deck, barely missing a few of the others. Tarja – who had called the warning – looked over the crew members closest to the broken beam, noting they were all safe with relief just before the ship pitched, causing Peg to loose his balance and fall into Tarja, knocking them both over.

“John! Help me git this beam secured!” Captain Jack Gold called out to Flint, who totted over to help the smaller Tatarian, “Thank ye...hopefully we’ll be out o’ this storm afore anyone gits hurt...or worse...”

They had been sailing through a particularly rough storm for almost three days now. Two had been injured, but Bonney – who turned out to know a little healing magic and quite a bit about medicines and tending wounds – had healed one, and was monitoring the other’s recovery. Slick and Peg often worked together to try and keep all paperwork dry. Hawkeye stayed in the crow’s nest most of the time, but had come down to stay out of the worst of the wind.

“Right. Go an’ find where this came from. I need t’ git ‘t back up as soon as we can.” Flint nodded and hurried over to the mast, looking for where the beam had come from while Captain Jack Gold went back to ordering the rest of the recruits around. Flint noticed one of the sails flapped in the wind, but he couldn’t see if it was torn or if the beam had come from the upper section of the sail. Cautiously, Flint began to make his way around the mast and grabbed onto a loose rope, using it to climb up the mast a ways until he could see the sail better. He was halfway up the mast when he slipped and lost his balance. Sliding down, Flint tried to at least slow his fall. He managed to stop himself, but felt sharp pain in his right shoulder when he did. Wincing, he looked back up, noting that the beam was missing. Flint carefully came down, and turned to look for Captain Jack Gold. The pirate captain noticed Flint, and came over.

“Did you find where it came from?”

“Aye...seems ‘t broke off from above th’ sail.” Flint sighed. Jack looked up and groaned.

“Great...now we need t’ dock an’ fix ‘t...” Jack sighed. He looked back at Flint and noticed he had a hand resting on his hurt shoulder, “Ye awrite?”

“I...may have wrenched me shoulder...” Flint muttered. Jack shook his head slowly.

“Aagh...be more careful. Go see Bonney. I don’ need no more hurt men...”

“Aye, sir...” Flint sighed before turning to find Bonney. The Eastlander was still inside the larger of the cabins, tending to the injured recruit. She looked up as Flint came in.

“What do you need?” She asked calmly, looking him over.

“Hurt me shoulder....Cap’n wants ye t’ take a look at ‘t. I think I be FINE.”

“You certainly look like you’ve had worse than a wrenched shoulder...” Bonney said, looking at Flint’s missing eye as the pirate sat on one of the empty cots that had been moved into the room.

“Ye ‘ave no idea...” Flint muttered, moving his hand so Bonney could look at his shoulder.

“Seems like you did more than wrench your shoulder...might have pulled the muscle, at best.” The Eastlander said after a moment, “Just relax for a while...in fact, stay in here. I have a feeling you’re one of those who goes and works against medical orders.”

“Well yer a smart lass...” Flint snorted, “Wot, d’ ye think ye c’n git me secrets, too?”

“Secrets are different. I’ve seen men like you before, both on land and on the sea. I know how to tell when a man will ignore orders to not use the arm until it gets better. So to make sure you obey, you are staying right here.” Flint smirked as Bonney turned around and walked over to the injured crew member. Normally, he’d rest, but with one sail already useless...

Flint shook his head and stood as quietly as he could, but not quiet enough.

“Get back down before I TIE you down!” Bonney snapped, whipping around.

“Lassie...ya ain’t gonna find anythin’ ta hold me down with.” Flint said, grinning.

“Oh?” Bonney said, turning to face Flint entirely, “Is that a CHALLENGE, hybrid?”

“Maybe.” Flint smirked back. Bonney walked up to him and suddenly grabbed his injured shoulder, causing Flint to yelp sharply at the pain. She shoved him back onto the bed, and restrained him with magical chains.

“Try THAT on for size!” She said, going back to the now laughing pirate. Flint pouted at her for a bit before relaxing, feeling exhaustion hit him. He drifted off to sleep despite the violent pitching of the ship in the storm.

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Tarja shoved Peg off of her and stood, making sure she wasn’t hurt. When she found her already weak legs could still support her, she turned to make sure Peg was alright. The pirate was fine and already getting up, so Tarja turned back to the crew. She turned just in time to see Flint and her father finish securing the loose beam. She turned away to make sure no one was swept overboard by the wave that had crashed over the deck. Slick was barely clinging to the railing, but was otherwise fine, and managed to pull himself back up quickly. Everyone else had been standing far away enough to avoid getting swept to the edge. Turning back to Flint and her father, Tarja immediately noticed the large pirate was nowhere to be found. A shout of alarm from Peg called her attention to the stocky Tatarian, who was looking up, his eyes wide in fear. Tarja followed his gaze and saw Flint almost halfway up the mast, using only the soaked ropes to climb higher. She gasped as he slipped and started sliding down the rope, and winced when he caught himself with a jerk that she was certain had hurt one – if not both – of his shoulders.

“Aagh....great, o’ COURSE we git th’ RECKLESS one!” Tarja grumbled, watching as Flint carefully climbed back down, “Prolly jes lost one o’ our strongest, sein’ how Bonney takes care o’ th’ injured more n’ a worrin’ mother her child...”

“At least She’s been makin’ sure none o’ us gits seriously hurt, or worse.” Peg replied, turning away from watching Flint once the large pirate was safely on the deck, “A medic be hard t’ come by fer a pirate ship. Jack might jes keep ‘er.”

“Eh.” Tarja shrugged, “Supposin’ she c’n handle a fight...”

“Tarja, th’ lass knows bloody magic. We don’ know if she be a cleric, sorceress, or wot. If she knows any spells, she be an asset.”

“Bah! She’s a land lubber! She wos throwin’ up ‘erself when this whole thin’ started!” Tarja snapped, heading into her cabin to get out of the wind and rain for a while. Peg followed close behind as she continued, “She ain’t gonna do much.”

“Says th’ crippled pirate!” Peg scoffed, earning an acidic glare from Tarja before she closed the door, locking him out. The chubby pirate chuckled to himself as he headed to his own cabin.