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"All hands on deck! You two, get the spare sails patched up!"
The morose men walked off in obedience sulkily muttering threats and curses, Navarre could plainly see a mutinous spirit in his crew.
"I don't like the look of the sky, captain, there's not a cloud in sight," Ralincler walked up to where Navarre was gazing at the horizon, "Ay, mark me a squalls a comin."
"Likely enough," Navarre returned sighing, "I hope not though-"
"Wait," Ralincler shielded his eyes and looked towards a distant dark spot on the glassy sea which was little disturbed by the wind which tore through the sails above, "Squalls comin indeed, but tis strange to find it tackin against the wind…"
"That's not a storm, it's an island. We're drawing near the Island of Lost Souls, a haunted forsaken place. I've known no one to have set foot on it and survived. It's dangerous for seamen anyhow; coral reefs."
Suddenly he noticed the sails hanging loose and looking backwards saw dark, ominous clouds gathering quickly on the border of the sea.
"Take down every rag of sails!" bellowed Navarre at his unruly men who quickly scurried up the masts to obey. Squalls came quickly and with the ferocious wind which had been blowing, this one would be no exception.
"William," a man ventured walking up, "The men want to know if we're going to keep following that ship… "
"I've given them an answer many times Joshua," Navarre began sternly, "and it hasn't changed. We follow that ship as long as we can! Granted, in this storm that won't be long; tell that to the men."
"Aye, we won't follow it long, Navarre," his retreating brother muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile Navarre mused on the happenings of the disastrous voyage thus far. It had begun well; Navarre's three ship ravaged the dead queen's scattered forts and had sunk many of her vessels. All had been prospering and they were heading down the coast as planned when a mysterious storm blew up and separated Navarre's flagship from the others and carried them far off the coast. After the storm blew itself out in fury on the ship, battering it till it could barely float, the lookout spotted another of the queen's ships. The men, though, were now tired of the chase and the mercenaries from The Shade were in a mutinous condition their pays being in arrear. Therefore Navarre desired to leave the enemy ship alone but his brother urged him to follow the ship and he reluctantly allowed it. Once he had agreed, however, he took it up right heartily and despite all the resentment of his men he pressed on following the strange ship which they had as yet not gained on in the least, but not lost either. This only made Navarre the more inflexible, and he pursued the deceptive ship with fury, thus it was that he now found himself surrounded by a mutinous crew, with a storm brewing up behind him and an antagonizing ship in front of him.
The voices of the crew recalled him from his dreary reverie. The idle men were now gathered in small groups talking threateningly. Navarre frowned,
"There are still men loyal to you on this ship Navarre," he heard his brothers voice behind him. "Yes," he continued his voice growing harder, "that's why you won't be alone on that island."
The men gathered together now and brandished their weapons, two of them walking forward leading the few men who were still loyal into a small boat,
"Your turn, Navarre!" one of the men called.
Joshua nodded, "there are some provisions in the boat, but in this storm you shain't need them," he laughed cruelly.
"Brother," Navarre pulled his axe out but the men waved their weapons menacingly,
"Oh, you needn't call me your brother Navarre!" Joshua returned, "Because I'm not!"
By now Navarre was in the small rowboat with his two faithful hands, he wondered what Joshua meant, but his thoughts were interupted.
"This ain't no natural mutiny Navarre," Ralincler whispered to him, "Ay, an mark me, I've seen-" a sudden jolt stopped him, the cord binding them to the ship was severed and the small boat wildly rocked on the waves as Joshua and the mutineers watched over the bow of the longboat. Slowly the raft bearing their former captain floated out of view into the dense clouds that now gathered round the ship. Joshua turned to the men, "All hands on deck!"
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Whew! It's been too long since we last saw Navarre, thing are heating up in his story btw
. More pictures on flickr! Hope you enjoy! C&C are welcome!