Chapter 2: In which naïveté catches up with the protagonist

The ferry arrived at the docks of Miraway as the sunset bathed the waters of the harbour in a deep orange. Ally stepped off the boat and swung her knapsack over her shoulder. She’d been told there were inns all along the waterfront, built for travellers like her getting off the boats. Her sandals slipped a little on the cobblestones, the cold seeping through the leather into her feet. Dodging carts and people in a hurry she made her way across the street to the nearest inn. She opened the door and stepped confidently up to the counter. “I’d like to rent a room for tonight, please.”

“Money,” said the tired innkeeper, sliding his upturned palm across the counter.

Ally counted out the money she figured she could spare given the other things she needed and handed it to him.

He laughed. “What is this? You’ve got barely enough for a loaf of bread here, kid. This all you’ve got?”

Reluctantly Ally put the rest of her coins in his hand.

He shook his head and handed them back to her. “Get out of here.”

Shocked, Ally left the shop and tried again. She worked her way down the street until there was nowhere left to go, no one else to beg for a room, a bit of floor, a spare blanket. Finally she resigned herself to the inevitable and sat down in a dark alleyway, pulling her cloak around her shoulders. She fell asleep cursing her own foolishness.

When Ally awoke, everything was stiff and everything was sore. She stretched out her muscles and walked out onto the busy street. Her feet carried her back to the docks before she was awake enough to think straight. She wondered if there was even a point in trying. She needed a boat, but if she didn’t even have enough money for one night in an inn, there was no way she’d ever be able to buy a ship. The problem then was she doubted she had enough money to pay for the ferry ride home, and she didn’t see herself getting a job either. She sat down on the edge of the dock and swung her legs over the side, feeling defeated.

Laughter cut through her thoughts, and she turned around to see an old man nailing a “For Sale” sign to a ship. Ally got up and walked over to the edge of the crowd. She immediately saw what the fuss was about. Even to her inexperienced eyes, the ship was a wreck. The mast slanted at a precarious angle, the planks looked almost rotten, and there were patches over patches and haphazard repairs everywhere. It looked like it could fall apart at any moment. In short, it was perfect.

She waited until the crowd dispersed before approaching the old man, who was trying to paint the keel white to mask the questionable appearance of the wood. “Uh, I’d like to buy it,” she said.

“Huh?” He squinted at her. “You saw them laugh at her, and you still want to buy her?”

“Yeah. I, uh, I haven’t got a lot of money, and I need a ship.”

“Well, I’m honestly just looking to get rid of her. She’s yours.” He tossed his paintbrush into the bucket of paint. “You can have the paint, too. May as well finish the job.”

“But I couldn’t possibly just take it,” Ally protested.

The old man shook his head, laughing. “Fine. You buy my extra wood and my tool kit, and I’ll call it even. I’m retiring, I don’t want it.”

Ally pulled out her coins and handed them to him. He gave half of them back. “This thing isn’t worth that much, kid. Well, good luck. You’re gonna need it.” With a careless wave, he walked away without looking back. 

Ally turned around and surveyed her new ship. It was going to need a lot of work. She picked up the paintbrush.

Notice

Hello readers,
I hope you're enjoying the story of Questions so far. I honestly have no idea when I'll be able to post new chapters, so please just bear with me and keep checking back. While you're waiting, I write three other serials, all of which can be found on my website. The link can be found on the top of the page where it says "Return to Main Site".
Thanks!

Chapter One-Sometime later, a decision is made

Ally stared out at the white crests of the waves rolling into the harbour. Today she turned fifteen. Today, Gaia had told her, she was free to do whatever she wanted. There was really only one thing Ally wanted, but pursuing that phantom of a dream would mean giving everything she had. Was she really prepared to do that?

Two hands grabbed her shoulders, making her jump. “Happy birthday, Ally!” said a cheery voice behind her.

Ally turned. Miri, her best friend, grinned at her, her eyes shining. “Hi, Miri. Thanks.”

“So, have you decided what you’re going to do yet? Please tell me you’re gonna come work down at the harbour with me! Please!”

Ally laughed nervously. “Sorry, I don’t think so. I know what I want to do, but-“

“But what?” 

“Gaia’s not going to like it.”

Miri’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me-Ally, you can’t!”

“Gaia said I could do whatever I want.”

“Sure, but-

“But what?”

Miri looked down at the ground, tracing a pattern in the dirt with the edge of her sandal. “I heard my dad and the chief talking about you. They said if you do it, they’ll expel you from the village. You’ll never be able to come back.”

Ally turned her back and looked out at the horizon. She’d been expecting something like this, but now that she’d heard someone else say it, she felt different somehow. The people of Tanazai Village were wary of outsiders, and quick to shun anyone who was a little different. She’d seen it, seen how they stayed away from Gaia because she kept to herself and didn’t join in the festivals or community activities. Ally had always tried hard to fit in, striving for acceptance in her new home. Now, though-she didn’t want these people to stand in the way of what she wanted. Without a word, she brushed past Miri and walked back in the house, slamming the door and drowning out Miri’s protests.

“You’ve decided?” asked Gaia from the kitchen table. She kept her eyes on her cup of coffee.

Ally nodded. “I’m leaving, and I’m not going to let anyone stop me.”

Gaia laughed. “I never planned on stopping you, Ally. Just-“ She looked out the window as though the words she was looking for were somewhere out there. “Don’t expect to be welcomed with open arms. Pirates aren’t like that.”

“Reuben isn’t your average pirate.”

It was mid-afternoon when Ally made her way down to the docks to wait for the ferry. Tanazai sat on a small island off the coast of the Denari continent. Ally avoided the eyes of the people milling about the harbour. Miri had spread the news Ally was leaving throughout the entire village. 

The chief cleared his throat behind her as she sat swinging her legs off the end of the ferry dock.

She turned and cocked her head at him. “What?”

“As of now, you are officially expelled from the village. Should you ever return, you will be considered an enemy, and treated as such.”

“Is that it? I thought you were going to say something important.” She turned back to the ocean, watching for the ferry.

“Be careful, Ally. Redbeard is one of the most feared pirates in all nine seas.”

“Really? Him?”

“Yes. He’s on the same level as Blackbeard or Whitebeard. You may not find the welcome you’re expecting.”

Ally laughed. “Reuben would never hurt me. Thanks for the warning, chief, but I’ll be fine.”

The ferry appeared, a small dot on the horizon. The chief shook his head and walked away as Ally got up. She retied her sandals and ribbon belt and adjusted the red kerchief she still wore. Satisfied with her appearance, she shot a glance behind her. Miri stood at the end of the dock, shifting her weight from side to side. Ally waved, smiling. Her friend waved a little back, then turned quickly and ran off, out of sight. 

Gaia appeared around the corner and walked down the dock. “You’re sure about this?”

Ally nodded. “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.” 

“Okay, okay, I’m convinced,” Gaia said, laughing. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind Ally’s ear. “Come back and visit sometime, okay? I’m sure I can convince the chief not to shoot at you.”

Ally smiled. “I will. I promise.”

“You keep that promise, okay? Don’t be like that good-for-nothing pirate.”

The ferry glided into the dock and tied up. Ally squeezed Gaia’s hand and climbed onto the boat. She watched as the island shrank into a tiny spot before vanishing completely.

Prologue-In which we are found and lost

The door to the dark cargo hold opened. The little girl blinked in the sudden light, trying to make out the details of the figure blocking the door. The figure wore a curving hat and was walking towards her. She shuffles backwards, trying to stay out of reach. 

“Hey, kid,” came a man’s voice from the dimness.

“Go away,” she said, lifting her hands to shield herself from him.

He heard the clink of chains and took a step towards her. Now his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he saw a small, grubby kid in a tattered dress, her wrists chained, dirty blonde hair falling over her face. She saw him too, a tall red-haired man draped in a black coat with red trim and upturned cuffs. His hat bore the emblem of a bearded skull over two swords.

He crouched in front of her. “Don’t worry, kid, I won’t hurt you.”

She looked him up and down, her gray eyes studying him with a suspicious glare. “Are you a pirate?”

He laughed. “How’d you guess?” he teased. “Can I ask you a question now?” When the child was silent, he decided to ask. “Are you a slave?”

She nodded, biting her lip.

“So who-“

The girl raised one finger at him. “Now I get a question. What are you going to do with me?”

“I’m not going to sell you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m against this kind of thing.”

“But you’re a pirate.”

“A pirate with morals. Here’s my question; do you have any parents I can take you to?”

She looked at the floor. “The pirates killed them. They said my daddy did something bad to them.” She looked up at him, feeling his hand on hers.

“I’m sorry, kid.”

The girl shook her head. “It’s not your fault. So, what’s your name, mister?”

He smiled. “Reuben Crow. Most people call me Redbeard, though.”

She cocked her head, staring at him. “But you don’t have a beard.”

“It’s just a nickname,” said Reuben Crow with a shrug. “How about you, kid? What’s your name?”

“Ally.”

“That’s a pretty name. So Ally,” he began, getting to his feet, “How’d you like to sail with me for a a bit?”

“Is that a question?”

“No, it’s an offer.” He stretched out his hand.

She hesitated for a moment, the chains on her wrists jangling as her hand shook in the air. Then she grabbed his hand and let him help her up.

A little while later, she sat on a wooden crate, swinging her bare feet as one of the pirates picked the lock on her shackles. They cracked open and fell with a clatter onto the deck of the ship.

“Man, the kid’s a mess,” someone said.

Reuben looked at her for a moment, then he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket, folded the corners together, and used the makeshift red kerchief to tie back her hair.

She adjusted it, looking up at him with wide eyes.

“Better?” he asked, smiling.

Ally nodded.

“So, you’ll need clothes and shoes, and we need to find you a safe place to live. . . .” He trailed off, stroking his chin as he thought.

“Captain, we’re pirates, not babysitters,” someone protested. Ally squeezed the edges of the crate.

“You are what I say you are. If you don’t like it, then get off my ship.” He ended his speech directly in front of the offending pirate, their eyes level.

The pirate turned white, unable to speak. Unable to speak, he simply nodded rapidly. 

“Excellent,” said Reuben. “Let’s get moving.”

A few months after that day, the pirate ship docked in the harbour of a peaceful fishing village, throwing its inhabitants into a panic. 

The village chief, a tall, muscular man, blocked the gangplank with his huge arms crossed over his chest. “What do you want with us, Redbeard?” he called up at the ship.

Reuben appeared at the top of the gangplank. “I’d like to ask a favour, sir.”

“I don’t grant favours to criminals.”

“I’m not asking anything for myself, sir. I’d like you to take care of a little girl for me. Is that too much to ask?”

By now a crowd had formed around the chief. “You think we’ll look after your brat for you, pirate?” someone jeered, prompting laughter from the other villagers. 

“She isn’t mine. We found her about to be sold into slavery.”

There was a lot of muttering from the crowd.

“I’ll pay her keep,” Reuben offered. He was getting desperate. His request had already been denied by three different villages.

Suddenly, a woman stepped forward. “I’ll take her,” she said.

Satisfied the pirates would leave, the rest of the crowd left, including the chief, leaving the woman alone on the dock. She was dressed in a short-sleeved blue blouse and loose trousers gathered around he ankles.

“Ally?” Reuben called back into the ship.

The little girl appeared from behind him, dressed in a clean sundress and new shoes, a sagging knapsack draped over one shoulder.

“Sorry excuse for a kid,” the woman commented.

Ally scowled. “Do I have to leave?” she asked Reuben.

“I can’t put you in danger like this. The life of a pirate isn’t for kids.” He bent down and looked her in the eye, brushing a stray bit of hair away from her face. “I’ll come visit you, okay?”

“Okay.” Ally turned and started to walk down the gangplank, then she ran back to hug him, before walking slowly away. Reuben turned around and shouted for the crew to prepare to leave. Neither of them looked back.

“Ally, was it? I’m Gaia. Nice to meet you.” Gaia put a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“Do you think he’ll come back?” Ally asked the ground quietly.

“Don’t bet on it. He is a pirate, after all.” 

Ally allowed herself to be led up to Gaia’s house, perched on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the harbour. Before she closed the door, Ally looked back at the pirate ship sailing out of the bay.

Reuben never returned to the village.