the Captain away. Hurley tried to plan out what he was going to say to her when he got back to the ship. How was he going to break the news to her? Surely she should understand that her Pop is a pirate and a well-known one at that. This day was inevitably coming. It was a wonder it hadn't happened years ago. How the man had managed to stay out of the sights of the King was beyond his knowledge.
Up until six months ago, when they had last docked at this port, the thought of Captain Pelesii being arrested never once entered Hurley's thoughts. Not once had he dreamed of this day or considered wanting to take over the reins of the ship. That was until the Duke approached him.
Duke Ellington approached Hurley on the day they were setting sail once again with a proposal. He wanted to hire Hurley to do some sort of job for him. Hurley turned him down at first. Saying how he was just a deck hand and nothing more, but the Duke pressured him, telling him he could give him anything he wanted if he would do this one favor for him.
Hurley tried to come up with an impossible answer by stating he wanted to be Captain of the Sea Wench. Not once did he ask what his task was to be in exchange for this prize. He figured by asking for such a thing the Duke would just give up and walk away. Which he did. Nothing else had been said. It didn't need to be. The Duke had just proven moments ago how he could deliver his promise.
Now that Captain Pellesi was arrested that made Hurley first in command.
What would he tell Treea?
Her Pop was in a tavern brawl?
No, she would see right through that answer.
Captain Pellesi had refused to pay for his woman and meal.
No, Treea would not believe that answer either.
The Captain was arrested for being a Pirate?
Maybe. It was the truth, even if she didn't want to accept it.
Hurley didn't waste any time. As soon as the Duke left the tavern with his men and the captain, he told the other's he needed to go and let Treea know about her Pop's predicament.
Hurley returned to the inn later. After he promised Treea, he would find someone who could help them with this matter. Outside the Tavern, a figure called to Hurley, calling him into the dark shadow of the building hidden from the light of the moon. It was that of a woman. "You want to help your Captain? This here book may help you with his release."
Hurley accepted the package, and before he could give it back, the woman disappeared, leaving him holding it, bewildered. Who was she? Why would she want to help the Captain? What did the Duke want Hurley to do now that he had delivered his promise?
His only clue as the woman left was her shadow, definitely that of a goblin.
He never once expected any of this. The Duke promising him anything, nor the Captain's arrest. When he promised Treea he would find help to see to it that the Captain was released from prison, he never once expected someone would step forth from the shadows. Not with such an answer as this, being held within the book.
Chapter 5
"Well, what did you learn?" Treea asked over a plate of eggs.
Hurley tossed a small book on the table. It was leather bound and wrapped in paper tied with a thin cord. Treea pushed her plate aside and untied it, unwrapping the book. It was hand written. Even though Treea was the daughter of a pirate he had made certain that she had learned to be well read. She had no problem reading the handwriting in the book.
"I was given this."
"Did you look at it?" She asked Hurley.
"Why would I, you know I can't read." His brows scowled with his answer.
She always found his scowls, grins, smirks, and grimaces attractive. It was a good thing her Pop never found out or caught the two of them down below deck. If he did, Hurley would undoubtedly be reduced to a dead man with no chest to sit upon.
"It's a diary. What would I want with another woman's diary?" Treea pushed the book away and went back to her breakfast. She hated to waste food. "Where did you get
Up until six months ago, when they had last docked at this port, the thought of Captain Pelesii being arrested never once entered Hurley's thoughts. Not once had he dreamed of this day or considered wanting to take over the reins of the ship. That was until the Duke approached him.
Duke Ellington approached Hurley on the day they were setting sail once again with a proposal. He wanted to hire Hurley to do some sort of job for him. Hurley turned him down at first. Saying how he was just a deck hand and nothing more, but the Duke pressured him, telling him he could give him anything he wanted if he would do this one favor for him.
Hurley tried to come up with an impossible answer by stating he wanted to be Captain of the Sea Wench. Not once did he ask what his task was to be in exchange for this prize. He figured by asking for such a thing the Duke would just give up and walk away. Which he did. Nothing else had been said. It didn't need to be. The Duke had just proven moments ago how he could deliver his promise.
Now that Captain Pellesi was arrested that made Hurley first in command.
What would he tell Treea?
Her Pop was in a tavern brawl?
No, she would see right through that answer.
Captain Pellesi had refused to pay for his woman and meal.
No, Treea would not believe that answer either.
The Captain was arrested for being a Pirate?
Maybe. It was the truth, even if she didn't want to accept it.
Hurley didn't waste any time. As soon as the Duke left the tavern with his men and the captain, he told the other's he needed to go and let Treea know about her Pop's predicament.
Hurley returned to the inn later. After he promised Treea, he would find someone who could help them with this matter. Outside the Tavern, a figure called to Hurley, calling him into the dark shadow of the building hidden from the light of the moon. It was that of a woman. "You want to help your Captain? This here book may help you with his release."
Hurley accepted the package, and before he could give it back, the woman disappeared, leaving him holding it, bewildered. Who was she? Why would she want to help the Captain? What did the Duke want Hurley to do now that he had delivered his promise?
His only clue as the woman left was her shadow, definitely that of a goblin.
He never once expected any of this. The Duke promising him anything, nor the Captain's arrest. When he promised Treea he would find help to see to it that the Captain was released from prison, he never once expected someone would step forth from the shadows. Not with such an answer as this, being held within the book.
Chapter 5
"Well, what did you learn?" Treea asked over a plate of eggs.
Hurley tossed a small book on the table. It was leather bound and wrapped in paper tied with a thin cord. Treea pushed her plate aside and untied it, unwrapping the book. It was hand written. Even though Treea was the daughter of a pirate he had made certain that she had learned to be well read. She had no problem reading the handwriting in the book.
"I was given this."
"Did you look at it?" She asked Hurley.
"Why would I, you know I can't read." His brows scowled with his answer.
She always found his scowls, grins, smirks, and grimaces attractive. It was a good thing her Pop never found out or caught the two of them down below deck. If he did, Hurley would undoubtedly be reduced to a dead man with no chest to sit upon.
"It's a diary. What would I want with another woman's diary?" Treea pushed the book away and went back to her breakfast. She hated to waste food. "Where did you get
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