An Inevitable Conclusion

“So that’s it then. She’s made her choice.” James sat with his back against a crate on the only empty pier at the church. The voices of ROOKs and night watchers adding to the background noise of the evening. More than anything he just felt empty, adrift. A sudden squall had blown through and snapped a mast. Now he needed to find a place to pull in, drop anchor, and see about getting it replaced.
 
He sighed, feeling his age again for the first time in a while. “Storm Father, and Lady, thank you. Even if it was for just a moment you let me believe. You let me think it could happen. I know many who would curse you for what’s happened. One in particular I know would be gloating, and using this as another example of the horrible ways of the Flame Hearted Harlot!” He said in a particularly haughty tone and a bad Rus accent. “But that’s not me. I know your gifts can be temporary, and I thank you for even the little moments. The stolen moments.” He sighed, watching as a fin of a large fish broke the water out in the river before sliding under the waves again.
 
“Nothing to do but keep going. Even after this, deals still need to be made, people helped, and a certain Captain is sure to get back in contact with me. Can’t be a mess then can I. Or at least, I can’t let it be seen.” He pushed himself up to his feet and stretched. Pulling a coin from his pocket, he let’s it play across his fingers for a minute before flicking it hard into the air, letting it sail out and splash into the water. “A treasure for someone else. Sometimes we can’t keep the most precious jewels. To you Storm Father, and luck to the next person who finds that offering.” Still feeling mostly empty, but just a tad less raw, James headed back inside the church, finding a late night bath, and a warm bed.
 
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Water all around him. He felt the different temperatures, the micro changes in currents as he swam. In the distance, he could feel others, others like him…and food…prey. But he wasn’t hungry and so they didn’t interest him. You don’t kill needlessly, or without purpose. Food, or defense. He felt something else, something large, far larger than him, and coming closer. He could feel its shape as it approached, could almost hear the sound of the waves crashing against its hull as it cut through the water. And then a voice. A voice not just talking, but calling out, calling to him, beckoning him closer. He knew this voice, but still he swam closer.
 
As he approached, he came closer and closer to the surface, eventually breaking through, and then swimming above it. His body felt strange, fins changing, breaking apart as his feet touched the deck at the bow of the ship. At the far end, standing at the wheel stood a young man many would call handsome, pretty even. His long, brown gold hair being played with by the breeze, as the lapels of his open, blue jacket and white shirt danced as well. Even at this distance, he knew this man was looking him dead in the eyes with a smile at his lips which had charmed so many people, and terrified others.
 
“Hello James, welcome aboard. Or should I say, welcome back.” The Captains voice was friendly, pleasant, and pitched to easily carry even in the most turbulent of storms. “Well come on, come closer. Don’t just stand there at the bow staring at me, come. Stand beside me.” Taking one step James was suddenly next to the Captain, mere feet away. “There we go, much better. I must say you’re looking well for your age.” James tried to speak, but couldn’t find his voice, couldn’t make the words move from his brain to his mouth. He wanted to shout at this man, wanted to scream. He wanted to run, throwing himself over the side and diving back down, deep, so far away even light wouldn’t be seen. But just like his voice, his feet refused to function as well.
 
“Ah, poor James. A man so willing to give his heart, and what has it gotten you? A great, bloody hole in your chest.” The Captain gestured off handedly to him. “But what did you expect? I mean, she’s a noble woman, and you’re just a dirt poor Casti miners son, and a pathetic low born sailor. That’s what they told you, remember?” Every word slammed into James with the force of a sledgehammer. “Why did you even bother trying? It was doomed from the start, and only by absolutely deluding yourself did you ever think it could be different. I know how this works, and so do you.”
 
“But she,” James started to say.
 
“But she was different. Really? I mean sure, she didn’t look at you with utter disgust, like you weren’t even worthy to be the dirt under her shoes, but look what happened still. You were a plaything for her. A toy. A fun distraction, and perhaps a way for her to test her intended. And you went right along with it. Like a good little puppy on a leash.” The Captain’s tone never became harsh, staying that friendly, matter of fact tone that one uses to discuss the weather, or some other point of fact. “You were simply a little dalliance of hers so that she could say she’s had a bit more experience in life before doing exactly what she was going to do the entire time. Settle down with one of her own kind, and leaving you behind. Maybe it ended before she got what she wanted, and that’s why she was crying. But don’t kid yourself about it being anything more than that.”
 
Rage warred with nothingness inside James’s heart as he listened to the Captain. “You’re wrong.” He whispered.
 
“Really?”
 
“Yes, you’re wrong about her. She’s nothing like that!” The words seethed from his lips.
 
“You truly think so? Then why didn’t she really tell you why. Why did she tell you that she doesn’t want you in her sight ever again. Because, and let’s be honest here, that’s exactly what she meant. Maybe she was nice enough to try to spare your feelings by saying [“We can’t be friends any more”], but the result is still the same.” The halfling words came out in Mirabella’s voice, a hint of sadness in them. “You gambled, and you lost. That’s not the pathetic part. The pathetic part is, you knew there was only one way it was going to turn out, and you threw money at it anyway.”
 
James felt the nothingness winning, felt his heart slowing down, as fingers squeezed tightly. “You’re wrong.” He said weakly
 
“I doubt it. But look at the bright side, you’ll never have to explain any of this to her now will you? After all, you know how to properly deal with nobles right?” The Captain looked at James, a hungry gleam in his eyes. “All crew make ready, man the guns and prepare to board when we’re asside!” Shouts of “Aye Captain” from dozens of voices erupted as people poured from out of the hold, and from cabins.
 
“Let fly the colors!” Came a female voice, one that ripped James’s heart out. He couldn’t breathe as he looked down at the deck.
 
“Salihn.” He said, weakly. He hurt, he hurt so much just seeing her again. A loud snap of cloth made him look up, and there he saw it. That oh so familiar black flag.
 
“It’s time you went ashore James. Or at least, left here. Now off my ship with ya.” With a wave of his hand the Captain sent James flying over the side of the ship. Not even touching him, just being flung with an invisible, and inexorable force, back into the water. The cold of it shocked him, but he stayed floating there, watching as the ship sailed away. Sailing toward its prey.