The crew stirred their task of setting the [i]Dusk Skate[/i] to sail with alacrity, pouring over the ship in a chaotic orchestra of bent backs and grunted effort. Thomas strode amongst the men, directing when needed, but his words were often as not superfluous in such moments. Those that called the [i]Skate[/i] there home were skilled and driven sailors, they didn’t need the captain to hold their hands to get a ship to sea.

Amongst the flurry of activity his eye was drawn up to the rigging, where a flash of white caught his attention. There, dangling with the confidence of a spider within its web, was Antonia. She was dressed in her usual sea-faring garb, and Thomas thought that the simplistic fabrics and humble trappings contrasted to make her beauty all the more dramatic. Tucked in beside her bright face was the lily that he had left her, and a smile drew up the corners of the captain’s mouth. He gave a slight bow at the offer of her blown kiss, his gaze promising a visit to the crow’s nest when the chance arose. 

Thomas left Antonia to her work, moving from beneath the main mast and towards the fore castle. The [i]Dusk Skate[/i] cut smartly through the calm waters of Port Royal Harbor, passing first the guns of Fort Walker, and then the more formidable battery of Fort Charles off to port. Jax had the ship on a masterful tack; Thomas could feel it in the eager tilt of the keel as the [i]Skate[/i] latched selfishly onto the slight, but favorable morning breeze. 

“Beg pardon, Captain,” said a voice from behind Thomas.

The pirate captain turned from his viewing of the ship’s bow, and found Henshaw standing with the boy, Luc. 

“Yes?”

“The Lef-tenant wished me to bring this boy to ya,” Henshaw said. “She said you would know wha’ to do wif him.”

Thomas looked down into the awed face of the boy. His expression was innocent and pleasant, every bit a child in place he had only yet dreamt of. A twinge of sadness came to Thomas as he recognized the emotion. It would not last, and truthfully it could not, even if Thomas wished it to. The boy was here as a means to save his life, but Thomas could not protect him from the harsh reality aboard a pirate ship. Lessons were taught with stern consequences, even for cabin boys. 

“Very good, Henshaw. I will take him from here.” Thomas said.

Henshaw grunted an “Aye,” before turning to return to his work. 

Bending down to one knee, Thomas looked into Luc’s eyes. He did not offer the boy a smile as he had done in the Parakeet. The pirate captain kept his face neutral, yet not unkind. 

“Luc, it is good to have you aboard,” Thomas glanced upwards towards the crow’s nest, though he could not see Antonia. “You must understand that being here will be nothing like your life at the Parakeet.”

“Oh, I know Capitaine, I will…” Luc interrupted, a smile jumping upon his face. Thomas raised a firm hand to quiet the boy.

“Luc,” Thomas said with a voice harsher than he had intended, “do not interrupt those above your station.” With a slow exhalation through his nose, Thomas forced himself to smooth the edges of his voice. He reached up to take the boy by his shoulders. 

“Your first lesson, my boy, is to know your place. This ship, and every vessel like it, operates on hierarchy. There is an order of things, you see? And right now, you are at the bottom. The sailors around you have all earned their place here, and in their eyes you must do the same. Follow instructions without quibble, and do so promptly.”

Luc nodded, the awestruck look draining from his face. 

“I will have you report to Mister Morneau, he is the ship’s cook. With your experience in the Parakeet, this should be at least somewhat familiar to you,” Thomas continued. He spun the boy gently about, and pointed over Luc’s shoulder towards the stairway that led below decks. “Those stairs will take you below, and into the ship’s belly. Travel down them, past the gun deck, and there you will find the galley and storage area. Mister Morneau will be below, going about his work. Find him and tell him that I have sent you to work under him.”

Thomas stood and patted Luc gently upon his head. “It may be some time before your aunt or I can come to check up on you, but until then keep your chin up. You’ll do fine if you work hard, and keep quiet.”

With a thin smile, Thomas pressed gently upon the boy’s back. “Off with you now.”

Luc darted off, looking over his shoulder once to Thomas, and then up to the rigging as he passed beneath where Antonia stood at her post, high above. Thomas hoped the boy had caught a glimpse of her, if for no other reason than to gain solace from her distant face. He watched Luc until he disappeared down the steps, and then Thomas turned his attention elsewhere.

He walked back along the starboard rail of the ship, looking out to sea, and inspecting the rigging of the sails as he moved passed them. Thomas soon found himself at the aft castle, not far from the helm, and the indelible figure of Jax. When the man called to him, speaking of the debt for the shirt, Thomas chuckled.

“The only debt you owe me is a tale of what transpired last night. Stories are sometimes more valuable than a purse of gold, and I sense that this could be the case.”

Jax continued on about the nature of the [i]Skate[/i], and Thomas nodded his agreement. 

“Aye, she can be a jealous girl, can she not?” Thomas reached out to run a hand over the warm wood of the aft castle railing. “She may give you some pique at first, but I’m sure after a time beneath your skilled hands she’ll be wooed once again.”

Thomas fell silent for a time, looking out over the port quarter of the [i]Skate[/i]. He could clearly see the distinct indentation of the land that made what was known as Monkey Bay. This was point Thomas had been waiting for, the landmark to truly begin their journey.

“Jax,” he said turning to the sea artist, “Bring us about. We tack south towards Panama. Once we are in open water, I will address the crew.”