The Captain's Stand Page 23

  “I can practically juggle these things if they were not attached,” Boss complained.

  Richard opened his mouth but paused, “I am not going there, anyway since your down here how about helping me out.” He motioned to the crate. The both shouldered the crate shifting,

  “I really miss the upper body strength,” Richard lamented as they showed it to the side. Richard grabbed the lantern, “You know this would be a lot easier, If we knew what caused it,” Richard admitted,

  “What can cause it?” Boss asked as Richard glanced over the extra supplies, rope, cloth, and Salted meats.

  “Well, the most likely, which is the worst and best possibility a magical illness,” Richard explained, Boss paused as Richard tore off a tarp glancing at a crate filled with barrels of rum.

  “How can it be both the best or worst?” Boss asked, a little confused at the comment.

  “Well a magical Illness is like any illness, it has a time limit, or it kills you. The same idea but with magic you don’t always know what you get, I heard some people like, turn into monsters, animals, heck some people think the Bendact Beastia, are part of a string of a magical illness. However the problem with that is we don’t know the time limit, could be two days could be the rest of your life.” Richard said laughing at the morbid thought.”

  “I see what you mean,” Boss admitted,

  “Yep, ah,” Richard frowned as he adjusted his coat, “The other option is a magical artifact, which can range from something the size of a coin to some a totem pole, mind you the totem pole would be a lot easier to find.”

  “So just two options then?” Boss asked as he paused as Richard hung his head as he closed his eyes to prevent looking at his chest. “Richard?”

  “There are two other options, one can be plausible, but I don’t think it’s possible, the final is impossible due to the fact the only spell caster still alive, Is currently cleaning up a massive war, so he is out.” Richard laughed nervously.

  “What about the third?” Boss asked

  “Divine interventions, a Divine being altering reality, normally if they are involved well you’re usually fucked,” Richard admitted,

  “Is this common?” Boss asked,

  “No, normally it’s an old folk story limited to small interventions, Divine beings are normally limited to what they have domain over so having anything this out of the ordinary is unheard of. Mind you if someone gets hit with lighting people wonder about that idea,” Richard admitted, implying a more subtle possibility underlying the past.

  “Hmm, so you’re hoping that it’s the artifact cause it would be easier to fix?” Boss admitted, “How?”

  “We will see, some of them you just need to get some distance, others it’s some kind of simple solution. Or so I heard,” Richard explained as he stopped coming to the end of the storage area.

  “You said it could be the size of a coin, so we should have to go over every inch of this ship,” Boss reminded, but Richard waved his hand,

  “I am not in the mood to go through all this stuff, in the dark, we can set up a pulley system and pull this stuff up and go through it in the light,” Richard explained as headed back,

  “I wasn’t aware we had one,” Boss admitted, “Hmm I really should work on getting to know the ship better,” Boss admitted,

  “You got a long list so I wouldn’t worry about it learn at your own pace,” Richard encouraged patting the man on the shoulder.

  “Ah,” came a caw that Richard twitched, glancing around

  “Did you hear that?” Richard asked,

  “Maybe?” asked a familiar voice as Richard and Boss turned to see a man in blue and gold clothing Richard was not familiar with. He had a familiar scarlet bird on his arm we was stroking, “It’s good to see you again, which is much easier no,” said the familiar bearded face.

  “Oh boy,” Richard replied as he wondered about helping the man.

  “I take it this is a Devine being?” Boss asked,

  “I prefer god,” Loki admitted as he raised his hand forcing the bird of it. Richard glared at the bird as it flew past him. “And I never did get to fully thank you for helping me out on the island, So I figured a new experience was just what the doctor ordered.” He said with a pleasant smile, as he flipped a coin suddenly shifted forms into a black haired woman with ample assets in a long skin tight red dress, as she hovered in the air.

  “I hate that bird,” Richard admitted before turning back to the being sitting on his cargo. “I was really hoping to avoid something like this,” Richard gestured to his body.

  “I have to admit I slept with worse, Long blonde hair, exotic eyes, and nice tits,” he admitted, “But seeing as how I slept with a horse anything is really a step up,” he admitted with a smile as Boss looked at Richard in concern.

  “Right,” Boss said rubbing the back of his head as he glanced at Richard who just shrugged.

  “Well I was a horse at the time,” Loki admitted, as he shifted back into his male form with the flip of a coin.

  “So now what?” Richard asked hoping to get everything over with. “I don’t think I can be of much use to you.”

  “Your head,” Loki said shifting back into his female form. As he suddenly appeared in front of Richard’s face. Boss made a move for his weapon but stopped himself “But seeing as how I made a promise, a good interesting Life, as soon as you die I can get on with my own business, but you lawyer boy, have tied my hands on just offing you. I am a man of my word. So do keep me entertained,” he said, “I Loki shall be keeping my eye on you,” and with that, he vanished as the coin dropped from where Loki was before dropping and rolling to a stop at Richard’s feet.

  “Well,” Richard said as he flipped the coin hoping Loki flipping it would do the same for him. Richard caught it and shifted back to his male form. Releasing a sigh of relief he hadn’t realized he had been holding. “Well,” Richard said surprising Boss as he flipped it again reverting to a female.

  “You are not going to keep that are you?” Boss asked in concern then looking at Richard as if worried for his sanity.

  “Captain goes Last, so until everyone is in their proper place if something goes wrong I share that fate till the last,” Richard said handing Boss the coin. “That and it would make an excellent disguise,”

  “I think I would rather die,” Boss said flipping the coin only to stay female. “Oh so this is how it’s going to be,” Boss said groaning as he kneeled down to pick up the coin dropping it on the intended side and turning back to normal.

  “I am going to my cabin, when I get there you let everyone know I said I would change back last, not that I want a sex change,” Richard chuckled “They may start swarming if I walk around male so we would have some issues. If this gets fought over we may have a new man to woman ratio on this ship.”

  “So long as it’s not me,” Boss said as he paused at the bottom of the steps.

  Richard walked up the stairs and headed back to the deck. “Richard,” as the captain jumped as who he thought was Madison approached him. “Sorry, this weird I am so much,” Madison gestured She had almost doubled her size shoulders were broader more muscle mass. Madison’s hair was even shorter than normal Richard frowned going to stroke his chin only to realize it was clean.

  “Not the only thing, you seem to be handling it well, walk with me I am going to my cabin,” Richard informed.

  “Is it sad that my life would be so much easier, in this form,” Madison admitted, with a sigh.

  “A sad truth of the world,” Richard agreed, “However no life is without issues, thinking of making the change permanent?”

  “Tempting but no, I fought so hard to become a knight, it would cheapen it if I took the easy way out.” She said, “So the sooner we fix this problem the better.” Richard headed up frowning as he flinched away from the light.

  Richard frowned a few people, seemed to have seated themselves looking at the water. Richard took a deep breath not wanting to look at th
em this situation. Richard walked in with Madison moving into the cabin as well. Richard frowned as he picked up a mirror.

  “I wonder if this is what I would look like if I was born or if this is an ideal, in my head given form by magic.” Richard mused, “Anyway here pick this coin up and flip it,” he instructed

  “Okay,” Madison eyed Richard as she picked it up, dropping the coin as she felt the familiar for of her body. “Okay,” she repeated with a lot more awe.

  “Leave the coin and the first person you see you inform them to go here and tell them to flip the coin like you did and so on, try to keep this orderly okay,” Richard pleaded, Sam walked in as the two glanced at him. Sam raised an eyebrow in confusion looking at Richard.

  “Right Sam could you flip this?” Richard asked as Sam paused for a second then walked up to the coin. Richard watched Sam flip the coin as Richard swore he saw something flash blue, for a brief second as the coin landed Sam eyed the female captain in confusion.

  “There is a moral in there, somewhere,” Richard said as Sam glanced around before looking at Richard, “I am afraid everything is in order, more or less. So feel free to entertain yourself around the ship.” Richard said waving him off.

  “Okay,” Madison paused, “the crew isn’t too big this shouldn’t take too long. But I’ll be sure to keep this orderly,” She said with a smile,” Spark moved next to him as Richard walked away from the table and looked out the windows of the Golden Eagle.

  The coin kept flipping as the ships excitement grew as everyone spread the word. Richard took a deep breath as Laurella walked in, “Well Captain, I think we are the last three, He glanced over to see a rather thin and lengthy, Laurella she was still sporting her normal clothing and it worked rather well.

  She flipped the coin letting it land it returning to her form. Spark picked it up and did the same leaving only Richard. “Alright let’s put an end to this game,” Richard said with a smile only for Spark to flip the coin between her fingers. “Spark,” lee said frowning at her.

  “Oh you look so cute, can I at least play with your hair for a little while,” She begged, as Richard felt his head twitch back.

  “What?” he asked as Spark zipped around, “Hey wait a minute,” Richard said trying to push her away as Laurella laughed at the situation.

  “Please I have not been able to have any fun styling hair and you have so much it’s just, eek,” she squealed a bit,

  “She has a point Hey Madison!” Laurella called out as Madison opened the door only to raise an Eyebrow as Richard made a grab for the coin only for Spark to shrink down.

  “Please, just a little while,” she pleaded as Richard tried in vain to catch him.

  “Dame Madison on my honor Please Help out!” Richard pleaded as he lost his foot and fell over chair leg. “Oh,” he cried out grabbing onto his leg.

  “You are on your own,” Madison said as she headed back onto the deck. Boss was heading up the stairs as Madison exited the dual doors.

  “Seems I wasn’t needed,” Boss said in a plain tone as Madison walked up to the rail and leaned over it glancing at main deck and crew.

  “Sorry about that, but better to be ready and not needed, than needed and not ready,” Madison admitted, “So What are your plans when we get back to land?”

  “Stay on as the first Mate I guess, my brain is being very picky about what I remember. I can speak, read, and Write, all the basic shit is coming back but before the island.” He shrugged, “So, for now, this place is as good as any.” Boss admitted,

  “Well if you ever find yourself in gaslight look me up,” Madison offered as she offered her his hand. He gave it a firm shake,

  “Anyway I am going to go talk to Richard,” Boss informed as he headed, for the door.

  “You have fun with that,” Madison waved off as Richard walked into to see Richard still in female form sitting on a stool as Spark brushed his now very long blonde hair.

  “Help me,” Richard mouthed to him, “It’s like having sisters all over again,” he said in a conspiratorial tone. Boss blinked at Richard before slowly backing out of the door and closing it. “Traitor.” Glaring at him.

  Au: Thanks for making it this far, this story is going to be very manga like. With there being no set consistent length, with stories ranging from Adventure, with plans for some more horror, and of corse my own brand of only slightly amusing comedy. currently working on the third book in the series, and being a parent but each update will be a full arc, for lack of a better word, so don’t be surprised if I don’t update chapters, as I like to rewrite chapters, to better suit characters I have like twenty unused rewritten chapters that I scrapped due to being really bad even by this books standards. Thank you and have a good day.

  Chapter 26 Getting Your Sea Legs

  First steps back to the old world

  Richard crossed his arms, as he glanced over the map. He glanced out at the sun as Madison glanced up the stairs. “You know for a pirate captain, you would think you would know the basics,” Boss replied with a smirk as Richard frowned,

  “No better time to learn than the present,” Richard replied evenly.

  “So are we going to make any stops on the way? Britannia, it’s not exactly the closest city we could sail to.” James pointed out as he played with his hook spinning it in an out of place.

  “We could but, with our current supplies and time we don’t need to. Besides, I have business there, and if we don’t need to make stops I would rather not.” Madison replied as she set down an odd object that looked like a triangle with a spy glass on it.

  “Um, which one is Britannia?” Boss whispered to Laurella who pointed to an island of the crescent-like continent in that seemed to placed rather close to the upper-most center of the map.

  “It’s part of the upper content now known as Ervon, mainly cause,” she paused, “after the last war that’s what filled the vacuum, with small pockets in the northern coast and south peninsula,”

  “War?” Boss said concerned,

  “Yeah which one?” Richard chuckled, “

  “That comment does not surprise me,” Boss replied as he glanced at Richard,

  “Well we had the great mage war, the great Dragon war, and the year of a hundred wars,” Richard listed off. “The reason for the name is that after the dragon war a lot of ‘important’ people died leaving a lot of land up for grabs. Well, conflict just stemmed from that naturally. If you want I have some books in my quarters if you want a more direct method than recall,” he directed to Laurella, he walked as Jill got up from the floor and trailed after him behind the desk before an audible thump. Richard tilted his throne like chair around when he glanced up to see the bat hanging out on the ceiling details that trailed edges above the captain’s room.

  Richard’s eyes glanced over to the jungle cat Kareem had rested in the corner. He spread out the sheets of paper he had on his desk, as they started to exit his room. He had compiled a rather loose profile for everyone on the ship. He spotted each person Tray, James, Madison, Boss, Laurella, and many others as he glanced at Spark, the last one being the most unusual.

  Richard watched as even the big cat left, Sam just stood to the side he looked at him owlishly as Richard wondered if Sam would need to learn as well. He pulled open a drawer and let his finger grip the brass handle for a second longer than needed before pulling out a map and unrolling it. He could look over a good amount of the world, part of him really wanted to just globe trot, with so many separate continents not to mention the pirate archipelago that they were currently sailing out of. “That would be interesting,” He admitted as he mused on the idea. He glanced over at Sam, “feel free to entertain yourself standing there all day can’t be good for you, just don’t bother anyone,” Richard said waving his hand.

  Like all kids, he quickly scrambled for the door. Richard watched as the door shut as Richard scrambled out of his chair before heading to a wardrobe that was bolted to the wall. He opened it up as a mass o
f reflective metal met his eye. His hand greedily snatched a massive claymore up as he grabbed a white rag to handle the blade. He held it up as he fingers tighten around the dark wooden grip. The blade felt heavy in his hand as he pointed the tip at the ground letting it hover a few inches above it. He glanced over the blades, all kinds quite a few note suited for use on a ship, as he inspected one that looked like the guard had been made to look like wings. He pulled it out as he noticed the guard had an eagle made out of what appeared to be gold, Richard tested the metal. “Plated this is more of a high-end sword, than a duelist’s sword. He glanced across the room to see an identical wardrobe as well.

  Richard ignored it as he glanced over the mass of blades each on different, some stylized others plain. He couldn’t help but clap his hands together in childish delight since his younger days reading up on the great leader King Arthur and other heroes, he always had a fascination with swords.

  “So a grown main playing with his sword?” Spark said as Richard spun around to see the fairy hovering behind him.

  “Still hanging around I see,” Richard replied ignoring the jab. “Just inspecting the results of my wish is all, what can I do for you?”

  “I can say the same, to be honest, I have only granted two wishes, so I guess you can say I am interested in how this ship handles since my last wish was just immortality.” She floated off as Richard frowned watching her make her way to the other wardrobe hovering over the circle shaped bed in-between them.

  “I am trying to look around on my own I don’t see why you can’t do the same,” Richard said as he frowned at her.

  “I would like to know what has been going on in the world, while I have been trapped in that orb,” she replied she frowned as her hands went to her hips. Richard crossed his arms and glared back as the two stared at each other.

  “Okay let’s see what we have to work with, you hear of the Imperium Romanum? Any earlier than that is well, around that time is sketchy but less so since we have next to no knowledge of life before that, some accounts of city-states before that.”