To let go does not mean to forget
~Margarette Vilfour
I stood at the helm, staring up at the red sails reaching toward the clouds. The sun bled across the fabric, making a brilliant crimson hue that I’d never forget. Beside me, Gus stood with his arms crossed, and on my other side was Mullins, hands on his narrow hips.
We were all thinking the same thing. I wasn’t sure why it pained me to say it out loud, but there was no avoiding the obvious.
“Well?” Mullins said, breaking the silence. “Is someone going to say it?”
Gus let out a long, loud sigh. “They’re rather prominent, aren’t they?”
I took a deep breath, watching a beam of sunlight glint brightly through a small tear in the main sail. The old things were in need of repair anyway. It was only fitting.
“We need to change the sails,” I said.
“We’ve got some extras in—” Mullin’s started.
“Shut up, Mullins,” Gus cut him off, reaching behind me to deliver a slap to his shoulder. “We both know what he’s saying.”He leaned in close to me, raising a brow. “What color you thinking?”
“What else? White, like all the other common ships around here. Red is too noticeable.”
“I’ll say,” Mullins snorted. “The Rose is the only ship with ‘em.”
“Which means we’re easy to spot. If anyone wants the Burning Rose, they’ll have to find her. Then they’ll have to take her and I’m not letting either of those things happen. She’ll get white sails and a new name.”
“Whereabouts are we going to do that?”
“Thorpes,” Gus said, scratching his head. “It’s the only place that’ll do it and not ask questions. Even Abel’s point would be ideal, but it’s too far east. Too close to Treson Harbor.”
“Right. Because we’re pirates now, that it? No more wondering? Now that Whitton put a price on us, that is. And he’s dead now, so I expect that price is about to double.”
“We’re definitely not of the lawful variety,” I said. “But no matter what, someone somewhere is willing to pay for our services, especially if the xhoth start moving closer to the shores.”
“Could start intercepting merchant ships,” Gus suggested. “Really break her in. The Rose is probably itching for a bit of excitement, don’t you think?”
“Oh, she’ll get it. To Thorpes first. We’ll resupply, change her sails, and figure out where we’re heading next.” I stepped forward to turn and face them both. “Tell the men. We’re going inland.”
Mullins was quick to nod his approval of the plan and head down to spread the word. Gus remained, leaning against the railing with that contemplative look on his face. It was as if, since one of his eyes had been plucked and eaten by a siren, his other eye showed twice the expression. Most of the time, I knew what he was thinking before a single word left his lips.
“Out with it, Gus,” I said, resting a hand on the wheel.
“You’re really going to say goodbye to her red sails.”
I shrugged. “She’s still mine without them and she’ll sail just as fast. Can’t really afford to have a vessel that stands out right now. Not when land and sea are equally full of enemies.”
Gus’s eye stared at me, analyzing. “Getting rid of her sails doesn’t just mean she’s getting a new look. It means we’re not privateers anymore. We’re fully on the run. You really willing to leave all that behind?”
“I can hunt just as well without a governor’s coin.”
“And the men?”
“They’ll get paid. We’ll intercept merchant ships if we have to. Keep hunting whatever the hell needs hunting for whomever the hell has the reward.”
He nodded, rubbing his scruffy chin. “We’ll have to be careful in Thorpes. They may not turn us in for being outlaws, but if anyone finds out about our companions, we’ll be in for a bad time.”
“We’ll do what we must. For now, the sails are our priority. We’ll all decide what to do after that later.”
When everyone’s bellies were empty and their tempers short, I could see the sunny shores of Thorpes in the distance. Tall palm trees and stone towers adorned the shoreline where a barricade once stood strong. Now, it was decrepit and riddled with holes from cannon fire after a petty war between factions swept across the island chain decades prior.
