laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

A thick smoky fog hung low across the waves as the rowers quietly pushed their small boat deeper into the drifting wreckage. Squinting, their navigator scrutinized the refuse searching for any survivors perhaps clinging to driftwood and hoped that they reached these travelers before the sharks did.

"Hello!" he yelled out. His voice seemingly muffled by the lapping of the waves and contained within this cloud stinking of burned wood. Echoing into the distance, he listened intently for any answer.

"Arthur," the nearest soldier to him called out, sweat soaking his shirt and tanned face. "It's getting late. Had Archantael wished for us to rescue anyone else, they'd have cried out by now."

Hope sank with the fisherman's shoulders as he gazed out one last time into the dim surroundings. "The Sea Sprite has to be out here somewhere," he thought aloud, a comment that met with a tired chuckle from his cousin, Martin.

"You've been saying that for the whole day," the carpenter pushed out as he pulled once more on the oar. "There's not out here but chum now." Angry glares and a shove from his other oar mates immediately erupted around him.

"Be respectful to those that died out here today, boy," a haggard man at the bow of the small vessel angrily chided. "Archantael nestled the crew and passengers in her bosom not long after this ship went down. She'll claim you too if you're not careful," he stated then turned and gazed out into the murk.

"I don't mean to sound that way, friend," Martin replied. "It's just that we've been out here all day and heard not a soul's plea for help. I'm as tired as the rest of you and I say...."

"There," Arthur interrupted as he perked up, gazing over their shoulders to a brightening in the fog that soon revealed dying embers and the source of the thick cloud around them. As they neared the wreckage which seemed to jut from the waves like broken ribs, other forms could be seen bobbing in the sea as well. Sharks picked at the remains of several bodies and he realized they had finally found proof of the merchantman's demise. He sank back onto the bench seat and pushed the rudder to starboard. "Alright fellas, we should be back home now. It's getting late." A collective sigh rose from the crew as they pushed their tired muscles onward.

* * *

As the sky brightened the next morning, a low fog still hung over the water and drifted lazily with the gentle southern breeze which carried the mist along the sandy beach and up to the low, grassy bluff. To Amphelice, the scene reminded her of why she loved the Valga Sea which had become her home. Long black hair hung loosely and gently waved behind the lean framed pirate as she quietly stroked her pet rabbit cradled in her left arm.

"Looks like the Lady had an eventful night," she mused aloud. Quietly lapping upon the shoreline, she quietened her breathing and could almost feel an odd mood to the sea today. A subtle emotion that few could detect if they didn't understand the wide blue expanse like she did. She leaned over and kissed the white furry ball in her arm, turned and headed back to her small hovel nestled in a large stand of hickory and spruce. Well hidden from prying eyes of the small dock not far east of her. Tanned hand pushed open the thick oaken door and she stepped into her modestly appointed home now alight by a cookfire in the hearth.

"You keep an eye on the place for me while I bathe, alright," she said and placed the warm bundle onto her bed, then turned and headed back outside, then closed the door. Cool air carried the scents of kelp to her nostrils and she smiled as memories of her previous plundering expedition on Kuzomen ships came to mind as she unbuckled her swordbelt. Waves lapped upon the sandy beach and she heard what sounded like the cooing of a baby. A sound that stopped her in her tracks. Again, it's voice quietly called from the waterline and grabbed her attention as Amphelice noticed something beneath the misty layer. Cautiously, she approached and soon recognized a child wrapped in a wet bundle. Her eyes went wide and she immediately crouched to pick up the gift from the sea. Amazed, brown eyes gazed up to her from the tiny child and smiled as the pirate stood there dumbfounded.

Amber eyes quickly scanned to either side of her and down the beach. There had to be someone nearby that had abandoned the child to die. Golden rays of sunlight revealed no one within eyesight and she figured the young one had been here for a while. Perhaps one of the barmaids at the inn decided to give back what some sailor had left her with. Amphelice gazed back to the child who studied her in wonder and she felt an odd sensation wash over her as she drew him in closer.

She soon chuckled in disbelief at the situation. "Hi there."