Chapter 2: The Port

Xavier steered his ship into port and commanded his men to lower the sails and tie the ship to the Dock. He stepped quickly down to his cabin and pulled out one of the many sacks of gold they had pilfered on their last voyage. As he walked out the door his men were starting to line up. His first mate, Ethyn, walked to his side and they both faced the crew.

“We will be leaving tomorrow in the afternoon tide so if you are not here by tomorrow morning to help load our new supplies, I'll leave you behind. Understood?” the men all made various sound of agreement. Xavier opened his bag and gave out the coins to his crew. Once they were all paid, he turned to Ethyn,

“Do you mind watching the ship for about an hour, I have an old friend coming by and I need to pick up a few ingredients for dinner” Ethyn shrugged his shoulders.

“I don't mind.” Xavier smiled making his green eyes sparkle. He took off his captains’ hat put it on Ethyn’s head knowing it would annoy him, Ethyn hated hats that messed up his hair style.

“Watch the 'do man!” Ethyn said as he took off the hat. Xavier just laughed. He reached into his sack and pulled out a handful of gold and put it into his pocket.

“You can spend this when I get back.” Xavier said handing the rest of the sack to Ethyn, it was just under half full. Ethyn just nodded his head and watched as his best friend walked off the ship.

Xavier wandered around the markets picking up the ingredients he needed as well as ordering the different supplies that he'll need for his crew. He also stopped by the bookstore, he got very bored when he didn't have any ships around him to ransack. He headed back to the ship just over an hour later.

“Keep an eye on the crew, you have the night off but at least try not to let the men get into too much trouble.” Ethyn smiled and patted his captains back.

“I'll try my best.” he replied. The captain chuckled and said goodbye.

Xavier walked into his quarters put his bags down. He pictured in his head a smallish table in the centre of the room with a white tablecloth, to silver candlesticks and to dinner plates with silver knives and forks. He gathered his magic and commanded it to be. He brushed his black hair out of his eyes as the table appeared in front of him. And then he laughed at himself.

“I forgot the chairs.” he smiled as he conjured up the chairs. He then went into the ships kitchen and started to cook his meal. He was transferring the food from the kitchen to his cabin when his friend walked to the gangplank of the ship. Xavier used his magic to put the food in his cabins as he went to greet her. She was wearing a long red dress that cut low in the front, a long fur coat and black strappy heels.

“Ahoy there m'lady, be ye lost?” Xavier asked. His friend’s eyes sparkled in amusement,

“Is this the ship of Captain Xavier, the Rogue of the Sea?” she asked timidly getting into the roll.

“Aye, it is, and he is a mighty fierce man and very protective of his ship.”

“May I please board?”

“There be only one price accepted for a woman to board the Shadow, are ye willing to pay it?” the woman bit back laughter and Xavier hid a grin. He often had women on his ship, in fact a year ago he had to say goodbye to the best cook the ship ever had when she married his best fighter, the two women now lived on a small island and were both blissfully happy. He made a mental note to visit them when he could.

“yes?” she asked timidly, and Xavier put his arm around her possessively as he led her to his quarters.

As soon as they entered Xavier and his friend burst into laughter.

“Who was that for?”

“Well you never know who could be listening Alyvia, I wouldn't want to ruin my reputation.”

“Most men know me or at least of me, I don't think anyone bought that.”

“Dearest Alyvia, they probably thought I paid you to play the innocent virgin because you refused to send any of your women to face my darkness. Now, the madame of Skull Rock, I am your humble servant, how may I be of service.” her laugh was throaty and deep and made Xavier smile as he poured her favourite wine.

They shared the meal with pleasant conversation. After Xavier had cleared the dishes away, he refilled her cup and looked at her intensely

“Why did you want to meet me, and why was it coded?”

“There's been...” Alyvia's voice trailed off as she tried to think of the way to phrase it.

“Incidents, you know the Kings and Queens of the land fear you and that mostly keeps them from doing something stupid, but their fear has started to lead to -”

“-violence.” Xavier finished for her. She nodded. Xavier sighed, “How bad?” he asked.

“It hasn't been too bad, they've mostly been going after the weakest non-human creatures, the weaker fairy folk hid with the stronger when they caught wind of something going on and most others hid as well and of course all of us who live on the islands are protected, if not by the mermaids in the sea then by the islands monsters. But that changed, I only got word of what they did a few days ago, it took me a day to find enough information to send for you…” her voice trailed off.

“What happened?” he asked when she stopped speaking, pain radiating across her face.

“A herd was attacked.” she said simply, her eyes got teary.

“Horse? Or...” when she started crying, he knew. He gave her a hug his own tears flowing down his face. He thought of the sweetest most innocent creatures and the pain they must be going through at the hands of men. He held Alyvia as she wept.

When she had recovered, he gave her a clean handkerchief, she wiped her eyes.

“The dragons’ mate had gone into heat, so they were in their cave.” She told him, her voice still a little shaky. “The men took off with the youngest of them, I met him once, he'll be about 21 and just coming into his powers. Completely innocent.”

“You want me to get him back.” Xavier stated, Alyvia nodded.