A Tale That Never Was

Hurrying after the captain, Red and Selvina hopped on Bigbad’s back and charged through the crowds. The huge wolf made quick progress as very few people wanted to block his way. An ogre growled at him as they passed him by but other than that there were no other hostile reactions.

The wolf slowed to a walk as he reached the captain and the girls looked up at Jolly Roger at the end of the pier they were walking along. Floating perpendicular to their position the large frigate was bustling with activity. Dozens of men ran along its length and secured ropes, finished loading crates, checked the conditions of the sails, examined the rudder, scrubbed and mopped the deck and cleaned the cannons. One man stood on the pier before the ship with his hands on his hips. He was bare-chested with a chiseled and lean body, olive skin, white leggings, a red sash around his waist, no footwear of any kind, and a red turban wrapped around his head. Two scimitars hung at his sides and a great grin stretched across his cleanly shaven face, save for a small, trimmed bread that shadowed his upper lip and curved down around his mouth and covered his chin. He was young, fit, and could compete and possibly win against Captain Hook in a contest of the most devilishly handsome man around.

“Welcome back, captain,” the man said. “Was Wendy as beautiful as always?”

Captain Hook nodded. “Aye, that she was, Sinbad.”

The younger man looked over the captain’s shoulder at the wolf and two girls riding it. “You have followers, sir.”

Captain Hook sighed. “I am quite aware of that.”

“Offering a tour of old Jolly Roger? I didn’t know we had time for that.”

“We don’t…” Captain Hook glanced back at the girls atop the large wolf. “They are in fact coming with us.”

Sinbad lost his grin and raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me, captain? Did you just say that they are coming aboard with you, me, and the crew?”

Captain Hook eyed Sinbad directly, his brows furrowed. “Yes, they are, Quartermaster. Is there a problem?”

“They’re somewhat young, don’t you think?”

“No younger than Jack.”

“Aye, little Jack would be about their age but the lad can climb masts and sails better than anyone else on the crew. The boy has use and skill. What could these two offer us?”

Selvina frowned at Sinbad’s words and jumped off Bigbad. She stomped over him and stuck a finger in his face. “I am not useless! I have every right to be on that ship!”

Sinbad chuckled at her ferocity. “She’s a feisty one, isn’t she? Tell me, green eyes, what exactly can you do to help the crew? Can you tie a knot? Can you climb without hesitation? Can you load powder and lift cannonball? Perhaps you have a keen eye and can spot land from miles away. Tell me, what can you do?”

Selvina didn’t stop frowning. “I can’t do some of those things and I don’t know about others because I’ve never done them before but I can cook and I can clean and…I can act!”

“Oh, so she’s an actress! How lovely! It’s just what a crew of pirate hunters needs.”

“Don’t mock me! I’ll help if that’s what you need of me. Just give me a chance to.”

Sinbad sighed and crossed his arms over his bare chest. He glanced sidelong at Captain Hook. “Cookie’s meals are indeed only marginally better tasting than slop. Some days I wonder how we survive on that mud he calls food.”

Captain Hook nodded knowingly. “Aye, the man is getting old. I’ve had the displeasure of watching him clean pots with his bare hands after only just using them to scratch an itch in an area I don’t wish to mention. I believe it’s about time he finds himself a seaside cottage and lives out the rest of his days in peace.”

Sinbad nodded and looked down at Selvina. “How good is your cooking?”

Selvina’s frown vanished and she felt uneasy under his gaze. She rubbed one arm nervously. “Well, my family and friends all said I was good at it. I haven’t had a complaint yet…”

Sinbad laughed and gestured at the young woman with his hands. “Ha! Well there you have it, captain! She’s already better than Cookie! He’s been receiving complaints since he ever set foot on Jolly Roger. It’ll be good for the men to taste something with flavour for once.”

Selvina blushed and smiled lightly. “I will do what I can…”

Sinbad looked up and eyed Red, still sitting on her wolf. “And you, Hood, what can you do?”

Red, in a quick, fluid motion, swung her crossbows up from her belt and aimed them at Sinbad. The sailor had his scimitars ready in a flash just as Red fired a bolt from one of her crossbows. It struck Sinbad’s turban and pulled it off of his head, taking it along with it. She fired a second bolt that ricocheted off the first, which was slowed down by the turban it pulled, and sent it down to the planks of the pier. It stabbed into the wood and pinned the turban against it. Sinbad glanced at his nailed turban and then back at Red and nodded, his lips pursed in an expression of mild fascination.

“You’ll do,” he said to her.

“Do we have room for the wolf?” Captain Hook asked his Quartermaster. “He looks strong enough to help load and unload cannons and supplies whenever we need to. He could be of use.”

Sinbad eyed the black beast and rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “I believe we have the room in the cargo hold to make him a bed of sorts. And you’re right, captain, he could be of great use to us. If Jolly Roger gets damaged he could pull her to the nearest dock.”

Captain and Quartermaster chuckled for a moment before turning around and heading towards the ship. “Come aboard, girls and beast,” Captain Hook called as Sinbad retrieved his turban. “We have precious few hours of daylight left to us and I’d like to be at sea before night falls.”

Selvina followed behind Sinbad and following her was Red, still atop Bigbad. They climbed the wide ramp and set foot on the main deck, surrounded by men of varying age, height, and composure. Some greeted them with smiles and nods while others narrowed their eyes or scowled. The girls and the wolf followed Sinbad up to the wheel which Captain Hook took hold of and smiled.

“She feels young again, my friend,” he said to Sinbad as he gripped the handles and examined the smooth, sanded wood. “That extra gold we spent was well worth it. I can’t wait to take her to the wind.”

Sinbad smiled and swept a hand before him. “The sea awaits, captain. She calls for you and for Jolly Roger. Let’s not disappoint her.”

Captain Hook nodded and called out to his men, his voice loud and clear. “Ease her off, men! Seaward ho!”

The men cheered set about readying the sails for unfurling, pulling up the anchor, and finishing up loading the last of the supplies. A young man ran across the deck with something in his hand, swerving around the other crewmen with remarkable agility. He climbed up the wooden steps to the quarterdeck where the captain, quartermaster, girls, and wolf stood. He gave the captain a short bow and extended his hands.

“I have your hat, captain,” he said, offering a tricorn hat with a long black feather poking up from the front of it. “I found it in the gun deck.”

Captain Hook beamed. “Ahhh! How in the seven seas did it get down there? I haven’t even inspected the new cannons yet.”

The boy was fit, about the same age as Red and Selvina, had gleaming brown eyes and a head of thick, messy auburn hair. He glanced to the side. “I…may have…had it down there…”

Captain Hook placed the hat on his head and sighed in relief. “Now I am ready to set sail.” He then pointed to the boy with a rigid finger, his expression suddenly changing to stern and intimidating. “Next time, I’ll have your hand for that, boy. You keep your fingers off of the captain’s personal belongings or you won’t have any left.”

The boy gulped, standing as straight as he could, and nodded curtly. “Yes, captain, I understand.” He glanced at Selvina and offered her a small smile. Blushing, she smiled back.

“Good,” Captain Hook said, dismissing the boy with a wave of his hand. “Now get to the crow’s nest and guide me out of this bay.”

“Aye, aye!” Without delay he ran down the steps, across the deck, and climbed the nearest set of shrouds. He clambered up the net-like ropes with remarkable speed and reached the mizzen-mast within seconds. Climbing higher and higher he was soon nearly halfway up, standing on the mizzen topsail. He then grabbed a hanging rope and swung over to the mainsail and climbed up its length up to the crow’s nest. Once at his destination he took a moment to catch his breath and signal the all-clear.

Captain Hook nodded and spun to the wheel to the right. He grinned. “She turns so smoothly, Sinbad. Who was the carpenter again?”

“I do not recall his name, captain,” replied Sinbad. “Only that he had a pet walrus that would swim about as he worked on the ship. He also had a great love for oysters and was always eating some whenever I visited him. Oh, and the walrus spoke.”

“It spoke?” Captain Hook asked with a raised eyebrow, watching his men pull in the mooring lines as the ship slowly veered away from the pier.

“Yes, and with a most eloquent and expansive vocabulary, I must add. It was a sight to see and hear, truly.”

Captain Hook nodded. “Hmm.”

“Mhm,” added Sinbad.

Selvina exchanged a curious glance with Red, who just grinned. She turned to Captain Hook. “So, when will we reach the Ocean of Ice Peaks?”

Sinbad’s eyes widened and he glared at Selvina. “Mermaid’s fin, what makes you think we’re going that way?!”

“I am not a mermaid’s fin! And that is where Captain Hook agreed to take me to see the wizard Oz.”

“It’s an expression! And what is she talking about, captain?!” He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed his captain through narrowed eyes.

Captain Hook kept his eyes away from his quartermaster. He spun his wheel to starboard as Jolly Roger turned toward the ocean and he then called out for his men to unfurl some of the sails. The sound of heavy canvas opening up made him grin and he laughed with glee as the wind caught them. The ship lurched forward and began to skim through the water.

“I am not ignoring you, Sinbad,” Captain Hook assured as he steered Jolly Roger out of the bay, avoiding the incoming and outgoing ship traffic. Red walked up to the bulwark before the wheel and gripped it, a pleasant smile on her face as she watched the ship glide past the other vessels. The captain noticed this and couldn’t help but smile with her. A clearing throat to his left reminded him of his current situation and he sighed. “Selvina, the blonde one, is not of this world, so she says, and needs to see Oz and ask him to take her back. I refused initially until she told me that he may have artifacts from other worlds with him that he may be willing to part with. They could be invaluable, Sinbad. You could purchase your own ship and go on more of those grand voyages you’ve told me about. I could retire and live in Tortug, wealthy and fat and with… Well, we could live happy and glorious lives, Sinbad.”

“If she is not of this world how does she even know of Oz?” Sinbad asked skeptically.

“King Midas told me,” Selvina answered. “He told me only Captain Hook and his crew would be brave enough to take me. He said if there was one man with the sailors with the guts and the talent to take on such a challenge out of their own selfless desire to aid others it was you guys. He said he didn’t trust anyone else to be able to take on the task.”

Sinbad raised an eyebrow and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “King Midas said that?”

Selvina nodded, hoping she hadn’t stretched the truth too much.

Sinbad took a deep breath and reflected on what he had heard. Selvina waited for a response as Captain Hook neared the open ocean and Red watched the men on the main deck. Behind her, she heard Bigbad yawn sleepily. She glanced up at the crow’s nest and could see the young man glancing about for any unseen dangers. She was still staring at him when Sinbad spoke.

“Are you certain Oz will part with some of his artifacts? I’ve heard tales of his insanity and I don’t wish to be anywhere near someone of his power if he suddenly loses his head.”

“Come now, Sinbad,” Captain Hook said dubiously, still staring forward with his hands on the wheel, “do you mean to tell me an aging wizard frightens you? You, who was stranded at sea after what you thought was an island which was actually a gigantic whale dove underwater, are nervous about an old wizard? You, who strapped a chunk of meat to your back so a huge bird could pick you up and take you out of a valley of diamonds and great serpents, are worried? You, who blinded a creature of nightmare that ate your crew with the very spits it was frying them on, are doubtful? You, who—”

“Enough, captain, your point is made….” Sinbad said with a frown and a raised hand. “I suppose this could be thought of as a grand adventure in the making and it has been quite some time since I had one of those.”

“That’s the spirit!” Captain Hook exclaimed with a laugh.

Sinbad found himself smiling. “Sail on, captain, I will check on the men.” He turned and left the quarterdeck, walking down the steps to the main deck and examining the condition of the crew and the ship.

Selvina walked up the captain and looked down at the main deck. He noticed her watching and followed her gaze.

“He’s a good man, that one,” he said, referring to Sinbad. “I found him stranded, one of the many times he has found himself that way according to his tales, and hauled him to my deck. He was penniless and hungry but had such strength of spirit. Even as thin and weak as he was I wouldn’t put it past him to best my entire crew and myself as well. He had finished his last voyage in which he said he had encountered bird-men that were actually demons. They had tried to kill him so he had fled the area, stolen a ship, and had sailed directly into a storm. He thought his god was out to kill him until he caught sight of my sails and, holding on to a floating piece of his demolished ship, had swum toward them. He has been through much, that Sinbad, but he’s one of the best men on this ship and I’d trust him with my life. Believe me, Selvina, when I say that so long as he is with us, you will return to your home.”

Selvina smiled and warmed at the words. “I do believe you, captain. I don’t doubt any of you. I just don’t want any of this to be too much trouble. I feel selfish and shallow to be asking you all to undergo such a dangerous journey for my sake.”

Captain Hook laughed. “This is the Jolly Roger, my dear, where every man here has gone through dangerous journeys and overcome impossible odds. We are pirate hunters! Our lives our filled with danger and uncertainty. The Ocean of Ice Peaks is incredibly hazardous and treacherous but King Midas is right in saying that if anyone can do it is I and these men. You are in good hands.”

Selvina nodded, feeling a little better, and walked around the captain to where Red stood, basking in the glory of being on a sailing ship. “How are you doing? You’ve been quiet.”

“I’ve just been taking it all in, Selvina,” Red replied with a wide grin. “I’m here! I’m actually on a ship!”

Selvina’s eyes widened. “Wait, you’ve never been on a ship before?! How did you know if you’d be able to handle one then?”

Red arched her eyebrows sheepishly. “I…didn’t, really. I was just always fascinated by them. When Bigbad was a pup I’d sometimes take him for walks along the docks of Tortug and just watch the ships coming and going. He’d always try to chase the seagulls or the rats and one time he almost got himself on a ship. I was so scared the crew would hurt him but they were nice and actually tossed him a piece of meat to get him to run back on the pier. Even now, when Bigbad would go hunting in the forest, I would just sit on the shore and watch the sun rise and fall as the sails billowed in the wind like huge clouds. I always longed for the sea and I’m just so excited to actually be on it. I want to thank you for that, Selvina!” With that she hugged the young blonde in a tight embrace.

Selvina hugged her back but was slightly confused. “Why are you thanking me? Couldn’t you have just gone on a voyage without me?”

Red pulled back from the hug and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I could have, but I’m glad to be here with someone I kind of like to be around.”

Selvina giggled. “Well, I kind of like to be around you too, Scarlet.”

“RED! Don’t…don’t call me that….”

“I think it’s a pretty name,” Captain Hook said, overhearing their conversation.

“I do too!” Selvina exclaimed. “See? Even the captain likes it better.”

Red, her cheeks mimicking the color of her cloak, sighed. “Ok, fine, but only you two can call me that…and don’t do it in front of other people. My parents gave me that name and the last person to use it was my grandmother. They’re all gone now and I don’t want you to leave me either.”

Captain Hook gave her a wink. “Trust me, darling, I’m not going anywhere. I have to say, though, the way you spoke of how you would watch the ships at port made me remember the days of my youth when I was just a wee lad doing much the same and dreaming of grand adventures at sea. Sindbad told me he used to try to sneak aboard vessels but was always caught. I admit I tried once or twice, myself. The sea has its own voice and only those with salt in their veins can hear it.” He eyed Red for a few moments and then stepped back from the wheel. “I think you can hear it, Red. Prove me right. Guide this vessel, at least for a while.”

Red’s eyes bulged and her face turned an even deeper shade of red. “No! I…I don’t want to break anything!”

“Ha!” Captain Hook laughed. “We are at open sea and there are no ships for miles. You won’t hit anything. Just keep her steady. The wind is already trying to take control. You had best hurry before it does.”

Red hurried to the wheel and grabbed it in her hands, holding it tightly, her red face now going pale. “Am I doing it right?”

It was Sinbad who answered, returning from his rounds. “Aye, that you are, fire-haired one. Just keep her heading toward the dying sun and you will do fine.” He looked at the sails, half of which were still furled. “What say you, captain, do you think we can coax a bit more wind out of these sails?”

Captain Hook rubbed his chin, as if in deep thought, and nodded. “I believe we could, quartermaster. It is up to the helmsman, or helmswoman I should say. How about it, Red?”

Red gulped, keeping the wheel as steady as she could with one hand as the other brushed some of her fiery hair from her face. The wind had picked up and was tossing her tresses every which way and making her cloak flap about. She nodded lightly. “I…I think we could.”

“Well,” Captain Hook said, gesturing to the main deck and the crewmen atop of it. “Make the call.”

“What?” Red practically screamed. “I can’t do that! I don’t know what to say!” Selvina giggled at her reaction, putting a hand to her mouth in a poor attempt at trying to muffle her laughs. Red glared at her, her sapphire eyes flaring.

“You want all the sails unfurled,” Captain Hook informed. “Half of them are at the moment. You want full speed out of this girl so what would you say to get that?”

Red gave it a moment and then, with a confident smile, opened her mouth and yelled out, “Full sail!!”

At first, the crew of Jolly Roger jumped to attention but paused after a moment when recognizing the voice as not the one of their captain or quartermaster. They looked up at the quarterdeck, wondering if the order had been called out in jest.

“Full sail!” Captain Hook and Sinbad called out simultaneously.

“Full sail!” Red cried out again.

“Full sail!” Selvina shouted as the others did once more, enjoying the moment.

Below them the crew of Jolly Roger bustled about, climbing the masts and shrouds, loosening the ropes and unfurling all the sails on the frigate’s three masts. The wind grabbed them eagerly, uttering a loud flapping sound as the canvas stretched to its full length. The ship didn’t jerk or lurch but instead just increased speed smoothly, slicing through the water and waves like a knife through hot butter. Captain Hook gave Red a pat on the back and her grin nearly reached her ears. Selvina smiled at her as well, proud for her. Red glanced at Sinbad and he offered her a wink and a nod. She then looked behind her, wondering how her greatest of friends was dealing with a voyage at sea.

She laughed when she saw the large wolf. He didn’t appear bothered in least as he lay sprawled out on the quarterdeck, soaking in the last rays of the evening sun with his tongue hanging out comically.

Ahead of the ship, amidst a sky of varying hazes of pink, gold, orange and violet the sun dipped lower and lower, the flaming orb nearly touching the surface of the vast sea of blue.