Although he tried to keep his eyes on the river ahead and his mind on his duties, Kent's eyes and his mind seemed to wander back to the woman lying beside him. She was extremely beautiful. More beautiful than any woman Kent had ever seen. And she seemed to be recovering well.
Rapina woke as the young men changed shifts. Kent was awake now, and since he seemed the least intimidating of the three, Rapina decided to prop herself up and see if she could talk to him. Although she ached in places from sleeping in the boat, she knew she no longer had to worry about the concussion she probably once had, and even though she felt her lungs were not fully well, it did not seem as though nearly drowning would kill her after all.
Rapina slowly rubbed her head. "Ohhh goodness, I think I got brained going over the falls. They came up so suddenly." Even though her head felt perfectly fine now, Rapina remembered to complain about it. After all, it *had* hurt horribly before Drake and Edgar had unknowingly provided the power to heal it.
"Yeah. I'd say you took a nasty spill. You were practically drowned when we fished you out of the water. How did you wind up floating in the river anyway?" he asked.
A powerful man in my hometown decided that, since he liked the way I looked and I was a bit wild with my boyfriends, I wouldn't mind if he enslaved me as his plaything. He was wrong. After about a week, I got away, and the river was the only way I could think of to *really* get away from him. He had been preying on the young women of my town for years. He was not a nice man. Rapina looked at Kent, and then glanced at Edgar's back meaningfully. Rapina deliberately left out the fact that she had wound up killing the man who had enslaved her as a prelude to making her escape. Some things were best left unsaid.
He offered his hand. "The name's Kent; before I forget. What's yours? I'm sure that my...crass companions failed to ask you that question."
Rapina took Kent's hand and squeezed it. She decided she could not use her real name, so she used her nickname. "My name is Rapina," Rapina smiled.
A troubled look crossed his face and he looked to the horizon. "Are you ok? I mean you look good. Great, in fact! Beautiful even! Heh. But...um...well I heard Drake and Edgar talking about...well...you know. That they ummm...raped you. I know we're supposed to be pirates and all that, but taking advantage of a half-drowned woman..." He looked at Rapina pleadingly. "It all just seemed so much more glamorous when we were kids," Kent said as he bowed his head and clutched it with his hands.
Rapina stroked Kent's hair. "It's okay. My head was so bad, I could not stay conscious, let alone keep food down. I really thought I was going to die very soon, so I asked Drake to, well you know, make love to me one last time before I died. He reminded me of one of my boyfriends, I guess," Rapina smiled. "Edgar got in on Drake's shirt tails," Rapina whispered, her breath warm on Kent's ear. "As I recall, he was not very gentle, and neither of them lasted long, but somehow I think it all helped. I slept deeply for the first time since I went over the falls. My head feels better than it did, and I think my stomach has decided not to move in with my throat.
You're right that being an outlaw is not so glamorous. Unfortunately, I have no choice. I'm sure I'll be hunted just as soon as the man I ran from can make up some charges to feed the law. You can't slight the gentry without getting in trouble." Rapina felt between her breasts. "Damn, I had his ring on my pendant chain and now it's gone. The ring itself doesn't matter, but I wanted to find out what noble house he was from. In town he went by a title, so I don't even know what branch of the nobility will be hunting me."
Considering Rapina's words for a moment Kent sat in silence. "Well I come from a long and prestigious line of farmers," he said with dripping sarcasm, so my vast knowledge of the nobility should prove invaluable to you." He shook his head and laughed. He looked towards the horizon and sighed. "I never thought I would actually make it. Being a farmer for the rest of your life just isn't the sort of thing you look forward to. But this pirate thing has potential. I just have to get used to some of the messy stuff," Kent scratched his head and looked at Rapina. "I wouldn't worry too much about those people hunting you down. When we meet up with Red Jack you'll be in good hands."
Looking around Kent got a curious look on his face. He seemed to consider something for a moment before speaking. "We may be meeting up with him sooner than I anticipated. See those small islands of rock there? Just before the river widens? Know what that means? That means we're less than a day's worth of sailing away from Red Jack's known area of operation." He smiled and looked excited. Turning to Edgar, who'd been guiding the ship, he said, "We're even closer than I thought! We could meet up with Red Jack as early as tomorrow!"
Edgar looked surprised, "Really?!?! That's great! Drake will be pleased!" He looked directly at Rapina, "He'll be especially pleased to meet you, pretty." Edgar laughed and resumed his duties.
"I believe we've met already. I was too rummy with headache to give him my name, but I feel I know him in some sense." Rapina smirked. She glanced at Edgar's back as he plied the boat's oars. No wonder they were making good time. The current was reasonably rapid and the endurance of the farm boys at the oars was unrelenting. Rapina wondered why they were not using the sails. Perhaps the wind was wrong. She knew nothing of sailing.
Kent looked at Rapina longingly. "It's a shame but I think we're going to have to give you your clothes back. They might not cover very much, but they'll cover enough to peak Red Jack's interest. He'll definitely want to see more. And he won't be disappointed!" Moving towards the back a bit Kent rummaged around through a sack and returned with Rapina's panties and bustier. He looked at her longingly before handing her her clothes. "Put them on. I wouldn't want you to catch cold," he smiled at his little joke.
Rapina took her clothes with one hand while she rubbed her head with the other. "Thanks, I wish this stupid headache would go away." Rapina left her clothes on the seat, stepped towards Kent and embraced him. She could feel his firm buns through his pants as her hands glided down his back and over his butt. Rapina whispered in Kent's ear. "Want to help me. Whatever I did last night seemed to do a great deal for my headache."
Rapina did not know how many of the young men she'd wind up entertaining if she started something, but she did not want to meet the pirate captain in the same decrepit condition she had met the boys, and it appeared that she might be meeting the pirate captain soon.
Kent's normally ordered and logical mind became a swirl of chaotic images when Rapina grabbed him. He had been dreaming of this moment ever since they had brought her aboard. His chance had finally come and all he could do was stand there. Her body felt hot and sensuous against his.
Kent seemed a bit at a loss at first, but Rapina nibbled at his earlobe as she unbuttoned his shirt with one hand and fondled his firm rump through the canvas of his pants with the other. Soon she pealed back his shirt and pressed her hard nipples into his chest while attacking his belt with her hand. When his pants came down, Rapina grabbed his throbbing manhood and his shoulder and drew him down to her as she laid on one of the boat's benches. She moaned as she guided him into her wetness.
Kent was gentle where Edgar was rough. He was innocent where Drake was not. All in all he treated Rapina with a certain tenderness. He was certainly kinder and more considerate than the other boys. He was also more intelligent and less robust than Drake or Edgar, and Rapina felt more genuine affection for him than she did for the others, though she had to admit enjoying the look of Drake's body. Thus Rapina took only the slightest fraction more energy than Kent would have given her naturally, just enough to enhance his pleasure. She did not want to tire him. On the contrary, she wanted him fit in case he wanted to bed her again.
He just laid there a while in Rapina's arms. Like a child that needed comforting; that just needed to be held. Rapina held Kent close, caressing his spent passion within her as she warmed him in her embrace.
"That was my first time you know," Kent said matter-of-factly. He turned to Rapina and smiled. "It was better than I ever imagined."
Rapina smiled and whispered in Kent's ear. "And you are so sweet and gentle, just come to me whenever you like. You can bet I'll want you."
The last vestiges of illness largely fell to Kent's energy. After they parted, Rapina washed up with water from the river. She laid out for a while before donning her clothes, claiming she wanted to even her chaotic tan. Though it was true her tan was confined mostly to her face, calves and forearms, Rapina was actually planning ahead. If the young men continued feeding her their lust, her breasts would blush with stored energy, but a tan would cover that, and added fullness to her bust would be difficult to detect if accumulated gradually.
While she was laying out, she talked to Kent. Rapina found out that the boat was on a tributary of the River Augustana, and it was to the Augustana that they were bound. It was there that Red Jack preyed on the merchants and settlements of the river. Rapina had heard only a few stories about pirates, and they were somewhat contradictory. Pirates killed everyone, or killed only those who did not give up their wealth or just men, or something like that. They raped women, or they lay with men as if they were women, either out of necessity or preference. Now that Rapina thought about it. The few pirate stories she'd heard, taken together, were full of contradictions.
"What sort of pirate is Captain Red Jack? Do you know any stories about him?" Rapina asked Kent and Edgar.
Kent looked back at Edgar with a smirk.
Edgar returned his smirk and said, "He's only THE most deadly pirate around!"
"Most deadly river-pirate anyway," Kent interrupted.
Edgar was momentarily put off by Kent's comment, but soon continued. "It's said that he's invincible! He's NEVER been defeated in combat! AND he's never been caught! He's a smart one he is." Edgar threw his back into the oars with renewed vigor. Obviously he was excited by the prospect of meeting the infamous Red Jack in the flesh.
Kent turned to Rapina and spoke in a low tone so that Edgar wouldn't overhear. "What Edgar said is mostly correct," he began. "True Red Jack has never been captured, but he was defeated once. Or so the story goes." He glanced over his shoulder at Edgar and then continued. "He had been raiding the riverside communities for quite some time and had been very successful as well. But the people had had enough so they pooled their resources and commissioned a small fleet of riverboats and mercenaries to deal with him." Kent sat back and sighed. Apparently he was reliving the battle in his mind.
"Needless to say, the mercenary fleet found Red Jack. But only after months of searching! It had been so difficult to track him down that the people were running out of money to pay the mercenaries with. Had he remained hidden a few more days the fleet would have been disbanded. Anyway the two fleets met and a bloody battle ensued. After an hour of fighting each side only had one boat remaining. The mercenary captain was a veteran naval officer and so was able to maneuver his ship so that he and his crew could board Red Jack's ship."
"The pirates fought viciously, but were beaten back by the larger mercenary force. Some pirates were slain where they stood, but most of them jumped ship. The only one who didn't jump was Red Jack himself. He just stood there defiantly and challenged the mercenary captain to a duel." The mercenary captain accepted and they fought. Red Jack was outmatched but he didn't surrender. He fought on until the mercenary captain sank his sword deep into Red Jack's arm. The Mercenary captain demanded Red Jack's surrender, but Red Jack just smiled and jumped overboard."
"Just then the ship was rocked by an explosion. It seems that one of Jack's crew had lit a long fuse before jumping ship. The frightened mercenaries turned to flee back to their ship only to discover it wasn't there. The pirates that jumped overboard had climbed onto the mercenary ship and cut it loose." "The mercenaries eyes widened in horror as the ship burst into flame and was torn asunder by the explosions below deck. Red Jack's crew swung around and picked him up."
"So technically Red Jack was defeated even though in the end he won. He did go underground for about a year. Most likely he was recruiting more pirates and gathering together some new boats. He's been more active lately, though." Kent smiled as he imagined himself a swashbuckling pirate. "Soon we'll be a part of his crew." This he said loud enough for Edgar to hear. Edgar just smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
Rapina stretched lithely, her naked body soaking up the sun. "Hmmm, what sort of raiding practices does he engage in? Does he kill everyone or does he leave them to accumulate more goods for the next time he happens by?
Edgar shot an incredulous look in Rapina's direction and waved his hand as if to dismiss her. "How should I know? We haven't joined his crew yet! I tell you what...why don't you ask him yourself when we meet him...I'm sure he'd be thrilled! Ha!" He shook his head and resumed rowing.
"Don't mind Edgar. He's like this with everyone. But to answer your question...I'm not sure. The gossips, rumormongers, and bards that spread Red Jack's tales don't usually concern themselves with the mundane details." Kent just shrugged and sat back.
"Does he have any women on his crews?" Rapina asked.
"I seem to remember a story about a woman pirate fighting side by side with Jack, but I can't remember the details..."
"How does he treat women when he raids?" Rapina asked
"How do you think! He rapes them, kills them, or enslaves them as he sees fit. He's a pirate after all! Damn you must have taken a hard blow to the head to ask such ridiculous questions!" Edgar shouted
Clearly Kent was getting annoyed with Edgar. In particular, the way he was treating Rapina. He'd have to get over this protectiveness thing he was feeling. It was unbecoming of a pirate.
"I hear pirates lay with men, especially young ones, as if they were women. Is that true?" Rapina stifled a grin as the boys reacted to what she said.
Both young men stiffened and looked uncomfortable when Rapina spoke. They looked at each other. Kent was the first to speak. "That's just a rumor...most likely a lie to...uhhh...make Red Jack and his pirates seem...well...bad."
"Uh...yeah." was all Edgar had to say in response.
After about an hour of lying out, Rapina put her clothes on and borrowed a long tunic-style shirt from Drake to protect her from the sun. It hung down nearly to her knees.
Rapina noted that there was a light but steady breeze. "Hey, how come we aren't using the sails?" She asked Kent and Edgar.
Kent looked at Rapina sheepishly. "Well...er...we're not very good at using the sails yet. We almost tipped the boat over the last time we tried."
"you mean YOU almost tipped the boat over genius!" Edgar spat out.
"Hmmm, well the wind is not very strong today and quite steady. Maybe Kent and I could figure out how to work the main sail without tipping the boat over. I won't be much help at the oars, but It doesn't seem like I would need big muscles to use the sail if we can figure out how.
It was obvious that Kent was more than a little apprehensive about using the sails again. After a long while of staring at the mast Kent turned and stared at the sails. He was building up his confidence slowly. "It'd probably be safer if we just kept rowing..." Kent began
Sure it's safer not to sail, but what is Red Jack going to say when you tell him you haven't even the slightest experience with sailing? If we could figure out how to do it, at least you could say you had a little experience. It could make the difference between being laughed right off Red's ship and being taken on as novice crewmen.
"She's right Kent. Ye Besides my arms could definitely use the rest." Edgar pulled in the oars and stacked them with the others. He stood up and grabbed one side of the sail. "Well quit gawking and give me a hand Kent!" Kent grabbed the other side of the sails and the three of them began hoisting the sail. It took a long time, but finally they were able to get everything up and working.
Rapina delighted in new mental challenges, and this certainly was one. She'd never sailed before. Kent was the only one of the boys who had thought to spend a little time talking with and watching fishermen. He knew a little, and Rapina was not shy about picking his brain. As the day wore on, Kent was called on to row. Rapina kept fiddling with the sails and tiller, hour after hour. It was not long before she learned that tipping the boat could also be synonymous with making the boat go fast, but too much tilt brought her warning looks from Edgar.
Had she not been a beautiful young woman, the boys probably would never have put up with her initial hours of ineptitude and incessant questions. Yet by the late afternoon when Drake got up, Rapina was really starting to get the hang of sailing in a gentle breeze. In spite of her needing to zigzag, or tack, according to Kent's superior knowledge of nautical terms, Rapina was making a noticeable difference in the boat's speed and progress. She had also learned how to steer the boat so as to control the degree of tilt.
"Hey, look at that. Rapina pointed ahead.
Ahead the boys could see the confluence of the tributary they were sailing. They were about to be on the great river Augustana.
"Which way should we go?" Rapina asked.
"I'm guessing West is the direction we want to go. From what I remember east leads to a whole lot of nothing." Kent said.
As the sun started to set, Rapina and the boys lowered and secured the sail. She was not so brave that she wanted to try sailing in the dark, besides there were other things she could do that would be a lot more fun...
Rapina and the boys spent three more days sailing the great river. They saw a few merchant barges and some fishing craft, but saw nothing like a pirate ship. Rapina had, by this time, built up a tan, and her breasts tingled contentedly with a touch of stored energy and added fullness.
In the late afternoon of the third day on the Augustana, Rapina sat at the rear of the ship, tiller in hand, and pointed to the West with her free hand. "Hey, look at that."
A plume of smoke too large to be a cooking fire rose above the tree line. As they neared the smoke a horrible noise became audible. It sounded like people dying. It sounded like a whole lot of people dying.
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This ends Winds of Fate, Chapter 4 of The Chronicles of Rapina.
The story continues in Chapter 5, Pirates.