Ships Taxes (Solo/Colony)

[Vincent]

Below deck was dark and damp. The ship set about rocking back and forth in the swells of the water. Vincent hated it with a passion. Just a few nights ago he joined this crew with the highest of hopes and thought the ocean was a beautiful and strange thing. Now he longed to be back on solid ground. ‘All this is for your training’ he told himself. Suddenly a blinding ray of light burst through the darkness illuminating the dark deck. Vincent had to squint his eyes and turn away with a groan.

“By all that is holy, close the hatch!” a man could be heard yelling. Vincent was in agreement.
“Aye, I’ll close it when you lazy sods get out ‘ere and get swabbing the decks! Now come on, get up here!” Jace, one of the captain’s men was yelling at them to get up. Jace adjusted his hat before leaving the scene but not closing the hatch.

Vincent rolled himself over and sat up in his rack. They were three high with a mere foot between each other, water sloshed about on the floor threatening to lap up and hit anyone on the bottom. Sliding into his boots he fastened them and pulled himself upward. Being the last man recruited for the voyage meant he had a bottom rack. Most his gear was locked away in the ship’s storage but he was permitted to keep Phoenix Heart and his dagger on hand. The rest of it would take too much space, not even his shoulder guard was available to him.

He looked around to see who else would be going above with him. He prayed he would not work alone. He kept silent just scanning the space, leaning against the bulkhead. He tried anyway, the rocking of the ship tossed him aside and he was forced to catch himself. “And they expect this thing to break through ice,” he scoffed.

[Vincent]

He gave the others a moment more before he headed topside. It looked like he would be the only one out there today. His head had hardly peered into visibility before Jace was shouting at him. “Come on, come on! You’ve got a lot of work to do. I want to see the deck a shine!” Jace laughed and handed Vincent a mop and a bucket. “When you finish up here go find Lavinia down in the galley.”

The galley? Ship terminology was all very new to Vincent and he wanted to ask but his pride and fear of being ridiculed saw him hold his tongue. Setting about his chores he quickly realized how filthy it was. Muddy boots trekked across the deck, sailors spat, and bilge water lapped over in a storm. The mop dragged through sticky residue as he tried to make it look nice. How long had passed? His muscles were already growing fatigued and veteran sailors were all laughing at him. He was growing angry and determined by this.

He worked for several hours before deciding he was done. With an exhausted sigh he wanted to do nothing more than relax but Jace was right there. Where did he come from? How did he know he was done just then. “I finished swabbing the deck.”

Jace looked at the job he’d done unimpressed. “You did anything? I thought you were just pushing water lazily. It looks terrible. Davian would be pissed to see the job, or lack thereof, you did.” He sighed, “Go see Lavinia in the galley, you’ll be swabbing again when she is done with you.” Vincent opened his mouth to argue the injustice. Why was he the only one out here in the first place? “You wanted on this ride didn’t you? So stop gaping like a cod at me and do what you’re told!” He pointed in the direction he was to go.

Vincent felt like he was a child being told to clean his room. He held his frustration in and headed toward the galley. Once again he was down below deck but this time they had lamp lights to see. “Lavinia, you in here?”

“That you Vincent?” Lavinia’s voice came from in the darkness. How she seamlessly hid within was a wonder to him.

“I was told to come help you next.”

“It took you that long to swab the deck!?” Why was she so surprised? He was new and it wasn’t an easy job.
“Yeah… anyway, what do I need to do?”

“Clean the dishes from chow. You’re behind already so there are a lot of them.” There was a hint of sadistic satisfaction in her voice.

Vincent grumbled but set to work. The dishes had been left to crust and harden while he worked above. He chiseled away at the caked in food that stuck to pots and pans. “How long has it been since these were last done?”
“Hah, Davian said to hold them all for you, when you got put to work.”

“Three days old!?” He was repulsed and annoyed. He paused momentarily to reflect on the implications before redoubling his efforts to clean with an extra effort. “We’re all going to get sick on this ship aren’t we?”

“It is a possibility.” Suddenly he realized she was right beside him. He nearly jumped aside but instead he simply widened his eyes with his heart racing. She scared him. Lavinia dumped more dishes into his work load and grabbed the ones he just cleaned. “I’ll need these.”

“So, why do you keep your hood up even in here?” He really wanted to know.

“Why not.” Not a satisfying answer.

“it’s weird.” …Did he really just say it that bluntly?

“…” Please say something.

The rest of the passing hours were spent in silence.

[Vincent]

Vincent was exhausted as he finished with the last of the dishes. Lavinia had long since left and gone to sleep, leaving him to his own devices. How long had he been down here anyway? A few hours? Half a day? Was it still even light out? He doubted it but at least he was done for now. He had laid his head down onto the final bowl he had been scrubbing and was starting to drool.

“Hey! Vincent, get your lazy ass back up here! You need to reswab the deck, remember?” The voice was Jace, Vincent was beginning to hate that man but he stirred, raising himself up as he was supposed to.

“Yes sir, I’m coming!” he called back. Begrudgingly he set the bowl aside and made his way up top. It was in fact night out. The sky was full of endless stars and a full moon, it was a sight he could get used to. A quick swivel with his head and he found all the gear he needed to finish his work.

“You better hurry up, I don’t get to sleep until you’re done! Do this again and I swear I will beat you in your sleep!” Jace stood off to the side with his arms crossed and a toothpick in his mouth.

“Yeah yeah, I got it. I don’t want to be on your bad side.” Vincent grumbled to himself. He knew this treatment was just the hazing of a new recruit but it still ticked him off. The mop water was black as the night around him so he had no idea if it was clean or not. As he set to his chores he had a question he wanted to ask. “So, why me anyway? I know I was a late joiner and all but why even bother? It would have been easier to just have left me behind.”

“That’s what I said kid. Now stop talking and keep working.” It was not an answer he was looking for but it did reveal something, someone else wanted him in this crew and made the decision despite Jace.

More hours passed and Vincent’s senses were dulling as mental and physical exhaustion took him. Unrealized to him though was that Jace left long ago and so too could he. His zombie-like cleaning trance was ended abruptly by the sound of a great thud on the deck. Vincent jerked with a start and focused on the sound.

“So, you’re still cleaning huh? Jace said you were done? Was he lying to me? Or are you just a hard overachiever?” It was Davian.

“Um, uh, I guess I am an overachiever.”
“Nice try, Jace probably left you without a word. He’s a bit rude in that manner, comes from his pirate days.”

“HE was a pirate. Explains the attitude.”

Vincent had not intended to say the last half out loud but it just happened, thankfully for him Davian just laughed. “I suppose it does, doesn’t it. Anyway, you finished your chores for the day, so what do you say the two of us do a little training, huh? It’s why you came along is it not?”

Vincent wanted nothing more than to sleep and be away for a while, training was the furthest thing from his mind now. “I don’t really-“

“Of course you do kid. Come on. Show me your techniques, you said you were self taught so you have plenty of bad habits I’m sure. I will do what I can to break you of those.”

With a heavy sigh Vincent dropped the mop and drew Phonx Heart. The usual pulse of power exploded out with the broken seal of drawing the blade. Davian could feel it and took a greater interest. “Okay,” Vincent set about a stance before moving into various techniques, shadow fighting. Davian conceded that he had natural talent and could have been a tyrant of a bandit but as a mercenary? As a true mercenary he’d eventually get himself killed out there.

“It is good but rough. I still stand by this. Here, take your stance.” Vincent stood as he normally did, in the same manner as a myrmidon. “There is your first problem. You have the pose down just fine but how is the weight of the blade? I’ll guess you used to have a lighter one but this sword is too large, it is falling forward in your grip. Try resting it on your shoulder or holding it by your side.”

Vincent placed it on his shoulder and shook his head, “I feel like I am just trying to look cool. I don’t see how I am going to react quickly if I rest it here either.”

“Then put it low. Remember though, a confident look is often enough to scare off weak enemies that would do little more than tire you out. Appearance is more key than you think. Right now, you look too inexperienced. You stand awkwardly, and clearly lack confidence in yourself. I bet you fight defensively in duels don’t you? It’s why you lose too. You had no idea how to go about attacking me back in port.”

Vincent was always open to critiques and advice but it usually came with much praise about how one as young as he was so skillful for never having formal training, but here? He was being torn apart. “I get it already. Yes, I try to play defensively, let the enemy hold the pace until I break it and take them down.”

Davian shook his head at him, “Moron!” With a quick swing of his blade Vincent was struck with the broadside of his broad sword.

“Oof!” Vincent fell to the deck. “WHAT WAS THAT FOR!!!?”

“Maybe if you held the pace in the fight that would not have happened to you. Maybe I would have been too busy blocking and having to keep my guard up as you crushed it.”

“You want me to hold the pace? Fine!” Vincent heatedly leaped up and swung his blade fiercely. Davian blocked and slide the blade to the side before reaching out a hand and grabbing Vincent’s throat.

“Lesson two, don’t let your opponent, egg you into attacking them, then they still hold the pace. Lesson three, don’t swing wild. Be focused and sharp about it.” He shoved Vincent back letting him clutch at it and recompose himself.

Vincent was frustrated now. Never had he been so easily manhandled in a fight, sure Duma never seemed to have to press himself he still managed to keep the fight well pressed. “You know I normally use two swords right?”

“Oh yes, and a dagger, and your fists, and whatever else you decide may seem useful. Lesson four: Have a Focus! If you want to be a master of arms that is all well and good but hone your skills before you adopt another!” Davian cast aside his massive shield now and had just his blade. “I can fight with axes just as easily but I use the sword here because it is my focus. Does this make sense to you?”

It made sense alright but it did not agree with Vincent. “Why abandon all your other options? What if you are robbed of that sword in battle? Then what?”

Davian nodded, “alright.” He cast the sword aside now too. “Attack me.”

“You’re unarmed.”

“Yes, and you asked what if I were to be correct?” He had a point. Vincent charged in and delivered a sharp horizontal swing. Davian moved in blocking Vincent’s arm and jabbing his palm into his face. Vincent reeled back only to have his sword arm twisted downward sharply forcing the blade to go free. What followed next was a pain Vincent would remember for a while. Davian punched him in the face three times before sending him to the deck. It did not stop there, he mounted Vincent and soon had the boy in and arm bar with the threat to break it.

“I YIELD, I YIELD!!!”

Davian let go and stood. He offered no helping hand and waited. “That is what I would do if I were to ever become disarmed. Questions?”

“You,” He spat blood, “You contradicted yourself!” Vincent argued refusing to lose.

“NO! You are thick kid. I never said abandon your other methods, I merely said have a focus and let your other skills come second.”

Vincent finally dragged himself up. “Fine. Teach me to use a blade to its fullest.” Would one sword help him be ready to use two? Or was he just trying to have him use one?

*

The night was coming to an end and the two men were a mess of sweat and bruises. After just one night with proper training Vincent was beginning to correct his deficiencies. “Go get some sleep. Jace will wake you later for your work.” Vincent groaned and sheathed his sword before leaving.

Jace, who had been secretly watching walked over. “Okay, I admit, the kid has natural talent. But will he be ready when we get to Illia? And are you going to tell him?”

“Tell him what?”

“The truth about himself.”

“What need would he have to know? Let him think his father was a mercenary that died bravely to provide food for the table. Better than knowing he’s just my bastard.”

“Yes, about that. Are you positive he is yours?” Jace was still unsure.

“I am, he identified the woman and… the hair. When we get to Etruria to resupply he is getting off this ship. I decided he’d be a liability.”

“Why? You think you would make a poor decision for his sake?”

“No, I think he has too much of a sense of justice that he could get in our way. We need to turn that colony into an Etrurian base.”

“Seems like a waste to me. The roads south into Illia aren’t even functional yet.”

“All things in due time Jace.”