“Come on! Wake up! We have a whole world to explore today, and I can’t do it alone now can I?”
Her laugh woke him up.
Cal rose from his bed and rubbed his eyes. He looked out his window to see her dancing and throwing rocks at his window.
“Get up! Argh! It’s like…”
“The break of dawn! The sun is just rising over the horizon, why won’t you let me sleep!”
“Funny Cal! We need as much time as we can today. Sailing is a serious business you know, and now that we have our own boat, we can finally go on a real adventure! Now get down here!”
Cal sighed again. “Sailing,” He thought, “The thing kids looked forward to the most, at the age of discovery, they would finally be able to “Sail Away”. To go off in to the world’s vast oceans and have an adventure of a lifetime.” Cal sighed again as he got dressed, “Why does Dawn have to drag me into this, she knows I don’t want to sail.”
He grabbed breakfast as he went, bursting out the door onto the streets of his hometown, Kalimport. Dawn pounced on him, sending them both crashing to the cobblestones. She giggled as she got up, “I so got you!”
Cal grunted, “You could’ve killed me! And I lost my muffin!”
“Oh, cry more baby, this is the best day of our lives! Today, we can finally leave this place! Maybe we’ll discover new lands!”
“Dawn, about that, I really need to talk to yo-“
Dawn cut him off, “No time! We’re almost late already!”
Dawn sprinted off down the street, “I’m gonna beat you there!”
Cal just sighed and smiled to himself, “Oh Dawn…” he sprinted after her.
Cal arrived at the docks out of breath.
“ I said. you. couldn’t. beat me.” Dawn giggled and fell down, out of breath.
Cal grinned and fell down beside her. “So, which boat is ours?”
“I knew you were excited too! Come on, this way!” Dawn sprinted off again, darting down the docks, dodging the burly sailors and their work.
Cal was once again breathless when he arrived, but, not because he was tired.
“This… this is our boat?” he stammered.
“And… this is why I was so excited for sailing.”
Cal seemed so small compared to the frigate he stood beside. The boat was of a medium size, but to Cal, it seemed massive. He approached the boat and ran his hand along the wood. He looked at the cannons, his thoughts wandering to naval combat. What drew most of his attention was the helm. The steering wheel almost seemed to call to him.
“So… you want to go on an adventure now?
“Hmmm… well, who gets to be Captain?”
“Well, it is my boat… you can be first mate!”
“Well, maybe I should mutiny.” Cal laughed.
Suddenly, a deep voice spoke from behind him, “Mutiny is no laughing matter Cal; it is the ultimate betrayal in sailing. If I met a mutineer, I would cut him down where he stood, unless he had a good reason.”
“Father! You have returned from your trip! Oh, I am so glad to see you!” Dawn hugged her Father tightly.
Cal studied the man closely, he seemed so alien to him. He had not seen him from four years, since when he returned he only returned for a very short time. The man looked weary, he was thinner, his beard and hair were turning grey and clothes were weathered. He had a new collection of scars, including one that stretched across his face. He was still happy, but, he had lost the spring in his step and the twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, I have missed you so dearly Dawn! I only wish your Mother was still alive to see you now. You sure have grown over the past few months!”
“Oh Father, whatever do you mean? Oh yes, I forgot! Cal, this is my father, Horius!”
Cal shook his hand; the grip was firm and rough. There was something he did not trust about this man though. “We’ve met.”
“Cal, I haven’t seen you in ages! You have grown so much! You were this small when I last saw you!”
Cal glared at the man.
“Now, enough talk! I should let you tour the boat! I will return, I need to go talk to a few people.”
Cal watched him go; Horius walked cautiously, looking over his shoulder occasionally.
“Don’t you think you Father, is different? I think he is hiding something.”
“Nonsense! Now let’s go explore this boat!” Dawn, like so many times this day, sprinted away and disappeared.
Cal did not follow, “Something is wrong here, and I must go find out what!”
Cal sprinted after Horius, determined to find out the truth.
“I just don’t think we can hide it anymore, Mayor.”
“I see your point Captain. But, we must continue to do it; the Thalassinus Rim is one of the last remaining free oceans in the world.”
“But sending them out to sea, just to be recruited to be Captains and thrust into war is… cruel.”
“Cruel, but necessary. The children from this community are special; they are faster, stronger and smarter than the rest, so we trust our ships to them. We need them.”
“But… my daughter… is she too become just like rest, cannon-fodder for the Armada?” Horius was near tears as he said this.
“That is the life; you know this day would come.”
“I… know. It’s just the world is worse then it once was, the horrors I saw while I sailed… they, still haunt me to this day.”
“Explain Captain, what horrors?”
“Sea creatures of immeasurable size, pirates, you know I despise pirates. There are countries in ruin, anarchy runs rampant. The world out there is dangerous and scary; I just can’t send my 15 year old daughter into that!” Horius screamed, and slammed his fists against the table.
Cal lingered outside the room, shocked. “I must warn Dawn, this… this is a big problem.”
He sprinted out for the town hall, down the cobblestone streets, ignoring the glares of people as he bumped into them. He was out of breath and red in the face when he arrived at the ship. He collapsed before Dawn, breathing deeply.
“I wondered where you went to…what’s wrong?”
Cal took a deep breath and related to her his tale, he spared no detail. Her face was expressionless as he told his story. He gasped for air when he finished. Dawn paused for a moment and said, “So… they’re going to use us to fight a far off war against enemies we don’t even know… Excellent!”
“Exactly, you see why we ne-, wait… what!?”
“This perfect… I have a plan Cal!” Dawn jumped up onto a crate and shouted at the crew for their attention, they grumbled and gathered in front of her. “Men! I know you do not wish to follow me, especially because I am only a child and I’m only 15. But, know this! I would fight and die for each one of you. I wish to sail to the end of the earth with you, I will command you with fairness, but with swift justice. I, am Captain Dawn-Marie Rose.”
They were silent for a moment and then cheered. Cal just rolled his eyes as Dawn winked slyly at him. Cal could just faintly hear, “Wait, her last name’s Rose… That means… Captain Horius Rose…”
The men burst out laughing, their joyous cheers echoing through the pier.