Of Sea and Sky

By Adam Martin

Dread Captain Valerie Vennosa: the most feared pirate of sea and sky. Fellow pirates admire and fear her prowess with a blade and her cunning mind, while the Union from whom she steals, wants only to see her dead. All know to run when they see her sails. The beautiful, dangerous, deadly and ruthless young woman has a secret however… She’s never actually killed anyone.
Having inherited her father’s sky ship, the Blood Falcon, and her loyal crew at a very young age, Valerie built a career of infamy in a dangerous world full of flying ships, dragons, and pirates. Valerie’s days of pretending and mercy may be at an end the day she discovers evidence suggesting her mother’s killer still lives… and there may have been more to her death than a simple raid on Valerie’s childhood home. Burning with revenge, the young pirate captain must venture into the heart of the very Union that would see her dead in search of answers, answers that may cost more than just the lives of Valerie and her crew.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312651159

Adam Martin

Adam Martin is a recovering curmudgeon who has been fructifying his life after years as a world-weary twenty-something. After bouncing from university-to-university and job-to-job, he decided to put all his chips in on his prose writing skills. His writing is inspired by his realization that life is too short and precious to be unhappy for very long.

Book preview

Of Sea and Sky

Of Sea and Sky

By Adam Martin

Copyright © 2014 by Adam Martin

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

ISBN 978-1-312-48213-5

Adam Martin

www.skypirateblog.wordpress.com

Dedication

For Megan, whose love keeps me afloat, and whose confidence keeps me sailing ever forward.

Chapter 1

Yield!  Captain Valerie Vennosa planted one booted foot on the uniformed chest of the Union Captain laying, disarmed beneath her.  The tip of her curved blade floated an inch from the man's nose, steadily pointing to his face, daring him to move.  The Infamous pirate captain's other saber hung in a loose grip at her side, the casualness of its sway imparting her complete comfort in battle to all who witnessed the closing moments of the duel.

A thick silence fell over the mob of pirates and Union Marines battling above decks, as the sounds of clashing steel and raised voices seeped, muted from below. 

Slight curls gave Captain Vennosa's long, dark brown hair a waviness that bounced and shifted about her shoulders in the soft breeze that swept suddenly through the stilled battle.  The movement set strands of crimson hidden in her thick, dark hair alight like streams of blood in the bright, noonday sun.

Vennosa shifted her hips slightly, causing one long, leather clad leg to press down slightly harder on the man's chest.

Yield, she repeated, this time quietly, her whispery voice almost seductive.

Drop your weapons! he wheezed as her booted heel pressed painfully against his ribs.  His men hesitated a moment, then complied, their steel rattling and clanking against the wooden deck.

Vennosa smiled as her men cheered from all around. It was not a cruel smile, the Union Captain decided, still a bit perplexed as to how he had ended up on his backside.  It was the sort of smile one might expect to find on a friendly tavern girl.  He decided that seemed about right, for the Infamous Captain Vennosa was certainly not much more than a girl herself; most likely not much beyond twenty.

Yet there he lay, on the deck of his mighty union vessel, brought low by the dreaded Blood Falcon, scourge of sea and sky.  There he lay, staring up at one of the most beautiful young women he had ever laid eyes upon.  Her narrowed, blue eyes seemed to laugh at him from her smooth, round face as a slight smirk played across her lips.  There he lay, defeated by a mere girl.  He already knew what they would say about him.  His career was as good as over.

Though to be fair, it wasn't for any lack of skill; either at command or swordplay.  This young woman had well earned the respect and fear that followed in the hushed taverns and shadowy ports where one might dare to whisper her name.

For several days they played a game of cat and mouse among the Dragon's Teeth; a series of jagged sky islands floating high above the Deep Ocean.  She had easily outmaneuvered him, hiding her smaller ship somewhere among the isles, striking at him one moment, only to disappear the next, shielded by the small islands.

In the pre-dawn light of the third day, she pounced, her ship darting from its hiding place among the thick, cloaking mists held within a cove of one of the larger isles.  They battled throughout the morning, each skillfully dodging the others' cannon shots, hiding among the levistones that floated tirelessly off the jagged shores of the flying isles.

In the end though, the Blood Falcon bested his vessel.  The female captain, a girl by all rights, lead a boarding party through a breach she had finally managed to blast in their hull.  His own men rose to the occasion, facing her, grim and ready.  With spit and steel they clashed, fighting from deck to deck, until finally he faced her atop the burning wreck of his once proud ship; this young woman, with a sweet face and steel nerves.

She strode from the oily, grey-black smoke of a recently doused deck fire, a beautiful angel of battle.  The treacherous beauty sauntered confidently towards him, her white, short sleeved blouse dipping low to reveal the curve of her breasts; a dark red corset cinched tight about her slim middle. Tight leather pants only accentuated the curve and swing of her hips with every stride.  It was distracting, to say the least.

It was this distraction, he would tell others later, those that cared to listen least ways, as the reason he almost failed to notice the twin sabers she held casually, swinging low beside her long legs.  It was at the last moment, when her blades flashed like lightening from the heavens and her arms moved like a tempest sprung up suddenly at sea, that the Union Captain's mind awoke, barely in time to parry the first blow.  After, it was all he could manage to keep the pace this alluring but deadly new dancing partner demanded of him.

He had fought well, let none deny it, but in the end it was not enough.  Then, there he was. Laying there.  Looking up at her.

The Dread Captain Vennosa.  Valerie laughed quietly at the thought as she lowered her sore, soot covered body into the hot bath drawn in her quarters.  She had moved the screen blocking the view from the massive windows framed in ornately carved wood that stretched across the stern of the Blood Falcon.  It was her Grandfather's ship, her father's ship, and now it was her ship.

A soft sigh escaped the young woman's lips as wisps of steam curled about her head.  She let the heat soak into her body, relaxing her tired muscles, gazing out at a distant thunderstorm raging quietly about the flying isles of the Dragon's Teeth.

Though it had been almost five years since her father was taken from her life, the idea of the Blood Falcon being hers still seemed new.  She closed her eyes, breathing in the hot humid air of the bath as her mind began to wander.

Valerie recalled a time when she was merely the Dread Captain Vennosa's daughter.  Her mother had died young, murdered by a rival in a raid on her father's hideout, a cave hidden among the very isles she and her crew now found themselves.  Her father was left with a choice, abandon his only child for a life of piracy, or settle down and care for her.

Leave his princess?  Never.  She could almost hear her father's voice reassuring her as he had done so many times over the years.  But to give up a life of piracy?  Valerie knew that would be almost as ridiculous a notion to the man.

So as her father had always done before when faced with a difficult task, he found another way.  He took her along, trained her in sword and pistol.  How to navigate the seas and skies.  He trained her to be not just a pirate, but to be a captain.  She learned easily, an apt and able student, surpassing his teachings within a year.

The crew warmed to her quickly; she was a welcome innocence to their brutal lives.  Vennosa had been a courageous leader and excellent judge of character, surrounding himself with only the most trustworthy and loyal of cutthroats, and in the end this paid off more for his daughter than he could have ever guessed.  They, each one of them to a man, looked at her as if she were their own daughter or niece or sister; a member of their family.

Five years ago, when the time came that her father's life was taken in pursuit of the man who killed her mother, the crew proclaimed Valerie their captain, vowing they would watch over her.  They would protect her and follow her command to their dying breaths.  They found their trust in her was not misplaced, for in the matters of leadership she was her father's daughter.

A Twenty year old, female, Pirate captain; the idea was almost a joke.  Five years on and she still felt the weight of it.  She had one advantage working for her; she was the daughter of the most feared pirate the world had ever known.  Large boots to fill, certainly, but her father had groomed her for the role.

There was only one thing that would always keep her from being taken seriously as a pirate.  Her refusal to take another's life in face to face combat.  Her skill with the saber was unmatched; it was no difficulty for her to utterly destroy an opponent, rendering them incapable of continuing the fight without inflicting a single mortal injury.  The crew loved their captain, but they all understood the predicament in which they found themselves.  A pirate captain that didn't kill would never last, as a pirate's mercy was not a valuable asset among her kind.

So it was, only one day after her decision to follow in her father's footsteps, her father's first mate had an idea.  Thomas Hawkins, or the Hawk, as the crew referred to him, had been her father's first mate since her mother's death.  He was like an uncle to her, and wanted the girl to succeed as much as any father could have.  His idea was simple; the crew would continue to operate as it always had, but perhaps they would embellish a bit more than normal when they found themselves trading stories in port. And while her distaste for taking a life prevented her from doing more than disarming or injuring her opponents, she would not hold the crew to that same standard; though she might encourage them to avoid it, when possible.

Between Valerie's abilities at the helm or with steel in hand and the stories that spread of the daughter of the Dread Captain Vennosa, Valerie quickly found her reputation growing.  Although the young captain never killed a man in face to face combat, she found the chaos of battle bred stories among her enemies, and none were more vocal than those she defeated and let live.  They would tell how she had cut down several men before their very eyes, how they had held their own against the marvelous swordstress, earning enough of her respect that she would spare them in the end.

She knew sailors told much more... ribald tails about her.  Such was the result of being an attractive woman in such a testosterone filled world.  Even this she used to her advantage, creating a sexual persona, both beautiful and deadly in the eyes of her opponents, a mix that kept most men off balance in her presence. 

The world would be surprised by the truth of her personal activities.  She was far too busy keeping up appearances and keeping her crew alive to ever let anyone else into her life; and the idea of only being with someone for one night, never truly knowing the person...  Valerie shook the idea off, repulsed by even the thought of it.

The young captain was more than willing to spare lives, but when it came to exchanging fire between ships, all bets were off.  She did what she could to minimize the loss of life her opponents might suffer, but ultimately, she knew, men would die.  For the young woman it was a very different thing between knowing her actions would lead to a death she couldn't see and actually stopping a man's heart herself. She would never admit it, but her orders to fire weighed heavy on the girl.  She took solace in the admission that her actions protected her ship and its crew.  Her family.

While it was true she was a natural leader, and had yet to meet her peer in swordplay or captaining a ship, Valerie's bloody legend was all a play.  She could act with the best stage performers, that's what her men told her on a regular basis, and she knew it.  To the world she was the Dread Captain Vennosa, but that woman was nothing more than a conjuring of her imagination and circumstance.

Valerie sighed, slipping a bit deeper into the hot water, her naked shoulders sinking below its warm surface.  Through the massive windows before her, the purple-gray clouds of the distant storm continued to flash white in spots, lit by the constant lightning buried within.  The low rumbling of far off thunder was a comforting purr to the battle weary woman.  With a sudden, slight pang of dismay, Valerie realized she felt more exhausted after a day’s work than she would have ten years ago.

Ten years a pirate.  Five years with her father.  Five years at the helm, all without taking a single life.  Well at least not by her hand; not directly at any rate.  That had to be some kind of record, she thought as her shoulders finally began to relax, the heat of the bath making her a bit drowsy.

She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she awoke to the sudden, loud rapping on her cabin door; at least the water was still reasonably warm.  Still not long enough, she decided, running one water-pruned hand down her face.

Captain, a muffled voice called from the other side.

Valerie pulled her drenched body from the bath's lukewarm embrace, wrapping a nearby towel around her torso.

Another solid rap on the door.  Captain?  It was Thomas.  The men might call him Hawk, or the Hawk, as he had excellent eyesight and an uncanny ability to catch men slacking off.  But to Valerie he was always Thomas, or Mr. Hawkins in front of the crew.

Valerie, he asked, this time much more quietly.  He had taken to calling her Captain in front of the men, but to him she knew, she would always be Valerie.

Valerie smiled as she padded across the bare wood floors, pausing just before the door to adjust her towel; ensuring nothing was exposed.  With a slight creak, she opened the door an inch and peered through, her wet hair hanging in damp ringlets about her face.

Oh! Pardon me, lass, he stammered, quickly looking aside.  Didn't know ye'd drawn a bath.

Valerie smiled warmly at the older man, Its okay, Thomas, she said quietly.  I was just getting out.  Now, what is it, she asked with genuine interest.

Thomas seemed to remember something, though his eyes still refused to come anywhere near her barely exposed form through the narrow crack in the door.  It's just that I realized where we're moored captain.

Valerie nodded, already knowing where this was going.

It's just... well... he trailed off obviously not sure how to continue.  Ya see, the men...

Valerie nodded gravely.  You were wondering if we might stop at the old hideout, she finished for him.

Thomas nodded, quickly adding, All respect to ya and yer family, he stammered, but it's been a number of years and everyone here lost someone that day.  Thought it might be nice to pay respects to those that're gone.  The words came out in a rush, though clearly rehearsed.

Valerie was always avoiding the place, she actually hadn't seen it since that day ten years ago...  she sighed as an unexpected smile crept across her face

Let's go, she said, nodding to her first mate.

Thomas looked astonished, not normally an easy feat to achieve.  Truly, he asked, finally meeting her eye.  Clearly he had been expecting some resistance.

Valerie nodded again.  I've been away too long, and I should say hello.  After a slight pause, We've all been away too long.  Besides, it sounds like the men could use this too.

Indeed captain, indeed.  Thomas suddenly remembered she was standing there wrapped in only a towel, his face turning bright red as he turned away.  I'll... let the men know, he said nervously as he walked away.

Thanks, Thomas, she called to his back.

The older man stopped for a moment and nodded, yer welcome, lass, she barely heard him say.

Valerie closed the door quietly, leaning her head against the dark wood with a sigh.  Ten years a pirate.  Five years since her father died; killed in pursuing the man who murdered his wife, nearly five years before that.

Still clad in only a towel and beginning to feel a bit chill because of it, Valerie pushed away from the door, striding across the spacious cabin to the hardwood wardrobe beside her bed.

Time to become the Dread Pirate Vennosa again, she muttered, opening the doors.  She stopped, her hand on one of the low cut, billowy white blouses she customarily wore, as a memory of her mother sprang to mind.  The woman had been the wife of a pirate captain, but she could wander the high end streets of any port or city and none would have ever guessed her anything but a Lady belonging to some noble family.

Her father had always insisted the crew keep an eye out for expensive jewelry and dresses to bring home to his wife.  Valerie remembered her mother wearing many such adornments.  On other women in the Pirates' hideout it might have looked out of place; her mother wore it all like a Queen.

Valerie looked over her assortment of blouses, leather pants, black boots, corsets she would sometimes wear over her clothes.  What would her mother have thought of such a wardrobe? 

It is not befitting a Lady to wear such things.  She could hear her mother's voice clearly in her mind, even after all these years.  Shaking her head, she pulled one of the few dresses she had.  It was an elegant thing, deep green and floor length, made of light, expensive fabric.  A dress for royalty.  Which made sense as she had taken it from a royal merchantman vessel flying between the capital city of Talneris and the country estate of its king.

That's more like it, her mother would have said, with a nod of approval.

Valerie removed the damp towel from her torso, hanging it beside the wardrobe on a clothes hook to dry as she considered the dress.  She hadn't worn one in public since she took command of the Blood Falcon.  Occasionally they would happen across something particularly beautiful, and Valerie would snatch it up, secreting it away in the wardrobe or, more often, in the large chest at the foot of her bed.  Of course the men knew.  Thomas told her on more than one occasion she needn't pretend around the boys.  She was too used to playing her part.

Not today though.  Today she was visiting her mother, the first time in nearly twenty years.  She would make herself presentable.

The day was clear and bright, as a warm, tropical wind blew in from the south, the current subtly passing over the deck of the Blood Falcon, leaving behind a slight fragrance of flowers.  When the Dread Captain Vennosa stepped from her cabin, every man above decks momentarily forgot where he was.  Standing in the captain's doorway appeared to be a woman strangely familiar to them all, but out of place among the rough and rugged crew. 

Her long, green dress, cinched tight at the waist, fluttered in the light breeze as two ringlets of brown hair bounced to either side of her round face.  The rest of the woman's hair was pulled back into a high, fashionable ponytail held in place by a green bow.  Her long brown locks danced over one shoulder, the occasional streak of dark red shining through as it caught the sunlight just right.  Her makeup was expertly done, not heavy like the harlots the men were used to seeing at the houses of ill repute they would frequent when in port.  She smiled sweetly at them all, a nervous air about her.  Several of the men couldn't help but smile shyly back.  Today she was not their captain.  Today she was Valerie Vennosa, a young woman visiting her mother's grave.

Valerie moved to descend the steps from her cabin to the main deck, Thomas appearing at her side.  Silently he took her hand, leading her down the steps as she blushed slightly.  She was grateful for the assistance; her foot kept catching the hem of her dress.  Several times the thing almost sent her into a headlong tumble as she walked from her wardrobe to the cabin door.  The stairs were the most imposing foe she had faced in some time.

The men murmured as she made her way by, some offering up a softly spoken, mi'lady, as she glided passed, her feet secretly plotting against her beneath the fabric with the intent to send her stumbling across the