A change in the winds

Chapter four: A new acquaintance

Kenna left her cabin laughing, Jack could be so silly. She had heard many stories of him, how brave and cunning he was and how he could talk himself out of any danger. Now when she looked at him, shivering with fear when she got too close to him, she couldn't see how anyone believed those stories. He was no hero, he was a coward.

Up on deck the men were finishing their daily tasks, mopping the deck, tying the sails and scraping the barnacles off the railing. A few of them looked up when they heard light footsteps ascend the stairs to the main deck, and to their amazement, saw the girl who the Captain had forbidden all contact to.

'' Good evening,'' she said with a smile, her fiery hair sweeping over her shoulders as the gentle evening breeze blew. Her eyes sparkled in the dusk like a pair of emeralds. There was something about her; the men could sense it, but not as strongly as Jack did. She was nothing like any girl they had seen before, and in the dusk she even seemed a bit eerie. Not knowing that Jack had forgiven her, the men dared not speak to her. They all went back to their chores, pretending that she wasn't there.

'' Excuse me…hello! It's not nice to ignore people when they are talking to you.'' Kenna said hurt, but the men didn't seem to notice her. Kenna crossed her hands over her chest. Outrageous, how could they treat her this way?

'' They be loyal to their Captain, don't be takin' it seriously.'' Jack came up behind her with a grin on his face. Kenna suddenly remembered about the regulation concerning her that Jack had made.

'' I see…you're lucky to have such a loyal crew. It's rather rare these days…'' Kenna said, trying to hide her annoyance.

'' Am I sensin' any disdain towards me?'' Jack narrowed his eyes at her smirking.

'' Disdain? No, not at all. As you said, they were only doing what their Captain told them to do,'' Kenna retorted, keeping her back to him. Jack walked up to her and laid a hand on her shoulder.

'' I may not have any magical powers, but I be gifted with a tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature…'' He turned her around. ''And I can see that ye be troubled.''

Kenna pushed his hand off her shoulder. '' Watch yourself; you never know if I might curse you.'' A glimpse of fear shot through his eyes, making Kenna smirk. '' It's me who has the upper hand here.'' She turned around and walked over to the bow, leaving Jack speechless.

'' She wouldn't do that, would she?'' Jack thought to himself. '' It's better ta be safe than sorry…I must be careful around her.''

Kenna stood in the bow smiling. That look on Jack's face, priceless. She felt bad using his fear against him, but thought he partly deserved it for the way he spoke to her. He should really start realizing that he's not that irresistible. She leaned forward on the railing and gazed out towards the dark ocean sizzling beneath the ship. The regulation itself didn't bother her much. She had grown used to it and she knew that the men had to obey their Captain's orders. But the way Jack had appeared on deck. She felt like ripping his head off. He always had to act so in control. Her raging thoughts were interrupted by a low male voice behind her.

'' Miss…I be sorry for interruptin' ye…'' She turned around and saw a man in his early thirties. He seemed to have dark hair and blue eyes, but for the lack of light she couldn't determine whether it was true or not.

'' I be really sorry for the last few days, but the Captain ordered us ta stay away from ye.''

'' I know, no hard feelings. I'm only mad at him.''

'' If ye don't mind me askin', what did he have against ye?''

'' He's afraid of me; I tend to have that affect on people. I think it's the hair,'' she said with a laugh.

'' We're not afraid of ye. Ye don't seem the type ta fear,'' the man said with a smile.

'' Don't be so sure about that, I do have my dark side,'' Kenna said with a smirk.

'' Who doesn't…after all this is a pirate ship,'' he smiled.'' Will ye be stayin' with the crew for long?''

'' At least until I reach my hometown. I'm not sure how long that will take.''

'' Jack be known on the ship as being a strict captain, but fair. He is a gentle soul; even though he doesn't want ta admit it. He has never picked up lost women before though…''

'' Then I guess I was lucky,'' Kenna said with a smile. She didn't want to discuss it any further, in fear of revealing her secret. '' Now I really need to go. It was nice talking to you…''

'' Christian, me name be Christian.''

Kenna smiled. '' Nice talking to you Christian.'' Then she headed below deck. Christian followed her with his eyes until she was out of sight. That woman was something else.

'' She's so beautiful, those eyes…I've never seen eyes so green. I can't believe the Captain fears her. She couldn't harm a soul. I hope Jack didn't take her on as his mistress, she doesn't seem ta be the type. However, I guess it's not me problem. It's not as if she'll ever be mine.''

The next morning Kenna met Jack in the galley. A momentarily fright shone in his eyes as she entered the galley. His eyes went straight to the floor and his hand to his forehead, blocking his view of her. Kenna smiled and sat down on the opposite side of the table.

'' So how are we this morning?'' she inquired teasingly. Jack didn't look up at her but took a bite of his apple.

'' Great…never been better,'' he lied, turning his attention to his belt.

'' So how long is it until we reach Port-au Prince?'' She tried to start a conversation.

'' A few days…depends on the weather.'' He got up from his chair and started to walk towards the door when Kenna grabbed his hand.

'' Please don't go. I didn't mean anything I said last night.'' Jack looked at her surprised. '' I don't want you to fear me. Can't we be friends?''

'' Friends, ye want us ta be friends?'' Jack said stunned as he pulled his arm out of her grip. '' Ye who use every opportunity ta intimidate me with yer magic skills? I'm sorry luv but I can't see how that would work.''

'' I'm sorry, I really am. I just got so angry with you last night. I won't curse you, I promise…unless you do something unforgivable…''

'' And what be unforgivable in yer eyes? I can't be dealin' with the fear of dissatisfyin' ye every day.''

'' Jack please…try to see it my way. I want to be treated just like everyone else, like a normal person.''

'' That will never happen luv…ye're not like everyone else.''

'' Why am I so different? Even though I know how to use runes it doesn't change who I am.''

'' Yes it does. Ye know somethin' that most people fear, magic. And magic users can be quite dangerous.''

'' I'm not dangerous! Name me one incident where I have caused danger to either you or the crew.''

'' Not havin' caused one doesn't mean ye won't. I've seen yer temper, there's no use for ye to deny it. One day ye'll crack and who will be in danger then?''

Kenna tried her best not to brake down. '' My stay here won't be long, I'm sure you can survive.'' She stood up from the table and walked past him out the door. Jack closed his eyes and sighed. What was he supposed to do? He had the safety of his crew to worry about. He sat back down on the chair and rested his head on his hand. This was not going to be easy.

Kenna walked down to her cabin, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes. How could he be so insensitive? She had never done him any harm! Tears started to slowly slide down her cheeks as she descended the stairs leading to the hallway where her cabin was situated. She turned around a corner and walked into something. Falling backwards, she felt someone catch her, and when she looked up she saw that it was Christian, the man from last night.

'' Are ye all right?'' he said worried as he held her in his arms.

'' Yes I'm fine. You can put me down now.'' Christian smiled and put her on her feet.

'' Where were ye hurryin' off to?''

'' My cabin. I'm sorry. I should have been more careful.'' Kenna wiped her eyes.

'' No, it's all right, no harm done.'' He raised her chin up.'' Why are ye cryin'?''

'' It's nothing, don't worry about it.'' Kenna moved her head away from his hands. '' I better get going.'' She started walking but he grabbed her hand.

'' If ye need anyone ta talk to I'm always here for ye.''

'' Thanks, it's good to know that at least one on this ship likes me.'' She broke down again and hid her face in her free hand. Christian pulled her closer, embracing her.

'' Shhh…it's all right. Why do ye think no one likes ye?''

'' I just want to be treated like a normal person,'' Kenna said crying. '' Why can't he do that?''

'' He? Ye mean Jack don't ye? What did he do to ye?'' Christian asked, feeling his anger rising. Kenna raised her head off his chest.

'' He didn't do anything; it's just the things he said...''

'' He can be quite insensitive. I apologize for his behaviour, no woman should be spoken to in that manner.''

'' You don't have to do that. You don't even know what he said.'' Kenna dried her eyes.

'' Then why won't ye tell me?''

Kenna looked up at him. '' I can't. It's just between him and me.'' Christian wanted to know what his captain could have said to her to make her run away crying like that, but he didn't want to force her.

'' All right, but if ye ever want ta talk about it I will be here for ye.''

'' Why are you being so nice to me? You don't know me at all. We only met last night.''

'' Does it matter? I sense somethin' good about ye, and I want ta get ta know ye better.''

'' That's really nice of you. Maybe you should teach your captain some of your courtesy,'' Kenna said with a smile.

'' Oh believe me, I've tried…'' he replied with a smile, delighted that the girl was smiling again.

'' Well I better go, you probably have a lot to do.''

'' Actually, no, I'm almost finished for now. What do ye say we go to yer cabin for some rum? It gives us time ta get ta know each other a bit better.''

'' That sounds great, but I don't have any rum.''

'' Don't worry, there be loads of it in me cabin.'' He put his arm around her shoulder, leading her towards his cabin.

Author notes: I hope there's someone out there reading this...if there is I would like to get some reviews on how you like the story so far and what you think will happen :-D