-Age 5-
There were no toys.
The child, henceforth known as Melodia, held her arms crossed and tight as she was led aboard a ship that seemed too large for her senses. The Captain had led her aboard in the most gentle manner, almost motherly. They'd strode past the burning tents and the corpses littering the ground and each time Melodia was tempted to look, the Captain would say "Nay dearie.....keep the eyes straight on. Lookin' elsewhere'd only be pain."
And as they boarded the small rowing vessel that took them out to the ship in silence, Melodia did steal one small glance back to see the smoke in the air and flames that were dying out. She looked back and held her head down as tears fell. She felt a finger touch the bottom of her chin and nudge her face upward. The Captain was looking at her with a sadness in her eyes, but also held a tone of knowing. "I told ye not ta look, little one. Ye'd do best to heed me words going forward."
The rest of the journey had been cold and silent. Boarding the ship, she men and women about, bustling and working, loading the goods they'd seized from her camp. She said not a word and stared blankly as the Captain barked orders to the people and knelt down close to her and said in a hushed voice. "Now dearie, yer ta come with me. I'll show ye yer new home. It may no' be so much space...but we'll take care o' ye. Come now."
As they crossed the wooden deck, the Captain yelled back to the men, "Hey! Did the food and beddin' get put out like I asked? If no' I'll have Ramsay's head an' one o' yers as well stuck to the mast fer dec'ration!" One of the men bolted past her and shuffled down some stairs into the belly of the ship. The Captain led her down the same set of stairs moments later. Melodia noticed it was dark save for a few lights, and there were people down here as well, though not quite as many. She was led down a tight hallway and then into a large open area that was not quite so open anymore. So many crates and ropes, and tools littered the area. Some people were sleeping against the walls and coughed in their sleep. The Captain pointed to an empty blanket laid out against the wall. "Tha's yers. Make th' best o' it. May be yers f'r some time. 'Less you piss me off, an' I throw you t' th' men above."
Melodia looked at her and saw no smile, no humor in those eyes. She was deadly serious and she shuddered as she nodded. The Captain turned and began to head out as Melodia stared at the area. "With me, lass. Time fer a bite t' eat and yer first lesson." The Captain said it without gentleness, as she had back on land. She'd issued an order as she'd done with the men and women above. And before Melodia moved to follow, one thought echoed sadly through her mind as she looked at the sleeping area.
There were no toys.
There were no toys.
The child, henceforth known as Melodia, held her arms crossed and tight as she was led aboard a ship that seemed too large for her senses. The Captain had led her aboard in the most gentle manner, almost motherly. They'd strode past the burning tents and the corpses littering the ground and each time Melodia was tempted to look, the Captain would say "Nay dearie.....keep the eyes straight on. Lookin' elsewhere'd only be pain."
And as they boarded the small rowing vessel that took them out to the ship in silence, Melodia did steal one small glance back to see the smoke in the air and flames that were dying out. She looked back and held her head down as tears fell. She felt a finger touch the bottom of her chin and nudge her face upward. The Captain was looking at her with a sadness in her eyes, but also held a tone of knowing. "I told ye not ta look, little one. Ye'd do best to heed me words going forward."
The rest of the journey had been cold and silent. Boarding the ship, she men and women about, bustling and working, loading the goods they'd seized from her camp. She said not a word and stared blankly as the Captain barked orders to the people and knelt down close to her and said in a hushed voice. "Now dearie, yer ta come with me. I'll show ye yer new home. It may no' be so much space...but we'll take care o' ye. Come now."
As they crossed the wooden deck, the Captain yelled back to the men, "Hey! Did the food and beddin' get put out like I asked? If no' I'll have Ramsay's head an' one o' yers as well stuck to the mast fer dec'ration!" One of the men bolted past her and shuffled down some stairs into the belly of the ship. The Captain led her down the same set of stairs moments later. Melodia noticed it was dark save for a few lights, and there were people down here as well, though not quite as many. She was led down a tight hallway and then into a large open area that was not quite so open anymore. So many crates and ropes, and tools littered the area. Some people were sleeping against the walls and coughed in their sleep. The Captain pointed to an empty blanket laid out against the wall. "Tha's yers. Make th' best o' it. May be yers f'r some time. 'Less you piss me off, an' I throw you t' th' men above."
Melodia looked at her and saw no smile, no humor in those eyes. She was deadly serious and she shuddered as she nodded. The Captain turned and began to head out as Melodia stared at the area. "With me, lass. Time fer a bite t' eat and yer first lesson." The Captain said it without gentleness, as she had back on land. She'd issued an order as she'd done with the men and women above. And before Melodia moved to follow, one thought echoed sadly through her mind as she looked at the sleeping area.
There were no toys.
