“Just a tiny push. Away from you,” The Boatwoman guided Renn in rowing.

Renn correctly pushed the rudder just enough to make the tiny boat list to the right. We were now more on course with the upcoming bend in the river.

My companion turned to the boatwoman, who nodded as to inform Renn she had done well, and Renn beamed a happy smile at me.

Smiling back at her, I looked away from the two women and at the river we were slowly floating on.

The water was tinted a little red, thanks to all the clay. It was… pretty, in a way, but somehow it made me feel hotter than I actually was. As if somehow the reddish water was as hot as the red sun in the sky. It was hot, in actuality. Summer was here… but usually, just like the cold, the heat never really bothered me.

“For someone who grew up in a forest, you’re doing well,” the boatwoman said.

“When I bump into something, I’ll remember you said that,” Renn said back, but I could hear her… simple joy of the moment.

She was having a blast. Which was… a little sad, in a way. For something as silly as captaining a little boat down a simple river to make her so thrilled and excited…

Maybe I was being cruel to her. Life should not be so depressing that something like this made her so gleeful. If she was a child, I’d understand, or simple minded… but she was neither. Though she did take joy in life’s simple things, often.

“Hard to bump into anything out here, dear. The river’s deep. Little to no foliage, too! Though ya’ might hit a fish or two sometimes,” she said.

“I’d say that’d be the fishes fault, not ours,” Renn said.

“Such a thing to say! This is their home, dearie not ours!” the boatwoman chided her, but did so with a laugh and happy tone. She was just making small talk.

Glancing back at the two, I studied the boatwoman. She was… honestly a little out of place. Not because she was the captain of a river boat, nor because she was a woman and not a man… but rather, her clothes.

They were far too nice to be worn by a simple fisherman or boatmen out here. She had multiple layers on, and most of what she wore was newer and finer in thread. Stuff usually found in larger cities, not out in the boonies like we were. They were so out of place out here it was almost comical.

We had hired the woman at a small fishing village a few hours up the river. There had been three people with boats on the river at the time, and she was the one Renn had called out to. Not a surprise, really, the other two had been men... but they at least had looked normal. Dressed in rags and slightly dirty from their long hours of labor.

This woman was too clean to be a laborer. Not just her clothes, either. Her nails weren’t as clean cut or polished as Renn’s, but they weren’t jagged and stained like most.

She was as out of place as Renn’s smile out here.

Though I was likely reading too much into it. She did know this boat in and out. She knew this river too, based off the way she was guiding Renn along the currents. Something that someone couldn’t fake so easily. She also spoke confidently, and I’ve yet to hear any outright lies from her.

What was perhaps the reason for her attire was something obvious. She likely had either pilfered it from a dead corpse, from the spreading disease, or had bought it for cheap off someone else who had.

And honestly… even if this wasn’t actually her boat, or she a thief or something… what did that matter?

It wasn’t like she was a threat to us. And we were sailing down the correct river, towards the correct destination.

Though I’d hate to have to kill the woman that Renn was becoming fast friends with.

“Though I must admit, I’m surprised to see travelers these days. Been many moons since I last saw any,” the woman said.

“Oh? Because of the sickness?” Renn asked.

“Aye, that and war. The lands here haven’t joined in, yet, but a lot of the younger men have run off to join in search of glory or wealth. Nothing but us women and old folks anymore,” she said with a sigh.

Likely was speaking from experience. I wonder if her husband or something had run off too.

“They can… join in the war? Even if they’re not members of those nations?” Renn asked.

The boatwoman giggled. “Such an innocent one you are! Are you a nun or something?” she asked.

I turned a little, to join the conversation as to steer it as Renn was our boat. “Mercenaries, bandits, and the nations will also happily pay any able bodied man if they’re willing to take up arms. Politicians don’t care who dies for their cause, as long as it’s their cause and not their enemies,” I explained.

The woman nodded as she sat down on the edge of the boat, next to the rudder and Renn. The boat rocked a little thanks to her doing so, but not so badly that it bothered Renn. “Aye. They’d pay to enlist them, if anything just to make sure they don’t go enlist with their enemies,” she added.

Renn frowned as she considered everything we just told her. “Seems like it just… fuels the war even more than necessary. If no one ran off to fight, there wouldn’t even be a war in the first place,” she said.

Although the woman giggled at Renn, I instead smiled at her. “Yet there’s always war. If not today, then tomorrow. And if not tomorrow, then yesterday,” I said.

The boatwoman stopped giggling as she nodded. “Indeed. A fruitless endeavor it is, to try and reason it away. Instead we should just let them all run off to fight and die. It makes the world quieter at least!” she said.

Renn smiled at the woman’s happy statement, but I could tell she wasn’t sure what to think of it.

“Ah, watch the bend here. The river looks gentle on top, but it’s fierce below! Hold the rudder…” the woman paused in her guidance, as Renn easily held onto the rudder even as we entered the faster stream of water.

Renn stepped closer to the rudder, as to grab it firmer just in case, but I knew there was no need for her to do so.

She wasn’t as weak as she looked.

“Well, wow. Maybe it’s calm today? Usually it’s rather cranky,” the boatwoman reasoned it away as she bent her waist as to look over the edge of the boat, and into the river.

“It does feel stronger, I can feel it tugging more than before,” Renn said calmly.

“Aye. Must be a lull. Strange. Usually only happens before a storm, yet I doubt a storm would be coming anytime soon in this heat,” the boatwoman said as she looked up at the sky.

Yes. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight… and the wind nearly nonexistent.

This summer would be a hot one.

“So we can’t take this boat all the way, Vim?” Renn asked me.

“Na’way. The lake this feeds into, feeds into a much bigger river. One far too big and strong for this little thing!” the boatwoman answered for me.

I nodded. “And there’s no need. There’ usually a few larger ships always coming and going from the lake. It’s a hub for the fishermen, and other folks who live around here. Not hard to hitch a ride, usually,” I said.

“Ya’ll have no problem, a boat’ll be there, you’ll see,” the boatwoman confidently said.

I noted the tone she used. She wasn’t just speaking confidently; she was speaking with the surety as if she could see the ship in question as we spoke. It wasn’t possible of course; we were still several hours away from the lake. Yet I didn’t doubt her either. There was usually not just a ship, but many ships.

The port town we were headed to relied on this lake for its many fresh water sources. Food and drink alike. The day the ships stopped sailing these waters was the day that port city, and the dozens of villages between and around it, were lost for good.

“Though… It is strange here. Why aren’t there any trees or anything growing on the banks? Or along the river?” Renn asked as she looked around.

Her mentor giggled again. “Why, the rock’s are too dry and tough! But it’ll change, ya’ will see. Fields and fields of stalks down the way,” she told Renn.

Renn blinked at the woman and smiled, and I wondered if Renn was having difficulty with understanding the woman. We weren’t just yet far enough for the languages to change too drastically, but we were starting to drift into different dialects and phrases. The type of stuff that if one’s never experienced, could lead to a lot of confusion.

“More surprised you’re not shocked over there being so much water out here,” I said.

“Oh. That too. We walked for hours and didn’t see a single puddle, yet look at this,” Renn nodded. I knew, since she was standing, she could see some of the other rivers nearby. Most were likely smaller than the one we were floating on, but more than a few were large enough to be rivers themselves.

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“Water is powerful stuff. Good thing too, less we all die of thirst,” the boatwoman said.

I nodded in agreement.

It was a powerful thing.

Reaching over the side of the boat, I let my hand dip into the cold water. It was surprisingly chill when one considered the heat beating down upon it.

“Now dearie, I like ya but I don’t like ya enough to let you capsize my boat so please pull tha’ore over here,” the boatwoman waved at Renn, to tell her to put her focus back on the boat and the large pile of rocks we were about to hit.

“Oh!” Renn quickly went to fixing our direction, and I leaned back and relaxed.

Renn and the boatwoman were more than happy to talk amongst themselves as the sun creeped along the sky. Renn got comfortable enough at the helm that even when the river increased in its current, and began to bend and curve as it joined other rivers and streams she didn’t even need guidance.

Though she relinquished the helm of the boat as we entered the lake, and began to approach a large vessel without any sails.

“I told ya’ there’d be a ship,” the boatwoman said happily as she steered us towards it.

Renn stepped over, rocking the boat a little, as she sat down next to me. While she did, I studied the very obvious ship with its lack of sails, and the many latches and woodwork running all along its outer shell.

Ship? More like floating fortress. It had more layers of defensive layering than actual warships did.

A ship indeed.

“Pirate are you?” I asked her.

Renn perked up at my question, and turned to look at the woman in shock.

The boatwoman gave us a toothy grin. “Former, actually! Ya see, since the war and plague it’s just become too profitable to be a simple cargo hauler to do naught else!” she said.

Renn turned back to me, and her worried and confused smile told me she was enjoying this as much as she was confused.

I frowned as I realized she was very likely being… very honest. Which was ridiculous, but made sense.

“Here’s where I should say I’ll not be paying ransom alongside my ferry fee, right?” I asked.

The boatwoman laughed giddily as some people on the ship noticed our approach. She waved at them, and after getting her laughter under control she winked at me. “I’ll not pillage ya. I like your girl, would be a shame to make her hate me.”

Renn nodded quickly, as if in full agreement.

Sighing as I stood, I went to grab the rope tossed over the side of the ship.

Holding the rope steady, I aided the boatwoman as she set the little boat up against the far larger one. Once the boat was stable, and not at risk at capsizing or going under the larger ship, a rope ladder was tossed over. It nearly hit the boatwoman as it clanked against the wooden frame of the ship, coming to a stop just before falling into the lake.

“Go on up, you two. I’ll need ta’wait for one of the lads,” she said.

Renn glanced at me, and I gestured for her to go ahead. She smirked as I went to grab our bags.

Hefting our luggage onto my shoulder, I glanced again at the woman. “You the captain?” I asked.

“Don’t think I am?” she asked back with a grin.

“If you’re not, you need to be. You have the attitude for it,” I said.

She laughed as Renn climbed up far enough that I felt the ladder was safe enough to join her. Grabbing the ladder, I stared up at Renn’s bottom. I waited until she reached the upper section of the ship, and went to clambering over the railing before actually following her up though.

Listening intently to the sounds on the deck, I was glad nothing sounded too off. Once I climbed over the railing and onto the deck, my suspicion was proven true.

The crew was all female.

“Pardon’ sir,” a younger girl stepped around me as I stepped away from the ladder. She hurried over the railing and down the ladder, likely to swap with the captain. Either she’d go back up the river, to find more customers, or they’d moor or latch the boat to the ship somehow.

Renn happily stood next to me, smiling broadly as she looked around the deck at all the women.

Oddly, most were well dressed. Though a few were much younger than one would think. There was even a younger girl near the bow, staring at Renn and I between some wooden railing pillars. She wasn’t even kneeling or crouching, and still wasn’t taller than the railing that only went to Renn’s waist.

“I’ll take ya’bags sir,” a woman stepped forward, and was smiling stiffly.

“You know I’ve actually known many female pirates. Usually they aren’t as young or tiny,” I said as the captain rolled over the railing, landing onto the deck with bare feet.

“Ha! I knew you were a sailor. It’s fine, she’ll just be taking em’ to your room,” the captain said.

“Aye captain!” the woman stood up straighter as she stepped forward, now with new purpose.

Ah. She had intended to rob me then, at first. Interesting.

Handing her the bags, I smiled as I watched her drop them thanks ot the weight.

“Wha…” the woman stared at the bags on the ground, and her hands and arms that were outstretched… and empty.

“What’re you doin…?” another woman stepped forward, to help. She bent down to pick up one of the bags, and although was able to lift it… she did grunt and exhale as she did.

The captain chuckled as another woman stepped forward, to help as well.

“Want some help?” Renn asked as she too stepped forward.

I sighed as I ignored the women as they mumbled and questioned the bags, as if they were some confounded mystery beyond understanding.

They were just a little heavy. For humans.

“Come on now, get! And you three! Help Lip get that boat secured! We’re heading to the city!” the captain bellowed some orders, and quickly the entire deck went into motion.

Watching them all hurry to obey, I was rather impressed. Even the younger girl hurried to help out.

The women finally got the bags sorted away, and four of them were hurrying off to the back of the ship. There was a large double door situated next to some stairs that led up to the helm. They disappeared into the doors quickly.

“I’ll show ya to your room, come on,” the captain waved at us to follow.

Renn hurried after her like a lost puppy, and I dutifully followed said puppy… but as I did I spared one last glance around the deck.

The women were using pulleys to lift the boat we had arrived on.

They were battening down hatches, and pulling up fishing lines. I counted nearly a dozen poles tied to the side railing of the ship. Not that uncommon of a sight on ships such as these, but it told me a little about this ship and those who lived upon it.

Had the war and plague done this much damage…?

To make even pirates such as these?

They were definitely sailors, at least. But they were no real pirates. The captain was and maybe a few of the others… like the first woman, who had taken my bags and dropped them. She had the mentality needed to rob someone. But the rest of the women here were more than likely not pirates themselves, but their daughters. Or wives or sisters.

Following Renn who followed the captain down the stairs and into the bowels of the ship, I noted the stuff on the walls we were passing. Clothes were hung up on nails. Little shelves had been shaped and installed, though most were relatively bare and only a few had stuff like candles or small trinkets upon them.

Pirate ship? Hardly. This was a home.

Rounding a corner, we ended up at the last door in the hallway, right before it led down another floor. Likely to where the ship had its storage hull.

The door was already open, and a woman ran out of the room as we neared. She darted down the stairwell, lower into the ship, before anyone could say anything.

I sighed as I peered around Renn and into the room… to see that sure enough, one of our bags was open.

“Uh… If she took anything I’ll make sure to get it back for ya…” the captain said with a strained smile.

“Please do,” was all I said.

“This is rather nice,” Renn said as she stepped into the room. It was a larger room, with not just a bed but a small table and window. Based off the hastily made bedding and the rug on the floor… it was likely someone’s actual room.

There was even some trunks and a dresser, which looked full of clothes and stuff.

“Should do fine right? Just a few days, after all,” the captain asked me.

“It’ll do just fine!” Renn said happily.

I waved at Renn as the captain’s eyes held my own.

The captain nodded, and then coughed. “You uh… can either have dinner brought to ya, or we can eat together if you’d like?” the captain then asked Renn.

“Oh. Yes. Together,” Renn stepped back out of the room and nodded to the captain.

Keeping a groan inside, I glanced down the hallway behind us. Some of the women were peering at us from around the corner of the hallway.

“Dinner it is! Hope you like fish, that’s about all we got anymore lately,” the captain said.

“What’s your name?” I asked her before Renn could tell her an all fish meal would be delightful.

She startled, and laughed at me. “Roslyn! My daughter should be around here too, little Rosie. If I find her I’ll make sure she introduces herself too,” Roslyn said.

“Vim, she introduced herself when we boarded her boat. Or well, the other boat… the smaller one,” Renn reminded me.

Had she? I must not have been paying attention.

Or rather I was likely more interested in her now, which was why I wanted to know.

She had gone from weird out of place boatwoman, to captain of a pirate ship. Which also normally wouldn’t be much a difference in importance to me… but this was interesting.

A pirate ship, made home by a bunch of women and children.

Very interesting indeed.

“An odd man ya’ got, but better than the ones who just up and die on ya,” Roslyn said to Renn.

Renn sighed. “I’m not sure. His problem is he just won’t die no matter what,” she said.

Roslyn busted into laughter, and I glanced at Renn who smirked at me.

“Oh I’ll enjoy this trip, I will! I’d even waive the ferry fee if the world wasn’t so bleak, I would!” Roslyn said.

“I’ll be deducting any lost goods from your fee, Captain Roslyn,” I said as I reached past Renn and shut the door behind her.

Renn stood up stiffly, likely thanks to my action and tone… but Roslyn only nodded and giggled away as if my genuine threat was just a funny joke. “All will be well! Now,” Roslyn stepped towards Renn, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

I watched Renn’s body go stiff upon the contact, and her smile became all wiry and weird… but still one of joy, as Roslyn guided her back down the hall, heading back where we came.

“So Renn, you learnt to steer a tiny boat, how about one with more girth?” the captain asked Renn.

Renn didn’t even hesitate to nod. “Oh yes!”

The captain smirked, and I shook my head at her… and Renn.

Just great. Renn the pirate. If I wasn’t careful she’d be one before nightfall…

Slowly following the two, since they were hurrying up the stairs to the helm… I sighed as we returned to the deck.

Glancing up at the sky, I glared at the darker reds appearing.

Grow darker quicker, please, before Renn starts speaking in tongues and hears the call of the sea.

Since if she did… I’d likely drop all of my responsibilities and join her, and we can’t be having that.

Not at all.