William Brand

Ciaran, you practically live here. Feel free to raid the bar.

Another fine picture.

Niiiiice.

July 18, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Seven Bells of the Morning Watch William went forward and remained at the bowsprit until the seventh bell of morning watch had sounded. By this time they were but a short distance from Los Hermanos and William sent orders back along the deck to keep their course wide of the small isles, that they should not be troubled by any soundings, but Mister Lasseter had put them on a line that made a course correction unnecessary. As they passed the small chain of islands jutting up from the sea, William noted their size and compared them to descriptions given to him by Lady Ilex. He made a mental note or two about that island upon which she had her fortune hidden. It was as she said it would be in every particular, despite her questionable capacities when she had imparted her narrative. More of the crew had come up upon the deck in the intervening moments as word passed among the sleepy watch abed in their hammocks. By the time Los Hermanos had passed them off the Starboard bow, most of the watch who should have been abed until the eighth bell were at the rail. A confluence of curious birds was circling the ship in wide arcs by then and causing a din to rival the crew. Lazarus Gage regarded them with a cook's eye as they passed over and one came so very near Ciaran overhead, that the man might have reached out and grabbed it. Instead, the lookout sent down word from above of La Blanquilla, but it was a routine gesture, for no one had failed to see what they were so anxious to explore.

Arrrr.

July 18, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Six Bells of the Morning Watch. William sent Miss Smith to and from the Ward Room several times to fetch up various charts. A table was eventually brought up and placed along the larboard rail of the quarterdeck, along with two chairs. William sat here in discussion with Mister Badger, carefully discussing the circumnavigation of La Blanquilla and Los Hermanos. They were interrupted more than once by sightings of sea birds to the North and West of their position. This fair omen of unseen land on the horizon was welcome news and it had the expected effect on the current watch. Ever since departing La Margarita, gossip of the Ilex fortune had spread all along the company, and the idea of ill gotten goods seemed to lighten every laborer's mood. Once most of the charts had been discussed, and more than a few times, William sent for the Master Carpenter.

I like that one. I'm a big fan of both heraldry and pirate flags.

First of all, thank you. Second, is my face red?

July 18, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog 5 bells of the Morning Watch The Captain and Bosun stood on the quarterdeck in mixed conversation with subjects stemming from clew lines to cooked cabbage and back again. Each of them enjoyed the sun on the sails and the prospect of a good tacking. They would be steeped in the fine tuning of sails all day as they inched their way around La Blanquilla to verify the depths of their many charts. Two lead lines were already laid out near the rail and William was considering whether or not to bring a small table and chairs to the quarterdeck for use in notations as they went along. Mister Lasseter came on deck then and looked all the better for having breakfast and a little rest from standing. He made his way aft along the Starboard rail meeting the Captain and Mister Badger as they came forward near the ship's aft bell as it was rung, sounding the fifth bell of the morning watch. The wind had died off a little and they had returned to a comfortable eight knots, but before, Mister Badger had been ever vigilant in his control of the sails to optimize their time. During the heavier wind he had altered a considerable amount of canvas and the Mizzen Topmast Sail had nearly lost a line or two. Both had begun parting under the strong blast, and both had been quickly spliced and made able again. The ship was set on a path of good weather, though the threat of rain foretold by the moon the previous night, still remained in the very near future.

They are natural sea sponges so they...proliferate.

The PTC Ensign at Palm Springs...and look...Rob Lowe.

The Watch Dog moved at a pace equal to her design. The wind had improved greatly, and she was making almost ten knots when William came up on the quarterdeck. Nigel Brisbane, standing at the handwheel, looked positively delighted. Nigel had always known a fondness for the sea, but standing at the wheel of the Watch Dog was an uncommonly fine thing in his estimation and he said as such to the Captain. "Aye." was William's singular reply, having reached the same understanding at the ripe old age of ten aboard the Namir under the tutelage of the Mahdi. Though it had been a tiller then and not a wheel, William had still enjoyed the responsibility to the fullest, and had gone on to be Coxswain of half a dozen able ship's, including the great lumbering Hammerhead. It was on that great Dutch Merchantman that William had been at his strongest, for it took a steady man of considerable grip to bring the Hammerhead about. Metivier, the other Coxswain of the same ship, had been a man of such stature that he once maintained the wheelhouse unaided in a considerable gale. The wind stalled a moment then and the sound of laughter reached William's ears from amidships. He went forward down upon the gundeck to find several lads and two masters bent over a barrel at a game of dice. Mister Pew straightened at once and the whole party stood up in a sudden quiet. William bent and plucked up the dice and straightened again, bouncing the dice in one hand, his other hand cocked behind his back. His face was a mask of pretended consideration. "Dice, Cap'n." Mister Pew said in a matter of fact way that came across as an explanation, question and invitation all at the same time. Mister Smyth tried not to smile and utterly failed at it. The Master Carpenter greeted him warmly, her face smiling from her most recent lucky toss. Thatcher looked a little nervous, having caught hell for being at dice once before on another ship. Bill Flint, fresh from the Royal Navy, stood slightly removed, but near enough to be wary of the situation. All the while William bounced the dice. "A bit of 'armless fun to pass the time, Cap'n." William regarded Mister Pew with a squint, not because of any scrutiny on his part, but due to the sun which had come up, for William was still adjusting to the light above decks. Still, this squint went a long way in deepening Mister Thatcher's discomfort. "Aye." was all that William said after a time. "I can see that a ruling must be made in regards to dice aboard the Watch Dog." The Captain let the comment hang in the air for an ominous two minutes as he paced about with the dice in his hand. Every time his back was to the group, Louis Morrell would make a mock of Mister Thatcher, putting on a dour face while wringing his hands. Smyth had to cough to keep his smile from becoming to wide and Mister Pew gave Morrell a hard elbow. Rummy gave Mister Flint a smile that said 'Not to worry, lad. The Captain isn't as those you're used to'. When William had finished several slow revolutions, he returned to the circle and fished out a small coin of his own, placing it on the barrel. The surprised looks in their faces melted into smiles and exchanged looks as they too placed bets on the next roll. William tossed, won and gathered up his winnings so quickly, one might have thought he could foresee the future. He had of course spent those two minutes pacing in an examination the dice and not the decision to let them play or not play at them. An incorrigible gypsy by the name of Tshurkurka had taught him a great deal of dice and their sometimes less than random ways. William had a bemused hint of a smile. He tossed the dice to Mister Pew who caught them deftly. "We'll make land soon. A few more tosses and then to your duties." "Aye-aye." They all said aloud as William made his way aft again, pocketing his winnings. Thatcher let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.

People around here love pictures.

We were married in 14th century attire by a monk in a village under a full moon. Torches. Handfasting. Period ceremony.

You reenacted at your wedding? I think you win. That's a great picture.

An infestation!

"Aye, Mister Lasseter. We'll circumnavigate the whole of La Blanquilla and see the lay of the land. I'll want a slow and deliberate sounding of all her reefs and shoals. If we accomplish this inside of the first day prior to dark, then we shall shadow Los Hermanos while the cutter and barge go ashore there in search of the Ilex fortune. Otherwise, we shall seek it again tomorrow." "Aye, Cap'n." William turned his attention then to Miss Fitzgerald. "What of your patients?" She blinked once, coming back from some other thoughts. "Nathan is much better this morning, Captain. I believe he will recover completely and Jonas should thereafter." "Good. Very good. I should like to speak with Nathan in a short time if it is permitted." "If you would do so, then I would ask that you do not tire him." "As you wish. I will be brief. As for Jonas, I will ask my questions of him only after I have some more understanding by way of Mister Flint." "Aye...Flint. 'e 'as been at the log line these many 'ours, Cap'n." Mister Lasseter piped in between a forkfuls of cold ham. William raised his left eyebrow at this and Tempest frowned a little, both of them surprised that he should be at any labor following the toils of the previous day. Mister Lasseter only shrugged a bit and added, "The lad couldn't find sleep." William nodded outwardly and perhaps Tempest nodded inwardly. "Well...see that he finds it when you retire later this morning, Mister Lasseter. I best go up and greet the day." William rose from his seat, and they both made as if to stand, but he held out both hands to wave them down again. He told them to finish their meals at their leisure and join him on the weather decks later. He picked up his hat and went up the aft scuttle to the quarterdeck, leaving them alone and knowing they would both benefit from the quiet and privacy of the place.

William took a seat at the head of the table and set many of his charts aside, apart from that which portrayed La Blanquilla and the isles of Los Hermanos with the best accuracy. Then he helped himself to the food with the first real relish of the day. He noticed at once the look of Armand's departure in Tempest's face and could hear it in her answers. She was not enjoying his absence, and she seemed reticent to talk about it. He had thought to ask he about Chanault, but he chose a different track instead, steering her away from her own thoughts with talk of La Blanquilla. "In speaking with Lady Ilex I have learned that her small fortune is sheltered on one of the small crusts of land at Los Hermanos. She discovered a sheltered cave quite near shore, which at the time was tinted red by the setting sun. She babbled much on the subject of red curtains, and whether she meant the rocks under the hue of Sol's departure or the brothel back on La Margarita, I cannot be sure. Her instructions were enough I think to discover the place by an exercise of exploration. I at least understand which of the small islands it is, and I believe, while the time of year may not be right, we may discover if there is anything to this 'red curtains'. If not, our own determination should be enough. The crew shouldn't mind the search given the quarry."

"Enter." William called without turning, but his attention was captured by the Ship's Surgeon as she entered the room. "Doctor..." "Captain." Mister Lasseter stood as she came in and William wasn't sure if he should finish shaving or not. Then, as before, he gestured to the fare at the table. "Please. Join us." Then he wiped away the remaining soap, judging his moustache and small beard in the glass as he did so. Mister Lasseter was around the table in a moment, brandishing the only weapon more dangerous than his mortuary sword. His smile. He drew out a chair for Tempest and William amused himself at the quiet exchange between them as he stepped from the room to put away his razor, brush and cup.

"No." William said, turning from the mirror half shaven and smiling. He gestured to the waiting tray, then turned back to finish his task. "How far now to La Blanquilla?" "Landfall by eight bells, Cap'n." he replied, as sure of the time as he was sure that he could sleep sprawled out on coral. He drew out a chair facing the Captain and began to sample Mister Gage's morning efforts. "Excellent. You did good service at La Margarita. If it was in my power to promote you any higher I would. However, you may take two watches together for sleep if you like."

The Captain's Steward came and went twice from the Ward Room as William picked at the tray before him, stopping often to add notations to his logbook. The third time she entered the room he asked her to invite Mister Lasseter to the Ward Room and sent her again to bring added fare to the table. Meanwhile, William paused amidst his many calculations in order to finish dressing and washed his face and hands in a basin as its contents sloshed back and forth with the Watch Dog's progress. He combed back his unruly red hair and considered the unshaven parts of his face in the mirror awhile before taking up a cup, brush and razor. He was soon shaving as easily as he might have on shore, already accustomed to the irregular motion of the ship as she pitched an yawed.

I was there for only four days of last year's event and I had a great time. I think it's better that they focus more events within a few days, and I'm glad to hear of the change.

Yes. Roman. Minus the vomitting.

Aye, baths for everyone!

F I N I S This ends Book One of the Watch Dog. The tale continues in "The Watch Dog, Book ll" found here in the Skull and Quill Society - Fiction (previously called Rabble Rousing). Our many thanks to everyone who contributed to this volume of work, from Diego who created it, on down through our many writers and play actors. It has been a pleasure writing with you all and we hope to see your work continue in Book ll. A thank you to those many readers who have passed along their compliments during this first stage in the virtual experiment that is "The Watch Dog". -W.R.W.