Lady Di
My life began humbly in a small port town. Father owned the local tavern, and when I was old enough, he put me to work as a tavern maiden. The tavern usually had good food, the ale was always above average and the prices were fair. That’s most likely what brought Phydoux, Little Jess and their guild, The Black Velvet Band, into the tavern time and time again. Jess always called me “Lady Di”; I wasn’t sure why but it made me feel both special and a little uncomfortable. After all, it wasn’t everyday that a rogue took to giving me a nickname.
The Black Velvet Band was exciting and frightening at the same time. I loved listening to the tales of their adventures, but at the same time was too afraid to even dream about being part of the least dangerous of them myself. They became friends that I looked forward to seeing every time they passed through town. I always hoped that there would be enough fresh goods in storage to make them a really good meal when they arrived.
I was young and naïve then with my nose always stuck in a book when I wasn’t working. That was my mother’s influence. Before she died, she taught me to read and write. She said it was important so I wouldn’t get cheated. I didn’t know anything about that; I just loved meeting the people on the pages I read. I rarely left the tavern grounds for anything but groceries and had never been outside the walls of the town, but the books took me to exciting new places with every word.
When my father remarried, his new wife was not terribly fond of me; more like she didn’t want competition for his money. As she made my life more and more unbearable, the idea of leaving on a wagon train or ship started to overcome my fear of leaving the things and places I’d known all my life. When she convinced my father to force me to marry, I refused and ran away in the dead of night.
As luck would have it, I picked a night with nearly no moonlight to run off. Naturally, I was scared witless when three dark figures stepped out of the brush along the road. That is, until I recognized the voices of Jess, Phydoux and Phydoux’s second, Vin; then I was relieved. I knew they would not let any harm come to me, and their Band would see me safely out of town and to whatever destiny awaited me.
The next thing I knew, Jess and Phydoux were offering me a position with their guild. I was shocked, scared and then angry. I thought they were making fun of me but it turned out they really wanted me to join them as their cook. I accepted eagerly with the request that I be trained to defend myself. I finally learned why Jess called me “Lady Di”. She claimed I was the closest thing she’d ever met to a real Lady, and the name stuck.
It wasn’t long before Jess was asking me to be her second and not long after that the guild made arrangements with Captain MuttQ of The Lady Sinister to crew his ship in return for a portion of whatever bounty we captured. You see, Captain MuttQ was a member of a fleet of pirates called The Colorado Rogues, and he needed to flush out his crew.
Once aboard The Lady Sinister, I took an interest in the weapons onboard, particularly the cannons. I was apprenticed to Chocolate, the Master Gunner and wife of Captain MuttQ. As I became more familiar with the ship and crew I found another calling, medicine. I continued my work with Chocolate and the cannons but I began to spend more and more time with Sylvr, the ship’s Surgeon, learning about healing. It became apparent that my skill was better used in medicine and after awhile, Sylvr requested that MuttQ promote me to ship’s Surgeon, and she took the position of ship’s Cleric.
In time, Phydoux and Jess married and had a child. Jess decided to leave the sea for a more stationary home and Phydoux’s heart was more frequently with her than on the ship. With Jess’s departure I, rather reluctantly, became Quarter Master. When Captain MuttQ brought Ogre onto the ship, Phydoux put up an admirable display when his position as First Mate was challenged, but I know he was happy to have that burden lifted from him.
Captain MuttQ decided he would soon retire and began training Ogre as Captain. In turn, Ogre began grooming me for First Mate. Within the year, Captain MuttQ retired leaving the ship and crew in Ogre’s care. It was with great honor that I accepted Ogre’s request that I stand beside him as First Mate.
I’ve come a long way from the timid tavern keeper’s daughter, jumping at shadows, and my story’s not done. I just don’t know how it ends yet. When I find out, I’ll let you know.
