Quench The Flame

Varick thought his life couldn't get any worse after losing his mother, until his father remarries, and his stepsister pays some pirates to get rid of Varick, so she can inherit his father's riches. Can Varick escape the pirates in time to save his father from Tempest's treachery?

Chapter One Middle Earth, Rhinehart Tears streamed down his cheeks, trying to block out those traitorous words from his mind, as Varick charged his horse down the path. He was surprised his father even remembered he had a son. His father barely spoke a word to him in a year. And the time he decided to have a conversation was to drop this bird bomb. Varick thought they would finally bond, not upset his world. The woods parted as he steered his mare over to the right and slowed her down to a trot. Varick climbed off, after a time, and allowed his horse to graze, while he strolled to the bluff and looked below at the sea. The dark blue, turbulent water reminded him of his mother's spirit, strong and full of energy, not something cast aside. Did his father not miss her at all? How could he think of marrying another woman? It was too soon. Varick picked up some small rocks and skipped them across the water and watched the ripple effect. If only they'd make his father's words vanish. Things seemed simpler when his mother existed. He'd love to follow in her footsteps and ride the sea. He craved adventure in his boring life. A shadow fell over him and Varick whirled around. "Oh. It's only you." "What's stirred you up? Your shoulders are tense enough to bounce a coin off them. You're glaring at the sea too. Whatever ails you is not the sea's fault, don't you know. You aren't thinking of jumping, are you?" Cassie asked. She held a lapful of dragon scales in her tunic. She was his true friend. She may not be a noble in the sense of humans, but she was a chieftain's sister. His father would never approve of Cassie because she was a tree troll. Who cares if her skin resembled bark, her teeth sharp, and her ears wide and pointy? Cassie and him shared a love of games and gambling. They both loved animals too. Cassie understood him as no other. Varick didn't see anything wrong with her. It's not like there were any human nobles living in the countryside to pal with. Sometimes he resented the fact he was a baron's son. "My father told me he is getting remarried. I've never met the woman. Father just sprung the news on me. I didn't know he was courting anyone. When is he ever going to pay any attention to me? Don't I matter?" Varick tossed another rock. "Of course you matter. I don't hang out with any human, don't you know," Cassie said. "Those words must have hurt after losing your mother." "Aye. Father said men have needs. Well, boys have needs too like wanting your father's attention." Varick frowned. "Your father probably had his reasons for not saying anything until now. You showed me that miniature painting of your mother. You resemble her. Perhaps when your father looks at you, he sees her, and it hurts too much. When he's ready, I'm sure you'll bond," Cassie said. "Maybe I should run away and see if Father misses me?" Varick said. "Running away doesn't solve problems. It makes things worse," Cassie said. "Imagine your father worried and thinking the worst possible thing happened to you, then you return, and he finds out it was all a ruse. Do you want him angry at you?" "I guess not. But how do I get his attention?" Varick asked. "Do something for your father that pleases him. I know you don't want him to remarry, but put your feelings aside and help him arrange his wedding perhaps?" "I don't know about that. Father wants everything on low key because he is marrying a commoner," Varick said. "I'll think of something though. Thanks for the advice. What are you doing with all those dragon scales by the way?" "I was collecting them off the beach. The scales are tough and would make a great shield for fighting. I'll fix a hole in each one and sew them together," Cassie said. "Never know when it will come in handy, don't you know." "Since we're not far from the Waterfront Inn, care for a game of dice?" Varick asked. "Now you're talking. Let's go," Cassie said. She put the dragon scales in her pack and pulled the strap over her shoulder. She hopped on the back of Varick's mare. Varick led his horse down the path to the Waterfront Inn. They splashed through the tributary of the sea, then jumped to the other side. Varick tied his mare to a post in the back of the building. The horse nibbled on sparse grass while Cassie and Varick walked inside the inn. The noise level overwhelmed Varick after the quietness of the woods. Brawny seafarers crowded the No Bull waterfront Inn. These men laughed at hardships and greeted danger of the merciless sea. They ranged from fishermen to ruthless pirates. They were a swarthy lot, yet Varick envied them. Sure, he had it good as the son of a baron, but he itched for adventure. Varick frequented the inn often because he loved a good game. Not something his father approved of. People assumed he was older than fourteen with his full height and deep voice. One-eyed Pete, a mixture of dwarf and tree troll, and a scar across one eye, waved Varick and Cassie over to the dice table. "I beat that last bunch of humans at the game. Care to make a wager?" Varick placed a silver piece on the edge of the game table. One-eyed Pete added his coin to it. Varick picked up the bone dice and jiggled them in his hands before tossing them. The dice slammed against the end of the table before landing on a pair of sixes. "Ha! Beat that, Pete," Varick said. One-eyed Pete shook the dice then tossed them. "Snake eyes. You win." Varick collected his coins. "Cassie, take your turn." He put a silver piece down. Cassie placed a silver piece on top of Varick's coin. She rolled the dice. "Seven." Varick took his turn and tossed the dice. "A pair of fives." He collected his winnings. "You're on a roll today," Cassie commented. "That beats mine." "Pete, you're up," Varick said. One-eyed Pete strode over and picked up the dice. He flung them across the gaming table. "Pair of twos." Varick grabbed the dice, feeling the smoothness of the polished bone, while he glanced at a set of newcomers that entered the inn. A burly red beard inhaled the space and scanned the room before he moved aside for his captain. A broad-shouldered man, with a beaver skin hat cocked on one side of his head, swaggered inside. His eyes skimmed over the bar maids and halted at a shapely brunette. The man winked, then sauntered over to a table. He straddled a chair with his back to the wall. The red beard followed behind him and took a seat. A short, husky man, with a scruffy gray beard, held the butt of a cigar between his yellow-stained teeth, and staggered inside the inn. His head swiveled towards Varick as the lad tossed the dice. They hit the edge of the game table and bounced back before landing. Laughter boomed from the husky man as Varick picked up his winnings. The scruffy bearded fellow sidled close to the captain and whispered in his ear. Unease crept up Varick's spine. Varick and his friends continued to play dice until a frothy mug of mead slammed down in front of him. He looked up into the coldest blue eyes in a weather-worn face. Silence suffocated the room. Eager faces leaned in, waiting to see what Varick would do. They reminded him of hungry wolves. Should he accept the pirate's challenge? He stared at the dark chiseled features of his tree troll friends. Cassie shrugged. Varick reached for the drink. Smack. "Hey!" Varick rubbed the back of his head. He couldn't believe the captain slapped his head. Who did he think he was hitting a baron's son? The captain's tattooed arm reached in front of Varick and snagged the mug. He downed the drink, then wiped the foam from his thin mustache onto Varick's sash. Varick snatched the sash from the pirate's hand. "I should have you arrested for that offense. Apparently, you don't know who I am." "Well, la-tee-da. Why are you hanging with a couple of tree trolls, eh? Humans not good enough?" The captain's eyes glimmered. "I could use a lucky lad such as yourself on my ship. What say you?" Varick stuffed his winnings down the side of his boot. Cassie gestured towards the door. She pulled up the hood of her ermine fur-lined cloak over her floppy ears, and her willowy form left the inn. One-eyed Pete followed behind her. The thought of adventure gnawed at him and Varick stole a look at the pirate captain. Losing his nerve, Varick walked out and laughter brayed behind him. Cassie gripped Varick's slim wrist. "You cannot trust a pirate. That one saw your winnings. I bet he schemes right now how to get it off you, don't you know. Look. One-eyed Pete lost an eye in his last fight, but he'll stand up for you if necessary. I'll cover your back if you decide to fight that pirate." Varick thought about it and shook his head. He put his winnings in One-eyed Pete's rough hands. "Keep it. Father will wonder where I got the silver anyway. I must get home before the servants notify him that I wasn't in my chambers." Varick dashed behind the building and plowed into the hard chest of the pirate captain. "I'll take your winnings, lad." the captain pointed a dagger at him. "I think not." Varick kicked the dagger from the pirate captain's hand, and it clanged on the ground. He rushed to his mare and released her from the post. He pounced on her back and dug his heels in her sides. They raced away from the inn and splashed through the tributary of the sea. They galloped across the field and into the woods. Dirt flew behind them as they tore down the trail. Moonlight filtered through the dark branches of trees. His horse's hooves thundered down the path. After a while, Varick gazed over his shoulder, but no one followed. He slowed his mare down. Exhausted, Varick found it hard to keep his eyes open. The lull of riding and the peacefulness of the woods, Varick nodded. An owl hooted and startled him awake. A hint of pink dawn peeked through the silhouette of the trees. Soon, the woods parted, and the Rhinehart estate stretched out before him. The mare trotted through the grove of elm trees and eased around the small lake. Varick batted mosquitoes that whined near his ears. He stifled a yawn and guided his horse up the grassy hill. A rooster crowed from the roof of the chicken coop. Varick climbed off his horse and led her inside the stable. He removed her saddle, then grabbed a brush, and groomed her. When he finished, Varick latched the gate and strode inside the manor. Opening the door, Varick removed his boots and tiptoed inside. His ancestors stared at his backside from the rows of paintings along the hall wall. Entering his bed chambers, Varick dropped his boots on the floor, then tossed off his shirt before flopping on his goose-down feather bed. He stared at the ceiling and thought about the pirate's offer. Tempting, but how many times did Cassie preach not to trust a pirate? He'd love the adventure though but not at the expense of his freedom. Why not build his own ship than to go off with strangers? Were theses the same pirates that drowned his mother and stole her ship? If he finds the truth, the culprits will pay one way or another if he has to contact the king himself. Exhaustion wore Varick down and he closed his eyes. ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````