Old Wives' Tales

[Alik Murphy]

“I’d watch what ye be sayin’ about the Heathen, lad.”
Two men sat at a table outside of a tavern, smoking from pipes. Raucous shouting and cursing came from inside the building, not an uncommon thing in the taverns and inns of the town of Shipwreck.
The younger of the two frowned. “Why? ‘s just another bunch’a pirates is all. Same as anywhere else.”
The older man scoffed, and looked over his shoulder, before lowering his voice. “They ain’t just pirates, laddie. There’s word goin’ around... of a man sails under LeFay’s flag. Well... some say a man. Others... say a monster.”
Now it was the youngster’s turn to scoff. “... Seriously? Never thought you one to listen to them fisherman’s tales. Next you’ll tell me he has the Kraken itself in tow.”
The old man chuckled, and took a sip of his drink. “... There’s been stories. Slave ships found burnt to a crisp, the overseers tied to the mast and whipped to death, with LeFay’s flag flyin’ high above the wreckage. Only one survivor. Played dead an’ hid amongst the corpses of ‘is crewmates. Found burnt half to death, clingin’ to driftwood for 'is very life. An’ when ‘e was asked what did ‘em in so dirty, well...” he sucked in air through his teeth, and took another puff of his pipe. “... But as ye say... Just old wives’ tales is all...”
“Oi, I didn’t say stop.” The younger man was listening now. As the old man had anticipated. He chuckled again, and leaned forward. “... Well... They tell of a man what wields the fires of Hell at the Captain’s command... Torches the sails, lights the powder stores... Burns men alive. A man who loves nothin’ more than the screams of pain from a man’s last breath, an’ the fear in ‘is eyes when ‘e knows Hell itself be upon ‘im.”
The younger man’s eyes were wide, hooked into the story. “... They say only the Captain can bring ‘im to heel... A rabid dog to be let loose on those who cross the Heathen. And some... Well...” he lowered his voice, and leaned in closer. “... Some say he ain’t a man at all. Some say that Cap’n LaFey made a deal with the powers of Hell... And that the Devil himself rose up from the underworld to take a place in his crew.”
“Imagine it, lad... The last sight ye see on God’s green earth bein’ those black eyes, an’ that twisted grin, as yer ship an’ crew burn to ash around ye... and the last sound ye hear is his dark laugh, before Satan himself takes yer soul for his own...” Silence befell the table, before the young man chuckled, shaking his head and raising his glass. “... Well... Let’s hope we never meet ‘im, aye?”
Just as the old man raised his own glass in toast, a grubby figure burst through the door beside them and began throwing up on the pavement outside. Both men glanced at him with disgust, as he wiped his mouth and straightened up groggily, glancing at them.
Alik Murphy looked from one to the other, drunkenly... and tipped his hat. “... Erm... Gentlemehn...” And with that, he shouldered the tavern doors open, exclaiming at the top of his voice. “Now where’s tha’ pretty lady wit’ the piercings..?”