Everliving: Day 2

Word Count: 12,012

Summary of Events:

Captain Sly learned of the quest to find the Fountain of Youth from a messenger and hurried back to his ship to get going. Quique listened to Captain Sly's announcement of their imminent departure and then, in the galley, learned from the inebriated cook that their food stores hadn't been restocked yet, but Captain Sly wouldn't listen when the cook tried to tell him, demanding the cook be sober. Once the cook was finally sober — a difficult task — and Captain Sly learned of the situation he tried to blame someone else, and chose Quique, who evaded him and then challenged him to a duel, which became a series of three after he first defeated Captain Sly . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"Turning around, Captain Sly continued on the offensive, while Quique skillfully defended as he sought to turn the tide and get himself on the offensive.

He turned his blade forward in an offensive position and as he struck Captain Sly's blade he also hit Captain Sly's head, from which a flow of blood quickly erupted.

Captain Sly shouted and dropped his blade, which Quique quickly took up again as several sailors hurried to Captain Sly, whom they laid down on the deck.

Wardell came down from his place at the tiller and examined the small gash; he then ordered rum, thread, a needle, and rolled bandages.

Within minutes the supplies were fetched and Captain Sly was tended to. He then rose to his feet, his face in a savage expression.

"I will win this!" he bellowed.

Quique dropped his sword to the deck and waited patiently as another man gave it to Captain Sly, who drew it out of the man's hands like he was pulling it out of a sheath — cutting the man's hands and giving Wardell more work to do.

In one fluid motion Captain Sly — with two hands on the handle of his sword — whirled his blade around his head and swung downward in a chopping motion.

Quique met Captain Sly's strike with a block of his flat blade, braced against the palm of his free hand near the tip.

Captain Sly drew his blade down Quique's and pulled it back to stab Quique in the abdomen. Quique spun out of the way and slashed at Captain Sly's sword as he thrust it toward the wall.

Maintaining his hold, Captain Sly pushed against Quique's blade, which brought their arms up as Quique refused to let Captain Sly get his blade overtop, as was the Captain's intent.

After roaring at Quique as they held their hands up in the air, Captain Sly pulled his blade down and swung for Quique's arm. Quique pulled his hand down, but not before Captain Sly's sword had struck the back of his hand and caused the blood to flow.

Captain Sly laughed, but it turned into a roar when he saw that Quique refused to release his hold on his sword. Captain Sly reared up his sword over his head. Quique stood and waited.

The blade started downward and Quique dove out of the way, rolling across the deck toward one side of the crowd.

When he looked toward Captain Sly again he saw that the Captain was trying to loose his blade from where it'd embedded into the wall of his quarters. He fought and pulled viciously before finally releasing the handle.

Quique shot to his feet, his sword in the air. He'd won all three duels.

Captain Sly turned and glared at him. "Winner starves for a week."

"We agreed loser did," Quique replied.

"Winner starves for two weeks," Captain Sly growled. "Or winner dies."

Quique sheathed his sword in frustration. Even his best efforts had failed."