Busy couple of days..

I went from 'not working on anything creative' to 'finishing one story, starting another and making jewelry.'

Yep, I popped out several new pieces of jewelry, finished my Women in Practical Armor story AND started a Pirate piece for another possible anthology.

Here's a small blurb from that piece, and below it are the images from my new designs.

Hanging low in the sky, The Lusty Nymph awaited her new captain. When the news had come down that their captain had chosen to retire and try a hand at living in one of the newly built sky cities, the crew had thought their first mate would take over. He'd been with them for some years now and even the captain had commented on how sure he was of the young man achieving every officers true goal.  Their own ship. 

But as the days rolled by, it became apparent that this was not the case. Jefferson didn't have the money, and the former captain was staunch on his desire to have what the Nymph was worth, and not a penny less. 

Days turned into weeks as the ship had been all but grounded since then, with potential captains looking over the ship and discussing prices with the polished older man. Sitting in a nearby tavern, their home away from home, the crew was beginning to grow worried that new births were in their future. 

"You see who's looking over the thing now?" Came the hushed voice of one of the men. 

"Who cares, the capt'n won't accept their offer either. Mans set a price in his head and won't go below." 

"An most of the ones who want the ship can't even come close to that price." 

"This one might. Man was dressed in foppery, arrived in a personal coach and everything. Could see the drool on the Cap's lips at the sight of it." The first told them, causing silence to fall on the crew. 

"I won't work for no fop." One of the others murmured. "I don't care how much money he's got." 

"You'll work for whoever pays you." Another said, "Works hard to find right now, unless you wanna take up a land job." 

It was a well known problem among the shrinking sky ships. Once you'd taken to the sky, it was hard to stay too long on earth. Each one would rather die, then be forced to ground before their time. But with the cities moving into the air, their space was falling away and more captains were forced into simple transport services, between the cities. 

"Alright boys, sale has gone through." Came a commanding voice from the doorway. "Your new captain will be here in three days time to take possession and start your new life." He smiled at them, "I'll miss ya, and I hope you honor Captain Hayford like ya do me." With a mock glare, he looked at each of the men in his former crew. "If I hear ya'll been anything else, I'll be back to kick you off the plank myself!" 

He waved over Jefferson, "Come on boy, I'll give you all the details you need to know." 

So here she sat, waiting an unknown future.  The old captain hoped the crew accepted the changes coming their way. Not the least of them, Captain L. Hayford. 

---- 

Jefferson looked at the officers and nodded his head at their shocked expressions. He couldn't wait until the rest of them found out. 

"He refused to sell to you, a man who knows how to captain a ship, but to one with no training beyond her father being a captain?" 

"Matthew Hayford is one of the finest captains to fly. If his daughters half as skilled as he was, we'll be in good hands." The navigator stood and looked at them, "My worry is this foolhardy desire to be pirates. The Lusty Nymph has a long standing history dating back three captains. She's been cared for and isn't built to take on this new life." 

"That's why I've given each of you the chance to leave, with several months 'pay' to cover your down time." Came a voice from the doorway. 

Heads turned to look at the newcomer. The woman before them stood tall, her broad shoulders taking up much of her captains coat. Of all that she conveyed, it was her age that surprised Jefferson the most. 

"I'm untested, by the normal standards. But for the last thirty years, I've been at my fathers side on every ship under his command. This isn't the some whim of a child looking for adventure. Our skies are changing, and we have to change with them." 

She strode into the room, taking note of each mans face as she walked. "This is the finest ship, and crew, the world has to offer. I want you with me on this journey, which isn't to follow the pirates of old." Her smile was broad, with a cunning that drew in each of the men. "If you'll see fit to follow me, we'll make history. No one will remember the fine history of The Lusty Nymph, but rather the shocking discovery of The Siren's Song."

Kristy C