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The crew was singing and laughing, a few drinking, the only one truly on guard was the first mate. His eyes were scanning the horizon. The ship continued to rock with the waves, the voices of his crewmates calming him as the waves crashed against the ship's side.
He continued to watch the ocean before him when he heard a strange splashing, he walked to the other side of the ship when he heard another splash and the faint cries of a man.
He quickened his pace before he spotted what was creating the sound. There in the water was a barrel, and a young man wrapped around it. His body shaking, his top tattered and see through from being soaked by the ocean waters.
“Man overboard!”
The crewmates ceased their singing, they raced to the side of the boat their second mate was looking over and they got to work. “Get me a rope.”
“Aye..” One of the men shouted, he raced off before returning with a long rope.
“Tie a rope around my waist. I need to grab him, he looks like he can hardly keep his head above water.”
The men moved quickly. The second mate waited impatiently as the rope was tied around his waist, he double checked the knot before he climbed up to a standing position. “Geralt,” the captain shouted, “be careful.”
“Don’t let go of the rope.” He remarked as he dove in.
Geralt stiffened as he felt the cold waves crash over him, he grunted as he swam towards the bobbing figure in the water. He resurfaced and wrapped himself around the young man. “I’ve got you.” Geralt remarked. “I’ve got you.”
The young man’s blue eyes lit up as the man held him tightly. “Th-thank y-you..”
“Bring me back in!” Geralt shouted.
It took a moment but the crewmates began to drag the two back in, they heaved and shouted to ensure their second mate and the mysterious man were brought on board. Geralt held the shivering man tightly, his entire body seemed to be covered in goosebumps. Geralt tightened his grip as the men began to hull them up. The rope tightened and he let out a grunt as the air was knocked out of him for a moment.
Water dripped off the two men's bodies as they were brought onboard. The men moved quickly as they came on board. Geralt was untied and they worked on finding blankets for the two. Geralt carried him down the stairs to the infirmary. He wrapped himself in a blanket and placed the young man on a bed.
“We need to get him out of these wet clothes.” Geralt muttered. “Eskel will you look him over?”
“Yeah, I can do that, I can help you get him into something warm.
Geralt smiled in thanks, the two worked together to get the young man out of the wet clothing. His eyelids continued to flutter, the fight to survive in the water no longer a priority, he had passed out at some point after Geralt wrapping him in his arms and being brought on board.
Eskel examined him for any injury, from what he could tell the only thing that was wrong with him was that he nearly drowned. Geralt got himself in something warm and headed back to the infirmary.
“He alright?”
“From what I can tell? He is freezing, so I have him wrapped in a few blankets for now. Having him dry is going to do wonders for him. I will keep you informed. Get yourself warmed up Geralt, we will learn of this mysterious boy.”
Geralt nodded to Eskel and headed back on deck, he scanned the side of the boat he had found the young man, there were more barrels floating towards their ship. Geralt narrowed his eyes. “Let’s head that way,” he shouted. The men nodded and they got to work, the anchor was raised and they began to move.
Geralt looked up towards the crow's nest. “Lambert, do you see anything?”
“Vaguely,” he yelled down. “There is something further ahead, I do see plenty of barrels, and I think uh- wood..”
Geralt’s eyes widened. “A shipwreck?”
“More than likely.” The captain remarked as he stepped towards him. “I do think that is most likely, let's find it, shipwrecks are always a great bounty, there may be more survivors.”
“Thank you Captain Vesemir.” Geralt nodded to him, the crew members continued to scan the horizon until Lambert shouted.
“It is coming into view, I see it, a fire as well.”
“Something big happened.”
“There are rocks, be careful.” Lambert yelled. Geralt nodded and made his way up to the helm, he wanted to ensure he could help with the wheel if needed.
Eskel watched the young man’s chest rise and fall, he was just glad he was breathing. The boy’s eyelids fluttered a bit. “Ngh… f-fuck..”
Eskel stood slowly and reached for a cup of water. “Glad you’re awake.”
“Wh-where a-am I?” He whimpered as he slowly sat up, his voice hoarse.
“Upon the Kaer Morhen, you were saved by one of our finest men. What is your name?”
“J- Jaskier…”
“Well Jaskier, you got lucky,” he smiled and offered him the cup. Jaskier downed it quickly, Eskel got him another cup full. “What happened?”
Jaskier ran his arm across his lips. “Pirates.”
“Well bad news for you, we are also pirates.” Eskel grinend, he examined the young man carefully. His even breaths began to grow sporadic.
“Pl-please don’t kill me.”
“We wouldn’t have saved you, just to kill you. Nervous thing aren’t ya?”
Jaskier blinked at him, he didn’t know how to react to anything. He squeezed his eyes closed trying to remember the past few days. Their cargo ship had been overrun by a crew of cut throat pirates, Jaskier had been below deck when they came, and he stayed out of sight, but terror was the only thing fueling him for days.
He had stayed behind walls and under beds, the screams of his shipmates kept him awake.
Then he remembered smelling the smoke, he did the only thing he thought he could do, he jumped overboard.
He had swam till his arms burned and his chest grew tight. He was only thankful to whatever god there may be that he was able to find a floating barrel. “Wh-why did you save me?”
“Our captain and second mate are good men, pirates yes, but good men. They won’t just let someone die, without reason at least.”
Jaskier continued to shiver, but he didn’t know what he could do now. “Come up on deck, they are searching for where you came from now.”
Jaskier shakily followed the pirate upon deck, his eyes locked on the man who saved him. He vaguely remembered him, but he remembered him enough to be appreciative.
He was just glad he was alive, and wasn’t left to drown.
Geralt turned and saw the boy he had saved. “Is he okay?”
“Fine,” Eskel smiled, “there may not be much upon the ship that he came from, this one says it was overrun by a rival crew.”
“I see,” Geralt turned towards the crew. “Take caution everyone, there may still be another ship nearby.”
The men nodded and shouted, they grabbed their weapons up. Jaskier stiffened, he didn’t know if he wanted to be so close to pirates with cutlasses and daggers. He slowly backed up and hit the mast. Eskel and Geralt looked him over, “sit boy, you will be fine. We won’t hurt you.” Geralt promised.
Jaskier watched them carefully, but did just as they said, his body shaking.
He wasn’t really sure what was going on now, but he didn’t think he was in danger, just yet.
The men turned towards the blazing ship, Jaskier felt his heart beating quickly. He wondered if he was the only one that made it out alive.