Free Chasing the Lantern by Jonathon Burgess

awake, hand to a dagger, listening for Oscar's footsteps, wondering if he would need further dissuading. She thought that she would be too angry, too worked up to sleep. She was wrong.
    No sooner had she closed her eyes than it seemed like she was opening them again. Light filled the room from a number of portholes. The hammocks around her were largely empty, she recognized those still asleep as the skeleton crew from the evening before. Through a door at the far end of the room, opposite the corridor back to the hatchway and engine room, she heard the sound of people eating, the clatter of tableware and muted laughter.
    Food?         Her back ached and her mouth felt parched. But more painful than that was the hole in her belly. The fripperies she'd consumed at Mr. Grey's hadn't been nearly enough, especially after having to fight both the captain and the steward for them.
    Lina tried to leave the hammock, failed, tried again, and fell to the wooden deck with a thump. Cursing herself, she climbed to her feet and crossed the room to the door. It opened into another room, longer than the sleeping space. Benches and tables filled it, along with pirates making regular trips from them to a wide sideboard brimming with food and drink. Another doorway at the far end opened into the kitchen.
    A few pirates glanced her way as she came through the door. Lina was aware of their overlong stares before they turned back to their food. Unbidden, Oscar's words came back to her. She shoved them aside and made her way to the sideboard.
    It was ladled almost to overflowing with stew, fresh fruit, ship's biscuit and other things, a mismatched amalgamation of whatever the cook had found at hand. None of the pirates seemed to care, and made trip after trip, the weird menu pure heaven after a week of starving at sea.
    Lina didn't mind either. There seemed to be no order, so she grabbed a plate and filled it, ducking underneath and in between the larger pirates before slipping back to a free space along a bench. Those beside her didn't offer a greeting, only looked at each other. Lina forced herself not to care, tearing into an orange as if it had personally offended her.
    She was halfway through her platter when the room went dead silent. Oh Goddess. I'm eating like a pig. Face hot, she looked up. Thankfully, no one was staring her way at all.
    Captain Fengel stood just inside the door. Lina felt her heart leap a little in her chest. He was as impeccably dressed as always, looking much better for an evening's rest. The clammy pallor to his skin was gone, and he smiled as he took in the room.
    Thundering applause erupted. Fengel made a slight bow to the room at large, then a small gesture to the woman at the bench nearest him. She hastily stood and he leapt onto her seat. He held up his hands for silence, and the room quieted.
    "Well," he said. "That was quite a little trip, now, wasn't it?" Everyone laughed. Fengel reached down to the table below him and grabbed up someone's mug, which caused the owner to frown slightly. The captain held the mug before him. "I won't lie. Our little trip to the Western Continent was a complete shambles. We lost our ship, any chance of loot, and more than a few good men and women. But! We made our way home, and it was wholly your doing, my good friends. So, here's a toast, from me to you, for your continuing perseverance in the face of incredible odds, and for those who are unable to join us here today."
    The captain raised his mug. The mood in the room went somber and the pirates raised their drinks, or hastily acquired one with which to do so. Fengel led them, tipping back a long gulp. He returned the mug to its owner and then suddenly grinned.
    "But let's not be maudlin. The Flittergrasp was a good ship, but this one's not bad, save the misfortune of being owned by her previous captain." The room broke out into laughter. Fengel grinned and held up a hand. "Now. I've got things to do, and so do the rest of