While he was prepared for this after what happened with his father, and nearly certain things would come to this, the weight of it all did not fully hit him until sometime near sundown as they neared the pillars. The winds were favorable and they were making good time. They'd only seen one ship so far on their way back and it was one of Tariq's coming to join them as an escort. Altayr went aft up to the poop deck. There was only the man on the rudder, the man on the look-out and a few swabbies. Most all the others were having grub. Thankfully the wind drowned out the weeping and prayers of the three women below that had come with him - Rugerio's wife and daughter and the wife of Juan, another of the servants. They were certain they would die before they ever reached land and sick from the heaving and rolling of the ship. As the sun was setting on the sea, off in the distance he could barely make her out - Iberia, land of his birth and his family for so many generations all lost because of this stupid war of the religiosos on those who did not wish to be Catholic. Their book and their savior preached love and tolerance of others, but look at them and what they did. This was not a war of love and tolerance - far from it. His ancestors had been dukes and fought at the head of kings' armies in the old days. They'd lived in castles high in the mountains and been well respected. Now, he was running for his life and had given up everything that had any value as far as his titles...empty titles. These days a title and a few pence would buy you a bottle of wine to drown your sorrows - or mark you for death by another who wanted what you had. Tears came into his eyes then but he squeezed his eyes shut, his jaw tightening. Instead of being sad, he became quietly angry. He bowed his head and for the first time in his life felt lost and alone...without any worth...without any home - and it made him angry to feel that way. ***** Some of you may remember the boat I could never get to render right. Well here it is finally - at least part of it. You may see more of it later (maybe) but it isn't exactly a three masted square-rigger. This time period was actually the beginning stages of the Barbary Coast pirates. Previously, the piracy was carried on mostly by Englishmen, a few Dutch/Frisians. The large majority of the Barbary Coast pirates were Arab Berbers - Thus the name 'Barbary' from Berber. The Arabs had been in these parts for quite awhile with the conquest of most of the Mediterranean during the Umayyad Empire. That is when they'd originally taken most of Spain. The main cities of the Barbary Pirates were Tunis, Algeria and Tripoli. The Ottoman empire took over the Northern Coast of Africa in the 16th century (it's late 15th in the story) and that's when the Turkish corsairs moved in, like the Barbarossa brothers, Hayreddin and Arouj. Arouj was actually the 'Bey' or governor of Algiers for a time. The purpose of the Turkish corsairs was to capture slaves for the Ottoman empire, but that was also done before this - just not to as great an extent. It became so bad that people who lived along the southern coasts of western Europe moved inland, abandoning their villages and the smaller towns where they were bound to strike. So, there you have a little pirate history! Thanks for stopping by, and your lovely comments dear friends. Hope this week is treating you well! Rayvn The boat is called "Sultana" from DAZ His outfit is "Jack of Hearts" w "Rogue Brotherhood" textures.