Disclaimer: Pirates? Not mine.

A/N: Written for the 'tremor' challenge at BPS.

A Change in Command

The Pearl knew that something was not right. She felt it deep in her timbers. For days now, her crew had been anxious and bad-tempered, and at last, it had come to this. Her fair young captain, whom she loved, stood on end of a plank that jutted out over the water. His wrists were bound, and he had the broken look of a man betrayed. Not willing to let himself be pushed, he dove bravely off the side and swam toward the empty white beach. The moment he hit the water, a tremor coursed through the Pearl'skeel and ribs. Her darling boy was gone, and the dark presence of her new captain settled uneasily upon her.