Deceptively Royal

Chapter 5

The red-headed girl yanks me to the ship deck and brings me before her captain. The captain's dirty-blond hair flows in the wind "Would you care to explain why you are on my ship?" she demands.
I glance at the sword looped through her belt buckle and plan out my next words "I ran away." It is a partial truth; the captain does not need to know who I am or where I am from.
"Can you wield a sword?" she asks.
"Yes," I reply. Mother would scold me for my one-word answer, but I figure if I am going to be spending time with pirates, I should learn to speak like them.
"We'll see about that. You have tonight to prepare and then we duel in the morning. If any of the crew members offer to bunk, you have a room. If not, there are hammocks on the deck, not the most comfortable but I do not care. You are not part of my crew and I have no reason to ensure your safety or comfort, savvy?"

The red-headed girl offers me to bunk with me and I gladly accept. We make our way to the girl's room and I learn a few things about her. Her name is Sophie, and she is Captain Vannah's second in command.  Sophie leads me to her sleeping quarters and begins laying cotton sheets on the floor.  "This is all we have on the ship. The floor is really hard so you might want to borrow a pillow."
"Thank you, I appreciate you letting me sleep here for the night."
"My pleasure. Are you hungry?" Sophie asks with a concerned look.
"A little bit, where could I go to get some food?"
"It's probably best you stay here; we don't want any of the crew trying to scare you off. I'll head to the kitchens and grab us some food." 

I take the time to explore Sophie's room. To the right of the bedding area is a framed photo which depicts a younger version of herself and the captain. Vannah and Sophie both have their hair flowing in the wind and Vannah has a twinkle in her eyes. She seems to be a whole new person; I have only ever seen Vannah with a cold stare. I find myself wondering what it would be like to be friends with someone as beautiful as her. 

At the far end of the room, a bookshelf sits in the corner, with the titles faded from use. I grab a book and flip through the pages. The pages are filled to the brim with Sophie's neat printing. There are quick sketches of thousands of ideas for inventions. 'Somehow make a device to locate artifact?' is scribbled down. I want to know more. These pirates seem to have been searching a very long time for this artifact. They know way more than I do, especially because my only knowledge comes from memories. I feel a tap on my shoulder and abruptly close the book.  "You have nice printing," I gulp.  "Almost as lovely as my face." She winks.

Evening comes and we both try to get some rest. My thoughts are piling up. I am met with a fear of what comes next. Pirates are ruthless creatures, and I certainly would not want one as my enemy. Everything I do is under close watch and I cannot make even the slightest mistake without getting thrown overboard. "Psst, can't sleep?" Sophie whispers. I shake my head before realizing she probably can't tell "No, too many thoughts." There is a long pause of silence and I wonder if she fell asleep.

"Wanna hear a bedtime story?" Sophie asks. She doesn't even wait for my answer, just goes right into the story. "Once there was a girl. Who had nothing, only the company of her sister. And sometimes that wasn't enough. The girl longed for more but had no idea how to get the things she craved. She scoured the kingdom in search of someone who would help her. Yet none did. She was laughed at, beaten and bruised up. The only version people saw, was the miserable girl who had nothing. They did not see the wonderful side of her. The side that allowed her to dream, to hope that one day things might be better. The girl waited many years and eventually someone saved her. Someone barely older than she was. The new friend cared and comforted her like no one else ever had. The two girls found a way to prosper despite all the challenges the world had given. These girls would do anything for each other and time after time they proved it." I smile, wishing I could have a friend like that. "Is this about Vannah?" I ask hesitantly.
Sophie is quiet for several moments before replying "Yes. I need you to know how important we all are to each other. Vannah may seem cold but she genuinely cares for each and every crew member. She just wants what is best for us, which is why you need to bring your A-game."
I sigh "Wow, no pressure."
"Break a leg."
"Isn't the whole point to show off my skills, not injure myself?" I joke. But the sound of snoring lets me know I won't get any more responses from her tonight. Too bad, Sophie would have loved my joke.

I am awoken to the sound of pots and pans clanging together. "What time is it?" I ask groggily.  Sophie rips the covers off of me and screams "Time to duel! Go show Vannah what you've got." An outfit is already laid out beside me. I slip into a ruffled white blouse with long sleeves—so long I have to roll them up—and a burgundy skirt. A black corset also goes along with the attire and Sophie helps me lace it up. She kisses a sword for luck and silently hands it to me. As we walk to the deck, I visualize myself doing a great job and then being allowed to sail with the crew. I blissfully imagine what it would mean for my mission. Everything, that is what it would mean. To me and my family.

"First I want to see your technique so show me what you've got." Vannah commands. I adjust my grip on the sword and get into the starting stance. I glance at the captain and spin my sword, once I am sure I have caught her off guard, I lunge and jab the sword in between her ribs. I allow myself a moment of pride, which does not last long. Vannah swipes her sword over my head, and I duck. I hook my foot between her legs and flip her onto the deck. I press the point of my sword against her throat. Not deep enough to kill but deep enough to leave a scar. Vannah starts to say something but starts to gag. She manages to ask "Who are you, really?"
I lean in close and whisper "Now's not the time. If you're as smart as everyone claims, you'll figure it out." I take a step back and raise my voice "How's that for sword skills?" She only grunts in response.

Sophie leads me to a wooden table while I await Vannah's verdict. A few moments later, Vannah comes to the table with blood trickling down her leather jacket and onto her golden-brown dress. A slash in her dress reveals a deep gash and I turn away in repulsion. Yes, father taught me how to fight but he never prepared me for the horror of battle. Even though I was not fighting Vannah to the death, it left me with painful reminders of the fight at the castle.

"So, you're a good fighter. I appreciate that. Although there is more to pirates then being a good swordswoman. Give me one good reason you stay." Vannah challenges. I fumble to undo the clasp of my necklace and drop the locket onto the table.