After Dark {N. L}

4

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Weeks had gone by since the ship left Ketterdam, and the Crows grew more and more restless as the days went by. They weren't made for the salty waters and restricted workspace. They belonged in the city. Inej helped around, Nina and Jesper played passenger princess, and Wylan locked himself in his quarters most of the time, but Kaz just seemed utterly disturbed to be at sea.

But Ira found the waters calming. She found peace on the ship, far away from the troubles of the land.

The Captain and her had occasionally spent their nights together on the steering level on the ship. Ira read or watched Sturmhond steer the ship. Her presence was so calming to his mind. She was different at night. So peaceful. But at day, she was like a silent hurricane. Through the day, they ignored each other, and through the night, they silently dwelled in each other's presence.

Sturmhond's night duties occupied her insomnia.

She was the challenge he needed to occupy himself on this ship for the next few weeks.

'So, are you going to sit there and not say a single word like last night, or what?' he asked.

'Maybe.'

He noticed her sketching something in her book and took a seat next to her. Both of them sat at the edge of the railing in front of the dull moonlight, trying to talk their tire away.

'What are you drawing?'

'The ship.'

'As much as I'm flattered that my ship became your main muse, I'm kind of jealous that I wasn't your first option.'

He laughed, 'You're really good at this, you know. The whole sketch is so detailed. Every room is captured so precisely, almost as if you're looking at them right now. How did you remember all those details, Ira? Tell me your secrets.'

'Don't you have a ship to steer? Or are all pirates this easily distracted?'

'Privateer, and only ones with a pretty girl next to them.'

Ira looked at him with a questionable gaze. Whatever he was attempting, was failing.

Mutt.

'I'm trying to sweet talk you here. Come on, what would it take me to become Ira Ghafa's muse?'

'Trust me, you don't want to be my muse. Just like the ship that I've just sketched, with all of your supposedly hidden rooms and passageways, I'll get to know everything about you. We both know that you wouldn't want your little secret to be revealed.'

'Darling, breaking into a ship once does not mean that you have its Captain mapped out.'

Ira placed her book to the side and faced him, 'You wake up at three in the morning every alternate day. You're born with a silver spoon in your mouth, yet you crave the life of crime because of the restrictions at your maternal home. A rich man disguised as a pirate must be running away from his true identity, family, and home. Your strength is the natural authority and intelligence that you hold, and your weakness is your over-confidence in yourself. Sturmhond is certainly not your real name, but I have no intention of knowing what is.'

The Privateer was a little stunned, but he remained neutral externally.

'Excellent observation. But isn't that your job? To know everything about everyone.'

'My job is to secure information that will help or save my crew. Who you actually are is not relevant right now. All that matters is that the amount in your pockets is real.'

'So my secrets don't bother you?'

'It does, but everyone has their secrets. No one is always who they say they are.'

It provided Sturmhond with a sense of comfort knowing that after his secrets are revealed, at least someone wouldn't hate him for keeping it.

'Even you?'

'I still don't understand why you found the need to name yourself after a dog.'

Sturmhond placed a hand around her, 'Darling, I don't think pretty girls should think and talk this much.' She swatted his hand away and muttered under her breath before leaving.

'Mutt.'

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Ira looked forward to the quality time that she'd spent with her sister every morning. Inej would braid her hair and tell her stories from their childhood that she couldn't remember. It gave her so much comfort, yet made her feel the weight of the one who was missing.

'Do you think that he still remembers us?'

Inej knew exactly who her sister was talking about without her saying it. Every time Inej tried to forget about the pain of losing him, Ira would bring it up. But Inej felt the need to always put her feelings aside and comfort her little sister.

'How could Harij ever forget his akka and twin sister? I bet he still has nightmares about the stories you made up for him before he slept.'

It had been a while since Ira heard that name. Akka. The affectionate Suli name for big sister. Ira hadn't called Inej by that name from the day they separated.

The sisters found themselves in deafening silence at the mention of their brother. So, Ira decided to change the topic, even though she was the one who brought it up.

'Inej?'

Ira's voice seemed to snap her big sister back to reality. She straightened up and continued to braid her sister's hair as she sat in front of her on the floor.

'Yes?'

'Do you have feelings for Kaz?'

Inej let go of her hair and looked at her sister with a mix of shock and embarrassment.

'What nonsense? Is this what Jesper has been teaching you in those private lessons? Saints, the audacity. Go braid your own hair and stop minding my business.'

Ira laughed a little and left with the satisfaction of successfully diverting the topic. She knew that bringing up her twin brother upsets Inej, but she always felt the need to bring him up every so often, to keep his memory alive. Saints only know where he is.