The Pirate Queen

Chapter 1

The clock had just struck eleven on a cold Friday night. Kemiah had gone to bed several hours before but she was still awake. For some reason, she couldn't fall asleep. She had tried everything. She had gotten the family doctor to make her a special sleeping tea which she had become accustomed to, she had even done some stretches to tire her body out but it was all to no avail. Each passing minute felt like an eternity as she tossed and turned, desperately seeking solace in slumber.

With a sigh of resignation, Kemiah realized that sleep would not be her friend that night. Frustration coursed through her, but she refused to surrender to restlessness. Determined to find a distraction, she turned her gaze towards the ceiling, where a complex and intricate design adorned the expanse above her. She had fallen asleep in this bed every night for the past twenty-four years, staring at this ceiling and she had to admit to herself, it was a beautiful sight.

One could tell at first glance that the design was very old but that didn't mean that it still wasn't a sight to behold. As her eyes traced the delicate patterns etched into the ceiling, a sense of wonder washed over her. Kemiah immersed herself in the mesmerizing details, allowing her mind to wander freely among the intricate lines and shapes. She found solace in the beauty of the design, appreciating the artistry and craftsmanship that had brought it to life. The worries and restlessness that had plagued her slowly faded away, replaced by a sense of calm.

She was just about to fall asleep when she heard it. It was the sound of the bell at the bell tower of the castle ringing frantically. That was unusual, Kemiah thought to herself.

In all the years she had spent in the town, she had only heard the bell ring twice. The king, her father, had commanded that it only be used to alert the entire town when a serious event had taken place or a sort of emergency.

Her brows furrowed into a frown and her mind roamed as she thought of a million reasons why the bell was being rung. She didn't have to think too much as the next words she heard told her all she needed to know.

"The King is dead!" The guard at the bell tower announced.

Kemiah thought she didn't hear him clearly at first. Surely he couldn't have said that the King was dead. Saying false things like that could get him killed. She thought to herself.

"The King is dead!" The guard repeated.

This time around, Kemiah was sure that her ears had not betrayed her. He had actually said those dreadful words. The King was truly dead. She felt her heart skip a beat. It suddenly felt very hard for her to breathe and it even began to seem like the walls of her large room were starting to close in on her. She immediately sat up and slipped into her slippers.

She was just about to leave her room when she heard a knock on the door. If it wasn't for the specific beat of the knock, she would have ran and hid. But due to the familiar knock, she knew it was a palace guard.

"Come in." Kemiah said and immediately one of the guards walked in. She didn't know his name but his face seemed familiar as he had been working at the palace for a few years.

The guard bowed his head as he came face to face with Kemiah. "I apologize for disturbing your slumber, my princess, but an important matter has arisen." He said.

"Forget all about that. Is the news true?" Kemiah asked, her voice shaky.

The guard raised his head and looked her straight in the eye. Before speaking, he swallowed. "Yes, your Highness. We just got the news a few minutes ago."

"Oh my gods." She said, as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. She had hoped that she somehow had misheard the bell tower announcement earlier yet again.