The Fallen Stars

Chapter 22 Damião

As I watch Esme leave, I clench my jaw.

My life would have been so much easier
if Ainsley had just told his danm sister the truth!
No infact my life would be so much easier without that bloody lass on my ship!
But here I am, helping Abner pack up some of the benches against the railings, just to be put off the way.

"Goodnight, captain." He says, walking away with his fiddle.
I watch him go belowe decks.
And I'm alone on the deck.

Today was normal.... well, normal plus Esme equals strange tides.

The news Bodhi brought was the first strange tide for the day.

Well, technically, he didn't bring any news... I was just testing Esme to see if she's actually a spy or not.
She's not a spy... if she were a spy, she wouldn't be so obvious.

                               *** 
As Bodhi knocked, I smiled.
Let's see if Esme takes the bait.

"Come in." I say.
He comes in a little bit out of breath.
"She saw me." He answers my unasked question.
I faintly hear her heavy steps with the crutches outside my door.
"The spy sent news." He whispers.
"Not now, later." I say not wanting Esme to hear.
"The spy said that?" I say a bit too loudly. He just stares at me, unsure of what to do.

I can't risk that she might hear secret information.

I hear a faint thud at the door.
I smile.
She is so busted.

I put my finger to my lips, showing him to be quiet. I walk up to the door, and I can hear a thump thump trying to get away.

Not on my watch.

I open it, and immediately, Esme has guilt written all over her face, I smile.

Not a spy, huh?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

She's wearing an off the shoulder brown dress that ends past her knees. With a black stomach corset. Her hair is in a loose french braid. With loose pieces of hair hanging here and there.
One foot is wearing a brown boot, while the other is still in the contraption.

"I was just going to come in for shade. The sun is violent out here." She says.

I give a small smirk... because I know she's lying, she's a terrible liar.

"Well, love, if you want to become a pirate, better become used to it. And I dare say." I stop talking, to look for Gwen, she is behind Esme to the left.
"Gwen isn't sunlight good for healing?"

Gwen is checking something on a piece of paper that lays on a barrel close to the gang plank.
Her red hair is in a half up half down style, with a bun on top. She's wearing a loose white long sleeve shirt with long black pants, which is also a skirt.
With dark blue boots. A piece of blue fabric rapt around her head.

"Aye Cap'n... sun is a healthy source, but not for long... we might be used to it, but look at her she's as pale as cloud! Her body isn't used to so much sun, like us. And she needs to rest.... keep off that leg of hers as much as possible." She explians to both of us.

She looks back at me, with a look that says.

See? I told you!

I clear my throat and look away for a second... letting her think she's winning.
"And is it healthy to eavesdrop over the captain?" I ask Gwen, not looking at Gwen, just at Esme, with a smile that says.

Not today. And you are so busted.

She looks flustered.

"All do respect... but keep me out of your bickering." Gwen sighs.