Westley let his head bob with the movement of the ocean, his eyes barely visible beneath his bangs as he watched Vizzini's head pop up intermittently over the stern of the ship.
After silently counting to one hundred, Westley lifted his shoulders and head, staring directly at his captor. It didn't take long to elicit a response. Though Vizzini might be even more brilliant and cunning than his brother, Westley thought, he was also far more vain.
Vizzini now stood at the rear of the ship, grinning smugly before turning to walk away.
Five seconds later, Vizzini returned, his curiosity clearly getting the better of him.
Westley could tell that the smile he was projecting was starting to grate on Vizzini's ego.
"I can see the wheels of your diminutive little skull turning," Vizzini shouted from his ship. "Surely you can't be thinking of a way to escape. It would be absolutely, entirely incomprehensible."
Westley said nothing, maintaining an enigmatic smile that he knew would prey on Vizzini's intellect.
"Why are you smiling?" Vizzini asked, his tone laced with frustration.
Westley remained silent, letting the question hang in the air just a moment longer. And then, one more moment after that.
"Surely there can be no harm in telling me that? I'm a very curious man by nature," Vizzini offered, trying to sound harmless and innocent, though his voice betrayed a sense of urgency.
Finally, Westley nodded. "Very well," he said. "I am smiling because I know something that you do not know."
"Really? I find that fascinating. Tell me more," Vizzini responded in a mock tone, as if patronizing a young child.
"In a minute," Westley replied coolly.
"Please?" Vizzini pressed, his curiosity piqued.
Westley sat calmly, letting yet another moment pass before finally standing up, rocking the tiny dinghy. This surprised Vizzini, but it did not shock him.
What shocked him, however, was what happened next.
The slumped shape of Inigo, who had been facing away from him for quite a while—too long, in fact—suddenly moved. Westley reached out, placing his hand on Inigo's shoulder. The shirt deflated and fell to the floor of the tiny watercraft, landing next to a pair of empty leather pants.
YOU ARE READING
The Pirate Groom
Adventure"The Pirate Groom" is a swashbuckling tale of adventure, love, and revenge that will sweep you off your feet and into the treacherous waters of the high seas. Follow the daring Westley, the fierce Inigo, and a band of unforgettable characters as the...
