Book 2: Sea of Delarn

Chapter 3: Mine

The Seven Sea Bears was immense. Delarn didn't have many ships to compare her to, but would find it was one of the biggest she would ever see. It had many cannons, and even with poor sight, it was amazing seeing so many people scramble up the side. The two men on either side of her began hitching the rowboat, and Rabbit wasted no time climbing up.

"Come on, girl," Cannoneye told her. He spoke loud over the waves of the ocean crashing against the ship and grinding their rowboat against it. "You've come this far. Get yourself up."

"What?" Delarn said, but her confusion didn't last. She stood and felt her heart drop at the way the rowboat moved beneath her. She swallowed and sat back down again, but Cannoneye cursed and made his way over to her, gripping her arm and pulling her back to her feet. He was strong, and it took her breath away, much like the first time he handled her.

"You heard what I said, girl! Start climbing. We're not waiting all day for you, and we're not dragging you all the way up this damn ship. Get going!" Cannoneye yelled, and she cowered. She had some context for his strength and should have known, but did not know he could raise his voice this loud until now.

He dragged her over to the ropes that clung to the side of the ship and gave her a sharp look, ready to reach for her hands and place them himself. She felt shaken and didn't give him the opportunity. Nausea hit the moment she tried to pull herself up and get her feet against the ship to climb, looking up at those above for reference, but they blurred and she couldn't make out the way they did it.

"Good enough," he muttered when she leaped onto the netting. He held on with one hand and the other went from her wrist to the back of her neck.

She squeaked and twisted in his grip, but he growled and gave her a sharp tug. She solemnly tried to climb. There had been worse than this.

He grunted and climbed with her still in his grip, and it felt more like he was carrying her up, though her hands continuously sought the next part of the netting to keep up with him. Once again, his strength surprised her with how he was getting himself up the side of the vast ship with one arm, but it still took so much longer than she thought it would. The Seven Sea Bears was a monster of a ship.

She felt relieved when they reached the deck and both Cannoneye and Rabbit dragged her over onto the deck. Her sides heaved and her body ached. She had done her best to exercise in prison, but nothing would have prepared her for this. She had thought she would run, had even done plenty of pull-ups, but still hadn't been ready.

"You did a great job, girly," Cannoneye praised, leaning down and patting her back with a toothy grin. "I didn't want to be so harsh on you. You know we would have been in trouble if you couldn't get up here, but we're up now and there's no need to worry."

She nodded, not wanting to get up from the deck ever again. Her stomach already swished uncomfortably, and she wondered when and how they were going to make it back to land and if she would have to do that again. She hoped not. She hoped after they returned, she would never have to again.

"Now up you get," Rabbit said, taking her arm and Cannoneye and him both did their best to lift her to her feet. She felt a sense of dread the moment she was standing, the feeling getting so much worse. Her legs wanted to crumple out from under her, and these two seemed to stand like it was the easiest thing in the world. It felt like this was the first time in her life.

"It's time to meet our captain," Cannoneye whispered in her ear. "Try to do your best. There's quite a bit on the line and I can't promise she won't bite your head off if you don't do well, but I know you and I know you'll know what to do."

She wasn't so sure. Already everything about this was out of her element, but she already moved forward. The floor bucked under her feet and she felt she was going to empty her stomach, but there wasn't anything in it. It was worse to know she hadn't eaten, but she was grateful for it.