Lady of the Sea

Ch 18

As the ship set sail, Marina followed Barbossa below deck, the familiar creak of wood and the salty tang of the sea filling the air.

Barbossa glanced at her, eyes narrowing as they landed on the wound on her head. "So, how did you get that?" he asked, pointing to the injury.

Marina hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I fell off a ship."

Barbossa raised an eyebrow. "Do tell more."

"I was on a merchant ship headed to an island near the Canary Islands. We were almost there when we got attacked by pirates. As I tried to get back from the pirate ship, I didn't quite make it and hit my head against the hull," Marina explained, her tone steady, though her mind replayed the events in flashes.

"What was the name of the ship?" Barbossa asked, his eyes suddenly more intent.

Marina felt a slight tension rise in her chest. "The Wicked Wench," she answered, unsure how much he already knew.

Barbossa's eyebrows shot up. "Jack Sparrow's ship?"

"You know him?" she asked, her surprise genuine.

"Aye," he said with a grin, "that attack's the talk of every port. But how did you manage to survive?"

Marina ignored the question, steering the conversation instead. "What happened? Did they make it?"

"Indeed," Barbossa replied, his tone serious. "Thanks to Esmeralda's ship. They were caught in the storm too, but they weren't attacked. She spotted Jack's ship at dawn and helped them rebuild what was broken. Without her, they'd be at the bottom of the sea."

"Esmeralda?" Marina repeated, the name unfamiliar.

"Aye, pirate lord of the Caribbean now, after her father passed. She's known Jack since they were children. Some say she's the only woman who ever truly had his heart."

Marina's stomach churned. Relief that Jack and the crew had survived was quickly overshadowed by a bitter twist of jealousy. It must have been the girl Robby told her about. Jack had never mentioned Esmeralda, but the way Barbossa spoke of her... it stung. The memory of the kiss they shared, which once felt so real and full of promise, now seemed fleeting, like smoke drifting into the wind.

Barbossa noticed the change in her expression. "Ah, Jack's had his fair share of admirers, lass. Don't let him fool you."

Marina bit her lip, her fists clenched in frustration. "I'm not in love with him," she said defensively, though a flicker of doubt crossed her mind.

Barbossa chuckled softly. "Of course not. Just remember, Jack's always been good at making women think they're special. But it's all part of the game. We've got a long way to go, lass. You'll have plenty of time to forget about ol' Jack."

The journey ahead was indeed long. After weeks of sailing, they finally reached Port Said in Egypt. The ancient city greeted them with a sprawling market filled with traders, the scent of spices and incense thick in the air.

Marina and Barbossa had to cross a part of Egypt to transition from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. This was no simple feat.

The most direct route required them to travel through Ismailia, a city situated along the Suez Canal, which had become a major trade route connecting both seas. Although the canal itself allowed ships to pass directly, Barbossa explained that only specific vessels with the proper clearance could make that journey. This meant Marina and Barbossa had to travel by land, crossing the desert terrain and following the canal to reach the port city of Suez.

Barbossa swiftly arranged for horses and provisions for the trip. The ride through Egypt was grueling, marked by the intense heat and dry desert winds. The terrain was vastly different from anything Marina had experienced before. Dust clung to her clothes, and the barren landscape stretched for miles, broken only by the occasional village or oasis.

After riding for two days, they finally arrived in Suez. The port city was alive with activity—ships from all over the world anchored in its harbor, merchants bartering their goods, and travelers preparing for their journeys across the seas. Here, Barbossa secured passage on a ship that would take them the rest of the way to Singapore.

During the quiet nights on the ship, Marina found herself thinking less about Jack and more about her own quest. She spent hours staring at the endless ocean, feeling both small and empowered at the same time. The thought of her father lingered in her mind. She still didn't know what she would say if she found him, but each passing day brought her closer to that moment.

Barbossa, with all his gruffness, became a strange source of comfort during the voyage. He had a wealth of stories to share, and though Marina found him exasperating at times, she couldn't deny that his experience gave her insight into the world of piracy and the dangers ahead.

They also spent most evenings dueling with swords, sharpening their skills and pushing each other to the limits. What started as a casual suggestion from Barbossa quickly became a nightly routine, where the two would clear a space on the deck and spar until the stars appeared in the sky.

Barbossa, though experienced and renowned for his cunning, found himself impressed by Marina's abilities. She moved with a natural grace, her strikes swift and precise. Her determination and focus reminded him of a seasoned fighter rather than someone still relatively new to the pirate's life. Though he rarely admitted it aloud, there were moments when he struggled to keep up with her relentless pace.

One evening, as they sat on deck, watching the horizon, Barbossa turned to her. "You've changed, lass," he said, his voice unusually soft.

Marina glanced at him, surprised. "How so?"

"You're tougher than when we first met. That fire in you's grown stronger."

Marina didn't respond immediately. She had felt the change too, the sense of resilience that had emerged since her journey began. She was determined to find answers for herself, regardless of what—or who—she might encounter along the way.