Sham of the Sea

Chapter 7

Minji collected Y/N early the next morning after the ship had reached shore during the night already.

The deck was ghostly silent. The captain and a few others had left during the early hours to run some errands and thus Y/N relished in the peaceful quiet as she joined the ex-princess.

Minji led Y/N over the ship and explained the life on board to her, pointing out names and functions Y/N never needed to know.

"Now you know what the quarterdeck is, the difference between starboard and port-side and the names of every cabin and mast on here. The sails are a part of this you will never remember. I looked them up myself in some drawings yesterday." Minji said.

Y/N chuckled dryly. She had found a splendid companion in Minji. The woman had humour; deadpanning whatever she could and laughing emptily at her own jokes. She had emphasised the importance of some things, though, especially rooms and directions, so Y/N could follow basic orders.

Y/N still did not know how to do anything on board and after joining Ryujin in the galley (she had studied!), she also learned it did not matter.

"Nayeon will probably get you into helping her with cleaning the cannons. Or you'll clean something else. You aren't a sailor and since we neglect our cleaning duties all the time, your skill at it comes in handy."

Y/N was fine with cleaning. It was something she could do right. No need for Jennie to shove her around for that.

Ryujin offered breakfast to them during their visit to the kitchen. Y/N sported a big grin on the pirate's face as Ryujin complimented her now midnight dark hair.

"Will you join us later, Minji? I heard there are a lot of fun things to do in the town." Ryujin asked.

Minji grimaced, tastefully sipping at her tea. "No way. But Tzuyu will. She has to watch our guest."

At that, Ryujin looked elated. She skipped off with long legs to pester Tzuyu about it.

In her confusion about what it mattered to pirates to go on land, Y/N tilted her head in Minji's direction. From everything she had heard, they did not plan a fest of slaughtering and stealing at the peaceful seaport.

"Usually, Tzuyu stays on board and guards the ship while the others are out to paint the town red. She will join you guys today, so Nayeon and a few others will stay back. That's why they already left in the morning." Minji's explanations were simple and to the point, no beating around the bush.

Y/N nodded. She did not know on what to do on land except to look for an escape and maybe enjoy the earth. Her element. Perhaps the pirates also appreciated some solid ground under their feet from time to time.

They sat together and talked for a while as Y/N finished her breakfast. Minji tested Y/N's new knowledge and threw random facts about pirates at her. Y/N also learned the word 'booty', which they used for the treasures they found. Y/N stared at Minji for a long time when the pirate had first told her because that was not the same as the people in Y/N's village meant with it.

When the sun sunk towards the ocean in a brilliant spectacle that would never bore Y/N, even in her dubious surroundings and the townspeople lit their lamps, it was time for Y/N to go. She promised to talk to Minji again soon, glad about her easy-going attitude. After Minji had wished her fun, Y/N stepped out to meet with Ryujin on the deck.

The cook was jittery with delight to leave the boat. Ryujin bounced on her feet and yelled Yeji's name until Yeji peered her head from the cargo hold. The scary redhair's arms were loaded with books and food she had been ordering. She ducked back into the ship's belly to sort them away while Ryujin called for the others that would join Y/N's evening group.