The Pirate's Creed

5. The Bother

Chapter 5

Miranda rubbed her eyes and stretched under the sun's rays that leaked into her bedroom. Slowly blinking her eyes open, she noted the golden sword leaning on her bedside table, the pouch of gold coins on her left and and the wafer of fried bacon and crisp eggs in the morning. Her stomach rumbled in agreement and all she could do was 'mmmmmmmm'.

Walking outside into the cold corridor, she saw the delicate fringes of frost creeping on the windowpane. She neared closer and huffed her breath on the windowpane in order to create a larger drawing space.

Her pointy finger pressed against the window pane and she traced the outline of her ship. With her nail, she etched in the fine details of the ship.

"Wow."

Startled, Miranda turned around with sword ready in hand.

A little girl of only six-seven years, her fiery hair in pigtails gazed at Miranda adoringly.

"That's pretty" she whispered, clutching her teddy bear tighter. Miranda quickly drew the sword into the scabbard and leant down closer to the girl. 

"Thank you miss. Oh! Is that your teddy?" Miranda gestured to the little girl's teddy bear with a smile.

The little girl, seeming a little more confident, walked a little closer to Miranda.

"Yeah...his name is paddington"

"Ah. That's quite a nice name little miss! Will you tell me yours?"

"Miss...miss Harley calls me Jane."

By the necklace with the letter L that was peeking out from her white frilly top, Miranda knew there was no way her name was Jane. However if Miss Harley ignored the small detail, so would she. After all, a name was only a word to which people identified with.

"Oh well, then, my name's Miranda Jones. But you can call me Miranda for short. Say, have you had breakfast Jane?"

"No miss..Miranda I have not."

"Oh, we shaldn't dally then."

Turning back to glance at the frosted window pane, it would seem to start snowing in a few days. With a clearer mind compared to last night, she had to get back to the docks by tomorrow and head on a ship to the Royals.

With a teddy bear in Jane's hands, Miranda watched adoringly as she skipped outside and into the centre of the island. Jane had constantly been attached to Miranda and Miranda couldn't help but wonder where her parents were. She always had a weakness for kids but she tried to avoid them because they got attached so easily. They were too trusting, too naive and Miranda felt like she could corrupt them by simply walking away. Miranda had not seen Miss Harley since her arrival yesterday but that was natural. Miss Harley was the type of mother that was very laid back, very much so since both her kids had grown up and went into a very risqué profession. 

There was nothing special about the village in the day time from her opinion. She normally lingered around during the night where the smell of rum penetrated the atmosphere and artificial light shadowed the alleyways but in the morning light, she could see the appeal in living in Pirate Cove. The smell of war, freshly baked bread, the chortle of spirited laughter, the peals of innocent children and the cold air woke her body and mind up. The only thing missing was the open sign on the tavern but she could always come back later for that. In an alleyway 30 degrees true, Miranda heard the familiar shatter of glass meeting raw flesh. Her right hand instinctively cocked her sword towards the sound but she has a bigger responsibility.

"Get off 'er me!" A harsh note grounded up her spine.

"Jane? Jane!" Miranda called out, panic settling in her voice.