Voyage of War

Chapter 5

Balthazar paced back and forth before the throne ,that Prince Deimos used to slouch in, with a bloch of darkness on the wall above it yet again.

Everything was going as planned. Aphira just had to stay patient with her urge for revenge. They were only now entering the second stage.

                     *    *    *

Princess Sybil sat in a corner of their small cell starring past a sleeping Captain Ced or Ced as he told them to call him. Because he no longer had a ship and they were now fellow prisoners, it was no longer necessary to refer to him as Captain. On further inspection Princess Sybil realized that Ced had to be only a few years older than herself and that he was surprisingly handsome and well looked after for a pirate. He was lean and muscular, with slightly golden tanned skin and now that he didn't wear his triangular hat she could see he had well kept, dirty-blond hair and pearly white teeth. His eyes were a brilliant bright green, it was then that Princess Sybil realized that she was staring into those brilliant bright green eyes that were no longer shut but staring back at her. Princess Sybil felt warmth creep up her neck and into her cheeks, so she abruptly looked away to where Keiden is sitting.

"Ye like wha' yer saw?" Keiden asked with a cocky smirk.
"Don't tease the lady ,Keiden" Ced replied with an equally cocky smile on his face.
"I jus' asked de question ye was thinkin' abou but is te polite te ask an' tis not like we're in a place where politeness really matters, now are we?" Keiden said rolling his eyes.
"Your probably right but that doesn't change that she is a lady and a Princess at that."
"Wha' does it matter wha' yer title is in dis hole, besides ye saw her fightin' like a pirate as well with a bit o' time she wouldn' be any better than any o' us."

Ced and Keiden both turned quizzical gazes to Princess Sybil ,who was silently observing their bickering about her being a lady.

"I suppose Keiden is right. In here am not more important than any of you. It would be nice to be treated as an equal for once and not some fragile doll."
"So you do not mind being treated like a fellow crew member by me and Keiden." Ced asks shocked at her reply.
"I told ye." Keiden says earning a glare from Ced.
"Well yes, if you would allow a woman aboard your ship."

                   *    *    *

Resa sat huddled against the bars of the cell and felt the hunger growing, knawing at her insides. Clawing it's way up her throat and threatening to digest her from the inside.

Cad had told them that they would get extremely hungry while being in captivity. Pirates would give their captives just enough food to keep them from starving and not an ounce more. The first mate would escort captives and the cabin boy, the lowest of all, would feed them.

They were counting on the cabin boy not being to young nor being to old because Resa had to befriend him.

Eventually he came holding glorious salvation. An angel decending the steps. Resa starred straight into his eyes when accepting the food. She felt his grey eyes boring into her, observing, searching, calculating, admitting to his memory. She knew what everyone was expecting from her, so she set to work on the task given to her.

                    *    *    *

Everyone had begun to become accustomed to the foul smell , knawing hunger and little sleep on the ground. Princess Sybil had torn a slit in her dress, to just above her knie ,so she had more freedom to move her legs. The dress was no longer dark royal blue but almost black. Resa's once white shirt is now a mucky brown so was Zack's and Drakar's. Resa had made two braids tightly against her scalp ,with her waist long ,greacy hair and also made a single braid for Princess Sybil. Ced had gotten to know his fellow cellmates over the past weeks. Drakar could wield and conjure fire at his will and he has a grey wolf as a 'pet'. Zack turns into a Wolfman ,not a werewolf there is a difference, if he feels threatened or angry. Most Wolfmen are murderers that turn and can't turn back unless they become good they turn fully wolf. Zack must've had a father or grandfather or mother as a Wolfman so he can turn back. Resa is the 'carer' of the men. She helps Zack calm down to turn back and just acts as a protective shadow. Ced was most amazed by Princess Sybil, she had had training in combat with most known weapons. She was a paradox to Ced. Cold yet caring. Innocent yet lethal.

                  *    *    *

Zack had been sceptical about the escape plan. He didn't think that they ,prisoners of the Astria, would manage to conspire a mutiny against it's captain. Then again he also didn't think Resa would be able to charm a pirate. He quickly learned that he had been wrong about both and that the latter of the two desturbed him ,made him feel a pang of pain each time Resa's gaze would follow the cabin boy's every step, almost worshiping the ground he walks on as he carries the food to the cell. Whoever said that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach, never met Resa nor ,Rai ,the cabin boy. He brought food, her salvation, she gave attention, his craving. She earned his trust and he found at least ten pirates who was not happy with Captain Amalek and willing to commit mutiny, by helping the prisoners at their escape plan.

Now they only had to wait until they reach Nerapirat. The port where they would be sold, at best ,if their plan went south.

Authors note

This plot is getting so difficult in my head and there are so many new characters, that I'm starting to write myself into corners. Hope you are enjoying this book so far.

Thank you for reading.