Shatter Like Glass-Cinderella Retold

Part Seventeen

Watching his daughter being hauled away was the one of the most painful moments of George's life. The second Ashen collapsed, one of the guards descended, snatching her up. He headed to the edge of the ship. George heard him calling instructions on the other ship. He realized the man intended to carry Ashen across the board they had laid down. Even with a murky head, he knew this was a badly formed idea. If the board cracked, or the other crew's hands slipped, Ashen and the guard would plummet into the water. The guard could keep himself afloat, but likely not himself and Ashen.

Smiegal rushed forward, sword raised. He could have killed the man, stabbed him through his back to his heart. George could not let him. Did Smiegal not see the man had Ashen? Did he not care? George dismissed the latter thought immediately. Smiegal loved Ashen; he would not do anything that could harm her.

George had to stop him.

He moved his blade up to block the attack of his quartermaster.

"Go," he yelled to the captain carrying Ashen.

Smiegal glared at him angrily. He knew Smiegal was still furious about their fight earlier. He had to believe him though. Ashen's life depended on it.

"You're fighting me!" Smiegal exclaimed, slightly exasperated. "Again?"

"They have Ashen," he told him. Smiegal dropped his sword. Shock and exhaustion were visible on his face.

"We have to surrender," he said, dumbfounded.

Nodding, George yelled, "Surrender!"

Everyone stopped fighting. The crew of the Jolly Roger stared at him as if he were crazy. Perhaps he was. Just before the fight, he had insisted they keep fighting. Now he was weaker, they all were. None of them were in a position to protect themselves or Ashen. He didn't know if the Azurians would hurt her, but they were already willing to knock her unconscious. Until he was certain she was safe, he wasn't going to risk anyone jeopardizing her chances.

The Azurians surged on the members of the crew, shackling them. George stumbled backwards. Standing still made the potion overtake him quicker. His eyes stung as he forced them to stay open. Asleep he was no good to his daughter.

A guard grabbed him from behind. Carefully, the two crossed the board. It was sturdier than George had first believed, but it was still a weak one. The threat to Ashen had been real.

"Knees to the deck, all of them," a voice called.

George let his captor force him to the ground. Eyes downcast, he could only see the boots of the speaker. They were well-polished, like any good, non-pirate captain's would be.

"So, the infamous Head of the Azurian Guard, Captain George," the man said.

George looked up at him. His face was young, a little older than Ashen's twenty-four years, perhaps. He looked familiar, which was not a surprise. To have risen to the rank of captain in the Azurian Guard, he would need to have ties to nobility. At a young age, he would have been at close proximity to the royal family. He was old enough to have been there when Arrow still lived at the palace.

The man had dark eyes and an expression of satisfaction. He was pleased with himself for capturing who he saw as a notorious criminal. George suspected he would be highly disappointed if he knew the truth. Not that any of them would believe it.

A silver pin glinted on the man's lapel. As a previous owner of the pin—and the position that came with it—George realized the man was the Head of the Azurian Guard. They were unlikely to receive any mercy from him unless he had specific orders. George remembered the power of such a job, and the corrupting ability it had on a young mind.