Snippets from Lives Entertwined

#2

She sat and stared at the girl pacing methodically in front of her cell, watching as she came to a stop. She was 17, the same age as herself, yet wore a stern expression that felt as if it were coming from someone twice her age. "Apples?" she said incredulously once she'd stopped, turning to look at her, arms crossed.

"A pirate needs to eat." She was nonchalant; it wasn't her first time being in this position.

"A pirate needs a ship." She emphasized the word pirate, clearly demonstrating her feelings on Caera's self-proclaimed title.

"Could you let me out of my cell before you take off on yours then?" Caera knew that Zoya was a pirate like her, yet rather than being reduced to stowing away and doing odd jobs just to be allowed a spot on a ship, Zoya was actually part of a crew.

Zoya just sighed, her stern expressing falling as she realized there was nothing she could say to scold Caera for the position she'd put herself in. Instead, her lips upturn into what could almost be a fond smile.

"You really need to stop getting yourself into these positions." She reaches down to unlock the door with the key she'd stolen from an imperial guard, staring at the lock as she tells Caera, "one of these days the imperial navy isn't going to wait for me to show up before they try you."

"What makes you say that? Aren't you the dashing pirate who'll always swoop in and save me from the harsh iron fist of the law?" She dramatically swooned, letting herself fall backwards onto the floor of her cell, hand against her forward and dreamy expression on her face, as Zoya finally opened the door.

"Is that supposed to make you my fair princess then, locked away in her cell?" She's now openly amused, reaching a hand down to help Caera up.

"Of course not! I'm your loyal second-in command, my fair Captain!" Standing fully upright now and brushing herself off, she salutes and bows, playing up the imagined scenario. This earns a snort from Zoya.

"Of course - my mistake. Although wouldn't it be in my best interest to choose a second in command who doesn't manage to get themselves in a jail cell every other week?"

"How else would you rescue me if I wasn't in a cell?"