Pirate's Ransom

Chapter 20

Isabella nearly dropped to her knees and kissed the ground when she stepped onto the dock. Her knees felt strange when she moved since her brain was still making them compensate for movement. 

"It'll get better. I promise," Arus had told her laughingly. 

They'd had only a few hours before the sun was low on the horizon. In that time he took her to the local market. The sounds and smells attacked her senses. Fish, and fresh bread. Laughing. The clink of money. Colorful scarves and fabrics everywhere. She'd eyed everything bright eyed. He'd caught her doing it. 

"You look like you've never seen a market before."

She glanced down at her feet, suddenly ashamed and she swallowed. "I haven't."

He grabbed her hand and turned her to face him, cupping one hand under her chin to tilt upward. "You've never been to a market before?" His voice held a hint of disbelief. 

"They told me I was too young to go when I was a child." They being her parents. "But after my Mother died, my father refused to let me go for fear he would lose me too to either a disease or to..." She stopped herself suddenly leery of saying the rest. 

"Or to a kidnapping." He finished for her and she nearly winced. 

She nodded. 

"Well," he grinned at her. "You've already been kidnapped, so as long as we keep you away from the plague, you should be fine." 

She couldn't help but smile at his humor. Yes, she'd definitely been kidnapped. His big hand held her softly within his own and she couldn't help but feel safe and perfect. It wasn't a normal kidnapping, that much was certain. 

They walked slowly, probably so she could take everything in. She, or they, got a lot of stares from the people milling around the market. She supposed it wasn't every day that they saw a woman in pants with daggers strapped at her hips. Especially not pants that were so form fitting. Arus would scowl at the men leering at her, who would turn abruptly and leave. Every once in a while they would spot one of the crew gathering supplies to take back to the ship. Eventually Arus stopped them in front of a table full of colorful clothing. 

"Go ahead and pick out whatever you want." 

Isabella stared at the colors and then glanced up at him, questioningly. After over a week at sea, she'd nearly forgotten how much she loved bright colors. All she'd seen was the sea green of the ocean, the blue of the sky, and the warm brown of the ship. "I...don't want any of it." she said fingering a few of the silky materials. 

"You don't?" He frowned. 

How could she? The fabrics were delicate, not unlike the ones she'd been wearing the night he'd stolen her away. Wearing a gown on a pirate ship seemed so pointless now. Before she'd been afraid of the change. The impropriety of it. But now, she couldn't imagine moving around on the ship without the pants and sleeved shirt. Yards of flowing fabric would be nothing but a problem.

"Perhaps I could get something a little more...practical?" She nibbled at her lip and looked up at him.

He tilted his head back in a laugh. "I think that's a wonderful idea." His green eyes lit up before he pressed a soft, sweet, and oh-so-soul melting kiss against her lips. "Come with me."

They headed to another booth. She was still trying to collect herself from that simple kiss. If she went home, would she ever experience anything like what she did with Arus ever again? The thought sobered her a bit.

"My Lady needs some more attire..." 

He snapped her from her thoughts. His Lady? She thought they had established that she wasn't a very good lady. Though she supposed he didn't want to broadcast her name out in the open...not that she really knew where they were.