𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

27. 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

"𝖄ou do not get to win every time!"

Uma and her crew weren't as dumb as they looked--okay, some of them were, but not all. Uma should've known not to trust a double-crosser like Mal. It was too good to be true, and yet, she fell for it.

Rilynn thought the plan was good, even though she only knew so much; she didn't know what the VKs planned to do, but she trusted them anyway. Rilynn just wished they could've slipped away before Uma figured out their plan.

They won't be able to outrun the pirates, especially not when more came out from the depth of the docks, circling them. Rilynn turned around, and more pirates came out, eyeing them warningly.

"Did you guys have a Plan B?" Rilynn quietly asked Jay, ensuring she didn't look away from the pirates.

He snickers. "When do we never?"

Suddenly, Jay moved toward a barrel beside them and knocked it down, revealing a wad of swords inside. Rilynn grinned proudly before taking the sword Jay offered. She gripped the cool steel of the handle, twisting it expertly between her fingertips, eyeing a couple of pirates carefully. Rilynn couldn't be overly cocky about her swordsmanship skills because these were pirates; they're known for their sword skills, and Rilynn doesn't train for a battle like this.

Rilynn breathed out shakily, putting in a brave face and embracing herself for a fight that was bound to happen. As scary as it sounds, Rilynn was also a little excited, which sounds like a strange thought. All her life, Rilynn has been this perfect daughter and trapped in her family castle. This was one of the most exciting moments in her life.

"Get 'em!" Uma screeched in anger.

Just as the pirates charged toward them, Carlos distracted them by shooting a smoke bomb at them with his slingshot. They yelled in surprise, ducking to protect their eyes as the blue bomb exploded in their face.

Jay stepped beside Rilynn. "Stay close, got it?"

Rilynn shot him an amusing glance. "Where's the fun in that?"

The princess smiled before darting away, leaving Jay shaking his head but following close behind her.

One pirate lurched forward with a growl, throwing his sword up and down with a strike, but Rilynn used her sword and threw him off balance. He turned around and swung again, close to Rilynn's midsection, making her jump back to dodge the blade. She gasped when the pirate swung at her head; the princess ducked and created space between them.

Rilynn looked back when another cry was behind her; the princess saw a girl running toward them. Rilynn shoved the pirate away before turning around and throwing her sword up to stop the girl's sword.

"Cute dress," Rilynn smiled at the girl, but she didn't react.

She remembered the guy behind her, so she looked and saw him coming after her again. Rilynn grunts when she pushes the girl's sword toward her, quickly moving out of the way. The pirate girl stumbled in surprise, so Rilynn kicked her toward the other pirate. The girl squealed as she launched forward, running into the guy and sending them both tumbling on the ground.

Quinn jumped over the railing behind Rilynn, grinning cunningly. The princess turned and pointed her sword to Quinn, watching her carefully. Quinn moved quickly, but Rilynn was quicker; their sword clashed hard against one another, making them stumble. Rilynn jumped back in action, thrashing her sword back at Quinn, only for the evil princess to swipe it out of the way.

"Whoa!" Rilynn yelped when Quinn twisted with something in her other hand.

Rilynn didn't know what it was, but she heard it crash somewhere behind her. Quinn wasn't messing around. Rilynn has never moved so fast, especially with a sword; she swung up and down, left and right, diagonally. Rilynn was starting to get tired.