Ember's Sails

Calder

"My name is Ember."

The injustice of this kind of treatment shook her bones with rage but Ember held still and quiet as her mind went through all the files her brain contained. She loved adventure of course but the fantasy wander of it was beginning to fade as she experienced it herself. She struggled once again attempting to get the ropes around her wrists to loosen but again they did not cave.

She released a slight growl of frustration. The pirate still stood within the shadows. Something was covering his head...something black. Of this she was sure. A face could not be so black as to hide all its contours and not even the creeping shadows of the room could not make something seem so endless.

Ember could make out his sturdy build, a lighter color against the dark corner. He was sitting. His posture was erect and he reminded Ember of a wolf ready to make the fatal bite on his prey. As if Ember was already brought down and laid out before him like a hearty feast.

Ember stared defiantly at the young man, holding her head high. His eyes narrowed and she smirked in response.

Calder clenched his fists. The girl was already beginning to annoy him. Though she seemed different. Calder could make out her body and features in the dim lighting for she stood very close to the candle placed on a small table close to the center of the room. It seemed to him as if she was trying to stay as close to the light as possible and ward off his darkness.

He could barely hide the amusement from her fear. He was not a cruel man but something about messing with and making her squirm made him want to laugh. The girl hid her fear well. She stood straight and looked upon him in utter defiance.

Then he finally remembered that she had talked. A sarcastic smile stretched upon his chiseled face as he noticed how her name fit the auburn locks that splayed around her soft face.

"Ember..."

Calder paused tasting the name upon his tongue. It was easy and pleasant to say yet had a sort of elegance too it so that he found himself wanting to say it again.

Ember barely concealed the shivers that racked her spine as her name escaped the mans lips. She did not know why this happened but she most certainly wanted to.

"Well Ember, why did my men decide to bring you aboard?"

Ember though sarcastic and defiant, simply answered with a curt reply.

"I am not sure. I was standing in the street and one of them simply slung me over his shoulder."

As a normal woman might -one that had actually lived in this town for all of her life- Ember looked down and a simple tear shed down her pale skin. She felt the need to act her part when she was stuck in a place where the man could thrust his sword within her belly.

The massive man's cold grey eyes seemed to soften at the glistening dot of water that glided across her skin.

Ember had no intent on lying and tricking him to gain pity. She simply could not remember why she was here. She knew she had not lived in the town of which the ship was harbored at. Oh, if she spoke of this he would surely think her a fool then and throw her into the sea to drown. She did not want to die at such an age and so the reason for her lies.

Ember decided to just play along. Somehow she knew a lot about this time period though she could not seem to remember why or how she had come upon this information.

"I am sorry for their cruel behavior but they will not be staying long. I will pick up a new crew at our next stop, a better one."

Calder ended his sentence looking at the young girl that had been placed on his ship.

No doubt she was a woman and had been for a few years now. She was quite beautiful with ivory skin, flaming auburn hair, and green eyes that sparkled as a shallow sea. Ember had the lips of a succulent rose and Calder found himself entranced at her appearance.

He came to wonder if her intelligence matched her graceful stature. Though her body held few curves the sway of her hips as she leaned side to side was enough for Calder to take a few steps closer.

Ember was a bit shocked. Surely he had not meant his apology. The pirate who she now knew to be the captain spoke rather formal as well. These questions attacked her mind but she could not think about them now. She had an interrogation to get through.

"I..."

Ember's newly started sentence ended abruptly as the pirate interrupted her.

"You - though it was not my idea to capture you - will stay aboard my ship, the Lunar Flare You will be my captive until I find somewhere to sell you. Perhaps we could actually get decent money for a girl with flawless skin. I could not bare to sell you as a slave though so mayhap as a wife. I'm sure a nobleman would pay well for such a beauty."

Calder let a slow smirk crawl across his face. It was actually not his intention to sell her though he could not tell her this. She could be exactly what he needed but for her to prove his theory she mustn't know of the truth. So Calder would begin a game of lies and should she play along, their worlds might just combine.

The horror was clear upon Ember's face, red lips bitten in nervousness. She did not realize the lie of his statement and knew that whatever happens she can not allow herself to be sold as livestock.

"No such thing will happen..."

Ember paused not knowing what to call the pirate and then decided that sir should do. Though it injured her dignity and pride she had a feeling it would not be the last time.

"Sir."

She ended her sentence there. She would not fight much, considering that this ruthless pirate held her life in his hands. Yet her soul longed to fight tooth and nail she let the flames smolder in her eyes. Even still however her words were spoken in a bit of anger.

Calder let out a chuckle at her sentence and the attitude with which she spoke her words. Ember had placed her hands on her hips as she spoke without even realizing it.

Calder took on large step so that more of his face was revealed in the dim light of a single candle. He did not remove the black hood that covered his head. He felt no need to.

"Alright then, lass. I will make you a deal. You stay aboard my ship for two months. If you fall in love with me you stay and if you do not you may leave but you have to be honest about it."

Calder's slow easy smirk peeked out from beneath his hood as well as his glowing grey eyes. His tread closer to her and let his scarred hand caress Ember's cheek.

Ember flinched on instinct but did not fight him. Her eyes were green steel in the candlelight. No longer a calm shallow sea but now one in an unrelenting storm. Her chin held high Ember gave her answer,

"I accept"

I know its a much shorter chapter than usual. I just found the perfect place to end it and so I did! Again it is unedited, sorry! When I finish the book I will go back and edit, promise! Well now our gorgeous redhead meets our daring pirate captain and so the fun begins. It might be a while before I post again, sorry. I may be grounded....