THE ASC3NDANTS Awakening. (III) ✔[#Wattys2019]

Chapter (12)

Chapter 12. 

At once, Stanley sprung up. This was no good!
"I have a feeling that you could possibly understand better than your father. But..., however, in case you ever see your father again, let him know that Empires rise, and fall."
The girl was a little shocked. As if he meant that, he would release her. In a both soft and sweet tune asked, "Do you mean you will let me go?" Stanley contemplated on her abrupt question.
"I don't think I mentioned that madam. We can't make any such negotiate over-" he paused between the words and looked a bit stranded. As if, he neither knew what to say or do about her. Now he glanced back at his crew... She followed his gaze...
"Look at all those men. I'm certain, none of them has got anything to lose or gain no more without their captain. You took from them everything they ever owned and loved towards. Now all they carry in their torn hearts is hate for anything called a Gray pirate. I swear they will not even take a simple second to sympathize with you. To the justice is nonexistent, false, trickery. With their ship in damages they are left with no home."
"What then is going to happen to me?"
He could feel the worry and tension in her voice.
"I've no idea -" He lied though he knew very well that the law only had one punishment for anyone found guilty for piracy no matter the sex and age was death by the gallows. "All I do is follow instructions and endeavor to keep the terms and conditions just as we are taught-" He did not want to say that there she had no chance to escape the consequences beyond the fifth gate, however much she tried to convince the judges that she has never murdered anyone. He would not let it out in that way however much it was necessary for her to know the truth "-I'm sorry- I've to assist my men on repairing the ship." He concluded trying to sound more honest if not generous to her.
Smarya felt hopelessness engulf her. She wanted to get up and run but she was chained both arms and legs. She started regretting having left her father's ship. It was all her fault. Just as he turned to leave, Daiki approached them leaping skillfully from one rock to another. He held two clay plates, which were well served with some nice English dried delicacies and a cup of steaming tea on each. He wore such a silly impression on his face, only to wink at Stanley and making him blush.
"Sir, I think that will do you well" And handing him one of the plate, went on to the prisoner and.
"Here, take that" He said to her as well. When she ignored him, he reached up and placed it next to her after removing what Stanley had given her. Incidentally, Daiki loved their compatibility, which Stanley had realized in his wink and then the silly smile. How he wished the girl did not see that wink. The cook did not recognize his embarrassment but still passed and this time tapping him with his heavy hand on the back. Now his embarrassment worsened when he took a quick glance back only to find that Smarya watched the action. This time round he turned away just as fast as he'd taken the glance at her and in a clear tune warned her.
"Please, don't dare run away." She watched him leave as he seeped at his tea. Then she glanced at the heavy metal cuffs she had around her ankles and indeed, they hurt. Deep within, she harbored a strange feeling.
Strange young man! The feeling she possessed she had never felt for anyone else. Whatever it was, she had no idea but her father had taught her to control most of her feelings most especially love because love was a mortal lie, -he called it.
As Stanley gets on the boat back to the ship, he hands a gun to Pickles and motions for him to keep an eye on Smarya while he went on with the repairing some small boat which had been fractured by a cannon shot.
The prisoner barely left the spot she he left her. Occasionally getting up and crossing to the lower end, to find relief splashing her arms with cool water because they hurt with bruises! She would then be up again with glaring over her shoulders at the busy and tired crew! Not far from the crew, Cap. Horace's corpse smoked away though it had already become ashes. She felt pity for his remaining crew. Her mid-day meal found her on the same rock. However her wired over the shoulder glances did not stop. It is on her third glance, when she realized that one of the crewmates she heard the rest of the crew calling Pickles was giving constantly eyeing her! She knew why. Captain Stanley had instructed him to keep an eye on her, which he was not doing so badly.
When he got his mid-day share of roast meat in addition to her calmness, he lost his guard! And hour passed, and it's only that moment when Capt. Stanley was giving instruction that everyone prepared to depart, Pickles turned.
Only an hour later when everything the ship was done fixing and Capt. Stanley arriving to ask everyone to prepare for departure, did Pickles remember. However, to his surprise, the girl was no longer there! He yelled an alarm to the rest of the crew!
'Sir, the prisoner is..." He stammered "-is gone!"
At once Stanley ordered everyone to spread out with their guns, however with a strict warning to take her alive! And he shot a bullet in the sky. Everyone scattered rushing into the marsh.
"We need her alive" he repeated as he got moving himself.
"Smarya!" Stanley called out over the marshes. "I know you can hear me. You know not what dangers lie beyond here. Your life depends on it that you return immediately. I do not intend to harm you! This you must trust!
Nevertheless, the only thing he could hear was an echo of his voice back from th4e edge of the forest beyond the marshes.
He entered the marshes sword drawn in case she tries to do a surprise attack on him. Indeed, Smarya had not gone far yet!. She had sneaked off five minutes back from the moment her absence was noticed and secondly she had taken the wrong path through the marshes, which slowed her movement so automatically! The gun shot terrified her eve the more! Her head swung t5his and that way knowing Stanley's men would be closing any moment because some had even headed around the marshes on bare ground. She felt trapped somewhere at the center of the marshes that were kin of taller than she was.
Confused, she stopped and squatted behind the thickest of the papyrus bushes to think!
When she saw the men appearing off to her left from behind some other bushes, she pulls back and lowers her body down to the surface of the water for the fear of being spotted. Now as she lowered the second arm to support her weight, she placed it on top of something solid and round in base of the swamp, she slid causing a minimal splash! However, she gained her footing quickly enough just when the men turned towards her.