Sweet Defeat

Boarded

The princess shouts orders to her crew in vain attempt to outrun the approaching ship. With the old battered ship getting closer and closer, she soon decides to get everyone in defensive position. Quickly a dark shadow is thrown over her and the large black flag with a scull and bones enters her vision, and in the ship below she sees a much larger crew than hers, all with some sort of weapon in hand. She withdraws a sword of her own from her waist.

A large wooden plank is roughly thrown between the two ships, landing with a loud clank. Just one man, perhaps the leader,

walks across slowly Once he reaches the end, he stops. "I am Toni, King of the Pirates." he says, "Surrender your weapons and cease to fight. We have more interest in your cargo than bloodshed.

"We'll will not surrender." Megan responds.

Toni makes a face as if amused and says, "You obviously can't believe your men can outlast mine. The loss of your men must be just as displeasing to you as losing mine is to me."

She thinks for a moment, and realizing he is right, says, "I, Princess of Hallowan, challenge you to a duel. Upon your death your men will surrender." 

"Hmm... I do like a challenge, but what is in it for me?" The Pirate King inquires.

"I guess it's only fair that in the event that you beat me, I will be at your mercy and my crew will allow you to take cargo without a fight."

Toni glances in the direction of his advisor, and the crew member approaches him. For a minute they talk in hushed tone, then stop and nod to each other. Toni turns back towards the princess and counters, "How about this. If ye throw my weapon, me and my men will surrender ourselves and our ship to you. He grinned. "And if I throw yer weapon, you will agree to be at our mercy, as property to the Pirate King. I would still take the cargo, but leave the ship so your men may return home. Oh, and you'll order your crew not to send anyone after ye, as my crew doesn't enjoy... unnecessary,  conflict. What do ye say?"

She paused a moment to think. "I accept, but it must be a fair fight." she says reluctantly. She continues, "Sword against sword, you and me. Neither your men nor mine may get involved in any way or the deal is off." With years of proper sword training backing her up, she was fairly confident she could take on a single pirate.

"Did you hear that lads?!" Toni shouts to his fellow pirates, "We got ourselves a deal." Cheers sound behind him. The Princess and the Captain step towards the center of her ship, where both crews now crowd around to watch the show. Then the two take their stances. The tips of their swords touch in the air, and the duel begins.