Obey Your Captain

The gate squeaked as he pushed it, the large, beautifully kept house a testament to hard work.

Kaliyah’s heart pounded beneath her breast. Sweat sprung over her skin, instantly chilling her. Shivers spiralled up her spine. Her mind ran on overdrive, working out how to deal with what the Captain had just announced.

“My mother is an elf. My father a human. As you well know.”

“Your parents found you on their doorstep.”

“You know not what you speak.” She shouldered him in an attempt to release his grip. Where she would go… she did not know. Overboard seemed the most inviting.

“I will not hurt you. I do not fear you.”

“Release me.”

On the contrary, she was lifted into the air against his chest. “Captain!” her protest echoed across the sea.

“You are not listening. I think this is a conversation that deserves privacy.”

“No! Unhand me!” She had to escape, to escape would hurt him… She thrashed around as he carried her to his office. “Please, let me go. Please.”

“I’m not going to harm you,” his voice a smooth calming current. One-handed, he laced his fingers through hers on her dominant hand before she found herself again sat astride his lap. Her panic appeared to putting a block on her abilities and her powers. She threw her weight back, however, his arm of iron had surrounded her, capturing one arm across her body while his other did the same. With her arms crossed like a rope, she could not perform magic even if she were to think about it… which she had not.

“You’re safe, Kaliyah.”

Wriggling and struggling against his almighty grip, she kicked at his leg encased in the thick leather of his boot. “Let go!”

“Not until you are calm and listening.”

“I will not listen! You are talking of things you know not! I will not sail under you for you to make such accusations!”

“When you tire, you will speak rationally. We both know what I say is true. It does not bother me, it only hurts if it were to hinder you and your wish to take a husband.”

“You are ludicrous!”

“Am I? Have you ever known me to be as such?”

“Silence!”

Captain Baron merely leant back in his chair, keeping her restrained within his large arms, seemingly waiting.

She fought valiantly against his strength. Her belly ached, her arms protested and her anger and fear began receding. Her heart continued to pound, however his words began to sink in… and he would have killed her already if that were his intention.

“That’s better,” he reassured.

“You cannot tell anyone,” she whispered.

“Of course. Why would I? You are safe with me.”

“Changelings are murdered where they stand.”

“I understand your fear. You are not deceitful, you are merely you. You cannot help for who you were birthed to.”

Kaliyah bowed her head. It had been something she’d always been made to be ashamed of. When her control had evaporated at eleven, she’d been punished severely. Later she understood she’d been punished through fear. A fear for her safety. If she were to be found out… it was acceptable to slaughter a changeling on the spot… in all provinces. There was no place safe for a changeling.

“I’m serious about making a wife of you.”

“You cannot. You cannot ask me in such a way.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

Huffing to herself, she released herself from his grasp. “That is not something you can declare. You know nothing about me. We haven’t courted.”

“Yet you have shared my cot. You have sailed under me for close to a year. You know me to be constant. Unyielding. I am fair, dependable. Can you counter those claims?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Please do not run from me. I will allow you to consider it. I fear if you deny me, you will deny yourself. We both know what you desire.”

“You speak so highly as if you can read my mind. An error was made in this ship, while it was an error on both our parts I must remind you, you ordered me into your bed to take what belonged to a husband.”

Captain planted his elbows on his knees, perceiving her intently. “If you truly believe that, Miss Warren. I will pay the debt as a husband would and find you another ship to sail on if you do not wish to take the mantle of your father’s fleet. You will never hear my name again, for I have dishonoured you.”

A chill descended on her skin as if the sun disappeared from the sky. She didn’t mean to insinuate that. “Very well,” was all she managed to utter before leaving the presence of the man she wanted to trust.

She was so ashamed, how had the Captain worked it out? She was so careful, and she knew her father would never have told anyone. Her stomach was in a tight knot. Sitting at the table in her room, her head slammed into her hands. Her shock, fear… worry. Consumed her.

The next morning, she could hear the shouts of sailors as they undoubtedly began preparing for docking the mighty ship. Kaliyah didn’t move. Her door safely locked. She knew it was her duty to go out and help the sailors, docking was always one of the hardest parts, the bays were small to pack as many ships in as possible. Farina was no different.

“All hands on deck!” the unmistakable bellow of the quartermaster.

Guilt flooded her spine. She couldn’t face the Captain… she just couldn’t. To not help? A cardinal sin in sailing.

What did she care? She shouldn’t care. She was to leave the boat, the Captain would surely ban her from stepping foot back on the boat. Finding passage on a boat in the harbour wasn’t unheard of. It was a large enough port that maybe captains would be looking for workers. The condition would probably be worse than this boat, but that wasn’t really something that she could concern herself with.

What if the Captain divulged her identity?

Scrubbing a hand down her face, she rose. Fear could not drown her. She were still alive, she must take solace in that.

The coin purse clinked at her hip, she’d forgotten all about it. Curiosity had her tugging it from her belt and peering inside.

Gold. There were no silver pieces to be seen. There was only gold, and too many for her to count without spilling the contents.

Uncomfortable having so much gold on her, she took her small coin pouch from her trunk, depositing a few gold within before slipping the strap over her head for it to be concealed by her shirt. The larger pouch, she stowed in a concealed compartment within her trunk.

It was both foolish and wise to have all the money on her in her current predicament. She just hoped the Captain didn’t turn suddenly and bar her from getting her possessions if leaving was her only option.

Emerging from her quarters, she busied herself at the bow, feeling that were the safest spot for her in that moment.

She transported herself to the pontoon, scrambling to hold the ropes and pull the ship closer to the edge before tying off.

“You know the drill! Cargo first, wenches second!” Quartermaster bellowed loud for all to hear.

The crew moved the cargo destined for Farina. The cargo that would be loaded on the ship would be done so by the port hands. By mid-afternoon, the crew was released, being told to be back onboard sunrise after next; they had two days to get drunk and do whatever they wished.