Obey Your Captain

The sun was just making it’s ascent, the sky tinting orange in a lovely glow that didn’t quite penetrate the darkness.

Movement hurt her head. The clean spiced smell of familiarity was all around her. “You’re going to be fine, Pouco,” his soft rumble above her felt too loud.

“Is she alright, Cap’n?”

“Get me fresh water and a clean bucket of sea water. And a healer.”

“Aye, aye Cap!”

Kaliyah groaned with the noise.

“Shh, I know, it’ll be nice and quiet soon.” Boots thudded, a door closed, another door creaked. Since when was everything so unbearably noisy?

Soft cool sheets met her back before a pressure forced its way on her head. A whine of protest left her throat.

“Shh,” his coo came again. “You fought brilliantly, I was expecting them to back off. Most are cowardly folk when they are faced with magic.”

“Hurts,” she mumbled.

“I know. Took a good ol’ crack to the head. Gonna open your eyes for me?”

She moaned again, the thought of opening her eyes was just too much.

“Alright, Pouco, most important thing is to be awake. You’re going to keep talking.”

“No.”

“That’s the spirit. Good shot with that… what was that stuff?”

“Some call it acid, others liquid fire,” she mumbled.

“Ah, I like acid. Very good shot to the face.”

“Was aiming for his sword arm,” she grumbled, her head felt it was splitting in two.

“I’d say that was a better shot.”

“Water, Cap’n.”

Sloshing water and a thud reached her ears, curiosity forced her eyelids open, seeing three Captain Baron’s and two crewmates that looked like Trun stood awkwardly at the door. Captain shifted from her side, more sound of water before he pressed a cold, wet rag on the back of her head. It was both soothing, and uncomfortable. He pressed harder making her hiss.

“Gonna be alright, Cap?”

“Is a healer coming?”

“Kendrick is looking.”

“Go hurry him.”

“I’m fine,” Kaliyah protested, she didn’t need a healer.

“How many of me do you see?”

“Too many,” her voice biting with a sulk.

“Exactly. Heads bleed more than any other wound and you have not stopped. A healer is a must.”

Shifting around in the attempt to see if she were making a mess was a mistake, her head swam sickeningly. She slumped back into his hand which was still pressing where she assumed she was injured. “Would have got away if you weren’t in the way.”

“Did he touch you?”

“Burnt him before he could.”

“Good girl. Roll on your side, I’ll look at your cut.”

“You’re not a healer.”

“Agreed.” Nonetheless, Captain Baron gently rolled her, causing the world to rock again making her feel nauseous. Taking the cloth from her head and moving her hair. “It’s not too big. This’ll hurt.” Water splashed and a sting started before it burned; he was pouring sea water over her wound. She struggled against him, while knowing logically it was necessary, the stinging was something she could do without. Whining more like a child, she dodged his hand with the consequence her head spun harder.

“I’m going to vomit,” she announced. Being spun onto her other side, she leant over the side of the cot, retching straight onto the floor. “Sorry,” she sobbed, not wishing to sob at all.

“Shh, you’re fine, you missed my boots.”

“I feel I’m on the highest, roughest seas attempting to spin the pole after ten rums.”

Captain chortled, “Aye, can imagine that isn’t too pleasant.”

She flung a hand to her forehead in an attempt to stop her vision… and her head falling out.

“Captain Torlar? Detre Whiteowl at your service.”

“She banged her head pretty good. Blood’s stopping,” Captain replied gravely.

“And vomiting I see.”

“Ah, aye.”

Detre Whiteowl drew nearer, making the Captain flatten against the wall, her cool fingers slipped to the cut, parting hair to see clearer. “Won’t need sewing, are you dizzy?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve got something for that.” Dipping down, she rummaged in a bag she’d brought with her, “Ginkgo leaf, it will also help any damage we cannot see.”

“I’ll be fine, I don’t need-”

“You’re taking it,” Captain growled from his place at the wall.

“Ginkgo leaf is expensive,” she hissed before hissing for a whole other reason as the cabin seemingly lurched.

“I also suggest Bark of the Willow for the pain and hazel to prevent infection.”

“I’ll be fine, some rum I’ll be-”

“We’ll take it.”

“No,” Kaliyah moaned out, digging her fingers into her scalp. She’d had injuries before, but she’d take all of them combined to what was occurring in her head in that moment. She’d love to accept the herbs… but all her money was needed to leave… to send to her mother… to pay the tax. There was so much to pay. The thoughts pounded her head into an even deeper head pain.

“We’ll take them,” Captain stated harder, a severe lack of negotiation room in his tone.

“Done. Wash the wound then apply hazel. Bedrest is best.”

“I am not staying in bed,” she muttered petulantly.

“I’ll take my leave.”

“You do that,” Kaliyah replied haughtily, feeling out of patience and a little… a lot grumpy. The door shut and she felt the air shift around her as the Captain stepped beside her.

“I am going to clear this mess, then you are taking the herbs.”

“If I take, I have to pay.”

“I’ve already paid.”

“Very well. I must pay you back.”

“No.”

She squinted through her eyelashes to see him gone before she could come up with a retort. The beguiled rat.

Gently, she felt the back of her head, finding a lump, she couldn’t quite discern where the cut was, but when she pulled her fingers away, there wasn’t much crimson, potentially what was already there. She shouldn’t have tripped over that body, while she had defended herself even with spinning vision, she didn’t feel she had succeeded.

She was not wholly sure what she wished to achieve.

A realisation as soon as she stepped foot on another ship… she was accosted. Her gender would always be an issue, of course she could change and be a man… but to do that would be to eradicate her father, eradicate his memory on the sea. After all, Merchant Warren was known to have two daughters, no sons.

Maybe Kaliyah Warren could merely disappear for a little while, perhaps be another just until she were home.

She would have to… borrow an appearance, however. Creating one took time and energy she did not have. At least, what she knew about her race, this was the way… she’d never met another like herself, that she were aware of.

Captain strolled back in, dropping to his knees beside her. She watched in shame whilst he cleaned the floor. “I could do that,” she mumbled.

“You are sick. It is no trouble.”

“I do not have an ailment, a mere injury.”

“And injury can cause sickness. Now-” Captain wrung the rag out in a third bucket before going into his water room, coming back seconds later drying his hands. He set the dirty bucket outside before sitting beside her. “Do you wish to cease spinning before I wash your wound?”

“I will not-”

“Kaliyah. You are an awful patient. It’s now or later, which would you prefer?”

Sighing, she replied, “Now.”

“Better.” He picked up a wrapped package, withdrawing a dried deep green leaf. Placing it to her lips, she reluctantly opened before chewing the bitter, grassy tasting herb.

After masticating it thoroughly, she swallowed, having no idea how long it would take to work.

Captain held up a cup for her, letting cool freshwater pass her lips. “I’ll warm water to wash your wound properly.”

She nodded more subdudly, she wanted to sleep, claws of exhaustion tugged at her. She just wanted the pain to stop, the spinning to halt. “Don’t sleep, not yet.”

“Yes, Captain,” she sighed.

He sniggered as he left.

Once he was back, he helped her to sit around and she stared in slight horror at the mess she’d made of his bed. Crimson, deep red, had soaked into the pillow and down to the bed. “Oh Gods… I must apolog-”

“Pouco, it is of no concern. Rest back on the chair.” Sliding her from the cot to the chair gently, the hard chair supported her. “Be easier if we had a tub,” he muttered as he unbraided her hair for the second time.

She felt less teetering on rocky seas, which was a relief. “Do you need to vomit?”

“No, those herbs seem to be helping.”

“Would you like the bark?”

“Yes, Captain.”

Another chuckle left his lips, he deposited the bottle into her hand. She inspected it a little suspiciously, this was more than bark of the willow. All that was scrawled on the bottle was ‘Relieve Pain’ in a scrawled hand. Unpopping the cork, she smelt, not detecting anything she did not recognise, she took a mouthful, thinking that would be the dose.

After all blood was removed from her head and hair, Captain removed the pillow and flipped the mattress on his cot. “I’ll wash it,” she slurred. Frowning at her speech.

“I think the potion is working, Pouco, you will feel less pain now.”

“Wha’ did you purchase?”

“Just something a little stronger, rest now.”

“I… no…” She could feel her composure slipping more, a feel she’d partaken in more rum than she ever had before. “I need to be in my cabin.” Pushing herself to her feet, her head spun for a whole other reason. It was true she was in no pain. A giggle escaped her lips when her knees hit the floor.

“You will sleep here.”

“You do not understand. I need to be alone.” A panic rose in her belly. “I need… Captain, please.”

“Pouco, hush now.” Lifting her, he set her back onto the cot.

“I’m going to change,” she wailed.

“You already have.”

Looking down in alarm, she could see he was right. She covered herself in shame.

“You’re beautiful, Talpa, you’re my Talpa.”

“I’m hideous.” Her body too floppy for her to stay upright, she found herself laid on the bed then arms around her, a warm chest for her featureless face to bury deep into.

“Who told you your true form is hideous? You could never be hideous.”

She sobbed, she couldn’t believe this man had seen her true self… and not ran, or slain her where she sat.

“I’ll protect you, I’ll always protect you.” He reassured her until she drifted off, the energy buzzing around her from the fight completely spent.