Obey Your Captain

He couldn’t have that. The first form had to emulate the chosen parents, it was safer.

“Captain.” A knock sounded on the door, “Need you to come see something,” it was the voice of his Quartermaster, some call them first mates, he preferred the old title.

“Stay here,” he stated to Kaliyah who sat at the table, pouring over spell books. He didn’t much like she was studying, but understood it was something she enjoyed. Casting spells, she’d been forbidden, it had only been four days since they left port. She was not well enough to ease the cramp of worry he held from seeing her collapse, blood pouring from her head.

He should have intervened. Blast the code. He should have speared the lot of them on a single blade.

Stepping out on the deck, his Quartermaster Granynak handed him an eyeglass, and pointed to the stern, “I think we may be having company.”

Baron scanned the horizon through the magnifying instrument and swore. A ship appeared to be on their tail. Sure it could be another merchant ship merely making a similar route to them.

Or it could not.

“Keep an eye, if they get within three leagues, you know the drill. Ensure the crew are well fed, if it comes to a fight, I don’t want them hungry.”

“Aye, Cap.”

“Keep me informed.”

“Aye, Cap.”

Satisfied, Baron returned to his office to find Kaliyah slumped over her book. Fast asleep. Letting out a silent chuckle, he padded silently to her and lifted her into his arms without her even letting out a murmur. Clearly, she thought he’d be gone longer. Settling her in his cot, he resisted laying a kiss to her forehead. He wished she’d come round and accept his proposition. At least she was still on the ship, she could have easily left and he never catch eyes on her again.

Leaving her alone, he went to his maps to plot a course if they needed to attempt to evade the other ship. Their next port was a four-week sail, not the longest leg they would do this voyage. Many crew came from Osoway, usually he would allow a week layover due to this. However, he wanted to get Kaliyah back to Blackwater sooner rather than later to either clear the debt, or take her mother and sister with them.

He’d prefer to relocate her family. The city didn’t deserve the debt be paid, not after inflating it. He still wasn’t sure how much it had been inflated, his chest pained at the thought of Kaliyah dealing with it alone.

She stormed out of the Captain’s cabin, “You shouldn’t have let me sleep.”

“You are still injured. Sit.”

“I closed my eyes a moment, you should have woke me.”

“Bread?” He gestured to a hunk on his plate, catching her tirade off guard.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, plucking it from him.

Captain let out a heavy breath as she sat, “We have a situation. I wouldn’t ever wish to ask unless it be unavoidable, but how is your concentration for your spellcasting?” he asked carefully.

“Yes, I think I’m fine.”

“Good. You may wish to prepare, ensure you have enough reserves.”

“Why?”

“A ship has been on the same course as us. They are still far, two leagues or so. I’m not concerned but would prefer to be prepared.”

“I’ll ensure all my crystals are full.”

“I want you to rest. I’m sure it is of no concern, just another trading vessel on the same route, but if you can be as ready as you can be.”

“Of course. I do not need to rest more. I will prepare my crystals and practice.”

“I do not want you to overexert yourself. You are still injured.”

“I’m well, you’re being overcautious. I’m no longer dizzy and feel more myself.”

“I can see that. Your obstinate attitude is shining.” He punctuated his mild insult with a smile.

“I am wilful, not obstinate, Captain.”

“I believe they mean the same thing.”

“You are incorrect, obstinate means I’m doing it to annoy others, wilful means I’m doing it for myself.”

“I have never heard that separation. I’m pleased to hear you are not trying to annoy me.” He winked.

“You’re teasing.”

“Me?” he sounded scandalised, although she knew he was still jesting. “Eat up and begin your preparations. I must be on deck.” He left her to her bread with a quick squeeze on the shoulder. She knew he was refraining from touching her. She wasn’t sure what she wanted from him. Part of her wanted to accept, accept his announcement they are intended. However, the other side worried she was just a passing fancy.

A niggle told her Baron wasn’t that kind of man.

After eating, she retrieved a few more crystals from her trunk in her room next door, including her spell books just in case. She found it always useful to study the more complex spells she may need if the chance presents itself.

“There’re here!” Captain bellowed as he ran into the office. He grabbed two cutlasses before she’d even registered what he meant.

“I thought they were still two leagues away?”

“They came up fast, quick!” He raced from the room and she sprang to her feet, shoving the prepared crystals in a leather pouch, leaving those that weren’t ready.

Kaliyah sprinted from the Captain’s quarters to see pandemonium. Swords clashed as more pirates boarded from ropes swinging from the Afridi’s mast. They were ants swarming overripe fruit as they heaved over the taffrail.

The first bedraggled pirate she saw climbing over, she sent a jet of flame, sending him sprawling back to the sea. Another caught her eye, the high sun glinting on his blade. Another burst of flame, she burned his sword arm. She had to be careful, such a confined space with so many spars, one wrong aim and she could hit friend instead of foe.

She took a look around, seeing who needed help, assessing the fight. She couldn’t see the Captain, but she supposed he could be on the other side of the ship.

The other ship creaked eerily, even over the fighting she could hear it like it was goading her. An idea formed in her mind, but the Afridi’s deck needed to be clearer of pirates first.

Summoning liquid fire, she shot it at the back of a man battling furiously with Bruce, the dwarfs axe cleaved the burnt man clean in half while he screamed from her spell.

Battling through, she used her two spells that drained the least of her magic, not wanting to use her crystals so soon in the battle.

A flash of silver soared towards her, readying her spell, she had no way of blocking the oncoming cutlass that was travelling fast towards her head. Swallowing, she ducked knowing it was fruitless. An axe appeared out of nowhere, her ears rang with the almighty clang of metal on metal. “No one messes with our Lassy!” he cried it like a battle cry before sending the pirate with long hair careering backwards.

“Thanks, Bruce!” she yelled as he disappeared into the throng. Twisting, she set a Bretton’s coat tails alight, leaving him aflame before he noticed, she moved onto her next target.

Her hands shot either fire or liquid fire, with the close confines, she daren’t use anything more powerful which would likely kill. She settled for maiming, letting the crew finish her victims off.

Her idea took more weight in her mind. Destroy the pirate ship. Without their ship and their reinforcements, they could do nothing.

Making her way back to the bow, she climbed to the helm to have a clear shot. The quartermaster was busy in a furious fight with a dreadlocked foe. Having a clear shot, she quickly shot a burst of flames to his back, hearing him shout out, she turned back to the enemy’s ship.

Grasping two crystals, she drained the magic she’d placed within them a mere few hours before. Feeling the magic flow through her veins, the sphere of molten fire formed between her two hands as she shaped it, steadied the power flowing until it were the size of an orc’s beer ladened belly.

She readied her stance before propelling it in a fierce jet of devastation. “Kaliyah, no!” the quartermaster bellowed just as the flame left the sphere. She couldn’t stop it, it was already released, the fire ripped through the hull of the ship, cracking it in two. Flames burst over the deck, spreading too fast for anyone on board to know what had happened.

Her arms dropped as she swayed on the spot before turning to the quartermaster, her expression querying why he tried to stop her. The fighting below had stilled, an aura of disbelief ripped around the ship.

“Captain… Captain had boarded the boat.”

His words didn’t sink in. She blinked trying to work out what his words meant.

“Baron?”

“Aye.”

She turned in horror, the ship was blackened, plumes of smoke cascaded into the air. The mast was gone and the sea was slowly taking her prize. “Baron?” She ran to the taffrail, prepared to jump when an arm snapped around her waist.

“No one survived that,” the quartermaster stated gruffly, a sorrow through his words.

“No!” She struggled against him. Maybe Baron was just in the water.

“He’s gone.”

Shaking her head wildly, she tried to tug from his grip. “You’re wrong!” she screamed, silencing the fight that had resumed on the deck. “You’re wrong!”

She wanted him. All the fighting and bucking against him. Why? Why had she refused? He was kind, caring. He’d cared for her when others would have tossed her aside. He hugged her when he should throw her in the brig. He braided her hair with more finesse than she ever managed.

She sunk to her knees which the quartermaster allowed her to. She didn’t care about anything else. She didn’t care if a pirate came and slaid her where she sat. Burying her head in her hands, she sobbed.

She’d lost what she wanted the most.

She’d killed him.

“Come on, Lass, battle’s not over,” the quartermaster’s gruff voice cut through her sorrow as he tugged her back to her feet. “We will grieve later.” Giving her a shove, she stumbled towards the steps.

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