Flexing and bending to get used to the heavier feeling of her armor, Paralee finally grabbed her belt and strapped on her jeweled dagger and spun around for Taz. “How do I look?” Paralee asked and suddenly felt silly asking Taz the question like she was wearing a dress. “I-I mean, does it fit right?”

  Taz purred and walked around Paralee a few times, drinking liberally as she did so. “Misericordia, ayúdame. Miras más allá de s pabras.” She commented in Spanish, then after seeing the confused look on Paralee’s face ughed, “Mercy me, yes. You look great.” She winked, “Better leave the helm off for now, covering that lovely visage would be a crime.”

  “Then let’s get some bones tossed.” Paralee winked and headed out of their space. “You do know that I am going to win, right?” Paralee whistled as she walked. “I will have all of that fine silk you are wearing, trust me.”

  “Devil Gi-” Taz began to say when the ship felt like it was breaking apart and lurched to the right. “What in the…” Taz stumbled and tried to run, when another hole ripped through the thick wood taking her with it.

  Paralee turned just as the second shot rang out and reached for her friend’s hand when she disappeared in a cloud of dust, wood splinters and the smell of gunpowder. Struck with shock, Paralee froze in pce while she heard orders being yelled from Captain Boulet to his cannoneers and the small squad of marines he kept ready.

  -Go back for the helm, or go forward? Do something Paralee…don’t just stand here.-

  When Paralee’s hand touched the hilt of her dagger, its warm feeling sent a little jolt of energy through her body and freed her from the initial shock. “Fuck the helm.” Paralee quickly decided and sprinted her way up the stairs as more cannonballs ripped through the hull, barely missing her and sending thick splinters into her armor. She pulled a thick piece of wood from where it stuck in the leather. “Best investment ever.” She said just as a smaller ball with a chain whipped by her head, leaving a long bloody line down her cheek. Thankful that her reaction was fast enough to save her head, Paralee wiped the blood the best she could with her hand and finally got to the main deck to witness the battle that had started.

  A gray ship with a white fg and bck bones, had moved within a hundred feet of ‘The Crimson Runner’ and begun firing its heavy guns. Paralee took a moment to run to the railing and finally witnessed the damage to the ship. She found the captain at the helm still barking orders to return fire. “Captain! We are taking on water in the lower decks!” She screamed as loud as she could, to no avail.

  -Get yourself out of this one Paralee.-

  Seconds after she started thinking about how to escape her situation, shots again rang out and instead of cannonballs, grappling hooks embedded themselves into the hull. She witnessed the other crew twisting a huge screw-like device, pulling the two ships closer. Paralee tried to get the captain’s attention once more, but nothing worked. She watched the marines take up position with their pistols and swords drawn, ready for the others to board. Paralee looked up and saw that shot had ripped through all of the sails, making ‘The Crimson Runner’ more or less dead in the water. “I can’t do anything up there, shit…shit…shit.” She mumbled then ran along the side of the ship until she’d reached the back deck. Hearing the battle progressing in the favor of the pirates, Paralee resolved to take her chances in the water. “I just hope I don’t sink like a stone.” She’d climbed on the rail when she spotted a loose grappling hook wedged into a hole, and its rope not being pulled tight. “No way…” She looked down at the warm waters of the Mediterranean and smiled. “Thank you for your mercy.” She blew a kiss to the wind and climbed out on the thick rope, scurrying to the other side.

  Crouching in the dark pirate hold, Paralee tucked herself into the smallest space she could find, and waited. “Yeah, yeah. I am a coward, I suppose.” She ripped a couple pieces from her tan shirt and first tied up her long hair. “Better alive than dead.” Using the second strip, she carefully applied pressure to her cheek until the wicked line finally clotted.

  -Okay, you are alone with just armor and a dagger. You need supplies.-

  Trying to listen beyond the gunshots and smaller cannon fire, Paralee figured out that most of the pirates had finally crossed over to ‘The Crimson Runner’ and continued the fight there.

  -Water, food. You have the cover of darkness.-

  Patting her leather leggings, Paralee cursed to herself. “Shit. The compass is in my hammock along with all my silver and the pearls, “ She peered out from the barrels she was hiding behind and noticed a bunch of empty bottles where they were steadily rolling back and forth as the ship dipped into the waves. Waiting for a couple to get within her reach, Paralee secured three good bottles, one that was half-full of rum. “Okay, At least I can get drunk if I get caught.” She quietly muttered and took the empty ones and made her way to one of the water barrels. While the bottles filled without much sound, Paralee was able to hear the end of the battle and Captain Boulet screaming.

  “This wasn’t what we agreed on, Jaques - Damn you to the depths! We agreed on two days out of Kissamos to give you what you asked for! What is the meaning of this attack?” Captain Boulet angrily addressed the pirate Captain. Upon hearing that there was a little deal that was supposed to be struck, Paralee made her way up to the top deck, and hid in the doorway out of sight, yet could see the events as they unfolded.

  Captain Jaques, a rather tall man over six feet tall stood in front of his captive holding a pistol and his sword right in Boulet’s face. “My dear captain.” His deep Romanian voice lightly echoed. “I changed the terms of the agreement.” He shoved the gun back in his belt and motioned for his own crew to grab Captain Boulet. “This way, I can have what I asked for, your load and the two women you promised me.” He chuckled, “Hark, ye now, ya said there was beyond o’doubt a runner aboard, aye?” Jaques turned to his marine sergeant, “Wells, is there be any dyfolk on this bucket?”

  “Arr, None sir. Empty the boat is, me swears it.” He raised his eyebrow and held his cutss at the ready.

  Paralee frowned and knew that the only two women on the ship had been Taz and herself.

  -Shit. I hope you get what’s coming to you, or my dagger will do it.-

  Paralee sensed a little hum vibrating from the bde and tapped lightly on her sheath. “Careful now, lest we get caught. All we need to do is wait until they make port.” Annoyed with the situation, Paralee walked back to her little alcove with the filled bottles and a few loaves of bread she stole on her way.

  -Am I destined to be betrayed? This is the third time in six months.-

  Her dagger thrummed once more after she let the thought percote in her mind. Paralee sighed and ran her fingers over the rubies that made up her dagger's hilt.

  -Thrice in six months isn’t so bad when considering that I have been leaving a trail of bodies.-

  A few minutes ter she heard a single gunshot and the pirates coming back aboard their ship, singing and talking about the bounty they’d just taken. She watched quietly as the pirates walked right past her without noticing her, just chattering among themselves and offering praise to Captain Jaques. It took a few hours but eventually the men stopped walking past her with crates. Shortly after, Paralee heard a loud explosion followed by Captain Jaques in a loud and heavy voice, “We are off to Kissamos! No sense not to be sell’n these goods. You each get your normal cut and because of the extra haul, another half!” Paralee frowned, “I only ever got half a cut..the cheap ass. He deserved what he got.” She muttered under her breath.

  When the music started she heard the men all begin stomping wildly as though they were starting to party. Paralee had witnessed the same from the guys on ‘The Crimson Runner’. Sailors being notoriously alike, would pull boyish pranks, drink until they nearly passed out and finally stumble to their hammocks for a couple hours sleep, in the vain attempt to do their jobs the morning after. Looking down at the brown bottle that held the rum, Paralee shrugged. “What the hell. I was going to be sold or given to this guy, so here’s to not being a sve.” Pulling the cork free slow enough to not make a popping sound, Paralee tipped the alcohol to her lips and drank generously. While she’d begun drinking a bit while in port, she was not completely ready for the burn that followed and nearly coughed.

  -Sweet and yet a wee smokey fvored. Why does this taste so familiar?-

  Posing the question to herself as she swigged more rum. She poured a few drops onto her dagger. “No reason why you can’t enjoy it too. What was it I said to Taz? Oh, shared rum is the best rum. So here’s your tiny share.” It wasn’t long after Paralee sensed a warm reaction from the dagger that she slipped into a deep and mostly drunken sleep.

  It was lots of banging and all through the ship that forced Paralee to open her eyes and regret doing so.

  -Shit. My aching head. What was I thinking…-

  She lightly snorted causing the pain to throb a little more.

  -I was thinking I needed to pass out and forget what happened. Shit. Shit. Shit. How long has it been? Have I missed Kissamos?-

  Rubbing her cheeks, Paralee winced when she hit the wound on her cheek.

  -That didn’t hurt as much as it did before.-

  She lightly felt the scab that made the scar and smiled when she got a few drops of blood.-

  -Good, it means about a day maybe two, since it’s still bleeding a wee bit.-

  Quickly reaching down, Paralee found the hilt of her lovely bde and breathed a sigh of relief.

  -Not that I thought you were gone, mind you..since I am still here in this little alcove. It’s just good to know that you’re still with me.-

  Catching a ruby giving off a single sparkle that only Paralee could see, she smiled and grabbed one of her water bottles and drank it down, sending waves of relief down her parched throat. Paralee had just wiped the excess water from her bzing red lips when she heard someone compining.

  “Alright you pack of ingrates, which one of you pirates absconded with the bread I cooked st eve? I’ll give ye all a chance to fess up before I goes to the cap’n, I will.” Paralee managed to peek beyond one of the barrels she was using for cover and saw an older gentleman with brown hair and an apron waving a meat cleaver. “You’ll just have to work scrubb’n pots for two days. One for each loaf, or face the judgment of the cap’n.”

  -Shit…Shit…Shit!-

  Paralee thought and slowly ducked back into her cubby, and looked down at one loaf of bread she’d half-eaten.

  -What now?-

  Thinking to herself, Paralee pondered her choices.

  -I can jump now, I can try and fight my way out…not a chance, I can wait until I hear seagulls…assuming I can hear them down here. Kissamos can’t be far off if I slept so long. Wait it out.-

  It took roughly five minutes of fidgeting before Paralee gave up the idea of waiting.

  -I need to know where we are, and what part of the day it is. That will help me decide.-

  When Paralee stood up, she felt her legs wobble from the long time sitting in one position, along with a little dehydration. She reached down and picked up both bottles and drained them completely, banking on the fact she was either leaving the pirate ship or could get more in the early morning hours. Tying the bottles to the barrels so they wouldn’t roll around and break, Paralee put her hand on her dagger and headed for the rear of the ship once the cook had the attention of the crew in the immediate area.