Prince Hans-of-the-Southern-Isles, now crapped in a moss filled, dimly lit three by five feet cell in the brig of what was once his own ship, lamented his floundered attempt to secure himself a kingdom that would respect and adore him. Now, he was to go back to face the loathing gazes of his twelve older brothers and trial. Who knows maybe his brothers will take pity. Perhaps they will finally notice him. It would be impossible to dismiss such a cruel and cunning act. Hans chuckled dryly. They would have never guessed their darling baby brother could get into this mess. They were the ones who pushed him. Each one of them married off to wealthy, allied families, but Hans was not going to follow them into that trap of servitude. No. He wanted more, even if it meant the death of him.

A soft breeze stroked his cheek easing his nausea, but only momentarily, until he snapped his head up at the scent of gardenias. Nothing. The shadows cast by the glow of the burning torch danced across the walls. One shadow remained unmoving near a chair. Wait no… in a chair?

"I see you've finally noticed me." A hooded figure approached the cell bars. "Look out your porthole. Do you see that ship? She's a beauty isn't she? I have a proposal for you. If you help me get that ship, I'll help you get out of this cell and give you a new name. You could start fresh as my vice captain. What do you say?"

"Who are you? And why would I want to help a nobody like you?"

"I can't say you're in much of a position to call me a nobody."

"I asked who are you, scum?"

"I'm someone merely offering you a nice ticket to freedom from the doom your brothers have most definitely planned for you." The figure jiggled a loop of keys.

"I am a prince and will die as one, before I accept your offer to become a nobody."

"As you wish." With flutter of the cloak, the figure stepped back into the shadows and strolled out of the brig.