A/N: Thank you to everyone who read the first chapter!
So, I figured out what I wanted to do with this thing. And I kind of really like it. I hope you guys like it too.
As always, no flamers. And if there is any editing/formatting errors, you can PM me and I will correct as soon as possible. (I don't bite. I promise.)
Here is chapter 2!
Happy reading!
Henny, that lucky Penny!
Chapter 2: Treasure for The Taking
"Keep!"
Clang!
"Yer!"
Clang
"Sword!"
Clang!
"UP!"
Thud!
"Henrietta!" Harry's voice rang through the sudden quiet. The air felt still and seemed to be waiting on baited breath. Panting broke through the silent tension and staccato whimpering sounded loud on the pirate ship's deck. Swords were pointed down as chests heaved with labored breathing. Everyone stood and waited for the blowout.
"Well, the dumb she-rat wouldn't keep her sword up!" Henrietta snarled viciously towards the cowering girl on the deck. The unlucky girl flinched, trying to disappear deeper into the wood. Henrietta was an imposing figure with her chest rising rapidly, her muscles in her sword arm taut and straining to keep the weapon still. Her back was rigid with the beginning of her anger.
"Enough!" Harry commanded. He took a step towards his twin. Henrietta raised an eyebrow in warning, "Rie, sheath yer sword and take a minute to calm yerself." Harry narrowed his eyes. Neither was adept at listening to other people.
"I am calm, dearest brother." Rie replied as she touched the tip of her sword to the wood flooring and leaned her weight into it.
"Go." the command was softer, but it was firm. Harry's hand was open and gesturing towards the ship ramp. His eyes were steady on the feminine version of himself.
Henrietta didn't move at first. Finally, her eyes narrowed slightly and her teeth clenched. Her body began to take action. With slow and calculated movements, Rie raised her sword and slid it home in the scabbard. She adjusted her thin cotton shirts and brushed stray strands of hair away from her moistened brow. Her feet began to walk pointedly and careful and were honestly the only tell to how angry the female pirate was at being dismissed.
All the other pirates watched as Henrietta made her way towards the ship's exit. And when the angry girl got next to her brother, she stopped and looked at him slowly.
"Not over, Harry." Her voice was calm steele. Her cold fury was almost famous, if more people had witnessed her angry.
"Go on, lass." his reply was whispered. Harry never looked away from the chilly daggers she was throwing at him.
Her pace continued and her braided dark tresses disappeared from sight.
After Henrietta left, training continued. The hapless girl that received the harsh instruction from the shorter Hook twin was sent away. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. Harry decided she would be useless for the rest of the day. And those that could fight, did.
The First Mate called training only after everyone had blood staining their clothing. Their own blood included. Harry dismissed the pirates to lick their wounds and rub their muscles. The training had been as brutal as intended by Uma. And Harry looked like the cat who got the canary. A small smiled touched his pouty lips.
Gil was fully used to such training sessions. He had been running with Uma since the beginning. Having nicks and bruises was just a part of his wardrobe by now. His only first aid was washing the blood from his skin and checking for gashes. But he already knew he didn't have any because he and Harry hadn't been partnered.
So, Gil was free to go about his own business.
His business today was going to the food markets. Gil was looking for something to steal. Uma had promised to cook him up something special today. She actually promises to cook him something special everyday if Gil could find anything worth cooking up. And that was hard on the Isle.
As Gil made his way through the markets, he managed to get to one he knew he couldn't spend too much time in. A neighboring pirate crew, most just as crazy as Harry and Henrietta, called this one their own. Gil only came this far occasionally. While he wasn't too scared of much, being here did give him pause. Especially seeing two sea rats from the Crazy Crew.
The two enemy pirates were making a general nuisance of themselves. Gil stood in the shadows watching as they were chasing around the younger children and yelling at them. Gil was fingering the grip of his sword when the sport became boring to the two obnoxious boys. The tension slipped from his shoulders and he turned to leave. But stopped when they began talking
"The cap'n is sure it's secure?" One of the rats was inspecting some half rotten apples looking for the least rotten ones.
"'E says it is!" the other responded before he snarled at the vendor making the frazzled woman shrink into herself and forget about getting her coin.
Gil became curious. Something secure usually meant that it was valuable and Gil knew Uma enjoyed valuable things. And she liked knowing she had bested people. And Gil knew he annoyed the lady captain often with his thoughtless and truthful words, so he liked to please her as many times as possible.
"Said it was below deck and it would stay there."
And that was all Gil needed to make his captain the happiest captain on the Isle.
Before anyone could see him spying, Gil scampered deeper into the shadows and disappeared down the alley to inform Uma their fortunes were about to improve.
Harry found Henrietta exactly where he knew he would find her. His twin was really an uncomplicated woman. Feed her food. Keep her busy by giving her victims. Braid her hair when it got in her face. Go to their hideout spot when she loses her cool during training.
Simple.
"Don't scold me." Henrietta whispered from her perch on the tree branch as her twin crested the little hill it was growing out of.
Harry was silent as he made his way up the trunk. The tree was one of the strongest on the Isle and also one of the more luscious ones. The tree held two full teens in its branches without breaking and plummeting them down to the earth. It reminded the twins of their ever-growing bond with each other. And no one else knew about it.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Rie." Harry replied softly as he eased himself next to her on the branch.
"And I won't be apologizing, either." she said firmly before resting her head on his shoulder to seek out the calm his presence created in her chest.
"No one expects it." Harry responded while placing his arm around her shoulders and pressing her into his side.
"Good."
Henrietta took comfort that Harry never expected the impossible from her. Remorse wasn't in her blood.
"Well, I guess I won't be cooking something special to eat." Uma said through a wide, wicked grin. Gil had just repeated what he had heard in the market place, "But a plan is something worth cooking."
Gil never knew what she meant when she spoke like that.
