Nixiesocean: So, apparently this story isn't that enticing. Man! I wanted this to be a favorite. My first chapter had 19 reads and no reviews. Even if it's to say 'Good Job, I like insert character name here .' Please review? It'll take like 2 seconds! I would give you puppy-dog eyes, but I doubt that you will be affected over the Internet.

So, if you don't review and tell me someone likes this story, I'll just put it on hiatus or take it out all together and give it to my friend to read.

Thank you for reading my pleads. Onto chapter 2.

Chapter 2: Pui e Pui

I ran off to my room (being that it wasn't my week for any duty, how lucky for me) to pack up my clothes. I had to be discreet. If Kayla or anyone were to find me packing, they would tie me to a tree and watch the ship sail away, along with my hopes of freedom. My weapons (like every Amazon) were on my belt and back. This way, if someone declared a challenge, it could be fought there and then.

I pulled out a small silver chain. It was said my mother gave it to me before dying, though I don't remember her. The other women became my mothers. I looked at my temporary room. I knew that when the twenty or so new Amazons were born, they would take these rooms, but I needn't worry about that, being that I was leaving tonight.

"Lilka, the Queen requests you to come. We are to watch the ship leave. They wanted to leave early to get a head start on the tide." Kayla's voice called through their joint door. "Come on! What is taking you so darn long?" I shoved the last of my items into my small knapsack and walked out the door. "Why do you have clothes with you?"

"I'm-" I had never lied before. I couldn't start now. "It's not your business what I am doing, being that I am a betrayer." I said icily. I turned and took a sprint down the slope to S'lanki e S'tanoe. In my moment of joy, I remember a tinsy little fact. Kayla was the Footrace Mistress. She easily caught up. She smiled at me until I realized another fact: I was not on the road, she was. I tried to get back on the road so I wouldn't trip on a rock or twig, but she kept me on the turf. Finally, I mustered enough courage to speed up and go in front of her. I suddenly stopped, knocking her head into my back and falling.

I kept running to the Beach of S'lanki e S'tanoe. I went to the harbor, still running. Mind you, our Footraces were miles long. Not these little sprints. I saw the boat slowly pulling out of the harbor. I broke through the wall of women waving and crying. I put on a burst of speed and called out to Brian. He appeared at the end of the boat. I reached the edge of the harbor and did the most nonsensical thing I had ever done. I jumped.

I was flying through the air when I slammed into the boat's side and felt two strong arms pull me up over the railing. My sides were heaving and my knapsack was coming undone. My head ached from the heavy running (normally we paced ourselves during Footraces). I saw Brian's almond eyes showing concern and I smiled.

"I'm fine." I said in Fr'ain. "Why did you leave early? It's only slightly past High Noon."

"My lady," The Captain Jamison said to me. "We were told to leave unannounced for exactly this reason." The crewmembers were looking at me with hunger and distrust. "Get to work, you scallywags!" He yelled to the other sailors. He gave Brian one last look, then my friend left to attend to the ship. "We don't have any spare rooms for you, miss. I could make room for you in the hull, but I fear that would be majorily uncomfortable."

"I'll sleep on the deck, if I may?" I asked him in Fr'ain.

"You may," He responded in my language. "What is your name, Amazon?"

"Lilka." I said, dropping my title. After all, I wasn't part of that Isle any longer.

"Ah," He said. "Lilka, Archery Mistress. I have heard of you. The Queen spoke to you last night."

"She did, Captain Jamison. Please, my name only. I am no longer part of that dreaded Isle." I said seriously.

"You really wanted to leave, didn't you?"

"I did, sir." I replied.

"Good. You'll be the deckboy." He looked around. "Er, deckwoman." He pointed to a brush and bucket. "Lower the bucket on the rope near the bucket. You'll find soap next to the Crew's Quarters. You need to scrub the deck if you want to buy your passage." He looked at me, still sitting on the deck. "Unless, you have another way of paying?" He asked. He looked indifferent, but the nearest crewmembers overheard him and smiled at me.

"No, sir. I'll get right to that deck." I responded, glaring at the leering crewmembers. I walked over to the area where he pointed out a bucket and brush. When I walked near the Crew's Quarters I felt someone pull me into the room and close the door.

"Hello, dearie." A gruff voice said. I tried to speak, but his hand was over my mouth. I tried to bite his hand, but he kept my mouth shut. "Now, now. Don't worry your pretty little head. I'll let go soon enough." I felt him twist. "Jeb, get the gag and rope." I realized what they planned to do. Jeb left the room leaving my captor and I in the same room. I turned so I was face to face with him. I brought my knee in connection with his manly part. He let go and rolled on the floor, reeling from the pain of a hard kick. I smiled; I was no ordinary woman. I opened the door and came face-to-face with Brian.

I grinned. "No problems here, sir." I said cheerily. He looked past me at saw the man still on the ground. "We came to an understanding." I brushed past Brian and went to go get the soap. There, Jeb was getting rope, oblivious to my entry. "Were you getting that rope for me, Jeb?" I asked sweetly. He turned and looked horrified.

"You–you're–Clyde–" He stuttered.

"Oh, you silly! You seriously didn't think I could get out of a situation like that?" I batted his shoulder playfully. "You're a dunce." I ended bluntly. "Get back to work." I kicked his butt, knocking him to the floor. I grabbed the soap and skipped out of the room.

Brian saw me leave the room and walked next to me. "Were they going to do what I think they were going to do?" He asked, eyes once again showing concern.

"I believe so. No fears for me, though. They now know not to mess with me. I can take care of myself, Brian." I patted his back and left to go scrub the deck. From what I saw, it hadn't been cleaned for years. I got the saltwater and added a half-bar of the soap. When I put my hands in, I realized the soap was lye, a strong, stinging soap. I felt the pain from the soap soak into my knuckles. I drew out the brush and started scrubbing the floor – deck – I reminded myself.

I saw bare feet come across my vision and stop in front of me. "That was a nice stunt you pulled, little lady. Next time Brian won't be there to save you." The feet walked away. I laughed at myself. Brian saved me? Hah! I laugh at the impossibilities. I took care of him all by myself. I sighed as I saw another pair of feet.

"I hope you know the mess you're getting yourself into, woman." Jeb's voice said to me. "You'll wake up one morning and your little protector won't be there." I laughed again.

Why did they both think that Brian had saved me? I had taken care of both men myself. I was perfectly fine without him. I shook my head. Without him, I would've never wanted to leave. He showed me kindness among these hormone-driven sailors. When I looked around, I saw Brian talking and pointing at each man, telling them something. When they walked away, they each went to their respective stations. I realized then, that Brian had a portion of authority on this ship.

He saw me looking at him and came over. "The two men that tried to, ahem, force you into their bed have been taken care of. They are to clean the portholes and make them shine." He told me. I nodded and kept working. "Are you okay?" I nodded again, still scrubbing with that dreadful lye. "Lilka, the captain said you wanted to sleep on the deck, am I right?' I nodded. I didn't want to be anywhere near those men. "You can't." He said simply. I looked up, startled. "Just because it's dark doesn't mean the men won't try anything immoral." He squatted down to be eye-level with me. "The captain knows me and the crew knows me. If you want to be assured that nothing immoral will happen to you, you may sleep on the floor in my room. I've told you once and I'll tell you again, I'm not like these sailors."

With that said, he left. I thought about our conversation. He had protected me in an off-hand way. He had sent the sailors to do the grubbiest, grimiest duties. I looked up in time to see him walk up the out-of-doors stairs to talk with the captain. I looked at his bare feet and saw traces of how the Queen walked, that sort of air of arrogance. I realized that none of the men, maybe even the captain, knew of this disguise that Brian held. I wondered how many lies he had told me to keep his cover.

I kept scrubbing until night. Brian came over with a lantern to the night watch. He spoke to them in an undertone. Then came over to me, with my auburn hair falling out of my plaits and my face covered in sweat.

"If you want, Lilka, my room is the third one down." He told me in a light, airy voice. I decided that I would go. Not because he wanted me to, but because I wanted an answer or two. I put my bucket where I found it and surveyed the work I had accomplished. Almost half the deck was nice and clean. I leaned over the side to catch some saltwater on my face to wash off the sweat. I took up my knapsack and walked to the third door down. The first and second I knew from earlier, so I went to the next one down. His door. I knocked lightly and heard a faint 'Come in'. I walked in, keeping my head down. I saw him come over. "Keep your head up, Lilka. Don't show submission."

"Why?" I asked. "You are some branch of royalty. Why not show submission to someone above my station?" I looked up to see his look of surprise. I wish I hadn't looked up. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have seen his well-muscled chest nor his lean frame.

"How- how did you know?" He asked, obviously taken aback. He seemed unperturbed that I had seen his chest. I had to admit, even to myself, that he was good looking. It wasn't like I wanted him, out of lust. I just had to admit that if I wanted a man in my life, he would be a good one.

"You betrayed yourself when you went t speak with the captain." I explained. "You walk like Queen Hippolyta, with that air of arrogance." I said. I looked down again, even to look away from his body.

"Since you figured it out, I command you to not look down." He said. I looked up, commanded by royalty. Once again, I tried to look away from his handsome body. His hand touched my face. "If you're s uncomfortable, just say so." His hands left my cheeks, and where they had been I felt a stinging sensation. I saw him put a shirt over his chest and come back over. "Better?"

"Yes." I answered, knowing that a simple nod would only make him angry. "I brought my own board of Pui e Pui if you want to play." I said. Part of me, the more womanly side, told me to be dismayed that he had put on a shirt. The other part, the sensible side, said he was royalty and therefore off-limits. And besides, I didn't want a relationship, did I? I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"I'll teach you Checkers." He said playfully. He brought out a board with red and black tiles. He carefully set them down, on the exact opposite of the color of the checker. He explained how to play.

"This is exactly like Pui e Pui." I commented. "No wonder. We- they must've gotten it from sailors and renamed it." I reasoned. He nodded in agreement. We played a few games of Pui e Pui or Checkers, depending on whom you were. When a yawn escaped both our mouths Brian suggested we both go to bed. I agreed at got out my blankets and laid them on the hard floorboards, right in front of the door.

Brian saw me and laughed. "Lilka, we aren't under attack. You can sleep away from the door."

"If you are royalty, then I have to protect you. This was my week for guard duty. Hippolyta dismissed the guard duty when I told her of your approach." I explained. "Therefore, I must protect you, by way of keeping with tradition."

He sighed and relinquished. "Fine, have it your way." He said.

"Thank you." I shut my eyes and fell into my light sleep.