Chapter Six

In The Clutches of the Captain.

Toby struggled to reach his knife. Krys wrapped slim fingers around the bonds and concentrated. Her brow creased then she sighed.

"What?" Toby asked, still reaching.

She waved it away. "I just thought that my magic might work here."

He started. "Magic? You have magic?"

She smiled. "Of course. I grew up there."

He finally reached his knife but before he could do more than cut away a few strands, he saw approaching pirates. He hacked at the net and they dropped even as the small group of pirates entered the clearing. Toby brandished his knife. He pushed Krys behind him. But even as he did, another pirate leapt from behind and wrapped his arms around the slim girl's waiste.

Krys was no simpering princess. She slammed her elbow back into the man's jaw, breaking it. He released her and she ran towards Toby.

Toby had managed to hold off the three men before him. He glanced back to make sure Krys was ok. As he did, the nearest Pirate, a man with one eye and a wicked looking blade, slammed the pommel of his sword into the boy's neck. Toby crumpled.

Krys ran to him and slid between him and his previous opponents. She sank to a seat, her night dress floating around her on the ground. She brought her hands up the way her father had taught her, pulling her namesake from the depths of her night gown. She held the crystal out before her, letting the light catch it and drive dreams deep into the men. Even without the Labyrinth this piece of magic would have worked.

But for the fifth man who shattered the crystal with an arrow.

Krys stared at the remains of her only link to her past as the men tied her up and dragged her and Toby to their feet. Toby was still out and was slung over one man's shoulder. Krys was pushed and shoved around. A blindfold was wrapped around her eyes.

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Krys shook her head, further dislodging the gag from her mouth. Her blindfold had been replace by the gag shortly after they arrived on this ship which could only be Captain Hook's.

The gathered men looked at each other then back at her. "What did you say?" asked the fat one she assumed had to be Smee. Toby was still groggy but rapidly coming to.

She assumed the perfect Queen of the Labyrinth look, gazing down her long nose at the men who towered above her. One might wonder how she could really do that, but Krys was talented.

"Parlay." SHe ennunciated carefully.

"What's that?"

Krys pulled a quote from her favorite movie. Her dad didn't like the idea that she watched movies, but he couldn't stop her and didn't try.

"According to the code laid down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholemew, you must take me to your captain." SHe twisted the quote but she doubted it mattered.

"Huh?"

She pretended they had said the right words. "If an adversary demands parlay, you can do them no harm til the parlay is complete."

SHe was of course stalling for time, her hands were free now and she was prepared to jump over board. SHe could deal with the height issue this once. She could probably drag Toby with her.

THe men stared at her. THen a clear familiar voice rang out. "We must honor the code."

The crowd parted and a tall man, his blond hair uneven and elegant beneath his hat stepped forward. He wore a kneelenght jacket that was bright red with gold piping. Krys recognized him immediately. SHe leapt to her feet and ran to him, leaping into his arms with the cry of "Father!"

(A/N: Well, hope you guys like this. I had a ball writing this chapter for some reason. I don't really know why. I guess, everything is just coming together! And wonderfully, I might add.