Chapter 10:

The first month of serving the crew of The Lady Luck finally dragged by and turned into the second month. By this time, Anna and Emlis were fit to be tired. The jobs assigned to them only got worse, and by the end of the first month, Anna was beginning to regret ever making that deal with Jack.

"It's for the sake of Deltora and the West," Anna and Emlis kept telling themselves. This would give them a little energy boost…but not a lot.

"Boy, what a day!" Anna exclaimed, collapsing onto the bed in her and Emlis' room.

"I agree." Emlis said, sitting on the bedside. "Today was one of the most challenging days yet."

"Well, look on the positive side." Anna said, grinning at Emlis. "Only one more month. This one is the shorter one, for it only has 30 days." She saw Emlis grin a little.

"I cannot wait until this next month is over." Emlis said, happily. "Then we will travel to the West. But who knows what perils will meet us there?" He looked at Anna, who suddenly felt her heart sink. She had been so persistent in getting a ride to the West that she forgot the reason she was going there. Surely there had to be some terrible thing that was threatening the Western lands. Anna shook her head. This was her decision, and she wasn't going to let some stupid fears make her back out. Besides, she had one month to wait for the perils that lie on the Western shore. For now, she had to worry about preparing dinner in an hour for the crew of The Lady Luck.

"It is time to make the angry crew their dinner." Emlis was shaking Anna out of a much-needed nap.

"Okay." Anna said, getting up. "I will get the fish out of the nets tonight. You have done it for the past week."

"Are you sure?" Emlis asked, concerned. "You seem so tired lately."

"I'll be fine." Anna said, yawning deeply. "All I am doing is getting some fish out of a net." She got up and left the room.

The outside breeze awoke Anna a little as she stepped out onto the top deck. She looked up at the sky and admired all of the pretty stars winking at her. What a nice night, she thought to herself as she walked over to the nets. She wondered what her parents and siblings were doing now. Did they think she was lost, or did they track her down using the Dreaming Water? They probably used the Water…but did they see her? She wondered if The Lady Luck was still a ghost ship or not. A terrible sensation awoke Anna out of her daydream as she felt herself tipping over the railing of the ship. She thought she was gone, until she felt someone grab her by the waist and pull her back onto the deck.

"Careful, now," Anna heard Jack say, as he let her go. "Wouldn't want to fall overboard and miss out on your trip to the West." Anna glared at his grinning face.

"-Er- thank you," Anna said, looking away. She hoped she didn't owe him one now. "I suppose you're going to want something in return for saving me. Another month of being a servant I suppose." She looked up surprised to see Jack not grinning.

"No, this one will be on the house." He said, quickly putting on his mocking grin. "-Er- you better get those fish. The crew and I are hungry." Anna watched him quickly disappear into the lower decks. She tilted her head confused. She figured it must be a trick. She knew that Laughing Jack would never ever miss an opportunity to hold a debt over someone's head. Anna hoped that it really was nothing, as she gathered the fish and helped Emlis prepare the dinner. Deep down, Anna felt that Jack really wasn't going to trick her. She couldn't explain how she knew, but she just did…it was complicated.

A/N: Sorry it's been AGES! I hope this chapter will make up for it . –Er- yeah the story should get better now. Thanks for the review DemonMChan