The day dawns, hot and sunny like all others.

I am up in the rigging and John and Silas are below, scurrying about the deck. Amos shadows them, until he is banished to the kitchens by a frazzled Silas.

I laugh, and temporarily abandon the sails as I savor the salty air.

My hair came loose from its ponytail, and now it streams behind me, tangled in the rigging like my arms. No water makes its way up here, but I can still smell the heavy, salty air all about me.

I grin happily. I belong up here, with the wind and the sea.

This is my home. For the love of the sea I will live, and for the love of the sea I will die.

Suddenly, on the horizon, I spot another ship. 'A sail! A sail!'

Pete steps onto the deck. 'Can you see her colors?'

Nimbly, I swing up to the crow's nest, surprising the officer already there.

'My apologies, sir,' I say 'but there seems to be a ship headed our way.'

I point to the ship in question.

He looks at me. 'Thank you, boy. Go get the Corporal. If anyone stops to question you, you have Private Lindon's permission to be in Navy quarters.'

I hurry to the Navy's section of the ship. The floors and walls are noticeably nicer, even carpeted as I near the Corporal's apartments.

I knock tentatively on the door.

'Who goes there!'

'Private Lindon requests the presence of the Corporal on the deck, sir.'

The door opens, and I am face-to-face with none other than my betrothed.

'Well, boy? Take me to him!'

Hiding my shock and unease, I lead the Corporal to the deck. He stops to look at me.

'You look familiar, boy…..oh, never mind. Take me to Lindon.'

I am spared any further questioning as Lindon climbs down to meet his commander. He hands him the telescope.

'Mary, mother of God,' he breathes 'she's a pirate!'

The deck is swarmed by more Navy officers than I have seen on the entire voyage as the ship nears us with remarkable speed.

'All pirates are like that.' Pete remarks wryly. 'They favor speed above all else.'

After making sure that Amos is safely below deck, John comes up to stand beside me, his sword in hand. 'D'you remember everything?'

I smile at my friend. 'Yes, of course.'

Silas joins us. 'No worries, mates,' he says cheerfully 'never seen no one killed in a sea battle.'

Somehow, his words do not reassure me.

Smoke from muskets blanket the deck as the battle rages on.

Already I have killed my first man, but I do not think about it. All I think about is staying alive.

I see John battling a huge, burly pirate.

'Give up, laddie. You know we're gonna get yer ship, and yer life whilewe're at it.'

'Never!' John gasps, but I can see he is wearing down.

Another pirate sneaks up behind him, ready to deliver the fatal blow –

'NO!' I scream, and before I know it, have killed my second man.

I am overcome with fury. How dare they touch my friend?

I kill the other pirate easily. Three men. Tears run down my dirty cheeks as I help John up.

'Are you okay?'

'I'm fine.' He says. 'Thanks…..'

My shirt is steadily growing crimson. My traitorous legs give way as I feel John grab me before I slip into unconsciousness.

The fog clears as I open my eyes. I am lying on a blanket on the floor of the galley.

'I brought you to George after you blacked out. He wanted to treat you personally. Your sword's over there.' John gestures to the corner.

George and John are both looking at me weirdly, and I remember my wound.

I look down and realize my shirt is unbuttoned and my chest is heavily bandaged. The length of cloth I use to bind my breasts lies in a corner with my sword.

I use all the curse words I know (and from the sailors, I know quite a lot). John blushes and looks away.

Amos peeks in. 'Is it true? Yera girl?'

They all look at me, waiting for me to speak.

I sigh. 'My name is Rachel Norrington…..'

I finish my story, all the while staring at the floor. I look up expectantly.

'Well? Aren't you going to tell the captain? Although, preferably not the Corporal. He the main reason I'm here.'

George looks at me. 'Nay, lass,' he says slowly 'yer here 'cause you followed yer heart, 'stead of sitting around like any other ninny waiting for the sky to fall.'

Amos comes over and gives me a hug. Surprised, I hug him back.

'Yer still my friend.'

I smile at him. 'Thanks, Amos.'

John mutters 'The Commodore's daughter! Next thing we know, Amos'll turn out to be the Queen of England….'

He comes over and hugs me, too. It feels surprisingly good, and before I know what I'm doing, I lean my head against his shoulder.

We stay like that for a while. George finally breaks the silence.

'What kind of friends would we be if we told 'em who ye are, eh? Even if ye be a lass, yer a damn good sailor.'

And with that, all tension evaporates.