Chapter Six: Lines Carved into the Stardust
Heart:
The next day or so passed by rather quietly to our surprise and relief. Her song seemed to pause for the time being, giving Duke and I both time to heal rest.
Though ending up in his quarters after my initial protesting ad brought on a healthy dose of teasing.
"I guess you couldn't resist after all?" Irving teased.
This was ceased with a quick nudge in his non existant ribs by Avarin while she gave an understanding nod towards me.
"I know I know, it was just a joke," Irving insisted while rubbing the shirt that made his torso back into place.
"What do ya know?" Duke raised a brow when he noticed this going on from the helm.
"There's no use beating around the bush now," Marestella shrugged with her hands on her hips, "Though we were hoping you'd finally come to us with it."
Before Duke could slip away the crew gathered around us. The Atlantian and raven ladies took the center to face him. Trent backed them up by stepping behind the captain. While Irving, Melodia, Catalina, and Norelle took the sides. As I noticed him growing rather tense I attempted to stand at his side, though I wasn't sure exactly how this was going to ease his concerns at all.
"We know what's going on Captain," Trent delivered bluntly.
"Is that so?" Duke asked trying to mask his surfacing frustrations with a calm tone.
"Why didn't you come forward with this? Regardless of what happened before we've stuck by you haven't we?" Marestella questioned while folding her arms over her chest.
"Now it's begun and we don't know how much time we have left to try and help you!" Norelle exclaimed with a burst of frustration breaking the bubble we'd kept it in thus far.
"It wasn't your burden to bare. I got myself into this mess an' I planned to take care of it jus' the same," Duke attempted, "If Miss Flashblade weren't tangled up with it I would have kept it that way!"
"What do you mean it isn't our burden?!" Catalina snapped, "You're our captain!"
"Exactly, an' that's why I made sure there was a plan put in place should somethin' happen!" Duke pushed back while trying to slip by Trent.
"You should have told us L'Orange! We would have had more time to figure something out! Now we have to scramble to find a way to save you!" Avarin snapped, not giving him the chance to evade this.
Then the raven shook her head, sighing as she spoke a bit more calmly, "We know why it's been harder for you to turn to us. We get it."
"Still, you should have told us something," Melodia mentioned with a healthy dose of caution.
"We've stood by you through thick and thin," Norelle nodded.
"Heck you brought us all together in the first place, remember?" Catalina commented with a hand on her hip.
At this Duke began to ease up in his stance as well as his tone, "Of course I do."
"You may be the brave and bold captain of this ship," Irving chuckled.
"However you must rely on your crew from time to time," Trent stated firmly.
"So you got yourself in trouble with a starmaid?" Marestella asked with an amused smirk, "How do we help dig you out?"
"It might not work," Duke warned.
"Never stopped us before!" Melodia smirked with her front rodent teeth poking out and whiskers twitching.
"By the way, we know that's why Heart is staying with you," Norelle commented quickly, "because you both can hear the song and she has a chance of helping you in case we can't."
"I'm sure you're not complaining about that part 'ay captain?" Irving risked a quick wink before stepping back quickly.
"So what is we're after?" Avarin struck out straight to the point.
Duke gave a revived and confident smile before pulling a map from his coat breast pocket. Unferling it revealed a chart of a planet rather small in size compared to others around it.
"Entirely made of gems, minerals, an' other treasures; this planet is said to hold enchanted items, jewelry, cloaks, blades. If the legends are true there should be something for everyone here to take to their liking," Duke said, "An' from what I've researched it may have somethin' that can break the starmaid's curse on me."
"Something like that would be heavily guarded," I mentioned, "And well sought after."
"With everyone huntin' for the treasure of a thousand worlds we actually have the upper hand. Let them go after their gold while we seek this well kept secret instead," Duke explained, "But we will need ta be prepared for the dangers around the planet itself."
"Such as?" Trent prompted.
"Stories an' songs mention a creature sleeping on one of it's moons, hoarding the treasure as part of it's nest," Duke explained, "We will need ta be ready for a possible battle to take out the guardian if need be."
"Is it really worth the risk?" I asked, "Your crew and your ship could be torn apart by it-"
"We're capable, trust me," Duke assured me.
"You're not having second thoughts about joining our crew are you? From what I've heard you've been a few scrapes already and it's only going to get worse," Avarin questioned.
I shook my head, "No. I know you're capable, I guess I should have realized being trained for combat was needed."
"You're not are you?" Melodia asked with a nervously twitching nose.
I shook my head, "That's not exactly what I was hired for on my original ship I'm afraid. However I am willing to learn from anyone willing to teach me."
"I could teach ya Miss Flashblade, if ya like?" Duke offered to my surprise.
Turning to him I asked, "Are you sure? You have enough to worry about Captain, I-"
"Lady Heart you are already riskin' a great deal to aid in this struggle, I think I can give ya some lessons on sword play," he chuckled, "An' you'd be learnin' from one of the best."
The playful smirk that curved his beak somehow pulled me into saying, "Th-Thank you Captain. I do appreciate this."
I then glanced back over the map a bit closer, taking note of pieces scribed over areas of it.
"May I take a closer look?" I requested as Duke stepped to the side to let me stand in front of it.
"Somethin' up?" He asked looking over my shoulder while grasping it carefully.
Without answering I looked over it before glancing up at the stars above us. Taking note of the positions of galaxies and planets I then refocused on the map. My hand ran carefully over notes marked well before Duke's were added. Looking up and down from the map to the space around us I realized somehow a bit of this seemed familiar, but I couldn't explain why.
"We're on the outskirts of the map here, the very edge of the star system it needs us to take, but we're close to veering too far to the left," I mentioned as I looked up to see how the positions differed for us and where the map lined up.
Duke tilted his head to see how I was looking at it. As he did this he gripped it excitedly as he proclaimed, "I adore those sapphire eyes of yours!"
Not seeing how flustered I was from that sudden remark, Duke then gave a nod to Avarin, who quickly went to the wheel of the ship, "She's right! We need to vere right a bit!"
"Got it Captain!" Avarin confirmed as she followed his order.
Duke then glanced at me, "Ya have an eye for maps?"
"Well, back home I studied art, which includes landscapes and mapping to a degree. When doing so you train your eyes to notice details like that," I explained while looking over the parchment as the ship turned.
"We may have our guide then," he said to me as he kept his hand firmly on my shoulder.
"I need some time to really study it though before I can guide us much further," I mentioned.
"I trust it is safe in your hands sweetheart," he told me with a prideful glow about him.
"In the meantime though we also should get started on those lessons," he then mentioned.
"I suppose you're right," I swallowed my unease while rolling the chart back up for the time being.
"Everyone as ya were," Duke commanded in a good natured tone before adding full heartedly, "An'...thanks."
"You're lucky we like you so much," Marestella winked before heading off, pulling out a sewing kit in the process to mend a tunic with Melodia trailing behind her.
Once inside the cabin Duke closed the door and strolled over to the left wall. Hanging from it were a pair of dulled blades resting in a crossed form. The blades themselves were rather ornate in craftsmanship, their hilts twisting like a vines plant around the base.
"So ya told them then I guess?" Duke sighed while removing the two swords from their resting place.
"I felt it was the right thing to do. If things get worse I may need their help to save you," I replied, "The other night we barely made it out and you know that."
I watched as he shuddered, seeming to remember the cries we endured as they screamed through our heads that night.
"I'm sorry Captain," I ventured, "I know it wasn't my place."
Duke spun quickly on his heel and gave a stern glance at me. Then walking over with both swords in hand he replied, "Miss Flashblade, there is nothin' to apologize for. As a part of this crew I am countin' on ya to go with your instinct, especially if it's for the sake of everyone on this ship. We look out for one another here, an' no one gets left behind...Even me, an' it's time I remembered that isn't it?"
With a softened smile he offered one of the swords to me by the hilt before coming to a brief pause. Holding onto the hilt still Duke looked to me with a tinge of confusion in his eye as he laughed, "Why does this feel so familiar?"
"I'm not sure Captain," I admitted with a wave of nostalgia I couldn't explain washing over me as I took the sword from him.
Duke seemed to shake it off rather quickly and positioned himself across from me. He gave a polite bow with his usual flare and charm flourishing his movements. Drawing his sword he said, "Unfortunately some may not practice such manners, so be careful when in a real fight."
"I understand," I replied carefully as I followed his lead.
He showed me a few stretches and starter exercises. I followed him step by step until he was ready to begin a practice duel. With a swift lunge he darted forward as I jumped out of the way.
"Try to block me this time Heart," Duke instructed as he stepped forth again.
However I once again stepped out of the way. We went on like this for a bit until he asked me to strike so he could demonstrate how to block instead. Yet as I did this I came to a sudden halt before getting too close to him to even attempt this.
"Miss Flashblade these are dull blades, ya can't hurt me with them," he assured me as I tried again with the same result.
"I realize that," I said while stepping back.
While catching my breath I looked over the metalic blade, catching the light with it and reflecting it. I carefully ran my other hand over the blunt blade as though making sure. None the less I shook my head and lowered the blade, "I don't know what's wrong?"
"Why don't we take a break then, you've got the stretches an' starters down for now. That's a good start for a first time," he attempted while I handed him back the blade again by the hilt.
As he hung up the two swords again I unfirled the map onto the desk. Looking over it I ran a careful hand over it to try and remove any creases that I could. I made note of the swift marks of ink made long before Duke had the parchment in his possession. For a moment I wondered who had first charted this course and recorded their findings. Trails taken over this star system were jotted down with blurred words trying to warn other explorers of what may be there along the way.
"Somethin' a miss Lady Heart?" Duke asked while walking back over.
My hands were placed firmly on the surface of the desk as I leanedforward against it. While I poured over the map I vaguely felt him slip a hand to my shoulder to look over from behind, "Miss Flashblade?"
"There's spaces in words here and there that are harder to make out," I answered while studying the worn and weathered chart, "I might be able to fill it in, but I'm afraid of tarnishing what's here."
"What do ya need then?"
"Fresh paper if we have it, I might be able to replicate this with fresh notes," I answered.
Without wasting a moment Duke slipped away and crouched down to begin searching through the drawers. In seconds he pulled free a stack of clean papers and offered them up to me, "My salvation rests in your hands then sweetheart."
"You might want to be careful saying things like that Captain," I commented while taking the parchments and getting to work.
The next day or so were spent either studying the map to replicate it and fencing lessons. I would see the others in passing or during meals. Even then I would eventually take some water and bread to return to the charts I was crafting. Every note was poured over, every mark examined and then copied. When it grew darker at points I kept a lamp nearby to aid my vision and continued on.
Duke:
Late into that second night I had been looking over some of the notes while sitting on the bed nearby. It was then that I noticed Heart using the found fresh paper she had to start drawing a new map. As she worked on this she would keep her finished pieces together to form some sort of guide with it. She then attempted to flex her left hand a bit, the joints popping and cracking in an attempt to relax.
"Have ya taken a break lately?" I asked while looking up.
"We don't know when her song will continue again. She's been awfully quiet the last few nights. I can take a break once this is figured out," she replied without even looking up.
"Heart, if ya run yourself down ya won't have the energy ta deal with her," I argued.
Getting up from the bed I then walked over to look at what all she had done so far. She had continued drawing the next piece to what seemed to be a more detailed puzzle than we had guessed. Not just the chart itself, but books going over the star systems and planets it mentioned were also put to use.
"What else do ya draw?" I asked curiously.
To my surprise Heart froze at this question. When she didn't answer I crouched down beside the chair she was in and opened the bottom drawer to the desk. After rumaging through some things I pulled out a book. It was a bit bigger than a typical reading book with several blank pages inside of it. It's black hard cover kept those pages safe as it clamped shut in my hand. I smirked when she couldn't help but notice as I flipped through the pages quickly and then nodded my head. Then I stood up and offered it to her, "Here. Draw ta your heart's content angel."
"Are...are you sure Captain?" She stammered with widened sapphire eyes as I placed it on the desk beside her left hand.
"Of course I'm sure," I insisted.
"Th-Thank you Duke," I slipped in her shaky answer before opening the cover.
"It's my pleasure Lady Heart," I replied with a bow of my head.
Then I walked back over to the bed. After a bit longer I gathered my papers and stretched into a yawn. In doing so I looked over to find Heart still working away somehow. She was quite energetically sketching something out in the book I had given her already. I wondered what she was drawing, but felt I should let her be. In a way it was soothing to watch her so contently working at something because she simply wanted to.
"Try ta get some sleep okay?" I suggested quietly before lowering the light near the bed.
"I will," she said while focusing the desk lamp onto her paper.
However, hours later when I awoke I found this to be partially true. I could hear her steady breathing as she dreamt nearby, but not as close as beside me in the bed. Propping myself up a bit I found her still sitting at the desk, but slumped over using her arm as a pillow. I shook my head as I got up and walked over to her. Once beside her I couldn't help but glance at what she had been working on. Moving her hand slightly I found a drawing of two young drakes smiling from the page.
"Aw sweetheart, I'm sorry," I sighed as I then turned out the light at the desk.
With the room mostly black around us I carefully lifted her up into my arms. Then I walked her back over to the bed and set her down on what was now her side of it by this point. Once on the bed she curled up a bit, tucking her knees close to her chest. In my chest my heart melted slightly while I pulled a blanket over her. Then I crept carefully into the bed on the outer side with her turning in her sleep, now facing towards the cabin wall.
As she did this I felt a tear in me begin to form. With her back to me I fought the urge to reach out and turn her towards me again. Guilt helped me resist, "I'm sorry Heart."
Heart:
"Captain," I started several nights later as I focused on the planet we were searching for now, "What are you hoping to find there?"
Duke strolled over to the desk I was working at, drawing out pieces but in a larger scale at this point. As I worked on the one for the planet itself something caught my eye. While the rest of the ink on the map had been the usual black, there was something odd in texture to a piece of the paper. As I ran my finger over it I felt as though ink had rubbed against my skin.
"Do you have anything for invisible ink?" I asked.
Duke obliged by pulling out a glass vile and brush tucked away in his desk. Taking the brush carefully I washed it over the spot I had grazed. In seconds it dried, pulling up the letters once hidden away, as well as the sketch of a blue heart pendant beside it.
"Is that what you're hoping to find?" I inquired while glancing up to find him just as focused on it.
"How did ya...?"
"I was redrawing some of these images, causing me to tilt the original in different angles to make sure I got every needed detail," I explained, "As I did my hand caught the texture of ink under my thumb."
"What is it?" I then asked.
"It's said to be a powerful treasure with strong properties to it. I thought perhaps if I got a hold of it I could use it to break the curse followin' me," he told me.
"I see. So that's why you're looking for this planet," I said.
"There's other treasures there said to be kept with it. My crew can take the rest for all I care an' live rather comfortably. I jus' need that sapphire," he said.
"Then you'll be free of this?" I asked.
"Hopefully, an' then I can help ya find your brothers," he replied
Hearing this I couldn't help but feel a bit taken back. With an unexpected gasp barely held back I looked up at him, "What?"
"Was that not the agreement? Once I am free of her song you were going to reunite with them?" He inquired, "For all you've done for me I'd be more than happy to help ya with that."
"I guess you're right," I agreed with a lingering bit of confusion weighing down my previously light thoughts.
"I guess we'd better enjoy one another's company while we can then," he commented, unkowingly twisting my core a bit.
"What will you do after all of this Captain?" I then asked, avoiding eye contact with him in the process.
However I did pause in my drawing I'd been working on. From a sideways glance I watched as he strolled over to the cabin window. A short, quiet chuckle was barely caught in his throat, "Ya know, for once I don't know."
"You'll go on adventuring won't you? Finding vast treasures, charming wandering hearts along the way?" I guessed in an attempt to hide my furthering unease.
"Most of what ya said sounds about right," he admitted to the stars he watched as we sailed by.
"Most?" I raised a brow at this.
He turned towards me, "Heart, does sayin' that last bit bother ya?"
I proceeded to draw again in an attempt to avoid this question. Focusing on my work I tried to make it appear that I didn't wish to talk. He didn't give up until I answered.
"Captain, what you decide to do is up to you. Charm every girl you come across, steal and break heart after heart if you want. Just leave mine alone!" I requested without daring to look up at him.
Why was I getting so frustrated? Why did the idea of leaving suddenly worry me? I wasn't meant to leave my brothers in the first place. I should have been thrilled that there was a goal to reach for to bring this all to an end.
Instead I found myself abruptly rising from the desk and hastily leaving the room without looking back at him still.
Stepping out onto the deck I was met with a sea of stars around us and overhead. Irving was up in the crow's nest while Avarin remained at the wheel. I guessed Trent was below deck in his study. Melodia and Norelle seemed rather happy to see me at first, but I guess my air of frustration kept them from approaching. Catalina and Marestella I could hear from the galley below.
Unable to clear my head I found myself climbing up to the beam Duke and I had star gazed while sitting on it not that long ago it seemed.
"What's wrong with me?" I asked while looking up at the stars and planets.
Running my hand through my hair didn't seem to help much. In fact I nearly pulled some of it out as I gripped my head in my hands.
"Ahoy there Miss Flashblade!" Irving called from above me with a wave.
With a shrug of my shoulders I then began climbing up to the scarecrow. Once up in the crow's nest he smiled, "Been a while? Needed some...air I guess?"
"Something like that," I shrugged again while leaning against the rail with my arms folded in front of me to do so.
"Is something the matter?" Irving pushed carefully.
"That's just it, there shouldn't be. This will be over soon and I can go back to how things were...I can find my brothers and..." I made the mistake of glancing towards the cabin, "And..."
"And have the adventure you originally wanted with them?"
"I guess so..." I half answered while seeing Duke step out of the cabin to speak with Avarin.
"Or you could stay here with us?" Irving suggested.
At that I shook my head, "I couldn't do that to Dive and Wing...not after all they've done since taking me in. I will always be thankful for all of you here, but my place is with...with them."
"You know, your roots may never change, but where you grow can," Irving said while following my gaze, "In the short time you've been with us you've gone from a novice sailor to a guide. You have a set place here among our crew where before you didn't beyond assisting?"
"Actually I had your job before," I admitted, "even still...I...it was more so because growing up with a twin taught me to look out for trouble...a lot of good that did."
Gathering my thoughts I finally said, "Besides I'm sure he'd prefer to have his cabin back. It's hard to show it off to ladies if I'm there too."
"You know I don't think I've ever seen the captain take a girl to the ship like that," Irving mused with a hand to his clothy chin, "Nor has he taken one to a room that I can recall. It's always just a quick dance an' maybe a kiss on the hand."
I wonder if he noticed my own hand flinching at that remark. Then as I curled it into a tight fist I shrugged, "I just hope he's more careful going forward."
"He's a bit of a magnet for trouble," Irving gave a bit of a laugh, "But then again I'm not one to talk in that regard."
"Is that so?"
"Although I will say as much as he gets in trouble, he's got quite a knack for getting others out of it," the scarecrow then pondered aloud.
With my full attention given now he went on to explain, "I met Duke during a tavern brawl a few years back. I was actually standing up for some inn keeper's daughter at the time, some brutes were giving her a hard time. Boy were they scared to find I wasn't a part of the scenery!"
I couldn't help but laugh to picture this scenario.
"Anyway, I had a pretty good handle on things as I'm hard to get a good hit on, until one of them grabbed a fire source that is, out of shock I guess. As I nearly was set a blaze Duke swept in with a pail of water to douse it and back me up on top of it. This didn't make the thugs too happy, causing a bit of a brawl. None the less Duke and I came out of it without too many scrapes. He told me he liked how scrappy I was and invited me to join the crew when I said I was down on my luck in the employment department."
"That sounds like him...then again I've only known our captain a little while haven't I?" I realized.
I couldn't help but watch as Duke returned to his cabin for the time being. As he stepped inside I found myself thinking over the last few nights. We'd stayed up so late working on charts together. Every so often he'd bring up a brief story of his, a heist he'd pulled off back home, his first jobs as a sailor, and other things like that. While I'd listened I said little in return, almost as though I were afraid of sharing too much with him.
Yet at the same time I found myself saying, "When I headed out with the other crew originally, I remember looking around them and feeling like someone was missing. The number was right, but I distinctly recall the sensation of missing someone's face."
"Now the number's different...however..." I trailed off with growing frustration building in my chest.
Before I could ponder this for much longer something strange caught my eye. Among the stars to the north east of us I thought I saw shifting scenery. Stars rapidly moved in position, but not from us moving any faster. Focusing on this I soon realized there was something cloaked by the surrounding space that was coming right towards us.
"Avarin!" I called down to the others, "Avarin something's-!"
A sudden blast was heard, followed immediately by a crash of a cannon ball colliding into the side of us. Irving quickly grabbed my shoulders to help steady the both of us. Below on deck Duke was already out of his cabin and assessing what had happened. Again a violent crash shook the ship as another cannon was shot out. I tried to reach for the shroud of the mainmast to climb down from. Somehow I managed to catch the rope ladder in my hand to keep from falling as the ship still trembled a bit. Though as I tried to climb up onto it a third hit burst into our side once more.
"Who are they?" I exclaimed while looking to see the cloaked ship now waving it's black flag.
By now our crew had started on the defensive. Duke was at the helm giving commands. In seconds our own cannons were ready with Marestella and Avarin behind them.
"Now everyone!" Duke shouted as they were fired off, our own blasts colliding into the opposing structure.
When I reached Duke at the helm I found him with his sword drawn and ready. Hearing me run up to him he spun around on his heel, looked me over briefly, and ordered quickly, "Miss Flashblade I want you in the cabin now!"
"What?! Captain let me fight with you-"
"Heart I need ya to listen an' go to the cabin! Lock yourself in an' wait for my order before openin' it!" Duke snapped in a razor sharp tone.
When I stepped slightly back, not sure why I was resisting so much, he took a quick breath and explained quickly, "Heart, I need ya ta do this! I know ya want to fight, but I know who this is an' they'll be lookin' for the map, an' they'll use anythin' they can to get it. We'll keep them away from ya!"
"I understand," I finally nodded before running to the cabin to lock the door shut behind me.
Duke:
When Heart turned and ran I had caught the glimpse of frustration as well as a bit of hurt in her eye. Yet she was gone before I could add, "I can't let ya get hurt love..."
"It's been a long time hasn't it dear boy?" He then taunted as I spun around and looked straight into the dark eyes of the falcon now standing on the rail of my ship.
Dressed in mostly black, the tan feathered bird stood with a gleam of greed in his eyes. His beak was twisted from a wicked smirk. His clothing, though dark in shade, was tailored to reveal a muscular frame he'd always been proud of. At the center of his chest was a gold emblem of the very bird he was closest too in heritage that clasped his red cape now billowing behind him to his attire. His shoulders, arms, and most of his chest were left exposed to foolishly flex his muscles and feathers to those that might look. At his wrists were gold cuffs he'd had since he was a teenager back on Puck World that he'd worked to fill in. Yet despite his differed frame from mine I barely raised a brow of concern.
"Not long enough Falcone," I retorted while stepping forward to ensure he didn't see her.
"Come now Duke, you're not still sore from our last match are you?" Falcone mocked while making note of my eye, or lack there of, "I could take the other one if you want."
"I bet you've had a hard time replacing me haven't you?"
"I don't need ta replace a back stabbin' cretin like you!" I replied in a cooled tone, "Now get off of my ship!"
"I'd be happy to leave this smoldering piece of wood once I have what I came here for!" The falcon insisted while drawing his saber.
"I'm countin' on ya Heart," I breathed quickly before stepping forward to meet this challenge.
"En guarde!" Falcone proclaimed as he lunged forward.
I swiftly stepped to the side and pushed forward to block his blade. While we fought my crew began firing back at his ship. As metal met with metal and canon smoke filled the air the fury of this fight was sparked. Yet as I blocked and dodged his blade I began to realize, "Where's your crew?"
"Why following the commands of their captain of course! You see I don't need a collection of vagabonds to run a ship!" Falcone scoffed as I blocked the next blow.
"Not much of a captain without a crew," I commented dryly.
"I have a crew, just not the kind I need to share with, which suits me just fine!" he chuckled with a puff of pride in his chest.
I didn't answer this time. Instead I focused on the fight as Falcone slashed at me. Again I blocked him and even began pushing back a bit.
Yet as I had him stepping away to avoid my blade I thought I heard a melody in the air.
"Not now...!" I pleaded under my breath while glancing back at the cabin door briefly, "Heart, please stay safe."
My heart is peirced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
At this refrain I felt all sense of why I was fighting slipping away. My aim as I slashed at Falcone shifted with unbalance. My concerns fought to stay in the forefront of my head. Stepping to the side I managed to avoid Falcone's blade as he struck at me. Instinct kicked in as I tried to fend him off. My crew around me did what they could as well to fend off his ship still trying to imitate us with an unknown and unseen, but threatening, crew none the less.
However as I lunged forward again my sense of self now faded. Why was I fighting? Who was here that was worth defending? If I gave him what he wanted he would leave and I could sail to the one calling for me. Isn't that what I wanted? Before I could ponder this further I was knocked into a wall and everything went black.
Heart:
From within the cabin I had heard the melody returning after her long rest. It drew my attention to the barricaded door as I struggled not to break it pull it apart to find him. Above I heard the fight continuing on and hoped the others were alright. Though a part of me also fought with how utterly useless I felt sitting back like this. Holding the recently sharpened practice sword didn't help me any.
As the battle went on outside and above my head I then looked to the desk with the old chart still opened up. The rest I had tucked away for the time being. I was about to do the same with the original when something crossed my mind. With the fury of the fight raging on the deck seemingly drawing closer I decided to go through with the idea that had popped into my head. I wasted not a second as thundering steps approached the blocked off entrance to the cabin. My plan was barely finished when the pounding against the door began. Holding my breath I rolled up the map and tucked it into my vest pocket so not to damage it further.
"Blast it L'Orange!" An unfamilar and annoyed voice huffed.
Again they tried to knock down the door, only for my barricade to hold. I gave a bit of a smirk when I heard them hurrying away. That quickly changed however as the same sort of steps were heard overhead and running towards the other side.
"They wouldn't?!" I breathed while turning around to follow the sounds.
Suddenly as I feared the tall frame of a muscular figure smashed through the window of the cabin. I barely managed to lift my arm in time to prevent the shards of glass flying around me from cutting up my face. As I did this I backed up into the desk and knocked over a vile of ink in the process. Though I didn't have time to fix it as I now looked to see the falcon I'd been warned about. No longer smiling like an old friend in the painting, instead he gave a sneer as he looked over the large room. Then he gave a mocking chuckle as his cold gaze fell on me, "What do we have here old friend?"
Taking another step back into the desk I tried to steady my stance, "Get off of this ship!"
I held the sword up defensively as I'd learned to recently. This only brought on a cold snicker from the raptor, "I will leave once I have what I want."
"Back off creep!" I growled while holding my ground, only for him to step closer.
"Where is the map? Tell me that and I won't have any reason to be here," he assured me.
"What map?!" I snapped without batting so much as an eye.
"That won't work with me girl, if Duke is out this far it means he has his eye set on something. He must have a map or some sort of guide to get him there!" He scoffed, "Now hand it over to me!"
When I refused to move he tilted his head as though intrigued by something catching his attention it seemed. As he stepped closer I held up the blade a bit more, only for him to snicker, "I wouldn't try that if I were you dear."
I tried anyway, taking a swing that he instinctively blocked before disarming me completely. Then as he did he used his free hand to grab a hold of the collar of my tunic as he asked in a condescending scoff, "Now, where is that map girl? If you don't tell me my old friend will simply have to find a new heart to play with won't he?"
While holding me up off the floor of the cabin still he looked into my eyes a moment and shook his head, "Time's ticking wench, where is it?!"
Rather than answering I tried to rench my hands free of his grip, tearing the silk and lace cloth of my shirt in this attempt. Outside the door I could hear the others trying to get through my own barricade. Marestella shouted through it, "Heart are you okay?!"
A few of them could be heard trying to climb over as Falcone had from the other side. Still I remained quiet as I tried to focus on getting free. Then the raptor began gave a deep chuckle as he held up his blade to my throat, "I could slit your throat right here and now girl, you do understand that don't you?"
"It won't get you what you want!" I choked out while trying to steady the racing heartbeat in my chest as my core twisted as well.
"I suppose you're right about that, though it would be amusing to watch him squirm from it," Falcone jested while pressing the sleek metal to my neck, biting it slowly.
He then paused in his motions and pondered aloud, "However, I think you are more useful alive for the moment. You see I have known L'Orange for a rather long time, and I know what gets to him."
I had to hold back from shaking my head as the razor of the blade remained at my throat.
With that Falcone forcibly spun me around to where he could pull me against him and slipped his saber against my throat again. There he held it and snickered, "Shall we then?"
Unable to fight back any further he marched me out to the deck. The crew all paused seeing me being held hostage in Falcone's grip. Yet I soon found Duke was not among them. That is until I looked up at the helm where Trent knelt down before a prone figure lying still. My heart leapt to my throat to see it was our captain.
"Captain!" I called up to him, "Captain, wake up!"
Falcone snickered, "Don't worry girl, I'll let him live. I need to in order for him to bring me what I'm after!"
"Let her go Falcone! She has nothing to do with this!" Avarin shouted.
"Perhaps not, but she will help me none the less. Tell your captain he has one hour to decide her fate. Either he gives me the map or I slit her throat to make my own with her blood...you see I'm fresh out of ink!" Falcone ordered with a twisted laugh escaping his throat.
"Captain! Captain please wake up!" I attempted before the blade of the sword pressed against my throat in a warning.
"Let him rest dear, he has a bit to think about doesn't he?" Falcone snickered while giving a tug on the rope he'd grabbed onto with me hoisted up with him.
Before I could resist any further I was pulled up onto his ship hovering above us still. Unable to struggle much I was quickly surrounded by what was revealed to be his crew. As soon as he set foot on his ebony wood deck he tossed me down before him with a hearty laugh, "I have a warm one for all of you to tend to!"
In an instant I was surrounded by buzzing and whirring as several machines built to resemble sailors came into view. A few trained their weapons built into their limbs onto me. Another came up behind me with rope that I tried to back away from. Yet before I could get far another grabbed for me that I dodged, only to be ensnared by a third gripping my long hair. It then yanked me up and in place while the one with rope obediantly tied my wrists behind my back. Then another brought up a bit of cloth before Falcone took it from him and snickered, "The stakes have been given girl, let's see what Duke values more shall we?"
He rather abruptly cupped my chin in his hand while sneering into my eyes. With a quick glance over my thin frame he then taunted, "Though I don't see what would be worth saving. Is he running out of alien beauties to charm and growing desperate?"
At this I swung my leg out, kicking him hard in the ribs. Upon impact he doubled over, dropping me in the process. Scrambling to my feet I tried to make a dash for the side of the ship. Just as I neared it I felt him grip my shoulder as he pulled on me and tossed me back onto the deck in the middle of his metal men.
"You have a bit of fire in you do you?" He taunted while stepping closer, "I'm afraid that won't save you wench." His laugh continued, "And neither will Duke."
Before I could venture to ask I was pulled up by a few of his men and dragged, kicking and struggling the whole way, and thrown roughly into the brig. My back shoved against my bound wrists nearly pulled my shoulder out as it hit the unforgiving wall behind it. Then I shakily got to my knees just as Falcone entered the cell and grabbed my collar again. Two androids stood watch as Falcone sneered at me, cupping my chin in his hand again, "Tell me wench, I am curious, has that drake kissed you yet? If not it would bring a great deal of delight to steal that from him and you. I bet it would make him writhe in fact."
"You're nothing but a coward!" I spat wth venom narrowing my glare, "You couldn't beat Duke in a real fight!"
"I just did didn't I?" he scoffed, "Who do you think knocked him out? You realize I could have slit his throat right then and there don't you?"
I knew it hadn't been a fair fight, not with her melody puppeting him. Knowing that I feared perhaps he would stay in that motionless state, trapped inside his own head with her somehow.
Then I realized in a voice dripping with contempt, "You wouldn't, not until he sees you best him is that right? You want to be the best pirate there is, and you want him to know it before you take his life? There's more to being a pirate and a captain than the hunks of metal and rock you keep in a chest! You don't have a crew, you have machines to keep oiled up! No one looks to you like they do him! No one rallies around you, they rust!"
"I would shut that trap of yours before I remove your tongue!" he scowled.
"You're only proving me right with those empty threats!" I spat before he gave a nod to one of the robotic guards, "You're just a thug who's name I'd never even heard of before!"
"Enough!" He warned as his grip tightened.
With his face close to mine I quickly mentioned, "And he has."
"Has what?!" He demanded.
"Duke, he's kissed me already," I said without daring to bat an eye at this partial truth.
The falcon let out a scoff. Then I ventured forward a bit, "It's quite flattering really being kissed by a famous pirate captain as opposed to some washed up, forgotten brute playing with his toys!"
My reward was the harsh strike of his hand knocking me back against the wall as he seethed with rage, "Duke is a mere boy chasing his dreams without ever catching them! Who's ever heard of a thief with a code?!"
"It must be working, for Duke's fame reached all the way back home. While you'll be lucky to gain any infamy at this point," I taunted him.
His beak twisted into a scowl as he stepped over me. He leaned close with a glare in his dark eyes, "I am the one that took his eye, and when I'm done I'll take his life with it! And if you don't hold your tounge I'll take yours with it!"
"Shut her up!" Falcone snapped before turning around quickly, "In the meantime I'll be waiting for our expected guest. He should be here rather soon. Not that it will matter much for you."
The door to the brig slammed shut with a near deafening clang. With that Falcone headed back up to the deck as he'd assured. All the while one of the guards entered my cell with the cloth from before. It's companion was thorough as it accompanied it to hold me in place. Still I fought to get free as the gag neared my mouth, my body twisting and contorting to pull away.
Then just as it went to lunge forward and the other pulled me up I gathered my composure and kicked into the bot in front of me. As it buzzed and whirred, realing back a bit, it's metallic brother jolted in response to try and steady the other. In these precious seconds I made a break for the door only to be stopped by the outer exit still closed and locked. Behind me the two guards persued me now as I turned around trying to figure a way out. A few of their hands were pulled into the iron tubes of their limbs to be replaced by blades drawn out that now slashed at me. To avoid them I had little choice but to dance with my hands still tied behind me.
As I backed into the iron door I tried to think of a plan. Still I dodged their blades with a good bit of effort. That is until they were right before me whizzing and whirring in a wired frenzy. I attempted to step further away only to press my bound arms and back into the cold metal of the locked exit. Holding my breath I attempted to pull in my already thin frame from the drawn blades. My hands, though bound, tugged at the handle of the door to no avail. Calling out to anyone would simply end with him returning to gag me himself, if not silence me all together. All I could do was stand there and brace myself.
It was in that last second that I took a chance and slid to the side as one of the blades dug into the lock of the door, jamming into it and then prying off the handle. This allowed me to turn and kick open the entrance just as they scrambled for me. Not wasting my chance I kicked again to jam them in the swiftly closing door, mangling them in it's force. With some luck one of the blades popped off and flung over at my feet. This allowed me to crouch down, and with a bit of effort I got my binds cut.
With that I began slipping through the dark halls of the ship to find my way back. The bleakly lit ship I realized had been built that way to make it appear as blended in with space as possible. However it made it lack any warmth I had grown familiar with on the Cezanni Sapphire.
Every so often another robotic guard would march by and I would duck against the wall to avoid being spotted. While holding my breath most of the way I made my way back up, or most of the way when I noticed the door to the cannon room close by. Despite the thin window I had to escape to begin with I found myself stepping inside and observing what I could.
Another bot manned the main cannon that had already made a good dent into our ship. However it was shut down at the moment most likely to conserce energy to function. With a smirk curving my lips I carefully crept over and took a good look at the oversized firearm. Though I quickly realized I had little understanding on how to dismantle such a device. However I could tamper with the ammo an controls. I took some nearby oil for the bot and poured it over the controls slowly, allowing it to seep into the panel as it softly sparked in confusion within. The powder I then found a mop bucket out in the hall and threw it's contents over it. For good measure I took some of the the repair wires nearby and tied them around the slumbering bot's wrists and ankles.
Before I could find the cannons on the opposite side I overheard approaching footsteps that came and went down the hallway. I soon realized that my hour was nearly up and Falcone was more than likely going to retrieve me from the brig. Not giving him a chance at waiting for what he would discover instead I made a break for it once his steps faded to where I'd come from. I sprinted towards the deck, slipping out of range of the patrolling droids along the way.
It was then that a commotion was suddenly heard ahead of me. Metal clashed against metal and shouts were heard here and there from familiar voices. As I'd hoped I found Melodia, Avarin, and Irving all in their own bouts against the armored men left patrolling the deck.
"Heart!" Melodia exclaimed with relief in her voice, "You're alright!"
"Where's the Captain though?" Avarin asked as I approached them.
"What do you mean?"
"He went looking for you below deck!" Irving explained while dodging a swipe to his clothy torso.
"We must have missed one another," I replied with unease creeping up my spine as I looked over my shoulder back towards the steps leading under the deck.
"Was he hurt at all from before?" I then asked as the image of him lying prone flashed in my head.
"Yes and no," Irving said while swinging the sickle in his hand, "He was awfully worried to find you missing and the cabin in disarray."
As I was trying to figure out whether I should join the fight on deck or go back after Duke a blast was shot out and whizzed passed my ear, causing it to ring as I covered it instinctively. Turning around we found Falcone aiming a carefully crafted pistol at me with a sneer in his eyes, "I didn't have to miss. This next shot will be it for you if you don't comply!"
As he approached I attempted to back away. However with him preparing his blaster to fire again I was forced to stand in place.
"Anyone interferes and the girl dies where she stands, understood?!" A twisted smirk came over him as he focused his aim, "Poor dear, getting mixed up with ruthless thieves and black hearted rogues. Code or not, when it comes to what he wants he's just as cruel as any other pirate out there." He looked me up and down again with a taunting chortle, "Not that I blame him, not much to save is there girl?"
My trembling hands balled into fists as I stood my ground. I swallowed the lump of fear in my throat to manage in a steady breath, "He is not like you!"
"Keep telling yourself that girl, for the last few seconds you can," he assured while looming over me now.
All I could do was stand my ground as he grabbed my tunic front and held me up with the barrel pressed under my chin, and forcing me to look upwards. As I did I tried to steady my breathing once more and hissed, "Captain L'Orange is not like you in the least, and you want to know why that is?"
"Entertain me," he taunted in an amused sneer.
"I've heard of him," I managed a smirk as he about strangled me with my own collar before tossing me into the rail of his ship.
"Heart!" My friends cried out as my back collided with the unmovable object behind me, knocking me to my hands and knees, making me wince in pain. Then I looked up to find Falcone taking a step forward and raising his blaster up as he scowled, "I'll be sure to tell him how much you were counting on his cowardly self to save you, maybe that will finally kill him. If not I certainly will-!"
"Let her go Falcone!" Duke's voice rang out from behind him.
The raptor froze, but gave a hearty chuckle, "I wondered if you were going to show up dear boy? You took quite some time to get here dear boy, does she have something of yours tucked away I wonder that you decided to come back for?"
"You could say that," Duke replied dryly as his once friend turned to face him, "Though that's not what kept me so long."
"You have what I want then?"
"Sorry to disappoint ya, but I'll be leavin' with her an' without handin' ya a thing!" Duke assured in a cooled tone.
"Is that so old friend?" Falcone snickered with the barrel still pointed towards me, "You know I would not have any remorse. I don't hold a silly code as you do."
Duke's remaining eye narrowed into a glare, "You couldn't ever win in a fair fight could ya Falcone?"
"I know you too well Duke," Falcone shook his head, "You can't let some fair heart's blood be spilt can you? That soft attitude is what gets in your way!"
"Nothin' wrong with havin' some sort of conscience," Duke retorted in the same calm tone.
"There is when you're a pirate dear boy!" Falcone scoffed, "Otherwise you end up behind bars and then lead to the noose! Do you want her to see you hang at the end of that rope?"
For a moment Duke seemed to stiffen in his stance, yet it was all too brief to really tell.
"Not that it matters though," Falcone then added with an unamused tone, "You have what I want L'Orange, and I suggest you hand it over before I have to use force."
"Let her go Falcone, she has nothin' ta do with this," Duke said calmly.
"Then why should it matter if her blood is spilt?" He asked as he curled his finger around the trigger.
I froze with fear gripping my chest. Duke looked over at me and seemed to take notice of my cheek as it began to bruise.
"You're nothin' but a coward!" Duke growled.
"I guess you really don't care if she dies then!" Falcone snarled while looking to me, "As I said girl, he's just the same as me."
"Heart, give him the map!" Duke said suddenly.
I looked to him a little startled, though Falcone seemed to free expecting as such.
"Duke, you need this for what you're looking-!"
"It isn't worth your life!" Duke snapped.
He then looked to his rival and stated carefully, "Let her go Falcone, an' you can have the map."
"If you insist," Falcone snickered while keeping the gun trained at me.
Duke gave a nod and I retrieved the map from my inner vest pocket. The raptor almost laughed in disbelief, "Cheeky little wench you have here Duke."
Pulling out the map I then said, "You are to let all of us go safely, and allow our ship time to leave."
"What's to stop me from saying no?" He questioned.
In my hand, tucked beside the map was a match that I swiftly lit and held close to it, "I'll torch it otherwise!"
Falcone froze as I confirmed, "If you shoot now I'll light it up!"
With a glare easing into a scoff and a smirk he said, "Fine then. Have it your way. I can track him down for his blood another day I suppose!"
Duke was able to give the order to the others to head back to the ship while he walked over to me. Keeping the map and blazing match in my hands I watched Falcone carefully. Duke then slipped an arm around my waist as he gripped the rope I now realized he'd used to climb up from our ship with. With a nod of his head I tossed the map onto the deck of the ship while blowing out the match I threw with it.
Before I barely had a chance to ease into his grip Duke took a step and dropped without so much as a warning. I instinctively threw my arms around his neck as I hung on for dear life. Glancing up at him I noticed a playful smirk on his face as he glanced at me, "Missed me?"
Once on the deck of our ship again Duke gave the order to Avarin to get out of sight before Falcone changed his mind.
"We need to find the nearest port for repairs Captain!" Trent reported.
"That's fine, jus' get us out of here for now!" He replied while sweeping up two lifelines and slipping mine on before his own, "Hang on okay?"
With some resistance at first, the ship suddenly took off with reserves firing us off. As it did Duke braced himself with his frame pinning me against the nearest mast. Behind us Falcone's masked ship almost instantly fell out of sight. Then we settled into a steady sail once we were in the clear. Once we were certain of this we removed our lifelines and looked over the damage.
"So it's a race now," Duke sighed from beside me as we stepped through the cabin door to find the mess left behind.
Glancing at him I mentioned, "It's not hopeless Captain, we still have the maps I made."
"That's why I said it's a race," he said.
"Well even with this detour, I don't think it'll be all that close," I then said with a smirk of my own curvinng my lips.
"What makes ya say that Miss Flashblade?" He questioned.
Not saying a word I lead him to the desk. He looked to me a bit surprised to see the mess of ink staining some of the sides of where the map had once rested upon it. There were also bits of shredded paper scattered about to reveal what I'd done to the original chart. When he saw this I strolled around it to open the drawer to retrieve the book he'd given me. Opening it I revealed the maps I had made tucked safely behind my drawings.
"As I said, it won't even be close," I said to him as he took it from my hands carefully.
"Heart?" He breathed in disbelief with his remaining eye widening.
"I swore I would break you free of this, no matter what it takes," I reminded him.
Then I thought back to the moments on Falcone's ship.
"You didn't know about the destroyed map," I realized.
Duke shook his head, "I didn't."
"For all you knew you could have lost this chance, your salvation from her curse?"
"As I said, it wasn't worth your life love," he repeated while gripping the book in his hands a moment before gingerly setting it down in the drawer again.
"Love?"
"I'm sorry Miss Flashblade," he quickly said in a softened tone, "I guess it slipped."
I tried to give a light laugh to shake it off. However he then brushed his hand over the bruise of my cheek, "I should kill him for this. He's nothin' but a coward an' a brute, a sorry excuse for a man let alone a pirate."
"Nothing like you at all," I somewhat repeated while risking a glance up at him.
"I still shouldn't have let ya get hurt," he stated while brushing his thumb along the bruise, "If not for her song I never would have let him get to ya in the first place."
"What happened this time?"
"I lost my sense of self again, all that I was drifted away...along with everythin' I care about," he mentioned bitterly while sliding a hand to my own.
"I was afraid you were trapped in your own head somehow...I feared you wouldn't wake up or-"
"You were afraid for me?"
"I..that is..."
"Ya know what woke me up?" He then smirked, "Trent tried everythin' he knew. Then Irving, bright mind that he is, called out to me, but it wasn't my name he needed to use."
I was in disbelief as he said, "It was sayin' you were in trouble that made me snap wide awake Miss Flashblade. When I heard he had ya, let's jus' say not much was holdin' me back from goin' after ya. Avarin had to tell me we needed a plan."
At that last bit I allowed a slight laugh to escape with my breath.
"I thought you were quite brave all things considered," he mentioned still holding my cheek gently against the palm of his velvet hand.
Then he gave a soft, charming smile, "So you've heard of me, before all of this I mean?"
"I did, back home on Puck World."
"What do ya think knowin' the drake himself?"
I bit my lower lip, trying to hold in what I wanted to say to him. My thoughts were suddenly betraying me with him close to me like this.
"When we met I tried to draw a line in a way. I had heard of you, I knew you were a pirate and quickly figured you to be a charmer. I didn't want to be the next victim of a shattered heart," I told him before I caught myself shaking.
"Darlin' I couldn't do that to ya," He told me when he noticed.
"So once more, what do ya think?" He inquired with his playful smirk remaining.
I heard myself saying with a breath, "You keep crossing over that line."
He smiled still as he leaned forward teasing my cheek with a kiss.
"Like that," I said softly.
"Then I guess my next question is," he started as he slipped his free hand up along my back to pull me close to him, caressing it carefully as he seemed to recall my injury, "How do ya feel about me then darlin'?"
I froze with my heart pounding hard against my chest. How was it that after just over a short time he felt so familiar to me? Why did I feel this way when he looked at me? Did I really want him holding me this way?
"Those posters didn't warn me of who you were," I couldn't help but begin to tell him, encouraging him to slip his hand gently from my cheek to beneath my chin.
"Is that so?" He asked me with a confident smirk on his face as he tilted my head just slightly and every so gently.
"Captain-"
"Please use my name sweetheart," he begged with a soft chuckle as he leaned closer to me.
How was it that not being of the same race, we knew how to move accordingly? There was something achingly familiar to these movements.
"Duke...I..." the words stuck to my throat, afraid of what might change.
"I think it's about time I stole your first real kiss before anyone else gets the chance?"
Before I could resist, speak, or answer in any way a burst of an engine erupted outside the cabin. We both froze where we stood before Duke gave a frustrated sigh and stepping away.
"Sorry sweetheart," he said before going to see what had happened.
I bit my lower lip while taking a deep breath again. Releasing it didn't cool me down any as I glanced at the mirror to find that my face nearly matched my hair in shade. I tried to shake it off, knowing there were more pressing matters to tend to. Yet the shaking in my knees made it difficult for me to follow him at first. With another deep breath I attempted to find my composure and at last followed him. As I did this I again drew the line for myself between Duke and I while my senses returned.
No matter what happened, I would be going back with my brothers. No matter what I thought of Duke he was still a thief and a pirate wasn't he? With or without a code. No matter how I felt for him just moments ago, I had to keep myself from crossing that line. This was for both our sakes, wasn't it?