-A town on a bay -

May 1636

Isthar Bay, Aerugo

He opened his eyes and saw Riza's drowsy face, scrutinizing him silently. He turned to his side to face her and smiled. The incoming light from the porthole made her bare skin shine.

"Rise and shine, little one," said Roy, who as soon as he opened his eyes was full of energy.

Unlike her, who needed a good while to wake up fully. Riza yawned and narrowed her eyes again.

"What did you do to me last night?" he asked, causing his hand up to his hair so he could play with it. "It's been great."

Riza reached out and stroked his face without barely opening her eyes.

"When we were in Jaijing, in a temple, I met a couple of women. Former concubines of the emperor," she opened her eyes and with an enigmatic look continued speaking."They were priestesses in the temple, the guardians of a book called The Book of Lovers."

"The book of lovers?" moved a little closer to her. "Sounds interesting"

"Very interesting. We talked a lot, and you know that I learn very fast," they were very close. Riza didn't raise her voice beyond the whisper, caressing his neck.

"I know," he replied and felt every inch of his skin bristle.

"They spoke of the 64 ways to drive a man crazy" she licked her lips slowly, letting her eyelashes fall in a deliberate manner.

"So there are still 63?" Roy smile with malice, running his fingers over her skin, which was still shining with sweat.

She clamp her lips and smiled placing her arms around his waist and he did the same, she came closer to him and kissed his collarbone.

"Does this mean you are no longer angry?" he asked, speaking in her ear, sliding his fingertips along the lines of her tattoo.

"Maybe no...For all one knows I was in need. A month without sex is a long time," she looked at him from the corner of her eye before setting her head on the pillow.

Roy felt hurt and performed her his best abandoned puppy face.

"Don't make that face," she reproached by squeezing his nose with a mocking grin on her face. "You look ugly."

He overreacted even more and she laughed.

"Well, I have my defects, but at least I can make you laugh," he snorted sadly.

Riza smiled gently and embraced him with her whole body. Caressing his face, his hair, kissing his cheeks.

"My sweet fool" whispered as she hugged him, who squeezed her tightly.

He loved the smell of her skin, the heat of it, her fingers entangled in his hair.

"I miss you," he muttered, his voice full of sadness.

"I've never left," she replied, caressing the back of his neck.

"I miss our conversations; you only address me when necessary."

"You know why..."

He wanted to go back to sleep with her in his arms, but there was something in his head.

"Riza, we can't go after The Arrow," he sighed, separating himself from her.

"You've said that before," she rebuked incredulously, with a heartbreaking expression.

"I know, but that's what you're thinking," he insisted, staring back at the ceiling.

"Fuck, Roy" mumbled and sat on the bed."I just wanted to be with you. I don't know what the fuck you thought... That this has some hidden intention?"
Suddenly he felt like an idiot. And very guilty. He didn't dare look at her because he could feel the anger coming from her.

"Otherwise, it's my boat, my legacy, and you don't seem to understand it," she grunted in a bad mood. "That's why I avoid talking to you, I knew we were going to argue and I hate it, because we aren't going to agree."

Riza quickly dressed, stepped out of the cabin, abandoning him alone and naked on the bed.

...

They sailed to Isthar, a city on the coast of Aerugo. They hadn't planned to dock there, since it was a city full of religious people, but the storm had altered their route.
It was in the centre of a bay, with a small island in the middle. Isthar was a populous place of modest colorful houses. It was beautifully brightened, and people were kind and confident. There were two harbours, separated by the bay, they were in the smallest.

The crew moved on deck, cleaning up the wreckage, even the boys from the dock went up to work. Roy watched attentively around him. There wasn't much damage, but there was a lot to clean up. He sighed frustrated and massaged his temples.

"Are you all right, Cap? Breda asked loading a pile of wet wood.

"I'm fine, sailor," he said, shouldering a pair of planks, "" I was figuring out the cost of the ship's repairs."

"Cheer up boss" Jean said throwing overboard rubble and pieces of wood "We'll fix this right away"

"Xing's gold will go in repairs," Maes muttered, dragging pounds of seaweed across the deck.

"Less talking, more work, gentlemen," Riza said with sleeves and pant legs rolled up, muddy to the knees."There's many work to be done."

"Yes, ma'am" they all replied at once half jokingly, moving quick.

After many hours of exhausting work, they left the Queen Elisabeth somewhat decent. They handed out some coins to the children who had helped them and went to eat a meal in one of the port taverns.
Maes threw himself on the bench, awaiting their food. They were starving and they were annoying the waitresses. Arguing what to do next because they had to sell the rum in an unknown place.

Ishtar was an old-fashioned port heavily secured by the royal army. It would be challenging for them to go unnoticed and sell the rum to any merchant.
On the other hand, Breda was enthusiastic arguing that with the anti-alcohol regulations, they would get a good deal.

Riza was quiet, messing with the food on her plate, mind elsewhere. She wasn't listening to any of what they were saying.

"The storm has deflected us for miles..." she heard Havoc say.

"I did what was in my hand," she replied in defense, stepping into the conversation all of a sudden.

"I know, Riz, I say maybe it's fate's thing, let's sell the rum to the highest bidder and enjoy this shitty city," he explained.

"I didn't know you believed in destiny; Havoc" Breda broke up with surprise."Do you have a philosophical preference?"

"Hey, buddy, I haven't eaten yet, there isn't a drop of liquor in my blood, I ain't ready for one of your deep talks," he replied, extending his hands as if a gun was levelled at him.

"Not indeed drinking all the liquor of this city of priests, would it be enough for you to have a conversation on a par with Breda," Maes exclaimed, making everyone laugh.

As soon they were served the food they swallowed with joy.

…

He knocked several times on the door of her cabin. Riza was in a dress and combing her hair. It was dark green, fitted at her waist and tied with a white ribbon on her back. The bulging skirt accentuated her hip and her steep neckline showed her breasts.

Roy puffed, rolled up his sleeves and leaned against the door frame, looking at her with cheek.

"How did you put it on by yourself?" he joked even though the strain was palpable in the air.

She raised her eyebrow looking at him through the mirror, as she fitted her chest into the décolleté.

"I asked Fuery," she explained with her hands between her tits.

"I can do that," he pointed with his head, her reflection.

Riza looked at him again through the mirror and squinted.

She didn't finish fixing her tits at the neckline, until it looked like the way she wanted.

"You look like a lady," he scoffed, taking a long, firm step inward.

"My hair screams pirate," she sighed holding it all in her nape. "I don't know how to fix it."

"I think it's beautiful in any way," he replied, gawking at her.

"Don't suck up to me," she replied without turning around, letting her hair fall on her shoulders.

With a serious face, he walked up to her and gently strained the back of her dress.

"A bit of the tattoo was showing," he whispered, moving his hand over her bare shoulder.

"Thank you," she replied in the same tone of voice, but much colder.

"Where are you going?" he asked, hoping not to sound impudent.

"Over there" she cut, making it clear that she wasn't going to give any explanations, as she ran the comb through her hair.

"One of your secret walks, hu?" he insisted on moving his eyebrows, avoiding the distance that Riza was building between them.

"I can't go to the taverns to sell the rum, I can't go to negotiate the price. I can't do anything in this prudish city. I'm not going to stay on the ship while you have fun."

"No one asks you to do that, Riza," he explained, folding his arms across his chest.

"I know," she said, turning around, folding her arms as well. "Don't get drunk tonight" she gave a small snort along with a smile.

"Turns out there is a lady avoiding all my romantic attempts and I have to drown my sorrows in alcohol," he smiled twisting his mouth and narrowing his shoulders.

"Captain, I'm not in the mood for jokes."

….

There weren't many dens of doom in Isthar, although there was a lot of hypocrisy. The religious fanatics who in the morning called for abstinence. At night, sobbed with their fat hands, the semi-naked women who walked through the darkest streets of the main port. In where they managed to sell their cargo of rum.

There, in the bars everyone bet, gamble and devote themselves to dishonest arts. Crooks, thieves and some pirates like them.

Maes and Jean were playing an interesting poker game in which the most exciting thing was being uncaught cheating.
Breda was enjoying a enormous portion of roast lamb, while he drank a horrible draught beer.
A young chick sat on his knees, naked from the waist up and put her breasts on his face.

"I'm sorry, dear; I've already given up my heart," he said, moving away from her but with a cheeky smile on his face.

"I love melancholy faces," she said, holding his face with both hands. "Besides, I ain't seeking your heart, sailor."

"I'm a captain," he replied, gripping her by the waist and making her stand up.

"Oh... that's even better," she pouted and took the pitcher of beer to her lips. "Too bad, we would've had fun," she said, posing it again on the table.

"I don't doubt it," he replied.

Breda looked at him with an enormous smile, but he didn't stop chewing.

"Boss, you arouse interest in women without trying," he joked, setting aside his already empty plate.

"That's because I have an irresistible personal charm" Roy chuckled asking for another jug of beer.

The waiter, who grunted with a loud accent at two idiots who were fighting. Was an old bald man, who seemed as if he hadn't bathed in years. He refilled the glasses of both of them and hobbled back to the bar.

"What are we going to do now? Shall we go back to Tortuga for more rum? Breda asked, hurrying up his jar in one shot.

"We could try to sell the gunpowder in Tarsis; they are in argument with Donbachi, for sure they pay us a lot for such a junk," he let his weight fall on the chair back and gazed at the ceiling, wondering."I have no fucking idea."

"Or we can offer the explosives to both of them and exchange it to the one who offers us a higher price," he said, tapping his forehead with two fingers.

"I do not know if you are a genius or a terrible villain, Breda."

"I can be both, boss."

Roy laughed and patted his officer's back, asking for more beer for both of them.

Maes came up to the table and threw himself onto a chair, complaining he had been plucked. Unlike Havoc who, as a master cheat, won game after game.

…

She was walking through Isthar's crowded market. Merchants were screaming for their products. Fish, fresh vegetables, clothes and all kinds of tools. She was heading for the main port, on the other side where Queen Elizabeth was.

She felt nervous and guilty, she had lied. She had used the storm as an excuse to change tack without being suspicious. For a long time she had been researching, making questions where they docked. Hiding from her crew, smuggling the gold she had earned. Tracking rumours and bribing all manner of idiots.

Finally, she found out the whereabouts of The Arrow. His father's ship, as majestic as she remembered it, was right there before her eyes.

She gathered her bravery and with a calculated seductive smile, moved closer to one of the sailors who was resting by the ship and asked for the captain. With a nasty look, the man looked at her from top to bottom and escorted her into the ship.
She walked on deck, and thousands of memories came back to her. Everything was in the same place.

Sailors looked at her as if she were a piece of meat, giving her creeps.

"Wait here, miss," the sailor said with an almost wicked smile leaving her in front of the crew quarters. Who started shouting at her dirty things, which she ignored as worthily as she could.

Her escort urged her to follow him and she, pretending to be shy, walked after him. He quit her at the door of the captain's cabin, and her heart was pounding like a wild animal. It sounded so loud that she was afraid Bradley might hear it.

"Come in," he said on the other side of the door.

Trying to hide her shaking hand she opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was exactly as she recalled it, like a trip to the past.
Everything was the same, the smells, the colors, the furniture,... all of her father's personal belongings. She almost expected to see her father there, sitting behind his desk.

Painted on the wall, the undecipherable Map, preserved as a masterpiece of drawing.

"What do I owe such a delightful guest?" Bradley asked on the spot.

"I've never been on a boat," she lied, giving a childish tone to her voice." I saw yours in the harbour and asked for the captain."

She smiled with innocence, but Bradley's look caused a chill run down her spine.

"So what do you think of my ship, miss,? He asked, propping the hand on his chin in a gesture of disdain.

"It's wonderful, it's very big..." she said and kept her pantomime.

"You like them big?"

A cold sweat ran down her back as he stood up and approached her. He grinned calmly, his gaze was cold, terrible. She smiled trying to hide how nervous she felt.
Bradley had more than one head, he had an imposing figure. He placed his huge hand on her face and put a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Why did you come to my ship?" Despite not raising his voice, there was something terrible in the way he spoke, almost inhuman.

"I already told you," she answered, in an attempt to sound confident. "I've ne'er seen a ship and want to..."

"You lie" interrupted in a sharp, almost humiliating way.

"What?I don't... I assure you... I'm telling the truth," She couldn't take her eyes off the huge hand holding her face.

"Shut up" he cut in anger, clutching her neck." I know that some blonde girl has been asking for me in diverse places in Tortuga, Xing..."

"It wasn't me... that wasn't me," she stuttered trying to breathe.

"Who are you?" he asked with hatred, squeezing more tightly.

"I'm from the town; my name is Margarithe," she improvised, grasping her hands to his.

"You lie again," he said in a calm way, breaking away from her. "But we can fix it. Riza took a couple of steps back until she strikes the table.
Bradley gave her a contemptuous look and left the cabin, locking her in.

When she managed to calm down, she looked around for an exit. She was trapped. She had fucked up. This was a big mistake.
She wore a dagger on her thigh, but in that dress it was almost impossible to get to it.
She tried to find something to defend herself with. She was strong enough to knock Bradley out. She grabbed a chandelier and waited for him to return.
The door opened again, Bradley didn't return alone.
The chandelier slipped out of her hands when she appreciates the young man with long black hair standing next to him.

"Sweetheart, let me introduce you to one of my best officers. He's been sailing with me for eight years, the officer Kimblee."

That man would be dead, like all the other pirates who sailed with her father, she couldn't believe it. She couldn't think. She couldn't escape. There was no way out.

He knew who she was.

"My beloved Elisabeth... I thought you were dead," Kimblee gave her a cynical smile."I guess I wasn't the only one who found a way to survive."

"I might say so, Kimblee," she rumbled with disdain.

He moved closer to her and entered the back of his hand over her cheek, and his eyes were full of arrogance.

"Don't touch me, you bastard" she pushed him away and he began laughing in a cruel way.

"Wow! Where's all that sweetness and shyness you had minutes before,? "Bradley interrupted with a calm that froze her blood. "Get out of the cabin, Kimblee."

He made a mocking bow and left them alone.

She had fucked up, she had been an idiot, she didn't know how to get out of this. Bradley folded his arms and looked at her.

"I don't know what kind of fantasy is in your mind... or what you expected when you came here... but I've been hearing for years that Berthol Hawkeye's daughter was alive... that she was hiding the treasure... all those tales... it's almost an obsession to find her, that's why I kept one of Hawkeye's men alive... so he could recognize her... and it turns out that she's such an idiot who comes walking towards me," he spoke very slowly spreading hatred in every word he spoke. "Well, my girl... Where's the map?"

Hello again!
I am so glad that the changes have been noticed.
My teacher used to say : keep it simple. So I tried.
Thanks a lot to Gospeloak and Id9916 for your reviews.
I really wanted to get to this point in history. I hope you like it.
Thank you all very much for reading me.
A big hug for everyone.

See you next time!