"Higher, you have to stay high." James instructed. The blond furrowed his eyebrows and nodded, raising the sword he held a little higher and taking a few deep breaths yet never taking his eyes off of Ty. "Remember, he can strike whenever and you have to be ready. You only get one chance."
"A-Alright." Kendall said silently. The pirate in front of him jumped forward and swung his sword at the prince that parried it swiftly and countered the attack.
"Good." The captain said. "Don't forget the footwork." Kendall nodded and parried another attack.
He was standing in the middle of the deck sparring with Ty. The pirate captain had suggested that he learned how to defend himself and Kendall had told the brunet that he actually knew how to handle a sword. James put him to the test and so far Kendall was excelling.
The few crew members that weren't busy was gathered around them, watching with amused smiles how Ty pretty much got his pride destroyed by the young prince.
The blond grinned slightly when he managed to get the young sailor down to his knees and aimed his sword against the pirate's throat. Ty sighed a bit and held his arm up and Kendall was just about to back away – to claim his victory – when Ty grabbed a handful of gun power from the sack next to himself and threw it up at the prince, blinding him.
Kendall shut his eyes tight and winced and Ty took the opportunity to knock him over and overpower the prince. "Game over, mate." Ty said slyly and Kendall rubbed his eyes and blinked the powder away.
"You cheated." He said and groaned a bit.
"We're pirates, your majesty." James said with a laugh. "We are excellent cheaters." Ty chuckled and put his sword away and held out a hand to help the blond up. Kendall narrowed his eyes and kicked the pirates feet away and swept Ty off his feet. The young sailor fell to the floor with a thud and groaned.
"Then I know not to trust one." Kendall said and got up while the crew chuckled.
"You learn quickly." James murmured and nodded approvingly. "Never trust a pirate besides yourself." He said. Kendall smiled up at the captain at the rudder deck and nodded.
"Land Ahoy!"
Kendall looked up and quickly put his sword back into it's sheath and ran up to the front of the ship and gasped. "L-Look!" He said and pointed when the captain joined him. "So this is the east." Kendall mumbled and smiled.
"Ar." James said and nodded. "City of the golden sea." He murmured and took a deep breath, taking in the warm air and puffing it out.
"'Tis beautiful." Kendall sighed and looked at the foreign houses and the dark skinned people on the docks. "Will we find the antidote here?" he asked. The pirate captain nodded. "Then what are we waiting for?" Kendall asked and pushed himself off the railing.
"Where do you think you are going?" James asked and arched an eyebrow.
"I am going with you, of course." Kendall said, like the matter was obvious and already settled. "You do not really expect me to sit around and wait, right?" He asked and furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm coming with you."
"The city will be crawling with not only thugs and thieves but soldiers that are trying to find you." James pointed out. "'Tis a big city, it is very likely that they are here to look for you." The young prince stiffened slightly and frowned.
"R-Right..." He mumbled. "M-My family..." He said silently and gulped. "I-... I just..." He stuttered and shook his head. "No. I am not going to sit around." He said and walked across the deck. "Ty, give me your hat." He said and took the hat from the young sailor that protested but only a little.
James chuckled when the prince ran around the deck and touched various things to get himself dirty. Kendall found that the cannons were pretty filthy with gun powder and soot and rubbed some of it on his face and ruffled his hair around before putting the worn leather hat on his head.
"How do I look?" He asked and looked up at James that came walking, looking awfully amused.
"You look like a pirate, your majesty." James said and chuckled. Kendall smiled happily and turned to look out over the city. They docked and the blond could barely contain himself and the captain sure noticed. "Just follow my lead."
"Ay, ay, Captain." Kendall said and James chuckled lowly before getting off the ship with the young prince trailing behind him. They made their way through the crowds and the handsome brunet often made sure that the prince was still there and he always was. Never more than a few feet away.
They ventured further into the city and as they got closer and closer to the market district Kendall got more and more excited and curious. He tugged and James' coat and pointed over at a big building. "What is that?" he asked. "Why is everyone gathering over there?" he asked and smiled curiously.
"It's an auction hall." James said. "Where they sell wares to the highest bidding." He explained and Kendall nodded. "You go ahead and have a look if you'd like. I'm going over there to get the antidote." He said and nodded over to the other side of the marketplace.
"Are you sure?" Kendall asked and tilted his head. "I can come with you if you'd like." he said. James chuckled and patted his head.
"Nah, go and enjoy yourself." he said. "But be careful." He added and the young prince nodded before disappearing into the crowd. The handsome brunet was to say the least very surprised how easy the blond blended into the crowd despite being so odd.
He let out a sigh and made his way toward the more excluded part of the market and entered one of the small shops and got what he needed and then exited it. James stopped once he was out and had a look around. He couldn't help but feel like something was off.
He couldn't help but feel like someone was watching him. He slid the vial of antidote into the inside pocket of his coat and tipped his hat forward slightly and moved quickly away from the crowd and into an alleyway.
Just as he had predicted his follower was not far behind and James cursed silently. The alley ended in a dead end and he stopped and sighed, drawing his sword and turning around only face his pursuer.
"So we meet again..." I hoarse voice mumbled and James arched an eyebrow at the hooded man in front of him and eyed him cautiously. He couldn't see his the face of his follower that held his head down low.
"I have met many men in my days." James said. "And just who do I happen to have in front of me?" he asked and arched an eyebrow.
"The one who'll end you, pirate." The man in front of him hissed and launched forward. James swiftly moved out of the way and parried a blow with his sword. The young man growled and attacked again.
He was skilled with his blade and James found himself weaponless in a matter of seconds. James gave an annoyed sigh and the man in front of his spat by his feet and growled.
"Die, pirate!" He yelled and dashed forward.
A flash of gray swiped by James' vision and the sharp sound of metal smacking together echoed through the alley when the young prince parried the blow and pushed James' attacker back and kicked him in the chest, making him fall to the ground.
James looked up at the roof from where the blond had jumped down and for a few moments he seriously wondered how Kendall had gotten up there but he didn't think too much about it and turned to look at the prince defending him.
"Leave him alone." Kendall hissed and held his sword out, aimed it at the cloaked man. "If you touch him I swear I'll slit your throat." He threatened and glared down at the man on the ground.
"You..." The hooded man mumbled and shook his head. Kendall softened a bit and let his guard down. "You're alive." Kendall dropped his sword and let it fall to the ground. "You are still alive." The hooded man said.
The young prince took two steps forward and ripped the hood of James' attacked and then backed off, eyes wide and heart pounding wildly in his chest. "Logan." He said breathlessly. "What are you doing here?" He asked and furrowed his eyebrows.
Logan scoffed. "I've been looking for him." He said and nodded at the pirate captain that chose to stay passive and calm. "I've been trying to find the one who kidnapped the prince." Logan hissed and glared at James.
"Logan..." Kendall mumbled. "I-I can't believe your alive." He said. "The fire, I thought you... I thought you were gone." His former servant turned to look at him.
"I thought the same about you when the ship disappeared beyond the horizon." Logan said. "You disappeared, kidnapped by pirates and I find you months later defending the man who took you away from your home." Logan said and sounded almost hurt. Kendall gulped and shook his head, quickly picking his sword back up and backing off towards James.
"I cannot go back, Logan." Kendall said. "If you are here to try and convince me to come back then you can't." he said. "I-I'm free now." He said and aimed his sword at Logan. "I am finally free."
Kendall grabbed a hold of James' arm but never once broke eye contact with his former servant as he slowly walked around him so that James and he had the market behind them. "What has gotten into you, my prince?" Logan asked and shook his head. "You have to come back. Everyone is looking for you."
"I do not care." Kendall said. "I do not want to go back. I have found my place. I can be free." He said and rose his sword again when Logan tried to approach him. "Do not make me hurt you, Logan." Kendall warned and furrowed his eyebrows. "I-I will if I have to."
Logan nodded and held his arms up and dropped his own sword. "It's alright." Logan said. "It's okay, I just want to talk."
"I have nothing more to say." Kendall mumbled. "I am going to leave, Logan." He said. "I do not intend to ever return to that fortress." he added and shook his head. Logan frowned. "Captain." Kendall mumbled and put his sword back into its sheath.
"Let's get back to the ship." James said lowly and grabbed a hold of the blond's arm and quickly dragged him away from the alley and towards the docks. Once they were on the ship he shoved the blond onto the deck and glared at him. "What were you thinking?" he asked. "Going in between like that?"
"I tried to help." Kendall said. "And if you did not happen to notice, I did help." He muttered but his angry face quickly faltered and he gulped. "I-I'm sorry, James." He said. "I didn't mean to..." He said silently and hung his head. "Please forgive me."
"I forgive you." James sighed and grabbed Kendall's hat and pressed it down onto the closest of his crew member's head. "Let's get this to Carlos." James said and picked out the vial and the blond nodded and followed him down to the sickbay.
"H-Hey! L-Look, visitors!" Carlos said and chuckled lowly. "It's n-not everyday you have a royalty visiting." He said and smiled weakly.
"We have the antidote." Kendall said softly and turned to James.
"We got it, mate." James confirmed and knelt by Carlos' side. "Drink up." He said and helped the latino sit up and then handed him the vial.
"Don't gotta tell me twice." Carlos said before downing the greenish liquid and coughing. "Not exactly rum." He muttered and furrowed his eyebrows. James chuckled and ruffled his friend's hair.
"How do you feel?" The captain asked.
"Better already." Carlos said with a smile. Kendall lit up a bit and turned to the handsome brunet and crouched beside the bed.
"How long will it take before he is fully recovered?" he asked curiously and James sighed. "Will it take long?" Kendall asked.
"About a day's rest and he should be up and about again." James said and got up. Carlos' eyes sparkled with excitement and he smiled happily. "Don't give me that look." James mumbled. "You're in for a lot of work once you're up on those scrawny legs." he said and shook his head. "If you're slacking I might be the one poisoning you the next time." he said.
Carlos chuckled and nodded his head. "Ay, Captain. I'll do my best." He said and James smiled softly.
"Good." He mumbled and nudged his hat before turning to Kendall. "I have some things to take care of but I want you to stay on the ship." he said. "In my cabin would be the best." he added and walked towards the door. "I won't be long."
"A-Ay, Captain." The blond said and nodded. "I-I will be in the cabin." He confirmed and James nodded at him before leaving the sickbay.
Hey guys! LOGAN! I know many of you wanted Logan back and I have always intended to get him back into the story. Carlos got his antidote and Kendall is just trying to help out... yay!
So I've been sick these past few days and I have written on this story like crazy and hopefully I'll be able to update this again tomorrow :) Stuff is about to go down... I'm not kidding. I just love this story so much because it's ridiculously fun to write and I just hope it's good to read as well :)
Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you :)