Chapter 3
Argon sat leaned against the bench, as Ailiah held a water glass out for him.
"He's an idiot, the Captain won't let him off" Argon commented, taking it.
Ailiah looked at him, with calculating blue eyes.
"You shouldn't have gotten involved" She said.
"Maybe you are right, but I needed to" He insisted, taking a long gulp.
"Then you are the idiot" She said.
"Maybe" He allowed.
"The Captain won't harm him, she won't let her hand be forced" Ailiah said.
"She should kill him, or let someone else have the privilege" He muttered.
"We'd get nowhere if we killed somebody, every time there was a dispute" She laughed.
"I would be a happy person, if we did" He said darkly.
"You wouldn't be if you were the shark's meal" She snapped back.
"I suppose" He agreed.
"Must get back to work, and we shall see if Henrolh has all limbs intact" Ailiah smiled.
"Here's hoping he's lost, at the very least an ear" Argon laughed, following her back into the sunlight. As soon as he stepped foot on the deck, Jardine rushed over.
"Are you okay?" She demanded, looking at the bruises around his neck.
"I am fine" He insisted.
"Sure?" She smiled.
"I am fine Jardine, don't worry" He grinned, "And you? Those sword cuts look-" He trailed off, looking at the line of blood across her neck.
"They are fine" She waved off his worry, "They will heal"
"You should clean those up" He insisted.
"There's no need Argon, no damage" She smiled.
"Jardine, clean them up would you? Put my mind at rest?" He asked.
"If you insist Argon" Jardine smiled.
"Everyone, quiet!" Rondellah yelled, demanding silence. They all turned to look at her, the silence deafening.
"Tomorrow, we will arrive. We will take Mary-Elizabeth, and take the Sapphire for our own. We shall get it, with as little deaths or injuries as possible. You kill anyone without just cause, the consequences for yourself will be dire. We may be pirates but some of us still poses hearts. Am I making myself clear?" Rondellah demanded.
"Yes Captain" They yelled.
"Arm yourselves, but keep them hidden we do not want panic. We shall take the sapphire and, no one will stop us" Rondellah yelled.
"Yes!" They coursed.
Rondellah turned away to face Camelliah, a smirk playing on her face.
"And, as we speak my plan is beginning" She laughed.
"Henrolh will not be able to control himself" Camelliah agreed.
"I always knew his obsession with her would help me, he will warn her and finally we can get rid of him" Rondellah said.
"And get the Sapphire" Camelliah added.
"Yes Cam, and the Sapphire too" She grinned.
"Is that not important?" Camelliah asked, frowning.
"No, it is very important" Rondellah smiled secretly, walking away.
Markson studied the weapons carefully, handing a knife to Jameson.
"Put it in your sock, they will not find it there" He added.
"I know" Jameson huffed.
"I am just saying we would not want to break others out of jail" Markson amended.
"I know, why aren't you stressing about this?" Jameson asked.
"If the Captain thought it would be dangerous, we would not be doing this" Markson shrugged, loading a revolver with ammunition.
"It is dangerous, if not we would not have weapons" Jameson countered.
"Maybe so, but I believe in the Captain. There is only one of us she would willingly send to our deaths, and you and I are not" Markson said, placing the revolver down.
"If you believe so, but does the Captain trust us?" Jameson wondered.
"I don't believe the Captain trusts anyone, she plays a risky game" Markson said absent-mildly. He went over to a sword, testing the blade.
"Yes, she does play a risky game and at the moment she is winning. If she has no trust in us, should we trust her?" Jameson asked, handing him a cloth.
"I suppose we must, she can decide our fate" Markson said, running the cloth along the hilt of the sword.
"You said she wouldn't decide our fate" Jameson reminded him.
"I said she would not decide if we live or die, she still decides if we stay or lose a limb" Markson corrected, handing Jameson the cloth again.
"Yes, I agree. But that does not answer the question, do we not trust her? She sees it unwise to trust us, why should we?" Jameson demanded, handing him a blunt knife.
"We must, she would not send us to our death Jameson. I trust her, but it is unwise to trust people blindly in any case" Markson said, his voice quiet. He scrapped a rock against the blade of the knife, sharpening it.
"Are you saying we do not trust her?" Jameson asked, his voice equally as quiet.
"No, I am saying that it is never safe to trust someone blindly. You must always be careful, even with those who never give you any reason to be wary of them" Markson said, handing him the knife.
"I agree Markson, so you are saying you trust her?" Jameson asked.
"Yes I do, but not blindly. She is my Captain and she has not given me any reason to not. Jameson, she is not unwise to not trust everyone" Markson smiled.
"So you trust her?" Jameson frowned.
"With my life" Markson said.
"But?" Jameson prodded.
"I would never trust her with Henrolh's" He said mildly.
Henrolh sat on his chair, head placed against the desk. He felt sick, and the right side of his face was throbbing. How stupid he had been, to urge the Captain on. She would hurt him, and she would break him. She knew him more than others, and wasn't afraid to use it to her advantage.
The dimly lit room darkened his mood, and the cleanness didn't help either. He looked up, wishing he was somewhere else. The Pirate's life isn't for me, He thought glumly. Wincing, as he put his hand against his bruised face. The boat rocked along slowly, and he knew the Captain's plan would be completed soon. He had to prove himself, someway he would.
She had implied her didn't poses a heart, and that he was stupid. I have a heart, and it pains. Regrettably I am not stupid, for I know my fate, He thought.
How can I prove myself, do everything she asks? No more fights? Hold my temper? I must do something, even the smallest thing, he thought. He paused for a minute, and thought long and hard. A slow smile spread across his lips, as his idea came to. I know, he thought darkly, I will be very, very helpful.