If words could explain the look on the sailor's face when he saw the two girls, it'd be something akin to a cow staring at a new gate while the vegetable garden was running away. But it didn't take long for him to snap out of it and force the two girls up onto the deck.
Corinne's hand stayed positioned at her side.
"Captain!" The man shouted "Look what I found below deck!"
The captain of the boat walked over to them. He appeared to be in his late sixties with a full beard and mustache. Not to mention, he was very well dressed and obviously took care of himself.
"What are you girls doing on here?" The Captain demanded.
"It's urgent." Corinne answered quickly "We have to get back to Paris immediately. Not to mention we're being followed by a band of armed men!"
"Well..." The Captain said slowly "You two do look familiar now. Those men back at the docks were looking fer ya."
"That's unfortunately correct." Corinne shook head "And I don't even want to know the reward that they're offering." she saw the men smile as they thought about the money reward "Must be pretty good." she thought then added "But please. We have to get back to Paris as soon as possible!"
"Paris?" The man who had found them asked, cocking his head slightly.
"Yes! Paris! France!"
Liana couldn't help but smile slightly as Corinne got aggravated. It wasn't funny! But... it was.
"You know." Corinne continued "It's surrounded by Italy, Germany, Morocco and a few other places! You know... in Europe!"
"Ah!" The captain suddenly nodded "I met my wife there."
Corinne sighed with relief "And that beautiful place will be destroyed if we don't get back."
The captain stared at them suspiciously "And how will you be able to stop it?"
Corinne looked around at all the men. She knew what was coming "I'm a musketeer."
Just as expected, they all started laughing.
"But you're a little girl!" one of the sailors laughed.
With a sigh, Corinne pulled out her sword and dropped into her most used pose "Uh-huh."
The captain grinned amused "Well. This is new. But anyone can have a sword. The question is, can you use it?"
Corinne shrugged, a smile creeping across her face "Well, Captain. I challenge you."
"Ooh." All the other sailors echoed.
"Are you sure about this, Corinne?" Liana whispered.
The other girl nodded "Yep."
The Captain chuckled as he pulled out his large sword "Warning, Child. I've got nearly forty years of experience under my belt. I haven't met a battle that I didn't win."
Corinne smiled "And I've got seventeen partial experience and two years of complete experience. We're about even."
The captain laughed then tried a surprise lunge, but Corinne side stepped it, and the dual was on!
Liana couldn't help but stare as dual moved all around the ship's deck.
The captain's teeth were gritted. He didn't know battling with a girl would be hard! But the thing that kept getting him aggravated, was that Corinne was totally relaxed... and smiling!
"If I didn't know any better," The captain growled "I'd say you were enjoying yourself."
Corinne laughed, and the captain's eyebrows rose "Then I'd say you're right." she flipped up onto the edge of the ship and flipped several feet away from the man.
The captain stared at her "How..."
"We're not finished yet, Captain." Corinne said, waving her sword slightly. It was rather difficult keeping her balance on the edge of the ship. If she fell the wrong way, she'd be in the ocean.
The Captain groaned, then charged at her again. But as soon as he was close enough, she flipped backwards and kicked the man's sword from his hands. It flew through the air. Corinne jumped up and caught it then landed safely back on the railing.
Everyone was staring eyes wide and mouths gaped open as Corinne jumped back to the deck "I must say, Sir. I think I'm looking forward to having forty years of girl experience." she handed him his sword, then went to stand by Liana.
The captain shook his head, the smallest hint of a smile on his face "Alright. Fine. You and your sister can stay." then he stomped away.
Liana leaned over to Corinne and whispered amused "We're not sisters."
Corinne just smiled and shrugged.
The sailors went back to their business and left the girls alone.
"Well, I think we have a long trip ahead of us." Corinne sat down on the deck and leaned against the side "With a bunch of people who will barely tolerate us."
Liana sat down next to her "At least they're not throwing us overboard."
"Agreed."
They sat there and watched as the sailors walked back and forth. The men talked about this and that. Some got into some arguments, but the girls kinda felt like it was mainly from boredom.
When they really started listening, was when the men started talking about their families. Even the Captain had a wife, some kids and some grandkids.
"Yep. I sure do miss my family." One man said "It's sad that I see them so little."
the others nodded in agreement.
Corinne looked over at Liana. They were both thinking the same thing... How sad that was.
"You know, I have a five year old girl. She's the sweetest thing." the man continued "She sings for me every time I come home."
"What does she sing, Joe?" another sailor asked.
"Um..." Joe scratched his head "I can never remember. The song always leaves my head and I'm constantly trying to hear it again." he roughly hummed a piece to it.
To Corinne, it sounded like some deformed form of sandpaper scratching, but it made Liana's eyes light up.
She looked over at a guitar that had been sitting just a few feet away for quite some time. It had been driving her crazy! She reached over and picked it up, then began to strum it softly while humming.
Joe looked over at her shocked "Hey! She's playing the song!" he ran over to Liana "Do- do you know the words?"
Liana smiled, then looked down at the guitar as she started singing:
"When you feel like your ready to go
somewhere you've never been
Make a wish and the dream in you grows
shining as bright as day
carrying you far away
The story begins with a light in your heart
a fantasy a dream and a spark
once you believe you are ready to shine
Bright as the world's ever known
you are the glow."
Then, the requests came from everywhere. The sailors asking if Liana knew this song or that song. If she did, she sang it. If she didn't, the sailor sang it and she figured it out on the guitar.
Corinne couldn't help but marvel as the men began to smile and laugh.
The sun slowly began to sink, and the men started to retire, leaving the girls on the deck.
Liana sat down the guitar and walked over to where Corinne was staring out at the ocean.
"Oi. The guitar will ware on your hands after a little bit."
Corinne laughed "You are amazing, Liana."
"Nah." The other blond shrugged as she leaned against the edge of the ship "I just love music."
"You remind me so much of my friends." Corinne said as she stared into the distance "Especially Renee." she shrugged again "Well... in just the music part. She loves to write songs and sing. But she's more of a no-nonsense person."
"You know." Liana said slowly "You keep mentioning your friends and Renee. Is she Renee Dumas, by any chance?"
Corinne smiled and nodded "That's her. I take it you've heard some of her songs."
Liana nodded "She's an amazing writer!"
Corinne laughed "I know. I fall asleep listening to her write. And listening to Aramina quote poetry or Shakespeare."
"And listening to Viveca groan when she pokes herself with a needle?" Liana guessed.
"Have I talked that much about them?" Corinne asked.
Liana shrugged "It's to be expected. Your friends are as big a part of your life as Alexa is mine."
Corinne nodded slowly as she looked back out at the sinking sun. It's fading rays reflecting off of the water that seemed to run endlessly around them "Can I ask you a question."
Liana nodded "Sure."
"Why did you come with me? I mean, I'm a complete stranger." she looked over at the blond beside her "Why did you leave everything behind to help me?"
Liana sighed "I'm not sure, to be honest. Generally, I would never have left Alexa behind. I would have apologized completely, then sadly watched you go on your way." she shook her head "But... for some reason, I felt like I had to come. Like something on this trip would help me."
Corinne nodded in understanding "I know what you mean. You and Alexa are best friends, right? Or are you sisters?"
"We're best friends." Liana answered "But basically sisters. Her parents took me in when I was little. So we grew up together."
"Took you in?" Corinne suddenly cringed "Sorry. I'm being too nosy."
Liana laughed "No, it's fine. When I was a baby, I was found laying beside a river soaking wet. The person took me to the local orphanage where I lived for two years. When I turned three, a couple came in and adopted me. They liked to travel, so we covered quite a bit of road... then, when I turned five, they decided they didn't want me anymore." she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear "They left me in the village by a fountain. I watched them board a ship and leave."
Corinne could see the moisture building up behind the other girl's eyes.
"I wandered around town for about two days. Then Alexa and her mother came into town to sell flowers. That's when they found me." Liana smiled slightly "The father was the musician for the local Inn. As soon as Alexa's mother found out I'd been abandoned, she took me to the Inn and bought me some dinner. Then she asked her husband if they could take me home. He said yes, and I've lived there ever since." she looked over at Corinne "You know, I've never told anyone my entire story. Not even Alexa. All she really knows is that I was abandoned in her town. We really had to stick together after her parents died."
"I'm sorry." Corinne said softly "I can't image not having my mother. My father died when I was seven so..."
"Actually, I think it was all the music that really helped me." Liana said "And the love. But music speaks to the soul. Maybe that's how I was able to accept them. They showed me love and music." she smiled and let out a sigh of relief "So... do you write songs?"
"No." Corinne answered immediately "I am not poetically minded. At all."
"You don't have to be." Liana responded, smiling brightly "Just... think of the situation you're in, the way you feel and the things you love. Then write it."
Corinne just shook her head "Alright. Now it's my turn. This trip could get dangerous." she pulled out her sword "You may need to use this."
"I've never held a sword in my life!" Liana gasped.
Corinne smiled encouragingly "I'll teach you."
Liana smiled mischievously, turned around and picked up the guitar then held it out to the other girl "Consider it a trade."
(Thank you everyone for you faves, followes, and reviews! They mean a whole lot! This story isn't going to have a whole bunch of romance in it, so I hope that's okay! There'll be a little, but not much. Anyhoo... LATERZ!)