11
Kamira
Kamira’seyesshotopenat the sound of shouting and loud movements above her. Empty hammocks swung around her, blankets and pillows littered the floor. Not a soul remained in the crew’s quarters. Why had no one woken her? Possibly, the Captain had thought she needed more sleep after her late night escapade, but she highly doubted it.
She crawled out of bed, sprinting out the door and up the steps just in time to hear a voice yell out, “All hands to quarters!”
The crew swarmed the deck, barking orders, carrying what looked like gunpowder and large cannonballs.She grabbed onto a crew member’s arm she had yet to learn the name of, stopping him in his tracks.“What’s going on?”
“We’re making chase to a supply ship.” He nodded toward the ship's bow before pulling his arm from her grasp and walking on toward a cannon that another crew was preparing.
Kamira furrowed her brows, turning her gaze toward the bow where, sure enough, a ship could be seen in the distance. She spun, heading for the helm and the Captain positioned behind the wheel, a smug look plastered on his face.
“You’re going to attack that ship?” Kamira yelled, taking the steps two at a time.
“We are going topillagethat ship,” he corrected without hesitation.
“Then why are you preparing the cannons?”
“Curious as always I see.” He chuckled. “The pirate who is unprepared for any outcome rests at the bottom of the sea.”
“You aren’t going to hurt anyone though, right?”
“That depends entirely on them now, doesn’t it?” he asked with a wry grin.
It was as if all that had transpired between them the previous night was forgotten, and she found herself rolling her eyes at his response. What had she expected? They were pirates after all. They pillaged and plundered, probably causing more than one passing ship to sink. Hundreds of lives had doubtlessly been lost at their hands. Her breath quickened at the thought, throat constricting as she placed a hand over her racing heart, willing her breathing to slow down as black began to cloud her vision. She would not pass out on the helm for the whole crew to see. Kamira closed her eyes and blew out a shaking breath.
“Are you alright, boy?” The Captain shifted his gaze down to her, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. “Don’t get weak knees on me, landlubber. This is the life of a pirate. You best get used to it now.” He slapped her on the back and she stumbled forward, almost plummeting down the four rickety steps leading to the main deck.
She knew he was right. This was her life now, like it or not. It was the price she had to pay for what she had done. And she would take the life of a pirate over the gallows any day if it meant she had a life.
A thought suddenly sprung to her mind. What would she do when her monthly courses came?Shit.That would be a hard one to hide, especially since these were the only clothes she had. If an accident were to occur, well, she would be done for. Her ruse over. And what would they do to her then? “Bloody skies,” she breathed.
“What was that?” Captain Doraan questioned.
“What should I do? How can I help?”
The first truly genuine smile she had seen on the Captain, spread across his face. It was strange how something as simple as a smile could transform him from someone harsh and threatening into someone trying to find their way in this world, just like her. Kamira swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, placing her cold hands on either side of her heated cheeks to cool them down. She wasn’t sure she was ready for her first pillaging.
“Cabin boy,youwill be our powder monkey.”
“Your what?”
“You’re in charge of making sure we don’t run out of gunpowder if the time ever arises for us to use cannon and pistol.”
“Great,” she groaned. “An errand boy.”
“Well, go on and get started, powder monkey. We’ve a pillage to prepare for. Head down to the ship's hold for the magazine and grab one of the barrels.”
She tried not to roll her eyes as she left him and headed down to the main deck. They had moved considerably closer to the ship now—so close she could see the crew members running across the deck and hear the distant echo of orders being shouted. They were preparing as well, probably realizing theCursed Soulwas faster than their cargo ship.
Kamira sighed before taking the steps down into the belly of the ship. She wasn’t exactly sure what the cartridges looked like. Hopefully they were labeled or easy to spot. She hadn’t actually been down into the ship's hold yet.
As she continued her descent, a loud bang sounded overhead that shook the entire ship. She threw her arms out, pressing against either side of the passageway to steady herself. A chorus of shouting traveled through the snaking corridors. Who had fired first? She couldn’t imagine a cargo vessel carrying much artillery, if any at all.
Suddenly, the walls vibrated as the ear shattering boom of cannons firing one after the other rang out, followed by the sharp crack of gunfire.
Shit!She hadn’t expected an actual fight from what the Captain had told her. She assumed they wouldn’t need a ‘powder monkey’ at all and that he had given her busy work to stay out of the way. “Shit,” she cursed and hurried down into the ship’s hold.
