His tailored emerald green coat trimmed with gold was offensive in every way. It needled at my chest, and the urge totake the sword at my side and cut it off was loud in my mind. Cheeks turned the color of roses as he clenched his hands at his side. A shame Inu relieved him of his weapons, it might have been more of a challenge.
I pulled out the sword at my side, enjoying the sound of the metal unsheathing like a song in the morning air. Mostly, I enjoyed the way the captain’s throat bobbed in front of me.
“Tell me, Captain Seward, what have you heard about me?” I asked, running my finger over the cool steel.
“I don’t take orders from women,” he snarled.
With no warning, Inu appeared like the wraith she was behind him and kicked his knees in which resulted in exactly one grunting captain landing with a thump onto the deck. He barely kept his face from making contact. With as much dignity as he could muster, he righted himself, but the truth was, he was kneeling before a woman.
Must have hurt more than the fall.
“You will show the Captain the respect she is due or learn what it is to meet death in the belly of the serpent,” Inu hissed.
Her long black hair was sleek and made of silk beneath her wide-brimmed hat, shielding her eyes from the rest of the world. Despite her delicate frame, it was a mistake to underestimate her. I’d have to tell her she was a bit overzealous later, but every day we didn’t dock in London Harbor was another year off her life. It was evident in the way she clenched her jaw and the intensity of her dark eyes.
A sentiment I shared.
Her one visible eye met mine, and I felt the accusation like a bullet to my gut.
When will it be enough?
Soon.
I lifted my sword and let it rest against the captain’s throat before sliding it up his cheek and beneath the emerald and goldhat he didn’t deserve. I lifted it with the tip of my sword before sliding it off and placing it on my head. It was too big and drooped slightly to the side, but I liked to think the effect was the same.
“You used to captain Ruby’s Revel, correct?” I asked.
Ah, there it was. The flick of his eyes that searched my crew and then me, looking for answers he would never find.
“I–I did–how–” he began, but I brushed my sword to the tip of his nose, cutting off his words.
“Funny that you should have been given command of a ship twice her size. I would bet it was arewardof some kind,” I said, squatting down, so we were eye level.
“My allegiance is to North Star Line, not whichever lord controls it,” he said.
I made a tsking sound and wiggled my sword against his nose.
“You know, that just reeks of a lack of conviction, doesn’t it, Val?” I said.
I could practically hear her smile behind me.
“Sure does, Captain.”
A light breeze caught the ends of my hair, and I sniffed, taking in the salty sea air. One day, it would become a memory. A day that couldn’t come soon enough.
“You preach loyalty, but the moment your captain heads for the noose, you steal his ship and his crew,” Captain Seward ground out.
A sharp breath from behind me brought a smile to my face.
“You shouldn’t have said that.” Val clicked her tongue.
“No, he shouldn’t have,” I said. “But I am so glad you did.”
Vengeance was never my specialty. I could hold a grudge as well as the next person, but this–this fire in my veins that whipped and lashed–desperate to create pain was new. For four months, I nurtured it, feeding it with the blood of men like the one before me. After all, I had learned from the best.
I stood and circled Seward, tracing a soft crimson line around his neck as I went. It wasn’t enough, but it was a start.
“I see my message has not been received. Looks like I’ll have to try harder.” I hummed.
