I stepped into the cabin and recognized the Captain, his boots kicked up onto the desk in front of him, and Makatza sitting backwards on a chair by his side, twirling a knife between her fingers. There was another Elven male with them who I’d not yet seen. Unlike his companions, he was standing straight and tall against the back wall, his face stoic—not bothering to turn to meas I entered. His dark eyes were unfocused, but I got the feeling he was watching every single point in the room at once.
The Captain was the first to speak. “Quite the shit show that was, huh? Nonetheless, welcome aboard the Phoenix Heart.” He waved his hand at me expectantly.
“Uhm…it’s Nairu,” I said reflexively.Shit.A fake name would’ve been better.
“Nairu! Lovely!” He exclaimed, throwing his hands up behind his head. “I am Lorian, Captain of this ship. At my side is my first mate, Makatza, and that brooding tower of silence over there is my humble knight, Kaelias.”
My mind was reeling. Lorian was certainly eccentric. “Could you explain exactly what happened back there now?”
“Not much to explain. You got yourself caught in the middle of a raid on Tempestas, led by one of the larger slave trade vessels in the realm,” he spoke as though this was common knowledge. “Lord Tieran turns a blind eye to it because he’s a piece of human refuse who only cares about how fat his pockets are. His willful disregard is why Tempestas gets attacked every so often, and why the guards are slow to respond. It is also why we often appear to fuck up the day for them.”
“And you rescue people?”
“How do you think I collected most of my crew?”
I wasn’t sure how to say what was on my mind without offending them. “But you are… pirates?”
Makatza spoke up, “we are a bit like- hm, how would a Human say it? Noble thieves. Steal from the rich, help the poor.” Her beaming smile showed off her tusks. “There is plenty of fighting and bloodshed, if that is what you’re looking for. I enjoy that part. The rich are protective of their shiny baubles. So funny to watch.”
Lorian cleared his throat. “If you intend to stay with us, you’re welcome to an empty hammock below deck, but you will needto afford your keep. Otherwise, we can drop you off at the next closest port city. We’re headed back north.” Lorian’s eyes skimmed over my body in judgment. “Are you good at anything? You don’t look particularly strong. There is the issue of your wrist, as well.”
His harsh scrutiny made me blush, but I was pleasantly surprised that he kept silent about my unusual features. If my white hair and red eyes gave him question, he didn’t bother mentioning it. “I can make poultices, treat minor injuries and sicknesses. I can stitch too.”
“Perfect!” Lorian stood up in one quick motion. “Kaelias will treat your wrist, but frankly, he is shit at playing doctor, so it would be fantastic if you could take over his duties after he shows you the ropes. Then he can get back to doing… knight stuff.”
Kaelias hadn’t said a word the entire time, but his eyes found their way to me. He offered only a slight nod.
“He won’t speak to you,” Lorian said.
“What?”
“Don’t take it personally. It’s not just you. It’s anyone.” He gave Kaelias a thumbs up, which he gave no reaction to. “He’ll explain in his own time. Don’t ask. It’s complicated.”
I blinked a few times. “…Right.”
Suddenly, I no longer felt like the odd one out in a group of so-called ‘noble thieves’, led by a somewhat crazy Captain, a bloodthirsty yet somehow endearing half-Orc, and a silent knight, why would it matter if there is a Human woman who looked a bit different? As much of a jumbled mess as my mind was from the day’s events, I felt strangely welcomed by these people. Besides, I didn’t care where I went so long as I was free, and nothing was more free than sailing the seas.
Yes, this—this would work.
Present Time
“What kind of mess did you three get yourselves into this time?” I hissed, flipping Kaelias’ arm over to expose the long slice running from the crook of his elbow to his wrist. “You’re lucky this wasn’t deeper. Let’s be clear, it will need stitches, and you will need to rest thereafter—for weeks.”
“One week?” He signed, smiling and batting his long lashes as if that was going to work on me.
“No.” I began cleaning and disinfecting the wound, wiping up the blood, and preparing the skin to be stitched. “Two weeks minimum, and really, it should be longer than that, but I know how stubborn you are. I’ll be telling Lorian too, so there’s no getting out of it this time.”
Kaelias winced when the needle pierced his light brown skin, but he didn’t shout or curse. He never did. Nothing would make him break his vow. Not that I knew much of what said vow entailed. In the two years I’d known him, he’d never shared more than the fact that he’d taken a vow of silence, and I’d neverasked. I’d gotten the feeling early on that it was an off-limits topic.
“What happened out there?” I paused to look up at him. I’d learned to sign to communicate with him, but I was nowhere near perfect. It was easier for us both if I spoke and he signed.
Most of the crew found him cold and emotionless—and I admittedly had too, When I’d first met him. It was a challenge to get to know him properly through paper and ink. Once, I’d asked him to teach me to sign, his personality shined through. It only took a little effort. Now, he’s my best friend on the ship. He is actually quite funny, and loyal to a fault—a serious fault. He’d no doubt gotten his injury protecting someone who’d made a stupid mistake in battle.
Kaelias signed with his free hand. “There were more guards than expected.”
“Who were you saving this time?”
“Lorian.”
