The Sea Orb

CHAPTER 4

The lights dimmed slightly. The bar was quite noisy with all the chatter and whispers. Drunkards talking gibberish, servers taking orders from the customers, some were even drinking with them.

That is, except for the corner seat where Marin now sat looking at the middle-aged man before her with a frown. He was wearing worn-out clothes just better than a beggar on the streets. His eyes were brown so was his hair. He was more on the chubby side though.

It was quiet at their table as the man continued to gape at her in what could be called astonishment.

But why?

Her green eyes flickered in the dim lights as she coldly uttered "What...?"

Gods knew she was way too drained for today. Both physically and emotionally and all she could think at this moment was to get drunk and lay on her bed to welcome oblivion.

Clearly the stranger thought otherwise as he seated himself in the chair before her. Her eyebrows creased as she opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by him.

"Yo.. you... Are you Marin...?" he stuttered looking at her.

Any surprise she felt on a stranger knowing her name was soon dispersed by his next words.

"Captain Neil's daughter..." The man uttered glancing at her green eyes.

Marin sucked in a sharp breath as she heard the man mention her father... Father... Strangely, it felt unfamiliar. Maybe it was because it had been nearly seven years since she spoke this word or saw him.

That man who abandoned his crew and ran away. He neither deserved to be a captain nor a father.

She nodded looking at the stranger who now felt familiar. There were only a few close people who called that man captain Niel.

Who was this man...?

After seeing her nod the man broke into a huge grin even though the corner of his eyes was moist.

"So you are..."

"Do you perhaps recognize me?" He asked a little expectantly.

Marin looked at him blankly before looked at his features and trying to identify who he could be. The man in front of her was nearly her father's age, he would have seemed like an ordinary person if not for the tattoo on his left arm. The whole upper arm was covered by a skull tattoo. She gasped looking at it-

"Uncle Jonathan." She spoke in disbelief her eyes wide. The man broke out into a chuckle as he nodded.

"There there." He spoke smiling at her.

"You grew up quite well." He spoke as the smile faded and regret gleamed his eyes.

Marin shook her head "No uncle... It wasn't your fault... Whatever happened you did your best to save me." She spoke.

She had no complaints of the past, she was grateful for him to have protected her even at times he couldn't.

Hearing the words of the young woman in front of him the regret he felt only deepened. This girl, It felt like yesterday as he saw a thirteen-year girl roaming around the ship with sparkling eyes.

And now the woman in front of him was weathered as if all these years had tired her down. The gleam in her eyes was lost. Long gone.

The innocent child-like excitement was gone and in its place was a woman who was more mature than her age.

He clearly remembered the day. The day when everything ended for her and for them. It was six months after that incident. They were all in hiding. They didn't know what was happening or what caused it.

Only a word spread out that the kings were beheading the pirates. Many died at the hands of the soldier and the remaining that managed to survive were in hiding. Trying to assess the situation. Trying to know what the hell was going on. They too were in a similar situation.

They managed to travel to Northlyn in a merchant's cargo when they were caught. They tried to ward them off but the soldiers managed to capture Marin. He tried to fight them off but owing to the fact that he was majorly injured 8 months before in a pirate attack it didn't work. His leg was still healing which made it difficult to move around.

But he kept trying. To reach her. To get her back. But all his attempts went futile as they took Marin with them. He could still remember the look in Marin's eyes. The poor kid was terrified. Her eyes wide with horror as she tried to reach out to him yelling to let go. But all her efforts were in vain.

Though the remaining crew came to his rescue and they together managed to escape but the price they had to pay for it weighed heavy on all their hearts. Their captain's daughter.

His friend's daughter.

And he... He couldn't do anything. His deepest regret. They all entered Oakhelm and parted ways. After a few months, he recovered completely.

He tried to find her. Asked around. Followed the palace guards to get info. He tried every single thing. But nothing came up. As if she vanished into thin air. All he could do was search for her day after day and at nights, he used to spend it in bars heavily drinking. Trying to gulp down his sorrow.

He clenched his fist looking at her and asked: "How have you been...?"

He saw her take a deep breath and then he heard her whisper

"If I said I was fine then I would be lying... It was hard. And the king only made it worse. Sometimes it was tough and most of the time I wanted to give up. It felt so hard and so miserable that all I could think of was to just stop. I was tired of everything.

But every time it came to that point I would always think of you guys. Of how you guys would be there. Maybe waiting for me and it gave me courage. To move forward one step at a time.

All I could think of was the ocean and how it seemed closer with every step that I took. So I moved forward.

The prison, the war, nothing could consume the desire to feel the waves against my feet and the wind on my skin for one more time." She spoke as she reminisced about the past.

Listening to her, his hands trembled. This child had to go through so much.

Maybe it was her breaking point or maybe it was Uncle Jonathan's familiarity, she continued to speak her heart out and he listened silently. Remembering everything she had gone through. The prison. The king. Callum. The promise. The broken deal. And her revenge.

His heart clenched.

"What are you doing here captain Neil," A dumfounded Jonathan asked as he lay bedridden in his room. It was five am in the morning.

The captain just bent his head a little as he spoke solemnly "Take care of my daughter john."

With that, he turned around and left never to be seen again.

Those were his last words to him. Not a command from a captain to his crew. But a genuine request from a father to his dear sworn brother.

His eyes were filled with grief and regret as he thought "I am sorry Daniel... I couldn't live up to my promise. I couldn't protect your daughter."