Pirate Princess

Chapter 1

The stiff cold breeze whisked through the ropes in her hands and pulled at her hair like a thousand grabbing fingers. Something was up in the heavens; she could feel it all the way down to her inner being. But what, that was the question? Were the gods rejoicing today as well? For today was her eighteenth birthday and she couldn’t help but wriggle with excitement. Captain Bryan always did something special, but this year she knew he had something extra special up his sleeve.

“Oy, where’s the birthday girl? I’ve got someone who wants to see you?”

“Coming sir,” she said as she jumped from the ship's mast, in a free fall dive, straight towards the deck, only to grab a rope at the last second to slow her descent and land perfectly at Bryan’s feet. “You little dare devil; you know how stunts like that make me feel. You could get hurt.”

“Aye yes sir, but that’s what makes me such a crafty pirate!” the birthday girl said with a foxy smile. All of a sudden, a puppy bursts out from being buried in Bryans coat and bounds right into Mysteri’s arms. He was a funny looking puppy, because he didn’t have a tail and his whole bottom wiggled with excitement. He was brindle in color and had a floppy black tongue. His ears were a soft silky golden color that curled over at the tips. The rest of his fur had fine waves in it and it was thick and heavy around his neck like a mane.

“Do you like him?”

“Oy I love him!” she squealed with girlish delight. “What’s his name?”

“You get to pick, he’s yours. Happy Birthday Mysteri!” Bryan said while trying to hide his tears. The past eighteen years had gone by so fast. It seemed like yesterday he was watching her take her very first steps. Or keeping a careful eye on her as the crew taught her how to wield a sword and be sly of hand and foot.

“His name is Cinder,” she said with a tone of finality.

“I have one other surprise for you Mysteri,” Bryan said.

“What’s that papa?”

“Since you are now a woman, you are the rightful Captain of this ship. I hereby announce you as Captain Mysteri of the ship, Black Furry.

Over the course of the next two years, Cinder and Mysteri became the ultimate team. Where Mysteri was quick of hand and sure of foot and cunning in mind, Cinder was never far behind her. He was a quick learner and Mysteri taught him how to be the best pirate dog of the seven seas. Where one was, the other was never far behind. Soon, Captain Mysteri and her dog were making a name for themselves amongst the Pirates and the people of the shore. They were respected by all and the rumor that surrounded them was that she could out pirate a pirate without breaking a sweet. Mysteri was always three steps ahead of her opponent and never lost a sword fight. She was a wonderful Captain, and loved by her crew. She treated them as equals. They all knew she would be the first to take a sword through the heart for them and they would all do the same for her.

Bryan was now her First Mate and still gave her advice whenever she was in need of it. Bryan though, was beginning to get old and sickly. He was in desperate need of medicine that could only be found on Pearl Shores. So that is where the Black Furry was to port next. The only problem with that was they were not allowed to dock on Pearl Shores, because their new Queen lived in fear of all pirates. There was a witch who, before the new Queen was born, foretold of a Pirate Princess who was to be the ruler of Pearl Shores. Thus, to be a Pirate on Pearl Shores was to be a dead man walking. No worries though, for Mysteri, she had a plan.