Pirate Princess

Chapter 4

The Black Furry is at anchor in Peal Shore’s harbor. They dare not dock or else it would be a life sentence for them all. Rows of skeletons hang in tatters around the entrance to the harbor. It is a warning to all those who are unwelcome. A deadly hush befalls the ship.

Mysteri and her dog Cinder are at the bottom of the ocean walking to shore in an upturned life boat. The lifeboat has a pocket of air in it for them to breathe, while also allowing them to come ashore unnoticed. The crew had been given orders to leave the harbor once they could see that Mysteri had come to shore safely. If she did not come back in an hour, they were to leave her there stranded and not return until they received a letter by pigeon. Bryan and the crew were not happy about leaving their beloved Captain on a Pirate-hating island, but they had no choice but to obey her commands. She always knew what she was doing, so there was really no need to worry. But still, Bryan did not feel right about this expedition to get him medicine. For this was the place Mysteri’s mother was from, if only she knew who she really was. Would Mysteri still wish to be a pirate if she could be Queen? Bryan had no answers to that question. He hoped against hope that Mysteri would not learn of her past while on the island. That past would put her in trouble, for he knew of the Witch's prophecy, yet he didn’t understand it. Some parts he could figure out because he was a smart man, but others had him shaking in fear for his adopted daughter. All he knew was the moment she set foot on Pearl Shores, all hell would break loose.

Mysteri had Cinder draped over her shoulders, while holding the boat up with her arms. Cinder would not be able to breathe if he wasn’t being carried, for the water came up to Mysteri’s armpits. While walking below the sea, Mysteri discussed her plan of action with her dog. Cinder gave a sharp bark in agreement with her plan.

Once on shore, Mysteri and Cinder stowed their boat in a hidden cave and casually strolled into town. Mysteri made sure to blend into the background so as not to get stopped for questioning by the Guard. Cinder let out three sharp barks in front of a fat man’s stall. He was selling all sorts of rubbish, including the medicine she was looking for. Good boy Cinder. Quickly and quietly, she crouched down on her hands and knees and began to stalk him like a predator. Cinder got into position behind a crowd of people, waiting for Mysteri’s soft whistle to signal his time for action. Finally, it came and he sprang into action, grabbing the fat man’s sausage links and playing tug of war with him. Mysteri leaped up from behind the counter, grabbed the vial she needed, and turned to leave the scene of the crime, only to see her beloved dog in trouble. She could feel Cinder’s fear in her mind.

A huge towering guard was raising his arm high to whip Cinder for his misbehavior. Oh no you don’t. She leaped out in front of the Guard only to be sliced across the chest with his whip. Her shirt hung open in tatters, revealing a nice clean gash running through her cleavage. Mysteri was not a modest girl and could care less that the village people and the guard got a full view of her chest. They all stood gapping at her, but this was the distraction she needed to make her escape. She scooped Cinder up in her arms and nimbly climbed up to the roof of the nearest building. Once several roof tops away, she set Cinder down. “Whew, that was close.” Arff arff was her only response along with Cinders ferocious bottom wiggling. This always made her laugh. “Come, let’s go home.”

She soon realized that her time frame was up and going home to the ship was not going to be an option. Um, what to do know? Quickly, she stashed the medicine vial in the life raft and sent it out to sea. Bryan was in desperate need of the meds so she wouldn’t need them any longer. She would have to find a safer way back to her ship.

Back to the rooftops they went. She overheard a guard talking about a royal get-together. Umm, that might be fun to crash. But first I got to fix my shirt and sew a dress for the ball.