Chapter 21

Frustration and Confusion

It had been weeks since they had arrived to the Javale estate. At the moment, Dabria did not remember any of it. A few days after her arrival, what her parents had tried to prevent, happened anyway. Her sickness returned. Depression, combined with worry and stress, activated the illness that continually lay inside of her. Because she was not running a fever, she had not been confined to bed, but was made to go through most normal activities to keep her active. Despite the attempt at normalcy, her mind had been encased in a gray fog of haziness that could not be penetrated. The words spoken around her made no sense to her, instead what occurred in her mind were images and flashes of memories that she could not hang onto.

Images of events and faces from the time before she had become sick flashed through her mind with some version of clarity, but there were only snatches and not full pictures. Her mother yelled at her ‘three months!” Justin mocked her with words of betrayal and shame, Leon grinned, Kiliki shook her head sadly, and Salena turned her back. It made no sense! Some of it had to be true, but it couldn’t have all happened like this! Her mind screamed at her, trying to contradict the images she saw. She couldn’t make them listen or understand what it all meant. She was being attacked and no one would help her! If she didn’t get out soon, she was sure she would die. She wasn’t ready for that! She could live more! There were things she wanted to do and see. Justin had promised to let her see things. He wasn’t cruel. He wouldn’t snatch away her dream. Her mother had. She had to marry. She wasn’t allowed to dream. Leon wasn’t coming to rescue her. She needed to be free from it! Something or someone was trying to strangle her and she couldn’t breathe.

She gasped, trying to draw breath into lungs that were dying from lack of air. Something was wrong! This wasn’t right. She had to breathe. They loved her. They wouldn’t betray her like this. It couldn’t be true! It was wrong. She had to breath.

“Dabria! Dabria! Listen to me! Here my voice. I’m here! Dabria, it is Kiliki!”

The words made no sense to her. She could hear them, and she knew the voice, but the words were not real.

“Ten…Nine…Eight…Seven…Six...” The voice was slow and steady.

The spinning around her mind slowed slightly. It wanted to match the new rhythm. The black swirling clouds in front of her eyes clashed together as they tried to fight the urge to slow. But she wanted to slow down.

“Nine…Eight…Seven…” The count started over again.

This time the words made sense. Images of began to penetrate the clouds in front of her. It was not the torture of the faces accusing her and beating her, but images of safety. Five flowers appeared in her mind then four horses ran across the grayness. Two trees stood tall next to one smooth lake. The lake was calming. She wanted to draw it. It was peaceful. Not like her nightmares. No one screamed at her. She liked it here.

“Dabria? Can you hear me? Dabria, you were breathing hard. Did something upset you?”

The voice was asking questions now. She was supposed to answer them. But she wasn’t sure how. She nodded her head, but she didn’t think anyone could see. The lake was so peaceful. She could stay here, for now.

“All right, Dabria. That’s it. Lie on the couch. I need a blanket. Not you, Emalia! You’re pregnant for goodness sake! Salena, a blanket. Shh. That’s it. Sleep, little sister. Rest.”

Dabria curled up in the grass. No mean people here, just peace. She was safe here. She could sleep for a bit. Rest sounded so nice.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

“Don’t leave a man standing!” Justin shouted above his crew members fierce roars. They were thirsty for blood and Justin was in the mood to let them have it.

It was the seventh ship in the past three weeks. If they even so much as glimpsed a ship, they hit it. No rest had been given since they had left the port of Triger some time ago. Justin didn’t want any. Rest meant his eyes would close and his mind would wander. He hated that right now. So, he drove himself and his men to exhaustion, trying desperately to keep her face out of his mind.

Justin yanked the rope around his arm and used it to swing across to the other ship. He raked his sword down low and cut into a man’s shoulder as he passed by. That quickly, he was in the middle of the battle and her face was gone as the need to stay alive took over. His sword moved with the grace of practice. Each thrust and parry was used to perfection. It was rare that he made a mistake and when he did it was almost with relief that he had to work that much harder to correct it. The harder he worked, the more he went on instinct and the less he thought.

“Captain!” A voice yelled.

Justin turned just in time to sink his sword deep into the gut of a quickly advancing foe. Justin dropped the man from his sword with a frown. Too bad that had not been the captain of The Dandy, was his only thought, before he turned to face the next unlucky challenger.

All too soon, the fight was over and the crew subdued. Justin looked around in a mixture of disgust and pride. Disgust because it had been far too easy, but pride that his men had handled themselves so well. He would put any of his men up against five of any other crew and he knew his man would come out on top. He looked around until he spotted Sheron. He motioned him over.

“Find Maath. Inform him to handle the captain. I want a full report when we disengage,” Justin commanded.

“Aye, aye, Captain,” Sheron replied smartly, before taking off for the poop deck.

Justin sheathed his sword and quickly made his way back to his own ship. Something grabbed his leg. He looked down to see one of the conquered pirates holding on for dear life.

“Mercy, Captain! Please!”

Justin shook loose quickly. “Mercy? Why should I? Have you ever had mercy on any one of the ships you’ve hit?”

“I am a slave from the ship Raven’s Swift. I did not sign willingly to this!” He protested.

“Yet I’m sure you partook all the same.” Justin paused to study the man.

He was older than Justin by a good ten years or so. His hair and beard had not been kept up and his clothes had obviously passed through many hands. Yet, his eyes held the light of someone who might finally have found hope.

“Yes, I did what I needed to survive. There is no shame in that! Have mercy and I will serve on your crew.”

Justin barked out a laugh. “And why would I want you for my crew?”

“Same as this crew did. I have doctor skills. I am not fully trained, but I can heal most things. I know you’re the Falconer. I’d rather serve you then be forced to stay here.”

At last, Justin truly gave the man some thought. “What is your name and where do you come from?”

“I am Arpad Barton. My home was in Dietrick before I left for other places.”

“Do you wish you had stayed?” Justin questioned.

“No. Here is not better, but it is the adventure I seek. Maybe you can add the better part.”

That made Justin laugh. “All right. You have talked your way out of this fine crew you hate so much. You will not find my crew easier, in many ways it will be worse. Still wish to trade?”

The man nodded solemnly.

“Fine. Inu!” He called to the crew member he had spotted listening to the conversation. “Take him aboard and put him in the brig for now.” Having concluded the odd business, he turned and went straight to his cabin.

Once inside, he threw his soiled shirt on the bed and proceeded to dig out a new one. If the slave’s words were true, he mused, Namid would be pleased with the addition. He would give him some time in the brig then have the new addition closely watched until Justin was sure he could be trusted. He pulled on the clean shirt. That would make this the best haul yet.

He hauled his chair over and plopped down into it. Leaning over the desk, he studied the map of Zerlinda sprawled across it. It had the routes that most of the merchants were taking, along with any attacking hot spots marked out. They had been following the routs for a while, but lately they had been sticking closer to the hot spots. The ships tended to have less cargo, but there were more ships and at the moment that was more important to Justin. He still had the ship outfitted to make a quick attack on The Dandy, so with the latest hits they were riding pretty low in the water. If he was close, and he usually was, it was getting dangerous to carry much more cargo. That meant a port stop needed to happen next. Baxen and Ulrich were the closest. They had a contact in Ulrich that they hadn’t been in touch with lately and now was as good a time as any. He would tell Namid the new course heading as soon as he arrived from overseeing the branding of the other ship.

Satisfied with his decision, he rose from the table and turned, but his hand brushed the map harder than he expected and it fluttered to the floor, with it went a few other papers on the desk as well. Justin growled, annoyed, and bent to retrieve the map. He rolled it up and put it in its place, before turning to find the rest of the scattered materials. A few of the ledger papers had escaped and he quickly put them back into their assigned place. Bending down again, he picked up a picture and immediately frowned. The now very familiar pencil drawn picture of himself at the helm of his ship lay in his hand. Her signature at the bottom was barely discernable any more.

He glanced at his desk and immediately looked around the room. Only one picture remained on his desk, meaning there was one missing. The picture still in its place was a portrait of Dabria with a single tear running down her cheek. Instead of her signature were the words “I’m sorry.” The portrait of her smiling, the one he had requested, was missing. He placed the picture of himself next to the one still on the desk and began a search of the room.

It must have flown away because of the map or he would have noticed it earlier. He couldn’t lose that picture. It was the only one he had of her and it was special because she had drawn it herself. It wasn’t as if he needed it, he had the picture clearly memorized and could see it perfectly in his mind at any moment, still he didn’t want to lose it, especially when he was losing her.

He shook off the thought quickly and moved over to check the section in front of the desk. He wasn’t losing her. Just because she had grown up did not mean that she was lost to him. But she would be soon. The thought rose unbidden.

It was true. Once she was married, it would be doubtful her new husband would let her gallivant across the Ula Ocean to go see her sister, much less with a known pirate. He paused in his search. Was this next trip really the last one they would take together?

He moved on to the floor by the shelves and quickly spotted the wayward paper. Bending over, he picked it up gently and turned it to see Dabria’s face smiling up at him. Her signature was back in its proper place. She had drawn it only two years ago and yet he could see the changes. Her eyes held a more wearied look now and her face was slightly leaner. She was beautiful. She always had been. She had grown up in more ways than one.

He remembered clearly their heated argument. She had accused him of refusing to let her grow up from being his unofficial little sister into the women she had become. What she didn’t realize was that Justin had been well aware that was happening for years and, yes, he had been fighting it for this very reason. His Pixie had become a woman and the woman was changing into someone he was afraid he would lose.

Instead of placing the picture back where it belong, he sat absently in his chair and studied the face he knew so well. What bothered him most was that the spark of life and adventure would go out of her once she was tied to some boy who didn’t understand her. He was convinced if she was forced to marry that was exactly what would happened. He didn’t care what man it was, any public officer or high born man, would want a wife who looked beautiful and did what she was told. Of course, there were exception, but Justin doubted very much that Leon was one of those. Even if he was the ‘nice’ guy that Dabria’s family claimed, Leon still didn’t understand his girl.

Justin stilled and careful laid the picture down. He had no more claim on Dabria than Leon did. In all reality, Dabria wasn’t his little sister, she never had been. It had only seemed that way because of the relationship they had. It was a way to keep her close and claim he too had a right to protect and care for her, just as Tommy and Even did. But Dabria seemed willing to throw that all away. He didn’t want to admit how much that hurt.

He had always believed Dabria trusted him and would always want him to be a part of her life. When Leon entered her life, it seemed she had begun to replace him right then, despite his effort to contradict that. It hadn’t occurred to him how much hurt he would experience to have her forget about him.

She had claimed that she cared about him a great deal and looked forward to their trips together, but if that were so, he couldn’t believe she would so willingly give up her freedom and independence. It must have occurred to her that her new husband would not want Justin to be anywhere near her. Her marriage would essential be the end of their lifelong friendship and she didn’t seem willing to fight for it. Although, in fairness, he hadn’t really thought about what would happen were she forced to marry either. In retrospect, he’d figured Kiliki would never allow that to happen. Kiliki’s foster parents had never liked her though, so there might not be much she could do.

Dabria still had two months. Perhaps they had come up with a plan. If Dabria would only fight it, he would help her. If nothing else, he could take her away. She traveled with him all the time, no one would think anything of it. She could live out whatever adventures she wanted and no one could force her to marry unless she permitted it.

Justin mulled the new idea over in his mind for a second longer. It seemed like the best plan. In two months, he would return to Triger and if Dabria was finally ready to fight, he would help her.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

Someone, somewhere was yelling. Were they in pain? The lake she had been sitting next to faded away and with it gone came the constant gray clouds. Dabria flinched. Someone was in great pain and they were somewhere close. Was it her? It could be. Dabria doubled over, clutching her stomach, but the pain felt no worse than usually. It was a consistent dull, threatening pain. As if it never wanted her to forget that it could rule her whole world at any moment. But right now, that wasn’t causing the screaming. It hurt her head though. Why was someone trying to hurt her head?

Blindly, she began to move. She had to get away or had to find the source. She wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter. She had to move. With a hand on the wall, she made her way out of the room she was in. Slowly, she followed it along, twisting and turning as it did. Where it was leading her she didn’t know, but moving was good. Moving was safe, but the screaming had become yelling. She flinched. What had she done wrong? Was she being yelled at?

“Dabria! What are you doing out here?”

The voice was familiar, but mean. It meant trouble. She crouched down and started to shake.

“Oh, Dabria. I’m sorry. You’re okay,” the voice soothed. “You surprised me. That is all. Emalia is having her baby, Bree. She’s early though.” The voice soothed and continued to talk. “I went to get towels.” A warm hand was placed on her shoulder. It didn’t feel mean. “You can come with me. If you go back to the parlor, you might wander out again.” The hand shifted to under her arm. “Come on, Bree. Get up.”

Dabria obeyed the direction of the tug. The hand took hers, pulling gently, and Dabria followed willingly. The voice was calm. Maybe it would lead her back to the lake. She liked it there. It was peaceful and she could sleep.

“Salena! Finally! What… Where was she?”

Dabria knew that voice too. She stood still. The gray fog in front of her eyes was making patterns she could almost follow if she tried real hard.

“She was in the hallway. How’s Em?” The first voice came from farther away.

“Not happy!” A groan answered.

Someone laughed. “You will be soon, my sweet dear.”

“Salena, Dabria is still standing there. Can you put her on the couch at least? Or take her to the men?”

“Tommy was forcing Evyn to go for a horse ride before he shattered any more furniture.”

“Oh. Never mind.”

“Here, Bree. You can sit right here. There. Isn’t that comfortable?”

Dabria felt softness around her. Maybe she was on a cloud? She was pretty sure she always wanted to be on a cloud.

“Oh, Bree. It’s been almost two months now. Please, wake up soon. Okay?”

She felt someone kiss her cheek and smiled. That was nice of them. The cloud was soft. It was safe. People weren’t trying to hurt her. She could hear voices, excited voices, and someone yelled often, but there was always someone to sooth it. She couldn’t understand what was happening, but she knew the voices meant she was safe. It was okay to relax. The voices liked her. They wouldn’t let those bad people hurt her.

Who wanted to do that? She tried to remember, but she couldn’t. No faces floated into her mind. She couldn’t concentrate on them anyway. Besides, if they stayed away she was safe. Content, she folded her hands and waited. If she had to move, someone would tell her. For now, it was okay to be still. The voices were protecting her.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

She was sitting on a couch in a room with girls. They were happy. She wanted to be happy too, but she wasn’t sure why they were having fun. She could hear them and the words made more sense now than they had in a while, but she could only understand snatches at a time. It was like little pinholes of light got through the gray clouds in her mind. She wanted to reach out and get more light, but she couldn’t figure out how.

“She’s so beautiful, Em,” a voice she knew said softly. Who’s voice was it? It frustrated Dabria, because she wanted to know.

“Thank you. I still can’t believe how little she is and she’s already two weeks old.” A voice that had to belong to Em replied.

“I remember Adem at that age. If only he’d stayed that way a few years longer,” a new voice spoke.

Dabria knew that voice! It was her sister! She knew her sister! Kiliki! Dabria bounced on the couch a little. Kiliki was here!

“He can certainly get into trouble, can’t he? Eight-year-old’s know everything,” Em spoke with a laugh.

“Or at least, that’s what he claims,” Kiliki laughed too.

“But, Kiliki, won’t you have a new one soon?” the still unidentified voice asked.

“Yes. We think I’m about five months in so far.”

“You don’t look it. But then, you didn’t last time either. I was the size of a ship!” Emalia grumbled.

That caused a round of laughter, which made Dabria want to join in. But it was almost as if she couldn’t remember how and she didn’t understand why.

“You most certainly were not! If that were true, we could have had us a nice outing on the lake,” A new voice broke into the conversation.

“Aunt Jada!” About three voices responded laughing.

“Can I hold her?” The youngest voice of the group spoke up. It was Dabria’s friend, she remembered now. They were like sisters too.

“Of course. Make sure you support the back of her head,” Emalia responded.

“Em, I’m almost nineteen. I know how to hold a baby.”

Em sighed. “Wow. When did you grow up?”

“I know. Dabria too.” There was silence for a moment. “It seems like yesterday we were bringing them here for the first time.”

“Now, Dabria has to get married,” her friend said. Dabria moved slightly, remembering the voice. Salena! It suddenly appeared in her mind and Salena was upset now.

“Oh! If I only had those parents of hers here I would ring their necks but good!” Aunt Jada spoke up forcefully.

“Only after me,” Kiliki stated. “I hate what they are doing to her. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to stop them. It’s their fault she is sick again.”

“Yes, but she’s been much worse. She doesn’t respond, but she does eat and she hasn’t had a fever,” Emalia pointed out.

“True. Still, it isn’t fair to her,” Kiliki whispered.

A soft cooing broke up the conversation.

“Aw! She’s so perfect. I love holding her,” Dabria’s friend cooed herself.

“There is nothing in the world like holding a little baby. Even more so when it is your own baby,” Kiliki responded.

Baby! I want to hold the baby! Dabria thought, bouncing up and down slightly.

“Kiliki! Look! Dabria is excited about something!” Aunt Jada exclaimed.

Immediately, her sister was by her side.

“Bree? Can you hear me?”

This time, Dabria could understand the question and she concentrated very hard. She wanted to nod yes. She wasn’t sure she had done it, until she heard her sister exclaim, “That’s great!”

“Bree, were you excited about something?”

This time it was easier to nod yes.

“Okay. Can you tell me what it was? Bree, I need you to speak to me.”

She could do that too. She knew she could. She wanted to tell Kiliki she wanted to hold the baby. But, no matter how she tried she could not get the words to form. She could scream them in her mind, but she could not make them come out her lips. A tear rolled down her check in frustration.

“Shh. It’s okay, Bree. I can guess. It’s okay. Don’t be upset.” Kiliki’s voice quickly soothed. “We were talking about the baby. Would you like to hold the baby, Bree?”

Immediately, she nodded.

“Em…” Kiliki’s voice trailed off.

“It’s fine, Kiliki. We can sit on both sides of her. Perhaps it will help snap her back.”

Movement happened very quickly around her then things seemed to settle down.

“Okay, Dabria,” it was Emalia’s voice, “Kiliki’s going to place your arms correctly and I’ll place her into them. We’ll help you, so just relax.”

Dabria nodded again and Kiliki moved her arms. Slowly, something warm, soft, and a little heavy was placed into them. The baby wiggled some and then settled down. Dabria felt joy bubble up inside of her. Gently, she moved her hand and little fingers wrapped around it. This was amazing. She was so soft, so trusting. She was a baby. Pure happiness and love wrapped up in one small bundle.

Slowly, as the joy spread through her and she relaxed holding the small life, Dabria’s vision began to clear. It wasn’t as if her eyes didn’t work, but more like her mind blocked out what she didn’t want to see. Now, holding the baby, she wanted to see the little face.

As her mind released the tension and terror she had surrounded herself in, her senses came back to her. The light hurt at first, almost as if her eyes had been closed, but for all she knew they had been. Shapes became distinguishable and then more details as the small face became clear. With her release of her mind, other abilities and memories returned as well, everything focused on the moment.

“She’s beautiful.”

Kiliki smiled beside her. “Yes, she is.”

“What’s her name?”

“Rosalyse,” Emalia answered.

“It’s perfect,” Dabria whispered.

“Welcome back,” Kiliki responded, releasing her hold on Dabria’s hands and giving her sister a half hug. “How are you feeling?”

“All right. A little confused. I think I was trying to protect myself, but the baby made things seem happy and I wanted to be happy too,” Dabria tried to explain.

“That makes sense. You have a lot happening that would stress you out. Do you remember any of it?”

Dabria shook her head no. “Only a little. I have to get married and I’m mad at Justin, but I don’t remember exactly why.”

“Perhaps that’s a good thing,” Salena muttered.

Kiliki laughed. “You know she’ll remember sooner or later.”

“But meanwhile, I can enjoy the peace,” Salena answered quickly.

Dabria stuck out her tongue. “Right now, I don’t want to remember. I just want to sit and hold Roselyse.”

Kiliki smiled. “That sounds like a plan.”

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

Chapter 20

Heated Emotions

Normally, the stillness of the cabin and seeing nothing but its four walls would drive Dabria stir crazy. They had left the mansion with almost nothing but the clothes they had on and one small bag each. Thankfully, they had a few things they kept on the ship and more at the estate. No, instead of driving her crazy, Dabria almost welcomed the stillness. It left her with plenty of time to think over the course that had led to where she was now.

It had started so simply. She had allowed her love for her parents to blind her to how manipulative they could be, though she was no stranger to that fact. Looking back, she felt stupid for not seeing the path they were leading her down, yet she doubted she could have changed it even then. But perhaps, she could have at least had her eyes opened or even feigned illness to slow them down. Of course, it had been her parents’ whole intent to get her to accept what they wanted without making her illness flare up and they had succeeded masterfully.

When she and Salena had arrived back home nine months ago, the questions had seemed like curiosity. They wanted to know all about Leon McNeil, even things they had heard many times before. Still, it seemed harmless, though annoying at many times. By the time the first month was up they seemed to know more about him than she did and the questions began to turn. Slowly, they began to question his intent, if he really wanted to become betrothed, if he was just leading her on, if his intent was pure, and on and on. It quickly became boring and old. Each time she walked into the room, they had thought of something else to question. Then, by the third month, the questions had become insults to his character. He was older than he appeared, he had a mistress already, he wasn’t really the king’s ambassador’s son, and the list didn’t stop there. And yet the changes between the months happened so gradually, Dabria barely noticed. It was simply a relief when they found a new topic, which wasn’t often. Finally, they became consoling telling her how it wasn’t her fault he was fickle and she couldn’t be blamed for his lack of commitment. She should have realized something was up, she berated herself. But it wasn’t until the following month, that things became strange.

Five months after she had been home, her parents became convinced that Leon McNeil was a fake. Not just that he wasn’t what he said, but that he wasn’t real. Dabria had made him up. It started out slowly, a well placed question or two, but by the end of the month there was no mistaking that her parents refused to believe he was real. By the time they were through, Dabria half believed she had imagined him herself. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising when her parents began mentioning other options. Boys began appearing up at the house more and discussions on how to climb the social ladder became the normal course. An exceeding number of lessons in refinement and harsher punishments for anything out of the acceptable standards, left her with no doubt that she was being groomed and prepared.

The following month, when her mother called her into her sitting room stood out in Dabria’s mind as if it had happened only seconds before. All those months of slowly degrading Leon and building her up had been for this single moment, so that when her mother made her announcement, Dabria would accept it rather than allow her illness to flare up again. Unwillingly, Dabria sank back into the memory.

“Close the door, Dabria. There is no need for the servant’s to all hear the family business,” Stacia commanded as her daughter entered the room.

Strange, thought Dabria, her mother usually never thought about the servants, but she followed the command.

“Come here, Daughter. Let me look you over.” Stacia waved her jeweled hand at her.

Dabria stepped to her mother’s side and obediently twirled when asked.

“Well, you are not a vivacious beauty, but you do have that natural petite look to you. Sometimes that can be even more useful. You have done wonderfully on your studies. With your delicate looks, you will make an excellent wife to an Earl, or perhaps even a Duke. We must look hard at the best option for you.”

“Mother, I really don’t think that lessons on how not to speak are going to help me find a husband any time soon,” Dabria reported with a smile.

Stacia sniffed. “Of course they will! Every lady must realize that her husband wants something beautiful to show off, not someone who mouths off.”

“Well, perhaps not mouthing off, but I know plenty of men who respect their wives opinion. Tommy and Evyn both do.”

“Bah. Dabria, we have been over this. That is a fantasy world. You do not, nor will you ever, live there. They have nothing to do with you. They don’t even know the real you. You are simply something for their entertainment. Daughter, you should not worry yourself over them. They are not worth your time or effort.”

Dabria sighed. They knew more of the ‘real’ her, then her parents did, but she would get nowhere like this. “Yes, Mother.”

“Good girl. Now, you do know you are not getting any younger?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“And you realize the other girls your age are all ready married and except for you, those who are not do not deserve to be?” Her mother’s voice was imploring.

“Yes, Mother,” Dabria answered dutifully.

“Then, unless you wish to be group with those beneath you, you must be married quickly, correct?”

“I guess so,” Dabria answered, beginning to get confused. The logic her mother was using was plain enough, but this was not a normal conversation. Something was coming she didn’t want to know about.

“I’m glad we agree. So, then in two months you shall be betrothed.” Stacia announced as if it was all settled.

“What?” Dabria exclaimed, shocked at the sudden pronouncement.

“Dabria! Use your lady’s voice!” Her mother admonished.

“Mother! You cannot be serious! Who am I suppose to meet in two months?”

“What about the nice boys we have brought around lately?”

“None of them are a Duke,” Dabria pointed out quickly.

Stacia sighed. “You’re right.”

“What about Leon? He’s not a Duke, but his position is very good,” Dabria suggested desperately.

“Oh, my dear, you cannot still hold out hope for that fantasy. He will not come through for you.”

“If I’m to be betrothed in two months, I’ll never know. That is before I leave to go to Kiliki’s!”

“Is it now? I hadn’t realized,” Stacia pouted, as if this was a concern.

Anger filled Dabria at the comment. “Yes, you did. You planned everything this way!”

“Do not be absurd. We will make a deal. You have five months, until the end of your trip, if this Leon does not come through and you remain un-betrothed when you return, your father and I will pick a husband for you. Either way, Dabria, in five months you will be engaged to a man of great status.”

“That’s not a deal, Mother, it is an ultimatum.” Dabria crossed her arms and glared at the woman.

Stacia shrugged. “Think of it however you will. But in truth, we are being generous. As you have already pointed out, most your age are all ready married. You are far behind and I will not have an old maid for a daughter. At least you have the chance for your man to come through.”

“This is wrong, Mother,” Dabria whispered.

“No, child, this is the way of our world. From the day you were born, these expectations have been placed on you. It is only now that we ask that they be fulfilled. Now, I am tired. I expect you are too. Go and rest on your bed for the rest of the afternoon. It will give you time to think on how kind your parents are truly being to you.”

“You can’t force me to marry someone, Mother. I’ll find a way out of this,” Dabria tried to protest.

Her mother’s only reply was, “five months.”

Now, it was down to three. After their conversation, her parents had introduced her to every male they thought suitable. She had traveled to parties not even on her own island. Her home became a prison of relentless suitors and she grew to hate it very quickly. She had plotted and devised, worried and waited, and yet no way of escape presented itself. She could not simply run away as her sister had done. Unlike Kiliki, she was her parents’ biological child and they had the right to force her hand or even sell her. Anywhere she went her parents could demand her return. In truth, the only way out was if she was already married. And that would not happen in the next three months. Her only option left was to buy time and perhaps Leon would come through.

Justin’s refusal to bring her aboard had been the final straw. He was her only hope to buy the time she needed and if he could not take her to her sister’s, her parents would see no reason to keep her three month extension. She could not wait for his return. It was simply something she could not risk. So, she had taken the only course she could see.

She told her mother Justin had changed his mind. Then she and Salena each packed a single bag and set out for the town. When they arrived, they found Inu and Sheron at the tavern and asked them to escort them onto the ship. The boys had gladly done so, too drunk to realize something was amiss. When they arrived, Maath greeted them and attempted to turn them around. But the girls quickly explained and finally received a reluctant promise Maath would not reveal their presence on board to Justin until a good time. Perhaps he should have waited longer, Dabria surmised. In the end, it didn’t matter, they were on board and Justin was still taking them to Triger.

Dabria would be glad for the fact, except that Justin had called her trust for him into question. It wasn’t really true. He just didn’t know the whole situation. She couldn’t have waited, her parents would have immediately declared her betrothal to someone of their choosing. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if she had told them Justin would be back in one month. Justin would not have wanted her to wait for them to make their decision. He just wouldn’t have.

“Of course not! It killed me to have to leave you in that house! But your life is more important to me than even your marriage. I want you to be happy, Dabria, but I want you alive even more!”

Justin’s anger words flashed into her brain. Maybe he would have.

Once again, she had messed up. She would have to wait until he returned to the cabin for her to apologize. It seemed she was always having to apologize to him. His last words stung her more than she wanted to admit. He told her she usually never thought things through. That wasn’t true and yet it certainly seemed that way. She was far too impulsive for her own good. And for once, she wondered how many would truly be hurt by that before she learned her lesson.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

“Father, I do try. I don’t want to be impulsive all the time. Even when I do think things through it seems I am always forgetting something. I’m going to end up hurting someone, Lord. I don’t want that. Please, somehow help me to curb my impulsiveness. Help me to be more patience and to think things through slower. Help me to see more than just my side of the issue,” Dabria paused, not sure what else to say.

“Help us both to seek after Your will, Abba, and to not allow our own wants to cloud our judgment. Thank you for caring for us and taking care of us despite what we sometimes manage to do,” Salena finished.

Dabria squeezed her friend’s hands. “Thank you, Abba. Amen.”

The two girls looked up at each other, from their spots on Salena’s bed.

“Feel better?” Salena asked.

Dabria nodded. “Thanks for praying with me.”

“Any time.” Salena smiled.

“I’m kind of worried how God will answer that prayer though. I mean, how do you cure impulsiveness?” Dabria frowned.

Salena laughed. “I have no idea, but it should prove amusing to watch.”

Dabria stuck out her tongue at her friend, which only made her friend laugh harder. They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Dabria called, standing up.

Justin entered carrying a tray loaded with food and a pitcher. He placed it on the table.

“I thought I’d eat with you since I haven’t seen you for the past few days,” Justin spoke.

Dabria smiled. “We thought you were still mad at us.”

“I am,” Justin replied, pulling out a seat from the table. “But I figured I might not get the chance to eat with you very often from now on, so I should take advantage of it.”

Dabria nodded and Salena stood to cross over to the table. Both girls took a seat and the three piled food onto their wooden plates.

“Mind if we pray?” Dabria asked. She waited for Justin to nod acceptance, then prayed quickly, ‘Thank you, Lord, for this meal. Bless it unto our bodies and bless those that prepared it. Thank you for Justin taking us to see our family. Please help us to figure out our next moves. Amen.”

“How far away are we?” Salena broke the awkward silence that settled after the prayer.

“We added about three days onto the trip and a stop in an extra port. So, it should be a little more than a week left.”

“Have you seen the phantom pirate?” Dabria asked.

Justin frowned. “He’s not a phantom anymore. And yes, he’s been following us for the better part of the week.”

“Almost since we left Yakecan?” Salena clarified.

Justin nodded. “He was waiting for us. He hasn’t attacked yet, so I’m still hopeful he doesn’t realize you’re on board.”

“What happens if he does attack?” Dabria questioned.

Justin looked at her for a moment, before answering, “You stay in this cabin and hide. I’ll do everything in my power to stop him from getting to you. If you are out where you can be seen, that task will be much harder.”

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” Dabria’s voice was soft as she thought of all the trouble she had caused this time.

“I think you’ve done quite enough,” Justin pointed out, then softened his tone slightly. “The best thing now is to get you to Triger as quickly as possible without raising suspicion.”

Both girls nodded and picked at their food. It was a while before Justin spoke again.

“Dabria, what are you planning once you make it to your sister’s place?”

The eighteen year old sighed. “I have no idea. I’ve been given the ultimate order. If I cannot find someone acceptable to become betrothed too, my parents will choice for me. I only have three months.” She paused to glance at Justin then said, “But I could have had even less.”

Justin put his fork back down. “What do you mean?”

“There’s something you don’t. When my mother spoke to me, she was only going to give me two months. I convinced her to allow me the extra three because of this trip. If I had not come on it with the intent of having Leon propose she would have taken away that time. It was never about trusting you, Justin. It was about a timeline exposed to my mother’s whim.”

“You are very resourceful, Dabria, I’m sure you would have figured out some way to slow her down until I returned. You simply didn’t believe I would come back for you.” He leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. “I wonder. If it had been Leon who said he would return for you, would you have trusted him?”

Dabria’s mouth dropped open and Salena’s fork dropped to the plate. She picked it up quickly, looking fully ready to retreat to the other side of the room if she had to.

“How can you even make that comparison?” Dabria spouted.

Justin shrugged. “Easily. Shouldn’t you be?”

“And just how, pray tell, did you figure that out, oh Mighty Captain?” Dabria’s voice was heavy with sarcasm.

“No need to get high and mighty. I’m simply pointing out that for all you keep saying you need time to figure things out, it seems more like this is a trip to get the infamous Leon McNeil to bow before you. In which case, I would think you could answer a simple question about trusting him.”

This time, Salena didn’t hesitate. She placed her fork neatly on the plate and moved to the safety of her bed as far as she could from the coming violent storm. Neither Dabria nor Justin was in any mood to notice her amused smile though.

“You have no right to insinuate that I do not trust Leon. He has never let me down. I have no reason not to trust him. Unlike some other people I know!” She exclaimed loudly.

“Oh really?” Justin mocked. “You want to name this people, Dabria? Because I know I’m not on that list! I have spent the entire time I’ve known you protecting and caring for you. My every action has been for your benefit!”

“Please! Like you go chasing after pirates for my sake. Don’t make me laugh. You’ve always had your own agenda and far be it for anyone or anything to get in your way!” Dabria waved her hand in the air as if shooing a pesky fly.

“No,” Justin replied sarcastically. “I only make sure every single year that I get you back and forth to your sister’s and that you are safe every second of the way. I think about you when you’re not on my ship and worry that you are okay. I pick up things that I think will amuse you or make you laugh. I fight so that my name will be feared and yours will be safe!”

“You care so much, yet you can forget me so easily!” Anger made her voice rise as old hurts surfaced. “Nine months out of the year, Justin! I don’t matter to you or anyone else! I’m in a house that holds me hostage and you never come! You never check in on me! You’re off saving your little piece of the sea. While I sit at home and pray you are still alive and I’ll see you again.”

“You only want to see me so that I will take you to your sister’s! Far be it for you to actually be concerned just for me!” Justin shot back, just as angry.

“How dare you! I cannot believe you can sit there and spout lies at me!” Dabria was almost in tears now, though whether it was from rage or pain she hadn’t a clue. “You mean more to me than I could ever tell you! I look forward to these trips because of you! You think I’m some little sister who doesn’t know what you’ve sacrificed for me! I’m a grown woman and I’m getting married! I know exactly who you are and what you want. I know you just as well as you know yourself!”

“You might be a grown woman, but you should not be getting married! You only pretend to care about the man you are so intent on marrying! That man has caused you only trouble since you met him! He’s made you think and act differently! He doesn’t know the real you anymore than he cares too!”

“How would you know?” Dabria accused. “You avoid him and me! You’ve hardly seen us together! He treats me like the woman I am not like the little sister he tries to keep me as!”

“He treats you like the woman he wants you to become!” Justin slammed his hand down on the table and then rose out of his chair. “You would go crazy acting so prim and proper all the time, Dabria! And don’t you dare tell me otherwise. I have seen you with him. You sit there like a lump and pretend there is nothing better in the world to do. I know you. I know how you love to run and have adventures. Has he ever seen you climb a mast or jumped over board after you? He wouldn’t even recognize you if he knew the real you!”

“Oh and you do?” Dabria rose to face him head on. “How do you know I’m not both of those people? Am I really so awful that a man like Leon wouldn’t want me?”

“A man like Leon doesn’t deserve you!” Justin retorted quickly, pointing at her.

“Then who does, Justin?” Dabria slapped his hand away. “Answer me that! Would you have me living my life as an old maid until you finally approve the person I marry? You never would! My parents have given me three months! Three months! And whether you approve or not, I will be betrothed by the end of that time! I don’t have to like it, but I have to accept it! That’s who I am! That’s who I was born to be.”

“So, you will give up then?” Justin asked, the hot air slowly going out of his sails. “What happened to the girl who wanted to live an adventure? On our first trip together, you said that was your dream, to have a really big adventure.”

“Maybe this is it,” Dabria shrugged, lowering her voice to match his.

“Now you’re lying to us both.”

A sigh escaped her lips. “I grew up, Justin. I grew up right under your nose. I don’t get childhood dreams anymore. I get the reality of my birth.”

Justin stared at her for a long time, before speaking slowly. “Do you know why you couldn’t answer my original question? It isn’t because you don’t know the answer, you do. You don’t trust Leon. You don’t even trust him with who you really are. But you have let him change you. The Pixie I knew would fight for her freedom and her dreams. My Pixie did grow up and in her place is a woman conforming to expectations and losing the independency that always drove her.”

“That’s not true,” Dabria whispered. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I? Then prove me wrong, if you even can anymore.” Justin let his challenge linger between them as they stared at one another. Finally, he spoke once more, “Let me know when you get my Pixie back.” With that, he turned and left, closing the door firmly behind him.

To Dabria it was the sound of her whole world closing around her. There was nothing she could do to stop it, and despite Justin’s challenge, neither could she find the strength to fight it.

The tears she had fought earlier came back and she turned to her bed quickly. Going over to it, she lay down on her stomach and closed her eyes. She felt Salena move to her side and rub her back soothingly. Exhausted, she cried herself to sleep.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

The last days had been spent in almost a fog of depression. She had not seen Justin since their argument and even now it was Maath who came to tell them they would arrive in Triger in a short time and to be ready to disembark. Despite the fact that she felt hurt and almost betrayed by his words, she desperately wanted to see him. She couldn’t explain it more than that.

He had said so many things to her, things that she could not even begin to analyze. She couldn’t remember the exact words that had been spoken, almost as if she willed herself not too, but the feelings that they had caused remained well in tack. He had walked away still believing she did not trust him, that she was giving up and marrying the wrong man because she had no choice, and yet though he claimed to care about her, he never mentioned a right man. Deep down, Dabria was aware that she wished he had. She hated him for making her feel so lost and yet she needed to see him again. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to him, but she knew she wanted to see him. Yet, he was denying her even that. Why, she wasn’t sure.

Salena’s hand settled on her shoulder. “Maath is here. It’s time.”

Dabria looked up from her spot on the bed. She had been facing the door and somehow she hadn’t noticed her friend’s entrance. She nodded and grabbed her bag. Quickly, the two followed Maath up to the main deck. The familiar sights and smells of Triger greeted them. Dabria looked around for Justin, but she didn’t see him. She glanced at Maath, but couldn’t bring herself to ask where the illusive captain was. Maath helped them both into the waiting carriage.

“You both take care now. Smile, Bree. You too, Salena. God didn’t make your pretty faces for frowning,” Maath cracked.

Both girls smiled slightly at the joke. “Thank you, Maath. Tell Namid we said goodbye.”

“I will, girls. Remember, God’s still got a plan for your good, even when you can’t see it.”

He shot them a parting smile and closed the door, calling up to the driver to take off and be careful if he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders. Immediately, the carriage started moving.

“Where was he?” Dabria asked softly.

“I don’t know. It’s not like him,” Salena answered.

“I must have made him furious,” Dabria thought out loud.

Salena smiled slightly. “You make each other furious.”

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Dabria turned to her friend.

Salena shook her head. “Nothing beyond what I said.”

“Hmmm.”

The carriage pulled to a stop and Dabria frowned. “That was too fast.” She opened the door to look out. “We’re at the town house.”

“The town house!” Salena exclaimed, peering around her friend. “Why here?”

“This is where you are being dropped off,” a voice answered.

“Justin?” Dabria asked, climbing out.

Justin stood next to the driver and was paying him.

“No one is here,” she protested.

“Servants are. They will take you out to the estate. Or you can ride your horses,” Justin spoke with a total lack of interest. “I don’t have the time. You can get to the estate just fine from here.”

Dabria shook her head. “You’re not making any sense.”

He swung around to look at her. He spoke slowly as if she was hard of hearing. “I am dropping you off here and leaving. The servants will take you safely to the estate.”

“Why can’t you?” Dabria persisted.

He gazed at her steadily for a long moment. “What do you want from me, Dabria? Do you even know? You said you’re a grown woman, so act like it. I’m not your lackey and you don’t need me for anything.”

Dabria stared at him in shock. “I never said that!”

“Really? You certainly act it. You don’t need me to protect you, or care about you, and you certainly don’t trust me. So, why should I try to prove otherwise? You’ve given up. Why be so surprised when others do the same?”

“You can’t mean that,” Dabria gasped.

He stepped closer to her, so he was only inches away and replied, “No. But it would be easier if I did. I’ll be back in three months. Then we’ll see what you’ve decided.”

Dabria’s breath released all at once as Justin swung away from her and up onto his waiting horse. He never turned around again and within seconds was out of sight.

“Dabria?” Salena asked, tentatively.

“Why is he being so cruel?” Dabria asked.

“You’re making a lot of changes soon, Bree. I don’t think he knows how to deal with them any better than you do,” Salena pointed out gently.

“Maybe. But he doesn’t have to be so cruel.”

“No. He doesn’t.”

“He’s right about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“In three months, we will see what I’ve decided and I think it will only be when he comes back that I’ll know whether or not I can live with my choice.”

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

Chapter 19

One Life Story

Justin looked at the approaching coast with absolute dread. He visited the town of Yakecan at least twice a year and it was usually a pleasant visit, but not this year. What he feared now was worse than anything else he could put it up against at the moment. But, he reminded himself firmly, it had to be done. Even Maath and Namid had agreed it was the wisest course of action.

It hadn’t been a mirage last year when he had dropped the girls off. The Dandy had been tracking him. It had taken The Dandy two full weeks before he’d attacked and disappeared into the fog. In the last nine months, The Dandy had attacked at random intervals and always when The Guardian Star was vulnerable and unprepared to respond. It then disappeared without explanation. Mostly, however, it was spotted following The Guardian Star. Outside of weapons range and too far away to chase, it kept a close eye on Justin and his ship. The result was a paranoia and frustration of the mind. In that battle, it was far ahead. Crew members saw the ship everywhere now and they dreaded anything out the ordinary. It made for a panicked and hyper alert ship, neither of which was good because it wore the crew down quickly.

No. Justin had only one choice. He had come to tell Dabria and Salena he would not be taking them to Triger this year and their reaction was what had him so immensely anxious.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

Stacia scowled at him when she walked into the parlor and saw him standing there, but she said nothing, instead taking a seat on the couch. The silence was almost touchable. It never ceased to amaze Justin at the difference between Tommy and Kiliki’s house verses Dabria’s parents. Justin waited for a few moments, before he could take it no longer.

“Is Dabria coming?”

“Impatient, aren’t you?”Stacia sniffed. “My daughter is on her way.”

In her answer to her proclamation, Dabria entered the room. She smiled when she saw Justin and he had a hard time not staring at the nine month changes in the fully grown pixie. Her white blond hair framed her petite face and her clear blue eyes shown with an internal flame. Her almost white skin glowed in the uneven light of the room and her blue and white dress draped around her with a graceful flow.

“Captain Justin! I’m so glad you have finally made it!” Her voice was subdued, but behind it he could hear the excitement she didn’t allow into her tone. She was acting so odd, prim and proper, and it was almost unreal. Justin had to believe the odd combination came from her mother being in the room and he wondered what had happened in the time he had been away.

“Dabria,” Justin nodded his head. He swallowed. She was acting so different, so odd. How would she react to the news he brought her?

“You’ve come yourself to fetch me this year,” she commented as she moved further into the room. “Why didn’t you send Inu and Sheron?”

This was it. He forced himself to look directly into her eyes and immediately she stilled. Her eye color seemed to deepen as if she realized the news was not something she would like. “What I had to tell you…,” Justin tried again, “I thought I should bring you the news myself.”

Dabria frowned and on the couch Stacia leaned forward slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Dabria, I can’t take you this year,” he blurted out.

The silence that overtook the room this time was nothing like the one before. This was filled with tension, questions, and even rage.

Dabria took a deep breath. “What?”

Justin repeated himself.

Stacia smiled and leaned back on the couch, but Dabria’s gaze never broke away from his. “Why?”

“The Dandy is back. It’s not safe.”

“The pirate? He’s followed you for years. That is not a good reason.” Dabria threw away his words.

“It’s different this time, Dabria. It wouldn’t be safe for you to travel with me,” Justin made his voice firm.

“You heard him, my dear. It’s not safe. You will remain here this year,” Stacia’s glee in her words could not be hidden.

“Be quiet, Mother,” Dabria’s voice bit out sharply.

Stacia and Justin stared at the girl in shock. Dabria was many things, but rude was not one of them.

“Dabria! You can’t talk to me like that!” Her mother spouted.

Dabria’s fist closed. “Mother, I need to talk to the captain alone.”

“That is highly improper! I cannot allow such a disgraceful…” Stacia never got to finish.

“Then have Salena sent in. Either way, you need to leave.”

Stacia’s mouth fell open in shock and it was a full minute before she made any move to her daughter’s side. Justin watched the transformation in both mother and daughter in amazement. He had never seen Dabria react to anyone with such firmness and borderline cruelty. For her part, Stacia’s façade of ladylike tranquility melted away to form a face of hard lines with a fearsome ice in her eyes.

“You will regret this, daughter,” Stacia’s fierce whisper still reached Justin’s ears.

“Perhaps, but not right now,” Dabria replied back in a normal voice.

No one spoke again until Stacia had left the room. Justin had no idea what to say anyway. This was a Dabria he had never dealt with before.

“Explain,” Dabria demanded, her arms crossing against her chest.

Justin only looked at her. What had happened while he’d been gone?

“Please,” Dabria finally added, in a softer tone.

“He’s been attack me at random places. He attacks and disappears without explanation. And he is hitting me hard. What bothers me more than anything is that he is not trying to take me out, at least not yet. He is waiting for something, what I do not know, but I don’t want to risk that he decides his time is right while you are on my ship. I won’t risk your safety,” Justin explained more thoroughly. It was easier without the prying eyes and ears of Stacia Richerson in the room.

The door opened and Salena stepped in. She looked back and forth between the two adults, gauging the heat in the room.

“Uh oh,” she muttered.

Justin sighed. “Hello Salena. How are you?”

“It has been a hard year, Justin. What is happening here? Lady Richerson said we would not be going with you this year?”

Justin’s thoughts were not on the pirate anymore. He was fully focused on Salena’s first words. “Huh? Yeah, The Dandy is causing a lot of trouble and it is not safe. What do you mean it has been a heard year?”

He caught the glare Dabria sent her friend, but he did not turn from her. Salena, however, shook her head.

“It is not really my place to say, Justin.”

He turned to Dabria. He physically felt his stomach drop when he saw tears glistening in her eyes.

“Dabria,” he spoke in a low tone, his hands automatically going to her arms. “Pixie, what’s going on around here? What happened to you?”

“It just… it hasn’t been an easy year, Justin.”

“Why?” he questioned, nowhere near satisfied with the cryptic answer.

She shrugged out of his hands and perched on the couch in behind her. Salena immediately moved to sit at her side. The action looked as if it was purely to protect her friend, leaving Justin to wonder what his Pixie needed to be protected from.

“It’s not easy here, you know,” Dabria started, looking at the ground rather than at Justin. “I live in two different places and for one only three months out of the year. But in those other nine months, I still live.”

“I don’t understand,” Justin said, very confused by her statement.

“Everyone forgets about me when I’m not with them. It’s as if my story only happens when I am at my sister’s or with you.” Now, she did look up to him. “But that’s not true, Justin. While you are out having adventures, my life here may be boring, but it continues and it affects my life with all of you.”

Justin winced in guilt. He never forgot her. It was actually very often that the pixie crossed his mind when he was out having his ‘adventures,’ but he easily could have come seen her more often. He only came when it was required of him or when she was at Tommy and Kiliki’s. It was easy to see how she could believe she was forgotten during those months of silence.

“Pixie, I never forget you. So much of what I see out there, reminds me of you. And sometimes I turn around to show you something only to remember you’re not on the ship. I have no excuse for not coming to see you in those nine months.” He paused to take her small hand in his. “I can see how you would feel that way. Please, forgive me, Dabria. I never meant for you to think that we only care about you when you are with us. You mean so much more to me than that.”

“Thank you, Justin,” Dabria whispered. “That means a lot to me. And I do forgive you, but that is not the real reason I mention that fact.”

Justin looked at her quizzically. “Then why?”

“My parents react the same way, as if my life over in Triger isn’t real and has no bearing on what is said and done here.” Dabria looked down at their clasped hands and then up at him. “They believe I am lying or making up Leon. They want proof of his intent.”

Justin released her hands and sat back on his heels. “What do you mean?”

“I’m eighteen now, Justin. I should be married and I’m not even betrothed! I starting to be consider an old maid and far too soon I will not be considered as an acceptable wife.” Dabria twisted her hands together, as if gathering her courage for whatever she was about to tell him. Justin knew the feeling and dreaded the news. “If I am not betrothed within the next three months, my parents will pick my betrothed for me.”

Justin’s eyes widened and he could only stare at her. His heart beat pounded in his ears. Betrothed in three months? His Pixie married to someone? Perhaps someone she didn’t know or worse the pompous Leon McNeil?

He sprang up from his crouch. “They can’t do that!”

Salena sat back, looking at him, but Dabria only gave a tired smile.

“They are my parents, they most certainly can. Unlike Kiliki, I will have to obey their wishes. If Leon is not the one who….I doubt my new husband will allow me to gallivant across the sea to see my family. My adventures end before they begin.” A tear escaped from her eye and trailed down her face.

Justin had never felt so heartbroken and confused. It was as if her light that had always shown so brightly before her, was being snuffed out in the weight of the real world. Her dreams and adventures gone as if in a puff of elusive smoke and for some reason it seemed Justin’s were as well.

“I won’t let it happen!” He declared loudly.

Dabria shook her head. “And how will you stop it? Force Leon to propose? My parents don’t believe he is real. They’ve gone along with it because having me in such a prestigious position appeals to them, but they believe he should have proposed by now, hence their timeline. He comes through or they force me to marry someone of their choosing. Obviously, they believe it will be the latter. They’ve been screening candidates since I returned home and not discreetly either.”

“I’ve never been so glad my parents are dead,” Justin muttered callously.

“Sometimes, that does not matter, Justin,” Salena whispered from her place beside Dabria. The other girl quickly reached over and took her friends hand.

Justin sighed, realizing he should have expected they would hurt Salena as well. “Salena, please tell me they are not being so cruel to you.”

“That depends on your version of cruelty. For some it is to have a prized passion taken away, for others to marry outside of love, and for those less fortune, it is to be sold from all you know.” Her voice was low, but steady as she spoke of her own fate.

“Sold?” Justin gaped. “They can’t sell you!”

“It is their right. They believe it is my fault Dabria has not yet been betrothed. They say I have too much influence over her. If at the end of the three months, she is not claimed, I will be sold to whoever will take me.” The girl was strong, but she could not stop the quiver in her voice as she thought of all that might entail.

Justin was furious. How dare two people force such expectation on two young girls? He had always enjoyed his freedom, but never had he understood that despite his life, he had it so much better than others. But these were not just any two girls, these were his sisters. He loved them as he never thought possible and he would not allow anyone to hurt them, not like this, not ever. He had to take care of that pirate and then he had to get them away from here. Perhaps at Tommy and Kiliki’s they could come up with a solution that would save the girls from the fate Dabria’s parents were trying to force on them. If nothing else, it would buy them time.

Losing the fists he didn’t realize he had clenched, he knelt again before the girls and took their clasped hands in his own.

“I promise I will not let that happen, any of it. I’ll take care of this pirate and then I’ll be back for you before your three months are up. Once your way from here, we will have more time and we can figure out what to do.” He looked first at Salena and then to Dabria. “You won’t be separated and you won’t marry someone you don’t choose.”

Dabria smiled at him, but he saw no joy in it at his promise. “You can’t promise that, Justin. You haven’t been able to take care of this pirate in years. What makes you think you will do it in the next few months?”

“I have a really good reason now,” Justin muttered.

That earned him a small laugh. “You’ve hated this pirate and his attacks for years. You’ve always had a good reason and we both know it. Please, Justin, take us with you now. It has been true torture for us here and my parents will not stop. Once they find out, I truly am not going with you there will be no stopping them and they might not wait the full three months. Please, don’t make us stay here!” She pleaded, desperation in her voice.

In that moment, he wanted to give her anything she desired. But in the back of his mind, was the nagging knowledge that The Dandy was waiting for something very specific to attack. If it was for the girls to once again be on his ship, he would be putting them in more danger than anything they were in right now. Not only that, but their trip to Triger was through some of the easiest places to attack. It was begging for them to be taken out and he wouldn’t allow that to happen. He squeezed their hands.

“I’m sorry, Dabria,” he said, shaking his head, “but if you will be in a much worse position if you are taken captive by the pirates.”

“You’ll protect us! You always have!” Dabria assured him.

He smiled. “Normally, I would say I could protect you, but this pirate doesn’t follow any of the rules. He’s making them up as he goes along. I’ve almost bested him at his game, but until I do, you won’t be safe, especially on my ship. I can’t risk that, Pixie.” He looked into her eyes, willing her to see how much it hurt him. “I can’t risk losing you.”

“If you don’t take me with you now,” Dabria whispered, tears in her eyes and voice, “you already have. Everyone has.”

“I won’t let that happen.” He stood. “I’ll be back for you as soon as I can. Trust me, Dabria. You’ll be safe.”

“No,” she whispered, “I won’t.”

Justin had never done anything so hard in his life as to walk out of that room with Dabria and Salena in tears. He had been injured before, but he would gladly go through that a dozen more times, than deal with the pain her heart wrenching tears caused. He had to get her away from here and he needed more time to think.

It wasn’t only here that was the problem. Getting her away would buy time, but as she had pointed out, her life continued in both places, not just one. Eventually, she would have to return and if she was not betrothed, her parents would force her hand. The thought of his pixie marrying anyone, especially McNeil, sent a shiver down Justin’s spine and made his stomach want to lose its last meal.

Why was he reacting so violently to her news? He knew it would happen one day, but it had always seemed so far off. Was this how he would react to any sister he might have getting married? He mulled the question over as he rode back to the ship. By the time he arrived, he determined the answer was yes, because the alternative wasn’t something he could not allow himself to think about.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

“She’ll be fine. She’s strong,” Justin muttered, for what had to be the sixth or seventh time in the past few hours. The Guardian Star had set sail over two days ago, but Dabria and Salena’s image was as fresh in his mind as if he was still standing in front of them. He reminded himself again that Dabria was strong. He had seen evidence of that as soon as she had walked into the room. At yet, she had also been disheartened and discouraged. He hadn’t helped her with that. If anything, he had made it worse. He hated himself for putting more pain on her. It also worried him that the stress would induce another round of her sickness. Thankfully, he had seen no evidence of it when he had left and Salena had not started her counting method either. He had to get back to her quickly. But first, he had to solve this pirate problem.

He started his pacing of the full ship over. Over the past two days, he had come up for a plan for that. If The Dandy was waiting for the girls to be aboard, then that was exactly what he was going to give them. Figuring The Dandy was someplace close by; he would plant two of his men on the deck in dresses the following day. The heckling would be intense, but the crew was as eager to get rid of the menace as he was at this point. The weapons always stood at the ready and most of the cargo had been unloaded so the ship was ready for speed. To give the impression she was heavy, extra anchors and other things had been secretly attached in places where they were easy to reach and could be cut off in a moment’s notice. The ship had been ready like this for almost two months now. It required more frequent visits to ports for supplies, but with the added bait of the ‘girls’ on board, perhaps the waiting was finally going to pay off.

He frowned as a crew member ducked to avoid him. He was in a bad mood, true, but avoidance was hardly called for. His mind wandered back to his thoughts. There was one other precaution he had set into place. Justin had told his men to keep an eye out for Conlan’s ship as well. If he couldn’t get the girls by the end of just one month, he would ask Conlan to secure them instead and ship them to Tommy’s estate. He would rather do it himself, but Conlan could be trusted and it was better than letting the two girls sit and stew at the house. They got into trouble that way. Another crew member backed up the quarterdeck steps as Justin started up them and took off for the steps on the other side.

“Deck and cover!” Maath called from where he stood next to Namid, who was at the helm. “Storm’s coming!”

“Am I really that bad?” Justin asked, walking over to them, knowing perfectly well the sky was crystal clear.

Maath shrugged. “Does the Kraken eat ships?”

“You are no help,” Justin muttered.

“You have been temperamental,” Namid put it more delicately.

“I’m worried about Dabria and Salena.” Justin shrugged.

“Worried or frantic?” Maath asked, with a grin.

Justin frowned at him. “It is serious.”

Maath nodded, losing the grin. “I know. But so is keeping the mood on the ship and yours is highly disturbing everyone.”

“Would you feel better if the girls were here?” Namid asked.

Justin glanced at him. “Not really. At least, I know Dabria isn’t being married off and Salena is safe from being sold, but they are at worse risk here on the ship. Especially with the plan we are putting into action.”

“We could always delay it until we drop them off,” Namid pointed out.

“Yeah!” Maath butted in. “I mean, if they stayed in their cabin, no one would ever know they were on the ship.”

“I guess,” Justin replied crossing his arms and looking out over the sea.

“Not even the captain,” Maath added.

Something inside Justin stilled. He turned back slowly to look at his two friends. Namid looked steadily out over the sea, but Maath was grinning like an idiot at him. Somehow Justin just knew.

“Please, tell you are not really saying what I think you are. Tell me I’m delusional,” Justin demanded firmly, but with dread.

“Would that help?” Maath asked.

“Being delusional does not stop the truth from being true,” Namid commented.

Justin’s fists clenched, at the now familiar phrase. “Where are they?”

“Where you would expect them to be,” Maath answered calmly, “in their cabin.”

“We would not have allowed your plan to proceed with them on board, Captain.” Namid added, before Justin could move.

“No, but you allow them to be in danger anyway by putting them on this ship!” Justin burst out. “Who is captain here anyway?”

“You are,” Maath and Namid both answered immediately.

“Do something to prove it,” Justin spat, before moving with a calm fury down the steps and towards the girls normal cabin.

He had only managed to calm down a little by the time he banged on their door. He heard the scuffling of things moving fast and then silence. He banged again, but this time there was nothing. Deciding he could safely enter and not really caring anyway, he shoved open the door to be greeted by a seemingly empty room.

“Out! Now!” Justin commanded, through clenched teeth.

Immediately, both girls appeared, Dabria came out from the head and Salena from where she had been crouched down behind the table and chairs. Neither raised her head to look at him, but silently joined each other in the center of the room.

“Please, Justin, we were desperate,” Dabria spoke softly.

“Your trust is invaluable,” Justin mocked.

“My parents would never have allowed us to wait the three months and what if you couldn’t return?” Dabria tried to reason.

“Could you have waited one?”

The girls raised their heads.

“One?” Dabria questioned. “I don’t understand.”

“If I couldn’t come back for you I was arranging to have a friend of mine pick you up at the end of one month. Could you have waited?” There was no question he expected to be answered.

Salena ducked her head again, but Dabria answered. “Perhaps.”

“But you didn’t trust me to keep my promise not to let anything happen to you,” he stated.

“No! That’s not true!” Dabria cried

“It is true!” Justin shot back. “Or you wouldn’t be here! Now, you’ve endangered both of your lives. Do you really think I would have left you behind if I didn’t have a very good reason?”

“No…” Dabria whispered.

“Of course not! It killed me to have to leave you in that house! But your life is more important to me than even your marriage. I want you to be happy, Dabria, but I want you alive even more!”

“I’m sorry, Justin. We should have trusted you,” Dabria spoke softly.

“Yes, you should have. Instead, you conspired with my entire crew, forcing them to place their loyalty to you above their loyalty to me. I can’t captain a ship full of people I can’t trust. But you didn’t think about that. Now, as always, I will have to deal with the consequences.” He paused in his tirade, but neither girl moved. He hated seeing them this way, but he also needed them to understand the pressure they had put on him and the danger to themselves. “Fine. I won’t send you back now, although I should. Since you snuck aboard, we’ll have to hope you eluded The Dandy’s captain’s senses as well as mine. You will stay in this cabin for the entirety of the trip. Do not set a single foot outside. Dabria, do you understand me?” He waited for her to nod. “If you are seen, even once on deck, you will greatly endanger all of our lives. I don’t think I can even stress that enough that you will actually understand it. You will wait for absolutely everything to be delivered to you, if you need something you wait until someone comes to check on you. You do not leave this room. Do you understand?” Again, the girls nodded. “I want you to say it out loud.”

“We understand,” they spoke in unison.

“Good. I will tell you when we reach Triger. We’ll have to take a longer route to avoid realization that we are going there and some dangerous spots. I need to go plot out a new course. I’ll send someone to check on you in a while.”

He turned to leave.

“Justin,” Dabria spoke from directly behind him. He felt her small hand on his arm. “I really am sorry. We were so desperate, we didn’t think everything through.”

“You usually don’t.” He responded cruelly and felt her hand slip from his arm. “I realize you’re sorry, Dabria. But I’m more sorry your actions have put everyone in danger and that even when you need me most, you didn’t trust me to be there for you.” He walked out without looking back and closed the door firmly behind him.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<