Nausea.. That’s the first thing that hit her as life started to stir within her psyche.. The world around her felt hazy and disjointed. The steady rocking of the hard surface beneath her only added to her disorientation, each sway and pitch of it sending waves of nausea through her weakened body..She became aware of voices murmuring nearby, the sound distant and muffled as if coming from underwater. Groaning softly, she blinked against the harsh light filtering through the small porthole above her, her head throbbing with each movement. With a deep inhale, she attempted to sit up, only to be met with a wave of dizziness that sent her reeling back onto the hard surface beneath her. As she blinked groggily, trying to make sense of her surroundings, the voices grew louder, their words gradually coming into focus.
“...found her atop the captain’s stateroom, passed out cold...”
“...can’t believe she’s the one they were chasing after back at the port...I was after that pretty lil’ thing at the tavern.“. That voice sounded familiar..
“Ah, it’s awake.” The muffled sound of heavy footsteps came from the distance as she slowly started to sit up, gagging. A bucket was quickly slammed into her chest. She made to reach for it, but found that her hands were bound behind her back. She retched anyway, into its contents..
“And just in time,too..” The familiar voice said again.
Arilez blinked slowly, focusing her eyes on the blurry figure that approached her. It was tall and muscular. Slowly coming into view against the morning light coming through the doorway directly behind it. “E’re she is, Captain.”. Of course..
The figure bent down towards her, looking her over. His face came into view fully once he was about six inches from her face. “Hello, little stow away.” The man’s gravelly voice said.
He was old. The captain’s weathered face bore the marks of a life spent at sea, his skin darkened by years of exposure to the relentless sun that beat down upon his ship. Deep lines and wrinkles criss crossed his features, etched with the passage of time and the rigors of a life lived on the open ocean. When he relaxed his brows, the creases in his skin revealed glimpses of paleness beneath, a stark contrast to the weathered exterior. Arilez let out a shaky breath. “I-”
“-stowed away on my ship?” He finished for her. “Stole a wonderfully fetching dagger, ran from the city’s guards, and leaped onto my ship? Just for that dagger of yours to lunge itself into your side?” The captain went on, his voice drawing. His words hung in the air, heavy with accusation and curiosity. Arilez swallowed hard, her throat dry as she struggled to find her voice in the face of his relentless interrogation.
“Don’t forget her pit-stop at the tavern.” There was that familiar voice again. Arilez swung her eyes to its source. The blonde guy from the tavern.. What had his friends called him? Mciver?”
He met her gaze and gave her a little wave, smirking sadistically at her. “Ah yes. Remember me, lass?” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. This was bad. Her eyes darted around a bit. The captain, Mciver, and a shorter, wider man were in the room, their imposing figures casting long shadows against the dimly lit walls. Behind her, heavy footsteps echoed as someone paced back and forth behind the table where she sat, their presence a looming threat that sent a shiver down her spine, but she didn’t dare turn her body to look. She knew better than to turn her back to danger. She thought back to when she spied on the ship from the overhang of that building.. All men. She’d been so daft in her desperation that she jumped onto a sea vessel of all. Men.
Arilez looked back at the captain now, who was now straightening himself to an upright position. “Alright, little stowaway..” he began. She started to panic. Though she remained outwardly composed, her mind raced with fear and uncertainty, trapped in a labyrinth of her own making. She cursed herself for her recklessness.
“Chef patched your side up. You’ll live at least. But your belongings? Ours.” Her eyes widened. “Especially that darling dagger..”
Arilez hung her head down in defeat. The Fae-Craft. She wouldn’t be in this mess at all had she not been so greedy. She knew it would fetch a wonderful price at her next town.. But alas, it led her here.. Now it would be confiscated, along with the rest of her wares.
“Now, as collateral for harboring a criminal stowaway, which could get my vessel in trouble if you were to be discovered by the law... You’re now under my contract until we can be rid of you.” He says sharply, turning on his heel to face away from her. Arilez grit her teeth. “Oh and, don’t try to argue because I could just as easily toss you overboard.” The threat hung in the air like a heavy cloak of dread, suffocating her with its weight. Arilez clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to maintain her composure.
As the captain turned back towards her, Arilez’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in apprehension. She held her breath as he leaned down towards her, his calloused hand reaching up to grip her chin with a forceful grip.. “Do I make myself clear?”
Arilez intook a shaky breath, unable to form words as the weight of her situation crashed down on her. Under the captain’s contract, aboard a ship teeming with men—each one a potential threat to her safety and well-being? The rocking of the ship was not at fault for the nausea creeping over her now. She could hear mcivers laugh echoing as he exited the room.. Suddenly, the grip on her chin tightened.
“I said.. Do I make myself clear?”
The sudden thud of a bucket hitting the table next to her jolted Arilez from her thoughts, sending a spray of water cascading over the side in a haphazard manner. Startled, she recoiled, her heart pounding in her chest as the captain roughly released his grip on her chin, Arilez turned her head to see who had intervened. Her eyes widened in shock as she beheld a short, fat woman with her hands planted firmly on her hips, her expression a mixture of defiance and indignation, glaring daggers up at the captain. “By the gods I think she gets it, ya ol’ bastard! Now, either deal with her y’self or get out me kitchen!” Arilez ’eyes widened in shock. Suddenly the captain leans upright, growling at the fat old lady. The captain’s response was swift and harsh, his growl cutting through the air like a knife. “Have her in my stateroom when you’re done” he demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument as he stormed off, his temper flaring.
As the captain disappeared from view, Arilez let out a shaky breath, her eyes flickering with a mix of relief and trepidation. She knew that her reprieve would be short-lived—the captain’s orders hung over her like a dark cloud, a reminder of the precariousness of her situation aboard the ship. With a heavy heart, she turned her gaze towards the woman who had come to her aid, silently offering her thanks in the brief exchange of glances.
The woman tsked disapprovingly, shaking her head as she hobbled away to a nearby counter. “No,” she declared firmly, her voice tinged with resignation, as she gathered a handful of old and stained rags. “Do not look at me. I did not save you. You’re still in trouble,” she said, her tone blunt and unwavering
Arilez narrows her eyes, swallowing hard as she watches the woman grab a kitchen knife from the bucket of water and move behind Arilez. She let out a shaky sigh as the woman began to saw away at the rope that bound her hands behind her back. She remained quiet. The old woman however, did not.
“Ya’ know you’re pretty damn stupid. There’s about twenty men on this ship and you come an’ hop on like you’ve got a death wish.” She huffs out a degrading laugh. “Jus keep to yourself and do as you’re told an you’ll be fine. Or alive at least.” Yes. because that was so reassuring. Arilez gritted her teeth, her jaw clenched tightly as she endured the woman’s blunt commentary. With each word, a surge of frustration and indignation welled up within her, but she held her tongue, knowing that now was not the time for confrontation.
“Keep ya’ legs shut though.” She said lastly, as the last threads of the rope were sliced through and her hands came free. That phrase had her reaching for the shallow bucket in which she’d emptied the contents of her stomach already, pulling it to herself and doing so all over again. Though this time it had been nothing but acid from the pit of her stomach.. The realization of her vulnerability hit Arilez like a tidal wave, washing over her with a suffocating sense of dread. She had navigated the streets of the cruelest cities without succumbing to the predatory gaze of men, but now, adrift on the open sea, she was utterly defenseless against the primal instincts of those around her.
The thought of becoming nothing more than a plaything for the men aboard the ship filled Arilez with a bone-deep terror, her mind conjuring images of unspeakable horrors that lurked in the shadows of her darkest nightmares. In a world where the only law was that of the sea, there would be no one to hear her cries for help, no one to intervene if she found herself in the clutches of her would-be assailants.
As she emptied the contents of her stomach once more, Arilez knew that she would have to tread carefully, navigating the treacherous waters of shipboard life with a wary eye and a vigilant mind. In this unforgiving world, survival depended not only on strength and skill, but on the ability to outwit and outmaneuver those who sought to prey upon the weak. And as Arilez clung to the edge of the bucket, her body wracked with dry heaves, she vowed to do whatever it took to ensure her own safety in the face of unimaginable danger all she had to do was get to the next port, right? Then she could leave. Bound by contract her ass.. She Got herself onto this ship so she could get her way out.
“What’s your name, stowie?” The woman’s inquiry was sharp, accompanied by a forceful shove that prompted Arilez to slide further back on the table. As she moved, a jolt of sharp pain shot through her abdomen, causing her to hiss and instinctively place her hand over the thick bandaging there. Ah, that’s right. The dagger had sliced into her when she’d fallen. The captain said that the chef had patched her up. Was this hag the chef?
Awaiting a response, the old woman reached for Arilez’s calf, deftly pulling her foot onto a folded rag draped over her knee. Arilez winced as the woman began to unravel the makeshift bandages that Arilez herself had hastily tied around her feet the day before.
“Arilez,” she responded simply, her voice tinged with weariness.
The woman grunted in acknowledgment, her expression souring as she examined Arilez’s exposed foot. “Infected,” she declared, unwrapping the other foot with brisk efficiency. She rose from her seat and limped over to the far end of the kitchen, where she began rummaging through a barrel, muttering under her breath about the inconvenience of wasting ingredients.
When she returned again, she deposited her discoveries into the water bucket from earlier. Arilez observed with curiosity as she stirred yellow and orange flower petals, along with what appeared to be pine needles and a red spice, into the mixture..
“Darlene,” the woman introduced herself, her tone gruff.
“Your name’s Darlene?” Arilez murmured. The woman merely grunted in response, her focus fully on her task at hand.
Arilez opened her mouth to speak, but her words caught in her throat as she watched Darlene place her hands on either side of the metal bucket. As Darlene made contact with the metal, it emitted an orange hue, and within moments, the water began to simmer. Arilez’s eyes widened in astonishment. Her gaze flicked up to Darlene’s ears—short, yet distinctly pointed. Fae. Or at least partially.
“You’ve got elemental magick,” Arilez blurted out, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Darlene scoffed at Arilez’s observation, her lips curling into a derisive smirk. “Elemental magick, huh? You don’t say,” she remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
With a dismissive grunt, Darlene grabbed a fresh rag from under the bucket and plunged it into the seething hot water, the steam billowing up around her with no apparent discomfort. Arilez watched in awe as Darlene seemed unfazed by the boiling heat, her skin remaining untouched by the scalding water. Darlene then removed the rag from the bucket and wrung it out, bringing it to Arilez’s aching feet. She jumped, knowing the rag was just in boiling hot water.
“Quit your squirming,” Darlene snapped, her words laced with irritation as she began to dab at the infected scrapes on Arilez’s feet with the steaming cloth. “You’re lucky I’m even bothering to clean up your mess,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. Arilez gritted her teeth as the scalding cloth made contact with her tender feet, a sharp hiss escaping through clenched lips. Gripping the edge of the table behind her, she fought to stifle a cry of pain, the searing heat of the cloth sending bolts of agony coursing through her.
The mixture Darlene had concocted, whatever it was, only intensified the pain, its potent blend causing an intense burning sensation that seemed to sear deep into her flesh. Arilez squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to endure the torment as Darlene worked..
“Oh, quit bein’ a bitch.” Darlene’s blunt words cut through the air, her tone dripping with impatience as she dismissed Arilez’s discomfort. She dropped the cloth back into the bucket when she was done. “You’ll live.” With a brusque gesture, she handed Arilez two dry rags before stepping back, her hands planted firmly on her wide waist.
“Tie ’em around your feet for now until you get some socks. Keep your feet dry, infection will clear right up.” Her instructions were delivered bluntly, lacking any semblance of sympathy. Turning away from Arilez, Darlene hobbled towards one of the tables, where she grabbed a large metal pot and carried it to the far counter.
Arilez watched Darlene. With her short and stout stature, she sported a single long gray braid cascading down her back, almost reaching the backs of her knees. Unlike Arilez’s thick, copper hair, Darlene’s braid was much thinner, suggesting a preference for practicality. Darlene’s figure was enveloped in a well-worn cook’s gown, its once bright white fabric now faded to a dull cream from years of use. Despite its worn appearance, the gown retained a certain dignity, with its neatly tied apron strings and the faint aroma of spices and herbs clinging to its fibers. The sleeves, rolled up to her elbows, revealed her weathered arms, adorned with a few faded tattoos.
“Now, Captain wants you in the stateroom.” Darlene says, whilst filling a pot with water from the spout of a barrel. Immediately, Arilez let out a nervous exhale, which Darlene seemed to notice. She sighed, shaking her head.. She kept her back to Arilez. But her harsh and bitchy voice seemed to come down to a slightly more sympathetic tone. “Quit your worrying..”
Arilez looked up at the woman’s back, now taking the time to tie the rags around her feet.
“He’s not gonna do nothin to ya. He’s very loyal to his dead wife. Trust me- I’ve tried.” Gross. But reassuring.
“-He’s gonna get your contract finalized and give you your job. You’re stuck with us now, kid. Hope it was worth it”
ns216.73.216.133da2
and then Add to home screen.