Obey Your Captain
Chapter 8

His gaze went this way and that, ensuring no one could see him, see where he was going. He always held a fear of being caught, but being two-hundred and eighty-one years old meant he was used to the fear.

Kaliyah wedged herself between two crates in the hull, just needing to be alone. The Captain’s questions had made her uncomfortable. She never wanted to admit how she was getting her family through it. As the eldest, it was up to her to get the taxes paid. There were so many taxes. Her father’s worth was mostly tied to his ships and the house. Whilst she had emptied their bankvolt.. It hadn’t been enough. She’d arranged for the tax to be increased if she paid it over the next few years, rather than within the first year of his death.

The moment after the funeral when the tax man had arrived, her world had crumbled. Her panic so high that she’d debating selling her virtue to dent the debt.

… isn’t that exactly what she’d just done?

She buried her face, feeling her composure slip, feeling her control evaporate. Clawed spindly fingers wrapped around her shins. White almost colourless hair curtained around her, hiding her.

She could never state he forced her, she wanted it. She dove into the heated passion with as much abandonment as he. It wasn’t his fault her stomach was coiling with the knowledge her maidenhead was no longer intact. It had always been more likely her sister would be the one to marry wealthy to protect the family, Kaliyah knew it was expected of her to do the same.

That now wouldn’t happen.

Stupid, stupid girl.

Sobbing into her knees, she delved into the spiral of regret, feeling she’d let everyone down.

“Lassy? You down here?” She silenced herself, her thin bony fingers clamped tightly on her mouth. Silently shuffling further back in her hiding place with the hope no one would spot her. No one could see her like this, it would give her away.

“Lassy?”

When she made no sound, boots echoed above her. A sigh of relief blew out of non-existent lips. Her true form was less than a desirable sight. With soulless pits as eyes, a flat hollow nose and a mere gash of a mouth. Her waist cinched in skeletally while her arms and legs were gangly. Her flesh was as white as moonlight, while her hair ethereally translucent.

She calmed, knowing she could not remain in the belly of the ship forever.

Focusing more than she felt she needed to, she forced her body to transform back to the half-elf the crew knew.

Her boots clunked heavily against the wooden boards as she made her way to the main crew cabin. She knew she had spare leather thongs for her hair in her trunk.

“The cap’n was looking for ya, where ya been?”

“Captain doesn’t need my whereabouts. If he wishes to speak to me, he should find me himself.”

“Is that right?” his deep boom came from the stairs.

Kaliyah huffed to herself. “You wanted me?”

“Yes.” Captain Baron descended the few steps, making him visible to her. “Your cabin is ready.”

“I’m happy here.”

“Not acceptable, spell casters on every ship have their own cabins.”

“It did not appear to bother you previously.”

He thudded towards her, snapping the lid of her trunk closed before hoisting it into the air. “Captain! No.”

“You may flout me at every turn and I make allowances. This is one I will not budge.”

She ground her teeth at him, furious when he ascended the steps without acknowledging her, with her trunk in his arms.

“Baron!” she bellowed, racing after him.

He spun around so fast she didn’t see him stop. Crashing into his chest, she fell heavily onto her backside. “I am still Captain to you.” He deposited her trunk on the deck before leaning into her with the guise of helping her to her feet, “Unless we are in the bedroom, my little Talpa.” His large hand enclosed around her delicate one, wrenching her back to her feet. Sureing her footing, she shoved him with all her strength, he stumbled with both the surprise of her action… and her strength.

Rounding on her, she found her hair caught in his grasp, tugging enough to feel the sting. Bringing her hand up to set his shirt alight, he clamped his arm of iron around both her arms, preventing the movement.

Screaming, she trashed in his hold. “You will unhand me! You bigile rat! Scoundrel, destitute, disgusting halfbreed!” Her feet left the rough deck as she was hoisted into the air, her arms still trapped against her.

Captain Baron booted the door of his office, slamming it shut in the same way. “You’re nothing but a filthy dog!”

“Enough!”

“No! I cannot bear to look at you!” She wriggled in his hold. She needed to calm herself but fury dampened her logic.

“Why?”

“Get off me!”

Sitting heavily in his desk chair, Captain Baron manhandled her into sitting upon his lap, her legs dangling either side of his hips.

“I can’t stand for this! I forbid-” her tirade silenced when a knotted length of rope snapped around her thumbs before snaking around her hands and wrists. She writhed against him, desperate not to be bound. Leaning forward, he secured the rope around her waist, her wrists pressed against her stomach.

“Now.” With her hands bound, he seemed to have no fear caressing her cheek. “What has you upset?”

“You!”

“Will you enlighten as to what I have done?” he murmured softly, dragging his fingers through her hair.

“You… you…” Her face crumpled in tears. She just couldn’t get over how much she had dishonoured herself, and her family. “I’ve ruined everything,” she sobbed, inadvertently burying herself into his neck.

“Pouco, I’m sure that’s not true. Come now,” he cooed. His reassurance only made her tears flow harder.

“I… I will never marry. I… I am a wench!”

“Oh my Pouco. You are no wench. Oh my darling.” His arms cocooned her entirely, nuzzling his rough cheek against her ear and hair. “Do not hold fear. You will marry.”

“I don’t want to marry!” she bawled.

“Then it matters not, hmm?”

“But my family! The debt!”

“You can pay the debt. Please do not worry, Kaliyah, hush now.” Large hands stroked up and down her back. She had no idea what he meant that she could afford it. Even with a wage it would still take years.

“It is not so easy,” her whimpering breaths added an embarrassing amount of drool adding to her tears soaking his skin.

“It is just that easy. Hush, Pouco, you will make yourself ill.”

“Why do you call me pouco?” It were a term of endearment… a term exclusively for lovers.

“You’re my little one, why would I not call you as such?”

“B-because I am not yours.” She sniffled against him.

“Do not worry. All will be alright.” Without difficulty, he released the knot binding her hands to her stomach before removing the rope all together, rubbing where the harsh fibres had dug into her flesh. “I do not like to see you hurt so. You have nothing to fear or worry. I will look after you.”

“A-as my Captain?”

“If that is what you wish. Yes.” If she were less upset, she would have caught on to the rich diplomatic tone. Alas, she did not.

“I am grateful.” She relaxed until she realised the position she were in. “Can I get off?”

The Captain nuzzled her temple. “I see no reason you should.”

“It is highly-”

“Appropriate. The lady is upset, it is fitting that I comfort.”

“But… I am one of your crew… y-you wouldn’t do this for the others.”

“Indeed.”

“Why me?”

“You are a lady. A lady I wish to comfort.”

“I’m no lady,” she mumbled, pulling away from him with less vigour than she wanted. There was something about his arms, his caress… him. She wanted to hold on and never let go. She knew it was foolish. But sometimes… the heart is foolish. Fickle.

His thick fingers glided into her hair again, “Your hair is beautiful loose, I know it may get in the way, may I?”

She frowned. May he… what? She did not understand what he was requesting. Before she comprehended, he had stood with her in his arms. Cradling her like a toddler. Two parts warred in her mind. A part cherished the caring contact. Another, wished to battle away, hide in what was safe.

Was he safe?

She felt drained, exhausted as he carried her into his bed chambers, settling her on the soft bed before he sat behind her, draping his legs on either side of her. She hadn’t realised the comb in his hand until it began running gently through the strands of her hair.

“What are you doing?”

“Braiding your hair.”

Her eyelids fluttered in bewilderment. She felt she surely heard incorrectly, however, his fingers began weaving her hair on the side of her head, braiding against her scalp until there were three thin braids. He began on the other side, mirroring what he had just done.

She decided to cease her internal query of why and relaxed into his touch. She could have fought, she could have yanked away to flee. But why go against what brought peace? She was rarely in a state of peace, it were a strange experience. An experience she felt herself relaxing into without a care.

He twisted a large braid in the centre of her head until he knotted a length of thin leather, securing her hair in place. “There, it will no longer get in your way.” She heard the clinking sound of metal on metal right by her ear. She reached up, feeling a metal bead wrapped around one of the small braids. His hands rested on her shoulders and she was reluctant to move away. She should move away.

“Thank you,” she murmured, feeling a little too docile. It seemed the Captain had his own magic emanating from his fingers, moulding her to whatever he wished.

“I’m glad those tears have dried, Pouco.”

“I apologise for my outburst.”

“No apology is necessary. You were upset, I would hope you would always come to me if you feel that way.”

“Why?”

“You are special. Now, would you like to see your private cabin?”

“I didn’t think there were any cabins spare.”

“I cleared a storage room, come.” Standing, he placed a guiding hand on her back, leading her back to the deck to port side where a smaller wooden door resided. He opened it with a brass key before handing the key to her. “You can lock it on both sides.” The door swung open inwards showing a narrow room, he gestured for her to go in ahead, so she ducked a few inches, clearing the door frame. Captain Baron had to stoop low to follow.

The narrow room held a small table and chair down the end of the room, and a hammock strung to one side. A small basin sat on a table, where had he found a spare basin?

She supposed the room were four spaces wide by around eight paces long. Cozy. And a lot more space than she currently had; sharing a sleeping quarters with twenty others. She could even practice some of her spells in the room!

“I know it’s not much…” Captain pursed his lips as if worried for her reaction.

“It’s wonderful. Thank you.” She wished to show her gratitude physically, but refrained… it wasn’t proper to embrace the Captain.

He straightened, clearing his throat. “You’re welcome. If you need anything, do not hesitate to come to me.”

“I appreciate that, Captain.” She was somewhat sad to see him disappear through the door.

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