Obey Your Captain

No one could suspect. No one could know.

After his declaration, cracking resonated around the cabin, a sound that made her heart leap in the silence. She glared at him as he crunched on a cinnamon stick - the source of the uncomfortable sound.

Talking of discomfort, her eyes narrowed, did he actually believe she’d ever agree to that? Agree to his every order. “Is there something I get from this proposition or is it a purely selfish endeavour?”

“Your own cabin for however long you wish to sail under me. Also, a full spellcaster’s wage, plus the cut you currently take.”

She frowned. A salary? That would pay the death tax much quicker. Their family’s debt could be wiped within a few years… potentially.

Her father’s ships would be hers in no time.

“You can’t afford it,” she whispered. The potential to keep her family in their home creeping over her. The hope.

He stood, walking behind her before placing his fists either side of her, his front pressing against her back, his surprisingly clean scent surrounding her. “Your perception of what I can afford may be a little skewed.”

“You said-”

“If you agree, as soon as we get back to Blackwater, I will personally pay the tax your family owe.”

“What do you know about-?”

“Your father died, there are always taxes. How much did your father squirrel?” He breathed down her neck, the goosebumps rippled over her arms. The cinnamon had sweetened his breath wonderfully. The impure thoughts were frustratingly in the forefront.

How would it feel for him to pin her beneath him? For his breath to be tickling other areas of her body?

“It’s a day and night of your life. A small time to pay for the freedom of your family.”

She chewed on her lip, there wasn’t much of an argument in her mind… apart from what he would order her to do.

“I will not order anything that would harm you, or push you on the wrong side of the law. The only thing I’ll push is your battle to defy me.”

“Our deal was for one order.”

“But the gold? The safety and comfort you will bestow upon your sister and mother?” His back was impossibly close to her, his warmth making her shiver.

“How do I know you’ll keep your word?” she whispered, for the first time since being a girl she felt powerless… but it wasn’t a terrifying feeling as she felt it would be.

“Can you perform sanguis ígéret?”

She sat bolt upright in shock, knocking her head against his chest. “That’s old magic, how do you even know about that?” She leapt from the chair, giving her space from his imposing figure.

“May come as a surprise that I can read, also,” his sarcasm dripping from every word.

“The old magic is only known by-”

“Long ago I had a… acquaintance that performed it. Calm yourself.”

“You would really accept a sanguis ígéret?”

“I would.”

She nodded and stood, “I’ll get the book,” she whispered… was she really going to do this?

She decided to walk to her trunk, giving her time to think. She only disobeyed through obstinance. There wasn’t a reason for it, she’d always been that way. She struggled to say ‘how high?’ when someone said ‘jump’.

But if she continued… he may actually throw her overboard… and she wasn’t a water elemental. She knew she’d probably be in for a hard day of work, that’s all he’d do. He’d put her through her paces, ordering everything she’d disobeyed, refused, or set someone else to do her work.

She sighed as she picked up the correct spellbook. She didn’t really have a choice… her family debt gone, the tax that was hanging over their heads paid for… she had to… she would do everything the Captain demanded… she’d even scrub the crew cabin.

She reached the Captain’s Quarters again, the heavy book in hand. He gave her a pleasantly surprised look, clearly not expecting her to return… as if she had an option. She set the book on his desk before flicking to the right spell, it was complex but one she had studied before.

She guided the Captain to stand before her before plucking a crystal from her leather pouch that she’d replenished recently, she began the incantation. She felt the magic flow from the crystal into her body, avoiding using her precious magic reserves. She grasped his hand tightly, “Speak your vow,” she directed.

“I vow that once Kaliyah Warren has completed, from this moment to sunrise, following my every order, I shall wipe her family’s death tax, as well as pay her a fair wage on top of her existing cut. I vow this as her Captain, Baron Torlar.”

She nodded and completed the incantation of the old language. A language only known to learned spell casters.

Magic flowed from her palm to him. The spell complete… he could not back out from his vow. Unless she did not keep up her end of the bargain…

She closed the spellbook with a snap.

“Eat.”

She frowned at his barking command. Hesitating for a second before she sat back in front of the full plate. “Strange order,” she commented.

“You didn’t touch it and you’ll need your strength.”

She gave him a suspicious look, a flutter of concern spreading over her stomach. Strength for what? Was all she could think.

She supposed cleaning.

Gods, she hated cleaning.

She picked at the fish, a concern of the unknown. Worry for what was to come. She hated being out of control. That was why she loved magic so much. She was in control.

He sat at his desk while she ate, she was glad he wasn’t watching her. It was odd eating in the captain’s quarters, but not wholly uncomfortable. And not just due to the furniture. She had always noticed the Captain was a calm man. A man that didn’t raise his voice or become incessant with rage. No, he gave the disappointed glares and just breathed authority, a calm, reassuring authority. … not that she’d ever heeded that authority.

Today that would change.

She cleared her plate before pulling out dried mint and bamboo from her herbal pouch. Even on a ship in the middle of the deep ocean, she liked to keep herself clean… considerably cleaner than those she shared her sleeping space with.

“We are of the same kind, yes?”

Kaliyah looked up at him while chewing on the bamboo. “Yes, Captain.”

“Your mother is an elf?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“T’was my father. He is a dark elf. Of course, a relationship is hard between different races,” he mused knowingly, a small sadness in his tone.

“My parents loved each other dearly. There was never any qualms about their differences.”

“Male elves have less tolerance.”

“Speaking from experience?” she queried.

“Captain.”

She cocked her head to the side.

“You will address me as Captain.”

“Very well… Are you speaking from experience, Captain?”

“Not of my own. If I were intolerant do you think I would hire dwarfs? Or gnomes? Or changelings?”

She bristled, a warmth going over her skin. “I am not aware of any changelings on board.”

“Well, you wouldn’t. Unless you were one.”

She had to slow her thundering heart. Swallowing subtly, she shook her head. “Good point, Captain. They are hard to detect if they don’t wish to be.”

“Changelings rarely show their true form. Unless they want to.”

“Indeed, Captain.” She needed to steer this conversation away from Changelings. “Was there anything more you wanted from me?”

“Not at present. You are free to go to the bow to study.”

“I study at night, Captain, in case we are attacked… I don’t wish to be caught without any magic reserves.”

“Are you disobeying an order?”

She froze, the warning not lost on her. “Of course not, Captain… I shall go collect my books.” She struggled to keep her teeth from gritting. Obeying without question was harder than she anticipated.