Chapter 1 #2
“Oh, yes, Miss Rothwen, thank you for arriving so promptly,” he greeted.
He appeared as a middle-aged human; nothing particularly remarkable about his appearance.
His long, blond hair cascaded around his face, framing striking green eyes that proved difficult for her to meet while conversing.
“Would you care to take a seat?” he offered.
“No, I can stand, thank you.” Her hands were tucked behind her, fingers laced together.
“When you reached out to me, you were clear that your destination was just to be taken to the Port of Kortez. You know that is the Kingdom of Naverra’s port, correct?”
“Yes, Sir.” She felt her hand beginning to shake, so she shifted her posture. “Is that a problem? Can this ship not dock there?”
“No, no, that isn’t it.” His face softened, and he looked down at the table.
She narrowed her eyes at him, giving him time to find the words stuck in his throat.
“The King has informed all vessels that a woman is seeking passage off the continent to Ilkiz.” He looked up at her through his thinning lashes. “Striking features, short curly scarlet hair, eyes as deep as the Casper Sea, and—” It seemed to pain him to say the last piece.
“A murderer?” Her voice was devoid of emotion, her face impassive. The permanent frown etched upon her lips revealed her indifference and lack of concern.
“And wanted for the massacre at Sunfall.” Tension filled the room, though it didn’t originate from her.
Staying neutral, she nodded. “Does this prevent you from taking me to the Port of Kortez?”
There was a look of bewilderment on his face. “My crew, they’re also aware of this warrant for your arrest.” It was as if he was attempting to make her grasp the gravity of the situation as though she didn’t understand the implications of his words.
“They do not want to arrest me, Captain.” She rolled her eyes and looked away from him. “How much?”
“Excuse me?”
“How much is the bounty for my capture, Captain?” Her tone was matter-of-fact. Not rude, but tinged with irritation. She was done with this conversation.
“A lot,” he replied, and she noticed his throat bobbed with the words.
“What is your intention in sharing this information? Are you informing me that you’ve already reported me to the authorities, or are you looking for me to pay the bounty for your silence?”
The Captain, visibly fearful, stood. Perhaps he had hoped she would deny her involvement or claim it was all a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, neither of those scenarios would come to pass.
“We all heard what happened at Sunfall. It isn’t my place to play bounty hunter, but I can’t deny the danger you’ve put myself and my crew in,” he said, and she only nodded in response.
“Some of my men want to turn you over. However, this is my ship, and my word is law here.” Their eyes met, and she could still see the fear he held so close to him.
“Payment will suffice, but I also want to know, did you kill all those people?”
She felt her nostrils twitch and the heat of his gaze as he tried to stifle the sweat dripping from his forehead.
“You truly do fear me,” she uttered aloud, though she hadn’t intended to. It had been a mere thought, but its intensity compelled her to vocalize it. “Good. You should,” she savored the power those words brought.
Visibly taken aback, the Captain gazed at her with an intensity that she imagined would become all too familiar.
A heavy sigh escaped her. “Yes, I did,” she answered. Even if the Elf couldn’t discern her truth, he would know she was not lying.
He nodded. “Thank you.” For some reason, that surprised her. “At least you aren’t a liar,” he remarked, his posture straightening. He placed his hands behind his back and continued, “We will dock in the morning, and we won’t alert the authorities. Your pay—”
“Here,” she said, stepping forward, and she heard the distinct sound of his boots as he stepped back. Her head tilted inquisitively, and she halted her movement. “Captain, you know my truth. So when I assure you that I harbor no intention to harm you or your crew, find solace in that.”
The familiar pain surged behind her eyes once more, and as she stretched out her hand toward the table, she noticed it trembling. “Not now,” she muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her voice. Determined to regain control, she clasped her shaky hand with the other, gripping tightly.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply through her nose, held her breath, and focused on the one thing that brought her peace. You smell like black tea as it settles into the hot water. You will always be my sun… always.
After a brief moment, she exhaled and grasped the pen. “Follow these instructions,” she wrote, swiftly jotting down a few lines. She continued her message, “They will provide you with double the bounty’s worth.”
She turned away from the Captain and approached the door swiftly.
“Miss Rothwen,” he called, and she lowered her head. “If it matters to you, whether I fear you or not, I don’t consider you a bad person. We hear you suffering and calling for help. Whatever it is you seek, I genuinely hope you find it and that it grants you peace.”
As her hand rested on the doorknob, she responded, “Death would be the only peace for me, Captain, and I don’t believe I’ll be granted that blessing for a very long time.”