Stars of Tyde Pt. 3

The first week of shipments had gone well enough that Orla opened the main deck to the crew to party and drink to their heart's content. She figured it would allow the freedom that they might have missed with other captains and it would give her a chance to see how her crew acted relaxed. Orla drew a sigil on the helm, linking her magic to the ship keeping them on course.

The seas were calm, but the cloud in the distance set her uneasy. The moving map under her fingertips had even confirmed her suspicions, they would be sailing into a hurricane if they didn't try to avoid it now.

"I'm shocked you're even giving them access to the rum you order for yourself." Wes noted, walking next to Orla.

"I see it as a test." Orla shrugged. "Nothing more than just a test in regards to where my crew lie."

Wes nodded once, looking over the map before Orla moved her notebook over the top of it. "Still hiding that plan of yours?"

"All you need to know is that there is a plan." Orla said simply.

Orla felt the spark of Wes' magic before he dismissed himself from the helm and left to attend to the crew; reclaiming his first mate duties. The plan she created was made to keep her crew hidden from it. For selfish reasons, she wanted this item to herself and nothing more. This item could be the key to seeing her family again. To revisit that world with the white sand and the welcoming palace. Home.

"You believe you have a home?" Captain Drake laughed at the young, trembling Orla on her hands and knees of the main deck. "This is your home and you're going to show me the respect I deserve."

Pain raced down her cheek and through her jaw as she hid her face from the captain. He stood over her like a mountain; untouchable. Orla knew she had shifted when the captain and the rest of the crew around her joined in laughter. A fennec fox curled on the deck, hiding away from the brutality of Drake laid before him. her large ears pulled back against her head. She barely heard the commands of Drake before she was tossed into the chambers with a soft yelp.

For days Orla hid in the room. Drake had settled at the desk, looking over books and spells and runes. Orla stepped out from under the bed, inching to the desk. Drake turned to Orla setting down a plate in front of her causing her to jump from his touch.

"You may not see it now, but I know you're going to be a great captain." Drake told her. "Dropping any ideology that someone is going to save you will help you slide into that position better. Trust me when I say that." he rose from the chair and to the balcony windows, sliding them open to allow the sea to echo into the room.

As she grew older, she shadowed Drake in everything. And once she became sixteen, she joined the crew as first mate, for a price.

Drake informed her of a device that is passed from ship to ship, much like the Tyde bloodline. This object could be used to see around the world and between worlds. The hardest part is that the ship that had this object currently, was one of the most murderous ships on the seas, the Royal coming second. This ship transported slaves from place to place, island to island. Oftentimes, Orla had heard that the ship would kill the shipment if their client did something out of their own morals.

Drake turned to Orla, fixing a thread that moved over her breast, a smirk danced on his lips that made Orla take a small step back to rid the sickness in her stomach as it churned. "I need you to grab something for me." He mused, dropping his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"If I grab this, what's in it for me?" Orla pressed.

"I've taught you well." Drake mused, leading her over to the port side of the ship. He pulled his hands behind his back, looking out to the sea. "Do this and you'll get what you've been training for. Fail me; well, if you fail you won't be coming back." He shrugged.

Orla stared at Drake, a small prink settled into her chest. He had shrugged at her existence. He wouldn't care if she came back, but if - when she did, she was a step closer to owning the Royal for herself.

Odd to think, a sixteen year old plotting the death of someone she looked up to. But that was the life she was given now.

Drake turned to Orla before shoving her from the ship and into the dark waters below.

~

Orla landed in the sea with barely a splash. She scrambled to the surface, coughing hard as water had wormed its way to her lungs. Her limbs were frozen and sore from the impact. "Better learn how to swim, little fox!" Drake yelled from the ship.

Orla whimpered, kicking her legs as she panicked, watching the ship move past her. The crew watched her struggle before turning back to their tasks. Orla fought to stay afloat until her arms were weak and the ship was far in the distance. The water ran over her eyes as she lost the last grip of her strength as she slowly sank.

An arm wrapped around Orla's middle, slowly pulling her to the surface as her savior pulled her from the water. Orla felt scales around her waist but she couldn't be focused enough to care. Her lungs ached as she savored the air around her before being pulled up to another ship.

This ship was black as the void, but speckled like the night sky. Orla laid flat against the deck, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.

"Not the most normal thing I've witnessed." Someone mutters as footsteps close in around Orla.

Orla rolled to her side, sitting up as she winced at the sudden light above her head before it was blocked by a figure. "Odd that a Siren would pick you out of the water."

Orla blinked at the shadow looking around. "I was just thrown off a ship, how is that odd? They've always helped me."

"Siren's don't help people." They stated. "Who are you and what ship were you thrown off?"

"Orla Vela, I sailed with Captain Drake on the Royal." Orla said.

"You had me until Drake." They mused, picking up Orla and shoving her against the black mast. "What does he want with my ship? Send some worthless girl and woo me with her ice eyes?"

"I mean, is it working?" Orla asked, a small smirk at her lips as she held her hands up. "I'm completely unarmed, I'm not here because of Drake; aside from him throwing me off, I'm here because I just want to go home."

"Something tells me, you don't even know where home is." The figure said, dropping Orla to her feet.

Orla rubbed her arm, moving it as her muscles loosened. The captain of the ship shifted on their feet for a moment, before turning back to Orla and leaned heavily on a silver handled cane. "Step out of line, little one, and I won't save you again." They said.

Orla gave a small nod, lowering her eyes as the rest of the crew went back to their tasks.