After perhaps another hour, the ship was underway. The crew looked practiced and efficient. Most ignored her as they worked but one boy kept glancing her way as he went about his duties. He even bumped into the ship’s bow while staring at her. Victoria kept her face impassive, although she wanted to laugh. She also didn’t want to give him any signs to misinterpret. The rest of the crew had no such compunctions, and ribbed him viciously every time he slipped up. And, of course, the Crone couldn’t resist sharing her hateful opinion.
“Fancy you, does he?” the harsh voice echoed in her head. “Pity he has no chance.”
“Don’t mock him. How could he know?”
“Nobody does, do they? Save me, and that little lover of yours back at the castle. Whom you didn’t tell you were leaving.”
“I didn’t want her to get involved.”
“And yet, you couldn’t help but steal that little moment before you slunk away like a thief in the night. And what’s worse, you left the tether intact! I can feel it you know. It stands out, especially when you’ve got Flow going to everyone onboard too.”
“We need to be quick. We may already have pursuers.”
“Whom you have made it very easy to follow us by keeping that that tether active, you needy little hussy.”
“Needy?!”
“I just need someone to hold me,” the Crone’s voice took on a mimicking nasally tone. “I don’t want to be alone tonight! It was so sweet; I thought my teeth would rot.”
“You’re dead, Magitrix. You don’t have any teeth. Why do you care so much, anyway? Jealous it’s not you?”
“Oh, I’ve already had my fun with you. I know exactly what’s underneath that pretty little dress. And that pretty little face, too. Even if you don’t.”
“Drown in the Flow, you old bat.”
“Oh, touched a nerve, did I? Don’t worry, it matters not to me who you play with now. I’m just here to see you hang. Everything else is just a happy bonus.”
Victoria shook her head.
“What did I do to make you hate me so much?”
The voice snorted once, before falling silent. Victoria heard heavy footsteps behind her, carried on salty south wind air.
“Tis bad luck not to know the name of my passenger,” said the captain as he approached her. No warm smile touched his lips. He regarded her with the kind of aloof professional detachment that Victoria imagined some women found attractive. Personally, she was just glad he wasn’t trying to put his hands on her.
“Ah, forgive me, Captain. I am called Delphine.”
The Crone snorted again, laughing at a joke no one else go. If the Captain heard her, he made no sign.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Delphine,” he said, bowing low. Victoria responded with a curtsy of her own, hand to heart. She was unsure of his rank, so she settled for the most neutral greeting. He gave a brief nod. She hadn’t offended, or he simply hadn’t cared enough to admonish her.
“I’m just about to have morning tea, Miss Delphine. You are ill dressed for the sea. Perhaps a cup would warm you up?”
Victoria considered it. The captain spoke truly. The fabric of her dress wasn’t nearly warm enough to spend the entire voyage above deck. Not in early fall. But she knew very little about the captain. It might not be the best idea to be alone with him. For the hundredth time, she wished Miranda was there. She’d only been gone a day, but she already missed her terribly. The thought of the previous night, and the warmth of her embrace just made the air feel that much colder. At least she could still feel her through the flow on the other end of her tether. She just could not bear to let it go.
The Crone was right. Victoria would never have argued with the word hussy, even on her very best day, but now it looked like she was well and truly needy as well. And so, despite the numerous alarm bells ringing in her head, she nodded to the captain. She was already on his ship, after all. Couldn’t be any more at his mercy than that.
“I would very much appreciate it, Captain,” Victoria said. Nodding, the Captain turned and motioned for her to follow him to his cabin.
“Come, then. I do a decent Rooibos.
Hi! Maya here. Thanks for reading. I hope you’re enjoying this arc. I write all my stories by hand first, so if you enjoyed the story, please help me feed my stationery goblin.
I’ve also played around with some other generators, so let me know if you like the new art. Its not mine, but if I ever make enough money, I ‘ll hire a proper artist.