Chapter Two

Attack:

Jonah watched the captain as his stomach dropped. The queen colors would now make them  an enemy to the crown. Pirates were already frown upon but now the queen will personally be attacked and she will not sit by. He knew why the captain was doing it. They were under a time crunch. Right now they were between a rock and a harder place. If they did not deliver to the “pirate king” he would most likely kill them and if they attack the queen’s ship. They will have a bounty placed on their heads. The Captain took over stirring. His grip tightening on the wheel as if he couldn't wait much longer.

The unsuspecting ship slowly made its way towards them. Jonah glanced at the crew below. They were ready, they looked almost hungry like they've been bored for too long. 

“Get Ready Boys!” The captain yelled to the lower deck.

The men grumbled excitedly. Cannon’s were out and grappling hooks waiting for the signal.

Claire steers the ship, her eyes on the horizon. She had put on a hat to shield her eyes from the sun and tucked her hair up under it.  She knew the normal trade route. She was taking one of the short cuts Morgan had discovered. It did save half the time it would take at least three weeks to make the trip but it was quicker then it should be. Most didn't take this way due to the cliff sides. It was sometimes harder to judge the shallow area’s from the non-shallow. Many didn't want to risk running their ship into a shallow area and wrecking. She had studied Gavin sailing and knew the signs of shallow water. The crew was relaxed as they made their way. They trusted her. She smiled, glancing at them. The men were going about their duties. Jacob was on the lower deck making sure the sails were where they needed to be. 

“Captain!’ A shout from the crow nest came down the way. 

Jacob glanced forward and Claire squinted out over the helm to the open ocean; trying to see what Adam was seeing. She was confused as there was nothing there. The water was not pulling like they did when shallow water was coming, She glanced back at Adam going to yell back to him.

Then it all happened so quickly. Another ship pulled up beside them. She was shocked. The ship came out of nowhere. She glanced at Jacob. Grappling hooks were starting to fly from the other ship, locking the ships together.

“Cut the Ropes!” Claire yelled as she pulled the wheel hard away from the ship. 

The ship creaked as it tried to follow orders but there were too many ropes holding it to the other ship. Claire narrowed her eyes at the ship. It had jet black sails with a crescent moon on them. At the end of the crescent moon a star was dangling. Claire felt a strange feeling of dejavu. Did she know this ghostly ship? She looked down at the lower deck and the men were frantically trying to free the ship.  Each time  rope was cut it was magically replaced with another. They clearly had done this before.

“This can’t be freaking happening.” Claire mumbled to herself.

Studying the ghost ship her eyes set on the man at the helm. She locked eyes with this man. He had a grin on his face like he was enjoying watching the scene unfold. 

“Enough Of this.” She muttered.

“Hold tight back away from the rail!” She ordered the men.

Claire pulled the ship hard away from the ghost ship and then in one hard swift movement she slammed the ship back into the ghost ship. The loud crashing noise echoed. The sound of wood creaking and cracking was chilling as the world got silent. She pulled back again and then slammed the ship back into it.  The ropes holding the ships together began to break loose. She smiled watching it slowly work. Her men were scattered on the floor of the lower deck but they were closer to freeing The Crown. Her eyes locked eyes with the man again. His grin faded and he looked a bit taken back. His own men were also scattered about on the ground not anticipating the impact of their ship.

“The ropes get up and get the ropes off.” She yelled down to the men.

The men scrambled to their feet as they began cutting the ropes that were left.

“Board the ship! Now!” She heard a deep chilling voice yell across the ghost ship.

They were going to board them. Chills were sent down her spine as she tried to think of what to do. She needed her ship free and away from his. His men began to swing their way over, using ropes.  Ladders were being placed across the two ships and men began to start climbing them. She was not prepared for war. Sailing, trading,and negotiating; yes but pirates. She felt the acid building her throat. She needed to do something. She watches Jacob locking swords with men who have made it onto the ship. 

“Cannons!” She yelled down to the men. 

The sounds of the cannons rolling beneath the lower deck drew the attention of the men on the other ship. The Captain's eye shot to his crew, like he didn't accept Claire to order cannons.

“Get on that ship now! Shut it down!” His voice echoed off the cliff sides.

Claire gritted her teeth. She knew the cannons were not prepared so they had to be and double checked. She could feel sweat beading across her forehead. 

“Get those ladders off the ship.” She yelled but the crew was too busy defending themselves no one was free.

She had to do it herself. She left the helm, it wasn't like she could steer anywhere right now anyways. She raced down the stairs. The sound of swords clinking together filled the air. Claire ducked around an active sword battle between one of her men and one of his. She could feel his eyes watching her. She threw her shoulder into a man who had one of her crew members pinned. The man stumbled back off balanced, the crew member took the opportunity Claire gave him and regained his stance. Reaching the ladders, men were starting to climb across them.  She began pushing the ladder away from the ship. The men began to yell as it rocked them back and forth. One man tumbled into the ocean while the other began to back track. As the weight became less and less Claire gave one fierce push and the ladder tumbled into the ocean.

“Stop him!” The Captain yelled.

The men aboard the crown heard their captain's orders and eyes turned to her. The ones that could stepp away from their fight did. One down, three to go. She thought as she raced over to the second ladder. She tried her best to ignore the men coming at her. She trusted her crew and knew they would do their best to intervene if they could. She needs to stop the flow of incoming men. She grabbed a hold of the rungs of the ladder and began to shake them. She needed the men on the ladder to get off. She couldn't push it off the ship with so much weight on it. She shook it with all her might and one man tumbled into the ocean. The other man began to climb quicker towards her. She bit her lip trying hard to shake the ladder again. She felt someone behind her and turned ready to fight. Her fist was caught by Adam. He smiled at her.

“Captain it's me, Let me help.” He said letting go of her hand and grabbing a side of the ladder.

They both began to rock the ladder trying to make the man who hung on for dear life topple off it. With one big shake, the man finally went into the ocean. Claire and Adam pulled the ladder towards them and let it go splashing into the sea. She smiled brightly seeing their plan working. 

“Two to go.” She said to Adam  running off ahead of him  to the third ladder.

Adam followed after her as Claire began working on getting the third ladder down. He saw  a man approaching Claire from behind. She wasn't paying attention as she worked her hardest on the ladder. The man’s sword was drawn as he got closure. He raised it above his head. Adam raced forward sword drawn and before the man brought his sword down on Claire his sword blocked his strike. The cling of metal echoed in Claire’s ear as she turned to see Adam blocking the man’s sword. The man looked surprised that Adam intercepted the strike. Adam and the man’s sword were locked together as they struggled to get loose from each other. Claire was becoming frustrated; she clenched her jaw before bringing her fist back. She drove her fist into the man’s face. Her fist passed right between the locked swords and landed with a crunch on the man's nose.

 Blood instantly began to pour out of the man’s nose as he dropped his sword and covered his nose with his hand. Claire ignored him and went back to working on getting the ladder loose. Adam let out a chuckle before smashing the man in the back of the head with the bottom of his sword. The man hit the floor of the deck with a thud. 

His knuckles were turning white as he watched each ladder go into the sea.  The anger in the pit of his stomach was boiling. Who was that man? He was ruining everything. He was so small in stature and the crew seemed to protect him. He walked through the whole battle on his deck like it wasnt even happening. His only goal being to ruin the advancement of incoming men. He watched the third ladder go plunking into the ocean. He growled, that's it. He thought before heading away from the helm. He knew they would have their cannons ready at any moment and it would make everything more messy. He marched his way across the lower deck, his eyes locked on this small statue of a man. His hand wrapped around a rope. The men on his ship were loyal. If he could get this tiny man captain, he was sure he could end all the fighting and he could have what was his with less mess. He gripped the rope, he ran back a few paces and then ran forward throwing himself overboard. He swung across the distance between the two ships and landed neatly on his feet.  

A man came running at him as soon as he was upright. He didn't even flinch but simply moved out of his way and as the man couldn't stop himself from running past him. He brought his sword handle down on the back of the man’s head. The man collapsed. He was already robbing the queens ship he didnt want to murder anyone if he didnt have to. He didn't need any more charges on him right now. He scanned the deck. Sure enough the small statue man was working on the last ladder while the man who was protecting her was locked in battle with one of his crew. He walked across the deck like he was full proof. Nothing phasing him. He stepped around or through men fighting. He drew his blade as he came closer to the man bouncing the ladder. The man protecting him began to panic as he could not get free from the battle soon enough. He placed his sword on the side of the man’s neck.

“Checkmate.” He smirked as he saw the tiny man stiffen.

As if he did something magical, all the fighting on board stopped instantly. He realized the whole crew was frozen both his and the man’s he was now holding a sword to his neck. 

“Alright gents! Drop your swords! And your Captain lives!” He said his smirk turned into a grin.

The sounds of swords hitting the deck was music to his ears. He could help but grin. He could tell the man in front of him was searching for a way out. He pressed the sword lightly into his neck so he would realize there was no escape. 

“Now now i wouldn't do anything stupid.” He snickered as he waited for the man to realize that this was it, everything was over.

“I will be taking all your jewels, coins, and anything of value as soon as possible. The quicker you're down emptying your valuables the quicker we will be on our way.” He said, shifting his sword lighty.

You've gotta be kidding me. Claire screamed in her head, She was going over every possible action she could take right now to get away from this man. She was so angry, This was her first solo trip, this ship was her responsibility, this cargo was her to deliver. He wasn't getting anything. Her body was shaking but not from being afraid but from the rage coursing through. She turned slightly to face the man holding a sword to her throat. 

The man was taken back as a small cut formed in the man's neck as he turned around to look at him. As he did a wind blew and the hat the tiny man was wearing flew off. He blinked as he studied her….it is her thought. That's what was off about this captain. Her golden blond hair came tumbling out of the hat as it flew back away from her. Her sky blue eyes filled with rage burned into his. He tilted his head. Why did this woman look so familiar? Before he could continue to think her finger was being buried into his chest.

“What exactly do you think you're doing!?” She yelled as pushed on his chest.

“This ship is protected by the queen herself? Do you have a death wish pirate?” She continued not letting him answer. 

He was looking at her so weird. What was his problem. He probably never had a woman yell at him before. She was not only yelling but any second now he swore her finger was going to start drawing blood . The amount of times and how hard she was poking him with her finger. He began blocking her movements with his hand, swatting her hand away like she was an annoying bug. This only angered her more. He didn't remember any blondes. He never really fooled around with blondes or at least not recently. He grumbled softly. His hand was going to capture hers and the weapon she was turning it into. He caught her by the wrist and basically growled at her, making her stop. 

“I would suggest you stop doing that” He growled back at her.

Her sky blue eyes snapped up to his.He was almost taken back as he got lost in them. He blinked a few times. He was at a standstill with this worman. He wasn't sure what to do. His eyes traced and studied her face. 

“ Strongly suggest you go about your business and get off my ship.” She growled back at him.

Who did this woman think she was. Her strong will reminded him of someone from long ago, He smiled softly thinking of Morgan...Morgan. He glanced back at this girl's face and his eyes widened.

“Claire?” He whispered barely loud enough for her to hear him.