Princess Or Pirate

By B. Heather Mantler

Captain Fisk was not sure why he took Nerissa on board his ship, but she has been invaluable to him ever since. She is just about as much a pirate as he is. However, Nerissa has a couple secrets she keeps to herself. One of which is the curse. The curse that saved her life and the reason she needs to be close to Captain Fisk. Between his attraction to Nerissa and running his ship, the last thing Captain Fisk needs in the ghost of his father showing up with unfinished.
Will the dead finally find rest? Will Nerissa succeed at removing the curse? Will Nerissa be found by her father and forced to become a princess, or is she fully a pirate?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lit-N-Laughter
• Release date: Feb 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781927507179

B. Heather Mantler

Heather Mantler is a lover of fairy tales and fables. Her home town is Prince George, British Columbia. Heather is always working on another story as she hopes to finish every story idea that she has ever written down. She was a nominee for the fiction category of the 2012 Prince George Regional Arts and Cultural Awards and short listed for the 2013 John Harris Fiction Awards. Heather encourages her readers to post reviews on Good Reads and Amazon.

Book preview

Princess or Pirate

B. Heather Mantler

Published by Mantler Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 B. Heather Mantler

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

About B. Heather Mantler

I dedicate this book to all who have supported me this far and hopefully will continue to support me.

I would like to acknowledge Sarah Dahlmann and her help with this book.

Prologue

Captain Fisk Black watched the figure on the wharf study his ship. With the sun on the horizon behind the figure and the darkness coming he couldn’t tell any specifics about the person, just that the figure was shorter than most of the people around and skinny. Fisk might have thought the figure to be a boy, but the person did not have the usual awkwardness of a boy. The figure was the only person on the wharf not busy with something, yet never in anyone's path. After a few minutes longer the figure moved off. Fisk wondered at that until his attention was diverted by the fight that broke out on deck. Captain Fisk went over to the men.

What be goin’ on here? Captain Fisk demanded, Ye’ve work needs doin’.

Ormond telled me he'd do me watch and now he's claimin' otherwise, Firman answered.

I never said I'd do nothin', Ormond said.

One o’ ye to the bow and t’other to the stern, Captain Fisk said, Ye're both on watch. The two men sulked off in opposite directions.

She had seen the ship; it looked like the one that the old man had pointed out. He hadn't said the name of the ship, but she suspected that the Black Sun was enough to identify it as the ship she wanted. Black's son was on board that ship, and if he was anything like his father, he would be the captain already. Could she just go up the gangplank and tell the man that his father was a coward or would she change her mind? Did he even know who his father was? Could she resist the lure of being aboard a ship? What would she do once this was over? She couldn't go home. This one man clouded everything and she had never so much as seen his face. Had two years since Black's death been enough time or too much?

The tavern was just about full when she entered and found a seat in a corner. The barmaid dropped a mug of ale on the table as she went passed. No one else came near the table. The tavern was full when a man entered. He drew her attention just by entering. He was a captain; that was clear from his hat to his boots. He wore a black coat similar to that of a military officer with a black belt that went over one shoulder. His pants were a dark brown with black boots that ended at his knees. He had a cutlass that hung from his hip and a pistol in his belt. The bandana under his hat was red providing the only colour to his clothes. And around him was an air of authority that few men could match no matter how much they wanted to pretend. A few others in the tavern took notice of him, but went back to what they were doing. The man looked around the room, before walking over and sitting in the chair across from her. The barmaid passed again this time giving him a mug. This time there was a smile to go with it, but the man ignored it.

Ye seemed interested in me ship earlier, the man said.

I’ve been lookin’ for a ship, she answered.

To buy or crew? he asked.

Crew, she answered, I’ve no interest in ownin’ a ship.

That’s convenient as I need a few more crew, he said, What ya know how to do?

I was part of a crew five years, been sailing, but not necessarily crew for two, she answered.

What position? the man asked.

Lookout mostly, I know the rest, she answered, Could sail with skeleton crew, but mostly lookout.

Lookout be useful if ye can do the rest, the man said.

Ye can drop me at any harbour and I can find me place anywhere, she replied.

Captain Fisk, the man offered his hand across the table.

Nerissa, she said shaking his hand.

Ye be female, Fisk said.

That be a problem? Nerissa asked.

Just means ye'll be sharing space with Gypsy, that's all, Fisk answered, Report tomorrow.

Aye, Cap'n, Nerissa replied. She drained her mug, got up and then left the tavern.

Chapter One

Fisk leaned against the bars on the window, closing his eyes and feeling the afternoon sun on his face. There was shouting at the docks. He opened his eyes and looked at the ship sailing into port. The prison was the right over the dock areas so it was easy to see everything that happened from the prison windows. To see the palace and the rest of the city required a cell on the other side of the prison. But Fisk preferred the view of the sea rather than the view of land.

T’ain’t no use, the beggar in the next cell told him, Nobody gonna take ya away, a year's up. Ya might as well be givin' in, they ain't comin'. Fisk barely glanced at the claws wrapped around the bars and the light reflecting off animal like eyes. Fisk closed his eyes again.

Fisk ignored the man's truth and let himself continue to believe someone would come soon. He had watched ships come and go every day for a year. The ship he was waiting for never arrived. Even if it did he was sitting in prison and they were out there. Not that he was really expecting the ship, pirates are notorious for not being loyal, he was just expecting her and with her the ship usually was not that hard to find.

The beggar did not know about her, did not know her loyalty, did not know her and probably never would. Fisk would never know why she was that loyal to him and at the moment he really did not care as long as she showed up to rescue him soon.

Two guards stopped to rest in the doorway that was near his cell.

Did they make the announcement yet? the younger guard asked.

Si, the older one answered, This morning. The king has ordered the prisons to be cleaned out.

That’s a lot of prisoners, the younger guard said.

Watch what you do, or you’ll be volunteered to dig graves, the older guard said, The hangings start at dawn and once they’re done we all get transferred to another station.

The King‘s done this before? the younger guard asked.

Si, probably do it again if he sees the need, the older guard said. The captain of the guard shouted for the guards to keep moving.

Give up, you're gonna die with us, no one's comin' for ya, the beggar said grinning through rotten teeth. The shouts of another ship entering port reached Fisk; he opened his eyes and then closed them with disinterest. He hoped she would come soon.

Once night had fallen Fisk turned from the window and sat down on the bunk. He made a face at the rat that skittered passed him.

Don't ye like friendly animals? asked a mocking voice from the shadows.

I be sick o’ rat bites, Fisk answered.

And to think Fisk Black, former capt’n o’ the Black Sun, said that, the voice said.

Get me outta here, Captain Fisk demanded.

Why? Ye look like ye’re doing so well here, the voice said. Nerissa stepped out of the shadows; the laughter in her turquoise eyes reminding Fisk of light dancing across the waves. The clothes and hat were the ones she had been wearing when he had last seen her, but they didn't have all that much more wear then before.

I needs be outta here, I need ta feel the sun on me face, the wind blowing by me, smell o’ sea air, Fisk pleaded.

Ye can smell sea air from here, Nerissa said.

That ain’t sea air, that's rotten fish, Fisk snapped.

Ain’t no ship to take ye away, no true loyalty ta get ye back in yer position, Nerissa said.

Nerissa, if ye lemme out I'll have everything I need: Freedom an’ ye, cuz where’ere ye are the ship’ll find ye, Fisk said, Please get me out?

Are ye truly so afeared of death? Nerissa asked.

I’ve no fear of death, but I'd rather die fightin’ and have me corpse at the bottom o’ the sea than die by the noose and be buried in a mass grave with common thieves, Captain Fisk replied. Nerissa pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the cell door.

There be a ship loaded and waitin’ for morning tide to sail, Nerissa informed Fisk.

Excellent, Captain Fisk smiled as the cell door opened, Shall we go, then?

Think ye can get away so easily? the rotting teeth showed a sneer in the small amount of light.

Of course I can, Fisk said. The beggar stepped closer to the bars.

All I need do is shout, guards’ll come runnin' an’ you'll be dead afore mornin', the beggar said. Nerissa reached through the bars and grabbed the beggar by the neck. The beggar made an ugly noise and collapsed when Nerissa let go.

After ye, Capt’n, Nerissa said. They walked out the door, stepping over the bodies of the guards on the way out. They headed for the wharf.

They stopped behind a building, where they could see the ship but the guard on the wharf couldn't see them.

What be that? Fisk asked looking at the ship. It was a brigantine, which looked heavy in the water.

Only ship ready to sail, Nerissa answered, ’Cept the men-o-war thata way. Nerissa pointed a lot farther down the wharf. The guards on dock could be seen by the light of the lanterns.

This be fine, Fisk said, Only problem be if they get the man-o-war after us.

Be right back, Nerissa before sneaking off. Fisk sat down with his back against the building and waited.

Half an hour later Nerissa came back. She was soaking wet. Fisk got to his feet.

It’ll take ‘em a while ta fix that problem, Nerissa said.

We'll swim out and climb the hull, Captain Fisk said.

Aye, Capt'n, Nerissa said. They went to the edge of the wharf and climbed down into the water. They swam around to the other side of the ship. Nerissa reached the rope first and pulled herself up. Once she was over the railing Fisk pulled himself up. He went over the railing and on the deck. Nerissa was already pulling up the anchor. Fisk went up to the helm. When she was finished pulling up the anchor Nerissa cut the lines to the wharf. The guard didn't even look around at the sound of the rope hitting the water. They got the ship moving away from the wharf. The guard turned when the gangplank fell into the water. He realized that the ship was moving so he turned back around and ran down the wharf. By the time the alarm was sounded the ship was out of range.

From his position at the helm Captain Fisk laughed. His laugh echoed over the dark water.

Nothing like the smell, the wind and the freedom, his face looked like it would break if his grin got any wider. A flash of white from up in the sails told Fisk that Nerissa was feeling the same thing.

When first light hit the ship Captain Fisk was directing the ship's course from the helm and Nerissa was up in the sails.

We being followed? Captain Fisk called up to Nerissa.

Not yet, Nerissa called back.

Ye think they’d want their ship back, Captain Fisk commented to himself.

But there be a ship ahead, Nerissa finished yelling down.

What kind? Captain Fisk called back.

Looks small, Nerissa answered. They were quiet for a little while as they got closer to the ship. Nerissa climbed down.

Small craft, looks fully loaded, Nerissa said.

Then let's attack, Captain Fisk said.

We be only two of us, Nerissa said.

Aye, but ‘tween us two, we can take it, Fisk replied.

Aye, Capt'n, Nerissa responded.

Make ready to board, Captain Fisk ordered. Nerissa went to make the preparations.

As they got closer to the ship they could see that it was a small sloop. Nerissa finished the preparations and went to stand near Fisk.

Thoughts? Fisk asked.

Why not just switch ships? Nerissa said, Two could sail that easier and we won't hafta move cargo. Fisk was quiet for a couple minutes.

Sounds good, Fisk agreed, Ready?

Aye, Nerissa answered.

Good, Fisk said. Once they were close enough to the ship, Nerissa and Fisk attached ropes and swung across to the other ship. Hitting the deck they pulled out their weapons. There were ten people on deck, most watching the other ship. They had turned around. A man, who looked like the captain, pulled out a pistol.

Only two pirates? the captain asked, What’s this nonsense? Fisk shot the pistol out of the captain's hand, while Nerissa took out one of the other men who had pulled out a weapon.

Might be only two of us, but do what we say and nobody gets hurt. Captain Fisk said.

I have a full crew, the captain said as he pulled out his sword.

Yer choice, Captain Fisk replied. The crew attacked Fisk and Nerissa.

She be clear, Nerissa reported. She stepped over another moaning body on her way to where Captain Fisk was.

Cargo? Captain Fisk asked.

Silks, spices, Nerissa answered.

Good, Captain Fisk said, Let's dump the bodies and be off.

Overboard? Nerissa asked.

’Cept for the live ones, Captain Fisk answered, Those go ta t’other ship. Nerissa started checking bodies, when she found a dead one she shoved it overboard. Fisk moved the ones that were still alive to the other ship. He also moved some of the supplies from the other ship over to the new one. Once the bodies were dealt with Nerissa cut the ropes keeping the ships together.

Finally moving again, Captain Fisk said as he directed the ship out to open water.

Princess Almira came into the throne room with only five handmaidens trailing her. Her father looked up at his daughter. She was wearing a beautiful white dress with her black hair in ringlets around her face.

Niña, what is the trouble? King Cyrus asked seeing the sad look on his daughter's face.

My handmaiden, Cora, is missing, mi padre, the princess said, No one can find her. The people at court began to murmur among themselves.

It would seem the pirate did take something of value when he escaped, the king's advisor said.

Let us not make judgements too quickly, King Cyrus told his advisor then turned back to his daughter, Are you sure Cora is gone?

Si, the princess said.

Perhaps we should give her a day, King Cyrus said, She may turn up. The princess half-smiled, curtsied and then left the throne room.

There is only one explanation for all this, the king's advisor said, The pirate escaped, kidnapped Cora and stole the ship.

I suspect you may be right, King Cyrus said.

We need to find her and bring the pirate to justice, the advisor