Calm and still sea where the end can''t be seen is so big and so blue, a peaceful only thing that makes me feel good in life. Since when I was a slave I would only find the sea beautiful. I always liked to watch this endless horizon. Ship''s railing support my elbow as I press them against thick wood and enjoy this view while touching my fingers, peeling leather skin only on tip of fingers and thinking about this beauty. A nice cold sea wind hit my face making my hair messy but at the same time I felt calm. It''s been a few days since we started sealing, talking with the crew and cleaning the deck, life on sea is not that exciting but less painful compared to what I am used to. The Crimson velvet coat that everyone wears is like its symbol of our gang. Ayame told me Hannah sewed over one night and gloves were gifts from Rosa, everyone has their role here. I am not sure yet if I can find mine. Even its been few days if felt like I am here for years with speed they accepted me like i am their old mate or something, i turn around to see what rest of crew doing. Rosa throwing up over railing she has drink so much last night no surprise there, Bao is holding her back we don''t want Rosa fall over in sea again, Hassan with Ayame talk and look over map and compass i hope we are on right direction, Finn and Jasper are on cleaning duty and look like they as always have competition over smallest things and argue all the time, and Hannah and Mia discussing something they probably worry will weather be on our side i can say we all worry about same. Last night Ayame updated us that we will need to make a small stop in Ayutthaya for getting more supplies like food and gunpowder. We especially don''t have many guns that will be useless until we can get some of them. On ship we have three pistols and two muskets, enough to cover us but we need for canons too and Ayame decided we spend this little money we have spent on powder for cannons instead. I don''t really care for eather, my dagger is the only weapon I need. Once again I face the sea looking again to distance lost in my own thoughts wondering where this might lead us or where it leads me. Sounds of waves and cracking of wood are only things that hold me back to reality and very soon the sound of an already similar voice.


    “It''s nice weather today isn''t it?”- Said Ayame, who put her elbow on hardwood the same as me. From my right side I took a small peek at her face to see her eyes are the same color as sea.


    “Yeah we haven''t come across any storms yet.”- While I stare at the clean water Ayame took off her tricorn hat with heron feather. The first time i see under her hat I couldn''t help but turn my head and chuckle. Ayame`s lock of hair sticks out on top of her head, she tries to push it down but it still sticks on top of her head before she puts her hat back with a loud sigh.


    “How are your injuries?”- asked Ayame with worry in voice.


    “Surprisingly they passed very fast.”


    “We should arrive at Ayutthaya very soon.”- Said Ayame looking over the edge to clean water.


    “What are we going to do?”


    “We need food in the next city we are stopping at. Who knows how long it might take us.”


    “Lucky storm hasn''t happened yet.”


    “That''s good but we can''t predict what is going to happen next.”


    “I wanted to ask what''s so important going on in Canton?”


    “A bounty on someone''s head will bring us a lot of money.”


    “isn''t it easier to steal than to hunt?”


    “Maybe but then we will be hunted as long as you bring someone to law. They don''t care who you are, they will pay for a good job even if you are a criminal yourself.”


    “Have you done this before?”


    “Few times but attacking other ships can be a pain in the ass, then our ship gets damaged and then we need to spend money on repairs.”


    “So we shouldn''t make scenes.”


    “I suggest we keep a low profile for now. We are not in the best situation ever.”


    “Aye, cap.”- silence falls on us. I blindly went aboard with a bunch of pirates. I hope I won''t regret it. Teluk Petir i left without saying goodbye to Alex, it''s not the first time i just disappeared without saying one last time, i got used to it but it''s never got any easier for me.


    “Are you trusty?”- Ayame holds in hands a flask full of alcohol that smells like wine to me.


    “Why not.”- i take a strong sip out of the same flask Ayame drink for, wine feels sweet on my tongue and refreshing.


    “It''s good isn''t it?”- Said Ayame with a smirk on face.


    “It''s fine i guess.”- I give back her flask.


    “Also did Hassan repair the door handle of the cabinet?”- It''s my fault for that. After all, I hope that wasn''t a problem.


    “Like new.”- Ayame put away her flask.


    “Captain!”- She got called by Hassan, shortly after I was alone again. Hannah approached me while holding both hands in front herself politely, her long light brown hair moving with wind while her chestnut eyes scanned me looking for a way to start conversing with me.


    “Doing good Hannah?”- I decided to say something first.


    “I do, I was worried if these clothes would suit you. I guessed it from memory.”


    “You are very talented.”


    “I am not a fighter myself but I have other useful skills.”


    “You look bothered, something wrong?”- I noticed the way Hannah looked could be that she had something on mind.


    “It will sound very stupid but, this morning when I changed I felt like someone stared at me.”


    “You think it''s me?”


    “No no no, I just wonder if the same happened to you?”


    “I don''t really care if someone looks at me naked, what''s the big deal?”


    “Well I am not really like any of you and the captain let me borrow a cabinet to change myself as she let you rest and do the same.”


    “She do?”


    “Did you change this whole time downstairs?”


    “I always wake up late so barely anyone is in the room, I have been in even worse places with even less privacy.”


    “I have one really ugly scar on my back and I don''t really feel comfortable when men see that.”


    “So you suspect some boys are spying on you? I mean for me Rosa looks more suitable to do such a thing then them.”


    “Why do you think she would do that?”


    “These few days I am here she wont stop with pervert jokes and other bullshits.”


    “Common Rosa is better when you get to know her better.”


    “Is she even useful? Only thing I saw her doing was drinking and throwing up in the sea.”


    “She is much stronger than she looks like, trust me.”


    “Maybe in drinking.”


    “Give her a chance Eleanor.”


    “Anyway about your problem?”


    “Oh, yeah, any ideas?”


    “Why not change in the kitchen or storage room? I doubt anyone will see you there?”


    “I might think about it but if you see or hear anything please tell me.”- Hannah went downstairs as i was getting bored.


    First thing the next morning we arrived at the port of Ayutthaya, we were moving heavy boxes from one side to another side to make more space and make cleaning easier. Rosa is sitting on boxes watching me, Finn and Jasper doing all the hard work.


    “How about you help?”- I asked as I lifted another box.


    “Nah, I like this way and these crappy boxes could fall dust on me.”- Rosa said while enjoying the view.


    “Don''t bother with her.”- said Jasper who put the box down and he has very curvy brown hair, black eyes and a very youthful face. I move more boxes and find a bunch of them empty, putting them away on port. According to Ayame we might be here for two days.


    “Fishing rods?”- I opened the crate that was under all the boxes I moved and saw a bunch of fishing rods.


    “Me and Hassan like to fish and we can eat whatever we catch but our luck was not best and Ayame put them away.”- Said Jasper as he took a flask from Rosa making sure she didn''t drink today.


    “You guys only can catch old boots on the end of the rod, i saw a bad fisherman but you and old man are scary bad at this.”- Said Rosa while kicking her foot on the box she sat on.


    “Fuck off.”- Said Jasper while looking at Rosa.


    “Are they really that bad at this? Why not someone else fish then?”- I asked with curiosity.


    “Because fishing is boring as hell.”- Said Rosa with her bitch ass voice.


    “No it''s not, it''s just bad bait. I will buy a better one today when I have a break.”- Jasper sounds very convincing.


    “Good luck child.”- Rosa does enjoy this i can tell.


    “Who did you call a child?!”- Jasper sounded pissed.


    “Woah you two chill out it''s just fishing no reason to pick a fight.”- I am trying to calm them.


    “Hmph.”- Biggest bitch of the crew proudly lifted head and turned around. Why so big fuss because someone couldn''t catch a fish? They for sure argue a lot.


    “Rosa, little help wouldn''t hurt.”- said Mia while she held the broom in her small hands.


    “Not even you?!”- Does Rosa dont like work this much?


    “Do you want to do that or clean cannons with Bao?”- Asked Mia.


    “Ugh, I guess I am helping with moving and cleaning.”- She finally jumped off from the box and decided to help out.


    “Eleanor and Finn, you two are up to shopping duty.”- Ayame hands me a piece of paper as Finn leaves a heavy box down.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    “Can you read Eleanor?”- asked Mia who was next to me.


    “Of course I can, I taught myself in my free time a long time ago.”


    I look down on the list, it''s mostly food and alcohol, then Finn looks over my shoulder, a young man with long black hair with a beard that just started to grow in the same coat, torn pants and baggy shirt, his brown eyes scanning paper I hold.


    “Can you not look over my shoulder?”


    “Sorry.”- He awkwardly stepped back and we started to walk ready to leave the ship before Ayame called my name.


    “Eleanor, keep an eye on him.”- I stopped on my way to turn to Ayame.


    “What do you mean?”


    “He always wanders off and gets lost.”


    “isn''t he like an adult? Why do I need to babysit Finn?”


    “You already lost him.”


    “Huh?”- I turned around and Finn was gone, he was right in front of me where that son of bitch disappeared?


    “Don''t worry it happens all the time.”


    “Should I look for him or?”


    “It''s not safe to wander alone in the city, Rosa can join you.”- After Ayame called Rosa she joined me ready to leave.


    “What you called me for, cap.”- I could hear Rosa whisper to herself “fucking finally” before answering to Ayame, she dose not love physical work.


    “Go with Eleanor, go shopping and find Finn.”


    “He got lost again? Damn Eleanor, you are bad at watching Finn over.”


    “Shut up, I turned around to speak with the captain and he was already gone.”- Rose laughed at my misery.


    “Don''t worry we will find him before he does something stupid.”


    “What do you mean by that?”


    “You will see soon enough.”- Rosa joined me walking right next to me as we got farther from the ship. After a while of awkward walking I decided to break this silence.


    “Are we going to look for him or?”


    “This is too much work, let''s do shopping then head back he will show up eventually.”


    “You sound like you hate work.”


    “And who doesn''t? He maybe sound some whore he can fuck? Or got himself killed for insulting a soldier? Who the fuck know?”


    “You don''t need to be a cold bitch.”


    “Listen newbie, i know what we are doing we will find Finn on our way back he can''t go that far away.”


    “Let''s hurry then, the captain said it''s dangerous to be alone in the city.”


    “Well who knows are our posters already around.”


    “What did you guys do anyway? Robbed a ship?”


    “Oh trust me what we did a month ago is really bad.”


    “What did you do?”


    “Yeah you are not ready to hear that.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “You will realize once we reach Caton.”


    “I hope i dont get myself killed over some shit.”


    “Enough about the crew and things we may or may not have done, how about you tell me about yourself?”


    “There is nothing much to tell about myself. I''ve been stealing in order to survive, nothing more or less.”


    “Must it be rough? Are you an orphan? Any family to turn to?”


    “My family died thirteen years ago from a British attack on my village.”


    “Ah, sorry I didn''t mean to poke.”


    “It''s fine, do you have to tell me more about yourself?”


    “I am from Spain, my ex husband was killed, we got engaged for my eighteenth birthday, he got killed the night after and blame was put on me, who? Or why? I never could find out and he was a general officer and for punishment they wanted to let me sell slaves but for my luck Black Lotus was there and saved me and I owe my life to Ayame.”- For a second silence fell on us as we walked.


    “Damn, I didn''t know, but why don''t you work or don''t get along with Jasper?”


    “It''s simple, I hate work and I used to date that asshole.”


    “You dated him?”


    “Only three months before he cheated on me, I was with him for little fun, and the girl got lonely on a ship with such boring people.”


    “I am not long aboard to judge.”


    “But you seem interesting enough.”


    “Shut it, let''s focus on these things on the list you''ve been here before? Why not lead the way?”


    “It''s my first time being here, I barely do shopping duty.”


    “But I''ve been following you?”


    “And i followed you.”- With realization we got lost in conversion that we didn''t even pay attention where we were walking the whole time and we looked around at the coward trying to see where to head.


    “Great it''s not just Finn lost but we too.”- I look around trying to see where we come from but I see only people passing by blocking my view. In the end we decided to continue forward to see where we could end while walking opposite where all the people going we had ended at the gate.


    “Now what?”- Asked Rosa who was pulling a flask out of her coat.


    “We are not that lost, we know where we are.”- I grab a flask from her hand, irritated by how unserious she is.


    “We just walk to the other side of the city.”


    “Do you think I don''t know that? Let''s just ask someone for directions. We already lost a lot of time.”- Rosa tapped my shoulder as i turned back to the city.


    “What?”- I asked


    “I think I saw Finn out of the gate?”


    “Do you really think he left the city? Where did you see him?”- Rosa pointed down the hill.


    “Maybe we should follow him?”


    “Rosa, we already lost a lot of time, captain, will be mad if we don''t get there soon enough. We haven''t even bought anything from the list.”


    “But she also said get Finn back right?”


    “Okey, lets bring that fucker and do this list already.”


    “Let''s grab a horse first.”


    “Where do we get one?”


    “Do you see these merchants down the path? Let''s grab them.”


    “Only if you ride, I don''t know how to ride, and dont kill them.”


    “I am not a monster.”- Rosa charged down the path knocking a man from horse while the second man tried to fight her. I punched him in the face and jumped behind Rosa on horse holding my hand around her waist as she rode it away towards the path she saw Finn.


    “If we don''t find him soon let''s go back then.”


    “Agreed.”- I hold my hands tightly as Rosa rides.


    “There he is!”- Said Rosa. Finn is standing behind a rock and the moment he notices it he shows us to be quiet.


    “Shh, come here!”- Finn called for us.


    “What the fuck you doing?”- I asked while we both jumped from horse walking to Finn.


    “Check this out.”- Me and Rosa look over a rock and see there are some guards to me who look like Spanish guards packing boxes on carts ready to transport.”


    “What exactly do we look at?”- I asked hoping we don''t end in shit.


    “They are transporting gunpowder, if we steal it we can use guns and not worry about cannons, and extra gunpowder we sell on black market!.”


    “Finn, this is crazy, we should head back and do list, Ayame said we need to keep a low profile but we stole a horse and now you suggest stealing from the military?”- I am trying to convince him not to do something stupid.


    “I have an idea, don''t worry they might need an hour or two to sort them all on a cart, when they do we can quickly grab horses and drive the cart to the city.”- I don''t like Finn''s plan at all.


    “Rosa, say something this is crazy”- I look at Rosa hoping she will back me up.


    “If we can do this fast enough they might not even send many guards after us, there is a river down if we can pass there and circle around we can lose them.”- Great, she is into this too.


    “Don''t tell me you are on his side?”- I knew she was a bitch.


    “You can head back but me and Finn can do this with or without you.”- Rosa said with a firm tone, almost threatening.


    “Fine, I am staying, someone needs to babysit both of you.”- I throw myself behind a rock to lay down while we wait.


    “Finn, how did you even get here?”- Rosa asked out of curiosity while she stood next to Finn.


    “I overheard some soldiers talking about transport close to the city and I wanted to see for myself.”- Rosa looked again over at the camp this soldier has and they are packing all the gunpowder in a lot of small boxes.


    “Call me when we are ready to move.”- I slowly closed my eyes while driving in my dream. Smell of smoke and blood can''t leave my nose, screams and gunshots to swords crashing into each other, my small village in fire and mercy. They all look so drunk, was this fun for them? All younger girls getting raped while they cut open adults taking their organs out. Me and my friends getting drag by arms we are probably no pretty enough to be raped, my mother whoes head roll over the place kicked like a rock, my sister whose intestines slipped all over flor while her throat opened. They dragged me in a cart to ship, then shipped me all the way to India where I had met my new “home”. Big family that needed slaves, I was one of them but a young girl my age. While I was cleaning the big house she approached me and asked me if I wanted to play. Of course I refused and explained I needed to do my work but she didn''t want to go. She dragged me by my ark to her room just to play with her. Her family allowed it because i was still a child and not that useful as other people, i was very clumsy and slow. Once she asked me with an innocent child voice.


    “What''s your name?”- I answered I don''t remember it anymore. Few days later her mother would read to us a story about a girl named Eleanor lost in a wonderful world alone and a little bird that helped her find a way out. At that moment the girl told me.


    “Your name could be Eleanor.”- From that day she started to call me Eleanor, Ela, and every moment I made a new nickname I couldn''t remember them all. But I don''t even remember her name. It was so long ago, why do I even remember her pale skin, reddish hair? Stupid smile that could melt mountains, however, this life couldn''t be like this forever. Girl i played with, shared a bed, ate the same food, she got sick very badly, she got malaria. Few days later she was already dead and her family blamed me for her death. They said I brought the disease with me and their poor girl died because of me. I was sold once again but this time to some German shepherd who was even more cruel.


    “Wake up pretty bitch.”- Rosa shakes my shoulders as my sweats wash me.


    “What?”- I rub my eyes as I realize all was a dream of the past.


    “It''s time, are you okay?”- Asked Finn with worry in his voice.


    “Yeah I am fine, let''s do this.”- I peek from the rock to see only two guards look like they are waiting for raiders or something but they only have swords. Finn moved closer to get their attention, moment they looked at Finn me and Rosa sneak up to cart side as we at same time grab each of them by neck i squeeze guard neck until he want unconscious, i look at Rosa side she did same i hope she didn''t broke his neck. We all got on the cart while Rosa, ready to ride the cart away, saw three more guards. They immediately got on horses to follow us while Rosa sped up and me and Finn tried to hold tightly on the cart.


    “You need to go faster!”- Finn yells as he points at guards.


    “No shit! Throw some cargo off; they can''t go this fast with such heavy stuff!.”- Me and Finn started to throw off boxes while trying to hit guards but they avoided us. Until one of the boxes went under horse legs and collapsed. I was about to pick another but Finn stopped me.


    “We already lost too many.”- Said Finn holding my arm, I noticed there were only a few boxes left.


    “Move aside!”- Rosa yells out.


    “What?”- Rosa took throwing knives from her coat that they were hidden. She threw them between me and Finn into one of the man''s horse legs making the horse collapse and fall on him.


    “Finally someone is useful.”- I said while chuckling at my own joke.


    “We are almost at the riverside!”- Said Rosa as horses started to move faster we were getting closer but man stopped following us.


    “Something is off.”- Said Finn as we shared the same feeling.


    “Doesn''t matter.”- We reach the river, we only need to pass it as Rosa carefully leads them over the river, night is almost fall it will be hard to track us. Horses walk to water. They are very nervous, the river is really strong for them and probably cold.


    “Shh boys you got this.”- Rosa trying to calm them as they refused to pass they stopped on half way.


    “Hey, look over there.”- I look at cliff Finn point as I see man that earlier tried to catch us. He held a musket preparing to shoot at us.


    “Shit! We need to jump from the cart and take cover.”- I threw Finn into the water.


    “What? We can''t abandon these animals or gunpowder.”


    “Rosa he won''t shoot at them he aims at us.”


    “Fin-”- Before Rosa could say anything man took a shot and bullet hit one of gunpowder boxes making huge explosion at last moment i jumped off cart but explosion launched me to ground i almost can feel broken ribs. As my vision is blurred but gets clear I can see black smoke getting clearer and blood soaked all over me as horse body parts fall all over me. I hope these organs don''t belong to Rosa. I barely stand up holding my hand under ribs walking slowly to the riverside to see did Finn and Rosa survive the explosion. My clothes are torn apart, all covered by ashes. When I made my way I was to collapse but Finn caught me not to fall.


    “Did this lazy slut die?”


    “She is over there.”- Finn pointed to the other side of the river where is tree stands alone and Rosa under that tree looks like she is in pain too.


    “Looks like we had more luck than ever.” -Rosa tried to laugh at our situation as Finn held me up. Rosa''s clothes were torn too, her breasts slipped away as clothes protected her skin, blood came from Rosa forehead slipping to her eye like she hit head on landing. Finn carried us to the gate where we could get bandages and alcohol we needed. Me and Rosa sit at the gate side while Finn bandages Rosa''s head and covers Rosa''s breasts.


    “Fuck this was close.”- Said Rosa.


    “No shit. Let''s head to the ship already it''s midnight.”- As Finn wanted to help me walk I suggested Rosa might need more help than me. At the end of day we didn''t even finish shopping nor got gunpowder. As we slowly made our way to the ship it''s quite like everyone slept already.


    “Anyway Rosa, I didn''t get a chance to ask you. Did you spy this morning Hannah when she changed?”


    “Ah? I was in fact always wondering why she dont change with everyone else.”


    “So it was you.”


    “I promise i wont again… Fuck my head hurts.”


    “Lets wake Mia up to fix you two.”- Finn put Rosa down on deck as he headed downstairs and I sat next to Rosa.


    “Glad you haven''t died, we wouldn''t have lazy bitch number one.”


    “You are cute for a newbie.”- I slowly dozed off as Mia walked to us with bandages and medicine, I wanted to sleep a little.