Clever Girl

“I’ll miss you most.” she said, wrapping her arms around Captain Hellsway. He was a young sailor who inherited the ship from his father the only way pirates know how — by killing the man. It was over some treasure, but the men all knew the truth of the matter Senior Hellsway was getting too old for this shit.

“Take care of that young pup. He’s got a problem and a half.”

Else smile and giggled behind her hand. “Oh, don’t I know it.” And she did. It was the whole reason she was here — to return to her master what he’d stole from him. So far, he had nothing to take. She’d have to remedy that. She’d hate to have to take her master his head. al’Zand had such pretty blue eyes.

Else watched al’Zand disembark and speak to the dockmaster and knew that wherever blue-eyes went, she’d find him. But it couldn’t be like she was following him. A short redhead walked the gangplank behind him and soon disappeared into the crowd. She’d been on board? Odd.

But she had a man to follow.

“Take care, my lovely.” The captain waved. The wave had turned into a swat. The blow landed on his opposite arm squashing the pesky mosquito that harassed him. He’d been fun. Not as fun as al’Zand or even the deckhand. The captain had preferred al’Zand. Seemed many of the men on The Cardiff had. But she hadn’t lacked for any action.

Once Else was down the pier and at the dockmaster, she put on her best smile and sashayed towards the dockmaster. He took notice immediately. His mouth hung open as her breasts bounced in their deep cleavage. It was the entire pirate wench outfit that pulled the whole look together, and Else rolled her eyes in her head. Men were such easy fucking targets.

“Hey sugar.” Else said in sickenly sweet voices. “I was hoping you might tell me where my fella got off too? He was just here a moment ago. Dark inky hair, a set of eyes that are bluer than that there sea out there. And a fine fine…” She blushed and covered her face in mock embarrassment. “Oh, I can’t even say it.”

The dock master put his hands on her shoulder. He smelled of damiana root and rum and nothing at all like the sea he stood watch over. A big disappointment. “Oh dear, don’t… he asked about the nearest inn. And that would be the Scared Horses.” He gave Else explicit directions, all the while pointing the way. “I could walk you. Let me..”

Else interrupted. “No, sweetheart, that’s just fine. I can manage on my little own self.”

She didn’t wait around for him to insist. The last thing al’Zand needed was to see her with another man. He wasn’t the jealous type, but he was the ‘I don’t want the leftovers’ type. Secret debauchery had been the name of her game. And it had been fun. 

Else couldn’t go by her real name here. Sadly, the Captain actually knew her and had let al’Zand on his ship for next to nothing. The gambling bard was an easy mark and Hellsway hadn’t regretted it the moment he saw those baby-blues. Everyone was a sucker for those eyes.

She needed a new name. Miranda was pretty. She could even shorten it to Mandy in a private social setting. But what was her back story? It needed to be tied to al’Zand so he couldn’t ditch her without breaking the story. And who would believe him over her? His wife would work.

Miranda Elovar pushed the doors to the Scared Horses Inn open a new woman. She was drop dead gorgeous and all eyes near the door turned to her. The men’s jaws dropped, and the women sneered. That’s right ladies, you got some competition now.

al’Zand was chatting with the barkeep. He wasn’t getting anywhere. Time to step in.

“I’m Miranda Elovar, and this is al’Zand, my husband. We are the Great Elovars. Maybe you’ve heard of us? We could play a few songs tonight, entertain your crowd for room and board?”

She brightened the man’s demeanor with a smile and her heaving bosom. “Sure thing, sweetheart. We can fit you and your husband in for the night.”

Miranda turned lovingly to her new husband and smiled. And the keep handed her a bowl of the most foulest smelling gruel she’d seen on any side of the Great Sea. But it was hot, and would fill their bellies better than any of the slop on the Cardiff. 

They sat down at the table near the bar and al’Zand began his questions. But he accepted the reason and Miranda was grateful. He’d have to get used to the new name as well. He hadn’t even blinked at the change. Or even the story, really.

It was something to think about, but there was not enough time to finish her awful dinner before they hauled them up on stage. Perfect place to ferret out any other marks and find a few extra coins or a plump man or two to shag before the night’s end. A few extra coins from the lad’s coin pouches would be a decent payment for the horrid gruel she had to endure tonight.

But it wasn’t far into their impromptu show that a man slunk away with their things.