Chapter one

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Emilia Mare looked out from the highest point of her ship, the Dorisea.

The day was clearer than ever in mid-August, with the sea the calmest it'd been in a while. The seventeen-year-old captain looked towards the rest of her crew. They were a ragged lot, but they meant everything to her. There were only five of them, compared to the twelve in the Hillina. That made Emilia slightly anxious- but she knew her crew was secretly stronger than they all thought. Besides, the Hillina hadn't been spotted in months. They had most likely moved onto another bay nearby.

Emilia sucked in a breath and tied her auburn hair into a plait like her mother used to. Evelyn Mare was dead though. She was taken by a storm not long after Emilia's birth. Emilia hated storms because of this, but she managed to get through it. "Everything alright Ma'am?" Mary-Ann asked her, interrupting Emilia's train of thought. 

Mary-Ann was the most thoughtful member of the crew. Her dark brown jacket and too-long trousers didn't fit her petite figure. She had her blonde hair tied into a knot and looked at Emilia with quizzical green eyes. Emilia met Mary-Ann's gaze with her own hazel stare.

"Oh, I'm fine Mary-Ann. Just thinking." she gave a half-smile to which Mary-Ann responded with a nod of her own. "Would you like me to clean the rooms?" she asked.

"That's fine Mary-Ann, I was about to ask Flynn to." Emilia pointed to the young man with dark skin, running to the bow of the ship to get a better look of the sea.

As a fairly new member of the crew, Flynn was still astounded at every aspect of the sea and the frequent changes it goes through. He would run and point and chart everything down that he could. A crewmate with that much enthusiasm made Emilia's heart soar. She was living up to her mother's respected status within a crew. Her crew was apparently one of the best in years, especially after Lucas, Emilia's father, stepped down.

Her father was dead, too.

He was so drunk on the day of her birth in the storm he decided to take a leap of faith into the sea and never return.

Emilia shook her head. Now was not the time to dwell on the past she was barely even a part of. Her long legs took her to where Flynn was standing. He flicked his head and looked at Emilia, his dark eyes wide and smiling. "Hello, Emilia." he said, bowing to her with a laugh. Emilia's own laugh joined him in perfect harmony. Flynn had been a friend of Emilia's for years, being the bartender of her favourite pub, before he joined her crew. They had always gotten along extremely well and never failed to make one another laugh or crack a smile. "Flynn you're needed to clean the rooms." She told him. Flynn nodded, and patted Emilia on the back, giving her a little salute and wink. Emilia shook her head, trying to suppress a smile, then looked back out onto the sea, leaving Flynn to his own devices and trusting him enough to do the job well.

The sea was a dazzling blue. Although murky, Emilia could still see how far the ocean was going down. They were reaching land soon, anyway, a little island named Minerva, where Ashlynn, her first mate, was from. Ashlynn called out to Emilia from the kitchens, then stumbled out, half-drunk already.

"Ash, how many beers have you had?"

"One, no, three." She giggled, her large figure taking a seat on the deck and swaying from side to side, humming a sea-shanty. Emilia couldn't help but join in- Ashlynn's infectious personality caused this to always happen- and by the time they knew it, the rest of the crew had gathered and sung along.

"Come get your duds in order

For we're going to leave tomorrow

(Heave away, me jollies, heave away)

Come get your duds in order

For we're going to cross the water

(Heave away me jolly boys, we're all bound away!)"

Ashlynn decided the time had come for her to stand up and take the bandanna off of her shaven head, waving it around and doing a jig, gathering Flynn and Mary-Ann to dance with her. Levi Roberts stood back, ever the boring one. He flicked his hat around and did some tricks with his dagger, to which Emilia glared at him. "Stop showing off, Roberts." she spat, shaking her head and undoing her plait, letting the auburn locks flow. Emilia spun around and joined the dancing group. Levi soon after rolled his sleeves up and rolled his eyes. But in no time he decided to join in the rest of the small crew. 

Emilia gave herself a proud smile, hoping her mother, somewhere would be as proud of her.

Levi took a pale hand and spun Mary-Ann around. She giggled and decided dancing with Ashlynn would be better, letting Levi dance with Ashlynn. They'd always been smitten with each other. Levi would scratch his brown curls and look longingly towards Ashlynn who was always such a personality. She would stand up for everyone and wouldn't be afraid to show what she was thinking, which usually included a middle finger or two. Her brash yet bubbly personality, combined with her stunning looks caused Levi to practically fall head over heels for her when he first joined the crew.

Everyone knew this, of course, everyone apart from Ashlynn and Levi.

They were dancing alone, further apart from the rest of the crew, closer than ever. Emilia gave Ashlynn a thumbs up and wide grin when she saw her look.

The dancing continued long into the night, with shanties sung and beer bottles broken, everyone having a great time. Not long after, Ashlynn and Levi crept off into the bedrooms. "We're heading off." Levi said, his deep voice a smile. Ashlynn prodded Emilia with a pointed finger. Ashlynn's brown skin gleamed proudly in the moonlight. "This is all your fault. You made Levi join the crew and now..." She whispered, giggling to Emilia like a thirteen-year-old with a crush. "Have fun Ash." Emilia responded with a wink. Levi and Ashlynn waved to the rest of the crew then went inside. 

"Well we all know what's about to happen." Flynn snorted, causing Mary-Ann and I to join in with the laughter. 

"Pass me another beer would you Flynn." Mary-Ann said with a grin. She was always the one to stay out dancing and singing once everyone had gone to bed. 

It was days and nights like these which made Emilia feel like the luckiest Captain in the world. 

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