It was a few hours before they had lost the horizon of the port, and things had settled down. The crew had found a routine, though a few still groaned about missing the tavern as they worked. Ciaran had emerged from his quarters once more and now stood staring at the expanse of blue before him. He enjoyed the seclusion, the feeling of being but a speck among an endless sea. A few shouts carry over the wind, and he shoots a glare in the direction of the disturbance. The noise seemed to pick up, and Ciaran turns to investigate but is stopped short by the man standing behind him. The captain frowns, “What is it, Ronan?”

Ronan was generally a very happy-go-lucky person. The freckled blond was always in the middle of everything with a golden retriever grin to match, so seeing him hesitant to speak had thrown Ciaran for a loop.

The captain pauses, brows creasing in mild concern before ultimately hiding his face in his hand with a sigh, “Who died?”

The other man pauses, “Nobody, but we did find something interesting. A couple of the men were taking inventory and found signs of a stowaway. We haven’t found them quite yet but we felt you should know regardless.”

He narrows his eyes, “Then find them? And bring them to me when you do.”

He watches as the boy scurries off, hurrying to pass the news to the others. A stowaway was new, not something many would dare to do. The Ataraxia wasn’t known to be very kind nor take prisoners, so who was crazy enough to risk their life? And why? He turns back to overlook the ocean before them, mind racing.

---

This is literally the crustiest, mustiest possible thing I could write and I am so sorry

He had just sat down at his desk when the commotion reached his door. The group following Ronan and his first mate was a mix of cheers and booing, and some seemed a little too interested as the stowaway was dragged in. He sends everyone but the main two off, who currently held the girl to keep her still. He lets out a slow whistle, crossing his arms as he leans back against the front of his desk, eyeing the young woman, “What have we here?”

She was pretty, he would give her that. She resembled Ronan quite a bit with the blonde hair and freckles, though he was too oafish to be of any relation. It was her eyes that caught him off guard. Green, like ocean gems, and the occasional flicker of the candles and lamps around the room added to the charm. However, he was also surprised by her defiant nature. She didn’t seem scared, nor did she look away as he stared at her. He raises an eyebrow, the pair locked in a silent feud for just a moment before he gives in. Ciaran waves off the two, who let her go rather cautiously. He didn’t speak until the door was closed and he heard their complaints slowly quiet down.

“Do you know where you are?” He pauses to let her respond but chooses not to wait for her to speak, “You are currently on the fiercest ship to ever plague these seas, standing in front of the most unmerciful captain you could meet, surrounded by nothing but an empty plain of water. Surely you have heard of me, or at least the ship, and what we do to stowaways here. It's a suicide mission to even try getting aboard, and the fact that you made it this far is pure luck. However, you did manage to get this far which deserves some respect, so I will hear you out if you have something to say. So is there something you want that’s worth risking your life? Or are you just that foolish?”

He listened to her talk, rather intently to his own surprise. He frowns, eyes flicking to the floor as he thinks, “I’m sorry for your loss, but it isn't an excuse to sanely board a ship like this and attempt to stow away. It’s crazy and, honestly, I am a little concerned but that’s not the point. Besides, what can you do? Do you have any worthy skills that could help on a ship? Can you even fight?”

He stands up, a few quick strides carrying him to her side. He circles her like a predator hunting its prey before ultimately stopping in front of her. He locks eyes with her again, brows furrowed as he studies her face. A part of him didn’t quite believe her, another felt something was very wrong with her, but some small spark reached out to the same spark she held. The defiance she'd shown, how he could tell she was scared inside yet she was willing to stand here, and that calling of something greater made him reconsider. “Lucky for you I'm not exactly in the mood to throw people overboard, so you can stay, but there will be some conditions. For starters, you’ll be under Ronan’s watch. He may be a little young, but he’s one of the only few I trust would watch out for you. Second, I want you out of our way. I’ll talk it over with Cook about placing you in the kitchens. If you can sneak onto a ship then you can wash dishes. And third, if you can prove to be helpful then we’ll get you as close to your destination as we can. If not, then we’ll leave you at the first port we see. ”

He spins away, moving to search through his desk as he talks, “And I want to know what is in it for me if I help you. My help doesn’t come cheap.” After a string of rather unpleasant curses during his search, Ciaran eventually finds what he was looking for and turns his attention back to the young woman. He held a dagger in his hand when he returned. It wasn’t the most impressive. The strips of leather on the hilt were peeling off to reveal a light wood handle and it had a shorter blade than most, but it seemed to be used and cared for well. There was even a slight shadow of where someone’s hand had held it from years of use. He offers the dagger to her, “I suggest keeping this close to you, and do not hesitate to find me if there is ever an issue, even small.”

Sadie tilted her chin up in defiance. Her gaze hardened, her green eyes becoming steely as she listened. "I've had so much broing in my life, I think a little crazy is warranted. If I die for it, well, at least I tried." She thought about all those years wondering what happened to her parents, wondering why they never returned. All those years mourning her sister and longing for her family to be reunited. All those years with the constant feeling of seclusion and un-belonging. Maybe they had made her a little mad.

Her eyes followed the captain. Sadie used the years of abuse she'd received from the men that frequented the inn to keep her face guarded. "I can cook. I was one of the best in the bay. And I know how to use a knife... to fight with, I mean. Sort of. I'm unpracticed and a little slow on the techniques, but I'm quick on my feet," she admitted. She felt relieved that she'd be stationed in the kitchen. Maybe she'd find the same comfort in the ship's kitchen that she'd had at the inn. She nodded her agreement, grateful that she wasn't going to die just yet.

Sadie took the knife, taken aback by the captain's hospitality. "Thank you," she said. She looked back up at him and cocked her head, weighing his words. Of course he would expect an exchange. She had thought that her services in the kitchen would be enough, and wondered if the rest of the crew had given up something in return for being accepted on the ship. But then she remembered that she had trespassed into his ship, so his request was fair enough. Sadie regarded the captain with a look of stony contemplation. "I... What is it you want?" She asked slowly, her fearful hesitation. She thought about what her parents had been trying to find when they disappeared. A Fantasy Moonflower: a flower that only bloomed on the second new moon of every year. A flower that could cure any ailment, and it was so rare that most thought it a myth. Sadie really didn't want to tell Ciaran about it, but it was the only thing she had to give. Her sister was dead now, and she had no one to miss her. She didn't need it for herself. She closed her eyes, her shoulders sagging. When she made up her mind she opened her eyes and looked straight at the man. "My parents were looking for the Fantasy Moonflower. I thought that if I found it, I might find them. If you help me, you can have it."