The Captain of the ship screamed to his crew, "TURN HER AROUND! TURN HER AROUND!" They scrambled to their posts, working the sails as their Captain spun the wheel.

"Stop it! STOP!" Marix shouted as he marched up to the Captain, "We don’t have the supplies to waste on detours! We HAVE to go directly to Norain! I command you to correct our course!"

The Captain shook his head, "We can’t afford a run-in with the Izka Pirates. They are ruthless. They’ll kill our men, take our supplies, and be gone before you know it. Any chance of survival we have is directly tied to avoiding that ship!"

Marix jogged down to the lower deck.

"I need every able soldier on deck now! We may have unwanted visitors! Defend our supplies to the death!"

The Viraaz soldiers jumped up and headed to the deck with another few surrounding their supplies.

Aleiza helped Tryde up, who had seen some improvement over the night, and moved him to a darker corner of the lower deck, hoping the two of them would remain unseen.

Eilownia wandered up to the top deck with the rest of the soldiers. "Marix what’s going on?"

He gasped at the sight of her and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her towards the lower deck.

"Go back! Now! Get in there and hide! Don’t you dare come out for any reason!"

She stared at him confused for a moment before nodding. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tight. He pressed a kiss on the crown of her head before letting her go and shoving her towards the deck, urging her to get down there faster.

The pirates pulled up next to their ship, its gigantic size casting a shadow over the Viraaz crew.

Planks and grappling hooks were thrown out, connecting the two as Pirates began to swing, jump and run over, boarding the ship.

"REMEMBER YOUR ORDERS! TRY TO STOP THEM FROM COMING ON THE SHIP!" Marix screamed as he kicked one pirate off the side of the ship, sending him splashing into the sea below.

The Viraaz soldiers charged, clanking their swords against the Pirates.

Marix’s heart pounded in his chest. He could tell his men were exhausted, hungry and not properly fueled for yet another battle.

He could see it in the way they fought, they were using up their last bits of strength.

This couldn’t be the end for them, could it?!

Marix let out a strained scream as he grabbed one of the heavy planks and scooted it to the side, sending it and the pirates that were on it, plummeting into the ocean.

The air was filled with the screams of men fighting for their lives, the crashing sounds of the ocean waves against the wooden hulls of their ships, splashing in the sea as men struggled to stay afloat.

The scent of the salty ocean mixed with the metallic scent of blood mixed in their nostrils as the number of fatalities and injuries rose.

When suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the pirates retreated, returning back to their ship.

"What the-?" Marix looked around when he caught sight of Eilownia draped over a man’s arm aboard the Izka Pirate ship.

His heart stammered in his chest as he ran across one of the remaining planks. The pirates lifted it and tossed it to the side. Marix jumped and just barely grabbed onto the side of the ship before he swung himself on board.

He was met with swords pointed in his face.

A man stood tall in front of him with his arms crossed. He wore a long deep red velvet coat. His muscles bulged, threatening to burst its clasps at any given moment. Atop his long black, curly hair sat a matching red hat with a large black feather sticking out of it. His beard, completely unkept.

"I assume you’re the Captain." Marix hissed as he watched them tie up Eilownia.

"Captain Deka. Pleased to make your acquaintance. That’s short for Decapitation, by the way." Captain Deka said with a low, grumbly laugh.

"Just give me the girl. That’s all I ask for." Marix said as they began to tie him up as well.

Captain Deka laughed louder.

"I’ve just lost a few men in our scavenge. You think I’ll just give up my loot?" He turned to his crew, "Take them under."

Marix and Eilownia were dragged into the lower deck and tied together back to back. A group of deckhands were instructed to keep an eye on them.

"Are you okay? Did they harm you? How is the baby?" Marix asked, fidgeting against their restraints.

"I’m fine, but.....what’s going to happen to us?"

Marix could feel her trembling against him.

"Don’t worry about anything. I’ll take care of it."

The ship was moving quickly, much faster than the ship she’d finally gotten accustomed to. She leaned her back firmly against Marix as she panted and clenched her jaw.

"What’s going on? What’s wrong?" He asked, trying to turn his head to view her.

"I’m-! HRRRP!" She turned her head and gagged.

The deckhand nearby quickly grabbed a mop bucket and put it next to her.

She threw her head towards it and vomited violently into it.

"Whin. Take slow, deep breaths, okay?" Marix instructed to which she nudged him hard with her elbow as if to say ’I’m a bit busy for that right now!’

"It’s alright. Whin I’m right here. It will be okay. I’m here." Marix said in a soothing tone, trying his best to comfort her.

The deckhand stared with a disgusted look on his face before covering his ears in an attempt block out the sound of her retching.

Finally, they reached the shores of Izka. Marix and Eilownia were untied from each other and Eilownia had to be carried ashore due to her exhaustion from the sea sickness.

The entire island was practically just giant rocks stuck together, although it appeared they had created a bustling town. At the very top was a large mansion.

Marix raised a brow as they were led there.

He’d never heard of Izka before and was surprised that such an island could exist without his knowledge.

The Captain brought them into an opulent dining room made of all marble complete with golden statues and maritime artifacts.

Marix chuckled to himself as he thought about how much Arlon would love it there.

The Captain had them sat down and tied to their chairs, their right hands also tied down.

"Welcome to my manor. I’d like to officially offer you a proper introduction. I am Captain Deka, Captain of the Izka Pirates. This is my domain, where you," he stared at Eilownia, "Will live as my bride, and you," he turned to Marix, "Will visit occasionally as my new crew member."

Marix narrowed his eyes.

"Eilownia carries the heir to the Viraaz throne, MY heir."

Captain Deka laughed, "A prince are you? Well, I’ll raise the child as my own, fear not that it will be taken care of. No one will need to know that the child is the heir of Viraaz, or yours for that matter. You can join my crew and watch your child grow or you can die and never see either of them again. I’m a fair man, I’ll leave the choice up to you."

Marix scoffed as his jaw clenched.

"You think I’ll give up my wife and child so easily? Battle me, one on one and let the outcome decide."

Captain Deka laughed louder.

"I should make you my jester with such a sense of humor. Why should I need to do something like that when I’ve already captured the both of you?"

Marix let out an angered laugh, "Fight me like a man. Or is it that you’re a coward?"

Captain Deka cleaned out dirt from underneath his short, jagged fingernails as he spoke, his eyebrow ticking with irritation.

"I’m a pirate. I don’t participate in such....gentlemanly attributes. We take what we want and I’ve already done that. I took my bride and, well, a new crew member happened to stumble in my lap."

Marix fought against the ropes that bound him to the chair and slammed his left hand down on the table.

"You’re a coward is what you are! Don’t you have any confidence in your abilities?"

Captain Deka smiled and leaned back in his seat as he crossed his arms, "Now, now, is that any way to speak to your new Captain, Little Prince? I could tell by how you fought my men, you are experienced in battle. Anyone experienced in battle should know that the key to success is not greed. Do you truly think that I would fall for your little pushes? Why risk what I’ve already obtained?"

"Little. Prince?" Marix gritted his teeth as his eye twitched.

"Wait!" Eilownia spoke up, her head lowered, "Don’t I get any sort of say? I want to be with Marix!"

Captain Deka glared at her, "I’d prefer if you didn’t speak about other men in my presence, Darling."