"And you'd be a fine man if you could learn to respect women for other things than their looks."
"Ah we have a feisty one, lads." Samuel said with a smirk.
"A feisty one who know's how to hold her own." Miranda whipped the fainted captains sword out of its scabbard and held it out in front of her towards Samuel.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Samuel said, looking Miranda right in the eye.
"And why not?"
"Because he is the most feared of all the sword wielders on the seven seas." Pepper said gravely as Samuel smirked again.
"We'll see about that!" Miranda lunged forward attacking Samuel with all the force and knowledge she possessed. Her one love Byron, a blacksmith, knew how to fight with the weapons he created, and in their times together, he had showed Miranda a decent amount of fighting and now Miranda had a chance to put those skills to the test.
As the sword fighting intensified (Samuel was as good with the sword as he was good in looks) Miranda concentrated with all her might. She imagined herself practicing with Byron on all those evenings she had sneaked (because apparently 'snuck' is not a real word.) out of her busy house, and down to the Byron's smith. As she thought about those nights back at home, she remembered a technique that Byron had been teaching her before her dreaded wedding day.
"I admit you're good." Samuel said in a relaxed voice. "Who was your teacher? Surely not one of these lousy so called pirates aboard this ship."
"I should say not!" Miranda exclaimed.
"Don't get too proud yet, girl." Samuel easily parried her blow and swung his own.
"Don't call me 'girl' in that condescending tone." Miranda said as she ducked his swing and came up with her own, nicking his sleeve and bringing forth blood. Samuel hesitated for a split second to look down at his now red shirt sleeve. It gave Miranda just enough time and space to step forward harshly, knocking Samuel off balance. She swung around and aimed her sword right at the handle of his, knocking it out of his hand and damaging that arm as well. A cry went up from James and Pepper as Samuel's sword went skittering across the deck. Miranda backed Samuel up against the railing of the ship. "Now who's the most feared of all the sword wielders on the seven seas?" Miranda hissed.
A cry of triumph went up from the surrounding crew and Miranda looked over at them. "WELL DON'T BE STANDING AROUND DOING NOTHING!" She called. "WE HAVE A PIRATE SHIP TO CAPTURE." Another cry went up from the crew as they gathered their excitement and flung themselves on to the neighboring ship.
*******
After a most splendid capture of the enemy ship that Grace is too lazy to write about, Miranda found herself below deck, sitting at a table with many rowdy, excited, and, let's just admit it, drunk sailor-pirates. Miranda didn't want to consider herself on a pirate ship but these men didn't match up to the young, dignified sailors she had known back at home.
"THREE CHEERS FOR OUR LITTLE LADY!" one particularly drunk man called out for the 4th time. The crew gave some half hearted cheers but when the same thing happens 4 times in a row, it gets a little old. "SHE WON US A NEW SHIP! LET ME HEAR SOME EXCITEMENT" He roared out at his fellow men, pushing a beer mug in Pepper's face. Miranda blushed.
"I wouldn't say that." She said.
"I woul'n't say it either." Pepper replied pushing drunk mans mug back.
"WELL I DIDN'T SEE YOU FENCING MAMUEL SAMCHESTER... err... Samuel Sam... WHATEVER HE LIKES TO BE CALLED."
"Well ye know I coul've done it."
"HAVEN'T DONE IT BEFORE NOW! WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST OUR LITTLE LADY, ANYWAY?"
"She.... is a stowaway! Somethin' the Cap'in wouln't be allowin, and ye know that, Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard." Pepper mumbled into his drink.
"A STOWAWAY THAT JUST BEAT UP ON..... EH... HIM!" Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard said pointing over into the corner where Samuel Manchester was tied up.
"Excuse me?" Miranda interjected. "What did he say your name was?"
"Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard." Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard answered.
"Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard? Okay... well Steve, I'm-"
"NOPE! Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard."
"Every time?"
"EVERY TIME!"
"Don't question it." Pepper interjected.
"Okay. Well, Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard. Pepper. I'm going to go get some air." Miranda quickly left her seat and made her way up the ladder onto the outer deck, without a look at Samuel who was giving her a death glare from where he sat.
"I'll get you girl. If it's the last thing I do, I swear. I will win back my ship." *threatening music starts*
(I hope this is as much fun to read as it was to write and that it lives up to the other awesome posts this week. I freaking love this story. <3 G)
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