Free The Cursed Doubloon by B.T. Love Page B

faster.”
    “Why don’t we be goin’ around it?” my father questioned him with a growl.
    “Because its mass is too large and will take us too far away from the direction our destination is in, like John said.”
    “But if we be haulin’ wind we be goin’ right through it! We be hittin’ hidden rocks!”
    “That be a good point,” John cut in. “There be rocks we won’t be able to see in this mist.”
    Ladarius nodded and stepped forward, showing off the strength his legs were gaining in his steps. The crew all broke out in chatter and whispers, casting their own take on the new human on board. “I know this sea better than any pirate,” Ladarius asserted himself, “and I know where the rocks are. I will protect this ship.”
    My father raised his head high and looked down his nose at him. “Ye really be thinkin’ we won’t be hittin’ any rocks? How ye be so sure?”
    “Cause I am a ShipSaver. I have saved The Fog Chaser many times before.”
    My father sucked his teeth and looked to John, who nodded in agreement with Ladarius. “Aye, merman. We be haulin’ wind then.”
    I walked over to Ladarius while wearing a smile, pleased that he stood his ground with my father. “Impressive. My father actually listened to someone else besides the voices in his head.”
    “I’m glad he did. The ship will be safer with my plan.”
    “Good.” I looked his outfit up and down.
    “Where’s your bandana?”
    “I couldn’t quite figure it out.”
    “Well, let’s go back in my room. I’ll help you.”
    We stepped back into my small sanctuary of a room and I grabbed the red scrap of fabric off of my nightstand. “You fold it like this, and place it over your hair like this . . .” I raised it above him and secured it around the back of his head, tying the corners together in a solid knot. “There. I can’t believe how much you actually look like a pirate.”
    “That’s good.”
    “Yes, your looks are suitable for the charade but not your vocabulary. You are much too proper for a pirate.”
    “Well I’m ready to learn.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes.”
     “Aye,” I corrected him.
    He smiled happily. “Aye.”
    I stepped back and sat on the edge of my bed with my finger on my chin, taking in the sight of him. “We’ll need to get you a belt and some weapons to hang from it. And every pirate needs a piece of jewelry.”
    “Jewelry? Isn’t jewelry made for women?”
    “Have you noticed the pirates on board? Plenty of them wear necklaces or rings of some sort.”
    “And earrings,” he added. “It all seems a bit odd to me.”
    “Odd? I seem to remember you donning a royal crown below the water, Prince Ladarius.”
    “Ah yes,” he nodded pleasantly. “But crowns are much different. They exude power.”
    “Well you’ll need to wear something. I’ll let you decide.”
    He paced back and forth, looking down at his boot-covered feet. “A necklace will only get in my way. And rings seem constricting. The only option left is an earring but that seems the most feminine of all.”
    “You would think so but not to pirates. And it’s only in one ear. I can get you a big gold hoop.”
    “And how would I wear it?”
    “My father can pierce it.”
    “Your father?” he shrieked, stopping in place and looking up at me. “Are you mad?”
    “No,” I laughed. “He pierced my ears and my mother’s ears, as well as a few men on this ship. He’s quite good at it.”
    “Yeah but was this pre-curse or post-curse that he pierced you and his men?”
    “Um, pre-curse?”
    “Absolutely not! I’m not getting my ear pierced by a drunken raving lunatic. It’s out of the question.”
    I pulled in my lips, trying to hide my smile. “I understand completely. You shall wear a ring then.”
    “No ring.”
    “Why, because you think it will be too constricting?”
    “No.” He stood in front of me and took my hands in his, pulling me to stand. “It’s because the only ring I want to wear is the one