V. Pirate's Honor

The first thing Tiiro saw when he woke up was . . . a rocky ceiling, more than a hundred feet above him. He was on the ground, stretched out on his back. He turned his head to the side and immediately wished he hadn't --- pain shot through his head. Aulava was tied up next to him, about five feet away. From the way she was wincing, Tiiro guessed her head was in similar shape.

"Well," said a voice somewhere above him. "Looks like the boss's playthings have woke up."

"Eh?" another voice asked. "Aye, and the girl will give us what we need?"

"She will unless she wants to die," the first voice said loudly, as if he knew the teenagers were listening. Perhaps he did, so Tiiro didn't miss his cue.

"What have you done this for?" he asked in a neutral voice. His situation was not good; he was sure the people talking above him were armed.

The first man chuckled and came into Tiiro's line of vision. He was tall (at least to someone lying on the floor) and thin, and he was dressed in a loose outfit perfect for sailing. The cutlass at his side, the golden necklace around his neck, and the numerous purses hanging from his belt only verified the man's occupation. Combined with the smears of dirt on his face and thick calloused hands, Tiiro could tell he was a pirate.

"What do you want Aulava for?" Tiiro asked again. "Who are you?"

"Suffice to say, I am your doom," the first pirate said. "The girl is of use to us because our boss is her betrothed --- and other reasons that you have no use of."

"Betrothed?!" Tiiro blurted out. Aulava had never told him she was betrothed. But then, she wouldn't have, his mind said. You're her enemy . . . remember? Tiiro always hated it when that voice in his mind seemed to mock him.

A weak coughing sound came from his right as Aulava finally spoke. "Yes, Tiiro," she said hoarsely. She coughed again. "I am betrothed."

Tiiro had lifted his head up to look at her after receiving the startling news, and now he let it down with a thump that caused pain to spiral outward from the point of impact. He didn't feel it much anymore. She's betrothed . . . she's betrothed . . . Aulava's betrothed . . .

"But that's not why we've brought you here, girl," the second pirate said, stepping forward so the teenagers could see him. He was more heavyset than the first, but dressed the same and covered with the same kind of filth. "You're here because you have something we want."

Aulava laughed hollowly, and it issued forth as a rasp. "What could I possibly have that you want, Velam?"

The heavy pirate looked both pleased and startled at her use of his name. "So you remember me . . . yes, this will make things much easier. Samaro, cut the young one's ropes, if you will."

The first pirate stepped forward and deftly slashed his cutlass through Aulava's bindings. She stood, weakly, and leaned against the wall. "You're a snake, Velam. I won't let you take anything from me. Not this time."

"Aulava, what . . . ?" Tiiro asked.

"Tiiro, stay out of this," Aulava ordered. She kept her hazel eyes locked on Velam. Suddenly her voice and body seemed much stronger, and she stood tall, no longer needing the wall's support. "I don't want you to remember me like this."

"Remember . . ." Tiiro's sluggish mind processed her words. "Aulava, no! What are you going to do?"

"Pirate's honor, Tiiro," Aulava said, at last looking at him. Her gaze was determined, with undertones of pain and wistfulness and regret in her eyes that only he could pick out. Such beautiful eyes, Tiiro thought vaguely. I could get sucked into those eyes and never want to leave . . . that vortex of green and blue and brown and grey and violet . . .

"Hello, dearest Aulava. Into trouble again I see." A voice issued from the shadows.

"Launcen," she growled. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."

"And I should have married you sooner," the young noble finished. His eyes gleamed maliciously. "Then I would have gotten your wealth and the pleasure of killing you. Excuse me, my dearest fiancé," he spat, "if I don't weep over your death. I'll be too busy counting the coins of your soon-to-be beggar family. Any regrets, corsair?" He chuckled. "Yes, I know your little secret. But the real question is, does your lover?" He kicked Tiiro in the stomach.

"He's not my lover," Aulava said hotly. Tiiro was amazed. She had never shown such restraint towards him before. If he'd said such a thing, he was sure she would have ripped him to pieces. "If you truly have been watching me, you would know that our families are at odds with the other."

"Stop this spat, young one," Velam interrupted "Sam, cut the boy's ties, too."

And it was done. Tiiro stood unsteadily, Aulava watching him carefully.

"So, Aulava," Launcen taunted once again. "Do you have a long, flowery speech to deliver? A lengthy explanation of your life? Or a short, sweet, and to-the-point phrase? Come, spit it out. Are your last words to be as catty as yourself?"

Tiiro was thinking fast, weighing their options. He desperately wished he had brought his sword this night, but they probably would have confiscated it anyway. As far as he knew, Aulava was unarmed. Two unarmed teenagers against two armed pirates and an unarmed noble? Tiiro sank back into passively watching Aulava and the other three.

"My last words are none of your concern, dog," she snapped. "What is my fate?"

"Death by your own hand --- or mine," Launcen said with a malevolent smile.

"I would sooner walk off a gangplank," Aulava snarled.

"It will be done." In a matter of minutes, the group of five had passed through a lightless tunnel and turned up outside in the Docks District. Aulava was led onto the gangplank of a ship that rose up in front of them like a tower of damnation.

She slowly and assuredly walked to the end of the board, where she hesitated and turned back to face them. Tiiro knew now that coming home to find his siblings bruised and beaten was nothing compared to the despair of watching the one person he loved most in the world die.

Wait . . . love? I never said I loved her! I . . . I hate her!

. . . Don't I?

"I love you, Tiiro."