Voices broke through the fog of sleep and Otohime heard footsteps on the deck. She pulled herself off the bed but saw the blood that had seeped into the quilt. She flipped the covers over but it had soaked through to the other side.

The voices grew louder. The other sailor from yesterday said, “It looks like the fish made a real mess on the deck.”

Otohime looked around the room for somewhere to hide. The room was sparsely furnished, with just the bed and a desk. She lay flat on the wooden boards and slid under the bed. She disturbed dust as she wriggled further in. It got up her nose and each breath tickled her nose.

“It does seem like that,” Hoori said. He had walked all the way up to the door to the room and stopped. “How about you head home for today while I get this cleaned up?”

“It won't take long if we both–”

“It's fine. I would rather not waste your time. If I get it done early I will come get you, okay?”

“Alright then. I'll see you later, okay?” the younger sailor said before walking off the deck.

Hoori must have waited to watch him leave, because he didn't move for a long time. Then the door handle turned slowly and he crept into the room. “Who's in here?” he called out to the dark room.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He walked in slowly and a light cast shadows across the room. Otohime could see his shoes as he came towards the bed. He shifted the quilt above her and moved away from the bed.

Otohime came silently out from under the bed. He had walked over to the desk, where her satchel still lay with her knife in it. As he went to place the lantern down on the desk, she reached past him and snatched the knife from the bag.

His eyes widened as she pressed the blade up to his throat. “Take me to the ocean,” she growled.

“You're his daughter,” he said. “You're the one they are looking for.”

“They’re looking for a dragon, not me. Now get this boat moving so they open up the gates and I can get home.”

Hoori reached up and grabbed her arm, pushing the blade away. “And what will you do then?” he asked. “You didn't get what you came for.”

Otohime tried to push back against him, but she was too weak and wounded. “I'll bring an army and tear the walls down and take my father’s body and the treasure back.”

His grip tightened until the knife dropped from her hand. “Then they will assemble a fleet to hunt you down, as they did your father.”

The ship began to rock violently, pushed by waves. “I wouldn’t let them!” she screamed. “I control the sea. I will take everything from them, and batter all those who dare venture upon the water.” The ship felt like it was moments from capsizing.

“Then take everything. Starve them until they realise they need you, but starting a war that will see countless numbers die on both sides cannot be the answer.” He let go of her hand and took a step back. “Now, what are you going to do?”

She turned away from him and picked up the knife again. She ran her finger over the edge slowly. “Alright. There is wisdom in what you say. Take me to the ocean and I will show them who the true ruler of the sea is.”

Hoori smiled at her. He ran up onto the deck to prepare them for cast off.