Amanda was up earlier the next morning and when she entered the mess hall she found Shiv sitting there by himself eating breakfast. She grabbed some food and sat down opposite him.
“How’s your finger he asked?”
It wasn’t a mocking tone but there was a glint in his eye.
“Fine,” she replied.
The edge of his mouth twitched upward.
She paused spoon half to her mouth and put it down. She leaned forward. “I wanted to ask you something.”
His eyebrows rose. “Hmm?”
“How long ago did Sirius become captain?”
“Oh.” His face fell. He seemed disappointed, almost bored at the question.
She shot him a disapproving look which caused him to laugh.
“Nothing gets past you does it?” he replied.
She frowned.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Urgh, it must be, he’d have been 17, he’s 19 now.”
“Bruce said he was 18 now.”
“Nah, he’s 19.” Shiv paused to think about it. “I’m pretty sure. Anyway, it was about several months after he’d joined.”
“So a few years then?”
“Yeah.”
“How come they didn’t pick you?”
Shiv’s eyebrows flew up and he blinked in surprise.
Amanda couldn’t help but smile at the reaction.
He scratched his neck and then frowned. “Why didn’t they pick me.” He blinked again. He seemed to be trying to think.
Amanda explained. “I mean you’re older, more experienced.”
“Yes.” Shiv nodded. “I’m old.”
“Not that old.”
He nodded and explained.
“A captain’s role is most important in battle. Yes he makes final decisions about where we dock and what supplies we take but that’s only when the rest of us are unsure or we disagree. For the most part we run this ship together, collective discussions among the crew. He’s as much a servant of them as they are of him. Sometimes he puts his foot down on things and the men let him because he only does it sometimes and he knows when to do it. In battle however there is no time for discussions. In battle what the captain says is the golden rule. So for a crew to do well in battle they need a captain who can think on his feet and they need a captain who can fight. But above all they need a captain who knows when not to fight. When Sirius first joined he was reluctant to learn the sword, but it’s required of every crewman, except the chef, well sometimes still the chef, but anyway Sirius quickly realised what was required and so he learnt, and he’s not bad at it. Oh there are those better for sure. And there are men bigger than him and some maybe even stronger but there’s many a large man who has learned that violence is how he makes his way in this world and that’s all they know, many a little man too, and woman.”
He smiled at her and then continued. “But Sirius, he’s different. He could easily impose himself to get his way but he never does, unless he has to and even then no more than is necessary. After the last mutiny when everyone was squabbling over who was gonna be the new captain I saw him lift a man larger than himself off another and hold him back until he was quiet. But he didn’t hurt him. Made everyone turn though. And when he’d got them separated and everyone was looking his way he said, ‘There shall be no more violence on this ship’. Said it to all of us, he didn’t yell, and the way he said it, clear but just loud enough that we all had to lean in a little hear and everyone was silent. And then he asked for a vote instead and so we voted him in. I don’t know if that’s what he wanted but he seems to have accepted it. Leadership suits him well and this ship suits him as its leader. No one questions the quiet ones you know.” Shiv raised his mug as if in a cheer and took a drink.
Amanda made herself useful that morning, helping out on deck where she could. It gave her the opportunity to watch Sirius interact with the crew and hopefully earned her some goodwill. The less difficult she was the more persuasive her arguments would be, although she still had a long way to go before convincing him to hand over ownership of her pegasus. At the very least she would be happy enough today if he just let her take it out for a flight.
She paid closer attention next time she spoke with Sirius. It distracted her from her arguments a little and made them weaker but she knew she wasn’t going to convince him to give her the pegasus in one discussion. This was a war and in wars studying your opponent paid off. She saw what Shiv had meant. Sirius was intimidating just by the nature of his size but from the way he stood it was almost as if he was trying to make himself appear less threatening to her. He didn’t do it by slouching though or avoiding eye contact. No, his posture was still one of confidence, chin up, eyes meeting hers, although he did have to lower his chin a bit to achieve that. But he never crossed his arms, even when she saw he was tempted to. He kept them at his sides, in his pockets, or clasped behind his back. And he kept his hands open, never once balling them into fists. His shoulders were always relaxed.
The hands and arms it seemed were mostly for her. His shoulders were what he used to speak with to the rest of the crew. She’d noticed if any one were to edge out of line all he had to do was shift his shoulders a little higher and they immediately fell back in order.
She went below deck just before lunch to check on the pegasus briefly when Michael wasn’t looking. He’d been let out of his cell but had apparently been given some strict instructions to keep out of the crew’s way. Amanda wasn’t sure if she counted as crew though and she didn’t really want to test it. It took her three attempts before she found a moment when he was away. Away where? She wasn’t sure. He hung around the pegasus much more than she would have expected. She had imagined him spending most of his time up on deck but he seemed as reluctant to be around the rest of the crew as they were of him. It didn’t matter though. She only needed a few minutes with the pegasus.
He snorted softly when he saw her and stamped his foot impatiently almost as if he knew he’d be free soon.
“I know boy, don’t worry, I’ll have you in the clouds in no time.” She patted his neck and stroked his soft nose. He stamped his foot again and shook his mane but the more she stroked and talked softly to him the calmer he became. She wasn’t sure how long she stood there but at some point she became conscious of eyes watching her. She turned slowly not wanting to startle the pegasus.
Sirius stood by the door, leaning against the door frame. She wasn’t sure how long he’d been there watching her.
He took a step forward when he saw her watching. “He seems calmer when you’re with him.”
Amanda smiled at the compliment.
Sirius took another step closer, and the pegasus pulled back suddenly with a snort.
“Shhh,” Amanda stroked his neck.
Once she was sure the pegasus was calm she turned to find Sirius had also stepped back and was looking wary.
He started to take another step back when she interrupted. “No, it’s okay.” She held out her hand towards him.
He frowned but he took it hesitantly.
She pulled him closer, all the while stroking the pegasus. She pulled him close enough that she could then place his hand on the muzzle of the creature.
He started to pull away when they got close but she turned to him and whispered, “Trust me.” It was same voice she used for wary horses. The pegasus was calm now, she was sure.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Relax. Feel him,” She told Sirius.
Sirius stood frozen for a moment with his hand resting on the nose of the pegasus. Then as Amanda watched he began to relax too.
“You can pat his neck if you like, and rub his nose. He doesn’t mind. Pegasi are tamer than people think, they’re actually easier than regular horses, and a lot easier than unicorns, but they’re more sensitive than the others to how we interact with them.” She placed her hand on top of his and showed him how to stroke the creature’s nose.
When she looked up at Sirius’s face she could see that he was smiling, more than she’d seen him smile so far. His green eyes sparkled and for a moment she completely forgot about the pegasus. Then he turned that smile on her.
For a second she forgot how to breathe.
“They’re softer than regular horses. But the fur’s thicker,” he remarked.
Amanda nodded.
The pegasus bunted Sirius’s arm, wanting more pats. Amanda saw a flicker of fear cross Sirius’s face but to his credit he otherwise didn’t react. She watched as he quickly recovered and then returned to scritching the pegasus’s forehead with renewed enthusiasm. The pegasus gave a snort of approval.
“He’s calmer than I thought, less wild,” Sirius observed.
“He’ll be as calm as you are. They can actually be quite social but also very wary. It’s considered very lucky if a wild one approaches you.”
“Is that how you got this one?” he asked.
Amanda smiled and met his eyes, then she nodded. “My dad and I go out every year. It’s only happened a few times. The pegasi in those hills are particularly hard to catch. Not all Little Rock poachers have always been quite so nice.”
“You catch unicorns too?” Sirius asked.
Amanda gave a half nod half shake and then replied, “Not so much catch. More like trade. We buy from breeders or other trappers, tame them, and then sell them on. Unicorns are much harder to deal with, even once they’re well trained. They’re much smarter and far more dangerous. We’ve only mustered them a few times.”
“Isn’t riding one of these dangerous?”
Amanda shrugged. “It’s not so bad, there’s less to spook a pegasi in the air.”
“What about dragons?”
“We don’t ride where the dragons are, generally. But if we did most dragons won’t hunt a pegasus. Their preference is for metal. No pegasus rider will carry anything metal if they’re flying where dragons might be. Even a coin purse can bring them down on you.”
He nodded. He smiled again. He seemed to be enjoying the company of the pegasus. “He really is very soft. It’s like a bird without the hard part of the feather. And the fur’s so thick.”
Amanda smiled. Sirius was acting like a child seeing something new for the first time. She appreciated his fascination at something that was so normal to her. That said, he was making her re-look at the beautiful beast in front of her.
“Do you want to try?” she asked coyly.
“Huh?”
“Riding a pegasus.”
She caught doubt and fear at the idea but also something that looked a little like excitement.
Before he could answer there was a loud voice at the door.
“What is she doing down here?” Michael exclaimed. “What are you even doing down here? I am in charge of ensuring nothing happens to these animals and that includes that pegasus.”
The pegasus pulled back with a whinny and lifted his two front hooves in a low rear. Amanda was glad Sirius didn’t react. Once the pegasus was still Sirius took a glance at it and then at Michael. He said nothing and then took two steps toward the animal keeper.
Michael must have learned something from his last encounter for he immediately shut his mouth and stepped back. Sirius stopped in front of him. He glanced down at something in Michael’s hand and Amanda realised for the first time that Michael had been taking a smoke break.
Realising what Sirius was looking at Michael immediately hid it behind his back.”
“You will go up to the deck now.” Sirius started in a measured voice.
Amanda could almost hear the cold rage beneath it and she was glad she wasn’t in Michael’s position.
Michael evidently hadn’t quite learnt as much as he should have however because his eyebrows knotted in fury and he started to open his mouth.
Sirius didn’t let him get a word out. He didn’t touch him but his tone was stone cold clear. “Or I will make you.” There was no inflection. He didn’t need one. The clam monotone with which he said it made it all the more terrifying.
Michael just gave the one nod and turned to leave.
“And give me that cigarette.” Sirius held out a hand.
Michael hesitated and met his eyes again. For a moment Amanda thought he was going to challenge Sirius once more but it seemed third time was the charm and Michael put the cigarette into Sirius’s outstretched hand.
Sirius closed his hand tight around it, crushing out any light, and sending what should have been a lasting message.
Michael turned away his shoulders hunched and head ducked low. Amanda wondered how long the submission would last.
Sirius turned to her momentarily but didn’t say anything. A moment later he left the room after Michael. Amanda decided he would want her to follow, and so she did, all the way up to the deck.
Amanda had thought that Sirius had just wanted to have a discussion away from the pegasus, least the argument turn loud or rough. She was surprised when he called the attention of the entire crew.
“Men, gather around.”
The men did so.
Sirius held up the remains of the crushed cigarette. “What do we do to a man who smokes on this ship?”
“Hang him,” came the reply.
Amanda’s eye’s widened.
“Not like that,” a voice to the side of her whispered.
She turned. It was Shiv.
“Like what then?” she asked.
He directed her attention back to Michael and the rest of the crew. “Watch.”
She gave him a wary, worried glance.
“Don’t worry they’re not gonna hurt him,” Shiv replied. “Not unless he does it again.” Shiv chuckled wickedly almost as if hoping Michael would dare be so stupid.
Amanda frowned, still not sure what was happening and if she should be worried. But Shiv seemed certain so she turned and watched with some trepidation.
The crew made Michael get on the ground and then they tied his feet. A couple of men climbed up the mast and with a mix of ropes and magic they hoisted Michael up off the ground so he was hanging by his feet with his nose just above the deck. There was a roar of laughter and one crewman started Michael off into a swing with a loud slap.
Many of the crew stayed to laugh and tease him for a bit. To his credit Michael was being surprisingly quiet and docile for the moment. It worried Amanda more than his noise.
Sirius didn’t stay with his men. Instead he turned and walked away towards the brig. Amanda followed him.
“Isn’t that a little harsh?” she asked once they were out of earshot of the others.
Sirius turned to look at her and shook his head. “He risks all our lives by bringing fire on this ship. He’ll only hang for a half hour and then we’ll let him down.”
“I’m worried he might not let you forget about it,” Amanda replied honestly.
Sirius raised an eyebrow in surprise. Then he shrugged. “I don’t see what he can do. Besides that’s a relatively nice punishment for cigarettes on this ship. I saw the men once make a a guy walk the plank for lighting an old-fashioned wax candle on board.”
“Just for lighting a candle?” Amanda asked, almost timidly as she wondered what the penalty for being a firestarter would be, if anyone should ever find out.
Sirius nodded. He must have heard something in her voice for the next thing he did was turn to study her.
Amanda forced herself to relax. She glanced back out toward the deck. She didn’t try to hide the worry too much though. Hopefully he would assume it was for Michael and not for herself. When she turned back to look at Sirius she noticed his expression had softened.
“It will humiliate him, the sort of punishment he’ll be unlikely to complain to anyone about,” Sirius explained.
Amanda gave a nod of understanding, finally forcing her expression away from one of concern.
He sighed and leaned against the wall. “I suppose now is a good time to exercise the pegasus. While we’re ahead of the storm and before we get to Wildwater. We should be able to slow the ship down for a little bit.”
Amanda couldn’t help but feel uplifted by that statement. Any concern she’d had for herself or for Michael immediately vanished. She knew it showed in her expression. Her heart warmed more as she watched the corners of Sirius’s mouth curl up slightly in response to the look of hope on her own face. There had been a hesitation in his voice however, a question.
He continued. “How would you do it, do we need to tie him to something? I don’t want him getting caught in the ship ropes or the sails.”
Amanda shook her head. “You don’t need a rope. He’ll go where the rider indicates. I think he trusts us enough now and given there’s no other land… And you might not even need to slow down. For a short enough time he should be able to keep or even catch up with the ship.”
“I don’t think there’s a bridle on this ship.”
Another shake of her head. “Don’t need one. Like I said pegasi are very sensitive. They’ll respond to the position of the rider, the hands, the feet, the seat. In a way it’s easier than riding a regular horse, only you’re up in the air.”
“No saddle.”
Amanda shook her head again.
“If it needs someone who knows how to ride then that would have be you, or Michael, and I’m not about to let him ride it.” Sirius nodded at the door. “How do I know you won’t just fly off?”
“Where would I go?” Amanda glanced at the map on the nearby table. The only place close enough they were headed anyway and the ship was going as fast as a pegasus could fly. “You have telekinetics, they could just pull me out of the sky.”
Sirius grunted. “Be a pain to get you back on board though.”
“Be worse for me.”
Another grunt.
“Or if you’re really worried you could fly with me. I’ll show you how,” she offered.
There was that hint of fear again. Amanda could see it in his face.
He didn’t immediately object though. “How do people normally ride them and not fall off?”
“Some places have special saddles. Depends what the pegasus is for. Most people will use a quick releasable harness, but bareback’s not that uncommon.”
“Hmm.”
“We could tie in with a rope if you’d prefer?”
Sirius seemed to think it over. Finally he answered “Okay, maybe just so there’s something to hold on to.”
“It would be easier just to hold on to me.” Amanda hadn’t meant anything by the statement nor had she thought about it before she had spoken but the minute it left her mouth and she caught Sirius’s eye she realised the potential effect it could have. Too late to take it back, and not entirely sure she wanted to, Amanda held his gaze.
For a moment his green eyes met her brown ones. Then he shyly looked away. Sirius had found himself caught off guard. From the look on her face it did seem like she’d meant it more like a practical casual observation but Sirius couldn’t help thinking of what it might feel like to put his hands on curvy hips and run his hands along her sides. He was sure if he’d looked at her any longer his thoughts would be obvious so he focused on adjusting the edge of his coat. He couldn’t just stand there like a fool though. He cleared his throat and looked back at her. To his embarrassment she’d been watching him the whole time. Her face remained unreadable though. “Alright then. I’ll ride with you.”