The Pirate and the Princess

Chapter 12: Royal Rumble

Chapter 12: Royal Rumble

Adrian stared at Selene speechlessly, his mouth hanging open.

"Do close your mouth Adrian, you look like a codfish," Selene said, gazing up at him through her lashes.

"Who are you lady, and what do you want with us?" the gruffy privateer asked, sneering at Selene's obvious display of clevage.

Selene turned her head and stared the man down until he dropped his head, murmuring an apology.

"As to who am, that doesn't matter," Selene said. "The reason I want wth you is an entirely different matter. Tell me gentleman, what do you know of the treasure of San Jose?"

The men drew a breath, then glanced at each other.

The reason Adrian was staring at Selene was not her sudden appearance, but by the black mask covering half her face. The bottom half of her face was visible, as were her eyes. The rest of her face was covered.

If he hadn't heard her voice, then he wouldn't have known it was her. She was smarter than he thought, hiding behindhe black silk scarf from his wardrobe.

She had changed her clothes as well. Instead of the pants and breeches of the past two days, she was wearing a new pair of black breeches. Her thigh high boots with the green bows on top encased her thighs, and a white linen shirt hung loose a little past her hips.

A sword hung from the belt wrapped around her waist, over the white shirt, and on the other side hung a pistol.

Her hair hung freely down her back, and the bandanna around the top of her head was a rich red.

Adrian crossed his legs, hoping to hide how tight the crotch of his breeches had become.

"I just need to know if there had been any recent developments onnits location," Selene said smoothly.

A serving wench passed by, and Selene grabbed her arm.

"Four ales please, darling," Selene said, pressing a silver shilling into the girl's apron pocket.

"Right away miss," the girl said meekly, and shouldered her way through the crowded tavern.

"We have not hears anyhong as of late miss," the privateer said. "For all anyone knows, it is still at the bottom of the ocean, along with the San Jose herself,"

"There were rumors that it had been brought up, and then buried somewhere else," Selene pointed out, propping her feet in a near by chair.

"Bah!" said the other man. "They are merely rumors, nothing more,"

"Tell me gentleman, where might I find...the Baron,"

The two men exchanged glances again, this time with a frightened look in their eyes.

The tavern wench came back with their ales. As she plunked them down on the table, Selene manaed to grasp her attention again.

"Excuse me, miss?"

"Names Lettie, ma'am," the girl said quietly, looking down at the tray she held between her work roughened hands. "Lettie Farmer,"

Selene smiled at her.

"Lettie dear, where might I find the Baron at this hour?"