The Black Raven, White Dove First chapter sample

Sample First Chapter

Chapter One

1765, the coast of Portugal.

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"And so the raven flies here nor there, lavishing his freedom without regard, while the dove obediently listens to her heart and brings forth the olive branch of hope." –Hampton

His arm wrapped around her throat like a constricting viper, robbing her of air and threating

to end her life. Bianca writhed against her captor's strength, her heart pounding painfully against

her chest. Her toes curled against the sand as she continued to struggle. If she did not break free,

her lifeless body would surely be fed to the hungry gulls that flew in circles overhead. Her captor

laughed in her ear, boasting of his prowess.

"Surrender to me at once, princess. You cannot escape. I plan to take you to my ship where

you will swear by the code and live the life of a pirate's wife!"

She shook her head, unwilling to submit to his ridiculous demands. She'd rather be thrown

to the sharks than to give into his will. Bianca lifted her knee then stomped on her captor's bare

foot. His resounding cry of pain and the loosening of his arm meant victory. Determined, she spun

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herself around to come face to face with the pirate. When he stuck out his tongue, she ended the

exchange with a swift kick to his knee.

"Ouch. That hurt. Gee, princesses aren't supposed to be so mean. Why can't you play

along?"

She shrugged as he held his bent knee, hoping up and down in the sand. "No knight rode

to my rescue, so I had no choice but to save myself."

Looking beyond the boy, she noticed the sun touched upon the water, casting the sky in

shades of ginger and reds. When the boy bent down to gain a closer inspection his wound, she

smiled with pride at the raising welt developing on his sand encrusted skin. The blood that began

to ooze from a scratch, was nearly as crimson as the sky. He rubbed the affected area several times,

accidentally getting sand into the injury. He scrunched his face at the pain, but that was it—no

other reaction. Disappointment pulled her lips into a frown. Maybe she should have kicked harder.

Nonetheless, that should teach the boy not to pick on a helpless girl.

"Pirates are better than knights," he argued.

"Are not. Pirates are truly awful, loathsome beggars."

"Take that back!"

"I will not!"

"Girls," he proclaimed, shaking his head aghast. She couldn't argue with him further, soon

there'd not be enough light to see by.

"The hour grows late. I'm afraid I have to go. My father's cook might start looking for

me," she told him, suddenly worried that Iggy would whip her with his wooden spoon if he caught