Return to Inheritance

Chapter I

The day was going on normally. The sky was clear and the sea was perfect for navigating. Not a single cloud could be spotted, not even from the top of the main mast, in the crow's nest. Jade and her crew were making their way towards the closest port in order to deliver a shipment.

It was true that they usually lived their life as pirates, searching for long lost treasures and taking the gold from lost ships on the sea, but this lifestyle wasn't enough to keep their bellies full and families happy nowadays, so they often went by the fair trade and transported all sorts of shipments from one port to another.

In the two years since Jade became captain nothing changed. The same crew, same activity. The only difference was that the previous captain, her father, had died in an accident during one of their adventures. It happened exactly on the girl's 18th birthday, and that was to remain a scar for life, she knew it. Despite her immense pain, she stood stronger than anyone else and took command when everyone else was too weak and affected to think straight.

There was no fight for power. The whole crew knew she was as capable as anyone to take on the leadership, especially since she was the captain's daughter. All he knew, she knew, and her young age gave her all the advantages her father had lost along the way. Thus, although a girl, she was the one to command the ship.

As for her mother, Jade had never met her. She had never had a home to go back to on shore, and lived on the ship unconditionally, under the careful eyes of her caring father.

It was until this bright day that things were as blissful as they could be, but who would have known that in only a matter of minutes their fates were going to get a little messy.

   *   *   *
From up the crow's nest, one of the crew shouted for the captain to hear. "There's ship ahead! Waiting for orders!"

"Is it the one we passed yesterday?" the captain asked in a responsible manner.

"Can't tell, but most probably not. This one seems bigger and faster. We should make contact in a matter of minutes at this rate." And so they did. Barely ten minutes passed when the two ships met and both captains ordered a stop from the course.

The strangers clearly wanted something, and Jade intended to ask something of her own. Besides, making allies was crucial as her crew wasn't numerous enough to fend off any enemy.

"Good day, stranger!" politely greeted Jade. "How goes the weather further south?"

"As good as here, but I'm afraid you won't be able to see it, Beatrice!"

Murmurs started circulating behind Jade. Nobody ever called her that before. In truth, she hadn't heard that name pronounced in longer than she could remember.

"My name is Jade, daughter of Johnathan Drake, and I am captain of this ship. I fear you must be confusing me with someone else," she snapped, trying to remain calm and oblivious to the whispering behind. It only got worse though.

"Oh, but I know very well who you are, and I know you remember me as well. I am Willy Buns and I came back for you in order to fulfill my destiny and take your hand in marriage!"

Everyone gasped behind the girl. With crossed eyebrows she wouldn't even move a muscle, but was ready to take out her sword from its sheath in case the situation would get out hand. She had a strong feeling it would before they even knew it.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," she replied, slightly faltering and then added, "and even if I did, I still wouldn't marry a stranger like you!" she snapped.

"You very well know that your father is Stefan Blade and your mother Nadia Blade." The stranger sighed before continuing. "I was hoping you had gained a sense by now, my dear Beatrice, but it seems like I have to force it into you like your parents attempted long ago." That was the final warning.