The Mark of Desert Flower: Sequel to Sea Glass

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Prologue 

“Take care, cap’n.”

Manami saluted Isra with a final farewell. Isra’s dark brown eyes moistened as she gazed into the taller redhead’s sad hazel eyes. Manami held back her own tears, buried by her stoic composure that she always kept. She never cried, and if she had, Isra had never witnessed it.

Isra forced a smile and saluted her. “May the sea be with you, and shall we meet again.” It was wistful thinking to bump into the crew again, but they both knew there was a chance they may never meet again, especially when they were traveling in opposite directions.

Manami turned to Yasen who was standing by Isra. “Nice meetin’ ye. Ye take care of her lass.”

“Don’t worry,” the bounty hunter replied with a wink. “She’s in good hands. But you know a pirate captain can take care of herself.”

Manami chuckled, nodding in full agreement.

“We’ll miss ye, cap’n,” another pirate stepped forward with a salute. “Good luck on yer adventure!”

“Aye, matey,” Isra replied, saluting.

“ISRA!” a pitiful voice bawled, throwing a suffocating hug around the petite black-haired woman nearly knocking her down. “Me lassie! What we gonna do without ye!”

Manami shook her head, laughing softly at Damon’s outburst. “He was devastated ye were leavin’ and drunk to the morn. Ye grown onto him like a blood-suckin’ leech.”

Isra chuckled as she hugged the burly man, comforting him as she patted his shoulder.

“There, there,” Isra began softly. “You’ll be a fine captain, Damon. Garnet is under good care.”

Sniffing loudly, Damon wiped his swollen eyes as he regained his composure. “I won’t disappoint ye, cap’n!”

“I know you won’t. You are the captain now, Damon.”

Isra crowned Damon’s head with a worn out black leather tricorn trimmed with gold and tiny studded garnets. The tricorn was long passed its time, but life still sparkled in the tiny red crystal garnets. The hat was a Garnet heirloom passed down to each pirate captain through many generations. Isra only wore the tricorn on special occasions, but she already felt she was giving away a precious part of her life.

Isra saluted Damon. Taking a deep breath, Isra raised her voice, “Hail to the new pirate of Garnet! Long live Captain Damon!”

“Long live Captain Damon!” everyone cheered with whistles. “Long live Captain Damon!”

A squeeze on Isra’s shoulder made her turn around.

Isra faced Yasen’s deep brown eyes. The brunette smiled at her, wrapping an arm around Isra’s waist to pull her closer.

“You sure this is OK with you?” Yasen asked as they watched the pirates prepare to sail. It was a big decision to step down as pirate captain of Garnet.

Isra nodded firmly. “I have unfinished business left to do.”

Isra and Yasen waved their last farewells as Garnet sailed away, far into the deep blue sea...