The sun had barely risen above the water at the edge of the horizon, when Alex came barging down my door to the captain’s quarters, eyes ablaze with a tight grip on David’s blouse. Having been awoken rather rudely, I was in no mood for any of Alex’s usual theatrics.

- Vince!

- Alex. I hope for your own safety on this ship that whatever you are about to say is of utmost importance.

- It is. The royal must be thrown overboard. The sooner the better.

- Oh?

- He is nothing but trouble, and I am willing to bet my life on there being more ships searching for him, and if not now, then they surely will soon enough.

- What makes you think that.

- It was no small vessel we sunk yesterday, I do not believe the little prince that there were no other ships nearby, nor that no other ships of the empire wouldn’t look for him once he is reported missing. He should be sunk along with the ship so no trace can make its way back to us.   

What she said was sound. Logically, I should have sunk the man along with the captain and his ship, yet the man had stood his ground amongst pirates. He was no royal, none that I had ever seen before. If he were a royal, as he claims to be, he would have cowered in fear along with the other Brittons. Yet, he asked to parlay with a pirate captain, no sign of fear in his eyes and no waver in his voice. 

Whoever he was, he had guts, and I wished to know more of who he truly is, and why he was aboard that ship. I knew Alex would not hold her tongue, nor fake her disdain for a supposed royal convincing enough for the princeling to not notice the shift in her demeanour towards him, and thus I had to avoid telling her. Her anger of being kept in the dark was a price I was willing to pay for whatever information the mysterious man was surely harbouring. I watched David as he took in our conversation in complete silence. He must also have thought the same as me, as he himself did not make an effort to speak up on the issue.

- Alex, I appreciate your advice, but we are keeping the prince in the brigg.

- For what purpose other than for your own pleasure-

- Enough Alex. Respect the wish of our Captain. Don’t forget your place.

- I- I am going under deck to the crew, for at least I am willing to stand alongside them once we meet our fate by the empire’s gallows in the name of our Captain’s whore! 

With that Alex left with just as much flair for the theatrics as she had entered earlier. I was not worried, as I knew she would calm down by the end of the day, once she had gambled and drank every other pirate on my ship to shame. I was now left with David, who watched me, still as silent as a man can be, his chest rising and sinking in calm breaths. 

- I assume you think the same as me.

- Aye, if you mean by our little royal down below not being who he claims.

- I know no royal of the British empire who would stand tall and seek parlay amongst pirates.

- Me neither.

- I will keep an eye on him then.

With that David simply bid farewell with a curt nod of his head, before heading out and closing the door gently behind him. I sank back into bed with an exasperated sigh, finally I was once again alone to rest some more before having to begin my daily duties as Captain.

It was a while later that I found myself walking down towards the brigg, seeking out the princeling, hoping I could get a few more words from him, though I assumed he would be nothing of help and keep to his earlier claims. He knew of a name in the royal family, a name close, but not close enough to be the immediate family, yet close enough to matter to a pirate like myself. There was more to this, but what I did not yet know. 

- I seem to have been blessed with distinguished company.

- High spirits I see, hope your royal highness found his new quarters to his liking.

He looked unimpressed, which was not surprising. His mannerisms spoke of fine upbringing, perhaps he spoke a partial truth, but his confidence shone through any royal or noble facade. He stood in the middle of the cell, arms crossed and head held high. No sign of fatigue, only a clear disdain towards me as he eyed me in disgust. I looked down by his feet, where a tray laid, food and water seemingly untouched. 

- Is the food not to your liking?

- Nothing here is to my liking. I have seen gutters in the slums of London cleaner than this cell.

- I have no intention of giving you more than to keep you alive, prince. I am the only man on this ship who is keeping you alive.

- Are you threatening me, pirate?

- No. I am only speaking the truth. All pirates on this ship want you thrown overboard, none but me are making sure that does not happen.

My words seemed to finally sink in, as the man now looked away from me, eyes focused on the tray by his feet. Deep in thought as there was now nothing but silence filling the brigg. I had no intention of keeping him alive for longer than I had to, as information was what I sought after from him. I watched as the man before me regained himself, once again watching me with eyes sharp as daggers.

- I don’t know what information you think I have-

- I do not care for your lies. You are nothing but a stack of gold in my eyes prince.

His eyes narrowed, my words were harsh as I wished to see how easily I could get what I wished from him, though I expected nothing of value to leave his lips on the first day of captivity. He was perceptive, and a good liar, but unlike this man, I had nothing to lose by having him killed. He needed me, and thus he would eventually tell me what I wanted, or simply die.

He did not speak any further, so I began walking back towards upper deck, not looking back as I spoke to him one final time.

- Once we make it to land we will part for gold, and after that I do not care for what happens to you, your highness. 

With that I walked up towards the deck, to once again steer my ship towards harbour, hoping for the young man beneath deck to break apart and spill the truth.