The sun was high in the sky with no clouds to be seen for miles. My crew going about their day in relative peace and tranquillity. I couldn’t hold back the ghost of a smile, as I watched everyone bustle about with their daily tasks in the beautiful weather. Though I couldn’t help but feel weary, as the sea loved to lull you into a sense of peace right before sweeping you under your feet, unprepared for whatever demise she has planned for the poor souls out on her open seas. 

- Captain, a word.

- Aye. What ails you Alex?

Her eyes looked around the deck, searching for something that she apparently did not find by the way her shoulders relaxed and eyes softened.

- I am troubled, Captain.

- I cannot remember the last time I heard you say such a thing.

- Which is more the reason to listen to my troubles then.

I motioned for her to go on. Alex rolled her shoulders a few times, likely a gesture to loosen up her tense back and neck, hearing a few good cracks from her joints.

- That princeling, he is up to no good.

- Aye, on that we agree.

- But he is taking a particular interest in me, Captain. I have seen countless men watch me with hungry eyes, but this is the first time they have made me feel like this.

- Like what?

- Like, I am his next meal.

I would normally brush off such a thing, but this was Alex, my most beloved of friends, my brother in arms. I could see it in her eyes, she was unnerved by this lowlife pirate and whatever fantasies were being fed whenever his eyes would rake over her body. It surprised me though, as he did not seem like the type to insinuate such fowl behaviour. The men who usually would look at Alex were more mutt than man, so the idea of Crow showing such behaviours seemed somewhat uncharacteristic.  

- It is unnerving, the way he watches me. Like a predator sizing up his prey. Any other day I would have slit his throat, but he is under your care. So I can’t.

- I hear you, it is not long before we are at our set destination. Soon he will be off of our ship and forgotten to time.

- Aye, I sure hope that is so. Once this is over, I hope birds gouge out his eyes for whatever indescribable horror he was fantasising of.

I didn’t get to answer before David walked out from my captains quarters, the old door had been mended and was once again hanging off of the old hinges to my cabin. He closed the door carefully behind him before marching over with quick steps to the two of us, lips set in a neutral expression, brows slightly furrowed, just like always. Showing nothing of what he thought, and as such any word from his mouth would usually be a stark contrast to his calm exterior. 

- He is asleep. I cannot help but notice he has changed his sleeping patterns.

- I suppose he has, I have not seen him out and about as much.

- He has begun to walk around during dawn and right before the sun sets. He seems to sleep during most of the day.

- I wonder what he is up to now, the little mutt. Whatever it is, it does not bode well for any of us.

- Captain, regarding tonight, I believe the tides will be unusually low, as such I would advise we take a longer route around the oncoming archipelago.

- Ah yes, there is a full moon tonight.

- Perhaps that is why the mutt is acting oddly.

- What are you insinuating?

Alex threw her hands in the air, letting out a long exasperated groan.

- Oh I don’t know, perhaps he is some form of blood-thirsty creature, a lycan of sorts who prey on women and children.

- Alex. I understand that-

- I am keen to agree with her.

I could feel my jaw slacken, as I spun around to face David, his face showing no signs of anything, eyes insistent and sharp as he met my gaze.  

- What-

- Whatever you do Icarus. Do not trust him. He is likely not what we assume him to be.

There were no other words shared, as both David and Alex departed down below deck, leaving me in my own thoughts. Trying to make sense of what conversation had just transpired between the three of us, I began to feel an oncoming headache. Not feeling inclined to return to my cabin, I headed up to my steerman, hopefully steering my ship for the next few hours would help clearing my head. At least I could hope so.