Captain Atlas unsettled August. He wasn’t exactly like the pirates he had heard about from his father. For one, he was extremely strict about the condition of his ship. The deck had to be swabbed at least five times a day and if one left a speck of dust on it the entire chore had to be redone. The cabins were meant to stay clean at all times and he routinely checked it. He even needed all of his weapons, which he so proudly displayed on a wall in his quarters, routinely polished although August was beginning to suspect that Eddie was making August do that for laughs. As far as August could tell, none of the other crewmates went inside of his quarters.

And that brought him to the second strange thing about Captain Atlas. When he dragged August onto the ship, he was preparing to defend himself from brutish thugs but was greeted by a small horde of mainly children. At first August blanched thinking that Atlas had kidnapped them, but they were all quite fond of him. And quite defensive as well. August made one small complaint about his chores, and they hurled such profane insults at him his ears were still ringing two hours later.

That was the most unsettling part of his excursion. Atlas had warned him that no one would respect or treat him as a prince, but they didn’t seem to respect him as a human being either. Whilst everyone else had a bunk to sleep in, August was subject to sleeping in a corner. Every time he passed them, they all stopped their conversation to glare at him. And he was sure that one of them stole a sack of his gold. He was down to his last one!

Under different circumstances he would’ve greatly enjoyed this journey. This was his first time sailing and it was as riveting as the storybooks said it was. The fresh, salty air brought a sense of excitement for August. He didn’t know where he was heading next, but that was part of the fun. One day, when his father forgave him, he’d travel to his heart's content.

“Daydreaming again?”

August snapped back to attention and found one of the crew members. Ian, in front of him.

“I’m cleaning, I’m cleaning.” August said, half-heartedly pushing the mop around.

“This isn’t about that. If you don’t do well Eddie will just make you clean it again.”

“Ah! You require my assistance then! What is it? A rogue sea monster? Rivaling pirates?”

Ian frowned at him. “No. Why would anyone call you for help in that situation?”

August brushed off the insult, a skill he had mastered in a matter of days. “Then are we nearing our destination?”

“You talk too much. Captain wants you.”

August groaned. “I already polished his weapons yesterday. How many times can he force me to do such a menial task?”

Ian crossed his arms. “Before you go, I have a message for you as well. I don’t know why Captain agreed to help you-”

“I paid him two full sacks of gold.”

“Money is not the only thing that moves Eddie. So, you better not be taking advantage of him. Do as you're told and don’t cause trouble. And if anything happens to him or the rest of our crew, I’ll make sure you’ll get a front row seat of the murky depths of the sea.”

August shivered at his words. With enough luck he’d be off this ship very soon.

“Captain’s on the main deck.” Ian said before flitting off as if he hadn’t just delivered a bone chilling threat.

August tossed the mop aside and headed up the rickety ladder to the main deck. Atlas stood in the middle of the deck admiring the horizon. His black hair looked messed up in a perfect kind of way and despite their dull color Atlas’ gray eyes shone with excitement. If he wasn’t such a prick, August would’ve called him handsome. A few other members of the crew milled around on the deck as well, with no chores…

He finished boarding the deck and walked over to him bracing himself for whatever stupid chore he’d be subjected to now.

“You called for me?”

Atlas turned and smiled at him. Not an inviting smile. A smile of mischief. Perhaps him staring at the horizon so fondly was him imagining all the ways he could torture August.

“Earlier today as Aileen was taking up her post in the crow’s nest, she noticed something strange.”

“What does she do up there all day?” August mumbled.

Aileen was one of the first crew members that August remembered solely because of her odd appearance. Her hair was a vibrant pink color, and her eyes were so blue at times he thought they were glowing. Even stranger though was her habit of staying in the crow’s nest all day and only coming down for a meal and rest.

“And she’s still up there so how did she tell you anything?”

“I went up there!” Atlas said. “And she told me that she thinks the main mast is a bit dirty and you know I think I agree with that too!”

August frowned. The probability of Aileen saying that was very low. He didn’t know her at all, but she was a girl of very little words. August never even saw her talking to the other crewmates.

“When are we arriving at our destination?”

Atlas laughed. “Getting tired of me, are you?”

“I think doing these menial tasks when Evelyn needs my help is quite demeaning.”

“Oh please,” Atlas scoffed. “You want to get away from us as soon as possible.”

August bristled. “Even if that were true you couldn’t very well blame me. One of those little brats stole my gold!”

“Just steal it back! You’re on a pirate ship, this should be expected.”

“You want me to steal it?” August said aghast.

“What? Do you need tips? Well first you need to quiet down your footsteps. I can hear you coming a mile away!”

“I don’t need tips on how to steal! How dishonorable!”

“By Lux’s wings! Why does honor matter to you so much?”

“I don’t expect someone of your caliber to understand the importance of carrying yourself with dignity.”

“I think you just have a stick too far up your ass.”

August’s cheeks grew hotter with every second the conversation continued. This pirate captain took him as some kind of joke. The things he did for Evelyn and this quest were becoming quite strenuous on his conscience. He could think of only one way to settle this.

“Captain Atlas, I challenge you to a duel!”

Atlas’ eyebrows shot up. “That was quite unexpected. Are you sure?”

“Of course I am!” August protested. “You’re bringing shame to me and disrespecting my honor!”

“I told you you wouldn’t be treated like a prince here.” Atlas shrugged.

“This isn’t about me being a prince! This is about my principles! I won’t steal just because I got stolen from.”

Atlas actually looked surprised which August hated to admit, but he took a little joy in. He had managed to finally get under that pirate’s skin.

But then Atlas’ smile grew as he unsheathed his own sword. “Challenge accepted.”

The few crew members who were on the deck started cheering for Atlas.

“Get him Captain!” A girl shouted.

“Captain, let me fight him next!” An excited blonde who August came to know as Cameron said.

“It’s been ages since someone challenged me.” Atlas said.

“Well then I guess you’re rusty,” August said, getting his hopes up.

The crew were all rooting for Atlas. August blocked their loud voices out and focused on what the royal guard’s captain taught him.

“I’ll give you the courtesy of striking first.” Atlas said with a cocky grin.

He was entirely too confident about this which gave August another reason to be unsettled by him. There was a light breeze that contrasted with the craziness on the ship, but August didn't let that bother him. August lifted his sword up and got into a fighting stance. Right leg in front with his toes pointed forward and knees slightly bent. 

Hopefully unexpectedly, August thrust his sword at Eddie, but he blocked his strike.  He began striking him at a faster pace and Atlas picked his pace up as well, dodging his attacks making August miss more times than he hit. 

Atlas stayed on the defensive as they danced across the deck. August didn’t know what his ploy was, but it was starting to make him nervous. When would he strike? He had to have some trick up his sleeve, he was a pirate after all. He’d end the fight before then.

August noticed Atlas slow down just by a fraction and took that as an opening. He lunged forward and thrust forward a confident stab, but Atlas stepped aside and kicked at August’s leg making him stumble.

Atlas looked even more excited than before as August got to his feet charged at him with a ferocity that he had never felt before. The crew was screaming louder than before just as excited as Atlas. 

August advanced on Eddie and their swords clashed against each other in a heated battle.

“You’re better than I thought!” Atlas shouted over the excitement.

“And you’re worse!” August said even though it wasn’t true.

Atlas pushed forward, finally going on the offensive. He became quicker and more precise with his blows.  August had severely underestimated him. He was faster and more experienced than August and he got the feeling that he hadn’t been challenged in a while because he was that good. August lost his footing and tumbled over on the deck.

“Don’t lose just yet!” Owen crowed in laughter.

August quickly got back up on his feet before Atlas could deliver another cruel blow. Atlas adapted quickly and continued his onslaught. August barely had time to process what was happening. At the next blow, August used the force of their clashing swords to push Atlas backwards. He didn’t fall, but he did retreat giving August a chance to breathe and reposition himself. He could still win this, right?

August charged forward and attacked first again with. They danced farther up the deck and around the main mast. August pushed him back with rapid attacks to the plank. Atlas stepped onto it still parrying attacks and started walking backwards. The crew gasped in shock as Eddie stepped closer and closer to the end of the plank.

“Looks like I’m winning.” August said with a smirk.

“Does it?” Atlas said with a smirk to match.

August hesitated at that confidence and in a split second, Atlas grabbed his sword arm with his free hand and forced it into the air. He pulled August close to him and spun around. Atlas shoved him  roughly and he almost toppled off of the deck. Now August’s back was to the ocean and Atlas’ to the ship. The crew screamed their approval at them. For the first time, August felt a spike of fear flash through to him.

“Do you yield?” Atlas said, still holding his sword at August.

“No!” August snapped.

He lunged forward and rammed into Atlas with all of his strength leading them back to the deck. Before he could get his bearings August smashed the hilt of her sword onto Atlas’ hand. Atlas cried out in pain and dropped his sword and August quickly kicked it across the deck.

Atlas looked up at him with a mixture of both anger and admiration. The crew was screaming even louder. It was a wild assortment of insults, curses, and screams but it was clear that they enjoyed a good fight.

“Do you yield?” August taunted.

Not very honorable, but he was a little proud of himself. 

Atlas got to his feet and brushed himself off. August stepped forward cautiously and pointed his sword at him.

“I’ll take that as yes,” August said proudly.

“No,” Atlas said. “I don’t yield.”

Before August could register his movement, their bodies connected and he fell to the ground and the sword fell out of his grip. Atlas  grabbed it as August scrambled back to his feet. Atlas grabbed him and shoved him against the mainmast, his own sword dangerously close to his neck. 

“You’re better than I thought,” Atlas admitted. “But still bad.”

Lana took a careful breath trying to think of a way to avoid certain death.

“Now normally if this were a proper duel the loser would die,” Atlas said. “But you’ve amused me enough for today. Just count yourself lucky that I’m not as honorable as you!”

Atlas laughed and dropped August’s sword on the deck before turning away. August swallowed and picked the sword up. Perhaps being on this ship had made him a little in over his head. If Atlas hadn’t been so insistent on making a fool out of him he’d be dead. Next time he’d tread cautiously before he courted death.