39

39
I wake up to the sound of clinking metal and low murmuring. I slowly open my eyes and blink a few times, rubbing the sleep from them. I prop myself up on one arm and look around to find the voices. I see Jace standing in the doorway speaking with Deckette. I sit up, feeling a bit groggy, and take a big breath. 
“Oh good, you’re awake.” Jace strides over to me and kneels down in front of me. “I want to take you somewhere, so I’ll send for your ladies.” He has a big smile on his face and his eyes are bright with excitement. I muster up a smile and nod. Jace jumps up and dashes out the door. 
“He is quite cheery this morning.” Deckette leans on the doorframe with a coy smile on his face. “Care to share what happened last night?” He gestures toward the bed. My face goes red as I scoff at him, a smile unintentionally pulling at my lips.  
“Oceans depth, Deckette, have you no shame!?” I shake my head. “It is yet morning and you ask such a crass question.” Deckette gasps loudly, leans back and looks both ways before leaning into the room. 
“Does my lady mean that there will be a small captain soon?” If he were closer to me, I’d smack his arm. 
“Unlike you and your nightly activities, I must disappoint you, as the captain and I had no such relations.” 
“Lies. I hardly believe you.” Deckette eyes me with playful suspicion. 
“Believe what you want, ladies man.” 
“You expect me to believe that my captain, who is the most handsome of men, and my lady, who is like starlight herself, remained in the same bed all night and did not become one?!” 
“Deckette!”
“It is preposterous! Unheard of! My poor captain, how he must ache!” Deckette groans and covers his manhood. I stomp over to him and lightly land a few blows on his arm. 
“By all the sand in the sea, enough, I tell you!” I laugh. “I promise you, on my life, that the captain and I did not lay together. We did not even share the same bed. He sat in that chair until I fell asleep.” I point. Deckette glances to the chair then back at me, his eyes playfully narrow, then sighs dramatically. 
“It was too much to hope for, I suppose.” I shake my head and roll my eyes. “Next time.” He grins and I resume smacking him as he laughs.
“My lady!” Lola, Tilly, and Payla rush past Deckette into my room. “Are you alright?”
 “We were so worried last night, especially when you did not return.”
“Are you hurt anywhere, my lady?” The three of them crowd around me, looking me over to see for themselves if I am hurt. 
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I give them a reassuring smile and they seem to relax a bit. “But I am most sorry for what happened to all of you. How are you all faring?” I notice the red marks on Lola and Tilly’s faces from being slapped. It makes me feel helpless and angry.
“We are alright, my lady.” Payla squeezes my hands. 
“That’s right!” Lola pumps her fist. “We are stronger than we look!”
“The next time we see those men, they’ll regret ever being born.” Tilly’s voice is very low compared to her usually high voice. It makes me a little nervous. 
“Are y-” I start when Lola claps her hands.
“Let us get you ready, my lady. The prince is waiting!” She squeals. Before I can get another word out, my ladies rush me further into the room and sit me down on a chair. Payla starts on my hair while Lola and Tilly prepare my dress and jewelry. They lay them out on my bed and bicker back and forth on what I should wear.