Caleb crept along the stone staircase that spiraled up the central space within the keep. Though he tried to be quiet, it seemed to him that each step his took echoed loudly off the high ceiling. That unnerved him and made him continually grasp at his side for his non-existent cutlass or flintlock pistols.

Not that it would matter anyway, he thought grimly. Those weapons would be useless against a pissed-off Lili Nevin. And besides, I’ll be announcing my presence in a moment anyway.

He turned and spoke to the little dragon that clambered up the steps alongside of him.

“Okay, Daffodil. I’m heading up to the princess now. So I think you need to go into your camouflage mode.” He considered a moment. “I only hope you’re right about Lili Nevin. Otherwise, you’ll be able to scrape up what’s left of me with a wire grill brush.”

“I’m right,” she insisted. “That’s why she didn’t come storming down to the cells to throw her fire or lightning spells at us. She’s waiting for you to come up and talk to her.”

“Good luck to both of us, then.”

Daffodil nodded and shifted to a mottled pattern of gray-black that matched the keep’s gloomy interior. The tiny little taks that marked her progress faded away as she disappeared into the shadows.

Caleb let out a breath and called up the spell he wanted.

Dancing Lights

He called up a trio of glowing, bobbing orbs. Then sent them floating up the stairs ahead of him. They illuminated the way ahead nicely for a few seconds.

Then, with a sizzling crackle, a bolt of lightning arced down from above. It scythed through the three globes of light, bisecting them. Each winked out with a pathetic little pop.

Liliana’s voice fairly boomed in Caleb’s ears as it echoed off the walls.

“I see you, Sir Knight. Your weapons are useless against me. You only have one choice remaining: either walk up the stairs to your doom, or remain where you are so that I can kill you at my leisure.”

Caleb shook his head. Heck of a choice you’re offering, Lili.

“For the record, I’m unarmed,” he began. “Also for the record, I’m not a knight. So kindly lay off the proclamations of doom for a moment, all right?”

“You’re not a...my father sent you, didn’t he?”

“He offered me a reward if I brought you and Daffodil back home. Unharmed, I should add. However, I’m having second thoughts about whether I should take you back home at all.”

Her voice grew more suspicious. “Whatever for? If all you care about is your money, then this conversation grows tiresome–”

“That’s not all I care about,” Caleb interrupted.

“What, then?”

“I’ve been talking to Daffodil. And frankly, I think your Dad’s in the wrong here.” He paused, waiting for Lili’s reaction. When none was forthcoming, he spoke again into the darkness above. “Look, can we at least talk face-to-face? I’ll keep my hands up so you can see I’m unarmed.”

Another long pause.

“Come to the top of the stairs, then. Slowly.”

Caleb did as he was told. He held up his hands, palms outwards, and took the steps one at a time. He went up a full flight before noticing a flickering orange light up ahead.

The steps ended at a wide stone landing. A brazier holding a pair of torches turned out to be the source of the light. Lili stood, arms crossed, in the center of the space.

The princess was clad in a lavender dress trimmed with gold, similar to her father’s cloak. Purple slippers hugged her feet. A golden belt around her waist held a tiny dagger, its ivory handle inset with amethyst.

She had long, black hair, a pert nose, and dark eyes that flashed with anger. Her fingers twitched. A dull crackle of energy rose from between the digits.

She’s like a loaded and cocked firearm, Caleb observed silently. My timing had better be right on this.

“That’s as close as you come,” she pronounced. “You have thirty seconds to speak.”

“Fair enough,” Caleb said, as he slowly lowered his hands. As he did so, he envisioned two of his Corsair skills coming into play.

Charisma Boost Bluff Assist

In his mind, he called up his Individual-Specific Specialty and the current leftover experience points on his Character Sheet.

XP Edge – Enhanced 38% Unspent XP: 600

A flick in his mind, at the XP began to drop as he burned them to boost the Bluff Assist.

“Your father spoke about what happened between you two,” Caleb began. “He said that you didn’t ‘abide by him’.”

Her chin came up a jot. “So what if I didn’t? Maybe I didn’t feel like it!”

“He said you stole rum from the cellar.”

“A few bottles disappeared, mayhap. My hands were not the ones who did the deed.”

“He said you allowed young men to court you.”

A shrug. “Why else would I get them to steal the rum for me?”

“He even said you got two knights to fight to the death for your amusement.”

“Do you know a better way for a girl decide who’s worthy to take to a royal ball?”

“You know, I think you’ve got a point.”

“How dare you! I shall not...” Liliana trailed off and stared at him. “Wait, you’re agreeing with me?”

“Why not? You’re a young, independent woman, Princess. If you’re mature enough to throw a fireball, then I’d say you’re mature enough to make your own decisions. Especially when it comes to what you want to drink and who you want to date. Not sure if I’m on board with the whole ‘fighting to the death thing’, but I doubt you forced them to go through with it.”

“Of course I didn’t! It’s not my fault that I’m perilously fair. And next in line for the throne, too. I’m only surprised more men aren’t lining up to do battle.”

Yeah, there’s a perilous ego involved here too, Caleb thought.

“True, you are fair indeed,” he said aloud. “And who knows? Maybe you’d be better off running things here in Gilarska.”

Her eyes grew bright as the Bluff Assist began to nudge her thinking along the lines he wanted.

“I am beginning to like your ideas very much, Sir Knight.”

“Once again, I’m no knight.”

“Then what are you, sirrah?”

“I’ll tell you what I was first, Princess. I was a young man whose father threw him out of his home. For drinking and smoking things I shouldn’t have. For bringing home girls to have fun with. And worse. In the end, he gave me the ultimatum: If I didn’t follow his rules, then I wouldn’t be allowed under his roof anymore!”

“What did you do?” she asked breathlessly.

“I left to live on my own terms,” Caleb said honestly. “I became a courier on the high seas, paid to bring a package from point A to point B. It was exciting, for a while. Until...”

“Until what?” she asked, as she uncrossed her arms. “Tell me, I want to know!”

Caleb sighed theatrically as he something wavered at the edge of his vision. A slight ripple against the wall to the princess’ side by the torchlight. He turned and took a step in the opposite direction, keeping the young woman’s attention on him alone.

“Until I arrived here. In your world. And here, I am a Corsair. A pirate, if you will.”

“A pirate?” she breathed. “You have your own ship, to take you where the wind blows?”

“Never mind the wind,” Caleb scoffed. “I go anywhere I so desire! Adventure’s in my blood, and I do what I wish, when I wish!”

Lili’s jaw firmed. “Then I shall be going with you.”

“You what?” Caleb stopped, the words he was using in the bluff faltering.

Oh, boy. This isn’t going quite like I planned. Daffodil better get in position, and quick!

“I mean,” he continued, “That’s an awfully sudden change of career you know...”

“And speaking as a Princess with the powers of wizardry, I think you’ll need a new Captain. Which shall be me.”

“You?”

“Dare you or anyone oppose my power? I’m tired of being cooped up on this island. You can be my second-in-command. Execute my orders, or be executed yourself. What say you?”

Finally, the shimmer in Caleb’s vision moved into place behind Liliana.

Perfect.

“Yeah, I’d say...no.”

Caleb activated the Weathermancy spell he’d prepared from before he’d ascended the stairs.

Squall Burst

Before Liliana could bring her hands up, he thrust his arm out towards her. A blast of air rocketed in Liliana Nevin’s direction with a FWOOM!

The young woman still fell back, knocked off her feet and out of her slippers. Her petite posterior landed on the floor three paces back with a thump and a screech of outrage.

“I’ll roast you for that!” she cried, as she sat up. Her eyes blazed with magical energy.

Suddenly, Daffodil appeared next to her bare feet, seemingly out of thin air.

“I’m so sorry, Lili!” the little dragon said, cringing. “Sorry, sorry!”

With that, Daffodil took the ring that Caleb had given her and slipped it on Lili’s pinkie toe.

“How dare you!” Lili said indignantly. “Take that off! When I get my hands on you, I’ll wring your scrawny...”

The princess’ eyes rolled back in her head. She collapsed and let out a snore.

Caleb ran up and knelt by Lili’s side. He pressed a finger to her neck, checking her pulse.

“Did...did I hurt her?” Daffodil asked timidly.

“No, she’s fine,” Caleb said. “She’ll just be asleep for the next minute or so.”

He took off his knapsack and dug into it for the spare set of clothes and a length of rope inside. Then he swiped Lili’s ivory-handled dagger and used its sharp blade to help fashion both bonds and a gag.

Caleb sat back on his heels as soon as the job was done and wiped the sweat from his brow. Daffodil remained at Lili’s side, looking concerned. He shook his head ruefully.

Would’ve been interesting to have a princess pirate wizard on board, he admitted to himself. But you’re a bit too greedy for your own good, Lili. And that’s got me worried that your father’s got the same flaw running through his veins.