[thefadedrose]

Steel . . . the glint of cold steel sat just outside of my peripheral vision.
I froze . . . it wasn't one of those accursed crabs . . . but something else . . . someone else! My mind forgot about the roasting crab wrapped in wet leaves entirely. The feel of the sand scratching against my feet as I moved for cover and called into the darkness . . . "Who's there? I'm armed . . . I'm not afraid of you."

Maybe a little, but then . . . we never know who will try to cheat us out of who these days do we? The king's men are thiefs . . . the pirates are thiefs . . . the world is full of stealing cutthroats all wielding different titles . . . one can never be too careful.

Was it one or two . . . her attention seemed broken. She hissed into the air, "Traitors and fiends . . . or friends . . . show yourself so we may cross steel or words!"