Without any further hesitation, the surgeon pulled the piece of wood from Ruby’s leg. Initially an eerie silence came over the entirety of the ship as though a supernatural force suppressed all sound. A few heartbeats ter, Ruby’s howl of pain rippled the length and breadth of The Dancing Dagger. Suddenly shaking beyond anything he’d done, the surgeon looked worriedly at Nerice. “E’nn th’ devil hisself be cower’n now, y to that you can, Natasha.” Unable to use his fingers due to Nerice’s blindness and need to contain his fear, the doctor pushed his gsses up and then spoke as calmly as he could as blood streamed from Ruby’s leg.

  Diligent in her action, Nerice touched the blistering bde to the points deep within Ruby’s leg. Initially blood poured from the wound and it took Nerice a second of blood washing over her hand to find the first point and seal it with a quick singe from the blistering bde. Nerice felt the power of the bde begin pulsing in her palm and she quickly spoke to the captain. “Speak nothing of what you witness and watch.” Although she didn’t see it, Nerice knew from the doctor's silence that the bde was doing exactly as she knew it would. Ruby’s blood funneled through the bde’s metal, fusing it and providing it with more heat and magical energy. “Doctor, learn this now. Blood is everything.” Nerice swallowed and moved the dagger in the direction she recalled from the points she’d touched on Ruby’s leg. “A little more direction, if you please.”

  “Aye, Natasha. Agree’s me does, now.” He sighed and calmly told Nerice to move left or right to stop all of the bleeding. “Nay a word, Natasha. He disappeared for a minute and returned with a bottle of clear alcohol. “Let’s be get’n this clear’d out.” Without any fanfare the surgeon dumped half the bottle on the open wound and then began stitching Ruby’s leg. Much like the rest of the crew, the surgeon was fond of his captain and worked diligently to close the gaping wound. Nearly an hour ter, he cut the st of the stitching and addressed Nerice. “Mayhaps use that thing around Captain Ruby’s stitches, stop all the bleed’n.”

  Taking a deep and satisfying breath, Nerice clicked her tongue and chirped until she got a detailed outline of the hellish wound. Once more using the ruby-encrusted bde, Nerice methodically worked her way along the length and permanently plugged the remaining openings. “Good work, Doctor.” Nerice finally took a moment to smile and y her head on Ruby’s chest and listened to her dymate’s heart beating as strong as ever. “Crazy Pirate.” Nerice muttered.

  “Ugly witch.” Ruby added groggily, as she ran her fingers in Nerice’s hair. “Doctor.” Ruby reached deep within her persona and forced her command voice out, “Good work all things considering. As, I need to get topside.”

  Nerice righted herself and slid the dagger back into its sheath, “Who’s ugly?” She joked, and pressed her hand to Ruby’s forehead. “You are going to y right here and get your strength back, Patricia can handle things above.”

  Intent on doing as she pleased, Ruby kissed Nerice’s thin hand and sat up to fix her rose bandana. “Natasha, get me to what’s left of my helm.” Noticing the concerned look on her surgeon’s face, Ruby turned her sparkling hazel eye to him. “I promise once this battle is over, I will retire to my cabin and let you attend to my care.”

  “I don’t have much choice, Captain Ruby.” He chuckled and went back to work on his other patients.

  “How do you pn on getting up the stairs with no real working leg…” Nerice grumbled, “...Captain? I really hate that fucking name.”

  “You are my legs, so suck it up.” Ruby announced while hiding her immense pain from everyone around her. “I don’t have the luxury of taking a break while the rest are fighting, Natasha.” Ruby swung her arm around Nerice’s waist, “How long was I out?”

  Grunting with the weight of her dymate in her arms, Nerice ughed. “You let out a scream that made the grim reaper afraid, love.” Nerice clicked her tongue and nodded to herself as the couple ascended the stairs. “After that, not a peep. I think you woke up when the doctor wrapped your leg.” She paused, “Now again, who’s ugly?”

  Roughly ten minutes ter, Ruby found herself back on the damaged deck and witnessed the frigate listing to it’s left as it took on water and began sinking. “Ahoy, Patricia.” Ruby calmly got her first mate’s attention. “Forget the frigate. That ship was the cover for our real prize.” Ruby looked at her compass and took the wheel from Medusa. “Just ahead.” She handed Patricia a spygss, “A galleon, named ‘The Providence Princess.’ She makes passes from Gibraltar to the Florida Keys, and is always heavily loaded. See how low she is in the water?” Ruby added.

  “Aye, Captain.” Medusa replied. “So heavy that the wind isn’t moving her fast and water spsh’n on the captain’s windows?” She ughed, “We will catch her no problem. Orders?”

  Retrieving the spygss from Medusa, Ruby looked at her target one final time and colpsed the device in her hand. “Disable the ship, we want the cargo. Masts, chain shot..” Ruby smiled and patted her big first mate on the shoulder. “You know the drill.”

  “Aye, Aye. Captain.” Patricia bowed to Ruby and went to prepare the cannoneers.

  —

  Pursuing the ship through the night, Ruby had managed to close the distance about the time the sun rose and outlined the galleon perfectly. “Ner-Ner?”

  With a yawn and a stretch, Nerice stood up and went to Ruby’s side. “Sleeping on the deck is terrible, and you’ve been standing all night.”

  “Not true, you witch.” Ruby pyed, “I had Medusa take the wheel for a bit and I sat down and put your head in my p, you ungrateful woman.” Ruby turned the wheel and watched as The Dancing Dagger’s sails filled completely and lurch the ship forward. “Perfect.” Ruby spoke to one of the guards on deck, “Give the word, All hands at the ready.” With a salute, the guard rang the bell on the main deck and began yelling Ruby’s command. “Natasha, now the fun starts.”

  “Your idea of fun is about as macabre as my own.” She kissed Ruby on the cheek. “Get this over with so I can get you into bed.” Nerice felt her way to the front of the helm and grabbed the rail tight. “Just let me know when to use the st bottle, love.”