I get up early like every morning and get ready for the day. A smile graces my face as I remember that today is a training day with my brother. I enjoy these training days, it reminds me of when I was alive on my father's ship and he would train me. And now I am carrying on the tradition and train my brother. And the rest of my crew. But it is a little more personal with my brother. Almost like passing on a family legacy. 

I get ready quickly, looking forward to what the day holds. The first time in since the Darlings showed up that I have actually looked forward to the day. I throw open the door to my cabin and step out onto the deck. The early morning light greets me and glints off the water. The sea spray fills the air with the familiar scent of the sea water. I take a deep breath and I know I'm home. 

My brother steps into my line of sight. "Morning Cap'n." The excitement in his voice makes me wonder if he forgot about the training today. Or maybe he was hoping to distract me so he can get out of it. Neither one is going to get him out of it. 

I grin at him. "Morning Squirt! Ready for training?" 

He sighs before hanging his head in acceptance. "Yeah. I guess." 

I chuckle a little at his reaction. He always was a little hesitant about training. But it is important. And he did catch on a little faster than he expected to. Perhaps he has more in common with our father than he thinks. I don't think he gives himself enough credit. He could be very talented if he bothered to put in the work. I nod in invitation to him. "Then let's go." 

He steps back and draws his saber, because that is what he favors, getting into a ready stance. I smile and do the same. We circle each other a few times, watching each other closely to try to determine who will make the first move. His patience and strategy has gotten better with all the training we have been putting in over the years. I decide to test his reaction time and I lunge quickly, swinging my blade to strike first. He jumps to the side and uses his own blade to push my cutlass away from him. 

This seems to push him into action and he stops watching me and starts swinging and thrusting his own blade. Now we are locked in a duel. Our blades battle, the clanging of the connecting blows resounds over the deck and in the open air. It almost becomes a dance with our footwork moving so fast and our blades banging out a beat for us to move to. 

I spy him stumbling a little with his footwork. "Watch your footwork. You're getting sloppy." I make a swipe at his legs to emphasize my warning. He hops out of the way just in time. 

He doesn't respond but he does his best to clean up his footwork while we continue our little duel. With his concentration suddenly split his reaction time slows and I get the perfect opening. I lock my blade with his to pull him in closer to me. Then I grab hold of the hilt of his saber and push him away from me, keeping his blade in my other hand. I adjust my grip on the hilt of his weapon and then hold both blades up to him, one at his neck and the other at his chest. 

"You're getting sloppy. Do we need to up your training Squirt?" I tease. 

He rolls his eyes. "Okay, I think you made your point. Can I have it back now?" He holds one of his hands up in a silent request for his weapon. 

I tilt my head and pretend to think about it. "I don't know. You clearly need to practice."  I could continue to fight without my blade, but I know he isn't there yet. One thing at a time. If I teach him not to lose his blade then he may not even need to learn to fight without it. 

"Come on," he tries to take a step towards me but I wave both the blades in his face as if to show him that I am the one who is armed, and he is not. He sighs in defeat. "Fine. I'll put in more practice."  

I nod and return his saber to him. He takes it back and sheaths it. I put my own blade away, satisfied that I have done enough for now. He has clearly learned something today. It may not have been the lesson I was planning on passing on today, but the important thing is that he at least learned something. 

"Are all of you this barbaric?" 

I whirl around at the sound of the voice. All commotion on the ship comes to a grinding halt at their words. I glare at the source of the voice. 

"You call us barbaric?"  I fight to keep my composure. 

Tiger Lily's face remains passive. "Yes. Is this what you do? You spend your time fighting with blades and taunting each other? That is not what I would call civilized. And your way of fighting is barbaric." The silent judgement in her eyes does not go unnoticed by me. 

The tension is so thick I could cut it with my cutlass. "And I suppose you can do better, princess?" I challenge, determined to defend my pride and honor. 

She shrugs nonchalantly, her eyes glancing around the deck casually. "I don't think you would find it interesting enough. I do not use weapons unless necessary." 

I narrow my eyes at her. I unbuckle my belt that has my cutlass on it and hand it to my brother. I wave her towards me in invitation. "I don't need a weapon." It's true. My father taught me to fight with and without the help of a weapon. I was trained not to surrender or lose. Whether or now I had the advantage of a weapon was irrelevant. Failure was never an option. And losing your weapon was just an excuse. 

Tiger Lily's expression changes to a smirk for just a second before she regains her impassive mask. A moment later she lunges at me in an attempt to tackle me. I smirk and drop my center of gravity, rolling out of the way. I pop back up and turn towards her, staying on the balls of my feet. She had decided to stay down, closer to the ground instead of jumping back up like me. She tries to take my legs out but I jump over her attempt and dance out of her reach. 

Her stony expression remains fixed but I notice the flash of annoyance in her eyes. We continue like this for a while with her on offense and me playing defense but more so taunting her than anything. Eventually I get her where I want her and we start exchanging physical blows. I get her into a hold and refuse to let go. 

I lean in to talk to her. "Just because you were taught differently than me, doesn't mean your ways are always right and mine are always wrong. You of all people should know better than to judge based on culture or beliefs." 

She struggles to get out of my hold. "Let me go." 

I sigh. So much for her gaining respect for me. I let go of her and push her away from me. "Why are you here? I assume you didn't just come here to insult my culture." 

She glares at me. "We should plan in case that girl escapes the mists." 

I nod. "I know. I've already been thinking about it." 

"And you didn't think to say something?" She demands. 

I narrow my eyes at her again. "I don't have to tell you anything. I don't answer to you. And you have made it very clear where you stand on this. So why don't you do your part and just tell me when she is spotted leaving your territory." 

I see her jaw tense and take a little satisfaction in knowing that I got on her nerves. She looks as though she is about the respond when there is a shout that catches both of our attention. We look over to see one of her scouts has just boarded the ship and is rushing over to her. 

"You have a report?" She asks him. 

"She was spotted leaving the territory. And then again outside the territory. She still has the map." He informs us. 

"Well," I look between the two of them. "I guess it's time for me to get to work."