A Perfect Day to Die

Marit fell. The wind whipped her face, tearing a scream from her lungs. As the water rapidly neared, she braced herself for impact. She hit the water.

And woke up.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she gasped for air.

It was a dream. It was a dream. It was a dream. It was a dream.

She calmed her breathing, laying her head back on the cold stone floor of the cell.

Under different circumstances, she might have hesitated to lay her head on the floor. It was covered in dirt and grime, and seemed as if it hadn’t been cleaned for a long while. Perhaps ever. Of course, Marit could have expected that. No one stayed there for long.

Sunlight filtered into the grimy cell from a window higher than Marit could reach. The beams lit her face, filling her with dread. Today was the day. The day she was to die.

She never should have listened to those finks. Never should have tried to steal from The Lady. Should have known it was a trap.

Really, this is all my fault.

The door to the cell swung open.

“Took you long enough,” Marit remarked.

She looked up at the entrance.

In the doorframe stood a guard. She wore the yellow and blue of the third division, and the capelet of a lieutenant. Her brown hair was cropped short, in the typical military haircut of the region. Her brown eyes met Marit’s.

Wren.

Wren sighed wearily, “Why does it have to be you, of all people?”

Marit pulled herself to her feet, favoring her left side, “What? You don’t want to see me?”

Wren shook her head, “Not here. Not now.”

Marit put a hand on her shoulder, grinning, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Well, I for one, have missed you.”

She gestured to the capelet, “It seems you’re moving up in the world. Following

your dreams.”

Wren stared at her.

Marit continued, “Catching no good criminals such as myself.”

Wren said nothing, just removed Marit’s hand from her shoulder.

“I suppose you have the honor of escorting me to my execution?”

Wren nodded, “Regretfully, yes.”

Marit raised an eyebrow, “Regretfully? Why ever so?”

“Marit.”

She ignored this, “Escorting the dread pirate Marit Pheonixslayer to her execution, why, it seems a great honor to me.”

“Marit,” Wren repeated.

She ignored her once more, “Just think, you’ll get to be right up close to the action when the mermaids tear me apa–”

“Marit, stop,” Wren had a pained look in her eyes.

She didn’t ignore this, “What?”

“How can you joke at a time like this?”

Marit shrugged, “It’s quite easy, actually.”

“How? This is your death we’re talking about.”

“And a grand show it will be.”

“But,” Wren took a breath, “But aren’t you scared?” and her eyes searched Marit’s face for an answer.

Marit laughed, short, and harsh, and bitter, “Of course I’m scared.”

Wren seemed confused, “Then why–”

“Why joke?”

Wren nodded.

Her expression turned hollow and grim, “Because I am going to die. I am going to die a nameless, friendless, orphaned criminal with no one left to remember me. All I have, is my smile, and my jokes. Don’t ask me to give those up too.”

Wren hesitated, “I–”

Marit interrupted her, “I suppose we should leave. The Lady must be waiting for me.”

Wren nodded, “I suppose so.”

Just before they exited the cell, Wren turned to her, “Marit, I can’t watch you die.”

Marit let out a bitter laugh, “Then close your eyes.”

They left. The soldier and the pirate. Captor and captive. Old friends. Whatever you wish to call them.

*****

Marit exited the prison, her hands now bound behind her back. Wren had handed her off to two other guards shortly after leaving the cell. The man on her left looked at her with blatant hatred, and handled her roughly, keeping a firm grip on her injured shoulder. The one on her right was younger, perhaps about her age, and seemed to be at least slightly terrified. As if she would hurt him.

The sun shone brightly on her face, a stark contrast to the dim cell which she had just exited. The sky was blue. Bright blue. The air was warm. A cool breeze blew. It was a perfect day to die.

About thirty paces in front of her, Marit saw where the land ended.

The cliff. And below that cliff, though she couldn’t see it, was a lake. And in that lake, mermaids. Terrible, bloodthirsty mermaids.

Mari’s steps slowed as she noticed the people. A large crowd gathered on both sides of the path Marit now walked. Jeering at her. Among them, her crew was scattered. Some were among the loudest of the witnesses.

She noticed Dolion first. And, hearing his shouted criticisms of her, raised an eyebrow.

Next, she saw Fermon. He observed quietly, and, catching her gaze, nodded at her. She nodded back.

The guard on her left noticed her slowed steps and shoved her forward, “Hurry up, now.”

She walked faster.

Near the edge of the cliff stood a woman clad in green. She was the Lady of Mermaids. The Lady of the Law. The Lady Willow. Most just called her The Lady.

The guards forced Marit to her knees before The Lady.

Pain shot through her left side.

The Lady addressed the crowd, “Today, we gather to witness the execution of the dread pirate Marit Phoenixslayer.”

Her voice seemed to echo through the crowd, and in Marit’s ears.

The crowd cheered.

“There’s quite the audience here. Am I that famous?” Marit joked.

The Lady ignored her.

The guard on her left, however, did not. Apparently, her question had earned her a blow to the back of the head.

“Shut up.”

Marit considered his request for a moment, then replied, “I don’t think I will.”

This earned her another blow.

The Lady turned to them, “Stop with that, would you?”

With surprise, Marit realized that she wasn’t addressing her, but the guard to her left.

The Lady turned back to the crowd, “Today, we take one more step towards clearing our seas of the scum that terrorize our peop–”

“Terrorize?” Mari interrupted her, somewhat offended, “I haven’t been terrorizing anyone.”

The Lady ignored her, “I believe that someday soon, our shores will truly be safe.”

The crowd cheered once more.

“Are you that afraid of me? I’m flattered.”

The Lady turned to her, amused, “Afraid of you? Why would I be?”

“Because I’m obviously a terror of your seas. You said so yourself.”

The Lady looked as if she might laugh, “We’ve defeated you, Phoenixslayer. You are nothing to be afraid of.”

“Then prove it. Pick up a sword and duel me.”

The Lady shook her head, “I will not play your games.”

“Why? Because you’re scared?” Marit challenged.

“No, because there is nothing to gain by it. It would only be a dishonor to both of us.”

“I can promise you riches untold.”

That was a lie. Marit had no riches. No gold. She never had. Of course, The Lady didn’t know that.

“Elaborate.”

“Far off, in an underground cavern, I have a certain amount of money hidden. A large amount. No one else knows about it. Not even my crew. If you duel me, and win, you can have it. I promise,” Marit lied.

The Lady watched her for a moment, then spoke, “That sounds very interesting, but tell me, what worth is the promise of a pirate?”

“What worth is the promise of a politician?” Marit retorted.

“Not much,” The Lady admitted.

“Do you accept my offer?” Marit asked.

“No.”

Marit released a breath, “Then I suppose we both know how this ends.”

The Lady watched her, “How old are you?”

“Older than the mountains themselves, my lady,” her voice dripped with sarcasm.

The Lady raised an eyebrow, waiting for an honest response.

Marit gave it to her, “Nineteen. Just barely.”

The Lady shook her head, “I pity you.”

Marit stared at her, surprised, “What?”

“I pity you. So young, already sentenced to die.”

A glimmer of hope lit in Marit’s eyes, “If you pity me, then release me.”

“Release you? When you would just go back to raiding our shores?”

“I could stop.”

“Can you promise me you will?”

Marit nodded, “I swear by the breath of Mardunari, that if you release me, I will never go to sea again, except to travel. I will never break another law. I will never take another life.”

The Lady considered this for a moment, then spoke, “I asked you before, what worth is the promise of a pirate?”

Marit’s heart sank. The little hope she’d had left shattered instantly.

The Lady nodded to the guards. They brought Marit to her feet, and walked her to the edge of the cliff. Marit looked out upon the glistening water below her. It was

crystal clear. She could see the mermaids from where she stood. Fear chilled her to the bone.

The guards shoved her off the edge.

Marit fell. The wind whipped her face, tearing a scream from her lungs. As the water rapidly neared, she braced herself for impact. She hit the water.

Desperately, Marit kicked her feet, swimming up. Something grabbed her, claws raking across her leg, tearing at her pants. A mermaid. She kicked at its face, momentarily warding it off.

Marit broke the surface, greedily gasping for air. She’d always been a strong swimmer, and even with her hands tied behind her, she’d managed to make it. Now, she just had to make it to shore. Then, she’d be free. The shore of the lake was so close that it almost seemed manageable.

Of course there were still the mermaids to deal with.

Two grabbed her now, their claws digging into her arms. Pain ignited in her. They dragged her down, beneath the surface. She thrashed in their grip, but only succeeded in hurting herself more. She stopped struggling. They dragged her down, down, down.

As Marit ran out of air, she closed her eyes. And as the world went dark, she dreamed.

Then, she woke up.