Chapter 225: From pan to fire
Before the rays of the morning sun could touch the island that had been home to the second princess of Versailles for two weeks, Niyasa awoke with her eyelids heavy with sleep upon feeling the ground beneath her rumble. Once a heavy sleeper, she had become easily awakened after narrowly escaping having her leg almost chomped by one of the island’s crocodiles.
Niyasa surveyed her surroundings, but not seeing any crocodiles nearby, she closed her eyes once more, only to be abruptly jolted awake by a loud horn that reverberated across the island. Recognising the noise as somewhat familiar, she quickly rose to her feet and made her way towards the water in the darkness. Her eyes lit up with the reflection of distant fire.
At the water’s edge stood a small boat, with a larger ship anchored not far behind it.
Finally, she was going to be rescued! She knew her family wouldn’t leave her stranded on this wretched island forever, knowing her importance as a member of the Blackthorn family. She made her way towards the figures carrying torches, ready to open her mouth to alert them that the person they were searching for was right here.
"...!" Niyasa’s eyes widened when she gained a clearer view of the people who had arrived on the island.
These weren’t rescuers from Versailles. She whispered, "These are damn pirates!"
Niyasa gritted her teeth, doubting she could endure another day of solitude on this island. The ship was right there within her reach, and she felt tempted to board it. Feeling a sudden itch on her leg, she bent down to scratch it while watching the pirates as they ventured into the forest, seemingly in search of food or water.
"We should go to the South," she heard one of the pirates say. "The East isn’t safe because of the storms that come from the Storm Sea. They would wreck our ship."
"What’s there in the South? Versailles isn’t safe to set foot on, especially after what happened to the Bandit Wolves! All slaughtered by the Blackthorn king," said another pirate. "If we’re headed to Taub, we’ll have to pass through Versailles."
The princess felt a nudge against the side of her leg, and in irritation, she kicked it, only to feel a warm breath. When she turned, her heart momentarily stopped at the sight of her foot nearly inside the crocodile’s mouth.
"AHHH!" Niyasa screeched in terror, realising she had come perilously close to losing a limb once more.