Dimitri walked easily to where Etheldred lazed in the bow of the ship.

“It's done, the witch won't be joining with us.” Dimitri said.

“I take it she won't be a problem then.” Etheldred asked.

“Not if the dagger you gave me does its job. She doesn't have her magic, and she wont have her life for much longer. I honestly don't see why the magic dagger was necessary a dead witch is just as out of the way as a powerless one.” Dimitri said.

“A tragic end to a truly dazzling courtship.” Etheldred remarked.

Dimitri rolled hie eyes. “She was strange, and you should have seen that she never would have been part of our plan.”

“You can't blame me for trying.” Etheldred said “The rest of these idiots might be superstitious dolts but I thought she couldt be useful. All the same it will likely be easier for us without her than with her.” He finished.

“What with the superstitious dolts?” Dimitri asked.

“Yes speaking of Jimothy, we really should go and rally our support.” Etheldred said.

“And any that do not support us?” Dimitri asked.

“Well considering you just murdered your girlfriend I didn't think I'd need to explain that bit to you Dimitri.” Etheldred responded contemptuously.

“Right than,” Dimitri said setting himself. “It's time for mutiny”

“Yes,” sneered Etheldred “Well past time if you ask me.”

Petra lied on the floor behind the table shaking and bleeding. She could feel the blood, her blood, rushing out of the wounds in her chest and gut. She felt paralyzed and terrified. He had stabbed her. Dimitri, who had been kind to her. She had thought he loved her. He wanted to kill her. These thoughts ran round and round in circles in her mind. But she could feel her blood spilling out she had to heal it. She straightened herself up to sitting position. She held the knife in her gut. She knew she couldn't take it out yet, that would only make things worse. She reached up her hand to her chest and attempted to light her hand with fire to close the wound, but her fire did not light.

“No!” she squeaked aloud. She focused and tried again. She desperately drew her hand across the gash on her chest but when she pulled her hand back there was only her blood on her hands. She felt tears fill her eyes as she began to panic. She reached desperately for her bag and reached far far down into it until she found the little jar of rose healing clay. The knowledge of how to make it had been a gift from her father's mother. It was used to purify and seal a wound. She had never used it before, she had never had the need to. Now she prayed that she had made it correctly and that it would work. Petra unstoppered the little pot and dipped her already bloody hand in to scoop out the clay. She rubbed the clay across the wound on her chest and was amazed and relived to she that at least for now it stopped the blood. Next, the first stab wound. This one was much deeper but Petra hoped that it could work just the same. Petra bit back her scream as she rubbed the clay over and into the wound. She forced herself to take deep breaths. The harder part came now the knife. Petra bit down on her lip so that she would not scream. If she screamed it would attract attention and she would not be able to get to warn the captain. She blew out her breath steadied herself and pulled out the blade. A treacherous scream escaped her lips. She cursed herself, but luckily for her the right person heard it.

“Hello?” Lark called from above deck and quickly descended bellow.

“Lark!” Petra called out.

He saw her “Oh my gods Petra!” he ran and got down on his knees next to her.

“Are you part of this?” she hissed brandishing the knife at him.

“Whoa? What, no. What do you mean this?” Lark asked.

“The Mutiny!” Petra hissed.

“The mutiny, it's happening now?” Lark asked.

“You know about this?” She asked anger boiling up over pain.

“Petra you're bleeding!” Lark exclaimed.

“How do you know about this?” She asked.

“its complicated please calm down.” Lark said.

“Are you a part of it?!” She asked.

“Petra you are bleeding!” he said again.

“Can I trust you?!” she yelled as loud as she dared.

“I'm not pat of the mutiny! Now why don't you heal yourself and we can go warn the captain?” Lark said.

Petra paused and felt confused angry tears fill her eyes.

She gestured with the knife “He took my magic. I don't know how or why but I cannot” she dropped the knife and dipped into the pot of clay again to try and stop up the remaining stab wound.

“Help me up.” she said reaching out to Lark and groaning as he pulled her upon to her feet. Lark bent down to pick up the knife and examined it.

“Theres no time to lose this way” Lark said and began pulling her into the darkness of the cargo hold.

“But we need to get to the captain.” Petrianna protested.

“Trust me, this way is faster. There's a trap door in the cargo hold that goes up into the captain's quarters” He told her.

“How do you know this” she asked

“Its a long story but I always like to know my way around, never know when it will come in useful. Like when you are racing a bunch of mutinous pirates to warn the captain, for instance.” Lark replied.

“I suppose—ahh” Petra hissed and braced an arm against the ship's haul grabbing her side. Lark spun around to face her, “no I am fine keep going.” she said.

“It's just up here.” Lark passed Petra the knife then chimney climbed up between the stacks of crates, drew back the latch and pushed the door open into Captain Esmerelda's quarters.

“Lark, what in the nine hell do you think you are doing I told you not to come again.” the Captain shouted and strode over to the trap door.

“Captain there is a mutiny!” Petra called out from below.

“What? Out of the way” she hissed as she shoved Lark aside as he climbed up and then reached down to haul Petra up into the room.

Petra cried out as she did and tumbled into the captain's arms.

“What happened Girlie?” The captain asked.

“Dimitri wanted me to join in his mutiny, and I would not so he stabbed me and now I do not have my magic.” Petra sobbed.

The Captain looked from Petra to Lark “That about covers it. Etheldred is making his move now” he said.

“You're hurt?” Esmerelda asked Petrianna.

“I willl be fine.” she replied. The captain paused and looked her in the eyes weather or not she believed her another moment could not be lost.

“Do we know who is involved?” She asked Lark.

“Well Dimitri for certain, but they've hid it well. Sezjeck lost some from his book, Kerrek and Ryan have been in Etheldred's book since they signed on, and Jimothy has been on Etheldred's side of things ever since the that first merchant ship so I think its safe to say they will be on his side.”

“How do you know all this?” Petra interjected but was ignored.

“Right, Lark go and get Seanathan and Ruben. And find Sezjeck, Tornas, and Erika. If they aren't on our side we don't have much of a chance anyway. Go now.”

Lark quickly did as he was bid and jumped back threw the trap door to go and warn the others.

“And you Girlie” Esmerelda turned to Petrianna, “get back down below and hide. I cannot promise your safety if we do not win but I will do my best to ensure we do.”

“No! I want to fight, I can help.” Petra protested.

“Girlie, you are hurt, you have no magic, and that little club of yours does not help you as much as you think it does in a fight. Now get below. I thank you for your loyalty, I don't know what I've done to deserve it.” Esmerelda looked at Petra earnestly.

“You follow the rules.” Petra replied simply.

Esmerelda breathed a deep breath threw her nose and smiled “Alright Girlie, get below. I've got a rebellion to quash.”

Esmerelda helped Petrianna back into the hold and turned to face the door and walked out onto the deck.