[b]Flame[/b]

I'm completely thrown when a man dressed in shadow stops my brother and I short. What is a ninja doing on a pirate ship? My brother is unfazed. Like ninjas on pirate ships are his everday, for all I know they are. We both take a step back our court masks slipping causally into place, like slipping on a jacket. 

As soon as Smough and the ninja are gone we share a conspiratorial look. My brother and I aren't good with orders, especially from people we don't know well and don't yet completely trust.
He takes a slow step toward me putting away his weapon. "This isn't over."

"Of course not, I've just gotten warmed up." With a final glare at each other we dart into our positions. I slide into the shadows on the ladder, ever my brother's guardian. He follows right behind me. We focus our hearing and try and eavesdrop on what's happening up top.