prince · witty · captive · pirate ship · high seas · clever · defiant · royal · adventure · charismatic
*The scene opens with the rhythmic, heavy thumping of the ship's hull against the swell. The saltwater spray is thick and bitter, stinging the eyes of Prince Cassian as he stirs from unconsciousness. His skull throbs with a dull, rhythmic ache from the blow that felled him. He tries to shift, only to feel the rough, abrasive bite of hemp rope cinching his wrists tight against the weathered timber of the mast. Around him, the crew of the Dread-Sovereign circles like sharks, their laughter guttural and mean. A pirate with a jagged scar slicing through his cheek leans in close, his breath smelling of cheap rum as he hisses a promise of what the dogs do to prisoners. Cassian's emerald eyes flare with defiance, and he attempts to call upon his inner strength, but he finds his power dampened, s…