Anne was having an awful time finding someone who would hire her with no experience.  Though she swore to learn all there was to know about sailing, many of the ships’ captains didn’t want to waste their time.  There were only two ships left to query, and she was almost certain she knew what their answers would be.  To make matters worse, she was beginning to regret giving so much money to Laveda. 

“Okay, Anne, only two ships left,” she spoke to herself.  “One has to take you in, or it’s over.  You’ll have to return home.”  As Anne approached the first of the two ships she was confronted by a rather large and strange looking man.  He wasn’t really large around, but in height he was enormous, and though Anne had never seen a black man up close, she was sure he wasn’t of African origin because surly he would have a darker complexion.

“Is there something I can help you with,” the man asked in a very deep voice.  Anne was almost afraid to respond but gulped down her fear before asking to speak with the captain.  “The captain is busy.  You may deal with me in his stead.”

Heart sinking, Anne mustarded up the courage to present herself to the best of her ability.  “My name is Andrew,” Anne said in her masculine voice as she thrust her hand forward.  When the man didn’t accept it, she retracted it nervously before continuing.  “I would like to inquire after employment upon your vessel.”

The tall man crossed his arms.  “We are always looking for capable men.  Do you have any experience with large ships such as this?”

Anne was afraid that might come up.  “No, but I am a hard worker and learn quickly.”  Anne was about to add that she was willing to do almost anything, but the man had already begun to walk away. 

She couldn’t stand it anymore!  This was one of the largest ships in the harbor.  She knew they must have need for someone to clean or cook.  She would gladly do either rather than go home.  Desperate for a job, she followed the man onto the ship.  Once onboard she began to yell at him.  “Hey, listen!  What you just did, I found to be completely rude and dismissive!  Now, I need work, and I am willing to do almost anything!  If you are unwilling to help me, or cannot help me, at least allow me the opportunity to make my plea to your captain!”

Just then, a shorter man; about six feet in height, came to stand next to the giant.  His face was smiling and warm, in stark contrast to the stern expression of the other man.  “Kenward,” the man began, “What seems to be the problem here?”

“Captain, this boy wishes to join our crew; however, he has no experience,” the larger man respectfully addressed his shorter companion.

“Really,” the captain smiled.  “Boy, how old are you?”

Anne had no idea how old she looked and didn’t really know how to answer.  However, she didn’t want to seem nervous or less than confident.  “Old enough to be on my own,” she replied with a bit of defiance.

“Well, I thought it was only women who hid their ages,” the captain said and all the men on deck began to laugh.

Anne was finding this whole experience humiliating, and all she wanted to do was leave.  “Listen, I can see that none of you are willing to offer me work, so instead of wasting both your time and my own, I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait one minute,” the captain caught her attention as she began to turn away.  “Kenward, how is a young man to learn about the sea if no one offers him employment on the sea,” the captain was now facing the monstrously huge man.

“I am not sure, Captain.  However, perhaps he could go home and read a book or ask his father to help familiarize him with small boats before he attempts to undertake a ship this size.”

Rubbing his bearded chin the captain agreed, “True, he could do that.  But I do believe he would learn faster if he were to join our crew.”  He again looked up to Kenward.  “We can start him out with the simple jobs none of us wish to do, and in his free time he could learn the ins and outs of sailing and trade.  What do you think?”

Kenward, blunt and to the purpose, “I think it is a waste of our time, Captain.”

“Hmm. Well, I don’t.  And since I’m the one in charge, this young boy, starting this instant is a member of this crew,” the captain announced to everyone on deck.  “It will be our responsibility to ensure he becomes the best sailor possible, and if you disagree, you may take it up with me, privately, in my cabin.”  Then, turning to Anne he asked, “Well, boy, what is your name?”

“My name is Andrew, and I thank you for this opportunity.  I will not let you down.”

     “You had better not.  Like every new crewmember, you will make five coppers a day which equates to three silvers and five coppers a week.  As you learn and become more helpful to myself and the crew, you may earn up to several gold pieces per week.  Do you have a problem with this?”

Anne couldn’t believe how little she would be making, but what other choice did she have?  “No, that sounds reasonable.”

“Good,” he nodded before calling forth some of the crew.  “Jerah, Marid.  Andrew, these two men will teach you most of what you will need to know as well as Kenward; whom you have already met.  For the first few weeks, however, you will swab the deck and help Bêrk in the galley.  Any questions?”

Anne had no idea what the captain was talking about.  How did one swab, and what was a galley?  Knowing the crew would probably think her an imbecile for asking such questions, she chose to keep them to herself.  “No questions.”

“Good.  Jerah show him where the supplies are kept and how to clean properly.  Other than that, welcome aboard the Survivor.”

Laveda ran through the marketplace as fast as she could but stopped in the middle when she saw a boutique.  Remembering the deal, she had made with Andrew to bathe and wash her hair, she realized she didn’t have anything with which to clean herself or her sister.   Thinking long and hard, she had two hundred and ten coppers in her skirt pocket, more than she made in a year!  She could certainly buy a bar of soap and a comb.  Soap really couldn’t be that expensive, could it?  Believing it couldn’t be more than two coppers she decided to enter the boutique. 

Everything inside was extremely nice and smelled wonderful.  Laveda, not forgetting that her sister was home alone, didn’t wish to spend her time shopping too very long, so she went directly to the owner of the shop.  “Helo, Misses, I need some help buyin’ some soap.  Oh, and a comb.”

Ms. Failand, a rather stout woman in her fifties had never turned anyone from her store and was very proud of that fact.  However, the stench coming from this young woman was almost more than she could bear, but rather than kick her out, Ms. Failand held her breath and went to assist her customer.  “Yes, dear, soap.  We have many different types.  Is there anything in particular you would like the soap to do for you; moisturize… scent,” she was trying to be kind, but couldn’t help emphasizing the latter.

“I just want it to clean me up a bit.  If you haven’t noticed, I’m a bit unkept, and I promised a friend of mine that I’d clean up a mite.  Ya know, wash my hair, comb it, and take a bathe.”  Laveda was looking around as she spoke.

“Yes, dear.  Well, how about this, I will put together a bunch of things you will need, and you can go from there.  Does that sound all right,” Ms. Failand began to move away from the fusty young lady more to get a breath of clean air than to begin collecting the girl’s much needed supplies.

“Well, that’s fine.  Just don’t expect me to buy too much, I aint got a lot of money, ya know,” Laveda waved a finger at the older woman.

“Oh no, I will take care of everything.  Just tell me how much you have to spend.”

Seeing how fancy this store was, Laveda began to think two coppers wouldn’t be enough to get soap and a comb, so she upped her previous amount. “I can give ya, no more than ten coppers.  That’s really all I have to spare at the moment,” she was now resting the bag of rolls Dermot had given her on a table as she took the ten coppers from the small bag in her skirt.

Ms Failand couldn’t believe the girl expected to buy soap and a comb for so little.  In fact, one rather small bar of soap cost five coppers alone.  She rubbed her neck as she contemplated what to do.  She could help the girl and hope through her assistance she became a cleaner person.  Then, perhaps, she might find a nice young man to take her in; it would be her first good deed of the day.  But what if the girl was merely looking for handouts or some sympathetic schmuck to swindle?  Shaking her head, she put her last two thoughts aside and decided to help the poor girl.  Besides, if the girl came back for a handout, she could always deny her then.  Making up her mind, Ms. Failand began to put together a bag of items she felt the girl would need; one oatmeal soap, one lavender, a parsley hair tonic shampoo, a lemon verbena hair rinse, rose hand cream, and a medium size wooden comb.  The price for the package she would be handing the girl was one gold and five silvers, but she would take what the girl had to offer, and call it even.  “Here you are, dear.  I have added a few other products to your bag which should help you clean up nicely.”

Laveda was flustered and seemed a bit scared, “But I haven’t the money for anything extra I told ya!”

Failand smiled, “I know.  However, you are a new customer and new customers deserve special attention.  Think of all the extras as gifts, and perhaps later, when you have come into a bit of luck, you’ll come back and see me.”  Ms. Failand, being a bit daring, took the girl’s hand, and gently pulled her to a nearby counter where she began to take everything out of the brown paper bag.  “Now dear, you must listen carefully.  When you clean up later today, I want you to start with this beige soap.  It cleans the skin and will soften any rough areas.  Then wash your hair with this parsley shampoo, it will not only clean your hair but help it grow,” the older woman was holding up a small brown glass bottle.  “Once you have rinsed your hair with clean water, I want you to put in this lemon hair rinse.  Let it set for at least ten minutes before rinsing your hair again with clean water,” she pointed to a different bottle, this one light green.  “This purplish soap, I have given to you for your clothes.  It will keep them smelling fresh.  And this small jar is a cream. Use it on both your hands and elbows after you have dried off from your bathe.”  Ms. Failand then began to put everything back in the bag.  “Any questions?”

     “Yes.  Do I get a comb?  And, how much do I have to pay ya,” Laveda stared at the goody bag.

“I placed a comb in the bag.  All you owe me is ten coppers.  And, my dear, I hope everything works out for you,” Ms Failand continued to smile.

Laveda was beginning to think this was her lucky day.  First, a strange man decides to take care of her, then that guy Dermot gives her a bag full of rolls, and now this woman is going to give her more than she ever hoped to receive for ten coppers.  She wasn’t sure what to say but did her best.  “Thank ya, ma’am.  I promise I will come back when I have more money, and I will spend a lot here,” Laveda handed Ms. Failand the ten coppers, then, grabbed her two bags from the counter and left the shop.

Thaniel returned home sadder than he had ever felt in his entire life.  He couldn’t believe Anne was gone, and he prayed she was safe.  He hadn’t been home a minute before Ethana was bounding on him.  He wasn’t sure, but he believed she was hugging him.  He was too numb to respond, and merely stood there… motionless.  The next thing he knew he was sitting in the living area in his chair, but how he got there he did not know, nor did he care. 

“Father, please say something,” Ethana begged as she sat at his feet.  She didn’t understand why he wouldn’t answer her, and she was beginning to think the worst.  What if Anne was dead, and he was too upset to speak.  Or what if when he found her, she told him how much she hated him and that she would never return home.  Ethana couldn’t take it anymore!  “Papa, please,” she sat up grabbing her father by the chin, forcing him to look at her.  “Did you find Anne?  Is she okay?  Why isn’t she home,” she yelled her questions until her father began to cry.  Then, Ethana began to cry, “She isn’t dead, is she?”

Thaniel looked at his younger daughter and hugged her tight with his right arm as he smoothed her hair with his left hand.  “Did everything go well at the palace?  Do they want you to marry Oren?”

Ethana pulled away from him.  “What does it matter what happened at the palace,” she sobbed.  “Anne is gone!  My sister is gone!  And I don’t even know if she is dead or alive because you won’t tell me!”

Thaniel watched as Ethana’s sobs turned into something uncontrollable; she was almost wailing.  He placed a hand on her left shoulder and tried to hold back his own tears, “Ethana, I can’t answer questions to which I have no answers.  I couldn’t find Anne anywhere.”  Then he got up from his chair, petted her head, and went to his bedroom.

Reyna had been troubled from the moment Thaniel yelled at her in Ethana’s room.  She didn’t understand how he could be so upset.  It wasn’t as if Anne hadn’t pulled stunts on them before; in fact, she’d probably be home by dinnertime.  A breeze swept across her face as she looked out over the backyard where the kids used to play.  She smiled to herself softly when she thought of all the trouble Anne used to get into.  Suddenly, a twinge of fear pierced her heart.  What if Anne had been serious?  What if she didn’t come home?  Reyna felt her heart stop; she fell to her knees and began to weep.