Finding it difficult to switch gears so suddenly, Anne stammered a bit before rediscovering her verbal footing.  She told the captain she felt everyone aboard should know how to wield a sword.  She figured, as damp as the ship could be, gunpowder would be hard to keep, so sword play might be their best defense if under attack.  “Sir, Marid knows how to fight.  Perhaps he could teach the few men onboard who already know a bit of swordplay to become better.  Then, the ones he taught can break off and teach others.”

She also spoke of guarding their cargo; during an attack having several men stand as defense.  The only problem she could see with the idea of a defensive team was if someone on offense needed help; those who were supposed to be on guard might rush in to lend assistance.  “We must train those men to protect the keep and pray the offensive will protect the ship as well as their own persons.”

“You speak of no gunpowder, but what of the cannons and the muskets,” the captain was very interested in Andrew’s ideas especially since sword play was nearly outdated. 

“Sir, the canons are for long range.  I am speaking in terms of being boarded.  But to touch on the canons, I’m sure you have that covered.  Continue to save dry gunpowder for them.  I do not discount the usefulness of gunpowder; I just don’t believe we can keep enough dry to for every man’s musket.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Doran looked at Andrew thoughtfully.  Anne began to feel a bit uncomfortable under his gaze and looked down at her plate before turning to the window.  “Andrew, I must admit I have never been one so interested in battle.  What of you?  You seem to have quite the grasp on strategy, yet you know nothing of ships.  Is your father a soldier, or is this merely where your interests lie?”

Anne was still looking to the circular window of the cabin.  She was beginning to feel a bit strange in the captain’s presence, as if she was suffocating.  What to say, she thought to herself, what to do?  Her grey eyes slowly followed the sun’s light fingers as they caressed the shelves of the room.  Then, as if feeling the captain’s gaze meet hers on the atlas resting upon his desk, she spoke.  “Captain, my interests lie not in one place or another.  I thirst for knowledge no matter what it might be.  As for my father, I have always known him to be a gentle man of books and commerce; although, the last time I saw him, he shared with me his more explosive side.”  She turned to look him in the eye, “I believe there are some men who relish the thought of war and others who desire it less than a little.  But when it comes to protecting one’s life or way of life, all become warriors whether they like it or not.” 

The Captain was looking her in the eye.  The silence in the room was suddenly deafening and Anne’s stomach began to feel queasy.  The heat she had been feeling since she’d entered his room seemed to grow and engulf her.  Her heart was beating twice its normal rate and suffocation was, indeed, near.  She was just about to break eye contact with Doran when there was a knock at the door.  Doran looked away.  “Come in.”

Jerah entered the room.  “Capt’n, I’s wonderin’ if our youngin was ready for his lessons.  An’ to inform ‘im he has a visitor awaiting ‘im on the dock”

Anne gave herself a little mental shake to allow everything to sink in.  “Visitor?  For me?  But, I know no one.” She looked between the captain and the interloper.

“Well, ya may not know her, but she ‘pparently knows you,” Jerah wore a grin so large it split his face in two. 

The captain rose from his seat and ran is fingers through his dark hair; making Anne’s temperature compete with that of the sun.  She looked away.  “Well, Jerah, he is all yours,” then with a smile, “and her’s.”  Stretching a bit he looked to the young boy. “Andrew thanks for your input.  It was very… insightful.  Now, be on your way, I believe your lady awaits.”

Anne jumped up quickly, nodded to the captain, and escaped.  She had no idea what was wrong with her.  Perhaps she was getting ill, although she hoped not. 

As she and Jerah walked up the three steps to the main deck, Anne was thankful for the cool air on her face.  It helped to chill the heat she felt bubbling from within.

“Ya all right, Andrew?  Don’t seem yerself.  Not as I know ya too well, but from what I can tell somein’s amiss with ya.”

Anne smiled at Jerah’s concern.  He was a very sweet man indeed.  “I’m fine, mate.  I just believe I ate more than I should have,” she slapped him on the back.  “So, who do you believe has come to see me?”

Jerah pointed to the dock at a pretty blonde dressed in a simple lavender dress and holding a piece of paper.  Anne, a bit confused, looked at Jerah.  “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ve ever met her before.”

“Well, if you don’t want her,” Dyson chimed in, “I’ll take her.” His face revealed his mind was deep in lustful thought.

An attractive, masculine man, Anne could imagine Dyson being a cad, charm the ladies out of their virtue and leave them behind.  “Never you mind, Dyson.  I’ll speak with her,” No matter who the woman might be, no one deserved to be used; Anne would not allow it. Walking passed the large drooling man; she made her way down the plank toward the dock.  As she drew closer and closer, the girl did seem a bit familiar, but Anne was still having difficulty placing her.  “Hello, Miss.  May I help you?”

The girl smiled, looked down and began to speak to her feet, “You don’t recognize me do ya?  Well, who can blame ya looking the way I did.”

Anne took a step forward to nudge the girl’s chin upward, and when her brown eyes met Anne’s grey ones, Anne remembered.  “Laveda, I thought I told you to stay away from the docks,” Anne was not harsh with the girl, but her voice conveyed her concern.

Laveda fussed with the paper in her hand, the paper, Anne could see now was the letter she had written to the girl.  “I’m sorry, Andrew.  I just wanted ya to know what I’ve been doin’ the past few days, and to show ya how I looked,” her face was innocent and full of a desire for approval.

Anne stepped back and looked the girl up and down.  She then walked around her and lifted Laveda’s braid to her nose.  Anne could see she was nervous, so she put her braid down and placed her right hand on the girl’s left shoulder as she continued her inspection, eventually, moving it down Laveda’s arm to grasp her hand.  Lifting it, Anne smelt it and smiled.  “Lemon, lavender, and rose.  Laveda, you’ve exceeded my expectations.  You look and smell wonderful,” Anne slowly put her hand down and saw Laveda blush.  She had to admit a blush wasn’t what she had expected from the girl, gratitude for the complement yes, but a blush?

“Thank ya, Andrew,” Laveda lifted her left hand to her lips in a rather shy gesture.

“You’re welcome.  I only wish I could get you better clothes to wear,” Anne looked at the girl’s more than slightly worn dress.  Laveda too looked at her dress, and with such sadness that it nearly broke Anne’s heart.  Again, she lifted a finger to Laveda’s chin to nudge it up.  “Laveda, you look lovely today, without all that makeup and grime to hide your true age.  As for your clothes, it is better you wear what you have for now.  You still live at Swinfen’s, and we wouldn’t want to draw any attention to you until you are no longer there.  Do you understand?”  Laveda nodded.  “Good.  Now, there aren’t too many ladies out here, so you stick out like a sore thumb looking the way you do.  Therefore, you should return home,” Anne released her chin.  Again, Laveda nodded.

Then, as she was turning away, she whirled back around as though she remembered something.  “Wait, Andrew, I nearly forgot to tell ya about a Baron de Ranger.”  Anne’s heart froze.

“Yes, Laveda,” Anne’s voice was cool.

“I met him Mundy at Dermot’s.  He heard me say yer friend’s name and went mad, somethin’ about her being missin’.  I didn’t tell him yer name.”

Anne looked down and closed her eyes for a moment before looking at the girl again.  “Laveda,” she spoke in a hushed voice, “the de Rangers live approximately five miles southwest of the marketplace at a place called Indira.  Now I want you to either go there soon or write them a letter tonight.  Tell them Philana-Narie is fine.  Tell them she is being well taken care of, and that the man you met will tell her to write to them soon.”  Laveda looked far away for a moment.  “Laveda,” Anne grabbed her shoulders, “did you hear me?”

“Do ya love her, Andrew,” the girl looked up sadly.

“What?  Laveda, you don’t know what you’re talking about.  She and I have an agreement.  I help her, and she helps me.  So, whatever you do, do not tell her parents she has attached herself to some strange man.  I can tell you with utmost certainty that a relationship is the furthest thing from her mind.  Do you understand?”

Laveda seemed to perk up.  She kissed her beloved Andrew on the cheek and then ran back toward town.

“Good Lord, Anne, how dense can you be,” Anne spoke to herself.  “You stupid little fool.  Now the girl’s in love with you.”  As Anne turned around to walk back up the plank, she noticed damn near everyone on the ship had been watching her interaction with Laveda.  She shook her head and surveyed the faces as she walked back to the ship.  She could just hear the jokes now, but as she stepped onboard, she wasn’t prepared for the first one to come from the captain himself.

“Wow, if that’s how you are with girls you don’t know, I’d love to see how you are with the ones you do.”  Doran was smiling and the crew gave a thunderously hearty choir of laughter.