Anne helped Bêrk quickly clean the plates and cups and put them away.  Thoughtfully, she decided she did not like her introduction to the ship’s primary cuisine.  Being there was no longer room for fresh food, and the few fruits and vegetables they had left would only last another day or two, Bêrk began to get the crew back to their usual meal with the addition of a few slices of apple.  Finding the beef too salty, Jerah had suggested she rinse it off a bit in her cup of water.  Thankful for the suggestion, she did as she was told.  The water not only washed away some of the saltiness but also soften the meat making it easier to chew.  The only problem… she was then left with salty water to drink.  Shaking her head now, in remembrance, she couldn’t believe she actually drank it.  Then, she smiled at the way Marid laughed at the look on her face.  Then, he’d poured into her cup, her small share of brandy.

Anne had never had brandy before, but everyone seemed to be enjoying it; slowly savoring each drop of the four ounces they each received.  Anne hadn’t wanted to seem like she was still wet behind the ears, as Jerah always liked to say, so she decided to down the heady liquid in one gulp.  The heat that had quickly surged through her was both shocking and undesirable.  She’d clenched her jaw to keep both a cough and, she supposed, actual fire from escaping her throat.  Tears welled up in her eyes and she gulped air several times as she blinked rapidly.  Then, realizing no one was paying her any mind, she hurriedly gathered her things and rushed off to the galley.  Once there she took several deep breaths to calm her nerves before she began the cleanup.  Bêrk, who had joined her a few minutes later, was astonished by how much she’d already accomplished.  Since then, they’d just about finished cleaning and putting everything away.

“Well, Andrew, I have to admit you are, by far, the best kitchen help I have ever had,” Bêrk beamed.  “I mean, if you haven’t noticed, not many of the crew would give up the hard labor of sailing to cook.”  Anne didn’t reply, but she had noticed the other men who were supposed to help in the galley did so grudgingly.  “I think that’s it,” Bêrk gave the butcher-block one last swipe.  “Thanks, Andrew.  I think we can leave the rest of the plates for tomorrow.  Let’s go an’ get some sleep.  We have an early start tomorrow.”  Then as if remembering Andrew already got up before dawn Bêrk added, “Or at least the rest of us do.”

Anne could see he was trying to suppress a smile and shot him a rye look that made him laugh before she went up top.

She had discovered she rather liked sleeping above deck.  Sure it was cold, but at least the air was clean; she imagined men could smell so bad… sweaty, dirty, and…gassy.  Her tired body carried her over to the supply closet where she had placed her blanket upon deciding, that afternoon, she would be sleeping up top.  She had also found two lanterns there as well, and looking at them now, she figured now was as good a time as any write to her family and to Laveda.  Taking the blanket and lantern to a cozy corner of the deck, she remembered most of the men would be asleep by now; especially Jerah, the elderly seaman she had borrowed a few sheets of paper from the other day.  Sitting in quiet contemplation, Anne noticed a faint light coming from the captain’s cabin.  Wondering if he would mind loaning her some paper, she finally decided he wouldn’t.

Slowly walking back up the deck toward the cabin, a cool breeze licked back the few strands of hair which had escaped her braid throughout the day.  Hugging herself tightly, she wished she had not left her blanket behind with the lantern, and she pick up her pace as she moved toward the light.  Finally coming to the cabin door, she no longer knew if she should disrupt him, but then again, since she was already here, she may as well.

Doran sat playing with the response letter he had just finished, wondering how the princess might take his latest declination, when there was a knock at the door.  Thinking it was probably Kenward, Doran bellowed a low ‘come in’ without looking up.  Therefore, he was quite surprised to hear the soft, scarcely masculine voice belonging to none other than Andrew.

“Captain, I hate to be a nuisance, but I was wondering if I might be allowed a few sheets of paper and a pen.”

Doran looked at the young man thoughtfully and then motioned for Andrew to sit opposite him at the table.  “Andrew, we have an early start tomorrow.  I would have thought everyone was either sleeping or at least beginning to turn in for the night.”

Nervous and fidgeting, Anne moved forward.  “Aye, sir.  I too was preparing to rest when I decided to compose a couple of letters. I would like to have them sent before we leave this port,” Anne had no idea why she was suddenly so nervous.  It was a simple request, and she really had nothing to hide… well, other than her true identity.  But that wasn’t the reason for her current state; she was not afraid of being discovered. So… why?

 Under his steady gaze she began to warm from the inside.  Frightened by her response, she looked down before speaking again.  “Sir, I will gladly reimburse you for anything I use, and would not argue if you felt need to take the reimbursement from my pay.”

Without speaking, Doran stood, strolled over to the desk behind him, opened a drawer and pulled out several sheets of paper.  “Do you also need envelopes,” he asked without turning to face her.

“Yes, sir.  Two if you can spare them,” Anne watched nervously as the captain reached inside a cubbyhole and extracted two envelopes.  Then, he picked up a quill and inkwell before turning back around.

She stood to receive the items, “Thank you, sir.” But he waved her back down, confused, she sat.

“Andrew, I was going to leave this for tomorrow, but since you’re here, now,” Doran began as he placed the writing materials on the table before regaining his seat.  “I have been mulling over what you stated regarding the defense aboard Survivor.  I find that your ideas are sound, and if you can set aside some time tomorrow to sit with Marid and come up with a training program, perhaps we can get this form of defense in place as soon as possible.”

Speechless, or nearly speechless, Anne took a few moments to calm her excitement before responding.  “Thank you, sir.  I will be sure to speak with Marid tomorrow at first opportunity.”  When Doran smiled at her, her heart began to beat erratically.  Feeling she needed to escape, she pushed her seat back to get up; however, her legs felt numb, and she stumbled a bit before placing her hands firmly on the table.

“Andrew, are you all right,” Doran was on his feet and shooting her a look full of concern.

Doing her best to smile, Anne raised her hand lazily to wave off his worry.  “I’m fine, just a bit tired."  She then reached into her pocket to pull out a silver to pay the captain for the paper and pen.

It was Doran’s turn to raise a hand.  “Keep your purse, Andrew, a bit of ink and a few sheets of paper will not bankrupt me.”

Anne retracted her hand from her pocket and thanked the captain again before gathering the paper, pen, and ink that were on the table.  Having everything she needed, murmured goodnight and started out, but the captain stopped her as she was about to exit.  “Andrew, try not to stay up too late composing love letters,” he smiled.

Befuddled, Anne asked, “I’m sorry, sir.  Love letters?”

“Well, I just assumed you were going to write to your, um, lady friend.”  Seeing more confusion in the young man’s eyes, Doran smiled before clarifying, “The young blonde who came to visit you the other day?  Come now, Andrew, you haven’t already forgotten her have you,” he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

 Anne could feel her embarrassment rising into her face.  Of course, she hadn’t forgotten Laveda, but her lady friend!  Astonished by his mistake, she felt the desire to set him straight.  “I assure you, captain, the young lady I spoke with the other day is no more my lady than I am the king of Atlantis.  Believe me when I say she only came here to thank me for assisting her on the very same day I came to your ship.”

Doran was surprised at how Andrew always wanted the truth of the matter to be known, no matter what.  If Doran had made that comment to any other man onboard, they would probably boast about their prowess and thrown him a few other feminine names to boot.  Smiling, he imagined he was going to have fun finding a spot better suited for Andrew among the crew.  If only he could ascertain if the lad was trustworthy.  Doran was very fond of every man who made up his crew, but of all onboard, the only person he really trusted was Kenward.

Looking down at the letter he had been playing with, a plan formed in his mind.  “Andrew, your point is well taken,” he smiled.  “Well, I am sure you would like to get to your correspondence, so I’ll let you be.  However,” he lifted his envelope from the table, “do you mind sending this off to the palace when you send your letters?”

“The palace,” Anne questioned softly, staring at the envelope.

Smiling broadly both inside and out, Doran cleared his throat as he moved around the table.  “Andrew let me explain.  In the past I was quite a favorite at court, and,” halting before her, “there are a few young courtiers who would like the blessing of my presence.  However, I find… these days, I am quite too busy and too weary of the niceties required at royal functions.”  He waved the response before her as if she were a mule and the letter a fine ripe carrot.

Accepting it, Anne, neatly folded it between the sheets he had given her.  “I will, of course, do as you ask, sir.”  Doran was so close, her nose twitched at the scent of his cologne; the warm yet airy scent of musk and wood married with something sweet… vanilla, she thought.  She could feel her temperature rising and her lungs strained as though they weren’t getting enough air.  She closed her eyes for a moment to try to calm her heart so to hold back the suffocation.  She wanted to leave.

“Ah, Andrew,” the captain chuckled, “have you ever met a well-bred lady?  One who would lay down her life to take care of you all your days?”

Hearing his question, another sort of heat engulfed her.  She recognized it, felt her mouth go dry, and embraced it.  “Permission to speak plainly, captain?”

“Of course,” Doran said with the wave of his right hand as he pulled back the second closest seat from where she stood with his left, and lazily deposited himself in it.

Able to breathe a little easier now that he was farther away, Anne tried to calm herself before attempting to make her point.  “Captain, I have met all sorts of women…”

“Really,” he smiled knowingly at her.

Anger surging through her again, she couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes.  “Listen, with all due respect, sir, I don’t see why any woman should have to; how did you put it, lay her life down, for any man.  Women have their own dreams, ambitions, and desires just as men do.”

No longer smiling, Doran leaned forward to further contemplate what the young man was saying.  “Andrew, it is a woman’s job to care for her man and eventually their children.”

Scoffing, Anne shook her head, “If that were the case, sir; if men always need to be taken care of, then we would be married the moment our mouths tired of our mother’s breast!  Ahhh, but we are not so quickly wed, in fact, some men go all of their days without taking a single vow.”

“You make a good point, but I think your views are a bit naïve.  Perhaps you need a bit of practice in the art of… pairing,” smirking, he leaned back in his seat.  “There are quite a few lovely ladies in Île-de-L’est.   Maybe I can introduce you to one or two.”

Smiling though she was, Anne knew it probably wasn’t a kind one.  “Sir, don’t think me too bold, but I know you are wrong.  And one of these days, I hope you find the lady who will not only capture your heart but will cause you to lay down your life without so much as a whisper from her pretty little rose-tinted lips,” she looked unwaveringly into his eyes.  “Now, if you would excuse me, I would like to get to my correspondence.  Oh,” with a quick nod of her head, “I will see to it that your own makes it to the palace.” She left the cabin.