“Um, no thank you, sir,” Anne clasped her hands behind her back.  “Sir.  What is it, exactly, that you wish to discuss with me?”

“Damn it, Andrew,” the casual tone in the boy’s voice made Doran snap and he slammed his palm on the table; nearly spilling the tea held in his left hand.  “I didn’t bring you here to see how well you can waltz about an issue.  I want to know what the hell is wrong with you!  We are a team on this ship, and if for any reason I cannot rely on you, then you need to go.”

Anne was quiet for a few moments.  She began to contemplate what she would do if she were dropped off at the next port.  Could she find work?  Perhaps.  But what if she could not?  She wasn’t the only person relying on her salary; she had to think of Laveda as well.  She had to stay onboard.  “Captain, there is nothing amiss with me.  However, I will keep what you have said in mind.”

Doran stared at the young man before him.  He was lying… he knew it.  Shaking his head, he chuckled and settled himself back in his chair.  “That’s not good enough,” he sipped the warm liquid from his tin mug.  “Try again.”

“Try what, sir?”

Doran placed the teacup on the table, leaned back in his chair and trained his eyes on his companion.  “The truth, Andrew.  I have always known you to tell the truth; that is your gift.  Do not let this crew or the sea take it from you.  Now, tell me, what happened between you and Linette?  Did you not find her sweet?”  One corner of Doran’s mouth curled upward, and that was it.  That was the final straw.

Anne couldn’t believe her captain, this man she had grown to respect in so many ways, was so horrid when it came to women!  She could take it no longer.  “How dare you!  How dare you speak of her or… or any woman like that!  Who the hell gives you the right to degrade another person?”

“Degrade? I was just wondering how she was taking to her new career.  You see, she use to be one of the bar wenches.”

Anne was fuming but struggled to control her temper.  She looked down at the seat before her and then closed her eyes.  An enormous wave of anger, followed by sadness, washed over her.  She thought of the young girl, Linette, and how she had nervously begun to undress before her.  How she herself had stopped the pitiable girl and comforted her when she cried, ‘…am I not desirable?’  Anne had rocked the smaller young woman in her arms and smoothed her hair away from her tear-stained face.  She then told Linette a story; the one about the penniless girl who was really a missing princess.  When the poor darling finally fell asleep, Anne allowed herself to do the same.  However, trained by what she liked to call life on the boat, she rose before the sun had completely awakened, and left a gold coin and a note for Linette.

Where there is hope, there is light.

Where there is light, we can see.

And when we see, we find direction.

With new direction there comes a change.

You have my hope, if you have none.  Now with this light I beg you see.  Find your direction and change

 your life for the better.

~ Andrew

The Ship “Survivor”

Thinking back on it now almost brought tears to Anne’s eyes.  But this moment was not the time for tears.  ‘Tears,’ she thought.  And she wondered if she would ever shed them freely again.  “Have you a sister, Captain,” she asked after what seemed a lifelong silence.  Her voice was small, and if Doran had not been listening and watching intently it would have been swallowed by the quiet.

“I have.”  Anne glanced up, damming emotions from her face; she looked hollow, far away.  Doran sat up in his chair, but it didn’t make a noise; or at least not any either of them noticed.  The air became thick, and Doran was sure this was what he had been waiting for.  Perhaps, Andrew had a sister who had been used in some way, or maybe he had been witness to an awful crime.  He urged the boy on, “Have you a sister, Andrew?”

“I have.”  Anne looked Doran in the eyes.  All teasing gone, she believed she finally saw compassion in his dark eyes.  Her mouth was becoming dry, and she knew if she didn’t explain herself soon she may not be able to explain at all.  “Captain, I know and love many women.  I listen to and understand them.  I know they have hopes and dreams of their own.  I also know they would rather meet Death early at their doors than live only to be of service to men.”

She swallowed a lump forming in her throat.  “I will not be a part of any mere usage of ladies, for I know what it is to be ignored and used in an ill manner.”  She braced her hands on the chair before her and rebuilt the dam around her heart before continuing.  “To conclude, Captain, I shall admit I have been feeling poorly since we were docked at Île-de-L’est, though I did believe, until now, I had hidden it well.”

Doran was astonished by what Andrew said.  Not because it was the first time that he had heard such views, but because he had heard them from his own sister.  In fact, it was due to this very strong belief that his sister, aged twenty-one summers, was still unmarried.  Now, he had to wonder if this philosophy was a growing trend.  “I see.  So, your temperament was due to having a lady purchased for you.”

Anne looked at her hands as she thought on the comment.  Though she found what he said to be true, she couldn’t help the hurt growing within her.  At last, after what felt like ages of contemplation, it came to her.  “No.”

“No?”  It was Doran’s turn to raise a brow.  “There has been something else weighing down your spirit then?  Well then, boy, spit it out unless you are now avoiding the galley.”

“Forgive me, sir, for what I am about to say,” Anne closed her eyes, took a deep breath then reopened them.  “I have realized it was not only that Linette was given to me, but that she was given to me by you.”

“By me,” the captain questioned; laughter back in his eyes.  “And how, may I ask, does the giver factor into your misery?”

Anne was insulted by his light mockery, “It matters, Captain, because I thought better of you.  I would have expected such behavior from Dyson or even perhaps Marid.  But I never envisioned you, an intelligent gentleman, going to such a place; let alone using women as… as whatever,” she could not find a word foul enough for such usage of any person.  “Now, if you feel I have spoken ahead of myself, or that I am no longer worthy of being a part of this crew, I am sorry.” Well, she thought, that’s it.  He’s going to make me walk the plank.  She watched as his jaw clenched.

“Are you finished,” he spat at her.  Anne nodded as her heart crumbled.  “What is wrong with you?  You claim to understand women, yet you seem ignorant to the needs and desires of your own sex!”

“What of them?  Are we to fill ourselves up while we empty others; taking from them all they have to offer!  Who are we to…”

“Stop it,” Doran once again slammed his hand on the table.  He was now standing, and his face was grim.  “Perhaps, I have allowed you to speak too freely in my presence.  It is not for you to judge my character, nor is it up to you to protect every lady to grace this land.  What is commanded of you is that you go about your duties without question.  Do you understand?”

“Aye, sir,” though she felt meek Anne remained firm.

“Good.  Now, congratulations on your recent victory against Bêrk and get to the galley before I change my mind.”  Anne found herself, yet again, fighting back the tears that had been threatening to burst forth at any moment.  Determined to leave completely dry and with dignity intact, she made for the door with due haste.  However, before she could unlock and pull the door inward the captain caught her attention.  “Andrew,” she did not turn to face him, “Not that I owe you any explanations, but I have never taken advantage of any woman, prostitute or no.”  Then she was gone.

Doran stood staring at the door for several moments before retaking his seat.  Why had he felt the need to dispel Andrew’s ill perception of him?  If it had been anyone else, he might have just let it go and not have given it another thought.  However, this boy was different.

One word, he thought to himself. If I were to choose one word to describe Andrew, what would it be?  Naïve?  Perhaps. Yet, though he seemed to be naïve in some respects, he seemed wise in others.  Trustworthy… well, that was without question.  Enigmatic.’

“Yes.  That’s the word,” he mouthed to himself.

Andrew was not a person one could easily sum up in one word, though enigmatic was an excellent adjective.  He was a marvelous mixture of strength and weakness, maturity and naivety, openness, and mystery.  Mystery.  Perhaps that was the reason he was drawn to the youth.  Perhaps.

“What is he hiding?”

Anne was finishing the after supper cleaning when Bêrk decided to turn in.  She hadn’t told him of her conversation with the captain, feeling it would be better to keep the incident to herself.  Besides, she was sure none of her crewmates would share her views on how women should be treated.

Having finished wiping down the counters, she carried a bucket of dirty water above deck to toss overboard.  Since she had perfected the art of carrying a full bucket on the ship, not a drop of water splashed free from their captor, and she easily made her way to the ship’s edge.  Effortlessly, she then lifted her burden and let the contents flow freely over the side.

Exhausted and sad, Anne looked out over the black waters of the Ladonian Channel.  Over the past three months she had been to nearly every island which made up the countries of Île-de-L’est and Yakecen.  Now they were on their way to the island of Hampton where they were to deliver their cargo of dyes from Yakecen and lace from Île-de-L’est.  The men seemed excited about reaching the large island.  There were many stories of beautiful women, exotic foods, and a lively atmosphere.  It had been difficult for Anne to feign enthusiasm because it sounded as though there would be little time for her to spend alone.

She breathed in deeply and once more thought of her discussion with the captain.  He may think he didn’t use women, but in purchasing Linette’s services for her, he had done just that.  Anne shook her head.  What should it matter to her what he did anyway?  Her heart gave a little lurch, and her face became warm.  Again, she shook her head.  “I hope this isn’t the beginning of a cold,” she spoke to herself.  “Get ye to bed, Anne, else the flu catch you.”  Taking her own order, she went to retrieve her blankets.