A Friendly Interruption

Before the young girl could say anything, the door suddenly burst open. The Roland walked in bellowing out an old sailor's shanty and swinging a foaming mug of ale.

"Well lad, I send you out to enjoy yourself and then I hear you return with two pretty maids! These them? Hmmm. Let me have a look."

The captain of the ship walked over to Kara first looking her up and down. He raised and hand to rub her cheek and tilt her head a little to the side, examing her features before she stumbled back trying to keep away from the large man.

"This one's a bit skittish. Where did you get her?"

"The tavern's barman. Handed her over to me for the next two years wanting half of what would have been her profits. She's legally mine until she turns twenty."

The captain's face lit into a big smile and he turned back to the girl. "Welcome aboard lass! I'm Roland Carlin, captain of the Peregrine! I'll be expecting you to work hard. You can expect the men will make some passes at you. We have few other women crew members... They might make passes too come to think of it. Specially Sandra. Feisty little minx that one."

Kara had her back against the wall, her eyes wide with fright. "Will you hurt me? Please I-"

The captain's loud laughter interupted her. "Hurt ya? Why, my men are taught to respect women. They might get a little enthusiastic but for now you're in Tir's hands. If his father's recomendations are to be believed, you don't have to worry. I don't see a sword on the lad, but I hear his style of fighting is a little more personal. You'll have no worries. Though I do suggest you not hold out too long."

At this the captain began examing Carmine who was stretched out on the bed. A chuckle escaped from him that soon became a deep belly laugh.

"By my uncle's left nut! You've got old Gromlin's daughter? Lad did you really best her in that bloody challenge? I thought no one could do it! Hell I tried thrice myself!"

Tir wasn't sure how to respond. He had indeed beaten her, but the captain seemed very familiar with the girl.

"You know her father Captain?"

"Know him? For a while this ship was his! He started his merchant career on this very boat. Its still got some of that old smuggler's hidding places here and there! He's pretty respected now, but he's well known on the Black Markets of Wilken's Knot island chain. Slaves, ****, illegal spice trade, stolen goods. That old dog's more a pirate than I am! And my newest recruit steals his daughter right out from under him! HAHAHA! Ahhh! We'll be hearing from him no doubt. For now though I take it she belongs to you too."

"Yes sir. I hold her legal contract. Is this going to be a problem? Her father sounds pretty dangerous."

"Perhaps a bit, but I've some of the best fighters around. Plus its time I ended things with that old hell hound. But for now, you hold her contract, but I expect her to be available to the crew."

"That was part of my plan all along. But I do have one request sir."

The captain's smile returned. "Let me guess, you want the first go at this one eh? Can't say I blame you, with tits that big. You found these two, their you're responsibility. This room is too small though. Jean's bringing back a whore and she'll need this room. I've got a spare that these two can use starting tomorrow. The girl can act as normal labor for now. I expect you to get her out of her shell by the end of the first leg of our trip, understand?"

Tir saluted, smiling even wider than the captain. "Aye Captain!"

Roland nodded just as someone knocked on the open door. A man with pure white hair, hanging down to his waist stood there. He was wearing black robes and had small round glasses on his nose. he looked like some kind of scholar, but Tir had trouble believing that with how young the man looked. he couldn't be over twenty five!

"Ah Rufus! Just in time to meet Craig's youngest brat! This is Tir. You met his brother on the last voyage."

The man known as rufus stepped into the room, nodding to the captain. he looked almost as if he floated instead of walked. His movements were slow and deliberate and he looked as if he had optained some kind of inner peace.

"It is nice to meet you. I met Glenn at Fostler's Nesting. It seems that all of Craig's children are pirates nows. I hear you have a sister as well. Alice, I believe?"

Tir nodded. He remembered Roland mentioning someone named Rufus earlier that day, but could this really be the man who had a room full of maps and bobbles?

"Pleased to meet you. How do you know my family sir?"

"You're father helped me in my travels and directed me to Roland here. You probably don't know this, but Craig was a very successful pirate and adventurer. He is the one that pointed us to that den of thieves at Fostler's Nesting. You're brother was there as well, trying to obtain information about some of the vaults. He is how we got the information about Windlow. I'm currently acting as the ship's guide. Once we get to Windlow, I'll be leading the search party. If you're as good a fighter as you're older brother, I'll be in capable hands."

The captain gave Tir a gentle nudge. "I hear he's better. Doesn't use a sword like Glenn, but those hands of his are deadly. Plus I hear he always carries at least ten daggers."

Tir shook his head. "Its only eight. I tried ten once but almost got castraited."

The captain's laugh shook the small cabin, rousing a small mumble from Carmine and a weak smile from Kara.

"That would have been a shame lad! Well, I'll let you see to your lassies now. Come on Rufus my good man. You and I are going to have a drink while we plot our course."

The two men left, leaving Tir alone with the two women again. He turned to Kara and gave her a weak smile.

"So, where were we?"