He takes them to his ship

?My story's not so different from yours lads.? Brenan told them honestly. ?I saw those Veer hirelings dragging Sasha back to their ship, and I decided I was going to but a stop to it.? He looked at Julien and saw the man nod at him with more respect and friendliness than he had used so far.

?Sasha should be safe on my ship by now.? If she wasn't drowned on the bottom of the Freeport harbor. ?If you like I'll take you to meet her.? If Sasha could vouch for them and confirm their story then he'd be happy to let them take her off his hands. And if she didn't know who they were, or if something had gone wrong Brenan would much rather deal with them on board his ship with Tyler and Kyle around than here in a strange inn.

?You have a ship?? Asked James with new interest in his eyes. ?We'd like to see Sasha very much, and your ship too. We may be able to work out an arrangement that is very advantageous for all of us.?

On the walk back to the shipyard the brothers explained to Brenan that they had come to Freeport in an attempt to sign on as crew on a small ship. Initially Brenan had serious reservations about signing on two gentlemen, but as they talked some more Brenan began to wonder if they might work out after all. By the time he saw Tyler waving at him from the mizzen mast, Brenan had pretty much decided that they'd do as crew.

Soon the entire group was assembled in the main cargo hold, Sasha was wrapped in a blanket and the brothers had changed into dry clothes.

?Kyle and Tyler, this is James and Julien Caruthers, and you must be Sasha.? Brenan turned his attention to the woman standing before him. She was as pretty as he remembered and standing wrapped in a blanket over her wet clothes with her red hair slicked back against her head she looked even more lost and in need of help.

?I take it you know these two?? Brenan asked as Sasha gave each of the brothers a quick hug in greeting. Sasha smiled nervously at the five men perhaps only vaguely aware of just how much of an effect her beauty had on all of them - including himself.

?I'm going to sign them on as part of the crew,? Brenan went on ignoring the startled exclamations of surprise and joy from the pair, ?you can stay too - can you cook?? Brenan asked hopefully, deciding that he could make do without finding out what Sasha?s last name for a little while longer.

?Julien, James, these two are Kyle and Tyler Jones, your fellow crewmembers,? The Caruthers brothers smiled and extended their hands; and Brenan was pleased to see they hadn't shown any sign of bias against the other's Lantian blood.

?I understand now how you got Sasha to disappear so completely.? James added as he smiled at the two misfits.

With the introductions out of the way Brenan continued.

?They're a little plain looking, but they're both good sailors and they?ll show you around the ship and start teaching you how to pull your weight while I take care of some unfinished business.?

?Tyler.?

?A-a-a-aye c-c-cap-t-ta-ta-in?? Tyler's stutter had gotten worse with all the new people around and Brenan hoped reducing the crowd might help.

?Show Sasha around, especially the galley. Try to tell her as much as possible about everything,? Brenan noticed Sasha smiling at Tyler again and his cheerful grin in return. ?Keep her below decks, I don't want to take any chances on her being seen. Got it??

?Y-yes captain!? His stutter wasn't as bad that time.

?Good lad,? Turning his attention to the other three Brenan continued ?Kyle, you?re in charge of instructing Julien and James. They might not know much about life at sea, but they seem smart enough and know better than to talk back instead of listening.?

?Aye captain!? Kyle agreed readily enough although he was understandably a little disappointed that his brother got to show Sasha around while he was stuck with the other two recruits.

?Good,? Brenan nodded and made sure to try and look satisfied with their quick responses to his orders, ?I don?t rightly know when I?ll be back.? The others nodded and headed for the deck.

"Are you brothers?" Brenan heard Sasha ask Tyler.

"Y-yes, we're t-twins" and then deliberately raising his voice a little so he would be overheard he added "I'm the g-g-good looking one." Sasha's warm laughter was infectious, and Brenan found himself chuckling with the other crew.

Brenan quickly changed his shirt and headed past where Sasha was talking to Tyler and up onto the deck. He had to get provisions, and see Ambrose about the job he had talked about. He also needed to ride out and see Red and convince her that she'd be the perfect first officer and sailing master for his ship.

Before he left Freeport though, he had a lead about a possible gunnery officer that he could use.