He can think of no answer.

The Akkadian could think of no good answer for the redheaded pirate and for long seconds there was an awkward silence. Barbra Rosa was the first to speak.

"I think that you and I have more in common than you imagine Minaja, or whatever your true name is." The pirate wench declared. "Though such things can only be spoken of in privacy. Come with me, I have the bosun's cabin for the time being and he sleeps in the crew quarters."

The Akkadian was led to a single berth cabin, much smaller than the one the Sorceress now occupied. Barbra motioned for him to sit on the bunk whilst she herself remained leaning against the only door to the small room.

"There, now we may speak freely." Barbra told the Akkadian. "You wear the body of the whore Minaja of Al Areth, or it's exact duplicate if I guess rightly. That is the Sorceress's handiwork is it not."

The Akkadian nodded, astonished that the first mate had ascertained the unlikely truth so accurately. In her position he would have scoffed at such a notion, only having seen the Sorceress's power for himself could have convinced him that such a thing was possible. He looked suspiciously at the pirate as the obvious reason for her knowledge of the witch's ability occurred to him.

"You have seen such transformation before?" The Akkadian asked excitedly. "There have been others?"

"Of course. This is not a party trick the witch performs often, but you are not unique." Barbra said smirking. "It has been forty years since I learned for myself of the extent of magical power the witch can wield."

"Forty years? But you are....." The Akkadian had meant to say that Barbra looked little more than twenty. Now all the clues he should have connected earlier slotted together and he stared at Barbra in shock. "You are Barbarossa, or were. The original I mean from all the old stories. But that would mean you must be seventy years old at least."

"Seventy eight to be precise." Barbra said smiling oddly. "I think I'm carrying those years well though, don't you think?"

The Akkadian looked once more at the young woman standing before him. He had known many beautiful women in his time and Barbra was indeed amongst the prettiest of them. Her wild red hair and provocative pirate garb did nothing to diminish her sexual appeal. Rather it prompted the impression of a wanton and fiery lover.

"And in forty years you have found no wizard or priest who could restore you." The Akkadian questioned.

"I stopped my search for a cure many years ago." Barbra Rosa told the assassin. "I have not aged a single day since the witch cursed me. Wounds heal quickly and leave no scars. This is the closest to immortality that anyone but the gods could know."

"Tell me how you came to be transformed." The Akkadian begged. "And how you coped with losing your manhood."