Negotiations break down.

The woman arched an appraising eye at Nils, and he did his best to look defiant and imposing, though he suspected that she found him to be neither. “I’d wager that you’ve never put to sea in your life, have you Miss?” Nils said

As she opened her mouth to speak, one of the sailors that Nils had earlier seen in the pisser walked down the narrow hallway towards them. As he approached he gave the well dressed woman a look of incredulity, and then looked at Nils with the same expression, before he passed between them, back up the hall and into the tavern.

“I’ve been to sea many times, as if it were any of your business.” She said, with a she satisfied smile on her face at proving the novice sailor wrong. “In fact, I’ve been to sea more times than you ever have. Since I was a small child.”

“How does a proper woman like yourself do such things, did you pay someone then?” Nils derided.

“My father owned a fleet of trading vessels. He took me with him when he traveled, being that my mother was dead. He was a good man, and a good sailor. He taught me all that he knew about sailing, and commanding a crew. I’m well acquainted with the sea, so you can shove off as far as I’m concerned. I’ll get someone else to introduce me to the captain” She huffed, spinning about on her heel and striding quickly down the hall and out of the tavern to the catcalls of his shipmates.

Nils jogged after her, pushing through the swinging double doors and scanning the wide, bustling street for any sign of Constance Foxworth. “You’re not going to get anywhere with a fine piece like that, Nils. Come back inside and talk to Suky here, I’m sure she’ll be happy to give you what you want! “ yelled Dirk from inside. Loud, uproarious laughter followed.

Then he saw her, her fine blue dress like a beacon amongst the drab, dull throng of humanity on the street. As he jostled his way down the street towards her, her also spied a tall sinister looking figure following at some distance. “Miss Foxworth!” he called out as he gave a elderly drunkard a shove, and waved his hand, hoping to catch her attention.

She turned her head, and after scanning for a few seconds saw him, and then saw the tall man following her as well. The alarm on her face was evident to Nils, and her eyes locked with his in an instant as she pulled up the hem of her dress and rushed towards the market square. The tall man reached inside his coat, and quickened his pace as he followed. Nils pushed and shoved anyone in his path aside to curses in his effort to save the woman from her pursuer.