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her, she finally turned away from the rail. Two men
    stood with buckets filled with sea water and splashed it
    over the wooden deck. Some were up in the tackle of the
    sails, the watchman in his crow's nest.
    Many of them watched her with curiosity, toothy
    grins on their faces, talking to one another. Some of them
    looked at her like a morsel they could sample as dark,
    lustful eyes followed her.
    The captain stood on the bridge next to the
    boatswain looking down at her with his mock expression,
    an expression she intended to have the pleasure of wiping
    from his face. The man on his right-hand side was rather
    good looking, with a smile on his handsome face. His eyes
    followed her and he gave her a light nod. She nodded back
    in greeting, which caused Roberto to frown, looking at his
    second in command with a stern gaze. He muttered
    something and the man looked away with a smirk.
    Looking around, she wondered where she would be
    sleeping when she heard a young male voice next to her.
    'Señorita Almaida, I will show you to your sleeping
    quarters.' His voice was pleasant to her ear and she smiled,
    glad to finally see a friendly face.
    'I will be your chamber boy for the duration of the
    trip. Please follow me.'
    He could not be more than sixteen years old, very
    small in posture. Big brown eyes had an easy smile in
    them. He was quite likeable, considering the predicament
    she was in.
    Well, I am here now. I might just as well make the
    best of it. When she looked up, her father's flag, their
    family crest, had been replaced with a black pirate flag and
    a purple flag with a falcon underneath it. She sneered in a
    most unladylike way at them and followed the young man.
    'What is your name?' she asked as her eyes swept
    over the ship, refusing to look at the defiant man on the
    bridge.
    'I am Enrico, Señorita.'
    'Well, Enrico, show me the way.'
    He took her below deck to the stern of the ship to a
    large cabin with rich, purple velvet curtains and bed drapes.
    Surprised at the richness she looked around and took in the
    sparse furniture. She expected a bunk but to found a bed in
    there was so much better. A small dresser and table stood in
    the one corner with a chair next to it, next to the port.
    'These will be your cabin, Señorita. If there is
    anything you need, you can pull this cord and I will be here
    to assist.' He showed to a golden cord which hanged in the
    corner of the bed.
    'That door leads to my cabin.' He pointed out a door
    in the left corner of the cabin. 'Breakfast will be served in
    your cabin but all other meals will be eaten with the
    captain.'
    'I refuse to eat with that man. I will stay here. Please
    go!' Immediately she raised her voice in anger. Who does
    this man think she is? I do not want any contact with him in
    anyway. The nerve of this man.
    Enrico nodded his head in understanding and
    walked out, closing the door behind him.
    She unpacked her trunk into the cupboard provided
    for her dresses and left a few things in the trunk for later
    use, especially the pistol, well hidden for now. She realized
    she needed a place to put them and, looked around her
    room a second time.
    Her room was comfortable but small; not what she
    enjoyed at home, but for now it suited her purposes. She
    found her way around easily and decided to put her knife
    near her bed between the folds of the curtains. It would be
    close enough to get to easily.
    In the one corner near the window was the tub for
    her bath, a luxury on a ship. Although the ship belonged to
    her father she had never been on it, only the larger
    merchant one, but her father undoubtedly thought of
    everything when he purchased it a few years back. Not
    suitable for a woman, but for this voyage it would do fine.
    She was busy brushing her long hair when she
    heard a knock. Thinking that it will be Enrico, she
    answered, 'Please come in.'
    'Señorita Almaida.' The familiar stern voice greeted
    her. When she turned around, Roberto stood behind her.