“GO AWAY, CHILD!!!” Barika shouted.

“But I’m bored!” Anna replied.

“Then go out and leave me be!” Barika said.

Barika rolled back over and stuck her head under her pillow groaning in pain. Anna closed the door to her friend’s room and sighed.

I guess I’m on my own today.

She walked down the stairs and into the main room.

“How are your friends feeling?” the tattooed barmaid asked.

“Sick, even still Thokri’s out cold,” Anna replied.

“Gods! What did you lot drink that put a dwarf out on his ass for half a day?” the tattooed barmaid asked.

“It was just rum,” Anna replied.

“Rum did that?” the tattooed barmaid asked.

“Yeah,” Anna replied.

“It must have been some good stuff,” the tattooed barmaid said.

“Na, it was cheap, so we drank a few pitchers of it,” Anna replied.

“Did you just say pitchers?” the tattooed barmaid asked.

“Yeah,” Anna replied.

“Like those?” the tattooed barmaid asked, pointing at a few clay pitchers sitting on the bar.

“Bigger,” Anna replied.

“How many of those things did you all drink?” the tattooed barmaid asked.

“Six, or seven. I’m not sure. I had to pee, and it took a while, so they might have drank one while I was gone,” Anna replied.

“Gods! They’re lucky they didn’t die!” the tattooed barmaid said.

“It’ll take more than rum to kill them,” Anna replied.

The barmaid gave her a look and then sighed.

“Are you planning on leaving by yourself?” she asked.

Anna nodded and the tattooed barmaid looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.

“Look, this city isn’t safe for travelers, especially women,” she added.

“I’ll be fine,” Anna replied.

“No, you won’t!” the tattooed barmaid said.

“SALLY!!!” the innkeeper shouted.

“But, ma’am!” the tattooed barmaid replied.

“You’ve got work to do girl, so get it done!” the innkeeper snapped.

“Yes, ma’am,” Sally replied.

I’m not getting in the middle of that. Sorry Sally.

She slipped out the door as Sally the barmaid sulked away.

It was late morning, or maybe even early afternoon, she wasn’t sure. The street wasn’t as crowded as it had been the day before, though she assumed that was because the sailors were sleeping off last night’s revelries.

I guess I’ll go and get some food and then go and look at all the ships.

She sniffed the air and then wrinkled her nose, unable to smell anything other than the pungent scent of rotten fish.

Smells like I got to do this with my eyes.

She was tempted to summon her dream eyes but decided that would probably cause a panic and that wouldn’t be good. She started to walk toward the main road, figuring that even if there wasn’t anywhere, she wanted to stop on the waterfront. She could always head back towards the gate.

“Where you heading, sweetheart?” a man asked.

A few dockworkers were leaning up against one of the buildings leering at her.

I bet they’d know where I can get some good food!

“Somewhere to get food. You boys know anywhere good?” she asked.

They looked at each other and started grinning.

“We sure do. Come on, follow me,” the man replied.

“Okay,” she said.

She followed the grinning men, hoping that whatever food they were leading her to was good.

They’re just like the dockworkers in Fishport.

They walked for a few blocks before the men paused at the entrance to one of the alleys.

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“We got to cross though here unless you want to walk all the way around,” the man said.

She nodded and started to follow him down the long dark alley. They walked for a few minutes before the man spun around and grabbed her by the throat before slamming her against the wall. He placed the flat of a knife blade against her cheek and grinned in a savage way at her.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. We won’t hurt you so long as you’re a good girl,” he said as he slid his hand down to her breast, groping it roughly when he reached it.

He leaned close to her face and then started to lick her cheek. She snapped her mouth to the side and bit down on the offending organ severing it. She slammed her open palm against his ribs, shattering a few and sending the man flying into the wall on the other side of the alley.

She turned to the other men and spat what was left of the first man’s tongue onto the ground before darting forward, hitting the closest one in the jaw, knocking out most of his teeth. Her fist flew into another of the men, hitting him in the stomach and folding him over. She then backhanded him, cracking his skull and knocking him to the ground.

The last man stared stupidly at her, frozen in utter shock. She kicked him in the knee, folding the joint backwards before snatching him by the hair and slamming his head against the wall a few times before dropping his limp body on the ground.

She looked up and noticed a tall man in a blue coat holding a cutlass in his hand staring at her wide eyed.

“Who the fuck are you?” she asked.

“I, uh, saw those men lead you back here, so I followed to make sure you were alright,” he replied.

“Oh, well, thanks,” Anna said.

“You’re welcome, miss,” the man replied.

He slid his cutlass back into its scabbard and continued to watch her.

“What?” she asked.

“You have blood on your face,” he replied.

“Oh, thanks,” she said.

She crouched down and tore the sleeve from one of the men’s shirts and used it to wipe off her face and dress.

I’m glad I wore one of the dark ones today.

She tossed the sleeve aside when she was finished and noticed that the man in the blue coat was still standing there.

“So, would you happen to know where I can get something good to eat?” she asked.

The man just stared for a moment before smiling.

“I know just the place,” he replied.

He held out his arm just like the noble men did when they wanted a lady to wrap theirs around it. She walked over, took his arm, and they began to walk out of the alley.

“Uh, please don’t tell anyone about this. I’m not supposed to bite people,” Anna said.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied.

“Thanks,” she said.

Once they reached the street, they turned back towards the main road and walked casually through the crowd as if she hadn’t just maimed four men.

“So, what’s your name?” she asked.

He paused and turned to look at her.

“Timothy Claremont, Captain of the Star of Dawn,” he replied.

“You’re a sea captain!” Anna squealed.

He laughed.

“I am,” he replied.

“What kind of ship do you have? How many men? What kind of cargo do you haul?” she asked in rapid succession.

He laughed again.

“Slow down. I’ll tell you all about it after you tell me your name,” he said.

“Oh, right. I’m Anna, and I’m an adventurer,” she replied.

“Well, Anna the adventurer, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said.

“So, what about the ship?” she asked excitedly.

He laughed and shook his head.

“It’s a sloop, I’ve got fifty men, and we don’t carry cargo,” he replied.

“You don’t?” Anna asked.

“We’re men of fortune so to speak,” he replied.

“That means your treasure hunters, right?” she asked.

“That’s one way to look at it, yes,” he replied.

“I tried treasure hunting once. It didn’t turn out that well,” Anna said.

“It’s not for everyone,” he replied.

“So, what are you doing in Eagle’s Bay?” she asked.

“Trying to recover something that was stolen from me I’m afraid,” he replied.

“What is it?” She asked.

“Something very valuable,” he replied.

“Oh, you don’t want to tell me. Well, that’s alright. It’s none of my business anyway,” Anna said.

He laughed again.

I wonder why he keeps doing that?

They walked for a while down the waterfront. She looked at the ships as they passed. A few of them were different from the day before, so she made sure to examine the new ones closely. He tugged on her arm, pulling her towards one of the taverns.

“Here we are. My favorite place to eat while I’m in this port,” he said.

“How many places have you been?” she asked.

“I lost count. How about you?” he asked.

“I’ve been all over, but usually just passing through,” she replied.

He nodded, pushed the door open, and then gestured for her to go inside while he held it. She walked in a little confused. People usually didn’t treat her like this, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

The inside of the tavern was like any other she’d visited in the past with the only notable thing being an enormous fish mounted above the fireplace. She’d never seen one quite like it before. It had a snout that reminded her of a spear and spines running along its back.

Captain Claremont took her arm again and walked to one of the small tables near the back of the room where they sat down. A smiling barmaid rushed over the moment they were settled in.

“It’s good to see you again, captain,” she said.

“It’s good to be back,” he replied.

“What can I get you today, sir?” she asked.

“I’ll have a tuna steak with garlic cream sauce and a glass of white wine,” Captain Claremont replied.

“And you, ma’am?” the barmaid asked.

Ma’am? No one calls me Ma’am.

“Uh, I’ll have the same, except I want sweet red wine,” Anna replied.

“I’ll have it right out,” the barmaid said before walking away.

“I’ve never had wine at a tavern before,” Anna said.

“This isn’t exactly a tavern,” Captain Claremont replied.

“What is it then?” Anna asked.

“It’s really more of a cafe to be honest,” he replied.

“That’s the same thing,” Anna said.

“No, there are subtle differences,” he replied.

“Such as?” Anna asked.

“There aren’t any drunken louts,” he replied.

“Oh, right,” she said.

“So, what brings you to this city?” he asked.

“I’m visiting home and going there by ship is faster than wagon,” Anna replied.

“Where’s home?” he asked.

“Fishport,” Anna replied.

“There’s a lot of Fishports. You’ll have to be more specific,” he said.

“The one on the mouth of the great frontier river,” Anna replied.

“I know the place. Who’s taking you?” he asked.

“Captain Edward,” Anna replied.

“Does he command The Potent Puffin by any chance?” Captain Claremont asked.

“He does,” Anna replied.

“I know him. He’s a good man, and the Puffin is a fine ship. Don’t mention me to him though. We don’t exactly get along,” he said.

“Okay,” Anna replied.

The barmaid returned carrying a tray with their still steaming meals on it. She set a plate in front of each of them and then placed a glass of wine next to their plates. She reached in her coin purse to pay the woman, but Captain Claremont shook his head no, then passed the barmaid enough coin for both meals and a generous tip.

“Thank you, sir,” the barmaid said before scampering away.

“Why’d you do that?” Anna asked.

“A gentleman should always pay for a lady’s meal,” he replied.

“I’m not a lady,” Anna said.

“Every woman’s a lady,” he replied.

“Not me,” Anna said.

“Then think of it as an apology for not helping you with those ruffians,” he replied.

“You don’t need to apologize for that. You didn’t do anything wrong, but I won’t say no to free food,” Anna said.

“That’s the spirit. Now let’s eat. It would be a shame to let this get cold,” he replied.

He picked up his fork and knife in a way that reminded her of the noblemen she’d met in the past.

Might as well eat like that too.

She copied him and then cut off a small piece of tuna steak.

“Seems you do have some lady in you,” he said.

“Maybe a little,” she replied with a smile.