Eris and Logan rowed back to the ship with haste. "Simon," Eris called out to someone," pull us up!" Within minutes, the rowboat was pulled upwards to the railing of the ship. Eris jumped over the side, Logan following suit. "Thanks for taking care of everything, Simon." The captain was awknowledging a tall man with broad shoulders. He appeared to be descended from Africa and looked at least thirty years old. "Logan, this is Siimon. He's my right-hand man and oldest friend." A scrawny teenage boy ran up to them eagerly. " Captain, do we have a new crewmember? Hi there! Name's Charlie!" The teen grabbed at Logan's hand, shaking it excitedly. Simon raised his hand, swatting the back of the boy's head. "Ouch!" "Be respectful. He's just lost his home."

Charlie sheepishly lowered his head, muttering an apology. "It's alright," Logan assurred the boy, "I know you mean well. I'm Logan." Eris smiled a little at their exchange. "Charlie is our sailing master. He may appear to be carefree, but he is quite capable." "What's all this commotion for?" A middle aged man with dark hair came to stand beside Simon. He held a smoking pipe in his hand and had a deep scar going down the left side of his face. "We are welcoming the newest addition to the Tiger Lily. This is Logan. Logan, this is Martin. He is in charge of our artillary and cannons." Martin blew out a smoke ring from his pipe. "Well, we need to get moving. All this shit's held us up for hours." Simon gave Martin the same treatment as Charlie and slapped the back of his head. "Dammit boy, the hell was that for?" "Mind your manners, Martin. Don't pay him any mind, Logan. Martin is very frank." The young woman was just barely smirking as Martin held the back of his head in pain.

"Up there in the crow's nest, there is Gimoaldo. He is our lookout and he always has his eyes open for danger," Simon gestured upwards at the top of the mast. A dark skinned man waved down at them from the top. "Hello," he shouted to greet the newcomer.

"You've met Aileen already," Eris explained, "She isn't on the deck with us. She is our doctor and cook." Charlie's eyes lit up at the mention of the Scottish woman. "She makes the best bread and bacon! Her food is amazing!" Martin rolled his eyes at Charlie's childlike excitement. "You rarely think about anything else, you brat." Eris ignored the snide comment and appreared to be thinking deeply about something. "Actually, I think I will put you under Aileen, Logan. She has valuble skills and works hard. She could use a helping hand,and you should learn all you can from her."

Logan jumped when he heard the shriek of a bird. A silver falcon swooped down to them at a high speed, landing on the captain's shoulder. Eris laughed a bit at Logan's startled reaction. She had a light, charming laugh that reminded him of silver bells. "Forgive me, I don't mean to laugh at you. I'm sorry my companion frightened you. This is Angelo. He has been my friend through many dangers." The falcon squaked as if to answer her. "He's a messenger falcon I found in Greece." Angelo watched Logan with intensity in his beady eyes before gliding over to sit on his shoulder instead of the captain's. Angelo nuzzed his smooth beak into Logan's cheek while making a light chirping sound. "Blimey, look at that! Angelo doesn't like many people!" "No, he doesn't. Extraordinary." The crew all gaped at the fearsome predator's sudden affection for this stranger in disbelief. Eris's eyes suddenly became fixed on something behind the rest of the crew members as they were all spellbound by the unusual friendliness of the falcon. "Aileen. It's so good of you to join us." No one else had noticed that the red-headed doctor had come out of the supply room and was now standing behind Simon. "How much of the supplies have we got left?" Aileen pursed her lips and furrowed her brow.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"We've got enough food to hold us over for about a week. We're almost out of morphine and I may need more ether. We need to dock soon to get supplies." Aileen stared at their captain, earnestly waiting for a response to her report. "We will get supplies soon. That was the plan when we came here to Arden, but..." Eris said no more of the matter. Her face hardened and her eyes went cold with determination. "We will follow that vessel that was here. They can't have gotten far. We'll take whatever supplies they've sacked from the village and let justice be done upon them." Angelo flew away from Logan's shoulder, the weight of the bird replaced with Eris's gentle hand. "I am putting Logan in your care for now. Teach him all you can and make sure he pulls his weight." Aileen's lip curled in frustration. "I've told you in the past: I do not need a helper! I certainly am not babysitting, either." Eris only smiled at the woman's outburst of annoyance with her new task. But her grey eyes glinted with something Logan couldn't quite pinpoint. "This is my decision. You do so much work on this ship, Aileen. You deserve to have someone help you shoulder the burden of your responsibilites. And what if something happens to you? It will be beneficial to our future if we have another doctor trained onboard. Logan, make sure you listen to her well. She is a respected member of our crew." Eris nudged him over to the middle aged woman. The captain of the TIger Lily clapped her hands raipidly. "Raise the sails! Everyone to their stations! Lets get going while we can still catch up!"

"Aye!" The crew answered her in unison. Everyone scurried around the deck to get to their work station to assume their roles. Charlie quickly marched up the steps to the galver wheel. "Pull the anchor up! Make haste while we have the wind!" Logan's eyes glanced over to Aileen. She rolled her eyes, sighing heavily in defeat. "Well, come on. I might as well check your burns again. Don't dawdle and don't horse around. Those are my rules." "Yes ma'am." "Don't you ma'am me, boy! You know my name, so use it." He could tell this could be a long voyage. But he had to make the most of this situation. He had to.