Notna Bay, Oshea

Bennett stood, hands clasped behind his back, legs shoulder width apart, surveying the unexpected sight before him. Notna Bay was packed with military vessels, anchored in formation, swaying and bobbing. After first spotting the mass of ships, he'd nearly demanded they turn back, but they'd cautiously made their way into the bay, dropping anchor and sending a small party to speak with the master of the docks.

Jonah had returned with proper permitting. His first mate had weaseled very little information out of the dock master. Training exercise, apparently. He didn't believe it for one second. "There's only one reason a country musters a navy like this," he mused aloud, and not for the first time, either.

Jonah stood beside him, mirroring his stance. "You sure you don't want to go with us, Captain?"

"Tempting, but no. Not with all these ships about. Makes my skin crawl with unease."

They'd arrived yesterday—made good time too. Traveling through the storm had been a calculated risk, but they'd benefited from it. Now it was time to fulfill his end of the bargain. Dragonwall's king wanted to know what was going on Oshea? He'd discover it. But judging from what he saw, whatever it was wasn't good.

Aside from sending a few of his crew ashore on errands, he'd refused to allow them to disembark. It didn't feel safe, what with the full force of the Oshean navy mustered. He wouldn't risk anyone. Not until they had answers. That was where Cat came in.

A few appreciative whistles distracted him. He turned, looking across the length of the Lady Faith. Cat had emerged from below. She wore a pinched expression. Annoyed, no doubt. But that's not what stole his attention. Her gown—an Oshean harlot's gown, brightly colored with a dirtied hem and a few snags in the fabric—had the entire crew gaping, blinking after her. He didn't blame them, especially not when his own eyes remained fixed on her chest. Gods above, but she was well endowed. Jonah elbowed him. He growled, prying his eyes away, snapping his mouth shut.

Jonah chuckled. "Not a word," he barked, knocking the grin right off Jonah's face.

Cat marched over to him. Upon seeing his expression, a saccharine smile stretched across her lips. "What's the matter, Sailors? Never seen a lady in a gown before? I should have thought you'd be well acquainted."

"Oh, aye," Bennett said. "But I'm more used to seeing them discarded on the floor. Almost forgot what they look like on."

She rolled her eyes with an, "I'm sure you are."

He licked his lips, clearing his throat. "Jonah will take you ashore. Are you ready?"

A flash of uncertainty crossed her features, there and gone. He frowned. Had she been hoping he would be the one? No. He pushed that thought aside. She picked an invisible spec of lint off her lacy sleeve. "I'm ready."

"Good. Then get going."

She nodded, then turned away, heading for one of the row boats already ready and waiting. Jonah followed after. Several crew stood by to accompany them. He had to hand it to her, she did an admirable job looking tough, appearing confident. Beneath all that, there lurked something softer, something she rarely let anyone see. Except...she'd let him see it, once.

His mind drifted back to their encounter in Ice Port, back to when he'd hired her. He recalled her story, the vulnerability she'd shown. She'd been a young girl, a child, really, when Kane sank his claws in. When he'd played her. Kane had manipulated her, giving her a bottle of poison that would kill her step-mother. She hadn't blamed Kane for her actions, she'd taken responsibility for them. She'd admitted even at the time, she'd known what she was doing. Yet, she'd still done it.

In return, Kane had secured her status, manipulated her father, and given her magical abilities. She'd become a mage. It was that magic, that exchange of services, that cut Cat the deepest. Cat knew she hadn't earned it. She'd wanted to go after Kane for making her feel special, then pulling the rug out from underneath her. She'd discovered a hard truth.

She was nothing special.

It had taken some convincing, but Bennett was glad he had won her over to his crew. Glad of her healing abilities and magic, even if it was questionably obtained. He'd never been more glad after the storm they'd navigated. If there'd been any question before, there was none now. As he watched her climb into the row boat, watched as it was lowered into the bay, he knew her usefulness would continue.

He hated that she was getting under his skin in a completely different way. Hated that his feelings towards her were...changing. Bringing her aboard had been the right thing to do, but he certainly hadn't expected to soften towards her, especially when he knew—he knew—getting tangled up with her would be bad business.

The ropes were detached. The crew's shouts and whistles wished her luck. A couple of his men made lewd comments in her wake, ensuring that she'd hear them. They all knew what the plan was. While they probably didn't care much about the mechanics of it, he did.

It clawed at his chest and roused his ire to know what she was going to do. As he watched the little boat draw towards the docks, he gave a final growl, then shouted at the others to get back to work before disappearing below deck.

~

A knock at his cabin door roused him from a fretful sleep. He jolted upright and leaned over, lighting the bedside lamp. "Enter," he called, his voice scratchy. He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.

Jonah stormed in, followed by Cat.

Bennett blinked. How many hours had passed? How long had they been gone? It must have been close to dawn, at least.

Jonah's face was pale, even in the dim cabin light. Cat's was blank, but her eyes were shards of ice. There was a blotch on her cheekbone. The sight of it sent fire roaring through his veins.

He surged to his feet—didn't bother looking for his shirt. "What happened?" he demanded.

"What happened, was that I had everything perfectly under control." Cat pinned Jonah with her vicious stare.

Ah. So that's why she was angry.

Jonah glanced between them and said, "We'd better sit." He didn't wait for his captain's approval, and dropped into one of Bennett's desk chairs.

Bennett stalked over to Cat. She regarded him, but didn't move, didn't speak. His eyes darted over her, assessing. He took her chin in his fingers and lifted her face, getting a better look at the bruise. "Who did this?" he hissed. Blood roared through his ears. He brushed his thumb over the darkening skin and she flinched away. He dropped his hand.

"It's nothing," she snapped. "Your first mate forgot that I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Jonah scoffed, crossing his arms. Bennett scrubbed a hand over the ropes of his hair, along his scalp, then walked over to his desk chair and sank into it. "Sit, Cat," he said, keeping his voice low and even. Her chest deflated, but she did as he said. "Now, tell me what happened."

"She was—"

"No." He cut Jonah off, giving him a warning glare. "Cat."

Cat exhaled. "Everything was going fine. I found the other...women, right where I knew they'd be." He didn't miss the way she hesitated. Instead of using the word harlots, whores, or other variation, she had chosen differently. He respected that. "I started with them first, maintaining my ruse, giving my story. They..." Her throat bobbed. "They were nice, actually. Took pity on me. But, there was no sugarcoating. They were frank about what they did, about what to expect. I played my part adequately—the demure, shy, nervous, new girl. It was easy to hide deeper in the alleyways as they worked, so I was able to befriend a few of them while the others were picked for..." Her cheeks washed red and he found himself leaning forward in his chair. He'd never taken her for a prude. But he couldn't help enjoy it, even just a little.

"Sex?" he prompted because he knew the word would get things back on track.

"Services," she amended. "The women spoke plenty about the increased presence of navy and military men in Notna. Apparently, their earnings have never been better. That's probably why they didn't see me as competition when I showed up. 'Plenty to go around,' one of the older ones said. And they'd been right."

"And? Did you find out why?"

"They didn't know much," she admitted. "When I grew bold enough to ask, one of them said, 'We're paid to fuck, not talk.'" Cat rubbed the back of her neck. "A few did mention that the military was mustered for some far-off war, but...they really didn't know anything. So I took matters into my own hands."

Jonah's scoff sounded more like a snort.

She glared at him before continuing. "When a smartly dressed navy man appeared—oh, there had been a steady stream of them—I knew he was someone of rank, with titles, judging by his uniform. He was even a little handsome." A growl rose in Bennett's throat. He suppressed it, pushing his anger away. "I shed some of my shy act and slipped into better light. He spotted me, singled me out almost immediately. We went off together."

Bennett's palms were beginning to sweat.

"I made small-talk, telling him this was my first time in my new...role. He got excited about that." She snorted, disgusted. He felt the sudden urge to break something. "I did what I could to flatter him, talking about how distinguished and smart he looked in his uniform. I think he liked hearing it. He let me keep going. I even managed to get him to admit that the mustering navy had been gathered by the Oshean emperor, for war. When I told him how dangerous that sounded, he got excited, let slip that they had a long voyage ahead of in a few days, that they'd ben traveling over the Dragonfire sea."

Bennett's heart kicked up, both for the implication of her words and for wherever this story was ultimately going.

"Anyway, we found a secluded place off the streets, another deserted alley. I grew bold, asked how many men were under his command, because surely it must have been a lot. He...he hit me. Told me he was tired of listening to my smart mouth and that he'd rather see it wrapped around his..." Her words trailed off.

Bennett swore. The idea of someone hurting her like that. Gods above. He was ready to row ashore and find this ratbag. Make him pay.

"Anyway, I had everything under control. I was perfectly capable of—"

"It certainly didn't look that way," Jonah cut in. "Forgive me, Captain," he added, for speaking out of turn. "After he hit her, he took her wrists and pinned her to the wall, started groping under her skirts. She was struggling against him. She told him to 'stop,' to 'wait.' Far as I'm concerned, a woman says 'stop,' you stop. I might be a scalawag, a seaman, but even I got morals, Captain."

Cat jumped to her feet. "That's enough," she spat. "Did it ever occur to you that I was acting? That I could have used my magic to stop him?!"

"Then why didn't you?" Jonah cried. "Captain Bennett sent me to protect you. That was my job."

"I was trying to excite him. I needed to stay in character. Needed him to enjoy himself enough to come back his next time around. Tomorrow, the next day. I needed to win his confidence. He might have told a helpless woman his secrets. Military numbers, plans, et cetera. He certainly won't now," she scoffed, glaring down at Jonah. "I'll have to start all over again, with someone else."

"Sex was never part of the plan," Bennett said before he could stop himself. He stood, his chair sliding out behind him. "Seduction, not sex."

"Forgive me, Captain, but generally, you can't have one without the other."

"It's too dangerous." Never mind that he didn't want to think about the implications of this conversation. "The last thing I want is you concocting some sort of disease."

She snorted. "There's plenty of mage medicine for that. And I can assure you, being a mage means I have a certain...immunity from that sort of thing."

He clenched his jaw. "No sex."

Her lips parted. "Forgive me, but my body is mine to do with as—"

"That is not what I'm saying," he growled. "You're on the job. Therefore, you're under my command. Have sex on your own time."

She crossed her arms and made a scoffing noise. "I have nothing else to report."

"Fine. You may go." His voice softened. "And Cat? Let me know if you need anything for that bruise." It was a stupid statement. She was a mage and a healer. Still, he couldn't help himself.

Cat hesitated, then turned on her heel and left. Once she was out of earshot he turned to Jonah and said, "You did the right thing."

"She doesn't think so."

"You did."

"You're only saying that because you don't like the idea of her with anyone but you."

He made a choking noise. "Don't go there, Jonah. I'm not in the mood."

"Why not? I've seen how you look at her. Something's changed. I'm not blind to it, Bennett. And for what it's worth, I don't think anyone in the crew would mind—"

"Stop. That's enough. What else have you to report?"

Jonah hesitated, then shrugged. "While I was tailing Cat, the others slipped into a few pubs. They got much the same information. Oshea is gathering for an attack in a foreign land. Dragonwall was never mentioned but...they aren't interested in any other country on this continent. Didn't get numbers, nothin' like that. But, Captain...they did report some strange rumors, too. Seemed a bit far-fetched."

He sat forward in his chair, forearms on the desk.

"There's talk of some strange creatures, birds, or something of the sort, been spotted flying overhead. Rumor is, the Oshean emperor has some kind of new weapon of war."

He sighed, leaning back, and regarded Jonah. "Birds..."

"Big ones, from what's being said. But...seems far-fetched, like I said. Doubt it has anything to do with the navy."

"All right." He scrubbed a hand over his chin, grazing the stubble that needed his attention. "Cat reported they'd be departing in a few days."

"Aye. Not the best news."

"They'll travel slower as a contingent."

"Aye."

"That gives us one, perhaps two more days. We cannot afford to linger. We need this information, then we must set sail for Kastali Dun."

Jonah rubbed the back of his neck. "I was thinking the same."

"We'll give her two more days at most, send her out into the city tomorrow afternoon." Jonah nodded. "I'd rather have something substantial to report. Military numbers, where their forces plan to attack, et cetra. Won't be much help to the king otherwise. Can't offer someone like that smoke and mirrors."

"They could be planning anywhere along the coast."

"Could be," Bennett mused. "Or...it could be the most obvious place."

"Kastali Dun?" Jonah's brow furrowed. "You really think so?"

Bennett shrugged, letting his eyes dart around his cabin. Beaky was still snoozing on her perch. Hadn't done more than open an eye when he'd been pulled from sleep. Lazy bird.

"Very well. I'll hand select another group for tomorrow, those who'll be the most discrete. We'll send them into every establishment across the docks."

"Give 'em money for the women, too," Bennett mused. It was a double standard—he was well aware. Letting his men pay for sex but forbidding Cat from engaging in it. Well...he was who he was.

"Oh, they'll like that, they will."

He snorted. "Make sure they understand that just because they're dropping trow doesn't mean they aren't working."

"Aye, I'll make sure of it." A long silence stretched before them. "Will that be all, Captain?"

He nodded. "Go get some sleep, Jonah. We'll talk at dawn."

His first mate's chair scraped and he left the cabin. Bennett stood and went to one of the secret compartments in the wall, pulling out one of his most expensive bottles of whiskey. He poured a couple fingers into a glass and tossed it back.

There'd be no sleep for a while, not when every time he thought of another man's hands on Cat, his blood raged. He set the glass on the desk, and strode from the room, pausing at Cat's door, ear to the surface, listening. No sound came from within.

He made his way to the deck, took note of those on duty, nodded in greeting, and went to stand watch along the prow, looking out over the water. Even in the middle of the night, the sounds from land, the blazing glow of windows along the docks, drifted out to him. He listened, smiling faintly at the music and laughter.

"Couldn't sleep?" Cat's voice startled him. His head whipped around. He clenched his teeth, gave a curt nod, then turned back towards the water. How had she approached so quietly?

She came beside him, mirroring his posture, looking out over the water towards the city. She was already dressed in a tunic and trousers again. He opened his mouth, then closed it and scowled. There were a thousand things he might have said, and yet, didn't. She didn't speak either, content to stand in silence. So that's exactly what they did. As the minutes ticked by, one into the next, the tension from her appearance eased.

After a while, she said, "I never thought I'd see a country like Oshea in my lifetime."

He grunted.

"I suppose this is what you meant, when you said I might see the world, sailing with you?" He grunted again. "A person can't really appreciate how big it is until you spend weeks traversing the ocean, one continent to another. Seeing foreign cities, cultures, people."

"Most will never know," he mused, keeping his voice low. "Never understand."

"You're right. I suppose I should thank you for opening my eyes." He went completely still, blinking to clear the spots from his vision. Had Undirfold frozen over? A near silent huff fell from her lips. He glanced sidelong at her. She was gazing at him, assessment obvious in her shrewd eyes.

"What?" he said, frowning.

She lifted a shoulder, nonchalant, before turning back towards the water. "I guess I never realized how handsome you were—are—until I really started looking." His mouth fell open. He blinked. "Good night, Captain."

He sspun towards her, but she was already walking back to the hatch.

Him? Handsome?

Had she really just... His mouth snapped shut. Gods above. She certainly knew exactly how to render him speechless—had done it far too often. He made a sound of annoyance in the back of his throat, then turned back towards the city, pushing the infuriating woman as far as possible from his thoughts.

⭐🌟 DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!🌟⭐

Happy Friday Bookdragons!

I had a lot of fun with this one. I wrote it a while ago, actually, then pushed it back in the posting schedule to ensure it fit better with the timeline. I like characters who redeem themselves. I'm a firm believer that *most* bad behavior is redeemable. So I really like taking Cat's character, who has done bad things in her lifetime, and showing that she is also capable of doing good things, too. 

Next week's chapter is from Bedelth's POV. Yay! Since he is our main star of this book. We will get some Bedelth + Saffra time, and hopefully see some more growth from Saffra. 

I hope you all have a great weekend, and see you next week!

-Mel