Elle resisted Mel's friendship but the other woman was insistent. She was a combination of in-your-face and behind the scenes. She knew exactly when to push and back away.

She worked well with the crew and did any task assigned to her. Eventually Elle accepted her offer to practice sword play.

"You're good." Mel exclaimed, breathless, at the end of their first practice. "How long have you been practicing?"

It took Elle a moment to estimate the time. "Four years." She said nearly as breathless as Mel. Trying to keep her breathing even she leaned her shoulder against the mast a few feet from the crate Mel sat on.

"Damn." Mel exhaled a heavy breath. "You must be a natural." She wiped sweat from her face. "I've been using a sword for nine years." She nodded to Elle. "But I admit, you're better."

"I've had good teachers." Elle admitted, surprised at the woman's honesty and sincerity. If it had been the other way around she wasn't sure she would have admitted it so honestly and without any resentment. Mel didn't sound resentful.

Mel nodded. They remain silent for a time. Waves lapped at the ships hull, stars winked in the sky, and their breathing returned to normal after a while.

"Paul said we'd be in port in two weeks. Any plans?"
Elle shook her head. "Not much to do in Between." Elle said then added. "We docked there to restock supplies before sailing on to India."  Elle felt a spark of longing. She hadn't spent enough time exploring India. Maybe next time I'll get a chance to explore more, she thought.

"I've been there too. There's a place across the city that has the best ale I've ever tasted. They brew it and serve it in their own tavern." She smiled as she remembered her last visit to the tavern. "I'll show you if we have time." Mel promised.

Elle nodded. "Maybe." She agreed. With a sigh she pushed away from the mast.

Paul was headed their way across the deck. He ducked a boom and moved towards them looking totally at ease. .

Mel followed her eyes and turned to look at the object of Elle's interest. Her smile brightened as her eyes landed on on Paul.

"Mel - Elle." He greeted them. Elle hid a smile at his softer tone as he spoke Mel's name. "I came to say thanks." He told them with a animated grin.

Elle glanced over to Mel but the other woman looked just as confused as she felt.

Paul laughed. He lifted a coin pouch and bounced it in his palm. "A small wager among the crew. I won."

No longer smiling Mel asked, "What wager?" Her eyes hurt and angry. Her tone unaffected by her emotions.

With the smile still in place he replied, "A bet to if one of you," he indicated the two women with the coin pouch, " would kill or permanently main the other." His eyes looked them over, inspecting. "Since neither of you are dead and you both seem to be in one piece… I win."

Mel had lost the ridged set to her shoulders. Her smile returned with a trace of amusement. 

Elle rolled her eyes at Paul. "Who else won?" She asked curious.

"Harv, James, Nathan,  Jr, and Zed." He said sounding proud.

Elle narrowed her eyes on him. "You let Nathan bet? Are you out of your mind?" She demanded. Unfortunately a wave of fatigue washed over her.

"Hey, don't look at me." He held up his hands, the pouch still clutched in a fist, in mock surrender.

"I'm going to bed. But don't think this is over." She groused. She stalked off bit stopped and turned back to Paul. "How much did he win?" Curiousity winning.

"A pence per bet. Around twenty, I think." He grinned.

Elle shook her head, unsure how she should feel. On the one hand Nathan had bet in her favor. On the other, he was a child of 13. He was saving money to care for his sister. He could have lost that money.

Elle settled on her cot and drifted to sleep.

The following day she found Nathan in the galley with cook.

"Elle!" He greeted her warmly. Cook smiled and turned back to the bread dough he was working.

"Hello, Nathan - Cook." She greeted as she pulled out a chair. She dropped into the seat.

"Guess what Elle!" He demanded excitedly.

"You won a bet with some of the crew." She made it sound like a question.

"How'd you know?" He asked dejected. His brow furrowed.

"Sorry, mate, but its a small ship." It wasn't exactly true but it would suffice. "How much did you win?"

"Twenty-three pence." He bragged. His disappoint forgotten.

She nodded. Thoughtful. "True. But you could have lost it just as easily as you won it. What would your sister do if you lost all the money made this last few months?"

"I didn't lose." He said looking at her. "I bet you wouldn't kill or maim Mel." He paused and shook his head. "I know you don't like her but you don't hurt or kill people cause of that."

Cook grunted. It seemed he agreed with Nathan. She had to admit the boy had a point. "But Nathan, accidents happen. Either of us could have done more damage than we intend."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I needed to bet. If I'm going to have my own tavern and keep Lacey with me I got to have money." The amount of determination and need in his voice touched Elle. Her heart gave a lurch for his situation.

So she let the bet go. She understood. Cook caught her eyes and she saw the same response in his eyes.
She picked up a knife and started cutting up the vegetables. It looked like they were having stew. Good. She could help with that.

She wondered if she could help with his plans to own his own tavern. At the moment she would just St think about it and plan.

Time was passing quickly, too quickly. She would be in the convent in a matter of months. There was nothing she could do about that.