Eventually they made their way to the kitchen. Elles stomach grumbled. Even if they hadn't known the way the scent of eggs, bread, and gravy would have lead them straight to the kitchen.

They sat together and devoured the meal. Elle was sliding a piece of biscuit over the plate in the gravy. Someone sat down on the bench at her side.

"Looks good, L, Z." The captain said. He shoved his plate a few inches over the table, sat down his mug of hot tea, then picked up a biscuit. He dunked it in the gravy with a swirling motion then brought it to his lips. Harv and Miles soon joined them at the table. They each had plates and mugs in hand.

Elle kept her eyes on her plate and mumbled, "Mornin' Captain, Harv, Miles."

Elle felt that the tension would suffocate her in the silence that followed. Only seconds passed then somehow scrapped their fork over their plate. Suddenly the sounds of eating banished the silence.

"We sail at noon so I expect everyone at the dock an hour earlier. The crew informed me all the cargo has been loaded. The land crab has been stowed in the cell. Bloody useless man." The captain informed them with an air of distaste.

"Cap, there's a new member of the crew I have my doubts about. He's too young." Harv said. He placed his spoon on the table. Shaking his head he went on to explain. "He's a kid. He said his mom died a few months ago. He joined the crew to feed his sister. She's four. He said that he left her with a friend. I'm not sure I trust the friend."

"What do you mean?" Elle asked before the captain had a chance to speek.

"The boy said he's known the woman since his mom died. She seems interested in the girl but not the boy."

The talk continued for a few minutes until they finished the meal.

Elle went to her room and found that she had very little to pack.

She didn't know what to do with the painting. She packed everything else in the pack she had made and sat on the bed looking at the painting.

She was numb. She knew she should feel something but she didn't. She didn't feel that all consuming self loathing. She didn't feel the intence hate at Sir Travis.

She knew they couldn't leave the painting on the dresser but she still didn't know what to do with it.

She stood up from the bed and went to the captain's door. She knocked on the door.

He answered in just a matter of seconds.

"What should I do with the thing?" She said putting extra emphasis on the word.

"Burn it." He said flatly.

She lifted an eyebrow. "Where would I do that?"

He shook his head. "Never mind. Just wrap it in a blanket. We can always dump it at sea. I'll be going in ten minutes. You can walk with me to the ship."

She made her way back to her door. She opened the door and heard her name behind her. She dropped her hand from the door and looked over her shoulder.

"Hi Harv. Are you leaving now?" She inquired as she turned. He had an old half full flour sack slung over his shoulder.

"Waiting on the captain. How bout you?" He asked looking done at her feet.

"I just got to get my stuff." She said and motioned into the room. He nodded and she ducked inside.

It took her only a moment to wrap the painting in the bed sheet from the bed. She tied the corners across from each other. She grabbed it and her bag before heading out the door.

Harv met her on the other side and took the painting. She hooked her arms through the loops in her pack and shifted her shoulders until the pack settled comfortably on her back. They made their way to the captain's door and Elle knocked.

It took him a moment to answer. He just opened the door and walked out of the door with his things bundled up in a sheet of brown fabric.

They made their way to the docks swiftly.

Elle found herself studying the scenery as if it were the first time seeing it all. She knew that it would be the last time she saw any of it for a long time. Her heart sped up at the thought of going into the convent for an undetermined amount of time. Her eyes burned but she refused to let the tears fall.

She slowed her steps but the others had kept up their pace. When she realized her thoughts of her uncertain future had caused her to fall behind she ran to catch up.

The ship was almost ready to sail but they had to wait almost two hours for the tide.

Two days later she had almost forgotten her anxiety. She was too busy to give much thought to anything but her duties.

Even now she dressed as a male. The male clothing made it much easier to move about on ship. It also seemed to ease the crew. They knew her true gender but were not constantly confronted by it.

The currier guard in the cell below deck however didn't know the truth about the ship, its crew or its purpose. Elle was assigned the task of delivering the man's meals, his clothing, his bath water, and anything else that he demanded. Within a month she wanted to throw the man overboard. He found fault with everything that was provided to him. He refused to meet her on the upper deck to help her practice duel. He laughed at her. He threw a bowl of oats at her. He took great pleasure in telling her she was useless.

"You're a pretty boy. But you've no business on a ship. I wonder why the crew tolerates you. You get everything wrong." Then he grinned at her with a look that chilled her bones. "Maybe tis the captain that keeps you around." He lifted a brow. "Are you the captain's personal cabin boy, boy?"

Elle rushed forward. She reached through the bars but her fingertips only brushed the lapel of his coat. He took a step back as he wiggled a finger at her, laughing.

"Uh hu huh." He warned. "My uncle would be greatly displeased if anything happened to me." He still smiled and looked at her in a way that twisted her stomach.

"You would not be so sure of yerself without the bars or if the captain were down here." She hissed at him.

"What's the matters lad? Are you afraid the crew would find out you're the captain's boy toy?" He laughed when she tried to grab him again. "Don't worry, I'll not say a word to the crew. Maybe the captain will share in the spoils of your true - talents."

Elle growled at him in rage. "I am not the captain's bed mate."

"I seen the way he eyes you. If you are not I lay bets to when you will be. You're not the only boy on this ship. Maybe he's not got to you yet. Besides it's all the rage in some circles." He shrugged a shoulder carelessly. "I myself have participated once -- or twice." He grinned. He took a step forward but was careful not to step within her reach. "If you find yourself to be curious I would gladly donate my time to your - education."

"Not even in your dreams." She spit at him. The spit slapped his clean shaven jaw then dripped to the wooden floor.

"Carefully, boy. I'll educate you yet. I can make it painful as well as pleasant."

Elle spun on her heals and flew through the bowels of the ship. She eventually burst into the captain cabin.

"Give me the key. I want his key." She demanded in a fit of anger and resentment. She thrust out her hand and let it hover in the air between them. The palm faced up and she shook it impatiently.

The captain pulled open the drawer and grabbed out the key. "What's happened? Is he injured?" He asked as he held the key out to her.

She snatched the key from his fingers and turned. "Not yet but he'll be dead soon enough."