The Commodore led Delia outside, closely followed by two guards.
She stopped in her tracks to take a deep breath. "Ah. Fresh air," she breathed contently, closing her eyes as she revelled in the sunlight shining upon her.
The man turned around and watched her in amusement. He said nothing and allowed her this brief moment of bliss.
Opening her eyes, her gaze landed on him, only now realising that he was in fact quite handsome, were it not for the hideous wig under his hat. He had a slim, yet striking face, his beard freshly shaved, revealing his prominent jaw line. Despite his rank, he seemed quite young. No older than thirty, if she were to guess. She did notice faint wrinkles between and above his eyebrows, most probably due to his constant frown.
His eyes were a dark shade of green and she noticed how intense his gaze was.
She hadn't taken him quite seriously before, because she never saw him as clearly. But doing so now, she understood through his posture and his authoritative gaze how intimidating this man could actually be.
"Thank you for releasing me," she spoke gratefully and noticed his gaze softening as he smiled at her, acknowledging her thanks with a nod. "You're welcome."
"And I believe proper introductions are now in order." Thus, she held out her right hand for him to take. "My name is Delia Veynes. Pleased to meet you."
His eyes wandered down to her hand for a brief moment before he slowly raised his as well, holding it delicately. She expected for him to shake it, but instead he turned it with its back facing upward and graciously planted a kiss on top of it. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Veynes," he answered as he straightened himself. "I am James Norrington, as you might already know by now."
Delia cleared her voice and gave him a slight smile. "Now, care to tell me where we're going?"
"I am taking you to meet someone," he answered and released her hand before he turned around and resumed walking with Delia beside her. "As I told you, we are yet to confirm you speak the truth."
"So the trial is still going to take place?"
"Correct."
"Why?" She asked. "There is no reason for it."
"Such is the law," he stated and Delia hummed.
"Seems to me that law of yours is hellbent on keeping the women in check more than anything," she mused.
"What makes you think that?" James glanced over to the woman walking beside him who shrugged. "Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the fact that you happily throw them into the dungeon based on unproven accusations that would eventually cost them their lives without any chance of defense. A trial in this case would seem unnecessary, since death is always inevitable."
Silence ensued for a while as he considered her words.
"It seems to me, a woman more capable than your average man is considered a threat and someone eventually made up witches to justify their execution."
She watched with interest the confusion wash over his face, followed by a concentrated frown as her words sunk in.
"You could get yourself killed for saying such things," he finally warned her.
"But not by you," came her calculating response, "anyone else in your place would never have released me. But you see beyond the law, don't you, Commodore?"
At that, a strange feeling overcame the Commodore. He felt pride in himself as she complimented him. She had a way with her words that somehow made him feel special and acknowledged, and at the same time, challenged his thoughts.
He was about to formulate his answer when he realized they had already arrived, standing before the entrance to a mansion.