A Captain's Command * *

Captain Wendon was sat at his desk when I quietly entered. He waved a languid hand at me, indicating I should sit, then curled his long pianist's fingers around the arm of his chair, leaning back and studying me hard. It was highly unnerving. At any moment I thought he would guess my secret. I tried to meet his eye with a steady glance, until eventually he looked away, and spoke to me.

"Westenra, I wish you to bear witness that I am about to open my secret orders in accordance with His Majesty's and The Admiralty's wishes at the correct latitude and longitude. Please ascertain that this is all correct." He handed me a package, I read the details and compared them with what I knew, yes, we were at the point specified. I handed the package back to him.

"Yes Captain, you are quite correct." He paused thoughtfully then asked me, "I must request that you stay while I read them, as I cannot be sure that I will not want you while I read or after, but you must not directly read them yourself. It shall be a tedious quarter of an hour I fear. My apologies."

He was mostly right. It was a tedious ten minutes. I studied the entire room thrice, and then moved to unobtrusively studying my Captain again. He really was most fascinating. Tall, lean and muscled, he sat with grace, and when he abruptly stood and began to walk about, swaying easily with the sea- legs that take ten years or so to acquire. Subconsciously, I began comparing him to Byrne, finding differences, preferences and peculiarities in each man. Byrne's hair was slightly lighter- my Captain's was black, Byrne's dark brown. But Byrne's was straight, and my Captain's was slightly curly. Byrne had soft blue eyes, and Captain Wendon's eyes were as stormy as the grey, sometimes-green sea they resembled. Byrne had a slightly heavier build, whereas my Captain was leanly muscular.

Suddenly, as I was staring at a snippet of fabric on my arm, comparing it with Byrne's coat, he spoke, and I was abruptly jolted back into reality.

"I think you might, perhaps, read the last passage of this. Belay that, I'll read it to you. 'As previously mentioned, you must at all costs negotiate with the Spanish as to the safety and release of the Duchess, and her maidservant, and may make a reasonable offer. You shall not leave the area until her ladyship is on board. The Duke will recompense His Majesty for half the total sum which should not exceed 8000 guineas.' You understand, Westenra. The negotiations shall be your business, translating what I say, and assisting me in the bargaining process. Lord Exmouth thought they might return her for 6000 if we bargained particularly hard. Questions?'

He smiled at me as the ship began to roll in some particularly heavy rollers, expecting the usual queries, but I smiled weakly and shook my head negatively. I could feel my seasickness returning. He seemed curious, but did not question me, rather dismissing me. I walked calmly out of the cabin, down the corridor, and upon reaching my own cabin, collapsed onto my bed, sitting for a second before running to throw open my tiny window and vomit.

Later, after I had slept until nightfall, Byrne awoke me with a knock on the door. I called for him to enter, having changed into clean uniform (washed in salt water- disgusting) before lying down. He entered and saw my state. "It hit again? Well, soon you'll be used to it, an' you won't even notice. Do you want some supper- I think its beef and onions...No? Can I get you anything?" I shook my head. "I'll be up after dinner; I'll get something then. Thanks Byrne, you're a good friend." The lieutenant smiled back at me. "You have to have mates at sea- nobody else to care and a body has to be cared for. I'm on watch in fifteen minutes, you're welcome to come and learn the ropes then?"

I had expressed an interest in the running of the ship, and Byrne had eagerly offered to teach me what he knew. I gratefully accepted, and he left me to sort myself out. Hoisting myself into the cold night air, I was glad that I hadn't spared on funding my greatcoat (having a premonition that I would be very chilled) which had extra lining, which I had sewn in myself, and, more importantly, secret pockets. In the extra lining, I had sewn several stashes of coins, each separate from the other and well padded so they wouldn't clink as I moved. This coat was probably my most useful item of clothing at the moment.

I savored the salty air, until I was interrupted by my Captain stepping out of his cabin nearby. I straightened and he noticed me. "Ah, Westenra! Making yourself useful, I hope?"

I smiled, returning his confidant grin. Byrne had been right when he'd said that the Dominion was a youthful ship, and that its Captain inspired the feeling of exuberance. "Yes, Captain, Lieutenant Byrne is about to continue my education in the nightly running of the ship, sir." "Ah, well, I am going up on deck also, don't hesitate to ask me if Lieutenant Byrne becomes busy."

Now that was friendly- inviting me to interrupt his personal time- and an honor not lightly received. "Thank you, sir, that's good of you." Captain Wendon preceded me on deck, and I heard him greet Byrne, who had just begun his watch. Byrne called to me as I came on deck. "Ah, Jack, here you are. Shipshape?" I nodded, my sea sickness seemed to better itself when I was in the open air. "Thanks. So what happens first?"

R&R? Comments much appreciated! Luv Es