NOTE – full disclaimer (see first chapter)
Once outside the cabin doors, Emmaline turned to Molly and asked, "So you do you want to split up to do this or stick together?"
"Let's split up," Molly replied with a devilish gleam in her eye; "I'll definitely take care of asking Chris."
"Aye Molly, than you'd best be leaving Jeff to me," Emmaline chuckled.
"Sounds good to me and I'll ask Michaels and O' Haire, you ask Shannon and Edge." Molly suggested then.
"Agreed," Emmaline nodded; "Let's meet in the scullery later for there's a matter I want to discuss with ye over a couple of tankards."
"See you later than Emmaline," Molly bid her farewell and walked off in search of the two 'Shawns'.
Emmaline didn't have to go far to locate the first of her three charges. She found Shannon as expected up in the crow's nest with the newly returned from the meeting Twirlin' Kyrie.
"Shannon," Emmaline called up at him; "Might I have a word with ye?"
"He knows Emmaline," Shouted back Kyrie; "I've already informed him of his role."
Emmaline noted the mischievous glint in the lookout's eye and sharply returned, "Mind ye Kyrie, you'll be sticking to whom you've been assigned or Kate'll have your head."
Kyrie rolled her eyes and replied, "I know, I know; you don't have to remind me."
Emmaline shook her head and continued on to find the next of her three assignments. Walking around to the stern of the ship she spotted Edge working to clean some freshly caught halibut.
"Edge, I'll be needin' a moment of your time," Emmaline called out as she walked up to him.
"Yes ma'am," Edge looked up from his smelly task. "How can I assist you?"
"You've been selected to go the rescue mission for Crazy Jo," Emmaline informed. "You'll act as escort to Maria of the Blade for this task."
"OK," Edge replied not really understanding the gist of the plan; "sounds fine what's the catch?"
"The catch as you put it," Emmaline continued; "is you will posing first as wedding guests but then you and the others that have been picked will need to create a distraction long enough for Kate, Molly and myself to sneak into the Duke's rescue Crazy Jo. It will be dangerous and quite possibly you could be caught and executed before we have chance to save any of you."
"I see," Responded Edge with much concern, "Is Maxine is to be one of the one's going?"
"No Edge," Emmaline told him quickly; "she'll be staying on the Lioness during that time."
"Then I see no problem," Edge smiled in relief; "it would be an honor to help you with this mission."
"Aye then," Emmaline nodded; "See to it that you are at the captain's quarter tomorrow one hour after sunup."
Then Emmaline strode off to inform the most pleasant of her charges of the plan….