Hello everyone! Wow, it's certainly been a while. Too long, I'm sure. Can't believe how long it's been...I'm really sorry about that. My 2022 was pretty much the same as 2020 and 2021, and it's not very conducive to motivation for writing. *sheepish laugh* So was a bit of a rough go, but I'm back! And to those of you that I said I'd post on the weekend, I apologize. I was going over some parts with a close friend, which turned out to be both helpful and hindering, so more last minute edits took place than I planned for, but I feel it worked for the better. Thank you all for the kind messages and the lovely reviews, they do so much to keep me going. I'm so thankful that so many of you have enjoyed this story as much as you have, which is far more than I ever dreamed would read it, so thank you.

But enough of that, on to the reason we're here! I do apologize if the tone of the story seems to have difficulty matching previous chapters, it's been a bit hard to get it out, but I hope you enjoy it all the same!


I couldn't help it. I barked a laugh, wiping my eyes. "You're so full of it!"

His smile faded into a confused frown. "Perdon? Full of…what?"

"Sorry, it's a…saying, where I'm from. Means you're not telling the truth." I laughed again as his expression morphed into indignation.

"You think I lie, señorita?" Ramirez asked, his frown deepening at the very idea.

I shook my head, still smiling. "No, not really, but I think you might be stretching the truth to fit your narrative."

Ramirez quirked a smile. "Mi tío would call that 'tightening the skin on the drum'. Tell me, señorita, how is Reíno? I have not had many chances to speak with him, and his letters to me and to home are few."

"He is...well," I said slowly, trying to find my way through words without making it sound suspicious. "He fought bravely in the last skirmish, and he's a good officer. I'm glad the capitán assigned him as my caretaker, though I doubt he was pleased about it at first."

The lieutenant let out a quiet snort. ", I doubt it. But he seems to enjoy your presence, and he has a high opinion of you, and you of him, it would seem."

I hummed in agreement, absently wondering where Reíno was during our stay at port. I hadn't seen him in a bit-

"Though it is a pity you did not have the good sense to grow feelings for my cousin rather than his dull and dreary capitán."

Gasping at the man's audacity, I looked up to see him grinning at me, unrepentant.

"I cannot believe you just called el Matador del Mar 'dull and dreary', whatever would all those ladies back in Spain say?" I teased with a giggle, quickly sidestepping a deep pothole on the street and wincing when my leg twinged in protest to the strenuous movement.

Ramirez was ridiculously quick to notice. "How is your leg, señorita?"

"It will get better once everything settles down and the dresses are complete. And don't think I didn't notice you ignoring my question, teniente."

The man let out a loud, exasperated sigh at my mischievous tone. "I imagine their protest of my accusation would be loud and quarrelsome, never mind that he is old enough to be a father to most of them."

I laughed, then said, "I am curious. Just how renowned is the Silent Mary?"

Yep, that had been a disdainful sniff. I grinned to myself.

"She is...impressive, to be sure, and very well known in España," Ramirez admitted in lofty tones, then added, "But she is merely a first-rate galleon, which are many in the fleets."

I grinned to myself. "Why, teniente, if I did not know better, I would claim that sounded of jealousy."

Ramirez narrowed his eyes down at me, muttering in Spanish, then asked, "Are you baiting me, señorita?"

I opened my eyes as wide as they would go and fluttered my lashes. This would never work with Armando, but anyone else… "Why señor, I would never!"

Ramirez snorted, and we stared at each other for a second, then simultaneously burst into laughter.

"Ahh, señorita, I am glad Reíno introduced us. I can only imagine the trouble you caused on board la María."

"I was a perfect guest, if you must know." It was my turn to sniff disdainfully.

Another ungentlemanly snort. "Mm, what was your phrase? Full of it?"

"Left myself wide open for that one," I muttered, curling my lip in annoyance.

Ramirez grinned in response

We continued on in companionable silence. I gradually found myself rubbernecking at all the quaint sights and sounds, feeling a disconcerting sensation of displacement, like when one travels through a particularly old section of a town that wasn't caught up to the modern age, but you kept driving and eventually passed through it.

Except I couldn't pass through it. This was my life now, until I either died or whatever dumped me three centuries in the past decided I could go back to my own time.

"Shall we head to the dressmaker's, señorita?"

The sudden break in my thoughts made me jolt slightly before I could control it. I gave Ramirez a quick smile, hoping he hadn't noticed. "That sounds excellent."

The sideways glance he gave me said he had indeed noticed, but he was either too polite to mention it or decided to let it slide.

I didn't realize how close we were to the shop until we turned a corner, passing a store I couldn't make out before suddenly stopping at the dressmaker's.

A familiar figure bustled out and I reared back slightly as Lady Delagio surged forwards to grasp my free hand, tugging me away from the officer and started shepherding me towards the door. "Excellent! Perfectly on time, señor, I commend you. Come, come, child, we have much to do."

Ramirez bowed slightly at the compliment before turning to me. "I shall leave you in the señora's good hands, ? I will be waiting for you when you are ready to return to the inn."

"Gracías, Ramirez." I smiled gratefully, glad to have a familiar face waiting for me. Lady Delagio made me very uncomfortable with her suave confidence.

He gave me a jaunty bow with a playful wink and strode off towards a nearby tobacco shop, leaving me to reluctantly be herded into the lion's den.

It didn't long for my leg to feel like it was scalded, it hurt so much. I tried to keep as much weight off it as I could, ignoring when Ezmeria scolded me for not standing up straight, but if she couldn't see that I was lamed, then she could just go suck a rotten egg.

Hunger pinched my stomach, breakfast was a long time ago, and while my saliva was sticky in my throat, my tongue was dry as sandpaper.

In short, I was going to snap. My patience was growing thinner and thinner, and my temper was bubbling under the surface. The only thing getting me through this was knowing that when I was done here, I could go back to my cabin aboard the Mary and hide. Maybe I could even spend some time in Miguel's kitchen with my logbook.

If I was lucky, it might even rain sometime soon, while I was still on board the Mary, and I could just snuggle in my bed and listen to the rain patter on the ship's hull.

"Stand straight, girl! We'll never be finished if you insist on slouching!"

An annoyed sigh blowing between my clenched teeth, I straightened, trying to keep my weight off my right leg without standing lopsidedly.

They had five minutes to finish poking and prodding me before I just walked off this stool, cooperation be damned.

Immediately, I scrunched my nose in annoyance. I'd told Armando I would behave and make it as easy for him as possible, but how on earth was I going to get through this if everything was going to be so annoying? This wasn't even the first week, and already I was at the point of just jumping out the window.

I fidgeted again, earning myself another poke with a needle. Why couldn't I just stay on the Mary, again? Once my leg got better, I could get stronger, earn my keep on board. I'd never be as strong as most of the crew, but I could be another cabin boy, help run errands for Miguel.

"Enough," Ezmeria finally snapped, standing straight and shooing the other girl helping her with the adjustments out of her way to stand in front of me, hands braced on her hips. "Whatever is the matter with you, girl?"

Wow, rude. I bet I'm almost as old as you.

"My apologies, I hurt my leg during the last skirmish before we docked," I managed through gritted teeth. "It pains me greatly when I stand for long periods."

Lady Delagio frowned skeptically, sweeping her eyes down my form. "How did you injure your leg?"

I grimaced as I tried to quickly think of something that would sound more ladylike than I tried to get myself killed by taking on an enemy above my skill level. "I twisted my ankle while searching for a place of safety. My quarters were...too close."

Shifting my weight again, I sucked in a sharp breath at the pang and stepped off the stool. "Please excuse me for a moment, I need to rest."

Ezmeria gestured towards the screen I had changed behind. I recalled that there was a small bench there that I could sit on and relief washed over the pain as I hobbled behind the screen, wincing with each step. I wasn't sure what I'd do if there was spotting, and it got on the dresses, but I had to make it there first.

The dress skirt was heavy as I slowly lifted it, trying to be careful and keep from letting it brush against my leg, but finally I managed to uncover the bandage on my thigh. The spotless bandage on my thigh.

I let out a sigh of relief, the sound quickly strangled into a squawk of surprise when another figure stepped around the screen.

Lady Saphira's impatient scowl quickly changed to a frown of concern once she saw my leg before I immediately dropped the skirt back down to cover it.

She stepped forward to place a supporting hand on my shoulder when I started to wobble, caught off guard by her appearance.

"What happened, Miss Revanne? And no more nonsense of you merely twisting your ankle. I want the truth." Her tone was remarkably similar to Armando's, and it made me very uncomfortable.

I shifted uneasily, wondering how on earth I could get out of this without divulging that I'd killed someone. And without angering Armando later if it got back to him. "Er, a slight scrape-"

"The truth, Miss Revanne, not whatever drivel you think will placate me." Her visage was stern and unwavering.

I swallowed thickly, and quickly dropped my gaze. "I was...hurt, trying to help the other passenger with me on the Mary. Pirates had made their way to her quarters and no one was able to help her in time."

"So you took it upon yourself to protect another passenger, on a military vessel, against pirates?"

I grimaced, realizing how stupid it sounded when said outloud like that. "Either way, I was injured, but it wasn't debilitating."

Green eyes narrowed speculatively, as if hearing everything I wasn't saying. "And Armando has treated you well with your injury, I hope?"

I fidgeted, making a face when my leg reminded me no weight was preferable. "He's been taking care of me, despite my- nevermind. Yes, he's treated me well."

Lady Delagio wasn't about to let my near slip pass, apparently, as she dropped her hands on her hips. Any less of a polite society and I half-expected her foot to start tapping. "Despite?"

I sighed, shuffling over to the bench and sank onto it with a small groan. "I...may have scared a few years off his life when I didn't immediately seek help afterwards..."

I couldn't look up to see what she made of that, thought likely she could glean whatever was unspoken from my tone.

Instead I focused on the floorboards, noting the slight warping in a board three over from the wall. Wonder if it got wet somehow.

The silence stretched to awkward limits, and I opened my mouth to glaze over the suggestion of what I'd tried to do, but before I could speak, a hand reached down to clasp my forearm, making me start in surprise.

"I can only guess at what you have been through on your journey here. I have been told much, and yet I suspect it has not nearly been all," she murmured slightly, her voice pitched to a sympathetic note.

Instinctively, I brushed off any implications that something was wrong with a shrug. "It hasn't been so terrible. I'm very grateful that the capitán rescued me, and I am not ignorant of what could have and likely would have happened if he hadn't."

Lady Delagio continued to observe me closely, looking as if she wanted to say something, but I didn't want to hear anything else, not right now.

I straightened my spine and rose to my feet again with only a slight grunt of pain. "The dresses should be almost finished, correct?"

She pursed her lips slightly with disapproval, but stepped back to allow me to pass. "Yes, they should be completed by the end of this week. The maroon one is finished enough that I would like for you to try it on before we end for the day."

I perked up slightly at the suggestion. I had to admit, if just to myself, that I was looking forward to trying it on as well.

Lady Delagio saw my anticipation and smiled. "Shall we then?"

Bracing myself to hold on just a little longer, I followed her back out to the Chamber of Torment and took my place once more.

Ezmeria was just putting one last stitch in her adjustments at the waist of the maroon dress when Lady Delagio suddenly swept back into the room with a triumphant smirk. "Well, this shall be interesting. You have an audience, Miss Revanne."

I tilted my head in confusion. Had Ramirez come back early? "Pardon?"

Her pleased smile widened, and she looked entirely too smug. "Capitán Salazar is wishing to see the progress we've made with your appearance of dress. I admit, I look forward to you making him speechless."

The rush of adrenaline that flooded my body made me feel faint, even as icy horror made my stomach drop straight to the floor.

Him speechless?! I was already speechless! I didn't want him to see me like this, I wasn't ready, I didn't-

"It will be alright." Lady Delagio seemed to notice my terror and patted a comforting hand on my arm.m She studied me with pursed lips, then nodded. "We will use this one to show him. It is the closest to being finished, yes?"

I had to struggle hard against the immediate urge to smack it off. Yeah!? In what universe will it be 'alright', lady?!

I could only manage a small squeak of alarm, which didn't nearly encapsulate my abrupt panic that was making my heart do weird rhythms in my chest. "I-I don't think this is a good idea, shouldn't we wait until-"

"I agree, now is an excellent time," Ezmeria cut in, giving me a critical look up and down. "I need to make certain that the folds of the skirt are properly hemmed to the correct length, and that you will not trip and fall."

The mental image of me trying to show off my 'ladylike' skills for the first time for Armando and falling facefirst onto the floorboards was enough to make the ice in my stomach spread up my chest to squeeze around my heart.

I could feel my palms already starting to sweat as the anxiety kicked up my heart rate.

This wasn't going to end well.

Ezmeria tugged lightly on one sleeve, making sure everything was properly in place, then gestured for me to step down.

Trying desperately to ignore the sudden weakness in my knees, I took a sharp breath and stepped off the stool, standing awkwardly as both women perused me like I was a strange bug under a microscope.

"Turn around."

Throat convulsively swallowing, I obeyed Lady Saphira and shuffled in a slow turn, careful to keep my sweaty palms off the satiny material.

"Lovely. Simply lovely." She smiled widely, seeming pleased with whatever dumpster fire I presented, and even Ezmeria managed to look satisfied.

Me, I was a little more skeptical. And panicked. I took another deep breath to try and settle myself. "I feel like a swine taught to walk about on its hind legs, and I am certain I look one too."

Her eyes widened in shock. "You do not! I will not stand to hear such nonsense from you, Miss Revanne. Now, come. We must show the capitán our efforts. Come, come!"

With a strangled groan of dismay, I carefully started to walk, feeling as uncomfortable as I could ever remember being. It was so weird having nothing between my legs, and I could feel my skin rubbing together in a way that didn't feel normal. I was used to shorts, pants, fabric between my legs.

Now there was nothing but air.

Talk about freaky. I almost felt like I was waddling like a penguin, but I was pretty sure I wasn't. Maybe.

Lady Saphira swept from the room, regal and composed as ever, but Ezmeria stayed behind, waiting for me.

Her face was locked in a stern expression, but she didn't give off the air of bored impatience, which I appreciated.

Giving her a grateful look, I paused in front of the mirror, taking one last long glance.

The image reflected back made me take a sharp inhale as it sank in just how much everything in my life had changed.

The memories of my life before were still there, I could still recall my home and my old life, but it was fogged over, like some distant land far away, singing the siren song of nostalgia and homesickness.

Would I ever see it again?

"Miss Isabeau."

I ignored Ezmeria's quiet prompt for another moment.

Dressed as I was, I wasn't unaware that this was another turning point in what my reality had become.

No longer would I be able to exhibit any odd quirks or strange habits. My different way of speaking wouldn't be tolerated, my weird hobbies wouldn't be indulged.

I would have to mold myself into what I was so afraid of becoming, a mindless shell, an automaton under the control of whatever man would become my keeper.

But there was nothing I could do, not in the short amount of time I had, and I wasn't naive enough to think I could make it in this world without protection.

Taking a deep breath, I knew I had to trust Armando. Trust that he would keep his word, his promise, to protect me.

He hadn't betrayed me yet, and I knew enough about him to believe that wouldn't change, not without warning at least, but coming to this place...it made everything uncertain all over again.

"It'll be alright."

I inhaled at the gentle, reassuring touch on my arm, ignoring the salty sting in my eyes, and nodded at my reflection.

"Yes...it will."

Now if only I could make myself believe it.

I turned and walked over to the curtain separating the dressing room from the front of the store, hesitating, then brushed it aside and walked through.


I'm not quite happy with some stuff, and if I find the motivation, I'll go back for some additional tweaks and edits, so if it's a bit of a lower quality than what we're used to, sorry about that. But I do have a bit of a surprise to hopefully make up for it, as well as for the long wait!