Both Vane and Abby woke with a start. Vane immediately sprang into a fighting stance brandishing his dagger at the attacker. "What the hell is going on here?", Flint barked into the room. It took Vane a few moments to calm down again. "Christ Flint, you couldn't have knocked maybe?" Flint's only response was to grab Vane by the neck and slam him into the wooden wall behind him. "This is my ship. I don't fucking knock."
Both were startled out of their anger with a polite cough from Abigail. "Ahem, I think we owe Captain Flint a few explanations. Is there somewhere we can talk more comfortably?" Flint and Vane straightened and looked at each. Without a word Flint turned around and led them to the deserted mess. It was the middle of the night. Everybody but the night watch was asleep. Flint gestured for them to sit down. "Talk."
And so, Abigail talked. She told him of her conversation with her father just before he had left for the execution. How she was to be tucked away on a small plantation near Savannah to await her wedding that her father had hastily arranged. It had cost him a pretty penny and the only husband he could find was an aging small-time plantation owner. But in her father's eyes this was what was best for her and society. She recapped what happened to her carriage and how she had set off to find them. At her dispassionate retelling of the soldier's death, "I saw a soldier advancing on Captain Vane but he had not noticed him, so I dealt with it.", Flint raised an eyebrow.
She told him everything, ending with telling him how she had fallen asleep amidst the cannon fire. Flint then turned to Vane, "So what the fuck were you doing in her bed?". "Oh, that is what this is all about.", Vane replied. "I was sleeping. Hadn't slept in a while, couldn't resist the temptation of a clean bed."
Flint turned back to Abigail, "So he didn't abduct you again? You came willingly?" Abigail's only answer was, "Yes." "Alright. You can stay the cabin." Flint looked at Vane again, "Your men are leading us to where you hid you ship. We should be there shortly." Flint and Vane made ready to leave, but Abigail was not done, yet. Another polite cough stopped both men in their tracks. "Captain Flint, thank you for your hospitality, but I should like to leave with Captain Vane." Vane was shocked. "You, what? Why?"
Abigail motioned for them to sit down again. "Captain Flint and his crew have been nothing but kind to me." She looked directly into Flint's eyes, "Thank you once again, but it is not kindness that I need right now. If I am to survive in this world that I have chosen I need guidance. I'm afraid that most of your men, Captain Flint, and you even, would perceive me like you did on the way here. The Miss Ashe that sailed with you from Charles Town is not me anymore."
Flint looked from Vane to Abigail and back, "I can't tell you what to do. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into girl. I will see you on deck. We should reach "The Ranger" momentarily." Flint made his way out of the mess hall. Vane's eyes were boring holes into her. He was judging her. The silence was only interrupted by the cheering of Vane's men. It seemed they had pulled up alongside his old ship. "We best get going," was all Vane said.
They both started making their way on deck when Abigail suddenly remember her dagger. She did not know why but she wanted to take it with her. It was her own little prize from this day. "I'll be right back," she said to Vane and darted back to her cabin. The dagger was right where she left it next to the bed. She grabbed it, tucked it into her makeshift belt and set off to join Vane's crew on deck.
Vane and Flint exchanged a few short words while Vane's crew began transferring over to the Ranger. Soon it was only her and Vane left. Before she could make her way, she was stopped by Billy. "So, you're going with him?" "Yes." He looked at her, his expression puzzled. "Why, Miss Ashe? We treated you well here. There's not guarantee with his lot." "Because I am no longer Miss Ashe. Thank you for your help. I shall see you in Nassau." She gave him a brief hug which left Billy speechless and boarded the Ranger.
Vane was not far behind and soon the man-o-war cast off. The ship around her sprang to life. Vane and the quartermaster were giving orders, men shouting at each other while unfurling the sails. Abigail was momentarily forgotten. She kept out of the way and watched the men around her work.