SHARA

This was it. It was finally time to prove that she could do what she was commissioned on this voyage to do. She'd spent almost two weeks watching holos about the proper technique although most of them were more about the reckless daredevil type practitioners who cared more about showing off for the holocam than actually achieving a productive result.

While she watched and learned all she could, she had kept her hands busy by sizing down the uniform she would need to do the job. She wasn't the best seamstress. She wouldn't win any fashion awards, but she did manage to take in the oiled leather jerkin and pants enough so that she could move around in them and still stay reasonably dry.

Shara now sat in the ship's boat with two rowers. They looked at her ominously as if worried that she might take down the boat with all of them in it. That was a possibility, but she didn't intend to let it happen.

They rowed out several meters from the ship and one of the men asked, "You ever done anything like this? Sure you can handle it?"

She knew the Captian wouldn't like to hear them talk about her like that. But there came a point when she stand up for herself and today was that day.

"Not exactly like this, no." She answered trying to retain her concentration. "I can swim well though. Once I was thrown from the back of my dalgos while trying to herd fambaas across a river."

The men didn't look reassured but they dutifully rowed her out into the midst of the pod of Brylks. Shara reached over the side of the boat as far as she dared to touch one of the animals and then she smiled. The beast reared up so that its head was level with her and stared at her with one huge eye.

It was female, Shara thought. She could tell from the markings and the shape and size of the dorsal fin that poked up out of the water behind the massive head. "Alright, girl." Shara said to it. "You ready to have some fun?"

The creature sang out a cry of agreement and then dove, arching her back like a jungle cat so that Shara's hand would stroke her all the way down to her tail fin.

"Let's do this!" Shara stood, looking around for what she needed. She tried to ignore her rowers expressions of alarm. There was a mooring rope tied to the front of the boat. "Bow." She mumbled to herself, "bowline." She took the rope up in her hand feeling the weight of it and then wrapped it once around her wrist as she would have Sophia's reigns.

Shara climbed up to stand on the board the had been her seat, feeling the roll of the waves through the soles of her boots. This nearly sent the two men into a panic. "Please, Miss! You really shouldn't!"

"Captain told us…"

"Row!" She ordered them, defiantly. She bent her knees slightly for balance as they picked up speed. This she could do. It was exactly like standing on Sophia's back and bringing her from a walk, to a trot, to a rolling galop and then finally to a smooth run.

Shara looked around her at the pod of Brylks, their curved backs breaking the surface of the water just like the backs of the fambaas herd emerging from the tall grasses of the prairie back home. She pulled at the bowlines but they weren't reigns. Steering this thing was going to be a little different.

"Turn a bit ri…" but then she remembered and corrected the order. "Veer starboard!"

The men did so and she leaned into the turn. The wind hit her full in the face along with the thrill of the acceleration and she laughed. Her hair streamed out behind her and she felt truly alive probably for the first time since they had lost Mel.

Now she just had to prove that she was as good a beast master as she had claimed when she signed on for this voyage. She almost froze as the memory of the calls she had learned from the holos seemed to fly away from her on the wind. She did know how to call other animals, however, and as she scanned the waves to her left and right she saw that same female keeping pace and watching her as if waiting for instruction.

Shara sang out a high pitched trill, "LeeLeeLeeLeeLee!" And the Brylks surged around her some of them taking up calls of their own.

"Never heard it done that way, Miss." One of her rowers whistled.

She grinned and glanced back at the ship. The captain was at the rail seemingly captivated by the sight of her, but she couldn't look back at him for long. She returned her gaze to the waves before her and located the darker patch of water that she knew indicated their quarry.

"There!" She pointed ahead and then sang out to the Brylks again. Then to the men she called out, "On my signal, hard to port." She was proud that she remembered the correct term this time. She patiently waited for just the right moment and then bellowed out to both men and beast, "HAH! HAH!"

Shara leaned into the turn and her hair whipped into her face but when she swept the loose honey colored strands away with her free hand she saw that they had done it! They had turned the shoal of fish towards the waiting nets of the men on the ship.

Her rowers both gave an exultant whoop and she heard the cheers echoing from the ship as well.

"Circle 'round the port side!" She ordered happily.

"Aye aye, ma'am!" Came the enthusiastic reply.

As the little boat rounded the bow of the bigger one the captain ran to the port rail and yelled something down to them, "Marr…" The rest was torn away by the wind.

"What did he say?" Shara asked.

One of her men winked at the other, "I think it was a proposal!"

She might have blushed if her cheeks were not already flushed with excitement and exertion. "We'll, come on. We're not done yet. Let's give it another turn to tighten the noose on those fishies!"

"Aye aye, ma'am!"

It was a bit easier the second time now that beast master and men and Brylks were all working together and when Shara looked back at the deck of the ship again she saw that it was taking all hands to bring in the nets that were full to bursting.

Shara's friend, that first female Brylk who had given her a chance and had helped to bring all the others over to her side came along and sang out the pride of her accomplishment.

"You did beautifully, Melaana!" Shara named her there on the spot and reached out to pet the creature affectionately.

"Lana?" One of the men laughed. "Don't know how Lady Blackwell will feel about having a Brylk for a namesake."

"Not Lana," Shara explained, still rubbing down the beast and smiling. "Melaana, after a good friend, and I think she'd be pleased to share her name with such a deserving lady."

They kept the little boat back away from the ship during the chaos of the initial catch but as soon as the waters began to calm again the rowers brought her alongside and a sort of rope swing was dropped over the side to bring the triumphant beast master back up to the deck. She was winched up slowly so that she wouldn't swing against the side and then pulled in over the rail.

The crew all gave her three cheers. She hadn't even seen the captain through all the excitement until there was a cloak draped around her shoulders and she was suddenly drawn into his arms and he was kissing her passionately.

Everything else faded in the light of that kiss until she remembered that she couldn't do this. Shara shoved herself out of his embrace, drew back her hand and slapped him hard across the face. His eyes were almost as wide with shock as her own. Silence surrounded them for several seconds and then it was replaced by cheers and laughter.

Frack! She realized, I just struck an officer! But he had kissed her!

"I'm sorry," she said immediately. "But I can't. You know I can't."

Shara ran from the deck down to her cabin. She dropped his cloak just outside the door, then stepped inside, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Then she leaned back against it and buried her face in her hands.

JAMOS

From the moment she came out on deck that morning, Jamos hadn't been able to take his eyes off her. She wore the altered, oiled leathers that had once been his own, even though she belittled her sewing skills. He thought she looked beautiful.

She was like a delicate southern flower. He could hardly bare to watch her climb down into the ship's boat. He had sworn the men he sent with her, two of his most trusted, to make sure she came back safe and sound.

There were a few moments as he watched her that he was sure he would have to give both of those men a blaster bolt between the eyes for allowing her to act so recklessly. Then he watched in amazement as she did the job better than any beast master he had ever seen. And the smile on her face, the absolute joy and freedom! It was such a contrast to the sad, frightened girl he had spoken to on the deck a week before, captive to the vows she had made to a monster.

"Marry me!" He yelled down to her from the rail as she and the men rowed past on their first circuit. He didn't know if she heard him. He would keep asking until he got the answer he wanted. He would free her from that mockery of a union, whatever it took. He wanted to spend his life keeping that smile on her face.

It hardly mattered that the catch was the biggest they'd had in a decade. When Shara Rash was aboard once again, Jamos could only think of having her in his arms. Perhaps he should have asked but he was sure he felt her respond and lean in towards him when their lips met. Just for a moment, that is, until she broke away and slapped him in front of his entire crew.

And what did he do? He stood there and rubbed his cheek and watched her go. He supposed she was right. He shouldn't have done it. He should have approached her more discreetly. But, salt gods! Even now, all he could think about was kissing her again.

With a roguish smile to save face in front of his crew he followed but when he reached her door it was closed and locked. His cloak was lying in a heap on the floor just outside. Okay, maybe the cloak had been a stupid idea. He couldn't officially take her under his protection if she was married to someone else, but she'd been in the water. He didn't want her to be cold.

"Shara?"

There was silence for a few seconds and then she finally spoke. "I shouldn't have struck you, Captain. I'm not sure what the regular punishment is for such a thing. It must be pretty serious. If you could please have mercy… just put me off upon our next landing. I've done the job I signed on for. I hope that makes up for in some way…"

"Shara, please open the door."

Quiet again and then a muffled. "Are you going to punish me as a member of the crew for striking a superior officer?"

"I wasn't planning on it."

"Captain…"

"Please call me Jamos."

"Captain," she repeated more firmly. "Do you consider me a member of the crew? I did perform the task I signed on to complete."

He leaned against the door wishing more than anything to be on the other side of it with her. "You performed beautifully but no I don't suppose I really consider you part of the crew. You are…." She was so much more. But he didn't get a chance to even try to explain.

"If you won't be punishing me for what I did I'll… I'll just remain in here for the rest of the voyage. I think it would make things... easier."

"Shara, I'm not going to punish you because it was…" It wasn't easy for him to admit. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have kissed you, in front of the crew." He hurried to include that last bit. He was quite sure that he should kiss her and often. He bent to pick up his cloak and wadded it up in his arms.

"No, you should not. You knew that I have a husband, that I'm not free to…" was she crying again? "And I thought I had just proved that I wasn't just brought along on this journey to be your whore."

"What did you say?" He was livid. "Did one of the men say something? Did they…"

She opened the door suddenly and he only barely caught himself before stumbling in on top of her. She looked up at him in surprise and then a fierce frown creased her features before she spun away from him. "No. No one said anything. But what are they supposed to think. I'd never even been on a ship before and you sign me on for an integral part of the operation."

"You said you could do it and you did." He gritted his teeth, angry that anyone would think such things about this pure, perfect creature. He was more angry with himself for putting her in that position.

"I did, but I don't believe any one of them thought me capable until I showed them." She lifted her chin proudly.

He wanted to take a step further into the room and close the door behind them but under the circumstances… "What did they think, I would just send you out there to fail, to ruin our mission, to die trying?" his voice softened.

"Were you worried that might happen?" She looked up at him again with those beautiful eyes.

He swallowed and resisted the urge to take her in his arms. If his arms weren't full of the cloak he most likely would have. "There's a danger even for experienced sailors."

"And yet you let me try." Her gaze flitted down to his lips for a moment before she looked away again. "Thank you. The Brylks were amazing." her own lips turned up into a smile. "I wish I could work with them all the time. I'll miss them when I go back home."

He did a double take. "You're not thinking of going back? You said there was nothing left for you there. You're the most amazing…" He gazed at her and then cleared his throat, "the best beast master I've ever seen."

"Ja- Captain, I'm married. I needed to get away for a while to think things out but I can't… I was foolish to think…" Her hand reached out and she touched the fabric of his cloak as if she fully understood its significance.

"Shara, you can't go back to him. The way he treated you... " He pulled his hand from the tangle of cloth and laid it gently on her shoulder and then caressed her cheek. "As your captain I can order you to stay."

She closed her eyes allowing herself to enjoy his touch only for a moment. "You said you didn't consider me part of the crew. You can't order me to…" She pushed his hand away. "Please just go. We can't be… It would only prove him right. Even if he doesn't love me anymore. If he only wants me for... I have to go back to him. He could make things difficult for you…for your family…"

"Let my family and I worry about that." Jamos couldn't help but smile, she did have feelings for him.

His smile only seemed to frustrate her more. "Just go!" she gave him a shove out the door and quickly closed it. Her words were muffled through the door and another sob but he was almost sure she said, "I can't fall in love with you."

Unless he was very much mistaken, she already had.

Sullen and thoroughly unrequited, Jamos made his way back up to the deck. For a moment he didn't remember why his men were in such a celebratory mood.

"Didn't the beast master want to drink to her first catch with the rest of us?" One of them asked.

And another called out. "I think she'd rather have a private party with the captain."

A chorus of cheers followed. They were already well into the grog. Grog that Jamos had allowed them for a job well done and if it were any other day and any other catch he would be right there with them. Right now he wasn't in the mood. "You all need to lay off Beast Master Rash. She just wants to be alone."

"Sorry, Captain." One of the lads spoke up for the rest.

Then another lifted his mug. "Yeah, Captain. Sorry she didn't want to celebrate with you either." another round of laughter and cheers. It was useless to try to reason with them in this state.

Jamos grabbed a bottle on the way to his own cabin. But he looked back at the men before he entered it. "You really want to celebrate? Why not do it in the pub when we get back into harbor. Is anyone sober enough to sail this tub back to the Hold?"

It took a second for all of them to realize that it wasn't just a suggestion but after Jamos had heard enough, "Aye, Captain"s he slipped into his private cabin, tossed his cloak onto his bunk, grabbed a tumbler from a tray on his desk, and poured himself a drink.

Jamos wasn't generally a heavy drinker and this was the reason. He felt awful the next morning. Caff and breakfast and the news that they were well on their way to the Blackhold was enough to bring up his spirits a good deal. Then with men turning their faces away from him so that he wouldn't see their knowing grins or whistling snatches of a rather bawdy tune about the Captain's Lady, he made his way down to see how Shara had fared the night.

He had never blistered a man's back with the cat for singing or smiling and he didn't really want to start now. If it was only him they were roasting he'd have laughed along but Shara didn't deserve any of it.

He knocked on her door. "Miss Rash, are you awa…"

"Mrs. Rash." She corrected before he could finish asking the question.

"Mrs. Rash." He repeated, hating the words. "Can I speak to you?"

"I believe you are speaking to me, Captain." She answered evidently with no intention to open the door.

He sighed, "Shara, we're making our way back to Blackhold. When we get there you are of course free to go on wherever you feel you need to go."

"Thank you, Cap…"

"No, I want you to hear me out." He leaned close to the door speaking as firmly and desperately as he could without yelling. "I know you may not be ready to open your heart again. I know you've been hurt. But please don't go back and let him hurt you anymore. My family will shelter you if you need protection."

She didn't say a word for almost a full galactic minute.

"Shara?"

"Yes, I - I heard you. Thank you for your concern, but I think it would really be better for everyone if I just went back home."

He wanted to break down the door and try to make her see sense. He had to swallow his own pride to say, "Of course you don't have to make a decision right now. Just - just think about it." He didn't wait for a reply just stormed back up to the deck. He stood by the wheel making the wheelman none too nervous.

He wished he could make the wind blow harder, to make the ship move faster but at the same time he was afraid that as soon as they docked Shara would be away south to Iziz and he'd never see her again. In that case he wanted to drop anchor sit in front of her door and just get her to talk. Even if she was yelling at him it didn't matter as long as he could hear her voice.