I got everyone settled into my cabin with a drink, with the exception of the whelp. And then I waited for Black to get down to business. Black moved Alice over to a chair at the table and sat down next to her, while the first mate moved the whelp over to another chair before moving to stand at the door.

"Alright Ally cat, here's the situation. The Wonder is currently bein' attacked by some people who are lookin' for you. They know that you work closely with a Lord from England and they want to use that as leverage to ransom you back to him. So I would just as soon keep you out of their sights."

Once again, I found my heart breaking for the little Lady. She looked lost as she looked at Black and the rest of us. But just as quickly as the look came it was gone, replaced with a small smile for Black. Black had a look of pride in his face for the Lady before turning his attention to the whelp.

"Alright you. Now I have had nothing but bad news all night and it is really startin' to piss me off. Now I want you to tell me what the hell is going on and you had better not lie to me, runt."

The whelp looked up at Black before looking down at his feet and began his story.

"A few years ago I got in with a bad group. Captain Durnhelm is their leader. He's a pirate who attacks merchant ships and the like, ties up the crew and then leaves them and their ship anchored, while taking their cargo. From time to time he has any spies he may have at port tell him when wealthy merchant ships come and go from port and also when any of the wealthy are going to make trips to sea. He kidnaps the wealthy and holds them for ransom. He gets the money and then leaves the lower hired help to hang. He usually just had me let him know when other merchant ships came and went but a few months ago, he sent word that a charge of Lord Ascots' would be sailing soon. He told me to find out where and when and on what ship and then let him know. I didn't know at the time that his target was a young lady. I didn't tell him anything about her. I figured that once she got back to England, she would disappear into high society and be safe. But then I saw his ship at port and I went to find the first mate and the Lady to warn them, but I ran into Durnhelms' first mate Thomas with Hanks and Gavin. When I told um' I didn't know where the lady was Thomas shot me and had me dragged off. That's all I know."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. All this time I had been trying to win over my fellow crew mates and I thought I had succeeded, just to find out that at least one of them meant me harm. I had thought that after these few short years of sailing with them, the joking, singing, laughing and crying and waiting out storms together, I had joined them in some kind of brotherhood. Listening to Lambert here now, I can't help but feel a little foolish for thinking that I was anything more than necessary cargo to them.

"Robert, I wish I had one more stick of dynamite on me. I'd shove it lit right down your throat. How could you do this to your own crew? How could you do that to Alice?! She's been nothing but kind to you!" By this time Latham was screaming at Robert, looking like he was about to pummel Robert into the very floor of the ship, while Robert was moving back behind the large table in the room and as far away from Latham as he could get.

"It was just for the money at first! I didn't know the Lady then. But when I got to know her I tried to keep her out of it! I was hoping she would just disappear into English high society and Durnhelm would forget about her! I didn't tell them anything about where she was and I don't know how they found her! I'm sorry, Miss. Alice."

"She risked her life to help you when you got shot! What the HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Latham started making his way to the table before I got up and put a hand on his arm in hopes of calming him down. There was no doubt that at well over six feet tall and nothing but pure muscle, Latham could easily beat the much smaller Robert to death. Unfortunately where Latham left off, Wally quickly picked up.

Wally kicked Robert on his boot and began threatening him in the most quiet and dark voice I had ever heard.

"Lambert, if I had a boat hook I would ram it in that wound of yours and turn it every which way but the wrong way. You hear me? You better pray that they don't harm a hair on her head. Cause if they do, I'll put you in a place where not even the worms will find you."

Suddenly, Captain Teague stood up from his seat at the table and grabbed Robert by his shirt collar.