SWITCHING TO NIXE'S POV (first person)

Chapter three

"Wot did you go an' do that fo'?" Polly near shrieked, jerking the bottle of brandy out of my grasp.

"Oh close yer trap. I'll pay for it." I spat, wiping my lips. I lifted my hair off of my neck and swiped at the sweat there with a bar rag. Instantly I regretted it. Now I smelled of spilt ale as well as sweat. I grimaced.

Polly gave me a swat. "Not the spirits…with the gent. Dark skin marks traders and traders marks a full purse…"

I narrowed my eyes. "Aye, a trader, that be wot he was. But how's one like you t'know whether it be bodies he be wanting to trade?" The words came out a growl.

Mary came up behind Polly, her red curls sticking to her temples with sweat.

"'E was a fine gent if you ask me." She said with a languid smile. "Paid quite nicely though things was over a bit too quick for my liking." She laughed, and Polly, and little Emma, the youngest of our lot joined in coming up behind her redheaded friend, looking flushed.

"You did 'im then, eh?" I asked, eyes guarded, even though Mary's wits was usually dulled with ale and inhaling too much of her own perfume by this time of night…

The redhead laughed. "O'course! You could 'ere his purse jangling away from down the block."

I sighed. "And did 'e ask you anythin'?"

Mary shook her head. "Nah. Wasn't much interested in talking, 'cept to ask 'bout me price, nothing further than that."

So. He hadn't been looking for another roll in the sand then. He had been looking for me, I thought, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. Somehow word must have gotten out…and if this was that pirate's doing, he would pay. At this point, I didn't care if I would have to track him all the way to Africa and back. He'd get what was coming to him if this was his doing, by god.

"I'm going to my room, I feel sick." I announced, and Marne instantly showed up at my elbow.

"Take my bed. I'm working extra tonight, and you shouldn' be sleeping on jus the planks when yer off yer feed." She mumbled loudly, hooking an arm through mine. She was acting, and I could see it. But the others couldn't be bothered to care.

Together, the pair of us made our way up the stairs.

"'E asked you, dindt he?" The brunette whispered in my ear as we mounted the last step.

I nodded, and shrugged. "Someone's been talking again, an' I don' like it. He wouldda got me by force, if there weren' so many people watchin, I'm sure."

Marne looked worried. "M'selle didn't say anything to you, did she?"

I shook my head. "Not a peep… but it seems all I've got since that damned rogue bedded me is naught but trouble. I told him more than I should have, but I was under the notion that he was profoundly drunk, though the sod had no trouble getting it up and done with when the time came…" I spat.

I should have known better, aye. I should have. But I'd a thought that damned brightness in his eyes was ale… I pressed a hand against my forehead, it felt hot, but it was liable to be so only because of the drink, and the heat.

Marne tutted, "And here I thought you were the most closed lipped of all the girls here, and then ye go and spill yer bleedin' guts for the first…" She stopped short. "Cor, Nixxie, I'm sorry…it's just, it's…if they've got a good offer for ye, I know that that woman isn't going to pass it up. Seeing as yer more trouble than yer worth most a the time."

I pressed my lips together. I had no intention of being sold to some cove and then passed around 'is filthy tub's crew, used until I wasn't good enough entertainment no more, and then tossed over the side before the sods' notions of bad luck caught up with them.

With ma throat slit, if they was compassionate, without it, if they felt the need to have one last show, and watch me struggle in the water until the sharks came, or until I jus' plum gave up and plain sank to the bottom.

But it's what was going to happen if someone offered a good enough amount of coins, and bought me off the whorehouse. I had been bound to land since I was seven. Jus after me ma had tatted my face and my da seemed to get sick of luggin' round a second woman, when he could only bed one. Firstly, I had belonged to a fishwife. Gutting the little things her husband caught until I started to catch 'is eye. Then it was off to the cathouse wit me. I got a smack on the bottom as farewell from the man, and a clout about the ears from his woman as goodbyes.

But the sad thing was, this time; I had set my ownself up for it. I cringed, remembering the way I'd cried after that man as he had stumbled his way up the gangplank… "Please, it won' be much…it won' be much! They'll be glad ta be rid of me! A few coins and you'll have me f' good! Please!"

He had hardly acknowledged me then. Just tipped his hat with "Be a good girl now, luv," and a wink. And still…I had dared to hope. Fools hope, nonetheless.

Stupid blighter…and now he was to be my undoing.

"He wanted my father's name, wot's on my papers clear as day…and I just knows he's gonna keep coming back till he gets it…" I whispered, curling up on Marne's pallet. A piece of straw poked me in the back so, seeing as it wanted to makes itself a part o

Me, I pulled it out of the pad, turned it betwixt ma fingers to separate the stands and began to weave it into my hair.

Marne slapped my hands away, with a small laugh. "I don' see how anyone finds the likes of ye attractive, wit yer head full a trinkets, kin to a birds nest…"

I smiled, flashing my good white teeth. "You forgot my tats, Marnie. How could a man see thems on my face and still want me, eh?" I quipped; grinning as I quickly reached up and finished the straw.

I always added things to me hair when I was upset. And Marnie always slapped me hands when she caught me at it… it was a good thing that my mane kept on growing, or I'd have run out of room long before tonight.

"I swear it though…I'd run a blade across me own throat before I'd be taken slave on some Bark, mark my words. And if that cove comes back here tomorrow, I'll tell him jus that. He'll not get nothing from me, but that." I said with finality, smashing the good mood our little game had made. I rested my head on her tattered pillow.

Marne suddenly plopped down besides me, her form curling about my very own one, and she tucked my hair behind my ear, and laid her head down herself.

"Thought ye was working extra tonight."

Marne laughed. "I jus dindt want any o' those ninnies to follow us up is all. Let Polly work the bottles, now that she's finished working the hay."

I laughed. And settled back in, glad to have some company that I dindt have to work for.

The last thought to pass my mind before the blackness around the edges swept up to meet her was "My da's name be John Tucker Rowe, and I won't ever tell him that. I won't ever…tell nobody that…"

OOO