Constanza looked at Melisandre with a mixture of delight and worry. "We did it, thanks to your friends! I don't care that signor Sebastiano and his stepmother think this is a fine way to get vengeance on Lucas; as long as they puncture only his pride and not his skin -- or his honour, I feel much relieved. And Aunt Lucia is free at last! Only... won't you tell me a bit more about the strange additional rescue we just performed? Assuming, of course, that it is a rescue and not an abduction."
This elicited a wry smile. "It was in fact a rescue." Melisandre turned to her trunk and selected a flattering dress and jacket from its depths, beginning to shed the bloodied shirt she wore with a slight wince. With a studiously professional eye, she examined the wound in her side. It wasn't as bad as it appeared as the bullet had not lodged itself within her, but she'd not be wearing a corset for the next few days.
With steady hand and dispassionate expression, she cleaned the wound and began to stitch the torn flesh, keeping her good side toward Constanza so she'd not see the damage the guards had done in their flight to the ship. Wordlessly, Constanza brought clean towels and bandages, and a basin of water.
Talking helped Melisandre to distract her mind from the pain. "I'd heard that there were those in Vodacce that wanted a better life for their daughters and I suppose word got out that not only am I Castillian, but an accomplished physician as well. I suppose I was seen as being more compassionate than my companions considering our respective professions. After seeing the conditions under which the women live..." A slight hiss of breath as she pulled the stitching tight. She paused a moment, willing her hands to stop their trembling. Constanza poured a small glass of strong brandy and placed on the table at Melisandre's right hand.
"Where was I? Oh, yes. The conditions for women in Vodacce... Well, I'm glad I grew up in Castille. When I was approached about taking those girls with me when I left... Could you have refused?"
She turned to Constanza, cheeks flushed and eyes bright with pain. She swayed slightly as a spell of dizziness struck, but was able to remain standing until it passed. She carefully cleaned her instruments and replaced them with now steady hands in the small physician's pouch that was never far from her side as she waited for her friend's response.
Constanza handed her a clean chemise of the softest linen to replace the blood-soaked one. "Yes, I find the customs of Vodacce quite stifling, and I would have been horribly unhappy if I had been born there. In fact, come to think of it I would have had much in common with these little girls you rescued; did you not say they were of noble families, but without sorcerous heritage?"
While Melisandre changed her shift, Constanza went to turn the covers on the cot so her friend could rest a bit. A small, high-pitched sound squeeked from somewhere under the bed, and Constanza's eyes suddenly sparkled. She turned back to Meli. "Ah, I believe I have something to help restore you to your usual sunny disposition."
Melisandre watched her suspiciously. "You know I'm never 'sunny' aboard ship. What are you about?"
In answer, Constanza merely grinned. With great care, she pulled a box out from under the bed; more squeeking noises erupted. Constanza flipped a small woollen blanket enough to reveal a mass of multicolored fluff writhing underneath. "One of the ship's cats dropped her litter while we were gone, and she apparently chose this cabin because it was dark and quiet. Aren't they adorable?"
A girlish squeal of delight erupted from Melisandre as she scooped up a kitten that had managed to untangle itself from its brethren and make its way to the edge of the box. She cuddled it close, murmuring nonsense words in a soothing tone as it mewed its displeasure at being summarily seized.
An idea slowly began to form. "Constanza," she said excitedly, "if you were a frightened nine year old girl, thrust from your home aboard a ship with complete strangers, destined for a new and unfamiliar life. What might give you pleasure and comfort?" The kitten mewed plaintively causing his captor to smile and cuddle him even closer.
Constanza's face crinkled in amusement, her eyes sparkling. How like Melisandre to think along such lines! "Ah, but they would have to be willing to share: you have a dozen girls and I only have half a dozen kittens! And they only a few days old, your little protegees would have to be very careful."
With great caution, she picked up one of the kittens, small enough to fit in her hand. She glanced at Melisandre, new questions forming on her lips. "Do your little stowaways have any family that might worry about them? Anyone we could entrust with their care? Surely we are not going to simply leave them in an orphanage?"
"I'm afraid they haven't any family to go to. I was hoping to find good families to take them in." She put the kitten back with the others, watching as it lurched clumsily forward, seeking the warmth of its siblings. "And I was hoping that perhaps you and your aunt might help me in that. I've not any family of my own to ask and Papa doesn't know that many..." A slight hesitation, "...good families." She knew that Constanza would understand as she always did. It's what she valued most about her friend. That she could tell her anything.
"I am sure that Aunt Lucia will want to help," Constanza assured her friend. "Of course, she will have to ease herself back into Castillan life, but she is family and so will have all the resources of the Aldana clan at hand. I only pray that she will not be the target of the Inquisition's wrath, but I still fear for her, and for Uncle Andrès and Lucas. Still, I am convinced that it is also largely by her talents, as well as your friends', that we have been able to free her so easily so perhaps she will be safe enough. As for your protégées, we will all do our best to find them good homes. It will certainly be no trouble to see to it that they are housed, fed, clothed, and educated; we can afford that much at least. My only concern is to find families that can give them attention and love." Although she did not voice it, both women knew that Castille already had more than her share of war orphans. Yet perhaps there were also enough bereaved parents who would be happy to adopt a little girl after losing another beloved child.
"But I'm sure that a supervised visit with such charming members of the crew will make their future seem a bit less frightening," Melisandre continued. The impish side that hadn't been much to the fore lately resurfaced and she glanced sideways at Constanza, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "And of course they are much easier to handle and house than oh, say, waisen."
Constanza smiled in answer, although a bit sadly, as she put the kitten back with its siblings. "Poor waisen," she murmured. "They were once people, but now seem more like insects in their behaviour..." Unconsciously, her fingers brushed against the Prophets' cross hanging from her neck. "Theus be thanked that Castille was spared many of the horrors that war visited upon Eisen. We must do all we can to help preserve and consolidate this new peace, lest Montaigne armies returns when the Empereur feels secure once again, or greedy neighbours try to move in while we are fragile."
Melisandre picked up the brandy Constanza had poured and sat down with a sigh. "Yes, well, I suppose I should be concerned more with what will happen to our country but I've had difficulty concentrating on such large issues when the day to day concerns are far more immediate." She glanced at the door. "Especially considering our traveling circumstances. I admit, Signor Sebastiano has thrown me off guard. He's stated several times that he has business with Lucas, yet he all but rescues Lucas' mother on his own. He betrays his own Prince and walks away without a backward glance at what was once his home and asks nothing more than passage to Castille for himself and his mother."
She gazed ernestly at Constanza. "Perhaps you were wrong in your concerns? He's proved himself both noble and trustworthy upon several occasions and I trust him." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. "As a matter of fact, I've come to care for him a great deal. He's so... so..." she shrugged helplessly, at a loss for words and winced as she jarred her wound. "And his mother seems so kind and sweet."
Constanza smiled gently. "On the whole, I would say my impression of signor Sebastiano is rather good. As I said a bit earlier, I don't mind him puncturing Lucas's vanity, as long as he does nothing to kill my cousin or damage his honour. Certainly the good signor has been a worthy ally, and I have never seen him do anything to earn my reproach. Yet I am certain that he did not abandon his position with Prince Villanova so lightly. Perhaps he had other reasons of his own to wish to leave his employment or Vodacce." Her smile became a little more pronounced and a little more mischievious. "Or reasons to want to move to Castille... Regardless, I consider myself personally in his debt, twice over. Even though he does not know it, I already owed him a great deal and this only adds to the tally sheet. Still, forgive me if I insist on remaining alert and keeping, shall we say, an inquisitive mind as to his motives in this entire affair."
Melisandre relaxed, satisfied with the answer. "Well, I shall certainly do my best to keep him and Lucas apart. I don't imagine he would let something so important to him go so easily, but he seems content to merely taunt Lucas right now. And Lucas is being as tolerant as I've come to expect. You'll forgive my badgering of you on this matter, but I'm rather a nervous wreck right now. I didn't expect him to travel with us and the prospect of introducing him to my father, well, let's just say I've never been able to hide anything from Papa. Ever." She rolled her eyes. "I swear that the man can read minds. So you can see why I'm just a bit apprehensive after not having seen him for a year."
She stood up and curtsied to an imaginary partner. "It's wonderful to see you, father. Allow me to introduce the famous Captain Constanza de Orduño, my very best friend and the slayer of the evil Pirate Reis. And this is Don Lucas de Aldana who was once captive of the Queen of the Sea and was replaced by a changeling for a time. This is his mother Doña de Aldana, held against her will by Prince Villanova. She's a Fate Witch and we're taking her back to her husband. This is another Fate Witch, Signora Biancastro, and she travels with us because her son betrayed his Prince in order to rescue Doña de Aldana. This is her son Sebastiano, who may very well be most interested in conversing with you privately since he seems to have some interest in your darling daughter; and that is our man Ferdinand who came back from the dead by the grace of St. Gregor. Oh, and these twelve young girls are Vodacci noble women who aren't capable of weaving. We need to find them families as they were little more than slaves and I felt I had to rescue them. Did you miss me? " She threw up her hands and slumped back onto her pillows, laughing. "He's going to think I'm quite mad."
Constanza giggled in a most un-captain-like fashion. "Too bad we lost Juan, Lucas's cloud of pixies, Ernesto Castillus, and that she-demon Shala. The picture would be complete. Speaking of which, we had better start preparing the Maris Stella for Castille. As you might guess, I can't very well just take her into a port with that Syrneth cannon towering over the bowsprit, nor would I want my correspondance read by indiscreet eyes."
She sighed, returning to a more composed mien, and continued. "I will offer my men their parting wages, if they so wish. Since I no longer hold a valid letter of marque, working for me would no longer be so profitable for them, and I am sure many of them will have no wish to be too close to any Inquisitors. They may choose to remain behind when we visit your family's estate." This was said in a completely deadpan tone, as if she hadn't been suggesting that some of her crewmembers and Melisandre's vaguely piratical father might have common interests.
"As for the more incriminating pieces of equipment..." she continued, "I'm afraid I will have to send that cannon by the bottom. I am not sure yet what I will do with my logs, correspondence, and that rather obvious sword. Perhaps we should consider acquiring some seaside property, something tucked out of the way, as your father did. Although I am sure that Lucas would wish it to be much closer to San Cristobal."
Melisandre shook her head. "Syrneth artifacts give me a chill. I can't say I'd be sorry to see that thing at the bottom of the ocean. How horrible to imagine a time when such a race who created such evil and deadly things populated our lands. And as to the logs, I would recommend you burn them before the church uses them to burn us. That sword is another matter, but it can be boxed and concealed."
Constanza looked wistful and glanced back towards the lead-lined box that contained her charts, logs, journals, and letters. "Such memories to incinerate or drown..." she murmured. She shook her head sadly.
Melisandre seemed pensive for a moment, considering. "I suppose San Cristobal would make a lovely city to be our home for a time, but there are equally lovely cities scattered throughout Castille. I do believe Ferdinand wished to go somewhere in particular however..." She tapped her lip lightly. "Where was it again? Tarago?"
Constanza nodded. "Tarago may be a good place to begin," she agreed. "The Orduño family is powerful there, we would likely get support. Uncle Julio, older brother to both my father and Uncle Enrique, lives there; he is the head of our family. I'm not certain he approves of me these days, but I am still family and should get assistance if need be."
She paused, a speculative look on her face. "I think you were in your room at the inn when the lady with the tabard of the Knights of the Rose and Cross walked in and talked to Ferdinand. He seemed quite thrilled by the encounter and by the message the lady knight brought him. That's when he announced he had to go to Tarago." She smirked, adding: "And you should have seen Lucas, preening for the lady and being completely ignored!"
Melisandre laughed. "Poor Lucas! He's not had much 'entertainment' of late and it seems to have caused him to lose a bit of his composure.
Constanza looked skeptical. "Oh? I thought he had had quite a good time in Dionna, so much so that he was unable to accompany you and signor Sebastiano." Melisandre had the grace to blush, while Constanza continued. "And he did not seem bored in Freiburg either. Granted, we have been at sea a lot, but I would say that Lucas generally gets far more 'entertainment' than the rest of us put together!"
Melisandre ignored the comment. "He seems more irritable than usual and having our guests aboard is not helping matters much. I'm afraid our hacienda won't be much better. We live rather far from the city. It's two days' ride at the pace we'd need to travel with all of his luggage."
Constanza shrugged. "And that city is about as far as possible from the capital as it can be within Castille, so that will likely not please His Excellence Don Lucas de Aldana. No, worry about your protégées and not about Lucas, your life will be easier. Little girls are so much more reasonable than boys."
"Yes, well, my little protegees are not likely to try to put a length of steel through someone I care for merely because they are irritable." Melisandre's head tilted to the side slightly. "And would you care to explain why you and Lucas are constantly tossing barbs back and forth? You both seem to take such pleasure in it, sort of a one up on each other."
This elicited another shrug. "Family. I know you do not have the, ahem, pleasure of much exposure to family, but Lucas and I are almost brother and sister -- and that's what siblings do. Besides, surely you have observed that even when I try to be good and stop needling him, he seems to veritably ask to be slapped down!" Constanza grimaced. "In truth, I think part of it is his discomfort at not being in charge here since I am captain. He also misses Miranda, who used to fill the role of sheepdog most admirably. But I assure you, even when I was more or less part of his train of baggage, he could not help but mock me for what he deems my lack of fashion and graces. Is it any wonder I grew some defences? He should be happy, really: I can act as a foil to underline his elegance and manners -- when he shows any."
She leaned over the kittens' nest to tickle one of the little balls of fur. "I am thankful I finally learned that not all men count women only as one night's entertainment, or value them solely by their curves," she added in a low voice, her head bent down.
Melisandre nodded agreeingly. "In truth I'm quite glad your Allende saw behind that facade you put up to scare people off. I was surprised at first and rather pleased. It's not like you let anyone see how lovely you can be dressed up in courtly fashion with your hair up. And your manners have always been impeccable. Even Sister Consuela said so. Begrudingly, mind you, but she did say it." Constanza had often been the brunt of the good Sister's displeasure in school, much to Melisandre's chagrin. "And beauty is not all it's made out to be. Most times it's more of a hindrance than anything else since men think that you are more possession than person. Which is probably why I found the social custom in Vodacci so appalling."
She approached the box and gently picked up one of the kittens. She was a lovely little creature, gray with white feet like little socks. With a soft mew, the kitten curled up in Melisandre's hands and promptly went to sleep. Melisandre retreated with her back to her cot and arranged the littl puff of gray fur on her lap.
Constanza shrugged haughtily. "I think in Vodacce most women are possessions, whether pretty or not. Just ask your young charges. The difference, I would guess, is how much men are willing to plot, barter or fight for said possession." She shook her head. "As for Captain Allende, if he's 'seen past my façade' as you suggest, it's not because he has seen me in courtly dress. Though he has seen me barefoot in the rigging. Do you think that counts?" she asked, feigning innocence. Her eyes twinkled again as she gently baited her friend.
Melisandre gazed in mock disapproval at the feet in reference. "And speaking of Allende, did he make plans to see you again?" She glanced over at the music box that bore the Orduño coat of arms. Constanza often played it of an eve, seeming rather pensive and abstracted as the music filled the cabin.
Constanza looked down for a moment, her thoughts far away. "I don't know," she finally answered, returning her gaze to meet Melisandre's. "We were quite hurried when we left Freiburg, you will recall. We had planned to sail in consort to Cabora, but then the Maris Stella met the Seventh Sea..." Her voice trailed off and she glanced at the aft gallery, through which the morning sun was now pouring.
Then she smiled at her friend. "Ah, but he is a resourceful man. I think he will find me. Besides, since the lot of us traveling companions seem to cause upheavals wherever we go, I suppose it will not be too difficult a trail to follow!" The grin became a bit sardonic. "And if we cannot convince Cardinal Verdugo to rescind our excommunication, it may be that we will have to go live on La Bucca ourselves -- assuming we can escape, of course. Now, wouldn't that make everyone but me very unhappy?" She winked.
"I don't know," Melisandre said airily, "I hear that the weather is quite lovely there at this time of year. And life in exile can't be any worse than Freiburg." She returned Constanza's grin as she stroked the soft fur of the kitten. She added in a more serious tone, "In truth, the thought of facing the wrath of the Inquisition frightens me. I'm glad we'll be together when we stand before them. Do you think they will convene the council? Both you and Lucas are from high born families and well known in your own right. The matter might well be weighty enough for them to sit in judgement. If Sandoval is there, we might have his support though I doubt it will do us much good."
