Caleb lowered his guard as as the sword that she was grasping so tightly clambered to the deck. Sighing, he felt the usual sensations of the sea come back into his field of awareness. His eyes glanced out at the horizon to see clear open skies, but a choppy wake before them. Were they riding on the tail of another ship? He sure couldn't see one to follow if that were the case. Hearing her apology, he raised a hand to wave the thought away. "One of my men getting roughed up? That's no big deal. They do that to each other all the time." He smiled as he got a crowd of laughter out of the men around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see young Ophelia making her way to the bow of the boat, gauging their path and plotting a course. She carried herself proudly, with a form more alluring than any tavern whore. Too bad she would sooner kick the shit out of a man than suck him off. He chuckled as he turned his attention back to the young princess, addressing her status on this ship.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4d4dff">"For now, you are my guest. I have orders to take this shipment to the farthest end of the sea, but I have higher standards to people than i do cargo. Although it is interesting...you must be rather high on the food-chain to presume you're a hostage in this situation."</span>His eyes were hard, glazed over to avoid the confrontation of what his men saw in her. She might as well have been food for the hogs, the way they wished to taste her. Moving his gaze to scan the crew, their hungry stares turned to solemn glares, burning holes into the deck as they avoided making eye-contact with their captain.<br/><br/>Caleb's attention once again turned back to the blue-green gaze that was matching his, drawing closer to him to speak more privately. He listened to her praise him, unsure of what her motive was in it. Everyone had a motive, that much he learned a long time ago. Not really worried about what this woman could do, seeing as she was without weapons, he gave her a slow nod, leading her to the captains quarters and opening the door, letting her go in ahead of him. He shut the door and locked it behind him, turning to see that she had already found herself a seat and become comfortable. He couldn't help but smile at the way pompous way she seemed to be carrying the situation. He hadn't found himself in an a situation like this ever before, and it was definitely more exciting than the regular monotony of his work.<br/><br/>Caleb was found struck even further by confusion as she laid out the situation. Who was this girl, and what standing did she have to have such a threat of a father. Better yet, why the hell did she not want to go home? She was willing to be a hostage and still give him gold. She definitely had her own motive. He held up a hand after she had finished to cut off the conversation. Pacing around to the back of the quarters, he shook his head, trying to figure out just what this girl was trying to get through this. Was she trying to compromise his crew? That could explain her request not to go below deck. She was trying to destroy his men's confidence and tear one of the greatest pirating vessels apart. But then, with that kind of self-defense, not a single one of his men would be able to think around her strategy. He sighed and shook his head.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4d4dff">"I don't know what you're getting at here, but before I even think of whether or not to take you home, I want to know just who the hell you are. You give me that, and maybe we can start negotiating."</span>He turned back into the room and walked over to his desk, sitting down and gesturing her to make her way over, whether in the chair or on her feet.