Kate saw he was slow to eat. Was it pain, fear or something else that. Trust, it had to be. She would earn it. "Your eating, this is a good sign. You have not given up. I do not want you to die. You are too small for a full gown elf. With Ann's cooking you will fill out. There is lots to do to keep you in shape hunting, swimming, riding horses, and dancing. I will am going to show a whole world outside the confines of bordeaux and mating. Forgive me, I have not even asked your name or given you mine. I wish to call you by your birth name if you have one. If you don't I will give you one until next of kin can be found." Kate let him finish the soup. The cabin boy knocked on the door. Kate called to him, "Please enter, and come into our room."<br/>The boy entered and lowered his head to the mage, "M'Lady, tis good to see you again. What can I do for ya."<br/>Kate smiled as she gave her charge the last of the soup. "Del, is good to see you too. Thank you for readying the room. You did a good job. Serve us well and you will get a bit of gold. An education is what you need. Follow your father and you too will be a good navigator. I have books for you in my trunk."<br/>The boy of 12 was nearly beside himself. He loved the books from the mage and enjoyed learning from her. She was not stuffy and did not hit with  a stick when he made a mistake. Kate sat the bowl on the nightstand. She opened a worn trunk and handed the boy a bundle of book that were strapped together. "Give me a few days with my charge and you can read to me. I hope you did not slack off from our last visit."<br/><br/>The boy took the books with a huge smile on his face. "They for keeps, M'lady?"<br/><br/>Kate muffed his hair and hands him paper and graphite pencil. "I hope you practiced math and can write well. I want a written report on all the ports of call and who the keepers of the lighhouse are. Where are the best places to shop and eat in each town. "Tell Cookie I am here and bring warm cider, hot tea and a light meal of fresh fruit, cooked potatoes and chicken. I will be sick of fish by the time the voyage is over. One more thing, a key to the cargo hold. My companion needs clothes. That is all for now. Thank you Del."<br/><br/>The boy holds the books like they are rare and valuable. "Aye M'Lady."<br/><br/>Kate walks over to her slave, "Rest if you can. I will not leave you. No one will harm you." She covered him with two quilts. "You look so scared. I know it hurts to touch you. Music help me to sleep sometimes. Oh I forgot, eat these herbs they help with rocking of the ship." Kate takes two pieces of sugar coated ginger from her robe pocket, "It has a bite to it..not bad really." She takes a bite of one and hands him the other. "The best you can do is sleep and heal. At the next port I will purchase a book on elves. It has been awhile since I studied them. I think you can self heal. I want to know what is this scent from you that is so...heavenly. It makes me want to be with you just to smell it. The closer I am to you...the stronger I feel things inside. Well, you need to rest and I need to get out of these traveling robes. Your mind must be going a mile a minute. You are not a prisoner. You may speak freely around me. Oh... I break all protocols with slaves. Please call me Kate or Katie. Mistress is for older folks. They beat and treat their pets like dirt. You are a man...you have feelings and can think. Right."<br/><br/>Kate opened a case and took out a very old lute that was made with inlayed woods. She sits by him on the bed, strums a few cords, "There is a chamber pot behind the screen, let me know if you need to relieve yourself. I am sure you insides are on fire. I do not want you to suffer more than you have already." Kate adjust the strings and plays a few chords. "I remember by aunt was fond of music, did she teach you how to play and instrument? Did she teach you to read and write? I am sorry, we can talk about that later."