<div align="center"><strong>Somewhere in the Indian Ocean on The Courtesan</strong></div><br/><br/>We had left port a couple days ago and were almost full on provisions. A heavy ship wasn't too fast or agile and maybe that was why the captain had decided to take a long way to our destination. He had been watching ships in the distance. Nobody doubts the captain though. Only a fool would openly critize captain Griffiths. Or a suicidal. I had no intention to feel the captain's wrath so I kept quiet when he was just looking at all these ships in the distance. Some of the men wondered why we weren't going after them, for some plunder and murdering but I, I was quite happy like this. Murder and plundering was nice but we had only just left port and I knew that with a fully rationed ship, any plundering would have to be worth the risk and the Captain knew that as well, I hoped.<br/><br/>As I stared out of the windows of the galley to the horizon, my thoughts wandered off to Libertatia. It was a surprisingly long stay on that island and I thoroughly explored most of it's wenches, gambling pits and taverns where I got into several fights with the English. They stole my precious Scotland and they would pay for that one day. It might have been decades ago, after six tankards of rum, I'd have fought with them over much less to be honest, but this was a good reason to knock the lights off for some of the English scum. I might not be the strongest of the lot (and I did get a few knocks myself) but six tankards versus sixteen and the winner is quite easy to guess. When we left port I had my pockets loaded with a couple dozen Shillings I won on gambling and my spirit high as the sky after all the wenching and rum I had gotten.<br/><br/>Around me in the galley was this Glory. Three years younger but already passed me in ranks in this damn confined space deep in the bowels of the ship. Upstuck little wench. I could take advantage of her as she was too cheerful for a pirate. Always trying to be nice. She cooked while I did nothing. Much like now. I knew the food was going to be nice but I also knew the men would complain and moan about it.<br/><br/>There was food for the crew and food for the Captain and whoever he pleased to dine with. Obviously the differences were quite large in amounts and quality but I never complained. I asked Glory if I could help her do something and then without really listening to the answer left the galley and went up deck to get some fresh air.<br/><br/>The waves were picking up and the captain was still looking through his monocular to the horizon. We had gotten ourselves into rough seas and I could see the going was about to get a lot tougher. Not knowing about the captain's intentions I went down again and began to secure some of the loose equipment in the galley without saying another word to Glory. I wasn't on this ship to be friends with a cook.<br/><br/>I was on this ship for much different reasons. Remember my name. Ailsa MacCrory. Remember my name you English scum...