When he heard of what was waiting in his cabin Nikos, pulled his quartermaster aside and gave him very explicit instructions, "Who else knows about the girl?" he asked. "Why no one sir, not even the first mate. I was the only one aboard."  the quartermaster answered.  "Good! we will keep it that way. I will spend the night in Kissamos, see that the girl is fed and that she has some bedding, but be certain of two things,  no harm comes to her, and no one knows she is aboard.  We push off in the morning, and I expect everything will be in order when arrive. If it arrive there will be three extra rations of  Ouzo in it for you. Your a good man Kelos!" he patted the man on the back and headed back to Kissamos smiling at his good fortune. He would wait till they were at sea, where his word was law before he would deal with stow-away.<br/><br/>The next morning, when the Captain  arrived aboard ship, the first mate had her ready to sail. The crew was back aboard and at the ready. Every man new that Captain Thermopolae expected everything in order.  Nikos gave the command and the ship was pushed away from the dock and raised her sails. A stiff southwest breeze had her making a wake as moved out of the harbor and into the sea.  They set a course North West to resume patrolling the Grecian West Coast.  Nikos took the quartermaster aside. "Is my prize still safe and sound?" "yes sir" he said handing the captain a small key. "Good" he said, slowly walked to the aft of the ship inspecting the vessel as he went before retiring to his Cabin.  "You have the helm" he said to the first mate and went inside.<br/><br/>By the corner of the bed lay a tiny figure curled up on a pile of sail cloth on the floor.  She was fast asleep and didn't stir when he came in. Nikos was immediately struck by two things her diminutive size and he hair. The slaves on Crete had generally seen a lot of service and were anything but the wispy slender that this girl was, and never had he even experienced blonde hair. He walked over, sat on the bed and when she awoke he got another surprise, grey green eyes, To say that this girl was exotic was an understatement.<br/><br/>Nikos was an imposing figure of a man. He was tall and bronzed with a shock of Jet black hair. At 31 he was the youngest captain in the fleet, and near the most handsome. He fairly towered over this tiny woman as she lay in the pile of sail cloth.