The silvery, midnight ocean and the star dusted, blackened sky kissed at the horizon, encompassing the world in a peaceful night. Despite the tranquility of it all, Isla felt none of it.

They were seven days from Caterum and she chafed at the pace they were going at. There had been no Current to ride towards their destination and instead they were controlled by the whims of the wind. Instead of calming, the expanse before her was taunting, there was too much of it to cross in time they did not have.

Isla gripped the wheel as if trying to instill some of her urgency into the ship, asking it to do more. It heard her plea but there was nothing it could do against what nature wished. Around her the deck was almost empty, most of the crew down below sleeping off the previous days' ordeal.

They had had to outrun a storm and it had taken every man to keep the ship racing, battling waves and winds as they threatened to bring the ship down. Once free of danger, Isla had waved the crew all off, sending them to rest while she kept them on course.

Fatigue hung on her like a heavy blanket, but she fought it, the need to get to Isha driving her onward. A tired laugh floated from the main deck. Two figures were near the railing, one sitting on a barrel as the other lounged back. Even without the aid of the lantern, Isla would know who they were from their postures.

Sparrow had taken to Raif within a day, his eagerness to know about places he had never visited and people he had never met quickly attached him to the new addition to the crew.

To Isla's annoyance, he wasn't the only one. Where she had expected Raif to lord his position over others, he failed to do so. Instead, he worked alongside the sailors, attentive to what they had to teach him and quick to follow through on a task.

Though their trust was harder won, their respect was easily given. During the fight with the storm, Raif had done what was asked of him, he had stayed out of the way and done all he could not get in the way of others. With each acceptance of the sailor's to Raif ans his easy manner, Isla found herself easing to his presence, but never letting her guard down.

Sparrow wobbled on the barrel and Raif steadied him, saying something that the boy nodded to. Slipping of the lid, Sparrow wove his way below deck, sleep finally calling to him. Raif did not follow. Instead, he remained where he was. From his pocket, he pulled out a length of rope and fiddled with it, knots forming then disappearing with a single tug of one end.

After a stretch, Raif lifted himself off the railing and made for the quarterdeck. Isla watched as he drew closer, eyeing his slow, deliberate progress. When he climbed the stairs and planted himself on the railing once more, she waited.

In the past seven days, he had shown no signs of seeking her out and she had left him to move about, always keeping an eye on his activities.

Raif didn't speak, comfortable with letting the quiet hold them. Isla kept her gaze on the breathing landscape. The only sound was the splash of waves as the ship cut through the water and the brush of rope as Raif continued to make knots.

"Sparrow is younger than anyone else on the ship," Raif said, breaking the peace. "How did that happen?"

Isla didn't reply, unsure if she wanted to share anything with this uncommon nobleman, but when Raif waited, untroubled by her lack of response she spoke.

"I saved him from being beaten to death by a gang of older boys."

Raif kept his focus on his fingers, manipulating the cord to his design.

"And for your help, he owes his life to you?" he asked.

Isla tightened her fingers around the spokes. "No. Because I saved him my father offered him food, a dry place to sleep, and a job that would put money in his hands for the first time in his life."

This made Raif look up. "My apologies, I misspoke."

Isla nodded, unnerved by the sincerity in his voice. They lapsed back into silence, though both were more aware of the other than before. Raif rolled his shoulders and crossed his ankles, settling more into his spot.

The last week had revived the life the brig had sucked from him. He was clean, shaved, and days in the sun had given back the healthy color to his skin.

"I know from the other men that we are not on our way to Oxley," he said. "I imagined that would be the first place we would sail to."

Irritation pricked at Isla, for it was where she wished to be. If it not for the noose around her neck it would be. Even with their direct course they still faced the danger of not fulfilling their collection on time.

"Since you don't seem inclined to answer what if we made a trade," Raif said. "That is what you do, isn't it? Retrieving items for a price."

"It is," she said.

Raif balled the rope and hid it in the pocket of his trousers along with his hands, no longer wanting the distraction.

"What do you wish to know from me? In turn for my answer, you will give me yours."

Till that point, Isla didn't think there were any answers from Raif that she wanted, besides the ones that he had already promised to give. Knowing more about this man was never a thought she had considered. But faced with a trade she felt her curiosity stirring.

"When we first talked-," she said.

"You mean when you kidnapped me, locked me in a brig, dumped water on me, and demanded I turn over information about the Serpent's eye or you would kill me?"

When Isla cut her gaze to him, she was met with a hint of a smile. It was a careless smile like he held nothing against her. It was a strange emotion considering the bruises that Isla still wore on her neck were a sign he had hated her for it.

"Yes," she said. "In that time you mentioned the fact that your father would be annoyed for having his property damaged, stolen, or destroyed. You made it sound like you were not his son, but something he owned. What did you mean by it?"

Raif crossed his arms, the smile gone from his face. He contemplated the shimmering surface, finding the right words.

"I'm a disgrace to my father," he said. He paused, uncertain about how to go on. "I am the youngest of three brothers. I have no estate to inherit. What I stood to inherit was a piece of my father's business, running ports. I had no desire to sit behind a desk commanding people. Instead, I became someone who acquired items for others, using my father's name and my title as a way to do it." There was a sardonic twist to Raif's mouth. "In his eyes, I lowered myself to a commoner, doing a work no duke should do. If I'm not mistaken, we are in the same line of work. But what you do with a sword, I do with words. The only difference is the placement of a letter."

The joke was offhanded, the act itself brushing away the hurt over the divide between father and son.

"Now, as trades go I believe you owe me an answer. Why are we not on our way to Oxley?"

Isla saw how Raif's quick turn around was a ploy to avoid more questions he didn't want to answer. It betrayed a vulnerability she never would have imagined from him and not one he would show to her. Unable to figure out what motivated the honesty, she answered.

"There is a collection we must make that can't wait. Once it is dealt with we will make our way to Oxley."

This seemed to satisfy Raif's curiosity and he asked no more about it. He left his place and made for the stairs, but Isla's question halted him.

"The men have said you don't sleep below with them, why?"

Raif gave a light laugh. "I don't believe I will venture below decks for some time. Endless days in a brig have ruined the experience for me."

At the sad wrinkle in his brow despite the levity in his tone, Isla almost apologized. But she had done what she had for her men. Even knowing now she would do it again if it meant that she got them one step closer to their freedom. They counted on her and she would do whatever it took to not let them down.

When Isla didn't comment on his answer, Raif nodded his head in farewell. Before he departed, he glanced towards her neck. Her collar lay open and the evidence of his hand was burned there. Regretful, he lowered his eyes.

"I apologize for my actions. Goodnight, Captain Zev."

When he withdrew, he left Isla frowning, confused over how to feel about this unpredictable man.

**********************************************************************

Yay! I love weddings! Drinks all around!

*whips head around so fast and violently that I fall over* WhAt ThE SeA MonSteRs WaS tHat!?!?! All of a sudden Raif is chill now! What the flipping dolphins is going on!?!?!

You gotta answer because I think I have a concussion from the fall and half my brains fell out so you know I'm not going to be any use. (But let's face it, have I ever been of any use?) 🗯💬💭🧜🏽‍♀️

*sits down and places head in hands* Guys, I think the world is ending. Not only is Raif being nice to Isla, but HE APOLOGIZED! I mean seriously! The last time they went toe to toe he tried to kill her! *gags* Oh I think I'm going to throw up, these flips in moods is making me sea sick.

(Bam! Crushed with more nautical lingo! And when I say crushed it I mean like the waves crush the shore! Bam and Bam! More lingo! I'm on a roll, an ocean roll!...cause you know like the waves roll in ocean...or are rolling in the deep... Yeah I'll see myself off the plank)

Cwestiwn y pennod (Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿) Besides the obvious question and mystery of wanting to know my age are there any questions you've ever wanted to ask me?

As for me, yes. Joy, why are so odd? I mean really? Is it all necessary? 🙄

Answer: Yes, yes it is. 😁

Vote for clarity, comment on confusion, follow paradoxes.