The Ruthless Redhead's Revenge by Amy Morrel

prepared on ship. As they relaxed
with ales, a new experience for Roberta, Ethan looked over the men in
the room.
    He approached the man he considered the most likely candidate to
have the information he wanted and spoke to him:
    “Want to earn yourself an ale on me friend?”
    “Sure, what ya need?”
    “I'm guessing that you'd know the location of Master
Gutren's estate. I know it is near to the town and I need to escort
the person at the table there to Master Gutren tomorrow.”
    “Sure, buy me that ale and I'll give you directions. It's
easy to find if you know what you're looking for.”
    Ethan purchased the man his drink and received directions in
return. He returned to the table and told Roberta that he had them
but that he'd like to verify them just in case the man was only
trying to cadge a drink.
    They discussed the matter and decided that Ethan would return to
the ship and find a crew member to go and check the directions out.
It should only take an hour each way so they would know by dusk if
they had received the correct directions. Meanwhile to minimize her
possible visibility to the crew, Roberta would wait in the room they
had rented.
    Ethan escorted her back to the room and reminded her to lock the
door, and brace it with something since it was a flimsy lock. Roberta
did so and Ethan returned to the ship. When he returned a short while
later he told her that the crewman would look for them here after he
checked the information.
    “Roberta, is there anything you want or need while we are in
a town? I know that you lost your clothing, but dresses are out of
the question while you're in disguise. Is there anything else you
need or want?”
    “Well, I noticed that the balance on your cutlass was well
off from what I was trained with. Are all the cutlasses on the ship
similar?”
    “Yes, mostly. Although the balance on mine is better than
any of the others there. Do you want a sword, is that what you're
saying?”
    “Wouldn't it be in character for my disguise? Not to wear
all the time, but to actually possess my own?”
    “Quite possibly. It wouldn't be out of character at least.
What type of sword are you used to?”
    “A straight saber, slightly lighter than your cutlass.”
    “Well, shall we go out on the town and see what we can
find?”
    They went out in search of a saber and a means to keep the
Monmouth cap she wore secured. Sabers were easily found, but finding
one of a size and weight which resembled the one she had trained with
took some time. A sword of decent quality was eventually found though
and she fastened the scabbard to the belt which held her dagger. A
means for securing the cap was eventually found in the form of a
colorful ribbon which she would tie around the cap just where a hat
band would be on a different style hat. It wasn't perfect but until
they found something better it would serve.
    When they returned to their inn, the crewman was sitting at a
table in the common room, sipping his own ale. He nodded to Ethan as
they entered the room. They took seats at the table with him and he
proceeded to inform Ethan that there was an estate at the end of
those directions. He couldn't be positive it was Master Gutren's as
he had never seen the man. But it did fit the description the escort
had given them.
    The crewman returned to the ship and Ethan led Roberta to their
room. Roberta went through a series of exercises with the sword to
find its balance and familiarize herself with it. Then she worked a
while on finding the best way to secure her cap with the ribbon,
until Ethan distracted her in her favorite way. The bed in the
captain's cabin was more comfortable than the one in the inn, yet
neither noticed in the slightest. Eventually they fell asleep wrapped
about one another, having exhausted themselves attempting, once more,
to sate their passions.
    The morning saw them both up early though. Roberta was nervous
about their plan, which involved allowing Master Gutren to take her
to his