The door closed and Sezjeck and Esmerelda were alone in the room.

“Something you needed to discus Sezjeck?” Esmerelda asked.

“Captain,” he hesitated a moment “the Northern girl.”

“Yes she's an odd duck isn't she? But I'd say she's more than earning her keep so far.” Esmerelda said.

“Yes captain, but how is she earning her keep?” Sezjeck prompted.

“by healing injury and illness Sezjeck.” she said leading “or have you not been paying attention? By the way!” she interjected before Sezjeck could dig further “my over under on amputations for this voyage? None. Absolutely zero. From what I hear” she continued leaving no room for response “Girlie has prevented some already.”

“Captain.” Sezjeck said evenly “How is she accomplishing this?”

“I do wish you arrive at you point friend.” said with a sigh

“And I wish you would stop avoiding it. The girl is no cleric.” Sezjeck said emphatically.

“What has lead you to this conclusion Sezjeck?” Esmerelda asked lazily.

“This is the effect her fire had on me” he said holding up his shining and burnished claw that had been touched by her fire.

“Oh Sezjeck, you should have her do the other one too.” Esmerelda deflected playfully.

“Her fire is dragon's fire captain!” Sezjeck said poorly hiding his frustration.

“Which mean her sorcerous line is draconic. Shame I would have bet fay since she is a little...you know. You should have had that in your book.” She tried for nonchalance.

Sezjeck had multiple issues with what the captain had just said but he settled on the most immediate.

“You knew she was a sorceress?” Sezjeck asked incredulous.

“Yes” she responded truthfully.

“Since when?” He asked, they had not been at sea long.

Esmerelda sighed deeply “Shortly after we were introduced.” She responded.

“Then why, why captain would you bring her on board?” He asked utterly confounded. Sailors were a superstitious group and pirates violently so.

“Because Girlie is a gifted healer who won't have all the moral qualms of a cleric! And furthermore because discriminating against different kinds of magic is a foolish and prejudicial practice on a level with racism and zenocism and I do not hold with it.” Esmerelda spat with more anger than she intended.

“Then why hide the fact?” He pushed. “Why had she not told him?” He thought

“Because if all of them out there knew what she was they would either kill her for her magic, me for bringing her on board or the both of us. Because just because I'm not superstitious does not mean I don't understand the power of superstition.” this had struck a nerve in her.

“Captain” Sezjeck said.

“I trust her Sezjeck, trust me” She yelled.

“Captain” he said.

“Just look at all the good she has done so far what does it matter where her magic comes from?” she countered.

“Captain” he said again.

“Sorcerers aren't bad luck on land why should they be so on a ship?” she asked.

“Esmerelda!”

“Sezjeck!”

They both looked at each other in silence.

Esmerelda took a deep breath and flipped her braids around her hand. “Sezjeck you are my closest alley and my oldest and dearest friend, please support me in this.”

“Captain, we've been sailing together a long time of course I trust you but you have never kept a secret like this from me before. Unless you've just kept other ones better.” he responded.

“No Sezjeck, I never meant to lie to you. I'm sorry friend” she apologized.

“You're right captain, She will be useful.” he responded.

“Sezjeck” she said.

“And zero amputations is an absurd bet, but I will take your money.” he responded.

“Sezjeck” she said again.

“Honestly there are already a few bets around her open.” He continued.

“Sezjeck” she emphasized.

“Captain.” he responded.

Esmerelda put her hand on his arm. “ I have hurt you friend, please forgive me.”

“All is forgiven between us captain, do not think of it.” he forgave her.

“Thank you friend.” she coughed to clear her throat and close the conflict. “besides from what I hear our new surgeon is quite good for your favorite stray.”

“First off captain, I do not take in strays.” Sezjeck insisted. This was not the first time this topic had been brought up in their long friendship.

“Oh Sezj, say what you will but all the sad little wayward souls seem to find their way to you.” she teased.

“Tornas isn't a wayward soul he's just...troubled. Also, for strays to be plural there would have to have been more than one.”

“Marcus, Pietro, Jun-way,” Esmerelda counted on her fingers, “Alexi, Ruben though I guess he's more Erika's, Bartrow, Electra; oh I miss Electra” she continued with a smile.

“They weren't 'strays' they just all had bad childhoods and needed a bit of guidance.” Sezjeck countered.

“Sezjeck we're on a pirate ship we all had bad childhoods.” Esmerelda said.

Both laughed.

“How do you know already about what she did for Tor that was only hours ago?” Sezjeck asked.

“Friend, you know you aren't my only ears on board. And we both know and have agreed that that is a secret I should keep from you.” Esmerelda reminded him.

“Is it Dimitri? Was the challenge just a ruse?” Sezjeck inquired with a smile.

Esmerelda laughed boisterously. “What? Dimitri? No! Gods I know I should say nothing but can you imagine? 'Cyaptin Iy hyave nyews for you'” she said imitating a bad northern accent through consuming laughter.

“Ok who's zenoist now?” Sezjeck said failing to suppress a chuckle.

“Sezj you know I can't tell you either way. But you can tell me how your book is shaping up.”

“Absolutely captain.”

Sezjeck appraised his captain of the various bets already open on board and thereby the state of the crew as they started their voyage south.