Etheldred paced the deck of the ship. It had gotten decidedly more crowded since the taking of the merchant vessel as such privacy was going to be more difficult but not impossible. Jimothy would still be easy enough to get alone. He was not popular among the crew, was rather stupid, and perhaps because of that stupidity quite superstitious. This of course accounted for the events of yesterday directly following the battle. Even with his many flaws Jimothy was in a position to be useful to Etheldred.

Etheldred found him on the forecastle and as expected alone.

"Jimothy" Etheldred greeted him. Jimothy stood.

"Quartermaster" he said.

"I need to speak with you concerning yesterday's events." Etheldred said.

"I think the captain made matters very clear already." Jimothy responded.

"Oh I don't want to talk about the captain's opinions, I want to talk about justice."

"I'm not sure I know what that's supposed to mean quartermaster." Jimothy responded.

Etheldred continued with his plan.

"What happened yesterday was not fair, was not just. You were only defending yourself from the witch. She attacked you." Etheldred said.

"She did attack me, she shot fire at me." Jimothy said.

"And then the Capetian gives you a more severe punishment for questioning her when the witch questioned her too?" Etheldred continued.

"That's right she did." Jimothy replied.

"And yet she was not punished for it as you were. That hardly seems fair does it?" Etheldred asked.

"No it doesn't" Jimothy agreed.

"Siding with some new changeling witch, as you so rightly called her, does that seem like the actions of a worthy captain?" Etheldred asked.

"No it doesn't. And a ship is no place for a witch neither." Jimothy said

"I couldn't agree more" Etheldred said. In truth he didn't care what kind of magic the Northern girl was using. He believed strongly that superstition was for idiots. Jimothy however, did not need to know that.

"What do we do about it then?" Jimothy asked.

Etheldred smiled, this was going to be even easier than he thought.

"Esmerelda was elected yes. But if you haven't noticed the makeup of the crew has already changed. It will be an easy enough thing to convince new crew that she should not be captain. As for the Goldhaven crew, they should be smart enough to see she is not the leader we need. And if they cannot see reason, well then they can be disposed of." Etheldred explained.

"It' a mutiny then?" Jimothy asked.

"Yes" Etheldred affirmed.

"And who will be the new captain?" Jimothy asked.

"I think we can wait to discuss that until the old one is out. But I think you have the right idea about things. And with a bit of guidance maybe you could be the one leading this ship." Etheldred said.

Jimothy smiled a grin that was missing several teeth.

“I like the sound of that quartermaster.”

“Smart man.” Etheldred replied “Just stay sharp. I'll let you know when and how to act.”

“Yes sir.” Jimothy said.

“Very good.” Etheldred turned and walked away. He really did despise having to work with the likes of Jimothy but he could think of no one else currently on the crew from Goldhaven that would be more willing to turn on Esmerelda. The new crew brought on from the defeated merchant ship though offered a good opportunity and he was already working on winning them over. Etheldred thought of this as he walked back down off the forecastle and below past the sorceress somehow successfully masquerading as a cleric who was leaning over the gunwale and playing with a fireball. He could not concern himself with her just now though he hoped that like Jimothy, she would see reason and come over to his side. He would need a plan for if she did not.