Withdrawing the bde and shaking off the blood, Paralee sighed and hid the bodies in the space where she’d been. “All you had to do was give up…I hate doing that.” Paralee performed her usual search of the bodies, pocketing the loose change and items she could trade or barter in another city. Looking down at her blood-soaked hands, Paralee rubbed the viscous liquid between her fingers somehow enjoying as it started to thicken up in the cool air.

  -I have never thought about blood before. What’s going on?-

  Shoving the bloody bde back in its sheath, Paralee finally wiped her hands off on the guards' tunics and headed toward the docks. Whistling to herself, it was when she passed by a few more shops and stopped into a leather store she’d been in right after she’d arrived. “Hello?” Paralee called out.

  A man covered with a smock that seemed to be doused in oil of some kind came from the back. “Ah, hello again Miss Vallee.” He wiped off his hands and offered a handshake.

  Instead of shaking the leatherworker’s hand, Paralee bowed lightly and smiled. “I almost forgot that I pced an order.” She twisted to the side and pointed to the bck almost velvet-looking leather on the wall. “I fell in love with that when I saw it. I hope my order is finished? I leave today…in a few minutes to be exact.”

  Dipping his head in response, the man smiled. “I have. Every part you requested, I was able to get done. I even added hardened leather to the elbows and knees and reinforced the chest a bit. Getting a sheepish look on his face, he shrugged. “I hope you don’t mind, sometimes an artist goes with a whim.”

  Having seen that particur look from many men in the past, Paralee fshed her charming smile and the older gentleman. “Who am I to argue with a talented artist, such as yourself.” Paralee pyfully winked, and gave the man a sultry look from her luscious hazel eyes. “Mmm, I will tell everyone I know who made the armor.”

  Walking into the back room and bringing out the armor order that Paralee pced, he took the time to show her everything one at a time, then packed it into a burp sack. “I would be eternally grateful if you passed to others where you got the armor, yes.” He took out the chest piece once more. “I made my mark on the strap.” He pointed to a three-leaf clover, “I know it's not very original but I happen to like fields of clover.” He ughed.

  “I couldn’t have asked for anything more, good sir.” Paralee reached for the sack and hefted it over her shoulder. “I would stay and chat, but I am running te as it is.”

  Solemnly the leatherworker pointed to the guards running by. “I know. If you want, you can go out of the back and save yourself some running time to your ship, Miss Vallee.” He walked over and locked the door, then pulled the blind down. “I have heard the rumors.” He pointed to Paralee’s long bck hair. “It might be time for a disguise of some sort, most of the folks down here know you.” He motioned for Paralee to follow, “Your hair and eyes are always given, as well as your …” He gulped and opened his back door, “...your charm and beauty.”

  Shoving a few more silver into the man’s hand, Paralee gave him a quick and light kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for the assistance.” She winked and began jogging down the street, “Consider yourself lucky! My kisses are worth a fortune!” Paralee ughed as she left the shop behind.

  ‘The Crimson Runner’ had been out of Venice for a couple of days before the captain approached Paralee as she was sliding down a couple of ropes from the mizzenmast to the main deck. Admiring the fearlessness of his newest rigger, Captain Boulet handed Paralee a fsk and smiled. “I saw the blood all over you when you boarded.” Perking one of his eyebrows, he continued. “Should I assume that was done gutting fish with your dy?” He chuckled.

  “No, Sir.” Paralee grinned and touched her dagger hilt with reverence. “Same old thing, just a new week.” She hesitated, “Things haven’t changed much in the six months I have served, sir.” Paralee’s hazel eyes fshed in the sunlight, “While we were in port, I killed four guards.”

  “By mermaids grace, girl.” One of the sailors stopped his cleaning and shook his head. “You’re gonna get all of us brought before the gallows if you keep this up.” He looked at the captain and tightened his dirty white bandana, made from one of his older shirts. “Captain, her mess has made it where there are patrols all over the route to and from Venice. I don’t want to avoid my home..what to do?”

  Taking note of a few others on board, Captain Boulet held up his hand. “Patience, gentlemen. I don’t want that either. I am sure that Miss Vallee will come up with a less lethal way to handle the guards, right?”

  Another sailor spoke out of turn. “When we get back, I’ll bring the guards myself. Five gold is a huge bounty, more than you pay us, Captain.” A few other sailors murmured to the outspoken man, who then dug out a scrap of parchment with a decent rendition of Paralee in the center. “See? My words are spoken true.” He looked at Paralee, “I say we put her in the brig until we make sail back to Venice.”

  Captain Boulet took off his hat and scratched his salt and pepper-colored hair for a couple of seconds, and shrugged. “Paralee..” He began rubbing his chin and scratching the stubble that had grown out over the st few days. “...I want to give you another chance.” He pointed to the sails, “Since you came aboard, we’ve had fair winds and our trades have tripled. The rigging and sails are in the best shape I have ever seen.” He paused and walked over to Paralee and put his arm around her. “I like to see you as my own daughter.” He stared at the other sailors, “My own daughter was taken by the nobles of southern France against my will, and I haven’t seen her since.” Captain Boulet reached in his pocket for a scrap of cloth and wiped the sweat from his brow to cover the tears that had formed. “As, lovely Paralee, they do have a point. Two things.” He held up two fingers, “First, no more killing the guards. All it’s doing is making more show up. The other captains and ships might not enjoy a surprise inspection.” He winked and smiled, “I know I wouldn’t.” He heard his first mate chuckling and wiggled his finger at him, “When we make it to Kissamos, I would like you to change your appearance. Agreed?”

  Taking the time to enjoy the salty sea breeze caressing her face and pleasing her sense of smell, Paralee took a deep breath and looked up at her Captain. “I honestly don’t want to kill them, but they are mostly bent on killing me and taking my body back.” She shook her head, “That’s not going to happen.” Paralee saw the concerned look on the other sailors' faces. “However, I will compromise. I will change my appearance and get a tan while we are in Crete, that should do enough to lessen the attention.” Once she felt Captain Boulet grip her tightly, she innocently id her head on the tall man’s shoulder. “Thank you, Captain.” She looked at the others, “I will make an effort, okay?” She fshed her charming smile and blinked her soulful and precious hazel eyes. “I’ll even give you fives and sixes in bones tonight.” When the others started ughing and tossed the parchment into the water, Paralee knew she’d won the little debate.

  “Daft girl, we will drain you of your silver and clothes with those odds.” A Spanish dy's voice rang out from the helm, and Paralee waved at her close friend Taz. “What’s in your head, Paralee? Maybe bet that fine armor you brought onboard. Who’d ya fuck for that?” Taz teased and heard the others start ughing.

  Spotting that a sail had lost a bit of wind, Paralee scrambled up and adjusted the ropes while bancing on the mast. “Taz, you are just jealous that it wasn’t you.” Paralee smiled to herself and poked more fun at the helmsman, “Tell you what, if you beat me tonight then I will let you finally peel my clothes off, since you want to know so badly.”

  Soon after the sun dipped its yellow rays beyond the horizon, turning the world into an awe-inspiring array of red and orange, Paralee traded positions in the crow’s nest with another sailor, then headed to don her new armor.

  -What the hell was I thinking? Fives and sixes on dice?-

  Unbuckling the chest piece first, Paralee studied the armor and figured out how exactly to strap it to her body. “Not only am I going to lose my ass to dice tonight, but I have never worn armor before. Lovely.” She pced the torso section on her frame and started to strap the tiny belts when the armor got very uncomfortable. “How does anyone wear this?”

  “Aye, Paralee…ya be need’n ta wear some padd’n un’er it.” Taz ughed and walked into the section of the ship for the two of them. “See? Taz got ta see ya skinny self without a top on.” She walked up and flicked Paralee’s nipple. “Oh look.. excited ya are.”

  “Ow.” Paralee sigh-flirted the fake pain. “You’ve seen me topless before, Taz.” Paralee walked up and pressed herself against the bigger woman. “I do need assistance getting into the armor…and…” She slowly kissed Taz’s round nose, leaving a tiny print behind. “...maybe getting out of it ter.” She raised one of her long curved eyebrows, “What do you think?” Paralee cooed.

  A myriad of feelings went through Taz’s mind at once, starting with the light breeze through her curly brown hair, to Paralee’s light rose scent and finally to how close Paralee was currently holding her. Holding perfectly still to not break the moment, Taz slowly blinked her prominent yet penetrating brown eyes. “I think..” Taz purred lightly, “..that you are teasing me once more, you lovely beast.”

  Thanks to Taz’s lovely rum-scented breath, Paralee spotted the woman’s bottle in her hand. Moving her fingers the length of Taz’s arm, Paralee got the bottle without any resistance. “Mmm, There we go. Shared rum is the best rum.” She gently poured a few sips down her throat and left a thin yer on her red lips. “Am I teasing you?” Paralee pushed her lips out slightly, allowing the yer of rum to tantalize Taz. “Help me get this on, if you please?”

  Helpless against the intense sensuality Paralee exuded, Taz stole the rum-fvored kiss from the bck-haired beauty and nodded, “Aye. I’ll be help’n ya.” Taz licked the rum from her lips and grabbed her bottle back, tipping it back for a few gulps. “Heaven help me with your succubus charm, Miss Vallee.”

  Giggling as she stepped back and tossed a tan shirt over her chest, Paralee shook her head. “I am not a succubus. I also didn’t charm you in the slightest.” She pointed at the bottle. “Maybe it is the dark stuff in there that has your mind gooey.” Paralee held up her arms as Taz buckled the chest piece.

  “Tis simple, see how they tuck away to avoid being open? Keeps you more safe since the straps cannot be cut to make it fall off.” Taz strapped each piece of the bck supple leather to Paralee’s goddess-like frame. “There we go, all done. Do you want to put the helm on now, or when you need it?”