The Queen of the Waves

5: the Golden Promise

"Mara." Bayen called out softly as he opened the door to his cabin. He didn't care that he had been temporarily evicted from his home, Mara needed privacy to heal. It didn't help that Mara was a woman on a ship full of sex starved men, Bayen wanted to protect her from that for as long as possible.

"Yes?" Her voice called back to him as he gave her a smile, she was sitting up in bed staring at the curtains covering the window.

"I have some broth for you, it's meal time for the men in half an hour or so, so I wondered if you wanted to go out on the deck."

"Would that be ok, safe for me?" Mara bit her lip anxiously as Bayen crossed the room and laid a tray onto her lap.

"Yes," Bayen cleared his throat and took a seat on a wooden chair he normally used for his desk, "Ciaran is no longer a problem."

"You-you killed him?" Mara stumbled over her words in shock, she didn't feel pity if he had, she just wasn't expecting Bayen to deal justice so fast.

"No," Bayen leaned back in his chair and rubbed his beard, "I wanted to, I thought it best to make him suffer a bit before I kill him."

"Why?" Mara began to tuck into her broth, she was starving after at least two days without food and even before then she was never stuffed full. Life was hard in Zauros and food was never plentiful.

"Because he made you suffer."

"It's fine." Mara shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly as she blew on another spoonful of the steaming stew.

"'No, Mara, it isn't." Bayen's voice was firm and offered no opportunity for Mara to disagree.

Mara didn't reply again, she just let her eyes drop down as she finished off the food. She already felt better now that her injuries had been tended to and now she had warm food in her stomach.

Even though the other man had threatened her, Mara wasn't scared. She had handled men like that before and she could handle them again.

"You finished Mara?" Bayen asked as he watched Mara swallow the last mouthful.

"Yes, thank you." Mara smiled at him softly and daintily dabbed at her mouth with the napkin he brought in for her. Bayen was surprised with her dignity and delicacy. From what little time he had spent in Zauros he could see that the women tended to be coarse and brash, Mara was none of those things.

"Would you like to go on deck Mara, you can stay here if you don't feel strong enough."

"I'd like to see it, I'm strong enough." Mara wanted to get her bearing of this ship, she hated being in a place she didn't know intimately. It made her feel vulnerable.

"Very well then." Bayen nodded his head and rose from the chair. He crossed the room and headed over to a trunk in the corner.

Hiding the tears in his eyes, Bayen blew the dust off the top and then lifted the heavy lid. It creaked in the room and Mara looked over at him out of the corner of her eye.

She could sense that this was a moment she shouldn't trespass on.

Bayen sighed heavily as he began to shift through the dresses and cloth that he had hidden in the chest for decades.

When he finally found something close to what he was looking for, he gathered it up in his hands and let the lid fall shut in a heavy bang.

"Here, I have some clothes you can wear."

He set them down gently as Mara watched him with intrigued, intense eyes.

"I will- uh... give you some privacy."

Bayen turned sharply on his heels and left the room. Bas was still standing guard outside the door, his arms were held tightly behind his back: he was a vision of formality.

"Bastian, I want you to show Mara around the ship a little while the men are eating."

"Her name is Mara?" Bas questioned in surprise, he hadn't expected the little nymph to have such an unusual name. There was something strange about it but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Yes, she's getting changed right now. I am going to eat with the men so Mara is left alone."

"Sir," Bastian called after his Captain as he walked down the corridor, "why are you doing all this for this girl?"

"You know why."

"Yes, I was afraid of that." Muttered Bas as his Captain disappeared out of earshot. He knew that his Captain was distracted by his past and letting it influence his future. Now Bas knew for certain that it was up to him to protect his Captain and the Golden Promise.

Mara undressed slowly, her ribs and shoulder were still bruised and aching so she watched her movements carefully.

When she lifted up the clothes, her mouth fell open in surprise. These clothes were not for men, as she had automatically assumed, they were women's clothes.

With unsure fingers, Mara dressed herself in the tight fitting pants and the shirt. Bayen had left a leather corset beside the other clothes, just slightly farther away. To Mara, this told her that Bayen was giving her the choice on whether she chose to wear it or not.

Mara hesitated for a moment before strapping it to her body, it made her feel less exposed. It felt like it had always belonged on her body.

Letting out a shaky breath, Mara walked over to the door and quietly rapped on the wood.

"You can open the door, Mara." Bas replied, smiling slightly at her nervousness. At least she didn't act like she owned the place, at least she had some semblance of respect left for the ship and his Captain.

Mara tensed when she heard Bas' voice calling back at her, she had been hoping for Bayen. He was a far more kindly man that his first mate and Mara was a little worried this man would throw her overboard if he had the chance.

She opened the door and stepped out into the hall beside the towering Bas.

"Hello." Mara murmured as she looked up at the huge man, he didn't look down at her but he nodded his head at her in acknowledgement.

"Stay close to me then." Bas said coldly as he headed off down the hall, he still hadn't looked at her and it was taking all his restraint not to.

Following on light, quick feet, Mara swiftly caught up with Bas' confident strides.

It was only when Bas heard the stowaway's footsteps close behind him did he turn and look down at her.

As soon as he had done so, he wished he hadn't. The woman, for you could not describe a creature so beautiful as Mara as a girl, was wearing an outfit that stole his breath.

Clenching his fists, Bas tightened his jaw and turned away as he pushed open another door and the wind of the ocean hit their faces.

"Welcome, Mara, to the Golden Promise."