"Alright then. Proceed." Willem nodded with a friendly grin. With he twirled on his heel, brown cape flowing in unison, and glided down the hall toward his office. When he reached it, he entered and closed the door behind him, unequipped his cloak and flung it on a nearby hook. Willem's office had the look of a library that had been recently vandalized, for in locked cabinets were thrown books and clippings of scattered papers of various styles. It was his own personal method of organization that certainly lacked a woman's touch but suited his needs when the moment was right.
There was a desk that presided in a corner of it, bolted to the wall as to keep it from moving about when a storm hit the Eternal Rose, as well as a chair that followed suit. Everything that wasn't to be moved was bolted down, from the firing kiln to Willem's desk to the very benches that the crew sat on to eat their meals. All containers had their seals and everything but the shipments to be made were created to stay in their places. Sea-sickness was a common thing among novice seafarers, but Willem's men were professionals.
A knock resounded at the wooden door and with a quick, "Enter," a medium sized burly looking man did just that. "You needed something, Captain?" said Fin, first mate and second-in-command of the crew. He was a Hyoite native but had a taste for voyaging since the day he was born. His face was as brown as the rest of the men aboard the ship with a fine shadow growing on his chin and his hair graying at the sides. A set of wrinkles crunched the sides of his eyes and his narrow, squashed nose gave the look as if he'd been punched in the face too many times, which wasn't far from the truth. Fin was a hardy fellow and most loyal member of the crew.
"Ah, Fin," Willem replied, looking up from his work. "Yes, I need you to ready the spare room for our new guest, Miss Domremy, as she will be staying with us for a while."
"Uh, sir, if you don't mind such a question, but why suddenly did you take this stranger aboard?"
"I don't mind, Fin. You see, though, I might be a merchant scoundrel, I'm not so much a blackguard as to leave a helpless woman stranded. There are far worse things that would've happened to her if our ship hadn't anchored on that inlet when it did."
"I'm sorry, sir. But I just was simply wondering why you would do such a thing. For all the years that I have been a proud member of this crew... Well, it just seems out of character."
"You're concern is noted, Fin. But please respect your orders, you're one of the eldest of the crew and the one I respect the most. Do what you've been told." Willem's face was stern yet understanding. Fin's own eyes could not be filled anything more than reluctant obedience.
"Aye, Captain."
~
The crew on deck quickly switched shifts with those who'd enjoyed their meal while Celine spoke to Barto. His hearty laughter rang true through the mess hall. "Well, I'll be. So the Cap'm thought you'd be a good addition? Well, I can't says no to the Cap'm. Come with ol' Barto this a-way. I'll show ya were we do things 'round here."
With a few smoking moments a meal was brewed and served to the resting men, each ravenously consuming the food like dogs that had been starved for days. Whispers and murmurs began to arise from the crew as they ate. Things like, "I've haven't had a meal this good in..." and "Who cooked this?" "Looks like Barto has a new apprentice..." It seemed that in an instant Celine had become a pondering celebrity amongst the men of the Eternal Rose.
~
Another knock came a short while after Fin departed. Coming in without reserve, Barto appeared with a small wooden tray in his hands, excusing himself with, "Excuse me Cap'm, just comin' in to serve ya meal. I think ya might like this one exceptionally, well. It's certainly not something we had in at least ten months."
Gazing at the cook quizzically, Willem grasped the tray and placed it before him. He dove into the wondrous smells of well-cooked fish and bread, each complementing the other. His senses immediately perked up when he took a bite, eyes widening and suddenly caught in the most peculiar euphoric state. "Who made this?" he asked with sincerity.
As ever the modest Barto, he stated with a great grin on his face. "Why, that new girl you've got down in the hall. W'as 'er name? Oh yeah, Celine. She made it. Quite well, done if I do say so myself." He smiled proudly as if he taught her everything she knew.
"Tell her that I request to converse with her when the first shift are done taking their meal and are off to rest. I must speak with her."
"Yes, Cap'm." And with a nod and mocking salute, Barto set off toward the kitchen.
