She kept the cape on her shoulders when Montoya escorted her out of the main cabin door and to the cabin immediately to the left. It was more like a closet. There was a bunk against the hull and a trunk. The remaining open space on the floor was taken up by a three foot long tin bath whose sides where only two feet tall. A foot of seawater had been poured in it. Another bucket of seawater stood next to it.

She looked up from the bathtub finding Montoya smiling at her. She took a breath in preparation to talk but he was quicker, motioning for silence as he stepped toward her. A step back put her shoulders against the closed door.

"Sshh," he whispered. "They can hear. Be careful what you say. We will talk later."

She nodded her understanding.

"I think you should yell at me a bit. They are expecting it," he said with a smile. He pointed to the tub. "You go first, I'll wash your back. . ."

Lieutenant Traduct and the two sailors outside the cabin door clearly heard the slap and the furious spate of words that came suddenly from behind the cabin door. All three smiled.

Tessa banished Montoya to the far end of the bunk in the seven-foot long room. She used the cloak as a screen over her while she sat in the tub and rinsed her hair and washed. She put her pantalets and chemise in the bucket of seawater. When she stood, dripping, with the cape around her, Montoya tossed her a towel. It must have been used by the owner of the cabin, she thought as she wiped herself quickly under the cape. She stepped out of the tub and took a step to the bunk where Montoya had laid out two sets of trousers and shirts he found in the trunk. Montoya edged past her without a word and began to take off his shirt. She caught a glimpse of red marks.

Tessa turned her back to him and grabbed one of the pairs of trousers, putting them on. She could hear Montoya noisily washing. She was about to put one of the shirts on when she noticed something red in the open trunk. Reaching in, she pulled out a red silk shirt. Loot from Monterey, was her first thought. She put the silk shirt on, letting the cape fall from her shoulders while she buttoned it up. It was a bit tight but felt great against her skin.

Montoya's fingertips on her shoulders turned her back toward the tub, so he could dress. She knelt down and tried to rinse her underwear in the bucket. The water turned cream colored. She wrung them out and hung them on a hook.

She stood when she heard a whisper. "Maria Teresa." Montoya was dressed but he had not buttoned his shirt. He was running his hands through his hair.

That made her lift one hand to her damp hair. When she did that, Montoya took a step to the trunk and pawed through its contents. He straightened and handed her a brush.

Tessa took the brush and put it in her hair. "Ow," she said, as the brush pulled her head sideways. Montoya smiled, then looked at her red shirt.

She watched him turn and pick the other shirt off the bunk. He threw it at her. She caught it with both hands, the hair brush stuck in her hair. "I think you should wear this too, Maria Teresa," he said quietly. "You do not need to tempt them any more than you do already."

She put on the plain white shirt over the red one, and began to button it up. Montoya opened the door. "Ah Lieutenant, can you have these men take the tub out?"

Tessa pulled the brush out of her hair as two pirates came in. One dumped the bucket into the tub, then both picked the tub up and they walked out. Montoya came back in as the two went out. He came up to her and, guiding her by the shoulders, pushed her so she sat on the bunk. "I think you need to rest, Maria Teresa," he said quietly. "I will be back shortly." She watched him close the door.

She waited for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of the men and the ship. Then, she began to brush her hair, causing the dull thumping in her head to peak.

She lay down, and though she tried not to, fell asleep.

Act Two

Tessa woke up, momentarily disorientated. Then she remembered the pirate ship, and Montoya! She sat up, the dull ache in her head a reminder of the kidnapping. Someone had covered her with the cape. After she sat up, she noticed her boots just inside the door of the cabin. She got up and picked the boots up, sitting back on the bunk. A quick look told her the knife she had in one of them was gone. They were damp but had stood up well. She put them on the bunk and stood to look through the trunk for some stockings. All that she found were too big so she took the smallest looking ones. She could feel the dampness when she put her boots on but it was not bad at all.

She opened the cabin door, surprised that it was not locked. The door to the main cabin was open. She walked in, and found Captain Voler at the table.

He rose, and waved her to a chair. He sat down when she did. "Where is Colonel Montoya?" she asked.

"I am sorry to say Seņora, he has left the ship." He must have seen the alarm on her face because he continued quickly, "He is headed back to the coast. I agreed to let him get the ransom."

"The ransom! For whom?" Tessa asked, still not understanding why he had left her here.

"Why for you of course, Seņora," came Voler's reply.

Tessa was nonplused for a moment. Then the thoughts flooded through her head like lightning! He is not coming back for me! She knew he was not coming back! He had left her to the pirates! He would be able to take her hacienda! He would know too, when the Queen did not return, that it was her!

She looked around the cabin, trying to think. The amount of light coming through the stern windows showed her it was near dusk. She must have slept longer than she thought. Anger flooded through her, making her temple pound at the thought of being beaten by Montoya's machinations.

She saw Voler looking at her. Knowing her anger had shown, she gave vent to it. "Did he say why he has done this Captain?" she asked angrily.

"He did. He was afraid that Hipplewaite would not wait to see reason but would kill him immediately and do worse for you. He said this would be a better chance for the both of you and the amount of the ransom he promised to return with was quite tempting."

Of course it was, you fool, but he is not planning to make good on that payment, she thought. Just then Lieutenant Traduct knocked and entered the cabin.

"Captain, the Sea Harvest is in sight."

Captain Voler stood. "Please remain here until I return, Seņora Montoya."

The name made her cringe as Voler left the cabin, followed by Traduct.

Tessa knew she would have to do some fast thinking and even faster talking if she were going to get out of this spot. She began to search the cabin. She quickly found a sharp knife. She shoved this into her boot. A look out the stern windows showed the Barracuda was towing two small boats. That is just what I need, she thought. But how do I get to one of them? she asked herself.

Opening one of the seat lockers, she found several swords. One of them looked very rusty. Two others were just plain naval cutlasses. But the one she picked up was nicely engraved and well balanced. Meant for show but also service. The one she held was obviously a prize taken somewhere by Voler. The edge was not very sharp. An old sharpening stone lay in the bottom of the locker. Tessa picked it up. She closed the locker, sat on it, and began to run the stone over the sword's edge. An idea came into her head as she ran her finger along, testing the edge. She would out-Montoya Montoya. She picked up the stone again, eyeing the blade edge.

It was Captain Voler who came into the main cabin first, a half hour later. He was followed by Lieutenant Traduct and a large man, whom Tessa took to be Captain Hipplewaite.

She was sitting in the corner of the cabin and Hipplewaite did not even notice her at first. He went straight to the table and poured himself some wine. It was Captain Voler who drew her to his attention. Hipplewaite put his glass down and walked over to where she sat. He reached down with both hands and grabbed her shirt by the shoulders. He lifted her up off the seat and held he so her back touched the low ceiling.

She looked steadily into his eyes, trying to show no fear. He smelled and his eyes were red. He put her down contemptuously and turned back to the table.

Tessa took a deep breath and waited for her opening. It came soon when Hipplewaite complained that Voler had no right to let Montoya go for the ransom without consulting him.

Tessa stood and walked toward the table. Lieutenant Traduct and Captain Voler noted her approach. Hipplewaite downed another glass of wine. "Captain Voler," she said hesitantly.

"What do you need Seņora?" Voler replied, looking up at her.

"I have doubts that my husband will return with the ransom."

Hipplewaite banged his hand on the table, making Traduct jump. "Ha, just so. I told you Voler, even his wife knows he is not coming back."

Voler turned his chair to face her. "What makes you think that?"

"I have outgrown my uses to him. And I have seen him paying more attention to another woman in the pueblo."

"Who is this woman?" Hipplewaite growled.

Tessa began to describe all the charms of her friend Vera.

Voler interrupted her. "Why would he chose this woman over you, Seņora? You are obviously just as pretty as the woman you describe."

"But he can manipulate her more easily, and..." here she paused a moment, "...she is married to the richest Don in Santa Helena."

All three pirates broke out in laughter.

"It is true," Tessa said. "He does not need me to be his thief any more and I think he means to leave me with you."

Hipplewaite laughed again, but she saw that Voler caught her comment as she knew he would.

"What do you mean, Seņora, by his 'thief?'"

Tessa took a step closer to the table. "Why, I am the thief the Queen of Swords," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "My husband would let me know when the tax shipments were being sent and I would steal them," she said matter of factly.

Hipplewaite laughed again, but she saw doubt in Voler's countenance. Traduct had a disbelieving look on his face.

She continued quickly, "That is why he married me. Because I could fence. He helped me out, of course, but I did take all those taxes. I know where he has at least fifteen thousand reales hidden," she saw their eyes open when she mentioned the sum. "He told me his plan was to continue for another year, then take it to Mexico City."

She walked over to Voler and looked down at him. "Captain, how much ransom did my husband said he could get for you? It was five thousand reales wasn't it? I know it was because that is how much he has in the safe hidden in our bedroom wall."

She knew the amount did not matter, just so that is was enough to make them think for a moment. Judging by their looks, it was time to make them believers. She walked back over to the window bench and turned to face the table. "I know you don't believe me, but I can prove it by out-fencing you all, one at a time. You, Captain Hipplewaite, let you try your hand against mine. You are obviously the worst fencer here."

Tessa watched and waited. Voler had laughed at her comment, Traduct only smiled. Hipplewaite just laughed and took another drink.

Tessa turned and lifted the sword she had found in the locker. Turning back she stuck the point into the deck at her feet and leaned over it, looking at the men at the table.

She saw Voler had a thin smile on his lips, Hipplewaite's arm was halfway to his mouth, and Traduct had half-risen in his seat. She watched Voler wave Traduct back into his seat. He leaned over and said something to Hipplewaite that made him slam down his glass, spilling the little that was left in it.

She watched Hipplewaite stand and walk to the locker. She moved over by the door and watched him open the locker and take out one of the cutlasses.

She began to unbutton the plain white shirt, revealing the red silk one she had on underneath it. She had already unbuttoned the top two buttons of the silk shirt to serve as a distraction. She saw she had their complete attention and thought, This will be so easy. She let the white shirt hang open and began to do an exaggerated stretch with her legs. Hippelwaite swung the cutlass back and forth a few times, watching her.

She finished her stretch and began to roll up the sleeves of the white shirt. Tessa looked over at Voler. "Captain, after I disarm Captain Hipplewaite I will then take care of Lieutenant Traduct. You will go last, so pay attention."

With that she took an en garde position toward Hipplewaite. She inched toward him and he charged. He was a bull, and Tessa the matador! She dodged him three times before their blades finally rang together. Tessa had no trouble with his slow, heavy blade. She let him swing wild a few times before slapping his wrist hard with the flat of her blade and knocking the cutlass to the floor.

She walked back to stand by the window locker, and waited. Hipplewaite turned to her and laughed. "Not bad, but I'm so drunk I tried attacking the middle one of the three of you I was seeing. Let's see how you do against this one," he said with a wave at Voler.

The noise of the fight had brought others to the cabin door. Voler told them what was going on and had one of them go get his and Traduct's swords. Then he had them remove the table from the cabin. She waited while Traduct removed his jacket.

Captain Voler strolled over to her. "Seņora, what do you think we will do, as a result of this exposition?" he asked her.

"As I said, Captain, I am the thief who knows where the gold is hidden. Leave me two thousand reales when you drop me off at the mission at San Diego and you can keep the rest," Tessa replied.

Voler turned away from her without answering, holding his hand out in the direction of Traduct.

Tessa stepped toward Traduct. He attacked quickly, but she turned him around easily. He settled down and came at her. He obviously had been taught much better than Hipplewaite. Tessa was glad the height of the cabin prevented any overhand attacks so she just waited until Traduct made a mistake before stoping him with her blade at his throat. He backed away gracefully.

Tessa took a few deep breaths, the pounding in her head a reminder of her kidnapping. There were several men crowded around the cabin door. The noise level rose as Captain Voler stepped to the center of the cabin, faced her and spoke loud enough for her to hear him. "A drunk and a novice so far, Seņora. You must do much better to prove to me that you are this Queen of Swords we have heard so much about."

Tessa watched him remain there, waiting. The sword he held was similar to the one in her hand. Traduct was watching very intently. Hipplewaite moved to one of the window seats with his glass of wine. The men in the doorway were calling to her.

She advanced slowly and engaged Voler. His blade was quick and strong. Tessa became very wary and backed away. Voler looked calm. He had not taken his jacket off. He was looking at her eyes. Tessa calmly met his stare and advanced. Their blades rang again in several quick exchanges.

The two circled around the middle of the cabin. Tessa realized he was very good. "You have an excellent blade, Captain."

"You have a quick blade, too, Seņora. Very impressive."

As they circled slowly, Tessa asked him, "Do you believe what I told you then, that I am the Queen of Swords?"

"You are very skilled, Seņora. I believe you are who you say."

"Then will you accept my offer of ransom instead of my husband's?"

"That is up to you, Seņora."

"What do you mean Captain?"

"You still have not beaten me."

Continue to Part Nine

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