Eastport. Then the captain will have us both keelhauled-until barnacles have stripped us of flesh." Annora almost started as she felt the door bow inward, creaking against the weight of a man. Far closer than she ever wished to be, she could hear his breathing now, but she did not retreat from her place at the door. "No one has to know," he said, near a whisper. The other man made an angry noise. "I've heard enough. There are others for you to toy with. Leave this one be, or we'll both pay the price." As the parting man's footsteps faded, Annora was left alone with the wheezy breather, her door still bearing his weight. "But those ones have no life left in their eyes." The man spoke with a sullen honesty that served to worsen Annora's nausea and worry. The sharp sound of splintering wood shot through the door, causing the hairs upon her arms to stand. He was only picking stray slivers from the surface of the door, she realized, but each tiny piece removed meant he was that much closer to undressing her. She remained deathly still, knowing that any movement she made now he would feel through the slim barrier. "What is your name, girl?" The words came as if he knew she was close. Her first instinct was to ignore him, to pretend she was asleep or unable to hear him. He would soon bore of this game and let her be. "I know you can-" "My name is Annora," she interrupted, startling even herself with the strength of her defiance. "What is your name?" He chuckled before he answered. "My name is Pyke. You will know it well by the time we cross the sea." "I will remember it," she said, summoning what remained of her courage. "And when we reach Adeltia, I will have Cassen punish you if you touch another person aboard this ship." She did not know this Cassen, but that the men appeared to fear him seemed her only leverage. Pyke was silent for a good while before letting loose a guffaw that threatened to break down her door. "You little tart," he said. "I will have to save you for last." She felt his weight shift away from the door, then return. "But I will have you."
