10 10. The Crews Unrest

In the days that followed Katelyn was introduced to the rest of the crew and instructed in the many functions of the ship. It wasn't that she would be running it or that it was she was even expected to remember most of it. It was more to help her adjust to her daily life aboard.

Every so often she would catch the glances of the crew eyeing her as she moved about and took care of her chores. They were like barely restrained beasts as they watched her, like they were salivating over their Master's meal but too disciplined to touch it.

It made her shudder.

Katelyn did her best to put it in the back of her mind. She merely focused her attention on keeping the clothes clean, cooking the meals and serving the men. Apart of meal times she rarely saw Egil and as he was present in the hall when she served the men kept their distance.

Occasionally she would catch them gossiping about her. They were often cussing because she had ruined their clothing or cursing her inability to cook. Every so often it would be a complaint that they could look but not touch.

"It isn't bloody fair I tell ya! Why's the Cap'n gotta get all the good stuff? It ain't like he has a use for her. He just let us have her"

"Bloody hell mate, hows a man supposed to work with a loli like that wandering the ship. I can smell every time the wind changes direction!!"

"It ain't right just lettin' the girl run about!! We should'a sold her or at least get compensation for our pay. It ain't like she can cook either!"

Every time she would hear these comments she would cringe. It came to a point where she would merely do her chores and cower in her cabin for the day. The only one she dared trust was Eddie. He was always kind and yet distant.

As the weeks went on Katelyn began to grow anxious listening the men talk. It was obvious their patience were running thing. As a result Katelyn was wanting to be absent her room less and less.

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Egil was back in the Captains chambers, browsing the maps and planning their next route when he heard a soft 'taptaptap' on his door. There was a faint skidding of wood on wood as he slid his chair back.

"Enter" came the impatient command as he continued to scower the maps that surrounded him.

A rather timid Eddie seemed to enter the room abruptly at the sound almost jumping out of his skin. "Capt.. Capt.. captain?!?." Eddie began to stammer uncontrollably dabbing the sweat from brows as he chose his next words carefully.

"It..It seems the men..they are more restless lately..theres..theres talk amongst them..about the miss"

By the time he managed to finish the thought his words became more and more jumbled and incoherent. The only only thing Egil managed to make out amidst his stuttering was that the men were unhappy and Kaitlyn could be in danger.

"So..They think they can touch what's mine do they?"

The tumultuous currents which had been warring within Egils gradually stilled as one by one they were engulfed in the abyss of his deep fathomless anger.

"Gather her things. Move her to my cabin. Let me see what they do knowing she is being fully claimed."