Charles smiled down at her as what little fight left Catherine's body with a whimper. "Sultan," Fazul, said just above a whisper, breaking Charles thoughts, Charles snapped his attention to his first mate, as if Catherine did not exist. Fazul bowed his head deeply as he continued, "Sultan, I beg your forgiveness; but I must remind you that she is in no condition for physical mistreatment as yet."
Dawn watched as Charles face went from angry and diabolic to a half smile, then expanding to a devilishly charming grin. Charles clapped his hands loudly and began to laugh, "Faz-Fazul, my old friend," Charles barely managed and had to pause to allow himself a deep chested chuckle before continuing. "I thought you knew me better than that, my old friend. My forgiveness is not given, for it is not necessary. I do remember, and I have gave it great thought." Charles leered down at Catherine and burst out laughing again.
"Fazul," Charles began with a soft bemused voice, "should she," he pointed at Catherine, "not eat to regain her strength?" Fazul, looked deep into Charles' blue eyes before nodding, trying to mask his confusion. Charles clapped his hands once again before he continued, "Wonderful, then it is decided, the Tart Catherine shall take her breakfast to learn her place and regain her strength. Thank you, my friend," Charles said with a wave, "that will be all, Fazul. Thank you." Fazul did not take his face from Charles, but his eyes glanced fearfully to Catherine before he nodded and bowed deeply as he rose and backed towards the door, "Yes, Sultan," he said softly as he closed the door behind him.
Charles watched the door close then turned to Dawn, "Misty, have you ate your fill, mi pet?" he asked in a voice of complete devotion. Dawn had watched the scene with complete fascination. Fazul and Charles dragging Catherine to the stocks and watching them close around her, the hefty wood and iron from locking her tight, the weight pinning her wispy form to the floor. It took a few seconds for his words to reach her brain, the stocks having struck some hidden cord deep within her mind. Finally, she blinked and turned her head abruptly enough to cause her crimson curls to flutter as she did. Dawn opened her mouth, but her throat was so dry she could make not a sound. She licked her suddenly parched lips and then resigned herself to simply nod, casting her eyes down to the deck, somewhat ashamed of the curious fire that was smoldering within her core and causing her to not speak. "Very good," Charles smiled, the words dripping off his tongue, "then we shall address Catherine's insolence and hunger at once."
* * * * *
Fazul stood and regarded the door to Charles' cabin for a few moments before shaking his large bald, tattooed head. He turned and walked away with long strides. The giant of a man looked around the deck, eyeing every sailor, a few paused in their duties as his eyes fell upon them. They would quickly turn away and back to their chores as his dark eyes met their own. Fazul wondered about Robbins, whom was not above deck. A massive paw rubbed a large chin in thought then Fazul headed below decks.
It was sweltering as usual under the decks of the cramped vessel as Fazul peered through the gloom. He walked past the rows of guns and their neat stacks of balls and kegs of powder, ducking his head at every beam. Suddenly he heard a raspy wheezing in a darkened corner near a cannon. A frown appeared upon his brow and he softly strode towards it. He stopped a few feet from the noise and watched as a kneeling Robbins crouched in the darkness beside one of the long guns. His trousers were pulled down to his thighs and he was wheezing. One fist was tightly clutched around the neck of his ever-present bottle; the other was rapidly crushing, and then revealing tufts of thick gray hairs at his groin. The old man was muttering to himself as he pumped his grease manhood hard and fast with a gnarled hand. Just as Fazul was about to speak, the old man coughed and grinned widely, a burst of milky jettison launched from the head of Robbins' cock and landed upon the barrel of the gun.
Robbins still had his cock in his hand and was milking a dribble from it as he lifted the bottle to his lips when Fazul broke the silence of his enjoyment. "Master Robbins!" Fazul said loudly, but dispassionately as he could muster despite his temperament, "Master Robbins, I think you should clean that cannon before you finish your inventory of the powder, lest you tempt Sultan's temper this day." With that, he tossed a rag that smelt of oil to Robbins who caught it with a trembling, cum slick hand. Fazul nodded politely and turned away.
Robbins' face was flushed, with a reddening combination of release, rum, and anger. He spit on the deck and without bothering with his clothes turned to the barrel with the rag and cleaned his spill from its steel. "Damn, that giant half of a man!" Robbins spat under his breath. "If'n 'e 'ad proper riggin', he'ld 'ave both the 'itches. But how c'n 'e even know what be drivin' the 'ole bloody crew ta madness?!? And wit' da Cap'n keepin' 'em both l'cked up fer his own..." Robbins trailed off as he rubbed the cannon clean. He threw the rag into the darkness as he stood up and pulled his clothes back into place, wiping the back of his hand on his striped shirtfront before emptying his bottle.
* * * * *
Charles paced slowly around Catherine, like the wolf circling the lame calf before the kill. When he reached the point of his origins, his black boots barely inches from Catherine's stocked right fingers, Charles hissed in a menacingly soft voice, "Catherine," his voice a hair's breath above a whisper, "listen to me, and listen very well. I pray you hear every word and digest, me precious tart. Your life was given to you by your lady, Misty Dawn here; as surely as if she had given birth to you. You repay the woman who saved your life, how? By spitting on her acts of mercy, that were far better than you deserved." Charles paused and began his slow heavy footed pace once more before continuing his lecture, "You have been spared your life and the fruits of life were offered to help you in regaining your strength, you refused them and made a mockery of the gallant offer. There is far worse fare ate by many on this fine ship, that would be much more fitting to a punished convict upon her decks, as you are; and even less, you are but only booty captured in bloody battle on the high seas."