The windows of the House of the Hind were gently curved.  Her ladies could sit
on the sills while scattering flowers during triumphs, or dangling perfumed
sashes to tempt those whose pockets were bulging.  The waters beneath the
windows were always calm, however, as they were everywhere in the canal
city of Santa Leona.  The sound of splashes was loudest inside.

The gold inlaid into the marble tub complimented its occupant nicely.
Santiago Cheborra's ears were filled with golden rings, although most were
of rather dubious quality and wounds in his right earlobe suggested that one
or two were recently missing.  He was clearly from the southern coast of
Iberus; his wisp-thin but lengthy mustache and beard were distinctive to
the region, and a network of small cuts marred (or rather, accentuated) his
youthful good looks.  As with the wound in his ear, one or two of the cuts on
his face looked to be recent.  His tanned, wiry body confirmed any suspicions
about both his place of his origin and his calling.  Not that the House of the
Hind was any stranger to seamen.

A young woman of unbridled (at the moment, at least; some men in Santa Leona
had curious tastes) sensuality bent over to sponge off Santiago's stomach.
Her ample breasts loomed dangerously close to the water's surface like
twin nautical portents.  Long brown hair wreathed her pale, Millen features.

"I can't believe those men were prying out your earrings over some silly
debt," she said.

"Well, technically I owe those men a ship and a full haul of Eastern
spices," said Santiago.  "I'm just lucky I got '2 weeks late, 2 earrings'
guy, instead of '2 weeks late, 2 inches' guy."  He crossed his legs
underwater.

"That's still no excuse for them to hurt my poor Santi," said a girl
across the tub from the first, who was blonde and freckled, but equally
'talented'.

"Our poor Santi," complained the brunette.

"Now now, Portia, don't fight.  There's enough Captain Santi to go
around," said Santiago.

"I'm Star, she's Portia," said the brunette.  "Besides, if you're the
Captain, why are you saluting?"

Santiago winked.

"It's okay, you can call me Star," said the blonde, beaming.  "We're just
so lucky we found you when we did."

"_You're_ lucky?" said Santiago.

"I swear there aren't any real men left in Santa Leona.  Just boys, or men
who prefer boys," said Portia, who didn't mind being called Star.

"That's a tragedy," said Santiago.

Star put her arms around Santiago's neck, giving him a two-point
precision back massage in the process.  "Then we chance into you, fresh
from defending Rundel from the depredations of Mauri.  It's so romantic!"

"Depre-what?" said Santiago.

"Star reads too much, she thinks she's smarter than everyone else," said
Portia.

"I do not!  I just meant that you must have put yourself into impossible
situations on behalf of everyone living in Rundel.  Living among the Mauri
so you could better understand the enemy, even forced into barbaric
scarification games," said Star, tracing the cuts on Santiago.

Santiago furrowed his brow.  "I suppose I was forced, if by forced you mean
'drunk'."

Undissuaded, Portia continued.  "And dirty Mauri women!  You had to live
among them."

"Well, ah, sacrifices had to be made?" said Santiago.

"How awful.  You were even... with them?" said Portia.

"Yes," said Santiago solemnly.  "Sometimes even two at a time."

The girls wailed.  "You poor dear!"

"We'll make it up to you," said Portia.  "If we ask the owner, you can
probably stay and work here,"

Star chimed in.  "She's always saying she's willing to hire extra
security."

"Did you say 'She'?" said Santiago.

"Portia!  Star!  What's keeping you?" said a voice at the door.  A voice
familiar to Santiago, and terrifying.

An Iberine walked into the room, her wardrobe a curious combination of
courtesan's attire and Iberine and Mauri accessories.

"You've clients waiting and --," she looked at Santiago.  "You."
Santiago shrank.

"Elizabeta.  So this is where you ended up.  I was wondering where these
girls got their... curious ideas about the coast," said Santiago.

Elizabeta scooped up Santiago's navaja from the floor and unfolded the
blade.  "Girls.  Out."

Portia and Star spared one, potentially last, glance for Santi, then
obeyed.

"I'd heard you'd gone legit.  What are the chances I'd bump into you
after all this time?" said Santiago.

"Shut up," said Elizabeta.

"In my defense, I had no idea she was your mother.  You should be happy,
she was remarkably beautiful for her age.  That's good news for you,
right?" said Santiago.

Elizabeta levelled the tip of the Navaja an inch beneath Santiago's navel.

"Ah... she came on to me?" said Santiago.

Elizabeth hoisted one end of the tub.

"You always were stronger than you looked," said Santiago, as he tumbled
naked into the canal.  "I liked that about -- *glub*"

"You worthless bastard!  I know a good dozen people looking for your sorry
ass, and you can be damned sure I'm sending a note to each and every one!  So
keep running, you hear?  It's all you're fucking good for!" said Elizabeta

Santiago tread water until Elizabeta threw his navaja and bandanna after
him.  The rest of his belongings were not forthcoming.

"Oh, come on!" said Santiago.

Elizabeta shuttered the windows.

A passerby helped hoist Santiago out at the nearest sidewalk.  Santiago
held the bandanna to his nethers.

"Captain Santiago Choberra?" the passerby said.

Santiago wiped his eyes with his free hand.  The man was dressed in red
and gold finery, some sort of messenger or clerk for the Church.  Or dressed
as one.

Santiago fingered his bloodied right ear.  "Never heard of him."

The messenger displayed a signet and a stack of coins.  Gold coins.  One
glance satisfied Santiago with the authenticity of each.

"... okay, fine.  I'm Santiago.  But one, I'm not a captain at the moment
since I don't have a ship.  And two, I'm not going to stab the Pope or
whatever else it is you want me to do for that fairly ridiculous sum.  So
count yourself lucky that I'm shy about mugging you naked with a rusted
blade."

The messenger smiled.  "The coins are just for agreeing to talk with the
Church."

"About what," said Santiago.

"About giving you a ship," said the messenger.

Santiago bear-hugged the messenger.

The bandanna stayed put.

--