The wind spilled out of the Lady's sails as she slowly drew broadside of the pirate vessel. Judith was willing to let the captain have his way for this one; she just hoped his gunner was worth whatever they were paying him. She found herself digging her nails into her palms.

The captain called 'fire' at the precise moment a ball crunched into the Lady's deck. There was a louder, throatier, answering boom. Judith shot off to one side, then let out a sigh of relief at the cheering and raised her eyes to check out the damage: the pirates' foremast had shattered roughly halfway down, sails dragging the water. Already they were scrambling to cut it loose.

"You said they weren't gonner sink her!" Spider shouted.

Judith groaned and wheeled on the girl. "They're not! Why the hell are you still on the deck? I thought I told you to stay down!"

Lang had tucked her skirt up, not having pants, and was almost jumping on the balls of her toes. "She's just seeing Andre off, can we go yet?" She asked, checking and rechecking her guns. "They're distracted."

"They'd better not," Andre replied, in a bit of a growl. "Ah. Judith...I realize this isn't the best time, but...about that. It is her father."

Judith folded her arms. "One of you is stayin', Romain, and I am not even gonner argue with you about this point. I'd rather it be her, but whatever you two want to work out on your own is fine with me." She gave Lang a look. "Hang on, Lang. I think Cupp is gonner try to thin out the crew while they're workin' on cutting the mast free."

"Hopefully they aim higher than Tuatha height." Lang replied. "And you're better in a fight, Andre." She said. "No offense, Spider." She added to the other girl. "But your head won't be in the right place."

Andre sighed and looked at Spider, then back to Judith. "Fine, but if anything happens..." He shook his head. "Spider can hold her own in a fight."

"What, just because it's me da' I'm gonner go all teary about it and forget where I am?" Spider snapped at Lang. "I just want to be there." She glared up at Andre. "If you go don't you dare get yourself killed down there."