After witnessing the way Ava had fallen into a little blissful stupor, Ruby snatched the mug of ale-rum from Nerice and downed the contents and smmed the cup back on the table, “I told you I was going to take your drink.” Ruby patted Nerice’s hand. “Fine.” She grabbed the container, stuck two flowers in it and held it up for the bar maiden to see. “I like that you are stunned as well, my love.”

  “What?” Nerice’s pointed ears twitched as she came back into the moment. “It’s like kissing two women at once, Tanya.” She took a deep breath and jumped into Ruby’s p and id her head on her dymate’s shoulder. “That was a fine kiss, I think you broke Ava.”

  With a simple kiss on the top of Nerice’s blue cornrowed head, Ruby also reached out and grabbed Avanora’s hand. “I didn’t break my lovely dragon-dy. She’s just enjoying the feeling of a kiss that is worth an absolute fortune.” Ruby wiggled in her seat pyfully after she gave one of her hallmark lines and gnced towards the door. Breezing through the open double doors, her newest crew member, Johnny ‘Digger’ Kimber confidently walked into the tavern, shaking a few hands as he did so. “Hard to think that young man has been with us for almost a year now.” Snorting happily to herself as she recalled their first meeting, Ruby rolled her shoulders back and sat up. “Mister Kimber. You certainly look respectful this evening.”

  “Even’n Captain.” Digger took off his brand-new tan tricorn that had been adorned with sage green trim. Typical to the young man, Digger ran his hands through his once hidden scruffy brown hair and then affixed his cap where it was. Tugging on his matching long tailor-fit jacket, Digger bowed to the three dies and pointed to an empty chair. “May I sit, Captain? Or is that chair saved for Miss Pearly?”

  With a wave of her hand, Ruby gave the okay for Digger to help himself to the seat. “Nope, all yours.” She then looked at Ava who scooted closer to her. “Well, I see green on the hat and there is a lovely silk green scarf-tie. You have been escorting our lovely Delzie around Seadale Watch haven’t you?” Ruby’s voice rang out softly as she began moving slowly to the music that had started pying. “We are having rum-ale, if you are interested. Though I am sure they have a mild beer since you need to keep your wits about you.”

  Hanging his new hat on the back of his chair, Digger bowed his head and smiled. “I think that would be wonderful, Captain. I have some time since Soubrette Zabelle is going to be at their finishing school most of the evening.” He rubbed his full beard once before raising his hand. “Miss?” A light and modest sigh-ugh came from Digger as the bar maiden came over, a gzed look in her brown eyes. “Mild or small beer, if you please?”

  With a wink and a little blown kiss the woman nodded and spun once, “Right away. Let me know if there is anything else you need.”

  Watching the interaction between Digger and the waitress, Ruby rummaged through the pile of flowers that had been pinned in her hair. “Aye, there it tis.” Ruby flipped the small purple tulip in her hands once before tossing it to Digger, “That one is hers, it is my dear. I believe her name oddly enough is Iris.”

  “I should have known.” Digger ughed and opened his gentleman’s coat, and retrieved a small scroll. “Though this is why I am here, Captain. You know I would not ever interrupt your liveliness while in port.” He tapped on the scroll that was made of both parchment and fabric. “I thought this was important enough to seek you out, Captain.” Interrupted by Iris fluttering back and serving his beer, Digger nodded once to the lovely maiden and attempted to resume his conversation when Iris plopped in his p. “Ma’am?”

  With a heavenly humm, Iris plucked the tulip from Digger’s hand and affixed it to his colr. “Thank you for the honor, sir. Might I know my suitor’s name?”

  “Uh…” Digger paused and gnced at the three women who were grinning wide from the other side of the table. “Oh, not going to help?” He blinked and kept his eyes shut right after Ruby shook her head. “Fine.” He gnced up at the waiting Iris. “Johnny Kimber. You are?”

  “Iris Morgan. It is nice to know you, Johnny.” She pointed to the docks. “One of those yours?”

  “As, no. I am a rigger aboard ‘The Mysti Mermaid.’ and escort for Soubrette Zabelle, though I would be happy to spend time with you, Miss Morgan. Perhaps breakfast since you are working te?”

  Meanwhile as the couple were getting acquainted, Ruby leaned over and slipped the scroll into her hands and uncurled it. Spreading the small section of the map on the table and using the mugs of ale as weights for the corners, Ruby studied the contour lines and the shorthand version of names for locations. “Les’see.” Ruby confidently tracked her fingers over the strange lettering. “Aye, that be an indicator of our ocean just outside, y to that.” Ruby found the city on the map where they were and pointed it out to both Ava and her blind companion. “See here now, that be our start’n point.” Noting that Digger was still making arrangements for his date, Ruby cleared her throat. “Bey yer chatter and pinch an ear this way, Digger.” Ruby tapped the map, “Brought me a map ya did. Good on you for such honestly. Let no man say Johnny isn’t a fit an’ fair man, or i’ll have their blood, Aye?” Ruby gnced around her and noticed that quite a few others sitting had gotten quiet and nodded with her decration. “Though, this be a fools' errand, Digger.”

  Confused and holding Iris around her waist politely, Digger looked at his map and then back at Ruby. “Captain? Is the map fake? If so, then I have a little score to settle with a certain dockmaster. He told me that the map would pay for itself and we agreed it would pay his debt to me.”

  Shaking her head, Ruby simply grinned wide. “Nay, this map is genuine if a little outdated.” Ruby tapped her chest. “Ol’Ruby cimed this years ago, me friend.” She held up three fingers. “Three things with three different stories involved there be. Ya see, an old sailor named Larry Lemonhead Dunken showed this to me a few years ago. Sold the map I did, funny how this little thing ends back beside me again.” She saw Nerice smiling. “Me see’s ya vile mind recalls this.”

  Nodding briefly, Nerice cupped Ruby’s face. “Oh, I remember this. We were still trying to find a crew to work with. A little before we sto…acquired ‘The Dancing Dagger’ from Pearly.” A quick kiss and Nerice grabbed her mug from the corner of the map and drained its contents. “Digger, there’s no stopping her now. Ruby’s gonna tell you everything about that map. So I hope you have all night, the long wind is about to come.”

  Leaping to her feet and whistling as loud as she could, Iris got the attention of the entire tavern. “Everyone quiet! We are going to get a Captain Ruby narration! Maybe three, what a night!” Iris spun once and swirled her skirt for the crowd that cheered. She stopped and bowed to Ruby before sitting in Digger’s p again. “The tavern is yours, Captain.”

  “You’d better tell this story well, T…er…Captain. God I hate that name.” Nerice kissed Ruby’s cheek and after a few clicks of her tongue found the band. “Bard’s something with a little tension in it, if you please.”

  Waiting until the band started pying a tune that sounded like the quiet before an ocean storm, Ruby nodded and took a deep breath. “This map is the location of little lizard isnd.” She held up her index finger. “Aye, about this big. A little better than a chameleon…” She paused and moved Nerice from her p and stepped onto the table and swirled once. “Aye, It all started with Lemonhead…”