Summary - 4/22
After an uncomfortable night, sleeping in the rowboat, Cathena and Eric awaken to see a nasty looking storm brewing on the horizon and moving fast towards them. After a bit of awkwardness, Eric gets Cathena's gown and corset loose enough to allow her to take one of the oars since he can only row with his good arm.

Eric and Cathena row as fast and as hard as they can but the storm catches them before they reach shore and they are tossed around unmercifully by the storm's rage until the row boat begins to break up on some rocks. Then, the two of them are forced to swim in the near frozen waters the rest of the way to shore. It is hard going but they make it.

For a short while, the pitiful huddled under a tree. Eric gave Cathena his coat that he managed to hang onto because, at this point, all the Castillian woman had on was stockings, bloomers and a corset. Then, Eric spots a light in the distance and the two travel the distance to a long stone building occupied by an old Castillian who takes pity on the pair after Cathena tearfully relates their tale in a true but deceptive manner.

However, the old man proves that he still has the passion when he almost shoots Eric, believing that he had kidnapped and harmed the nearly naked Cathena. Quickly, Eric and Cathena allay the old man's suspicions and the two learn that they have landed in occupied Castille. The nearest port is about 10 miles away and is fully under the control of the Montaignes.

Strangely, the old man will not tell them who he is... stating that he did not wish to burden them with his identity. Curious but respectful, Cathena acquiesces to the request. Then, the old man refuses to speak any more business until they have been fed fully and had a good night sleep. The pair can only put up a token protest before they are full, warm, content and asleep.

The wonderful evening is shattered in the early morning as they are woken up by the old man. There are soldiers on horse back coming. He rushes the pair into a bolt tiny hole and deals with the soldiers who are obviously looking for them. At first, all is well until Eric's stolen Montaigne sword is found. Then, the old man makes up a story of Eric and Cathena coming, stealing things and leaving. All of the soldiers, save the sergeant, are dispersed to comb the beach.

It seems like it is going to work and the hidden pair breathe a soft sigh of relief in their extremely cramped quarters. Suddenly, a shot rings out! Eric and Cathena quickly emerge from their hiding place to find the sergeant shot dead and the old man dying from a sword wound who urges them to flee and is fiercely pleased to be taking a Montaigne into death with him.

Cathena, though extremely sad at the loss of the old man, knows that it is only a matter of minutes before the soldiers return, called by the sound of the shot. She quickly scavenges boots, pants and a tunic to put on over her ragged undergarments, then she and Eric steal the dead sergeant's horse, taking off away from the beach.

Once they make it to the road, Cathena recommends that they had for the border between occupied and free Castille, knowing that it will be hard to get across but that way is also in the direction of Bucca, her own personal destination goal.

Summary - 4/23
The fugitive pair head in the direction of Bucca and the border between occupied and free Castille. During the ride, Eric reluctantly suggests, since Duke Anjou is having many people look for an Avalon man traveling with a Castillian woman, that the two of them spilt up. Logically, Cathena could blend in with the native populous.

However, Cathena, silently afraid of being on her own, argues that the two of them are in danger whether they are together or apart. That she would rather have a known ally with her than not. Besides, she could dress herself up like a Castillian male teenager and that would deal with most of the surface hints of who they are. Eric agrees, not wanting to leave Cathena.

Just outside of town, they pause to disguise Cathena as a boy. It is mostly successful, save her voice, which she cannot hide, no matter what she tries. So, Eric decides that she just shouldn't speak. Cathena agrees and off they go again.

However, Eric seems to have other plans than just simply hiding out. He almost runs down a patrol, shouting about finding the fugitive pair, that they had fought before disappearing into the forest and that he needed the soldiers' help to hunt them down. While the soldiers are distracted, he orders Cathena off the horse and tells her to meet him at the local tavern at noon. If he does not appear, to leave at one and try again at five in the afternoon, leaving at six if he does not appear.

Cathena obeys, trying to remind him that he is riding the Sergeant's horse as he rides to meet up with the soldiers, then hides in the alley for a few minutes while she gets over the shock of suddenly being alone. Quickly, she gets herself together, reminding herself that not only is she a Rivera, she is a Buccaneer and she would be dammed if she dishonored either with cowardice.

Deciding that she needs to find out if the Graceful Frog really is in port or not, she slouches her way down towards the docks, stealing a hat along the way to hide her long braid in and pull low over her face. Much to her dismay, the damnable ship is in port with both Pierre and Duke Anjou on board. She watches as they order the soldiers around, passing out drawn pictures of her and Eric. It becomes obvious that they are sending out hunting packs.

She winds her way back to the only tavern she found and takes up a post next to the window, watching for both the patrols and for Eric, hoping that he is alright. Towards the end of the hour, Eric arrives and makes contact with Cathena, having her leave before he does to meet behind the tavern.

Once behind the tavern, the two of them discuss their options. They decide to steal a small sail boat and make a run for Bucca by sea - braving Bucca's natural defenses, rather than travel over land any more than necessary. During the conversation, Cathena discovers that Eric doesn't particularly want the book of Montaigne genealogy. His mission was to find something for Queen Elaine to use as leverage over the Montaignes. She promises that if her family nor Bucca have a use for the book, he can have it for Avalon. However, she does feel the need to finish the Sassy Lass' last mission. If that is the case, Eric can make a copy of the book for Queen Elaine.

Once all decisions are made, Eric suggests the two of them find a room to bunk down in, get some food and some rest before the nights impending adventure. Cathena concurs, desperately wanting to get out of her corset.

Summary - 4/25
After a surprisingly relaxing afternoon where Cathena and Eric finally get a good meal and more than a couple hours of sleep, they repack Cathena back into the boy's disguise and stealthily make their way down to the docks in the evening gloom. After picking out a boat to steal, they run into the problem of a locked door on the one cabin on the small sailing boat.

As previously discussed, they knew they might have to take the boat from someone, deciding to knock them out, rather than take the poor sap with them due to the Duke's unhealthy interest. So, after some quick planning, Cathena removes her tunic to reveal the corset and lets down her hair, pretending to be a common Jenny. After she lures the cabin's occupant out, Eric knocks him over the head and puts him on the dock.

Cathena felt sorry for the poor old sailor who failed to keep his watch and protect his boat but not sorry enough to return their means of escape. Eric and Cathena quickly sail out to sea, carefully watching the docks for signs of alarm or discovery. However, all was quiet. They decide to head towards the deeper sea first, before cutting towards Bucca, knowing that if the Graceful Frog were to discover their (third) escape, they would assume that the two of them would hug the coast line due to the small size of the ship.

Also, the pair decide to sail at night, resting during the day and navigating by the stars instead of the sun. After a night of Eric entertaining Cathena with childhood stories and legends of Avalon, they discover they had talked the night away. Cathena suggests two watches of six hours each and has Eric sleep first. Eric begs a favor of Cathena while he's sleeping: wash his clothing. Having nothing better to do during the morning, she easily agrees.

Around noontime, when Eric awakens, he calls out, requesting his clothing. Cathena, in an impish mood, tells him that his clothing was snagged by the wind as it was drying and blown out to sea before she could catch it. Eric, in a mild panic, ransacks the cabin, seeking clothing and finding none. When he comes out on deck, he is wearing nothing but the bed sheet like a kilt which sends Cathena into prolonged giggle fit.

Eric, at first embarrassed, succumbs to the laughter after he sees that his clothing is relatively clean and definitely present. After he dresses, Eric takes the next watch, allowing Cathena to sleep until dusk. The two sup on meager rations, then fully refreshed, once the sun has set, they hoist the single sail and continue on their quest to reach Bucca.

Summary - 4/26
The couple are only half a day away from Bucca's waters with nary another ship in sight. They switch to traveling by day and resting at night because Cathena does not want any of the Buccaneer patrols thinking that they are attempting to sneak in. Those patrols tend to shoot first and ask questions later. Her intention is to return to Bucca's main port, see her family and report all that has gone on with her since she left the Just Rewards.

We leave our fugitive pair in what appears to be clear water, sailing directly to Bucca, no storm or enemy vessel in sight.