“I will tell you what I know if you beat me in a drinking contest.”

The hairy captain laughed. “A merchants daughter? What would you even know? You are a ransom, nothing more.”

I cross my arms and roll my eyes. “That’s misogyny for you. I know all about the trade routes of my competitors, even down to the grade of copper they carry. I know that there is a ship nearby that has lots of wine…”

He scratches his beard.

“Drinking contest, huh?”

I nod. “Yup. I may as well get something out of this.”

The captain leaves me in the stinking dark and I worry for a moment that he has completely ignored me.

I try to take in my surroundings.

There isn’t much light in here, but I catch my dress on a loose nail and pull it free, tucking it away. It’s a fairly small space, but I can tell that most people who come here don’t come out alive.

I toe the dark stains and grimace at what I hope is rat scratches.

Sudden heavy footsteps and the captain comes back with two bottles in each hand.

“If I win, you tell me everything. If you win, you still tell me everything - and I might let you go after!”

He sits at a upturned barrel and hands me a green bottle through the bars.

It’s rum.

Luckily I drink a lot on the job, so I manage the bottle in a few gulps. I burns on the way down and I accept the next bottle eagerly.

The captain gets more bottles as the contest progresses. My head is spinning and something about his beard if making me laugh.

The captain looks a little upset at my laughter. We’re both on our eight bottle and he looks a little queasy.

I wait until he’s completely out of it, dozing on his tenth after crowing about his victory.

Yes, he won, but now I try and angle the nail to open the door…