"It would seem that society has blown things out of proportion as it typically does," answered Almina after a moment. "Yes, Blackbeard and his crew attacked the Shropshire Lass."
"Such a shame to loose such a fine ship," commented one of the women, which earned her the others turned to hush her.
"Lives were lost as a result of the attack. That's true as well but that's too be expected when a well-armed vessel attacks one that is not. And the men being stubborn as always to admit defeat."
"And what about you?" asked the first woman who approached them. "Did Blackbeard harm you? Threaten to kill you? Is he as terrifying and ruthless as everyone makes him out to be?"
Stede took a deep breath in as he recalled being pressed with similar questions himself when he had last been ashore when visiting his former wife Mary. His memories of Edward flashed through his mind as he turned to look at Almina to see how she responded.
"I know it's hard to believe but Blackbeard was nothing but a gentleman in my regards. He assured no harm came to me, from his crew or otherwise, until he found a suitable place for me to disembark safely," said Almina.
"So, the whole smoking beard and blood thirsty image of the pirate is just... a fish tale?" asked another woman.
"Oh, no!" replied Almina. "He can be all that if you've crossed him."
The women seemed to sigh in relief at this confirmation of their image of who Blackbeard was.
"If he let you go, then why have you not returned to Jamestown? Why let everyone believe you died along with the rest of those who were about the ship?"
"I have to admit that I took a liking to being out at sea," replied Almina. "I've been doing a bit of a... cruise, I suppose you would say. Conducting business here and there on the side."
"Oh, that's exciting! You must have been to so many wonderful places."
"Indeed."
The women teetered to each other for a moment before being called away by another guest.
"Well, then... that was... something," said Stede, after they had a moment of peace.
"I'm sure you have questions."
"Mary Ann?" asked Stede, turning to look at her.
"Miss Mary Ann Townsend of Jamestown, Virginia, niece of the government official of the same name. Pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Almina, dropping curtsey to him again.
"And Ed..."
Almina turned to stand in front of him. "I was board my uncle's ship when he was conducting business in Bermuda. It wasn't completely a surprise that the ship got attacked. A well-to-do government official aboard and successful business transactions connected with said ship? Definitely a good sign of there being good prizes being aboard. And it being a ship that wasn't built for putting up a fight? It was an easy little raiding."
"But men died."
"Men die all the time. It's a fact of life when you are on the sea, whether you are a respectable member of society, part of the royal navy, or a pirate."
"Did Ed really protect you from the crew?"
"Many men may have been murdered or forced to walk the plank that day... but Blackbeard... Ed... rescued me from such fate. Rather he took a liking to my spirit."
Stede couldn't help but think of Ed's first mate Izzy. "Bet the rest of the crew wasn't happy with that."
"They were confused at first, yes," replied Almina. "But they soon came to like me. I still have a few members of his old crew with me, in fact."
"Wait... you have some of Ed's crew on your ship?" exclaimed Stede.
"Ed is the one who gave me that ship in the first place," stated Almina, smirking. "Does the name Odyssey ring a bell?"
"That's... that's the Odyssey?," said Stede, looking over his shoulder towards the windows on the outer edges of the ballroom though he couldn't see out them due to the elaborate hanging curtains.
"Ed had captured that ship during the years I worked as a part of his crew," said Almina. "When I stated I wanted to have a ship of my own to command, he gave me that one."
