Jisoo sat talking with Jenny and Joy in the parlor. She kept part of her mind engaged in the conversation - certainly enough to hold up her end, but she was sure that Jennie or Joy would notice the difference in her if they stopped to look. The remaining part of her mind was divided between thinking about their preparations for that evening's attack and watching Suyeon and her brother unpack her belongings in the maid's room, which adjoined the kitchen. She noticed that the boy was quick to jump to Suyeon's commands and conscientious in performing his tasks to her satisfaction - Jisoo decided she would definitely try to convince Captain Lee to take him on as a cabin boy the next time he made landfall. But that wasn't for months yet; in the meantime, she had more immediate issues to deal with. They had nailed all the windows shut except for one that led into the back bedroom. They'd placed coils of rope on several of the tables, in hopes of always having one close at hand should they need it. And, of course, they'd secreted weapons in a number of places where they wouldn't be easily seen and taken to use against them, but still convenient to reach when they were needed. For example, at the moment Jisoo was engaged in knitting a pair of wool socks for Captain Lee. It looked far from dangerous, but she was using a pair of needles she'd borrow from Joy. Rather than the standard bamboo needles, these were steel with a bamboo veneer on top to disguise them. It had taken her most of the afternoon to get used to knitting with the heavier needles, but she was sure she'd appreciate having two 8-inch pieces of sharp-pointed steel in her hands when the attack came. Of course, should those fail to be adequate, she could always fall back on the pistol in her knitting bag, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that - the revelation that she owned a gun would attract the sort of attention that she'd prefer to avoid, and- "Jisoo, are you even listening?" Joy asked her, the sharpness of her voice tempered with a quiet laugh. Jisoo laughed sheepishly. "I'm sorry," she said. "I was just woolgathering. What were you saying?" "I was saying," Joy said, slightly emphasizing each word, "that it was about time to being thinking about dinner. I believe if you look you will find that Suyeon has already finished her unpacking and is merely dragging out the process as an excuse to keep her brother around to ease her nerves, so there's nothing stopping you from sending her to get started on dinner." "Leave it to you to be thinking about dinner at a time like this," Jennie said. Joy faked looking shocked. "As if you weren't just talking about how hungry you are!" she retorted. "Very well," Jisoo said. She turned toward Suyeon's room. "Suyeon! Send your brother in here to talk to me, and then go get started on dinner." It seemed like no time at all passed before Suyeon and her brother were standing at Jisoo's side, bowing to her. She was sure they must have covered the distance between Suyeon's room and Jisoo's chair, but the speed with which they had done so was positively breathtaking. "What is your pleasure for dinner tonight, ma'am?" Suyeon asked. "Just go check the pantry and cook whatever inspires you," Jisoo said. "Your cooking has never disappointed me yet. I think something spicy would be best for tonight, but otherwise I leave it in your hands." "Yes ma'am," Suyeon said, then bowed and rushed off to the kitchen, but not before Jisoo could see that she was blushing. Jisoo then turned her attention to Suyeon's little brother. "I've been watching you," she said. "You seem like quite a clever lad, and I've seen that you're a hard worker. You look like you're about old enough to start an apprenticeship. What trade are your parents apprenticing you do?" The boy looked down shyly, then quietly said "My parents can't afford to buy me an apprenticeship, ma'am. My mum tells me to do well in school, so that I can got into service rather than become a laborer, but I don't want to do that." "What do you want to do?" Jisoo asked. The boy swallowed nervously, then looked up at her and said "I want to join the navy, ma'am." "Hmmmm. . ." Jisoo said, apparently thinking this over. "What's your name?" "Chi-won, ma'am." "Well, Chi-won, I'll make a deal with you," Jisoo said. "If you do well in your studies, and you come by after school to help Suyeon if she needs you to do something, then when Captain Lee returns, I'll talk to him about making you a cabin boy." Chi-won pondered this for a moment. "How well do I have to do in my studies? I get mostly firsts, but I usually get a second in mathematics." Jisoo pretended to think this over, being certain to school her face so as to restrain the smile that was attempting to break out. "Unfortunately," she said, "mathematics is very important for a naval officer, so I'll expect to see a first in mathematics in your next report card." Chi-won snapped to attention, doing his best version of a naval salute. "Have Suyeon help you with your mathematics," Jisoo said, "and if she doesn't know how to solve a problem, have her come to me. I'll teach her how to do it, and then she can teach you. Now, off to the kitchen with you - see if Suyeon needs