It turned out that celebrating was not so easy. Although there was a boisterous celebration going on  upon the foredeck it quieted as she approached. There were various mutterings of ‘Ma’am’ and a general knuckling of foreheads but people seemed reluctant to meet her eye. Surprised but not alarmed she weant aft to the small cabin that served as the ward room for what she thought of as the officers. Although there were no formal ranks, Sketti and Grimey naturally filled command roles, the dwarf because he controlled the wages and the gnome because… well Calliope wasn’t quite sure why but she seemed to have become the ships unofficial mastergunner. The way a few of the crewmen blushed when she glared at them suggested there had been harsh words exchanged but the accuracy of the guns last night had been uncommonly good.

Both the dwarf and the gnome were very drunk by now, though with Sketti it wasn’t easy to tell. He was currently taking great swigs from a keg of ale they had captured. The crew was hitting the stuff pretty hard but that was partly of necessity. Wine and spirits would keep but ale would turn rotten on a voyage of any distance. Both of the gave her a glance and then Grimey looked quickly away. Sketti merely gave a specacular belch before grabbing some of the fresh baked bread they had looted and began stuffing it into his mouth, covering his ale soaked beard with crumbs. Grimey looked to be about to excuse herself but Calliope sat down beside her pinning her between the table and the wall.

“Alright what is going on?” she demanded coldly. The gnome looked to Sketti for aid but the dwarf merely continued to consume his improbable moutful.

“Going on with what?” Grimey asked uncomfortabley. Calliope drew the dagger from her sash and laid it across the table.

“With the looks and dark glances,” she said her voice cold and implacable. Grimey gulped visibly.

“There is a rumor going around and I’m sure its just a rumor …”

“Out with it,” Calliope demanded.

“That you are in league with demons and you sacrificed a man to them to destroy the fort,” Grimey all but squeaked, her words tumbling over each other in their haste to escape her mouth. Calliope felt cold amusement followed by irritation. She moved out of the way to let the Gnome flee below decks leaving her alone with Sketti.

“Well that is just perfect,” she said snippily taking one of the bottles of wine and pulling the cork with a practiced motion.

“Are you?” Sketti asked blearily.

“Perfect?” Calliope asked with an arch smile, “Well fairly close.”

“In league with ye old powers of darkness,” the dwarf pressed. Callipe shook her head.

“Of course not, its just some rumor those idiots in the brig cooked up to explain how we beat them is all.” she responded, taking a long drink from the neck of the bottle.

“Even so you might consider locking your door, who knows what superstitious sailors might take it into their heads to do…”