Stavanger Bay from whence i see no reason why

years spent with men had taught erzulie of their ways — she was both lofty in their company, and rather frayed of nerve. with this man, however, she was neither; the lap of the sea nearby, ever-present, steadied the harlot in ways she would not perhaps have been. "erzulie," offered the spice-flecked woman, noting how he had cut off the story.
"i am new to ironsea. the captain and rosalyn brought me aboard, as dey say." she laughed, a brief rich sound that faded almost as soon as it had come. "and you be ...?" erzulie did not recall having seen him before, but by the loa that had brought them near to one another, she wished to know him. "an' i care for de pain of my companions. it is the right way."