Men of the Sea - Part 3

"They made the mistake of thinking that I was still a Captain. Who was I to tell them otherwise?" The man said. "I see that you've been making some highborn friends in my absence, Blackwood. Who's the Lady?"

"Ah, Lady Farseer, allow me to introduce you to our companion, Ratcatcher."

"Ratcatcher?" Penelope said, with a raised eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like a very common family name."

"In truth, it ain't my name, my Lady. Just what people call me. But then, I reckons that makes it more my name than my true name, if that's what people call me, eh?" Ratcatcher said.

"I would feel as if I were to insult you by calling you by such a title," Penelope said doubtfully.

"Perhaps Captain Ratcatcher might make you more comfortable, Lady Farseer?" Blackwood said, with a very poorly disguised smile. "Though he has retired, he still earned the rank, just as well as any of us in this godforsaken position did."