Few days later, Alex showed himself on the deck. The crew surrounded him happily with having their captain back between them, a sense of reassurance surfacing in their hearts again. He asked about the naval battle and one of the men gladly narrated how it went and how the new officer guided the ship safely through the Triton pass. Albert, who was also standing there with Vincent, didn't expect Alex's thanks or complements and he didn't hear them to his expectation. Then the sailor finished his vivid story – telling"
"Then, we saw a fancy ship. It was also of the Wilshire's. It was...."
Alex's eyes widened as he heard this, while Howard's raised his head, as if it had snapped, alert stares exchanged between him and Alice, both sweating. Alex muttered:
"And you didn't follow it?"
The sailors looked surprised at their captain who went quickly to the command cabin, pointing at Howard to follow him. He entered slamming the door behind him, the sailors, led by Alice, gathered eavesdropping as Albert and Vincent did. They couldn't understand why their captain turned angry all of a sudden over a single non – battle ship. Alex asked his vice commander what prevented him from following that ship. Despite his calm appearance, his eyes were widening in a frenzy with every passing second yet he did his best to remain reasonable as he directed the question at his first mate:
"I told Alice that if a fancy ship, not a battling one, holding that family's crest appeared, follow it and sink it no matter what! Did she not relay this to you, Mister Howard?"
Howard closed his eyes, Alice had indeed told him of this strange order in the brief time they could catch during the battle, but she also begged him to hurry to get the antidote and follow not the said order. Howard didn't wish to cause troubles for the beloved young girl. He straightened his stance, ready for any punishment though certain he made no wrong choice as he explained his doing:
"We couldn't afford this captain, following that ship was a waste of time; it was so fast and heading in a different direction from ours. We needed to reach the island as fast as we could."
Alex looked at his vice captain who went on with his explanation:
"It was to get the antidote for that woman's poison..."
Howard did not shy at the last statement, as ridiculing as it might sound to ignorant ears but according to her highness Selene, that was one true deadly poison. However, Alex wasn't satisfied with the answer; he stared at the man angrily yet said quietly:
"You disobeyed my order."
"I merely considered our priorities, saving you and ensuring her highness Selene safety."
Although trying to keep the tough appearance, Howard felt obliged to ass the last sentence, like a dice thrown to decide his odds of winning the argument, but unfortunately for him, at this point, Alex could not get over his head anything other than the fact that that certain ship has escaped their cannon, safe and triumphant.
"You think you can decide this?!"
Alex stroked on the table with his hand, rage igniting his usually somber eyes like a mad fire, the crew whispered together that this was the first time the captain had lost himself to anger like this. They heard as he burst at his assistant foaming:
"I ordered you to chase that ship even if it went to hell and you dared let it escape you... you..."
The rest of the crew couldn't just keep eavesdropping anymore, they wanted to support their vice commander against the illogical order, given without an obvious reason but Vincent quickly dissuaded them. No more trouble needed to be risen, the act would resemble an unintentional mutiny, he promised them Alex's anger will simmer down at least, if not fade. As mentioned before, the vice commander was ready for any punishment, even demotion yet he was determined to defend his action. He replied gently:
" We had to rush to that island for your sake, the poison was so strong and you were about to die. We had no time for other choices."
" As if I care!"
Alex shouted bitterly at the face of his assistant leaving shock on his crew's faces yet Howard didn't apologize and repeated calmly the same words making Alex raise his fist in Howard's face... Albert, alongside Alice, peeping through the small round window, got up to rush to the scene but Vincent gripped him from his shoulder, preventing him with a strength matching Alex's rage. Howard heaved a long breath, not flinching an inch from the directed fist and explained everyone's onboard this ship view, more heat packed into his tone this time.
"You may take your life lightly to exact revenge at that woman, but we can't risk our captain's life even if this meant going against his orders!"
The raised fist was slowly lowered, the sight of the Wilshire's ship getting away, carrying that woman safe and sound, though not seen was burnt into the captain's eyes. Alex bowed his head, withdrawing his fist and turned his back saying:
"Forget that order."
The men sighed relieved that the matter didn't go any further and ended as it had. The crowded sailors withdrew silently returning to their post before awakening their captain's rage again. Alice saved many thanks for Howard while Albert did not know what to do with himself. That exchange of accusations and excuses, devoid of all necessities or logic, sounded heavy and hard... Alex's men were only worried about him yet he couldn't understand this and took their feelings lightly for the sake of tracking a single damned ship! Albert thought to himself that if he ever were to be a captain one day, he'd never shout at his men and would respect the way they feel toward him. Alex had just too much, none of which were appreciated.