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He nods and positions himself to hold onto the side of the galley where he can quickly climb aboard if needed.

Ferran waits patiently for the clouds to move in front of the moon, casting the galley in a deep shadow. He rolls under the railing and onto the deck behind the smoking pirate. Staying low, he stays out of sight of the other on the other side of the galley.

Creeping down the stairs to the hold, you are very cramped. Piled up in the stairway and filling the entry room are travelers chests, saddlebags, rucksacks and lockboxes. At the other end of the entry room is an open door to the hold.

You peak through the doorway and wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness below deck. Inside are dozens of people, huddled so closely together it is difficult for them lie down. There are twelve rows of benches, one for each pair of oars, which are being used to sleep on. The foot spaces and the isle are similarly packed full of people making do. The air is hot and sour smelling like urine.

From inside the hold you hear a child-like murmur and a woman's reply "Hush, baby, please..." in Italian.

Ferran, still in a crouch, creeps silently to the hold and slowly checks the door if it can be opened.

The door opens easily.

Ferran slowly opens the door just enough to get in. Quickly, but carefully not to make a sound, closes the door behind him.

Closing the door behind him leaves Ferran in total darkness and immediately makes the air more stuffy and humid.
You can heard the sound of people breathing, and a few people shifting around but none speak up.

Ferran stays put and tries to listen to the woman he heard before. At the same time he tries to make a mental picture of where he is inside the ship.

Ferran's curiosity gets the best of him and he reopens the door and exists the hold back to the stairwell.

The stairwell and the helm are piled randomly with chests, sacks, bags without rhyme or reason. Just looking through some of the easy to reach containers on the top Ferran finds a mix of clothing (some fine, some plain), dried foods suitable for traveling, a coin purse, a locked jewelry box and a long dagger.

Ferran takes a deep breath and retrieves the dagger. Then he examines the contents of the purse and tries to open the jewelry box. He also keeps his eyes peeled for papers of any kind.

Inside the purse is a dozen or so silver skillings, a few copper pennies and a gold earring.
The jewelry box is locked and Ferran didn't find the key with it. Ferran could almost certainly break it open with a hammer if noise were not a problem.
Ferran doesn't find any papers.

There are many more bags, chests and containers Ferran hasn't searched yet; but getting to them would require rummaging and rearranging heavy objects that might make considerable noise.

Ferran silently curses himself for his inaction. He goes back slowly to the cargo hold door, opens half way through and steps in again, without closing it this time, so he won't be in complete darkness. Rather he stands beside the door frame so he is hidden in shadow. He takes one deep breath again, then whispers - which sounds to him like a brass trumpet - in italian.

- Good evening lady. Don't be alarmed, I am a friend. Please tell me how I can help.

A woman's voice gives a confusing answer. "What? Please don't... We didn't do anything." She is clearly frightened.

You can see and hear others stirring, paying attention to the conversation.

- You misunderstood señorita. I heard you comforting a child. I only ask if I can help you.

Responds Ferran as polite and inoffensively as he can.

A man stands up a few feet in front of you and he says "Who are you, Spaniard? What's going on?" He has a gaunt face, short hair and a cut across his forehead. His clothes are Italian.

You get the distinct feeling that you have the full attention of the entire crowd.