Cookies of the Soul - Mint Chocolate Kisses and the Pirate's Slave

Cookies of the Soul - Mint Chocolate Kisses and the Pirate's Slave Such fear she had never know....trapped on the edge of a slow burning night. A night that had no end. One minute felt like two hours. The candle had barely burned. In this dark corner she hid, behind a door of no dignity. That material object which swings open for all men, unnoticed. How she envied that door. How tight her hand was wrapped around her dagger. If it hadn't been for the purpose of the object she would have forgotten about it. Her knuckles were white and her whole body was shaking. She hoped they couldn't smell her fear, because she was soaked with it.

She listened for their footsteps along the wooden hall. All her ears encountered above the sound of the rain was absolute and total silence. There was no sound before the hand clamped around her mouth and the smell of oil, blood, and toil insulted her very senses. She had no time to think as her hands were clamped behind her back and she was shoved out into the hall. "I got er Capt'n. Hidin' behind the door she was. Thinkin' that be help'n her." His breath was dangerously close to hers and she turned her head until the Captain approached in one swift movement cackling so hard he could bust, but unfortunately it was not so. "You be too bold lass. Grabb'n daggers and flee'n. Why we be nothing but good to ya since we picked ya away from that piece of salvage ya called a home. We be nothing but treating ya as a lass should be treated. That's not bein' nice to the men who take care of ya. Killed yor good for nothin' pa when we cared ye off." Caressing her face in such a manner she knew what "taking care" of you meant and she couldn't think of it or her father's sweet face or she would surely go mad. A man she didn't necessarily know well, but one who always had enough chocolate mint kisses to give her, hugs if she needed them, and many good stories. A mysterious man who meant more to her than anything. For he was a kind memory. All the pirates were chortling under the ir breath and wiping their mouths with low stares and she knew what that meant. She knew what it meant for three weeks. She saw above it all. She believed that she would get away. She was not meant to die with a band of dirty pirates. She was born of noble royalty. She was meant to die in comfort with no memories of fear or sadness. Gone away was that perfect image her father had hoped for her before he was murdered. Slow tears rolled down her cheeks, but the composure of her face was still intact. "Cryin? Well, I never seen that on ya before but it makes ya pretty like. Once we be getting' ye to the ship then we be talkin' more kind like. After all, I am yar capt'n, aren't I little lass?" As he stepped away a shot rang out. She felt her life slipping form her and she was surprised to feel relief. Opening her eyes from the clamor, she realized that it was not her that had been shot. More shots rang out as she dropped to the ground and felt the world slip away. As she awoke she felt herself rising like an angel above a strong hand. When she looked up she swore she saw the face of God. Instead she saw a soldier. "You're safe, fear not Lady Anne, all will be well. Float on a billion clouds and may God grant you a safe sleep." Slip away she did and into a land of dreams which although not of the purest of dreams were far above everything else in the arms of comfort. "Lady Anne's Mint Chocolate Kisses"* Ingredients: ½ cup of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of whole wheat flour, ½ cup of margarine softened, 1/3 cup of margarine, 2 tbs of cocoa powder, 5 oz of bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped, 1/8 tsp of salt, 2 tsp of mint extract, 1/8 cup of sugar, 1/8 cup of Splenda, 7 oz of white chocolate coarsely chopped, 1 egg, and ½ cup of heavy cream. 1)Mix the flours, cocoa, and salt. Beat the softened margarine and sugar in a large bowl on medium speed until creamy. Add 1 tsp of mint extract and the egg; beating just until blended. Mix in the dry ingredients. Press the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 2)Butter two cookie sheets. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Use a 2 inch cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Gather the dough scraps, re-roll and continue cutting out the cookies until all the dough is used. Transfer the cookies to the cookie sheets, placing them 1 inch apart. Bake for about 6 minutes or until just firm. Transfer to racks and let cool completely. 3)Bring the cream to a boil over low heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the white chocolate until melted. Add the rest of the mint extract and transfer to a medium bowl. Cool for about 30 minutes. Stick the cookies together in pairs with filling. 4)Melt the chocolate and margarine in a double boiler over barely simmering water. Spread on top of the cookies and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 5)Enjoy the smooth surprise of these minty cookies. * Base of recipe from Cookies and then I molded it from there. Cookies of the Soul - Mint Chocolate Kisses and the Pirate's Slave