She was the queen of slavers and her merest whim meant death.

"She stood, fully dressed in her long scarlet cloak, its gold lace blazing beneath the lantern light, her two pistols thrust through her sash, her long knife at her side, her booted legs spread wide apart as though challenging all the maleness of the whole brig.
Rafee handed her the cat o' nine tails. It was heavy for such a ladylike hand, but the cunning of her arm was ready for the work.
She lifted the whip..."