Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure (2 page)

“For your own safety, I assure you.”

“I can most certainly take care of myself.”

He laughed. “You’re an obstinate little chit.”

“And why would I need protection from the soldiers?”

“They intend to kill you.”

“I don’t believe you.” She huffed, crossing her arms. And why should she? She’d done nothing wrong.

“They are commissioned to retrieve The Serpent and will slay anyone who is familiar with it or who dares to stand in their way, including a common back alley bar wench.”

“The Serpent?” She chose to ignore his trite remark.

“The medallion you are hiding.” His eyes slid down to her chest.

Shifting uneasily she said, “I told you. I hide nothing.”

A resonating shot rang out. Lianna jumped, instinctively shielding herself behind her broad stout abductor. A fine buffer he should make. He chuckled as she crouched behind him. Hard-headed she may be, but she was smart enough to let him take a bullet. He grabbed her by the arm and shoved her down the pier ladder. She stepped into a small rowboat. He followed an instant behind. Taking a hold of the oars, he rowed with much vigor into the open bay.

She gripped the side of the boat and considered what to do. The longer she allowed this rogue to keep her, the harder it would be for her to escape. For a moment, she thought to dive overboard and swim back to the dock. Just as she resolved to flee, soldiers lined the pier firing volleys at them.

How can that be? They wouldn’t risk shooting an innocent civilian, would they?
She shook her head, grappling to understand.

“Get down!”

No need to tell her twice.

Pops cracked through the air. The bullets came fast and far too close, spraying them with salt water and splintering wood. They were still well within range. She tried to swallow. Her heart throbbed in her throat as prickly panic bristled across her skin. Her captor seemed to be enjoying himself, thriving on the gravity of the danger. In fact, he looked to be having fun. She didn’t share in his enthusiasm. He didn’t appear to hear her screaming for him to row faster, either.

He shed his jacket. “We’ve got to make a swim for it.”

“What? You can’t be serious. Swim where?” Exasperated, Lianna wrinkled her nose and frowned. Where would they swim to? Into open water? They would surely die should they try swimming to…to nowhere.

They flinched as another bullet whizzed past. “We’re fish in a barrel.” He grabbed her wrist. “Jump!” He dove overboard, pulling her in with him.

Swallowing the warm water as she went under, Lianna came up coughing, the briny water stinging her eyes. Ill-prepared for taking a midnight dip, she reached for something, anything to help her stay afloat.

Sloshing water made it difficult to see, but hysterics blinded her. Bobbing her assailant underwater, she swung her leg up over his shoulder, clenching her arms around his head and neck. She heard him grouch something about trying to drown him as he peeled out of her clutches, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her afloat while she gasped. He treaded water until she paddled on her own. Bullets smacked into the water all around them.

“Follow me.” He started off toward a brigantine just sailing into view, slicing through the water with precise strokes.

He’s mad!

She struggled to keep up. Her dress weighed her down and Lianna labored to swim for the ship. Ahead she could see the hull with a rope ladder skimming the waves.
Keep swimming
.
Almost there.
But she tired from the effort. The more she swam the further away the ship seemed. The sea swirled around her and she thrashed to keep her head above water. Fear flooded her mind but she simply could not will her body to keep pace and swim any longer. She slipped below the waves, the darkness enveloping her.
No!
She reached through the water, fought to break free from the sea’s invisible hold. But the sea was powerful. The sea laid claim to her and pulled her further into its depth. Her limbs ached from the fight for the surface and her chest burned for air. The cumbersome weight was too much to bear. The ravenous water became cooler. She relaxed, drifting downward, clinging to her fading consciousness. Her hope disappeared like paper dissolving in the waves.

She had a vague sense of someone grabbing her by the waist, a strong arm pulling her back to the rolling swells and the starry sky. As she thrust above the surface, she heaved again, filling her lungs with precious air. Crisp, sweet, life-saving, precious air.

Her savior, no, her captor held her close. His mouth rested on her ear, panting. “Damn it. I should have been aware the distance would be too much for you, especially wearing a dress.”

For what she could’ve sworn was an eternity, they reached the ladder at last. The climb up the rope without stepping on the fellow’s hands was a challenge. He pushed on her arse and hoisted her over onto the deck.
Bless me. Firm ground.

Lianna collapsed to the floor and sprawled on her back to catch her breath. Slowly, she opened her eyes. What she beheld caused her heart to stop.

Pirates!

Suddenly drowning didn’t seem so terrible.

She scrambled to her feet and pressed against the railing to distance herself from the rough, lethal-looking seamen surrounding her. Long shadows hollowed out their faces in the moonlight. The dim light afforded her the pirates’ callous expressions. Trouble surely awaited her.

“Lookit what the Capt’n has brought us, lads.” A rather short, burly man angled his sword at her neck. On his aging, weathered face, he wore a gray, coarse beard with tiny red bows tied into its tips. His grin lacked a tooth or two, but his eyes were lively.

He motioned others over to see what he had found. The den of pirates closed in.

“Stand down, Henri.” The pirate complied with the command of her abductor, who just swung over the rail. To Lianna, he said, “Welcome aboard my ship
,
the
Rissa
. I see you’ve met my crew.” He motioned to her right. “And this is my quartermaster, Blade Tyburn.”

The blond man from the port climbed on board from the ladder they had just ascended.

Where’d he come from?

Dripping wet, Blade bowed. “Pleasure is all mine, I’m sure.” He gave her a wicked smile.

The captain rolled his eyes, removed his wet weapons and handed them to one of the deckhands.

“Well, Tyburn?”

Blade winked at her before turning his attention to his captain. He, too, removed his weapons for the crewman. “Bennington sacked the tavern looking for The Serpent and when he realized it wasn’t there, he had his men set fire to it.”

Lianna looked toward the port. In the distance, an orange glow blazed against the inky night sky. Her uncle would no doubt blame her for that. He blamed all his maladies on her, sometimes with good reason.

“He suspects the lady possesses it,” finished Blade, winking again.

The eyes of the entire crew bore down upon her. She stiffened her back and held her chin high. “As I have already plainly stated, I don’t have whatever it is you are after.”

Lianna wasn’t sure just what she was doing. If she handed the medallion over, they might kill her on the spot or toss her back into the sea. And yet they would probably kill her regardless. She was staking she could use the medallion as leverage for her life. She would be no match for these pirates but she wasn’t about to give in readily. Nay, she would stand her ground to defend herself, and likely die trying.

“Capt’n wouldn’t have brought her on board if she didn’t have it,” blurted a buccaneer in the back of the crowd.

“Aye. I say we take turns looking for it. When we’re done, we could lob her to Bull,” said another.

A colossal man wearing a yellow-stained skullcap over his bald head stepped forward. He wore no shirt, revealing a massive rust-darkened chest covered in angry scars. His cracked, infected lips were framed in a robust black circle beard and a menacing stare hooded his face.

“Aye, I’ll find pleasure with her long after she turns cold and lays useless.”

As his meaning became clear, the pit of her stomach tightened.

Uneasy laughter spread among some of the seamen; others turned their lips up in disgust.

The captain grimaced, as if he didn’t doubt the accuracy of Bull’s statement. “There’s no need for inconveniencing the lady. I’m sure she will give us the medallion with no trouble at all.”

He took her by the elbow and guided her to the short man sheathing his sword. “Henri. Please show the lady to the guest quarters before I have to quell an assault on her and kill someone.”

“The guest quarters? But, Capt’n, that’s…”

The captain cut him off. “Are you flouting my orders?”

“No, Capt’n.” Henri bowed his head. “Right away, Capt’n.” He picked up a lantern off a barrel and lit it. The little flame grew. Lianna wished the light would chase away the scary darkness oozing from the pirates surrounding her. There was safety in light, or so she hoped.

“This way, girlie,” Henri said.

Lianna didn’t hesitate following the old salt to escape the imminent danger lurking all around. Her options were non-existent. Being taken to a bedchamber was the best she could hope for. She would need time to sort her quandary.

Humidity thickened the air below deck. The cool breeze that trailed them in the hatch died away leaving a distinct odor of timber and pitch in its wake. Glow from the lantern spread across the walls down the length of the unpleasantly narrow companionway. Henri led her to a door adjacent to an ornate entry, most likely leading to the captain’s quarters. Fumbling for the keys, the short man grumbled under his breath. She couldn’t hear what he was uttering but she knew well enough he held a great disapproval in her staying in this room. He handed her the lantern. No sooner had Lianna stepped inside, the door slammed shut. The sound of an engaging lock clunked behind her. She sighed, captive again.

Lianna hung the lantern on a rafter hook and surveyed her new prison cell, amazed by what she beheld. The room was modest but immaculate, washed in an indulgence of blue. The textures and colors were warm and inviting. Lianna, herself, had never seen such opulence. A cozy bed covered in lush velvets, sheer scarves and silk pillows dominated one wall. An elaborately carved mahogany chest of drawers stood bolted to another wall. Atop the lipped dresser lay a silver hand-held mirror and matching brush. An equally impressive detailed, small writing table, flanked by a matching wooden chair, occupied the third wall. And a vase full of fresh sweet smelling flowers had been securely placed on the writing table. The faint aroma of roses filled the comfortable space.

How odd. She didn’t think a pirate ship would have such accommodations. And flowers? Someone had taken great care in tending to this room. Why? Surely pirates did not receive guests on board while they raided and murdered their victims.

She then noticed a second door in the room partially hidden by the desk. At once, she realized that it must lead to the captain’s room. How would his quarters be furnished? Curious, she reached across the desk and tried the knob. Locked.

Lianna nearly hopped out of her skin at the knock from outside. The bolt unlatched and Henri let in a young cabin boy. Unkempt chestnut hair flipped and curled around his youthful face. His careworn clothes needed a good scrubbing, as did his bare feet.

“Pardon me, ma’am. The Capt’n thought you might be needin’ a change of clothes.” The lad handed her a bowl of water, sponge, and a neatly folded dress draped over his arm.

Smooth, pink scars, reminiscent of a noose, scored his scrawny neck. He must’ve been very lucky to survive that fate.

She had once witnessed a public hanging at the waterfront. ’Twas a despicable act of cruelty that left the accused devoid of any dignity. Sickened as she watched the condemned man convulse before dying, she swore to never participate in the pomp of a man’s death again. She could only imagine how terrible and frightening it must’ve been for the boy.