Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) (17 page)

“Come.” Tizoc broke the awkward silence that had fallen among the group.
“My father is waiting for us.”

He veered to the left of the massive stepped pyramid. Visions of what
occurred at the top of the steps bounced around in my head along with the
screams of tonight’s victim. I shook my head as we passed to one of the
government buildings.

“You all right?” Daniel asked.

“Yes. I don’t want to… you know… see anything…” I shifted my gaze back to
the top of the pyramid and shuddered.

“Me neither,” Daniel agreed. “I’ve read about sacrifices in some of my
uncle’s books. Getting trampled by horses would have been a better way to go
and trust me that wasn’t all that pleasant.” He glanced to his empty sleeve
before ushering me ahead of him, a protective hand lingering on my back. He
leaned in close for a moment, and it only took that brief closeness to have me
yearning for his kiss. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

As we entered the building, I refocused by examining the many sculptures
and paintings that adorned the great hallway through which we walked. They
appeared to chronicle Sunal history as most of them depicted scenes of the
developing Ezenoch. In all of the pictures, the Sunal people were hard at work.

“Captain,” Tizoc said. “Your men should stay here. You can follow me.”

“Daniel and Charlie come with me,” the captain said.

Tizoc nodded, and the captain ordered the rest of the crew to wait for
our return.  Then we were led into a vast chamber with velvety walls of deep
crimson.

“Wait here. I will get my father.” Tizoc disappeared behind a curtained
threshold.

“Don’t worry about the sacrifice,” Captain Finley said now that the three
of us were alone. “We have to respect their ways even if we don’t understand
the need for them.” He poked both Daniel and me in the arms, a slight smile
beneath his moustache. “Just look peaceable.”

“We’ll try, Uncle, but Charlie’s so used to looking blood-thirsty, I
don’t know if we can fool them.”

“If I look blood-thirsty,” I defended, joining in on the teasing to get
my mind off the sacrifice, “it’s only because I’ve learned it from you.” I
pointed to Daniel, and the captain chuckled.

“I don’t know what you’re laughing at,” Daniel said, looking at his
uncle. “From whom do you think I’ve learned to look blood-thirsty?”

“You’ve learned no such thing from me, boy.” Captain Finley shook a
finger at his nephew. “I’ve taught you only honorable and respectful things.
I’ve taught you how to be a gentleman.”

At this, Daniel exploded into laughter. “A gentleman? Ha! I don’t think
anyone could learn to be a gentleman from a sea dog like you.”

“Sea dog?” In one quick movement, the captain slung his arm around
Daniel’s neck and squeezed. “Sea dog?”

“Uh-huh,” Daniel managed around his laughter as he fought his uncle off.

“Sea dogs don’t play fair,” Captain Finley said as he pulled the back of
Daniel’s tunic over Daniel’s head and jabbed him in the ribs.

Daniel let out a puff of breath as he righted his shirt and reclaimed
some dignity. I couldn’t help but laugh myself.

“What’s he laughing at?” Captain Finley said to Daniel as he pointed to
me.

Before Daniel or I could respond, the captain stepped over to me and
wrapped his arm around my neck. I wasn’t sure what to do. Shrugging away would
have been rude, but playing along could prove to cause quite a problem as well.
I shot Daniel a “help me” look, and he grabbed onto his uncle’s arm.

“Don’t hurt the boy,” Daniel said. “I’ve wrestled with Charlie before and
he’s… well… not made of the same stuff we are, Uncle Samuel.”

Not exactly the help I was looking for, but it did get the captain to
ease up on his grip.

“He looks pretty tough to me.” The captain released me all the way now,
and I adjusted my clothing, making sure everything was still in order.

“An illusion.” Daniel smirked from behind his uncle, clearly enjoying the
tale he weaved against me. “He’s a jellyfish.”

“A jellyfish!” I hollered. “Why you…” I stormed past the captain and
launched myself into Daniel’s midsection. He stumbled backward into the wall,
laughing all the way. “Careful,” he warned with a grin.

“I’m going to get you later,” I whispered as I backed off.

“I look forward to it,” he said so only I could hear.

“All right, all right,” the captain intervened. “Let’s all
try
to
be gentlemen anyway.”

Daniel and I nodded, and Captain Finley smiled back at us. “I’m glad you
two are here with me. You’re turning out to be worthy sailors and fine men.”

A knot developed in my throat. Daniel’s eyebrows lowered as if he were in
pain. In pain holding the truth back from his uncle. It took only that
expression on Daniel’s beautiful face to make my decision.

“Captain,” I said. The time had come.

“Yes, Charlie?”

“There’s something I should tell you.”

“No.” Daniel put a hand on my shoulder from behind me. “There’s something
we
should tell you.”

“What’s that?” The captain narrowed his eyes at us.

“I’m a…” I started. “I… uhh… I’m a…” Cripes, how was I supposed to tell a
great man like Captain Finley who had just complimented me that I’d been lying
to him all this time?

“You’re a what, Charlie?” The captain glanced at Daniel.

“Uhh… there is no easy way to say this.” I huffed out a long breath and
bent over as if I were going to be sick. Maybe I was. “You’ve been so kind to
me. Made me feel like a part of your crew. Part of your family.”

“You are, Charlie. You’ve done a fine job aboard the
Rose
. Been a
good friend to Daniel,” the captain said. “I meant what I said. You’re a fine
young man.” He wasn’t making this any easier.

“Thank you, sir.” I straightened and rubbed a hand across my face. “I
didn’t mean to be dishonest to you.”

The captain shifted his gaze to his nephew. “What’s he trying to say,
Daniel?”

“He’s trying to tell you that he’s a—”

“Girl,” I finished, blurting the word out. “I’m a girl, Captain.” I
pulled off Benjamin’s cap, letting my hair spill down and slipped out the extra
shirt stuffed at my gut. Eric’s tunic fell into place against me. There was no
disputing what I was.

Captain Finley’s face morphed from its normal hue to a darkening red in
mere moments. His mouth opened several times, but no words came out. My heart
bounced around in my chest like a caught bird as I braced myself for whatever
was coming next.

“Uncle,” Daniel said. “Just listen, all right?”

The captain held up his hand to stop Daniel. “I’ve had a… a
girl
… up
in my crow’s nest for months? I risked the safety of the
Rose
? That’s
what you’re telling me?”

I took several shaky steps away from the captain.

“Look, Uncle Samuel,” Daniel tried again.

“Hush, boy!” Daniel and I both jumped at the sound of Captain Finley’s
voice. “How is it,
girl
, that you know what you know about sailing?”

“My father and brothers are sailors, sir,” I said. “I’ve grown up around
the docks, the ships, the ocean.”

“What’s your real name?” The captain had closed the small distance I had
put between us. His face filled my vision.

“Charlotte Denham.”

“Denham! James Denham’s daughter?” Captain Finley slapped a hand to his
forehead.

I steered clear of looking at him straight in the eye, but nodded. My own
eyes had filled with tears. One blink and they would spill.

“Why didn’t you sail with him?”

“He wouldn’t let—”

“Of course he wouldn’t let you!” Captain Finley bobbed his head up and
down. “No father would. No captain would.” He paced away from us, and Daniel
tugged me closer to him, resting his hand around my waist. When the captain
paced back, he stopped in his tracks and stared at us.

“Wait a minute. What else is going on here?” Something washed across
Captain Finley’s face, softening his features, draining the red from his
cheeks.

 “We’re in love, Uncle.” Daniel squeezed me closer to him.

I warmed at hearing Daniel say those words so confidently.

The captain hesitated for a long moment. So long I thought time would
never advance again. Then he walked over to us and reached out a hand.

I squeezed my eyes closed, expecting the captain’s hand to meet my face
in some way. A few tears escaped down my cheeks.

“Oh, Charlie,” he said. “I’m not going to hit you. Have you seen any
violence from me so far?” He scratched at his beard as he regarded me, then
Daniel. “Love isn’t an easy thing to find or… hold on to.” His jaw tensed then
he drew in a huge breath and let it leak through his teeth. “Well, you fooled
me, Miss Charlotte, but you are everything else you claimed to be on that first
day on the beach. You cleaned, cooked, fished, trimmed, and repaired sails. You
did a first rate job in the crow’s nest aboard the
Rose
. You were
definitely a hard worker and took orders better than some of my more senior
crew.”

“I never got sick either,” I added.

“No, indeed, you didn’t.” Captain Finley ran a hand over his face. “When
did you find out she was a girl?” he asked Daniel.

“When I was sick.”

“You knew all this time and didn’t tell me?”

“What difference does it make, Uncle Samuel?” Daniel said. “She did the
job she promised to do.”  

“Seems as if she’s cured you too.”

“Better than any medicine.”

I glanced back at Daniel and my love for him grew tenfold.

“In that case,” the captain began, “you both have my blessing.”

“Really, Uncle?”

“She’s made you into a new person, Daniel. The person your parents wanted
you to be. The person I knew was inside you. I can’t let one lie undo the good
she’s done for you.”

My eyes filled again as everything I had been holding in for months came
crashing down on me. I rushed forward before I could stop myself and threw my
arms around the captain.

“Oh,” he said stiffly, but it only took him a second to relax into the
hug.

“Thank you,” I choked out. “For everything.”

“It is I who should be thanking you, Miss Charlotte.” Captain Finley
peeled me away a bit. “I’ve only wanted Daniel to be happy and look at him now.
I’ve never seen him happier.”

Daniel turned me around to face him. He lifted my hand to his lips as he
had done on so many secret encounters. “Now that we don’t have to hide…” He
brushed a quick kiss across the back of my hand.

As he did so, Tizoc reappeared from behind the curtained doorway. Our
eyes connected for a moment then he looked to the captain.

“A girl among us,” Captain Finley said. “You were right. We were
protecting her. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Not at all.” Tizoc smiled diplomatically but not amicably. I think he
had enjoyed knowing something the captain had not. Now the secret was out. All
the wrinkles ironed away. He didn’t look pleased.

“My father will see you now.” He ushered us beyond the curtain, giving me
a cool glance as I brushed past him.

I was overjoyed that Captain Finley had accepted me and wasn’t angry with
us. Displeasing Tizoc, however, was another matter.

An older man with silvery hair hanging past his shoulders sat in the
center of the spacious room. He wore a long, colorful cloak decorated with red
feathers around the sleeves and a wide silver collar about his neck. His
features were similar to Tizoc’s but creased with age. His eyes were black
pools like the other Sunal, and as we approached, the man stood.

“Yaoti Metztli, my
tahtli,
father,” Tizoc said.

The captain extended his hand. “Captain Samuel Finley of the
Rose
.”

Tizoc’s father shook the captain’s outstretched hand. He glanced behind
the captain at me, then at Daniel. The captain took a step back and laid a hand
on Daniel’s shoulder. “This is my nephew, Daniel Connor.”

Daniel bowed his head at Yaoti who returned the gesture.

“And this,” Captain Finley said, standing behind me and resting both of
his hands on my shoulders, “is Miss Charlotte Denham.”

Yaoti looked at me then to the captain. “She dresses as a man?”

“Aye. She’s among the best members of my crew.”

“Women are gifts,” Yaoti said, bowing his head toward me. “I have four
daughters of my own. Each is a rare gem.” He came to stand before me. “Welcome,
Miss Denham.”

“Thank you,” I managed, though I was a little awestruck at the majesty of
Tizoc’s father. He stood at eye level to me, but a radiance exuded from him—the
same energy I had felt from Tizoc.

Yaoti turned back to the captain. “My son tells me you are Englishmen,
here only to observe and learn.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Captain Finley agreed. “We want only to see your
culture.”

“Then see it you shall,” Yaoti replied. “Tizoc has sent one of our men
with one of your own to retrieve the rest of your crew and guide them back
here. The men you have brought with you now will be seen to their
accommodations nearby. I would be honored if the three of you came to our home
where my family can give you a proper Sunal welcome.”

“We appreciate your hospitality,” the captain said.

“Part of the invitation is hospitality, Captain,” Yaoti said. “Another
part is strategy. Others like you have come before. Not all of them have been
honorable men. By having you stay at my home—”

“You have me under your watch,” the captain finished.

“Of course.” The lines in Yaoti’s face deepened around his mouth as he
smiled.

“Fair enough,” Captain Finley said. “I assure you, we do not wish your
people harm, but I understand your caution.”

Yaoti’s face softened. “There will be a feast tonight. You must come.”

“
Tahtli
,” Tizoc said, with a warning look. “Father, do you think
it wise for our guests to attend that feast?”

“The feast only, my
pilli
, my son,” Yaoti responded.

“We are aware that a sacrifice is planned for this evening,” Captain
Finley said. “We do not wish to interfere with your ceremony.”

I let out the breath I had been holding. I did not want to be near their
sacrifice tonight.

“After the feast, we will allow you to retire to your rooms as we
continue with our ritual. You must all be hungry. A feast is the perfect way to
introduce you to our culture,” Yaoti said.

 Tizoc’s jaw stiffened. He didn’t agree with his father’s invitation, but
said no more against it.

“Thank you,” Captain Finley said. “We shall accept your dinner invitation
and happily stay out of your way for the rest of your evening.”

“
Pilli
,” Yaoti called to Tizoc. “Take them home. I will settle the
others and inform them of the feast.”

Tizoc nodded, but his features did not relax.

“I will see you tonight.” Yaoti bowed to each of us.

“This way.” Tizoc led us through another curtained doorway at the back of
the room.

“You no longer want us here,” I said, widening my stride to catch up to
Tizoc.

“I want you here.” He flashed his hardened gold gaze at me. “I would not
have taken you to Ezenoch if I did not want you here.”

“Then what is it?”

Daniel and the captain were still several paces behind us.

Tizoc stopped and faced me, his shoulders squared to mine. “I don’t want
you to be afraid.”

“We will eat, and we will leave, Tizoc.” I took his hand in mine. The
connection was strong and warm.

Some of the ice in his eyes melted, the honey-color swelling again as he
looked at our joined hands.

“That eases my mind,” he said. “Come. I think my sisters will enjoy you.”
He tugged me forward, but released my hand when Daniel and the captain neared.

Sisters. I hadn’t been around women in four months. I had had my fill of
fitting in with men, but being a woman among women was going to take some
re-assimilation.

What would Tizoc’s sisters think of someone like me?

****

Tizoc’s home was a rectangular stone building with a high pyramid-shaped
roof. Red and black painted shapes adorned the roofline, doors, and windows.
Beautiful leafy plants flourished around the base of the house, and brilliantly
colored flowers bloomed among the leaves. As we neared, the sound of women’s
voices reached us.

“My mother and sisters. They are preparing for tonight’s ceremony,” Tizoc
explained as we stepped onto the paved pathway leading to the house. Daniel and
the captain had stopped to examine the artwork around one of the windows. Tizoc
and I were alone on the path.

“Should I attend the ceremony as a boy or a girl?” I asked.

Tizoc shook his head. “Now that the girl is out, you should not cage her
again. It would be a shame.” He traced a finger down my cheek.

I flushed at his touch and backed away.

Tizoc glanced to where Daniel talked with the captain. “I know you love
him, but I feel drawn to you as well.”

“You don’t even know me.” I lowered my gaze.

Tizoc sighed. “And your heart is his.”

“It is, but… I think I came here to see you. We were supposed to meet if
that makes any sense.”

A slow smile slid across Tizoc’s lips. “It makes sense.” Then in a husky
whisper, he added, “Perhaps I called for you.” His voice flowed over me like a
warm breeze.

“All I know is that I’ve wanted to come to the Americas my whole life,
and I’m here now. You’re here now. We’re both where we’re supposed to be.”

“And then what?”

I shrugged. “We’ll have to see.”

Daniel and Captain Finley caught up to us as a regal-looking older woman
floated out of the house and onto the open patio in front of us. Her hair was
twisted into a long silver braid that matched the silver cuffs and earrings she
wore. A simple, but bright, purple dress flowed about her lean form.

“Tizoc!” Her voice was pure music. She spoke in her native language and
rushed forward, her arms outstretched to receive her son. Tizoc bent low to
match her height and circled his arms around her. When they released each
other, she looked our way. “Who have you brought with you?”

“English explorers,
Nantli
.” Tizoc motioned for us to come onto
the patio. “Captain Finley, Daniel, Charlie, this is my mother, Citlali
Metztli. Her name means
star,
because she sparkles so.”

Citlali brushed her hand against Tizoc’s chest to push him away. “My son
likes to stay in my good favor with his flattery.” She smiled in a way that did
sparkle. “I am pleased to meet you. Yaoti sent word of guests. We have set up
rooms. You must be tired from your long voyage. Go inside. Bathe, rest, and
tonight, we feast.”

She scooted us all inside the house where four captivating Sunal women
stood waiting.

“My daughters.” Citlali swept her arm out in a wide arc. Pointing to the
tallest one first and working her way down to the shortest, she introduced
them. “Captain Finley, Daniel, Charlie, this is Xochitl, Teiuc, Er
é
ndira, and Yaretzi.
Tizoc and Yaretzi are the youngest and twins.”

The sisters were far more attractive than any English girls I had ever
seen. A different brand of grace and elegance swirled around each of them.

Xochitl stepped forward and spoke for all of the sisters. “Welcome to our
city.” Her eyes rested on me, and she turned to Tizoc, saying something in
their native tongue.

“Yes, Charlie is a girl,” Tizoc said around a chuckle.

This brought forth a few squeals from the two youngest sisters that I
judged to be about my age, maybe a year or two older. Eréndira shot forward and
clamped her hand onto my forearm.

“Come with us,” she said in perfect English. It seemed Tizoc’s entire
family knew our language. “We will get you ready for the feast.”

Tizoc let out a laugh and turned to his mother. “They will turn her into
a
cihuapilli
.”

As Yaretzi took my other hand and dragged me away, I called over my
shoulder. “What’s a
cihuapilli
?”

“A princess,” Tizoc called back.

****

As the vapors from the jasmine-scented bath water wafted up all around
me, remnants of my old life crept into my mind. The daughter of a wealthy
merchant, the sister of two bold sailors, the housemaid of a Southampton
dignitary. It all belonged to someone else entirely. Sailing on the open
Atlantic was more real to me than any of the years I had spent in England.

I had learned so much in my time on the
Rose
about sailing, about
people, about taking chances and falling in love. What if I had never decided
to go? I would still be in Lady Elizabeth’s kitchen, fixing petite sandwiches
and tea for her guests. I would still be leading Benjamin on secret nighttime
excursions to steal a few moments aboard a ship. I would still be wondering when
my brothers and father were coming home.

No, this was far better, though the thought of Benjamin lingered in my
mind. What was he doing right now? Working in his father’s store? Helping his
mother shear the sheep they owned? Calling on Rachel Carnigan? I wanted
Benjamin to be as happy as I was with Daniel.

I settled deeper into the warm bath Tizoc’s oldest sister, Xochitl, had prepared
for me in a huge copper basin. Dunking my head all the way under the water, I
let the jasmine aroma infuse every part of me.

Rising up to the surface, I ran my fingers through my soaked hair, which
fell to the middle of my neck now. I let out a sigh as I realized I didn’t have
to stuff it all under Benjamin’s cap and hide it anymore. I couldn’t wait until
it was as long as it used to be. Daniel’s fingers getting lost in my long hair
was going to be wonderful.

Looking around the tidy room I had been ushered into by Tizoc’s sisters,
I located a towel. Drops of water rolled down the length of my body when I
stood. Wrapping the towel around my torso, I stepped out of the basin. As soon
as my bare foot touched the floor, Teiuc appeared in the curtained doorway of
the room.

“Are you finished?” Her big coal-colored eyes met mine.

“Yes,” I said. “The bath was lovely. Thank you.”

Teiuc stepped closer to me. She held in her arms a colorful swath of
thick fabric. “Here,” she said. “You can wear this while you dry off.”

I wrapped it around me, wearing it like a robe, and slipped out of the
wet towel.

“Sit here.” Teiuc indicated a small stool in front of a rounded,
jet-black sliver of obsidian rock sitting atop a simple table. She moved to
stand behind me, and I could see us both at once in the glassy surface of the
polished rock. I stared a bit, looking at my own reflection, which I had not
seen in all the months we had been at sail. I barely recognized the image that
stared back at me. The resemblance to my mother was still there, waiting to be
unleashed again.  

Teiuc was lean and tall like me, but the similarities ended there. I was
pale-skinned while she was dark. Sky-blue eyes against coal-black. Blonde hair
versus ebony.

“Do all the women in England look as you do?” Teiuc asked.

“No. Some people have brown hair, or red, or black, like yours. Our eye
colors differ as well.”

Teiuc examined me in the reflective stone for several long moments.

“Tizoc has told me stories of England. I do not think I would like it
there.”

“Not everyone in England wants to take you as slaves,” I said quietly. “I
am sorry Tizoc had to have that experience.”

“He was gone for five years before he could get away and come home,”
Teiuc said. “Your Englishmen took him and did not treat him like the warrior
and prince he is. They made him sick, beat him.” Her voice cracked a little as
she spoke, her emotions flooding over her.

I thought of the single scar I had seen on Tizoc’s arm when I first met
him. How many more scars did he have that I couldn’t see?

And did she say
prince
?   

I turned around on the stool to face Teiuc. “How did he come back?”

At this question she smiled. “My brother is clever. He hid on an English
ship heading back this way. Stayed in the hold for months, eating little,
moving little. When the ship landed on our shores, he slipped out and returned
home. He was not well when he came back to us, but he fought to get better. We
were so overjoyed.” The sadness that had been in her eyes was replaced with a
pride in her brother’s resolve to return to his family.

“He taught you all English?” I asked.

“Yes. Tizoc said we needed to know it so none of us would be misled by
Englishmen ever again.”    

“He is a good brother,” I said, thinking of my own and fingering the
seashell still around my neck.

“He protects us.” Teiuc’s eyes softened. “Someday he will protect all the
Sunal. He has been chosen.”

“Yes,” I said. “He told me that’s why his eyes are so unusual.”

“Sun fire,” she whispered, her own eyes growing wide. She believed in
him.

For some reason, I did too.

Er
é
ndira,
Yaretzi, and Xochitl came in, their hands full of brightly colored fabrics.
Teiuc gave my shoulder a little squeeze then turned to her sisters.