Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) (29 page)

Our very souls were linked.

****

Tizoc’s family went down to visit him in small groups as Daniel and I
manned the
Charlotte
. It felt good to be aboard a ship again, the warm
breeze caressing my face, the sea air filling my lungs. We had looked back in
the direction of Ezenoch only once. Although we had been relieved to find that
no Spaniards pursued us, the orange-red glow of fire and the thick, smoky
clouds rising up from the land were heartbreaking. There would be nothing left
of the great Sunal city when the morning sun had reached its pinnacle in the
sky. The Spaniards and their heartless leader, Salazar, would claim victory
with their stolen riches while the Sunal suffered. Such a beautiful paradise
lost over gold and gems.

Daniel’s arm slipped around my waist as I leaned against the portside
rail. His touch always made the gloomy thoughts scatter.

“Mmm.” His throat rumbled next to my ear. “Now this feels right, doesn’t
it?”

“This feels exactly right.” I leaned my head back so it rested on his
shoulder. “She’s a fine vessel, Daniel. Well built and reliable. Like you.”

His chuckle was soft, his breath tickling my neck. He turned me around so
I faced him, our eyes locking onto one another’s. I studied his face for a
moment, taking in the triangle of freckles on his right cheek, the light brown
stubble along his jaw and around his mouth, and the deep blue of his eyes.

Reaching my hands up, I clasped them behind his neck, some of my fingers
exploring farther up into his hair. His hand followed the same path on me and
soon was good and tangled in my loose tresses. When Daniel leaned closer and
found my lips with his, I dined on him, filling myself with his taste and
relishing his touch. The kiss grew heated, and my heart drummed in my chest as
I pushed aside all the horrors we had witnessed. I focused on that moment,
letting him explore my lips, my cheeks, my neck, until I forgot where we were.
I lost myself in him and didn’t care to be found any time soon. A satisfied
sigh told me he felt the same.

We kissed for a bit longer before a sudden gust of wind caused the
Charlotte
to heel. The tipping of the boat sent Daniel’s body forward so he pressed
against me. All of our edges touched. I squeezed him closer still, and he
nibbled on my ear before straightening himself, allowing some space between us.
He ran his finger along my cheek, and I instantly wanted him to touch me
everywhere.

I wasn’t sure how much longer I could wait to become Daniel’s wife.

Agreeable winds and favorable weather carried us northeast with little
incident. The other Sunal had moved onto a smaller sloop, the
Swell
, we
managed to pick up at a brief stop on shore along the way. We traded some gold
the Sunal had brought for it. Matlal and Yaretzi moved to that boat because it
needed captaining, and Matlal had proven to be the quickest learner as well as
the one most interested in sailing.

While I was first mate to Daniel and taking turns at the helm, Xochitl,
so round with child by now, tended to Tizoc when I could not be with him. He’d
tried healing himself as he had healed Daniel, but his injured and weakened
physique wouldn’t allow it. Unfortunately, he had to get better the
old-fashioned way.

In the evenings, before I went to sleep under the stars with Daniel by my
side, I visited Tizoc.

“
Cihuapilli
, I feel awful taking up this cabin while you have to
sleep outside on wooden floor boards,” Tizoc said one night when I went to see
him.

“Don’t.” I waved my hand in dismissal. “There’s something about sleeping
under the blanket of the night sky that agrees with me. Besides, I slept on the
floor of the
Rose
when I sailed from England.”

Tizoc flashed a bright white smile at me. “My family calls you
Cihuapilli
,
yet you are more daring than any princess I’ve ever known.”

“And how many princesses have you known?” I helped Tizoc get to his feet.
He had been trying to walk around more. Each night he walked with more
stability. He leaned on me less and looked more like the warrior I knew.

When he didn’t answer my question right away, I paused at the top of the
ladder, waiting for him to steady himself on the top deck.

“Well?” I said. “How many?”

He drew in a deep breath and stretched in a cat-like fashion. Holding
onto my arm for support, Tizoc navigated us over to the starboard bow. When we
got to the railing, he transferred his hand to the rail and set his
honey-colored eyes on the moon.

“I’m waiting.” I poked him in the upper arm.

“All right,” he said around a grin. “My father was an official to the
emperor, Charlie, so I’ve met several princesses. When looking for a mate, a
Sunal princess sets her sights on only two things—a prince or a warrior. I am
both.”

“I see.” A burning sensation soaked into my belly at the thought of a
Sunal princess setting her sights on Tizoc.
My
Tizoc.

“There was one. Her name was Ixchell which means rainbow.” Tizoc lowered
his eyes from the moon to look out over the silver shimmers on the water. “We
got along well and spent a great deal of time together.”

I watched Tizoc’s profile as he spoke and was not entirely sure I wanted
to hear any more of this tale. Foolish. I had no right to be jealous that
someone had been interested in him long before I had set foot on Sunal soil. Besides,
I had made my choice and was more than happy with it too.

But still…

“Her father and mine began making arrangements as is our custom and
neither Ixchell nor myself had minded. She was a suitable match for me, and
there were feelings between us.” When Tizoc turned to look at me, the sadness
in his eyes seemed bottomless.

“What happened?”

“I got taken to England. By the time I returned, her father had made
arrangements with a prince from the next
calpulli,
and Ixchell was
living there already. With her new mate.”

“Did she know you had returned?”

“Yes, but she was with child so…” He refocused his eyes on the water.
“The time had passed for us.”

I rested my hand on his forearm. “I hope the new life you are going to
start in Florida brings you everything you want.”

“You know what I want.” His voice was low and settled in my head, maybe
in my heart. “But once again, the time is not right.”

“I’m sor—”

His fingers came up to cover my lips, his warmth seeping into me. “Do not
apologize,
Cihuapilli
. You have done nothing wrong. You love Daniel and
you must follow your heart. Always.”

He slid his hand over to cup my cheek, and I pressed into it.

“You’ll find happiness too,” I said.

“We’ll see.” He let his hand slip away and gazed at the moon again.
“We’ll see.”

****

As we sailed along the next day, more and more boats crossed our path.
Carracks, caravels, sloops, and galleons among other kinds of vessels bobbed
around their anchors. On the land itself, small camps had been set up on the
white sands hugging the crystal blue water.

“Is this Florida?” I asked Daniel.

We were at the helm while all our other passengers, including Tizoc,
scanned the shoreline.

“Let’s stop and see.” Daniel tugged on my arm until I was in front of him
and gripping the wheel that he had let go. Stepping back, he clamped his hand
on Tizoc’s shoulder in a companionable way. “She looks good behind the wheel.”

“Charlotte steering the
Charlotte
,” Tizoc said.
She always
looks good.

I flicked my gaze to Tizoc’s at his thoughts, and he offered me a slow
smile.

Daniel turned to the port side and pointed over the railing. “See that
spot right there, Charlie? Between the two caravels?”

I looked between Daniel and Tizoc. “I see it.”

“Aim us there, and I’ll get some volunteers to take the sails down. We’ll
lower the anchor and see where we are.” Turning to Tizoc, he said, “Can you
inform Matlal and Yaretzi of our plans?”

“Already have.” Tizoc tapped his temple.

Daniel enlisted Acalon and Itzli to assist with the sails.

Tizoc stood for a moment longer, just looking at me.

“What?” He made me sweat when his tiger eyes were on me like that.

The closer we get to our destination, the closer you get to being
Daniel’s wife
.

Daniel was busy instructing Acalon and Itzli who had both climbed up the
mast to fuss with furling the sails.

And the closer you get to leading your people to a new home. To
fulfilling your destiny,
I reminded him.
You will be too busy to think
of me.
I looked to the bow, gauging our course.

I doubt it,
Cihuapilli
. I will always think of you.

With that thought, he walked toward Daniel and proceeded to help him
ready the anchor. How could a plain girl from Southampton—disguised as a boy
most of the time, no less—have earned the love of
two
incredible men?

It didn’t add up.

Shaking my head, I focused on the task at hand and guided the
Charlotte
into the free space of water between two caravels. The
Swell
readied her
anchor as well. Our sails were nearly furled in all the way with the exception
of a small slice Daniel was using to carry us forward. Acalon and Itzli had
climbed down the mast and stood ready with the anchor hanging over the
starboard bow. Tizoc had some line coiled around his arm, waiting to release it
with the anchor.     

I guided the boat toward its destination when something on the transom of
the caravel to the right of us caught my attention. A lump formed in my throat.
I blinked several times, but I was not imagining things. In bold, fancy
lettering stood the name of the vessel beside us.

Emily
. My mother’s name. My father’s ship.

****

More time must have passed than I had realized after seeing my father’s
boat bobbing beside the
Charlotte
. It had felt like seconds, but when I
was able to tear my gaze away from my mother’s name on the back of the caravel,
our anchor had already been tossed into the water and our sails completely
stowed away. The other ship in our tiny fleet was also settled behind us,
spiraling around its anchor line.

“Do you want to move the boat to another spot?” Daniel placed his hand on
my arm, causing me to meet his gaze.

“Move the boat?”

“Yes,” he said. “So we’re not next to your father’s.”

“Her father’s?” Tizoc said.

Daniel pointed to the
Emily
. “That’s Captain James Denham’s ship.
Charlie’s father.”

“They’re here,” I said softly. “They’re all here.”

Daniel’s face morphed into a scowl. “I’m eager to meet your brothers,
Charlie, but…” He ran his hand through his hair and paced away from me.

I released my grip on the wheel. Something stirred up in my stomach and
had taken over my body.

“We have as much a right as he does to be here. Maybe more so.”

I thrust up my chin as Ghost hopped up onto the starboard rail. He cackled
at a bird that was perched on the main mast of the
Emily
and whipped his
tail back and forth.

I walked over to Ghost and stroked his back. “Exactly what I was thinking.”

****

Along with the Sunal on the
Swell
, Acalon and Xochitl volunteered
to stay behind on the
Charlotte
. Getting in and out of a dory was not
something Xochitl was of a mind to do presently. Their little one was due to
make an appearance any day now. Though Xochitl looked uncomfortable, a
beautiful glow surrounded her that only beamed brighter when she saw Acalon.
They were going to be wonderful parents.

Parents.

I heaved in a deep breath as I climbed into the dory after Tizoc.
Settling in my seat and gripping an oar, I glared at the
Emily
beside
us. She had undergone some maintenance. My father had no doubt made some
successful merchant runs, which had allowed him to spend some of his earnings
on improvements to his ship. I clenched a fist around the oar.

How could he devote so much attention to a boat and nothing to me?

Childish. After everything I had experienced on my own without my
father’s consent, I had no use for wallowing. Despite his efforts to stop me, I
had made it to the Americas, made wonderful friends, fought like a warrior, and
was ready to marry a magnificent man.

It’s not childish. It’s human.
Tizoc’s voice filled my head.

I shook my head as Daniel got in the dory, and it was lowered to the
water.

Besides,
Tizoc continued,
you are part of my family now. That
will never change.

I half-smiled at him as he dipped his oar in the water in front of me and
rowed toward the shore. Lowering my own oar, I focused on the smooth, even
strokes and the steady swish of the water. I zoomed in on the muscles in
Tizoc’s back as he rowed. A tug at the end of my braid from behind had me
glancing over my shoulder at Daniel. His blue eyes were filled with the same
doubts I had swirling in my head. My father’s dismissal of him in Southampton
had not been forgotten.

We rowed on in silence until the tip of the dory slid onto the shore.
Itzli and Daniel leaped out first, followed by the rest of us. While Citlali
and Yaoti walked up the beach, we hauled the dory through the sand so
three-fourths of it rested out of the water. Grabbing what little gear we
carried with us on this exploratory visit, we abandoned the dory and headed
toward the first cluster of tents.

Daniel took the lead, like a good captain, as I followed behind him. If
we were truly in Florida, Riley had been accurate in his description of it. The
fauna, beach, and water didn’t look that different from what I had seen when we
first made landfall near Tizoc’s homeland. Dark greens colored the land in
dense pockets while the crystal blue water licked the fine, white sands. Bright
flowering plants dotted the green, and the warm air was calm, soothing. I was
almost relaxed.

Almost.

“I’m going to ask them about the area.” Daniel indicated a group of men
in front of a large tent nearby. Some of the men in that group were regarding
us. 

“I’m going with you.” I stepped past Daniel before he could stop me but
not before he could catch up with me.

“Hold it!” He grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward him. “Of course
you can come with me. Partners, remember? But you don’t barge up to a bunch of
sailors you don’t know.” He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a
breath.

“Why not?” I said.

Daniel opened and closed his mouth several times without anything coming
out. A smile settled on his lips, and I couldn’t help grinning back.

“Life isn’t going to be boring with you, is it?” he asked, taking my hand
in his.

“No, Captain. It isn’t.”

Laughing, Daniel tugged me forward while he called over his shoulder.
“Tizoc, are you coming?”

Tizoc scanned the group of men and shook his head. “I will stay with my
kin.”

Daniel nodded. “We’ll find out what we can and be right back.”

As we approached the men, they stopped talking amongst themselves. One of
them, a short fellow, probably thirty years of age, emerged from the group.

“Can I help you?” he said in an accent not unlike our own.

“Are you from England, sir?” Daniel asked.

“Aye, as are you?”

“Yes.” Daniel extended his left hand. “I’m Daniel Connor.”

The man paused for a moment, studying us, before accepting Daniel’s hand
and looking past us. “William Anderson. Who else have you got with you?”

“Charlotte,” I said before Daniel could introduce me. I wasn’t quite
ready for the Denham name to be tossed out there. Not yet.

“Miss,” William said, bowing to me. “And those folks that got off with
you? Where are they from?”

“They’re Sunal,” Daniel replied. “From Ezenoch, a magnificent city that
used
to be southwest of here.”

“Used to be?”

“It was attacked—”

“By Salazar!” William shouted, causing both Daniel and me to jump back a
bit.

“Yes,” I said. “How did you know?”

“They passed through here, but Florida is a Spanish claim already, so he
continued on his way in search of gold.”