The Pirate and the Amber Cat 12
Chapter 12
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Earlier that previous night, Juriz had sat in a private room at a Leneau tavern with an older man for two hours debating Cortleno's demands. Their arguments had resulted in few courses of action, and the option presenting itself was not met with enthusiasm by Juriz
His dark eyes glowered at the tankard of ale before him. "I don't like it, Maren. It's not right. There's got to be a way around—"
"There isn't," the older man intruded harshly, his thin fingers on the younger man's wrist. "Juriz, I've seen nuances like this operate before, and one with the bearing of this can bring down your whole fortune, and future." He leaned closer to Juriz, his voice low. "This is only the finger to a much larger problem; but if you take that finger it drags out a hand, and the whole bloody skeleton comes with it."
Juriz heard the advisor's words, but did not like their impact. He pulled his wrist from the man. Maren had been a respectable counselor for the Shaenen family for years, one of their longest employees. He scowled at the tavern maid when she came in and ordered her to leave. He turned back to Maren. "All right. We'll do as you say." He took a deep breath, cursing at the poor quality of ale. "We'll have to send a dispatch to Lusson immediately."
Maren smiled with satisfaction. "You're wise, Juriz. Methden would be proud. He would understand there is no way around this problem. I'll make arrangements for the house, and have excuses sent."
Juriz nodded. "I'll seal the letter to the king myself."
The fog thickened for two days, but on the third lifted slowly. A hazy sun slowly burned away all remaining fog surrounding the Lita Nysse by noon, raising the crew's spirits. An easy breeze had carried the ship north, but Cortleno was in no hurry to reach Cold Rock.
Suili scowled at the sight of only half the sails filled that afternoon. Even she knew full sail would be quicker. Cortleno had already voiced his preference to spending the extra time at sea rather than in port.
She leaned on the Nysse's rail, the gentle breeze catching her amethyst skirts as she watched the whales surfacing off the port bow. As she listened to Lucas beside her speak of the slate whales he called gray-bellies, she saw smaller animals near them leaping and arching over the cobalt waters.
"What are those?"
"Silver dolphins," Lucas explained, pointing to two dolphins lagging behind the pack of five. "The males have green on their noses." He handed her a scope.
She looked through the glass, spotting the slower dolphins. "Are they chasing them?"
"No, just playing."
She gave the scope back and looked to where Cortleno stood at the opposite side of the ship, watching her and the first mate. Her attention turned to the flag Lucas used to tie back his dark hair.
"How long have you been on the Nysse, Lucas?" she asked casually, her attention back on the whales.
"Six years." He glanced sideways at her. "He will let you go in Cold Rock, Dai Shaenen."
She didn't look at him, but frowned as one of the whales spouted water. "Are you from the Tiil Islands?"
"Yes."
"Why do you wear their flag like that? Are you a traitor?"
He laughed in a way that made a chill sweep up her spine. "No."
"Who does the Captain want in exchange for me?" Her eyes went over the water as the whales moved father out. When Lucas didn't answer, she looked to see that he was gone and Cortleno now stood by her side.
"Get any information out of Lucas?" he asked, grinning.
Her frown deepened and she mumbled a new curse she had learned.
"Perhaps you didn't approach him right." He leaned on the rail next to her, watching the shawl move in the increasing wind. "Lucas responds more agreeably to other feminine persuasion."
Her eyes went to his hastily. "Do you have to twist everything into perversion?"
"I thought I'd save you time discovering the best way to milk answers out of the crew," he said with a shrug.
Her chin tilted. "I don't care that much."
"Good, because it's not a good practice to tantalize even—"
"I do not tantalize," she denied flippantly. "I only asked him a few questions."
"When you're the only woman aboard, a few questions can be mistaken for an invitation of sorts."
The sincerity in his tone made her look to him again. "I only asked simple questions," she said candidly, brushing her hair away as the wind threw it in her face. "He was talking about the gray-bellies, and I asked him who you wanted in trade for me."
He nodded. "He didn't tell you."
Her attention dropped to where a few of the dolphins were racing along the hull of the ship. "Why does it matter if I find out?"
"Why do you want to know?"
She frowned at him. "You're going through a lot of trouble for someone, Captain, and since my freedom depends on it, I think I should know."
He smiled at her reasoning. "You are a good deal of trouble, Dai Shaenen," he admitted, watching the whales move out of sight. "I suppose you do deserve to know, but I believe it's best you do not."
She licked her lips, taking a deep breath. "Why not go about this another way?" He looked to her and she added quickly: "Surely there were other, simpler means of getting, well, getting whomever you want."
He leaned back on the rail and crossed his arms, returning her intent attention. "You are not my first attempt, Suili," he conceded with a sigh. "I've tried other ways, and healthy bribery, too, but they resulted in worse conditions for my interest. When I heard Shaenen was soon to be married, and that his future bride was already in his house, it seemed natural to reason he would value your safe return."
She looked back to the sea, but her focus was not on the waves. "And then you found out it was an arranged marriage and you're not sure Juriz holds my life so precious. Maybe all your trouble is for nothing." She had to force the words out and they left a foul taste in her mouth.
He saw the pout pull at her lips and the threat of storm in her eyes. "You've said on several occasions that Juriz Shaenen is an honorable and prominent man whom King Gade holds in high esteem," he reminded steadily, watching the sunlight play in her hair. "Your betrothal was sealed when you were born, and you've grown up in his uncle's house. If you believe all that, Suili Brijholn, then your affianced husband will uphold his duty, and come for you with the ransom."
She looked to him dubiously. "What kind of trick is this?" Earnesty replaced signs of tears in her eyes. "Why do you say that?"
He gestured without meaning. "No trick, Suili. If what you say about Shaenen is true, this ordeal is but a delay of your wedding. An interesting story to tell your grandchildren on dull days. Juriz will meet us in Cold Rock with your ransom."
"He will," she said with more assurance than she felt. Unconsciously her fingernails dug into the ship rail. "But you don't think so, do you?"
He saw through her false courage. "I hope he is there. Perhaps even more than you do."
PG13. #romance #cleanromance #teenromance #YA #fantasy #pirateromance #pirates #ambercat #ChancelJordan
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