The Pirate and the Amber Cat 21

Chapter 21

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The unsettling ordeal lingered with Suili and the crew the next day as the Nysse headed for Cold Rock. She watched as the men treated each other's wounds on deck and recounted individual fights. She tried not to listen, but a few stories demanded her attention. She learned that the Cyntian dead and dying alike were left to hang from the black ship as warnings to other similarly minded Cyntian vessels.

She knew she had lingered too long when Lucas explained to Brons that none of the wounded Cyntians would survive for long dangling from the black sails. It had been the first mate's idea to clip their wings, as he termed it, by driving a knife deep under each Cyntian man's arm before being hoisted by their wrists. Brons had thought it a good idea and said so, adding that this would encourage the pellums. Suili had quickly moved to the quarterdeck to deck to escape further details.

Later that evening, she was glad to be alone in the cabin bedroom. Cortleno said they would be docking yet again before reaching Cold Rock and the announcement, coupled with the attack and Lucas' account, left her in foul spirits.

With a cautious glance at the door, she took the wedding gown from the armoire, seeking a distraction from thoughts of the previous night. Again the touch of the luxurious material eclipsed the meaning of the dress. She smiled, pulling the collar to her chest, and looked at her reflection in the armoire mirror. The heavy satin swept the floor as she held it higher.

The opalescent pearls caught the dim lamplight, blinking minute borealis rainbows of color when she turned sideways. She had only seen bolts of the material and the seamstress' sketches for the dress during fittings the past year and she was pleased with the results. After a little deliberation, she took another look out the door to the office and closed it completely.

Behind the changing screen, the gown settled over her in smooth folds, draping her figure loosely. She didn't try to lace the back by herself, but held it closed with one hand and stood before the armoire mirror again. She frowned, noting the slackness in the front pleats of the skirt, and pulled the back tighter. The past few days of little appetite now showed. She took a deep breath and turned, scowling at the mirror. She would have to change her melancholy habits if she wanted to properly fill out the dress for her postponed wedding.

She smoothed the bodice, then pulled her hair high over her head in loose twists. She turned again, and another movement in the room made her look to the door.

In a moment of awkwardness, she could only return Cortleno's stare as he paused in the open doorway. She instinctively reached for the flannel cote.