The Pirate and the Amber Cat 23

Chapter 23

"Stop being a pirate for a moment . . .”

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She lay awake that night, listening to the gentle creak of the ship as it moved slowly under the now lagging sails. The storm had passed quickly and taken most of the wind with it, except for an occasional gust.

She laid still, her face to the window so Cortleno wouldn't know she was awake. She didn't let herself entertain the thought of going back to her father's house. That would also be an admission of Juriz's guilt.

Brimshire, she told herself silently. That was her hope. She pulled the comforter closer, a sigh escaping her. Even if she could get away from Cortleno in town, there was the trial of journeying back to the valley on foot, without money. This realization didn't please her. Either she would have to turn beggar or thief—fast—or explore other unseemly means of support she refused to consider.

But there would be no time for any action of that sort. Cortleno would have every man in his crew scouring the port for her. She frowned, not liking that idea at all.

She sighed and looked to the fire burning brightly in the hearth. The room was far too warm, and while the window near Cortleno was partway open, the still night air allowed little breeze now. She glanced to the hammock, listening to him snore, and then quietly went to her own window.

She opened the shutter only a hand's breadth before halting abruptly. A sound other than the snapping fire met her ears, and it came from outside. The dark outline of another ship loomed nearby on the waters in the moons' light.

Not again! She held her breath, crouching near the sill as she peeked out. The dip of galley oars made swells of water ripple as the ship moved toward the unsuspecting Nysse.

She moved swiftly to the hammock. "Cortleno," she whispered. She clutched his arm, her fingernails planted in his skin. "Cortleno!"

His hand snatched hers warily, his eyes darting to her other free hand for signs of attack.

She only leaned closer to him. "There's a ship outside." She urgently nodded to the starboard window. "There."

In seconds he was at the window, eyes moving uneasily over the foreign ship. He closed and locked the shutter quickly, noiselessly.

"Now listen carefully, Suili," he said tightly, his hands on her shoulders. "Put on your parka and boots and don't say anything."

"They're attacking us? Another?"

"Yes." He stepped past her and tore down the hammock, then pulled a rope hanging from the corner beam.

She heard a low rumble in the front of the ship as the crew responded to the forecastle bell.

"The lookout should have spotted it."

"Maybe he's dead."

"They're not Cyntian."

She quickly took the cape from the armoire as he locked the windows and chose weapons from the case. Her trembling hands refused to work the cape buckles as she muttered curses.

Cortleno turned her around and deftly fastened the buckles at her chest. "I'm putting out the fire. When I leave, you dump this in the ashes," he instructed and held out a clay jug from another cupboard. "It'll be a little smoky for a while, so cover your mouth. Here. Take this, too."

She took the jug and long knife he gave her. "Who are they?"

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter right now. Sit tight, Suili."

He led her to the mantle and doused the fire with water, then left, locking both doors. She poured the jug's contents over the glowing embers and held an arm over her nose as the smell of scorched vinegar filled the dark room. When the jug was empty, she grabbed her boots and retreated behind the folding screen where the smoky stench wasn't as heavy.

Her stomach shifted from the thick cabin air, but it lurched when the sound of bloodthirsty cries suddenly ripped through the night. She wrapped the cape cowl around her face and struggled to pull on the boots in the dark. She knew the long laces were cross-strung and knotted, but she didn't care. The room had cooled considerably and the smoked thinned, but the strong acidic smell lingered.

The attack waged long into the night, with Suili cringing and wincing with every scream and oath from the deck. She sat on the dressing stool while thoughts of the attack and being confiscated by another ship of pirates flashed through her mind. Worse yet, the predator ship was not under sail power alone, but included a force of galley slaves.

Before she could fully comprehend how she would be affected if Cortleno's men lost tonight, the sounds of the battle lessened. She breathed easier for the next hour, her knees chilling in the cool, dark cabin, relieved the fighting seemed to be about over.

This time she declined the temptation to try unlocking a window shutter. As she was wondering the outcome, the outside office door opened and voices came to her. She recognized those of Cortleno and Lucas, and came out from behind the screen. A dim light shone through the grate as she waited expectantly.

". . . and come back," Cortleno was saying as he unlocked the bedroom door. "Brons, you build a fire," he called back into the first room.

In torchlight Suili's eyes rested on his reddened sleeve as he entered. "You're hurt."

He held up a hand as she came near. "Just stay there, and keep your parka on. It'll take a while for the room to get warm again."

She glanced to where Brons had lifted the fireplace grate from the other side and was coaxing a fire. She took Cortleno's torch and used it to light the hanging lantern and table lamp. "Do you have an arm under there or is it just a stump?"