The Pirate and the Amber Cat 24

Chapter 24

"It was very unlike a hostage to aid her captor."

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Cortleno awoke a few hours later as day broke across the Rellion Ocean. He was exclusively conscious of a dull ache in one arm and a sharper pain at his side. For a moment he lay still, puzzled at the angle of the ceiling beams until remembering he was in the bed rather than the hammock.

The fire was low and the darkened room too cool for comfort, but the skin beneath his hand was warm and soft. He looked at the foot in his clasp and then up at the rest of Suili. Her sleeping form huddled at the opposite headboard post, her back to him and her face turned and hidden by cascades of auburn tresses. The mauve flannel cote rose and fell with her breathing and her fingers at her crossed arms clutched the material tightly.

He sat up carefully, holding his injured ribs. He took a deep breath and spent a moment examining the patchwork Suili had performed after he had fallen asleep. The swelling was down and the bruising had spread across his ribs, but the neat stitches held his lacerated skin when he stood up. He wrapped a length of cloth from the sea chest around the injury for support and tied it, then built up the dying fire.

He went to the bedside and pushed Suili's hair back from her face, her cheek cool to his touch. "Lay down," he said when her eyes opened.

She only stared vacantly at him.

"You're freezing, girl. Lay down."

She obeyed, eyes closing again before her head found the pillow. She turned over and moved to the side of the mattress still warm from where he had lain. He pulled the blanket high over her and tucked in her stray foot.

As he found a clean shirt in the wardrobe, someone pounded angrily on the outside stair door in the office. He went there and opened it to see Lucas.

The mate's face broke into a crooked grin. "I see you lived. Thought we'd be throwing your carcass overboard this morning."

Cortleno let him in and closed the door. "Not unless she stuffed something in before sewing me up." He pulled on a corduroy coat from an office closet, grunting as the movement brought on more pain. "How's Manon?"

"He kept the arm."

"Good. Is Drevon sober?"

Lucas scowled at the shipmate's name. "Sober enough."

Cortleno nodded. "Assemble the men for a trial."

Suili awoke shortly after Cortleno left, when the room grew too warm. She looked automatically to the hammock, which drooped unstrung in the corner. The preceding night's events sprang into her mind, giving a new light to the empty cabin. Her hand slid over the mattress where she had last seen Cortleno. Lucas' dark promise came to her memory.

When Suili appeared on the hazy morning deck after hastily dressing, the quartermaster was collecting his whip and a bloody Drevon was being untied and led to the hold. She quickly looked away, her questions answered, but what her eyes rested on gave her new fears. She had seen all of the Nysse's crew at one time or another, but she recognized none of the men now standing at the rail.

And they had noticed her presence, too.

She stepped back at their overt curiosity and recoiled when a hand took her arm. Her frown dissolved when she saw it was Cortleno.

"You should sleep longer," he said, blocking her view of the strange men. "It's early yet."

She cautiously looked around him. "Who are they?"

"Part of the Shark's galley crew. The rest are in the hold." Before she could voice an accusation, he added, "These have decided to join my crew. The others will be released when we dock."

"I wasn't going to suggest you would sell them," she said with a sigh, pulling her cape tighter and looking at his coat. "How do you feel?"

"All right. I appreciate your compassion last night," he said lowly, watching her expression change to guardedness. "It was very unlike a hostage to aid her captor."

She kept his level stare. "Lucas insisted that you at least live through the night."

An amused smile crossed his face. "I believe that was after you had finished—"

"Do you want me to say I'm sorry I did it?" she asked heatedly, suddenly uncomfortable. "I'll rip the stitches out to prove it, if you like."

"That's not necessary. Thank you, all the same. Now go back to the cabin," he said in stricter tones. "The deck's not been cleaned yet."

A pungent smell reached her nose as he said it and she looked at the buckets of vinegar and lye being brought out by the crew.

"Why did you have me pour vinegar on the fire last night?" she asked, inquisitiveness replacing her irritation.

"I don't suppose you've noticed, but the whole cabin smells like jasmine and sandalwood. I'm not complaining," he said. "I rather like it; but it's not a good idea to let an attacking ship know there's a woman aboard."

"I see." She tried to swallow the alarm that arose within her at his answer. "I didn't think of that. Thank you."

He nodded and focused past her to where a few of the new men had wandered for a better glimpse of her. "Come on. Brons will knock twice when he brings your breakfast."

Suili opened the bedroom and one office window in the hot cabin when she returned. She knew the Nysse was little more than a day's travel to land by the sheer number of gulls and jaegers in the sky, and also by the warmer eastern breeze from the mainland. The drastic climate changes amazed her, but she didn't complain about this one. She let the fire reduce to a modest flame, knowing it was more dampness than cold that lingered in the rooms.

After breakfast she casually brushed her hair, and, recalling the emerald necklace, took the pouch from the mantle. She fastened it around her neck and stood before the armoire, admiring the subtle flash of the gems at her throat. The topaz glinted in the late morning sun that streamed in the window as she moved.

She smiled, smoothing her dark green skirt and touching the braided gold trim. The necklace was a perfect accent for the skirt, and she recalled how well the lapis strand had matched the blue jacquard she had worn in Amstead. Her fingers twisted one of the emerald beads as she focused beyond her image in the glass.

That's it, she thought suddenly. She would wear the green skirt and necklace into town. Cortleno wouldn't think it suspicious. Once she escaped, she could sell the emeralds and have more than enough money to get home. She could even buy a horse!

Her face fell as she touched a small amber bead fondly. But it was a beautiful piece of jewelry. She didn't want to part with it. She looked at the carnelian and onyx signet ring on her finger. It was either part with the necklace or the ring, and she knew the emeralds would bring far more. Maybe she would sell them both. She sighed, feeling more disenchanted than delivered.

With deliberation, her chin tilted and she looked coldly at the necklace's reflection.

Yes, she would use them. She would have Juriz buy another, and if he refused, she would wait until he was out of the valley on business, and commission one herself.

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PG13. #romance #cleanromance #teenromance #YA #fantasy #pirateromance #pirates #ambercat #ChancelJordan