The Pirate and the Amber Cat 25

Chapter 25

Suili plans her escape.

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The Lita Nysse docked in Brimshire early the next morning as the sun warmed the bustling port traffic. Cortleno's men swarmed the thoroughfare quickly, most going to brothels, but a few to taverns, and one even paid a visit home. The galley slaves had been stiffly warned about detailing the events surrounding their new freedom and Cortleno made it clear their demise if they tried to connect him with the Shark.

Suili touched her hair nervously in the bedroom, wondering if the gold and bronze skirt was too heavy for the warm day. During the long, sleepless night she had reconsidered her escape and concluded that she would not attempt it that day. She would spend the morning docilely at Cortleno's arm without being too attentive or aloof, she hoped, and return to the ship with him that evening.

The auction for the Rak weapons would be tomorrow, she had heard, and he would be absent at least all morning. Tomorrow afternoon she was sure he would again let her accompany him into town, and that would be her best chance. It would be far simpler to hide for half a day than a full day, and he would be more at ease after the auction.

That was why she waited to wear the green skirt. It may be her only clothing for the entire journey and the velvet was the most durable fabric of her skirts. And, it matched the emerald necklace.

Last night she had also thought of another aspect of her escape. If she was successful tomorrow, Cortleno would probably continue on to Cold Rock without her, after abandoning his search, and keep his rendezvous with Juriz. He may even accomplish his goal of Joshan's release. She found herself hoping he did.

But Juriz wouldn't know she had escaped and was making her way home, and she was not sure Cortleno would tell him she had slipped away. He may claim to have already sold her, or killed her.

Even the truth would not set well with Juriz, she knew. An uneasiness welled within her. Juriz may ask for that match Cortleno desired. She wasn't confident Juriz the better swordsman. In fact, she was quite certain he was not.

Cortleno's hand covered hers on his arm. "What's on your mind?"

Suili looked to him quickly, at a loss for words as she loosened her tight clutch. "For a moment I, I thought the ground moved," she lied with a short laugh as they moved down the Brimshire street later that day. "I guess I've been on a ship too long. Can you get land sick?"

He nodded, grinning. "Believe it or not, yes. Do you want to go back to the Nysse?"

"Oh, no," she assured, relieved. "It just seemed odd to walk without allowing for a swaying floor, I guess."

"It's a lot worse after crossing the lower Rellion Ocean for seven or eight weeks, but you must remember that from your voyage to Ullira."

"That was a long trip."

The afternoon seemed to stretch endlessly before Suili as they visited various vendors and shops. For a short while she lost sight of her impending escape as she watched a juggler at the edge of the marketplace. Children crowded close to the entertainer as he requested more objects to toss. Soon his collection included a dried gourd, two goose eggs, a knotted scarf, a sandal, and a little girl's rag doll, which the girl gleefully watched cartwheel through the air.

After an early supper at a food house, Suili and Cortleno returned to the Nysse and this time he didn't go back into town alone. Suili almost preferred his absence to give her time to ready for her escape. There would be time enough tomorrow during the auction, she promised herself, and there were no real preparations to make. Only a mental readiness.

She watched what little activity there was to be seen at the next pier from the table window. Three sailors were staggering along the dock, arguing over which ship they belonged to. One fell into a drunken heap and his comrades continued on without him.

Evening was descending on the port, bringing a cooler breeze from the northwest that lifted the day's warmth. Again she was amazed at the marked weather changes. She untied the white chemise sleeve laces from her elbows as a chill crept into the air and asked Cortleno to fasten them at her wrists. She offered her arm across the table after he brought out the game board and pieces.

"Something simple, please," she added, recalling he had a tendency to tie hoisting knots with the laces, in which case she also needed help getting them untied. She tried not to sound too interested. "How long will we be in port?"

"We'll leave late tomorrow."

"Won't it put us behind to meet Juriz?"

"Don't worry about missing him, Suili. He can't possibly get there in the time we do." He watched her set up the last few carved pieces on the game board. "Besides, you're not anxious to go back to him."

She did not look up, but her fingers tightened on the miniature camel of petrified wood. "You don't read women very well," she said lightly, smiling slowly and reaching for her cup of cider.

"I know you well enough."

"Then you've fooled yourself."

The heliotrope lizard moved across from her onyx seal. "I don't think so. You never wanted to marry him, and now that you know he's a slaver, you're having even more doubts."

She laughed lowly and let her cat take his frog. "Cortleno, I never admitted to believing he's a slaver because I do not believe it."

"But you don't want to marry him," he persisted.

"I told you," she said, irritation rising, "that is not an issue. If you want to antagonize me, just tell me what you'll do if Juriz doesn't bring Joshan."

He scowled as she took his owl. "I'm not trying to nettle you, woman," he denied briskly.

"Don't," she said when he moved to fill her empty cup with rum.

For a few moments they played in silence. He frowned as she captured four of his carved animals. He had noticed changes in her since the Red Shark had attacked. She was playing unusually aggressive, but that had been a gradual improvement over the last few weeks.

True, she had not exactly confessed to believing his accusations, but he had evidence to prove her undecided. She did believe Joshan existed, and that was why she was unsure about her future. She hoped Juriz brought Joshan to Cold Rock to buy her release, but it also meant conceding what she didn't want to be true about her betrothed husband.

"Would you rather have sherry?"

She looked up from taking his coral bird. "No, thank you."

"Have you thought any more about going back to Luxil?"

She glanced at him narrowly. "And deprive you of freeing your brother?" She shook her head, lips pursed. "Juriz agreed to an exchange."

He leaned back in his chair, suddenly restless in the tepid evening after the much cooler ocean nights. "Well, there are ways around that. If you're interested."