The Pirate and the Amber Cat 30

Chapter 30

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The strong northern Kacerak winds filled the Lita Nysse's sails, stretching the canvas and pulling at taut ropes. The air was cold, not merely chilly, and the afternoon waves capped a solid while against the bounding hull.

Lucas and one of the Hemtitti men were angling fishing lines baited with lard over the ship's rail out of boredom rather than hunger, but their efforts found little reward. Suili watched their sport, understanding how even such a chancy pastime could prove moderately interesting if one had been at sea too long.

Suili herself was not bored. She had spent the first day they left Cold Rock feeling hurt, and the second, angry, during which she had hurled the carnelian and onyx signet ring into the cobalt Rellion waters. Now, several days later, she was resentful and even a bit belligerent, but an increasing sense of obligation weighted her.

Refusing to return to Luxil was not entirely to save her father's dignity, as she wanted Cortleno to believe.

If Juriz thought her dead, the letter may already be on its way to her family under a Shaenen sail. Her appearance, especially by an accommodating pirate, wouldn't project an honesty to her father. He would question her morals, her affections and loyalty, and probably come to a conclusion even she would find conceivable. It would not only be an inaccurate determination, but may result in Cortleno being hanged for his trouble.

She looked to the quarterdeck steps as he climbed the short flight to the cabin roof.

"Spot any whales?"

"No."

"Dolphins?"

She shook her head as he leaned on the rail beside her and watched the churning sea.

After a moment he looked at her hand now minus the ring. "You've done a lot of thinking the last few days. What's on your mind?"

She let herself study his profile, admitting his features more than simply personable. Her eyes went to the water below. "You."

"Me?"

She nodded and faced him with a directness he had seen her exhibit more lately. "It's very considerate of you to offer me passage to Luxil."

This time he nodded, but not necessarily because he agreed. "You should never have been a part of this, Suili. It was a mistake to take you."

She smiled knowingly, and looked back out over the azure waters. "You only say that now because it was a failure."

"True," he said slowly. "But I do mean it. This was not your problem."

She sighed, scowling at the sea. "It is now."

He watched her eyes move over the choppy waters as a couple of gulls called from overhead. "You haven't asked what will happen to you."