“To raid?” Tristan’s hands shot up into the air. “God’s eyes, did you really think the women would be a part of such a thing?”
“Well . . . Gavina is yer wife, Cap’n,” Pate.
“That’s right,” added Coop. “She’s a pirate now.”
“Plus, Nairnie is yer grandmother,” added Stitch.
“I just figured they were family and did what the rest of us do,” Pate told him.
“Well, you figured wrong. All of you. Gavina and Nairnie would rather die than raid. Damn it! We’ve got to find them.” He raced back up to the sterncastle and looked over the sidewall, feeling bad luck encompassing them once again.
“Look!” shouted Aaron, already back climbing the rigging. He pointed out to sea. “That looks like one of our shuttles heading to that other ship.”
“Whose ship is it?” asked Tristan, squinting his eyes and trying to see the sails.
“I can’t tell, but I’ll start heading in that direction,” said Mardon.
“What is it?” Pate called out from the main deck. The rest of the men mumbled their confusion, not looking happy at all.
“It’s my wife,” Tristan called down to his crew. “It looks like she and Nairnie have been abducted by Noll and Wybert.”
“Who cares? Let them go,” called out one of his crewmen.
“You should all care, because now Noll and Wybert have the map,” said Tristan.
“We’ve got a copy, don’t we, Cap’n?” asked Goldtooth. “We’ll be able to get to the treasure first.”
“Aye, I know where the treasure is buried and that is why I called you all back to the Falcon,” Tristan announced. “We’re going after it right away.”
Cheers went up from the men, as they were elated to know they were about to become rich.
All of a sudden, Tristan could see the sails of the ship in the distance and also the figurehead on the bow.
“Quiet down,” he shouted, getting his crew’s attention once again. “We’ve got a little problem. Noll and Wybert now know where to find the treasure, and they’re headed straight for the Poseidon.”
“The Poseidon?” called out Stitch. “God’s eyes, I thought they were supposed to stay in the channel.”
“Aye, per our agreement, they were. Yet, here they are sailing our waters,” said Tristan. “Mardon get us out of here. Aaron, keep your eyes open from the lookout. We’ve got to catch Nereus’ ship and save my wife and Nairnie. Then we’ve got a treasure to find before they do.”
“You think we can do it?” asked Mardon, redirecting the helm.
“Well, I’d say we can either save the women or go for the treasure,” Tristan told him. “But between you and me, I honestly doubt we’ll be able to do both.”
Gavina now regretted being so angry with Tristan that she hadn’t even taken a moment to think that Noll and Wybert weren’t the best choices to ask for help. She should have heeded Nairnie’s warning about them. She looked back and could barely see the Falcon behind them. By the time that Tristan realized they were gone and came after them, it would be too late to save them. The shuttle approached the Poseidon, and Noll called out, cupping his hands to his mouth.
“Nereus, we’ve got a present for ye.”
“Who are ye scallywags?” Nereus, a large man with white hair looked over the side of the ship. He wore a tricorn hat and long coat and looked much older than Tristan.
“I’m Noll and this is Wybert.”
“Ye’re part of Tristan’s bloody crew from the Falcon, aren’t ye?”
“Aye, we are,” admitted Wybert.
“Why the hell is that scurvy dog sendin’ ye over to me?”
“He’s not. We’ve come to join yer crew now because we no longer want to follow Tristan,” Noll told him.
“Why the hell should I believe ye?” growled the man.
“Because, we brought ye Tristan’s wife and grandmother, as well as the map where the king’s treasure is hidden.”
“Map?” That got the pirate’s attention. “Let me see the map.” He leaned farther over the rail. “Hold it up. If it looks believable, I’ll lower the ladder.”
“It’s right here, on this wench’s back.” Wybert reached out with his dagger, ripping Gavina’s bodice down her back.
“Och! Nay. Leave me alone,” she cried out, holding the front of her bodice to her chest as it loosened.
“Dinna hurt her, ye fool!” shouted Nairnie, walloping Wybert on the back of the head with her hand since she didn’t have her ladle.
“I don’t see a map,” called out Nereus. “Ye’re lyin’.”
“Nay!” shouted Noll. “The old crone knows where to find the treasure. I heard her tell the captain myself.”
“I’m no’ tellin’ any of ye nothin’,” spat Nairnie.
Gavina was shaking her head trying to warn Nairnie not to admit it, but it was too late.
“Blethers, I shouldna have said that, should I?” Nairnie looked at Gavina apologetically and held her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, lass. I didna mean to,” she mumbled through her fingers.
“It’s all right, Nairnie.” Gavina had to find a way to get out of here before it was too late. Jumping into the water would only get her drowned since it was too far to swim for shore. Besides, Nairnie would never make it. Mayhap she could knock Wybert and Noll over the head and push them into the sea. Nay, she decided. She wasn’t strong enough to row fast enough before Nereus’ men came after them. She only had one idea left and that was to bargain with the bloody pirate. “Nereus, we’ll tell ye where to find the treasure if ye let us go,” she called up to the man.
“All right,” said the man, much too easily. “Drop the ladder and bring the wenches aboard.”
“Nay, we’ll tell ye from here,” she said. But, of course, the man didn’t go for it. Why did she think he would? She only hoped that she and Nairnie wouldn’t be beaten or whipped or raped once aboard Nereus’ ship.
“Nay, ye won’t,” spat the pirate. “Ye’ll come aboard my ship because this is where I conduct business, not out in the water.”
“Nairnie, I dinna like this,” Gavina whispered as they stood up and prepared to board.
“I willna tell them a thing. I promise,” Nairnie whispered back.
They got to the top of the ladder and the men pulled the women over the sidewall, throwing them to the ground. Gavina’s insides shook with fear, but she tried not to act frightened.
“My husband is Tristan, Pirate Lord of the Falcon,” she said, getting to her feet and helping Nairnie to stand. “He will hunt ye down like dogs once he discovers what happened.”
“I don’t care who ye are, I doubt that Tristan will come for ye at all,” said Nereus with a black-toothed grin. “Ye see, I know Tristan and his bothers pretty well. If they have to choose one, they’ll go after the treasure, not ye. Especially if they discover that I’m now aware of where to find the treasure, too.”
“Nay, ye dinna ken him. Tristan has a side of him that no one has ever seen. He would never choose treasure over me,” she cried out.
“Why no’?” asked someone from behind her. “It looks like more than just yer family will choose treasure over a wench!”
She turned around and her mouth fell open, because it was the last person she expected to see. “Birk?” she gasped, since she’d seen Tristan stab the man and leave him for dead. His body with all that blood on the floor around him was embedded in her mind. “How in heaven’s name are ye still alive?”
“I had chain mail under my tunic,” said the man, starting to laugh, making a face and holding his side since it seemed to hurt. “It was mostly a flesh wound that bled more than it should.” When he laughed again, he ended up coughing, grimacing, and holding his side, letting out a groan. “I lived, and that is all that matters. I told Nereus how I put the map on yer back.” He reached out and pulled the back of her ripped bodice down, exposing her bare back to the entire crew.
The men saw women and skin, and hu
rried closer.
“It’s gone,” said Birk. “What happened to it?”
“I scrubbed my skin until it hurt, tryin’ to get rid of yer stench on it,” she snarled.
“If ye want my stench on ye, then I’ll give it to ye, but with ye bent over the rail this time,” said Birk, reaching for her with one hand and the ties of his breeches with the other.
“Wait!” cried Nairnie, pushing her way over to Gavina. “Dinna do that.”
“Why no’, auld woman?” asked Birk.
“Because if anyone touches her, I’ll never tell ye where to find the treasure.”
“We’ll beat it out of the girl then,” said one of the crew.
“Nay,” pleaded Nairnie. “The map was on her back but she never saw it. So right now, I’m the only one who kens where to find that treasure. If anyone so much as touches or hurts the girl or me, I swear I’ll never tell ye where it is.”
“Kill the girl if the old hag doesn’t tell us where to find the treasure,” called out one of the crew.
Gavina’s knees shook nervously beneath her. The man made a good point. If Nairnie thought they were going to kill her, she would tell them what she knew to keep Gavina safe.
“My thoughts exactly,” said Nereus. “Tie the girl to the center mast and we’ll start by whippin’ her. Then ye’ll each get yer turn at the rail with her, and we’ll go from there.”
“Nay!” screamed Gavina, fighting frantically as the men dragged her to the center mast. As she struggled against them, her clothes started to expose more and more of her bare skin. She looked for Nairnie for help, but no longer saw her. Tears filled her eyes as they placed her hands above her head and tied her wrists to the center pole. Thoughts filled her head of Noll and how Tristan had whipped him. It was horrifying, and now it was going to happen to her! “Nairnie,” she shouted. “Nairnie, help me please.”
“Let her go, or I’ll jump!” came Nairnie’s voice.
The men parted and Gavina saw Nairnie standing on the sidewall, teetering back and forth.
“What the hell are ye doin’, old woman?” asked Nereus with a chuckle. “Get off of there before ye fall.”
“Fall, hah!” she spat. “By the way, dinna call me old woman because I dinna like it. Now, I’m goin’ to jump unless ye promise no’ to touch the lass.”
The men all laughed until she wobbled again and, thankfully, managed to right herself with her arms waving around wildly for balance.
“Let her fall. We’ll fish her out afterwards,” said Birk.
Suddenly, Gavina knew what Nairnie was doing. She had to help her. “Nay, the fall will kill her!” shouted Gavina. “She is old and feeble and will no’ survive hittin’ the water from this height.”
Nairnie flashed her a nasty glance. Gavina knew it was because she didn’t like everyone calling her old.
“I’m the only one here who can find that treasure, because Birk saw the map but doesna remember where the treasure is,” Nairnie told them.
“Is that right, Birk?” asked Nereus. “Ye told me a different story.”
Birk hung his head. “Aye, I suppose it’s so.”
“Now promise me ye willna let anyone touch the lass and I’ll tell ye where to find the treasure,” Nairnie continued. “Otherwise, I’ll go to my death with the knowledge and none of ye will find the treasure because my grandson, Tristan, will get to it first.”
“She has a point,” Birk told Nereus. “It took us this long to track them down. We dinna want to waste any more time.”
“Ye’re not even one of my crew, so shut yer face,” commanded Nereus. “The way I see it, we’ll find the treasure and then demand a ransom from Tristan if he ever wants to see his wife and grandmother again.”
“Guid point,” said Birk, nodding his head.
“Someone get her down from there,” growled Nereus.
“Then ye agree to my terms?” asked Nairnie.
“Aye. No one will touch ye or the girl. Now, come down from there and tell me where to find my treasure.”
“I’ll help her,” said Noll, rushing over to her side.
“Nay, dinna put yer filthy hands on me.” Nairnie swiped at Noll. When she did, she lost her balance again and, this time, she fell over the side of the ship.
“Nairnie!” cried Gavina, pulling at her binds. The ropes around her wrists creaked and bit into her skin, causing her pain. She heard the old woman cry out and then the sound of her body hitting the water with a big splash.
“Damn, she must be dead,” grumbled Birk.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” commanded Nereus. “Someone fish her out of there so we know for sure.”
Gavina felt numb now, too numb to even cry. She’d made a wrong decision to leave Tristan. Now, because of it, she’d lost everyone she ever cared about in her life. It no longer mattered what happened to her because she’d rather be dead than to live the rest of her life alone or to endure what would happen to her next from this seedy-looking, motley crew.
“Tristan, I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I was wrong to challenge yer word and to leave ye. I love ye,” she said, wishing more than ever that she were with him back on the Falcon, back in his protective arms, once again.
Chapter 17
“I see the Poseidon dead ahead,” shouted Aaron from the lookout, causing Tristan to run to the sidewall of the sterncastle.
“Unreeve the main! Full sail ahead, we have a ship to catch,” called out Tristan.
“Aye, Cap’n,” several of his crew answered.
“Let’s pick up the speed, Mardon,” Tristan told his brother at the helm.
“We’re going as fast as we can,” complained Mardon.
“It’s not fast enough. Give me the helm, dammit, I’ll get us there faster.” Tristan pushed his brother out of the way and took the helm. He wasn’t going to let anyone slow him down from saving his wife as well as his grandmother. If anything happened to either of them, he’d never forgive himself. “All hands on deck,” he called out. “Ready the picks, axes, and grappling hooks. Prepare for boarding. We’re going to take the Poseidon.”
“Cap’n, we can barely see the ship,” yelled Stitch from the deck. “Shouldn’t we wait until we’re closer?”
“Nay. My wife and grandmother’s lives are at stake and hell if I’m going to give Nereus any extra time to torture them or do . . . anything else. We need to be prepared.” The thought horrified him of the possibilities of what Nereus and his crew could do to the women. He released a deep breath and tried to still his mind. Losing control of his emotions at a time like this was only going to cloud his thinking. He needed a clear head when they took the Poseidon. Nereus had been a pirate a lot longer than Tristan. Plus, he had a bigger and faster ship. Still, Tristan had a better crew. Many lives were about to be lost and he prayed it wouldn’t include Gavina or Nairnie. They were family now, and he would go to his death to protect his family.
“Did you just call Nairnie grandmother?” asked Mardon with a chuckle.
“I don’t know! Mayhap I did. What the hell does it matter?”
“Aaron, Tristan called Nairnie grandmother,” Mardon called up to the lookout to tell his brother.
“It’s about time,” Aaron shouted back down. “I knew he’d cave eventually.”
“Stop with all the idle chatter, you two. Mardon, get up to the bowsprit and be ready to jump aboard their ship.”
“Tristan, your head isn’t on straight,” said Mardon. “Don’t you think if we saw Nereus, he’s sure to have seen us as well? He’s going to be ready for us. Might not it be better if we waited until nightfall and tried to board their ship in the dark with the element of surprise?”
“Nay. I can’t wait that long. By then my wife might have already been rogered at the rail, and our treasure stolen from our grasp.” He gritted his teeth, feeling like killing someone right now. “God’s eyes, Mardon,” he said in a low voice. “If anything happens to Gavina . . .”
�
��Steady, Brother.” Mardon laid his hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Nothing is going to happen to her. You’ve got me and Aaron and the whole crew behind you. Now, I know you’re in love, but you’ve got to get a grasp on yourself, or this whole thing can go sour quickly. Once the crew sees you’ve lost it, they’re going to be hesitant to follow you anywhere, especially onto Nereus’ ship.”
“In love?” Mardon’s words took Tristan by surprise. He never thought about being in love with a woman. Mayhap he was in love with Gavina, and hadn’t even known it. Aye, he supposed he did love her, he decided, and planned on telling her so as soon as she was back safely aboard the Falcon and in his arms again. “Oh, crap, Mardon, I’ve become soft. I’ve fallen in love with a woman and now I’m willing to risk my entire crew to save her.”
“I’d keep that to yourself and let the crew think we’re only trying to stop Nereus because we don’t want him to get the treasure.”
“Well, it’s true. Or part of the truth, anyway.”
“Keep in control,” Mardon reminded him with a slight nod. “You do that, and the crew will follow you anywhere, no matter if it is to save a wench or two or not.”
“Thanks, Brother,” said Tristan, feeling grateful for Mardon’s advice. He was right. Losing his head at a time like this could only mean trouble, and they had enough trouble lately to last a lifetime. They didn’t need more.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” said Mardon, taking the helm from Tristan. “With Nairnie along, I’m sure not only Nereus, but his entire crew, and Noll and Wybert, too, are fearing for their lives about now. You know how she is when she gets angry. I’m sure Nairnie is angrier than a wet hornet and ready to sting.”
“True,” said Tristan, looking out over the water in the direction of the Poseidon again. “I am just thankful that Nairnie is with Gavina. If she wasn’t . . . Gavina wouldn’t have a chance in hell of coming out of this unscathed.”
“Did ye find her yet?” Nereus called over the side of the ship as a few of his men lowered a shuttle boat to look for Nairnie once they’d doubled back to where she fell. They’d thrown items into the water for her to grab and hold on to.
Tristan (Pirate Lords Series Book 1) Page 25