Northern Lights Trilogy

by Lisa Tawn Bergren

  Peder raised one hand to his friend, while continuing to stare back at Dutton. “I am Captain Peder Ramstad. Did you come here to insult my wife and challenge me, Captain Dutton?”

  Mason shook his head, smiling in regret. “Not at all, my good man. Forgive me if it sounded as such. What you do with your wife is your own concern.” He looked down, sighed, and then looked back up at Peder. “Again, my apologies to you, and to you, Mrs. Ramstad.” His glance toward Elsa this time was remote, polite. “Shall we start anew? My name is Mason Dutton, captain of my own merchant mariner, the Lark,” he said. “As you can see, I have become quite removed from social niceties and am starved for polite society. I wondered if I might impose and ask you to join me for dinner.”

  Karl slowly sat down again and watched Peder’s face. Elsa did the same. As one, the crew waited too, still treading water or holding on to the lines against the ship.

  Peder studied his visitor for a moment then spoke. “Thank you for the invitation, captain. But why don’t you join us instead? We have a fine cook. Dinner will be served promptly at six. You may bring two men with you, no more.”

  Was he mad? Inviting the man to dinner? Elsa’s eyes flew to Karl’s, but his expression told her nothing. Then he glanced down at her. “Protocol,” he whispered. Ah, so that was it. Some antiquated sense of seagoing chivalry demanded that Peder invite the man to dinner.

  “Good enough,” Mason said. “Until tonight,” he said, glancing over at Elsa again. He tipped his short-billed cap toward her. “Mrs. Ramstad.”

  Peder watched closely as Dutton’s crewmen turned the longboat around and rowed back toward their own ship, an older clipper. Every nerve in his body seemed taut with energy. Then with a quick hand motion and without looking at Elsa, he directed Karl to bring her back aboard. Discreetly, Karl pulled Elsa into the boat then rowed over to the side of the Sunrise. A few of the men began to splash and dunk one another, but the festive mood was gone.

  Four sailors heaved at the capstan, hauling the longboat with Karl and Elsa back aboard. The men averted their eyes as she climbed out, and after one tearful, sorrowful glance at Peder, Elsa hurried to their cabin.

  Peder could tell that she was miserable. She had made a poor choice and was now paying for it. He would need to say little to her, perhaps simply caution her at a later date and make sure she had a chance for a private swim once in a while. The fact that he had overlooked one of her needs seemed obvious to him now. He himself had been excited at the thought of a refreshing swim. Thus a part of him could not fault his wife, who, sweltering in the heat, had moved on impulse.

  After Karl had climbed out too, he joined Peder at the side. In the distance, they could see Dutton and his men climbing the ropes to board the Lark.

  “What do you make of him?” Peder asked.

  “I don’t like it. The man reeks of piracy.”

  So he wasn’t alone in his assumptions, Peder thought. Piracy had been largely eradicated since the first part of the century by British patrols, but merchant seamen could never be too careful. Indeed, Peder knew many captains who trained their men to fight and armed them in case of attack. In contrast, Peder chose men with strong builds, but did not purchase weapons for them. They were allowed to bring knives—the tool of the trade—and one side arm aboard, the latter to be kept in their sea chests.

  “I agree,” said Peder. “That’s why I didn’t want to leave the ship tonight.”

  “Perhaps I shall double the dogwatch,” Karl said.

  “See to it,” Peder affirmed.

  “Tell Cook to expect six for dinner,” he added. “And I would appreciate it if you would join us.” Peder and Elsa had eaten alone since they left Camden, wanting the time to themselves.

  “Done.”

  Peder turned to go then looked back at Karl. “As a further precaution, let’s station two armed men in our bedroom while we dine,” he said. “Just in case.”

  “And two at the door?”

  “No. We don’t want to alarm him. Bring the men to me at quarter to six, and we’ll hide them away in the bedroom. I want Dutton to think we are unsuspecting. There’s no telling what he’s after, but perhaps we’ll find out tonight.”

  Peder left Karl’s side and went to his cabin. Inside, Elsa was sitting on the bed, weeping quietly. He shut the door behind him, waiting for her to look up. When she did, it nearly rent his heart in two. “Elsa, Elsa,” he said, no chastisement in his voice, just remorse at her decision.

  “Oh, Peder, can you ever forgive me? It started so innocently, really …” She paused to search his face. “The men were diving in, and all I could think about was swimming as children … diving off the rocks into that wonderful, glacial water.”

  He knelt beside the bed and took her face in his hands. “I know it began innocently, sweetheart. I know your heart, and there isn’t anything treacherous in it. But I need you to always stop and think before you act. The crew is generally trustworthy. Karl and I handpicked them. But you never know. And with sharks like Dutton circling—”

  “If he is a shark, why invite him for dinner?”

  “I want a chance to see him again in a different light. Maybe I misjudged his intentions. But if they are evil, I want to get a handle on him before he attacks.”

  “Attacks?” Elsa’s hand flew to her throat. “Is he … is he a pirate?”

  “I hope not. Piracy is rare these days. But there still are a few merchant marines who pretend to be honest businessmen, but in fact make their living by stealing from others. The Sunrise could be in danger if we’re not alert.”

  She stared down at her lap, disconsolate. “This is why you feared taking me along.”

  “Yes.” His tone sounded as grim as he felt. Had he made a terrible decision by bringing her? Yet he had never known life could be so good, so full, until Elsa joined him. He felt at peace about it, even in the face of possible danger. They would simply have to trust that God would keep them safe.

  Elsa suddenly stood. She sighed and straightened her shoulders. “I will make you proud of me, Peder. You will see. I will be the quintessential lady, a treasure as the captain’s wife.”

  “I am already proud of you, Elsa,” he said, touching her cheek gently. “I already treasure you.”

  She smiled and looked down at the floor. “If you will excuse me, I must prepare for dinner. We have guests coming, you know.”

  “So I heard,” he said, watching as she moved away to pour water into a shallow bathtub.

  When Captain Mason Dutton arrived that evening with his first and second mate in tow, he was the consummate gentleman, displaying none of the rakish disregard for Elsa’s feelings that he had shown earlier. Conversation was lighthearted and easy, and Peder began to wonder if he had misjudged the man. Dutton had a delightful sense of humor and seemed from all angles just another businessman. Perhaps they had gotten off on the wrong foot, Peder mused, smiling as Dutton cracked another joke. After all, there were captains who brought along women for their crews. None were his friends, of course, but it was not entirely unusual.

  He glanced at Karl as Cook served dessert. His friend’s eyes were still alert and his mouth tense, leaving Peder to fulfill the social niceties. Karl’s job as first mate was to make sure the crew and ship were safe. Clearly he still wasn’t convinced that Mason Dutton was not a threat.

  Then Peder looked toward Elsa. She had been conspicuously quiet throughout dinner, obviously wanting the evening to be over despite Dutton’s tacit disregard of her. She looked fetching in her violet gown, and if the man could ignore her in that, Peder thought, then he wasn’t interested.

  By the time the captain of the Lark rose to leave, taking his two men with him, Peder had decided that he had been all wrong about the man. Dutton had been nothing but polite and charming all evening. Peder was even a bit embarrassed at having to let his own men out of his bedroom after their guests rowed away. Maybe it was having Elsa along that put him on edge, he thought, his eyes flittin
g to her. Perhaps this was just one of many adjustments he would have to make in having her on board.

  She looked over at him, her eyes sleepy. “I am glad that’s over.”

  “Come now,” he chided her. “Captain Dutton was nothing but charming.”

  “All I could think of was my humiliation this afternoon.”

  “Nonsense,” he said, putting an arm around her shoulders as they stood on deck, looking across the harbor. “All that Captain Dutton will remember is a nymph in the waters and a lady at the dinner table. I will be the talk of the seas. All men will envy my good fortune in choosing a bride.”

  She looked up at him carefully. “So you are not horrified by me?”

  “Horrified?” He leaned closer. “Come. I think we need to get you out of that stifling dress and corset. It will help you think more clearly.”

  She returned his mischievous smile then walked away, discreetly entering their cabin several minutes before him as had become their habit.

  In the dim light of a sliver moon, Karl watched as the intruders climbed over the side, moving as subtly as serpents. He motioned to Stefan to wait for a moment—let them think they had gotten aboard without discovery—before his men were to open fire. Stefan nodded, and Karl crept forward on the deck, a gun in one hand and a knife in the other. Then without waiting another second, Karl shot the first man in his line of vision then another. With an unearthly shout, the men of the Lark cascaded over the side and onto the Sunrise’s deck, charging the sailors who defended her. Guns went off, one after the other, and Peder emerged from the cabin, half-dressed and armed with a revolver. The rest of the Sunrise crew poured from the com-panionway stairs, each carrying their own weapons. Karl was glad they had handpicked their crew. In a fight such as this, they would need every man.

  He had only been in hand-to-hand battle once before, when he and Peder served as seamen to Captain Lehman, who had been as adamant about self-defense as Peder was about having a crew who could swim. Lehman had beaten them all in fistfights, going to great lengths to train them to defend themselves and prepare for the worst. That training had meant their survival in a fight such as this one off the coast of South Africa and later had saved their lives when he and Peder had been attacked on the streets of Seville.

  The cabin door slammed shut behind Peder, and Karl took heart as he heard the lock crack into place. Elsa was safe in the cabin.

  Just then a man charged at him, screaming, and Karl knifed him as he neared. With a gurgle, the man fell to the deck.

  “Karl! Behind you!” Peder yelled, and Karl whirled as a sailor jumped him from the cabin roof. As they rolled, Karl shot him in the gut, and his assailant went limp. The smell of burning oil and light brought his eyes to the rail, where several sailors climbed in bearing torches in their teeth. Fire. If they were not careful, it would be the death of them all.

  Karl had heard about pirates who burned ships to the waterline then pillaged their remains, paltry as they might be. He reloaded his gun and quickly shot the last man over the rail, who shouted in pain and fell back over the side. But he had missed the first two. Where were they?

  Karl’s heart stopped as he looked past Peder—who fought off one man then turned to face Captain Dutton—to the sailors with the torches. Running, they were touching their torches to anything flammable, including the cabin. The cabin. Elsa!

  Karl shoved his gun into his belt, unable to take the time to reload. A man jumped him, pulling him backward in a stranglehold. Then flipping him to his stomach, his attacker landed on top of Karl, driving the wind from him. Karl was struggling, unable to free himself, when Riley charged his assailant with a rebel yell. Quickly the weight on his back was removed, and Karl struggled to his feet.

  The ship was afire. Worse, the captain’s cabin was in flames. Elsa opened the door, coughing and holding a club to her chest. She was clothed in her nightdress, her hair down, and looked like an angel emerging from Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego’s fiery grave. Karl’s heart caught as a man stole around the corner and grabbed Elsa. She screamed when he grabbed her, flailing at him with the club. But he was behind her, rendering her blows useless.

  Fury rose in Karl’s chest at the sight. With a low growl, he followed the man to the stern, trying to focus on him and not Elsa, who continued to scream and beat his back and legs with her club. All about him, men were firing weapons, slicing with swords, gutting with knives, or punching with their fists. Groans and screams and moans filled the air. The acrid smoke of gunpowder stung his eyes, making them tear.

  Elsa’s kidnapper was nearing the railing when Karl caught up with them. He was just three feet behind when the large man set Elsa down on the deck, ripped the club from her hand, and threw it into the sea. He was laughing, holding her hair in one hand and pulling her head back for a kiss when Karl’s knife caught him in the kidney.

  The man sank to the ground, and Elsa covered her face with her hands as if she could hide from the frightening scene around her.

  “Are you all right?” Karl asked her urgently, grabbing her by the arms. He had to yell to be heard over the noise behind them.

  Elsa dropped her hands then her eyes widened. “Behind you!”

  He whirled to face two swarthy men, advancing from either side. “We don’t want you, man,” one tried to convince Karl. “We got orders for the lady.”

  So they were after Elsa. She was a valuable commodity in these parts. A white woman with blond hair could fetch a nice price. Part of the cargo, Dutton probably thought.

  “Never,” Karl said. “Take a step closer, and you’re dead men.”

  “He speaks bravely,” said the second man with derision. “Don’t worry, mate, we’re prepared to meet our maker iffin it’s time.”

  “It will not be your maker.” He slashed forward and stabbed one with his knife, then whipped around to elbow the other in the face. With both assailants down, Karl looked at Elsa and motioned with his head. Over the side, he mouthed. He raised his eyebrows to hurry her along. If she would disappear and the Sunrise crew could put out the fires—as half of them were working at doing—then perhaps the intruders would retreat.

  Suddenly strong arms gripped him from behind. Karl winced as the unseen assailant forcefully pulled his arms back. Another man came around in front of him and punched him in quick succession in the stomach then under the chin. His breath flew from him; his teeth rattled. Still he found the strength to raise his legs and kick away the man before him. Karl was gasping for breath when a shot rang in his ears, and the arms around him suddenly dropped away. He turned and saw that Peder had downed his attacker with a shot to the head. The sound still rang in Karl’s ears, and he wondered if he would ever hear again.

  He looked around. The fires were out, and the men were back to hand-to-hand combat. Their chances were better now, at least, and the Sunrise was all right for the moment. Peder tripped, and Dutton advanced on him with a sword. Karl tackled the intruding captain to the deck. He punched the man’s perfect chin before he could rise. Dutton’s first mate advanced on Karl, and he jumped away as the man slashed at him with a huge bowie knife. Distantly he felt the slash as it cut him across the chest, but felt no pain.

  His attention was on two sailors, who pointed out toward the bay as if they had spotted something. Elsa. They had seen her in the light of the moon, he was sure of it. Ripping off their shoes, they dove in after her.

  Desperately weary, Elsa was almost ashore when she felt a hand on her calf. In terror, she dragged herself out of the water but was hampered by her clinging skirts. She focused on the tree line not forty feet from her, thinking that if she could just make it there, she could hide. But she would have to fight off the man who held her first.

  Large hands gripped her leg, and she heard heavy panting that echoed hers from the effort of swimming so far. Desperately she cast about as he dragged her back toward the sea. Her hands closed around a large scallop shell as he turned her over. “Thought you were gettin’ away fr
om me, missy?” Another man stood behind him, grinning in the moonlight.

  She slashed at the immediate man’s face, but only nicked his shoulder, making him bellow in anger. Quick blood spotted the gash as Elsa turned and ran, struggling to get up the beach. Terror gripped her heart as the man caught up with her and pulled her to a stop.

  Dear God, her heart cried out. Deliver me!

  He shoved her to the ground, holding her by the hair. Before she could move, he was on top of her, reaching, pulling, forcing his mouth on hers. She bit and screamed and kicked, but the man was large and agile, easily fending off her blows. Elsa felt defeated and worn. What good would it do to resist? Even if she escaped, there was another nearby. Still, her heart told her to fight, and she made one last effort.

  Suddenly, the man was pulled off of her. She distantly watched as Karl punched him until he was out cold. Dimly she realized she still screamed, but could not seem to stop herself.

  Karl came toward her, arms outstretched as if trying to soothe a caged animal. “Elsa, it’s all right. He can’t hurt you.”

  “No! There’s another one!” She looked about wildly, certain the other man would attack from the waters or tropical foliage behind them. Where had he gone?

  “No, Elsa,” Karl said in a low voice, his hair dripping onto his soaked shirt. “There were two. I got both of them.”

  “No, no! There will be more. We must hide!”

  “Come,” he said soothingly. “We’ll go into the forest and hide.”

  She nodded and ran through the dense underbrush, ignoring thorns that lashed at her legs, and through a bank of palms that shielded them from the harbor. There in a tiny clearing, she felt safer. But she trembled so much that she wondered if she could remain standing a moment longer.

  Karl reached her just in time. As soon as she was in his arms, she sank, and Karl crouched, lifted her in his arms then sat down with her. With his back against a palm tree, he held her against his chest. “Shhh,” he said, stroking her wet hair. “You’re safe now. The Sunrise crew will see to the rest of them.”