Calthraca: Secrets And The Sea [A Calthraca Novel]

by Camryn Cutler

  Esteban found a clear spot, then turned to see where the last bounty man was. The sailors in the bar had all closed in, effectively blocking the view while Esteban made his escape. They had seen the Minalosian Guard soldiers moving at a run for the tavern.

  "You've fought a good fight, boy, now go find your woman,” one of the old sailors standing at the rear said, and Esteban nodded his thanks. He ran through the door which Kate had exited only moments before.

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  Chapter 10

  Kate hurried from the tavern trying to put as much distance between them as possible. She'd seen the three men grab Esteban, and had heard the commotion, but she knew they wouldn't detain him for long. He'd definitely seen her, and her foremost fear was that he would return her to Davich.

  She moved away from the shore, knowing that any sailors would stay close to the docks. Moving inland, she decided, was her best bet.

  Part of her wondered why she hadn't simply gone to him, her heart had longed to rush into his arms, but she was so terrorized that she'd found herself running away seemingly before she'd even made that decision. She wasn't going to let herself be held prisoner again, not after what she'd been through.

  Katherine made her way up the white gravel road to the large villa. There was a small house with a pretty garden closer to her and decided to stop there first.

  She knocked upon the door and a young boy answered. “Hello."

  "Um, hello,” Katherine said. “Is your mama here?"

  "She's outside in the garden,” the boy replied. “I'll take you to her."

  The boy stepped outside. He was wearing blue knickers and a white shirt and barefooted like Katherine. He looked at Kate in her ripped breeches and dirty shirt, and then moved around her.

  "Mama!” He took Kate by the hand to lead her behind the house.

  A woman, just slightly older than Kate herself, looked up and held a hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun. She was on her knees in a garden that was in furious bloom with vegetables and flowers.

  "Hello,” she said and stood, brushing fresh earth from her hands and dress. “Can I assist you?” The woman was petite with a pretty round face and merry brown eyes.

  "I'm ... I'm not really sure if you can,” Kate started. “I'm looking for a man named Morgan? I was told he lived around here."

  "Why?” The woman's face became suspicious.

  "Oh ... I ... It's just ... I thought he might be able to help me,” Kate floundered. “It isn't anything bad. I've never even met him."

  The woman looked at her for a moment. “You speak strangely."

  "Yeah, I've been told,” Kate sighed. “Look, I'm sorry to have bothered you."

  She turned and started away.

  "Wait ... I'm his wife, Sarah."

  "Oh, thank God.” Kate sighed, and began to cry.

  Sarah brought her into the house and got her a cup of tea.

  When Kate was calm, she began to explain. “My name is Katherine Lamb. I'm from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. I'm not sure how I got here,” she said. “I was doing a day trip through the foothills to Montreaux, and then I woke up here. Well not here, I guess it was a place called Andalos. I was told that your husband knew a powerful sorcerer who might be able to help me."

  "You came from Andalos and you're here?” Sarah exclaimed. “How did you get so far?” She ignored the parts of the woman's story that didn't make sense to her, as it was obvious she was still quite shaken from her ordeal, and perhaps not thinking clearly.

  Katherine sighed and explained everything from waking up in Kirn, to Esteban and Davich to how she got here.

  "You were Esteban's slave?” she asked.

  "Yes ... but he freed me. Then he gave me to a commodore from Andalos to save himself. At least that is what Davich said."

  "And you believed that?"

  "I didn't at first, but why would he leave me alone for so long? Why didn't he come looking for me?” Kate swallowed back a lump of tears. She felt somewhat guilty burdening this poor woman with her story, but she also felt comforted when she looked into Sarah's calm brown eyes. There was no judgment there.

  "You said Esteban followed you?"

  "I saw him in Salgren yesterday, but I got away. I think he's trying to bring me back to Davich to ensure his own freedom. Only Esteban would know where I would go."

  Sarah looked at Kate. “Did you love him?"

  Kate paused and looked down. Her eyes filled with tears and she didn't bother to hide them this time. “Yes."

  "I think there must be more to this than you know, Kate.” She patted Kate's hand and gave her an encouraging smile. It was close to dusk and Sarah stood, stretching. “Let's get some supper on. Morgan should be home soon, and we can all talk then. Does that sound alright to you?"

  "That sounds great,” Katherine said, then sighed.

  Katherine watched Sarah prepare dinner with no modern conveniences, amazed at how easy it looked. While they cooked, the little boy came in again. “Mama, Kesim sent down the medicine for Arn. He asked me to bring it to you."

  "Thank you, Lars. How were your lessons?” Sarah asked. She finished putting together some dough for biscuits and set Kate to cutting them.

  "They went fine. Miss Graves is teaching us about Lyros."

  "Very good. Take a cookie and find your brother.” He stuck his hand into a large jar and pulled out two cookies.

  "The boys are tutored at the villa by the governess."

  Before Kate could reply, the door opened again and a huge man came through. He had short blonde hair and a kind face. He looked at Kate curiously. “Hello?"

  The little boy rushed in behind him. “I got to see the horse have a baby!"

  Sarah looked up at her husband who shrugged. “We were in the right place at the right time. Adama's mare began foaling this morning."

  "Go and wash Arn, I've got the medicine for your rash.” The boy hurried out of the room and Sarah caught Kate's confused look. “We have twins."

  "Oh!"

  Smiling, Morgan bent to kiss his wife's cheek. “So tell me, who is our visitor?"

  Kate looked up at him and held out her hand. “Kate Lamb."

  He cocked an eyebrow and shook her hand.

  "She needs to speak with Kesim."

  * * * *

  Esteban grimly boarded the barge at Bellad. His horse had been taken aboard earlier and he saw the animal in a stall near the wheelhouse. The ferryman had told him a woman that fit Kate's description had taken the ferry to Adjiban shortly after dawn. It was past dinnertime now.

  It was her. He knew it.

  He walked slowly over to his horse and patted the animal. He didn't really like horses very much, but he did know how to ride. Walking was out of the question so he'd hired this horse from a blacksmith at the harbor.

  He recalled that he had foolishly told her the man, Morgan, lived in Adjiban. She must have looked at his charts and figured out how to get where she wanted to go.

  He cursed himself for still being so much in love with her, and not being able to cut her out of his heart.

  But a new problem faced him now—what would he do when he finally had her back in his possession?

  He didn't know. Obviously she didn't wish to stay with him. Maybe he should just abandon this foolish journey and get back to the Viceroy before he was apprehended by bounty hunters. They had nearly gotten him in Salgren. He'd seen her in a tavern just before the three bounty men had grabbed him. Even worse, she had seen him, and had fled, terrified. He had escaped through the back of the tavern just ahead of the guard, but by the time he'd found a disguise and circled back she'd been gone and he'd traveled on to Bellad.

  Tonight he noticed several men watching him intently as well.

  There was a huge price upon his head, and since Minalos would cooperate with countries like Andalos and BasSalaam, he'd find no safe refuge here.

  He couldn't go back without finding her; he loved her, dammit! That had to me
an something. He could not let her go; not until she told him why she had left, until she explained what he had done to make her leave him.

  It was cold here at night as they moved toward the mountains and he shrugged his cloak around his aching, bruised body and then sat upon the deck next to the horse.

  * * * *

  Katherine awoke the next day and sat up. She dressed slowly in the dress Sarah had given her, thinking of her lovely clothes upon the Viceroy.

  She missed them, and Esteban. She missed him horribly, and wasn't particularly surprised to admit she still loved him too. Why had he done this to her? She hadn't allowed herself to think about him when she was aboard Eleana Aru, but now everything reminded her of him. Here she was, so close to getting home, and Esteban kept getting in the damned way. Morgan had explained to her that Kesim had left for a horse auction that evening, but he would see her when he returned, so there was nothing more to do than wait. It was plain, however, that he couldn't understand why she would want to leave.

  It was early, but she could hear stirring around the house.

  She considered what it would be like when she got back to Earth. All the questions about where she'd been for so long. It would be difficult, but she knew she could come up with a story if she had to. No one would believe the truth. Even though she had no idea of how long she'd been here, she wondered if she'd been missed. “I wonder if I even have a job,” she said.

  Slowly she came down the stairs and walked to the door. She wanted to see the sunrise.

  At first, all she had wanted was to go home. When she'd been abducted in Kirn, she'd only been concerned with staying alive. Then Esteban had come and rescued her, even if it was for his own selfish reasons.

  She hadn't planned to fall in love with him, but after they had established a physical relationship, it had been so easy to fall into an emotional one. She'd been willing to stay because she thought they could be happy together, and they had been, dammit! At least she thought they were.

  When he had given her to Davich Romanov, he'd betrayed their vows, her trust and her love. She knew he didn't share her feelings. She was nothing more than a tool, a means to keep him from being hanged.

  She sighed and wiped tears from her face. If Kesim could help her, she would leave and never think of Esteban again. She would go back to New York and forget this nightmare had ever happened.

  Kate opened the door and pulled her borrowed shawl across her shoulders. In the mountains, it was chilly for summer. Closing the door softly behind her she descended the two steps to the ground and walked to the road where there was a clear spot.

  She sat on the grass and watched the sunrise, recalling how it looked when they were together upon the open ocean.

  "It is prettier at sea,” Esteban said from behind her.

  She leaped to her feet and whirled on him, flailing madly. He fully expected her to do so and caught her hands, then clipped her jaw lightly, knocking her unconscious.

  He bundled her up and pulled her over his shoulder then tossed her across his saddle and climbed up behind her.

  Esteban could not believe his incredible luck; he hadn't expected to find her so easily.

  He planned to inquire at the house and had only just dismounted when he saw her exit and cross the road. It had been nothing to come up from behind and take her.

  The ferryman said he would be there for another hour before they started back to Bellad and Esteban planned to be on that barge.

  He raced back and made the barge with minutes to spare. She came around as he lowered her from the saddle.

  "Esteban...” she gasped when she realized where she was. “What are you doing?"

  "I'm bringing you back to the ship."

  "No, you can't!” she cried. “I found him! I found the sorcerer ... He can help me get home. Please don't make me go back!"

  He grabbed her by the arms and shook her hard. “This is your home,” he growled through clenched teeth. “When will you understand that?” What he had wanted to say was, Wherever I am is your home, but he didn't dare. He was angry with her beyond words, and refused to show any weakness.

  "Hey, you ... Let go of that girl!” a man shouted to him.

  Esteban turned and leveled his icy gaze at the intruder. “This woman belongs to me. If I choose to kick her around the deck of this floating piece of dung I will do so,” he snarled.

  "My apologies, I did not realize she was your slave. I beg your pardon,” the man said, backing up.

  Kate's hope of rescue died a slow death with his words. Esteban was more furious than she had ever seen him. What did he mean she belonged to him? Had Davich given her back to him? Impossible, Davich would never do that; he hated Esteban. No, Esteban was bringing her back to him.

  The barge trip took far less time downstream than upstream and they were back in Bellad before nightfall.

  Kate was terrified of what Esteban would do when he got her back to the ship. Since he had told off the man from earlier, he hadn't spoken to her again.

  He pulled her before him upon the horse and rode through the night back to Salgren.

  They arrived just after dawn, both of them exhausted and saddle sore. When he reached the gangway of his ship they dismounted and he handed the horse's reins to a young boy standing nearby.

  "Take this animal to your father.” He flipped the boy a coin, and the child rushed away.

  He pulled her up the gangway and onto the ship, and she noticed that the Eleana Aru was gone. Her relief was short-lived, however. Esteban growled, “Move,” in her ear, and then pulled her toward the hatchway door. She tore her elbow from his grip and shook him off.

  "I know the damned way.” She pushed open the door, descending the stairs to the darkness below.

  He locked her in his rooms, and left her alone with no food or water or company.

  When she had cried herself out, she climbed onto the bed before he returned, unsure what exactly he was going to do. She must have dozed because the next thing she heard was him beside her.

  "Get out.” His voice was low and full of malice.

  "What?” she said weakly.

  "Get out of my bed. You will sleep on the floor."

  "The floor?"

  "Yes, the floor. You are a slave and now you'll see how I treat my slaves. They do not spend the night in my bed. That right is for my wife."

  He pulled her from the bed and she landed sprawled upon her backside. He climbed over her and onto the bed.

  "You bastard! You know I'm not a slave. You freed me! You gave me the papers!” She scrambled to her feet and stood beside the bed.

  "Where are they, Katherine?” he asked softly.

  She realized they were gone. Everything she owned had been gone when she awoke with Davich, even her wedding ring.

  "Fine,” she sniffled, pulling the shawl over her shoulder. “Okay, fine."

  Esteban listened to her cry herself to sleep and spent the night lying awake staring at the ceiling of his cabin, alone.

  The next day, after he had bathed and dressed, he nudged her with the toe of his boot. “Wake up."

  She sat up slowly, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her body ached and she was enormously thirsty. She turned her eyes up to his.

  "I have reconsidered."

  "You have?” she said hopefully.

  "You do not have to sleep on the floor."

  "Gee, thanks."

  "Stand up!” he barked and she moved to do as he said, clutching her shawl to herself.

  He jerked the shawl away and looked at her for a moment. He then bent and pulled her foot forward, producing a heavy, beaten silver cuff from his coat pocket. She knew what it was and she pulled her foot back; she'd seen enough of them at the slave market.

  He looked up at her with narrowed eyes, then pulled her ankle forward again holding her tightly.

  "No, please ... Esteban, don't.” She hopped back trying to keep her balance on one foot.

  He slid it on and locked it in place and
then stood. “You are my slave,” he said. “My feelings for you were misplaced. I will not make the same mistake again. You will find Quima and she will assign you sleeping space. Then you may eat. When you have finished, you will clean this room, and then find me. Do you understand?” She nodded and he took her face in his hand. “Do you?"

  "Yes,” she said miserably.

  He closed his wardroom door after she left. Manuel knocked and entered a moment later.

  Esteban sat tiredly at his desk and covered his face with his hands. “I swear, Manuel, that woman will be the death of me."

  "You may have struck closer to the truth than you know,” he said.

  "Why?"

  "The commodore from Andalos, Davich Romanov? He has posted notice that should anyone find the woman, he wants her."

  "What?” Esteban said.

  "He sent a messenger to all of the ships in port. It said he had her when she was alone in Mantilla. He wants her back and has even offered to pay."

  "Are you saying she left me for him?"

  Manuel nodded slightly.

  Esteban swallowed sickly, saddened and angered all over again. Of all the men it could have been, why did it have to be Romanov? “How much did he offer?"

  "Ten thousand peks."

  "I paid more than that for her. Well, it won't happen. She's mine and I plan to make her regret every second she was gone."

  Esteban's hatred for Davich went to the very core of his soul. The memory of his second oldest sister, Consuelo, lived within him always. He'd found her in the possession of a group of Andalosian sailors ten years ago, one of whom was Davich Romanov. She was a haunted shadow of the vivacious and lively girl he remembered. From what he had pieced together about Davich, he knew it was the Andalosian who'd hurt his sister so badly, leaving her naught but a hollow shell, but he could not prove it. She'd committed suicide after he'd gotten her back to Carador, unable to bear living after being forced to whore herself.