Privateer (The Five Kingdoms #1)

by Robin Roseau

Two seamen shoved Minori into Krissa's arms. She turned away, yelling, "Bring the captain and Ms. Karden. NOW!"

  They didn't wait on ceremony. Two seamen picked me up, and I didn't protest as I was carried to the galley.

  "Save the clothes, Krissa!" I yelled. "Don't cut them!"

  "Shut the fuck up, Sorri," she yelled back.

  And then we were in the galley, and Krissa was stripping the clothing off the girl, but she took the extra few seconds to pull them over her head. She already had towels waiting and began vigorously rubbing the girl with the towels.

  "Get the captain's clothes off her!" Krissa yelled.

  The seamen set me down and one of them reached for my clothes, but I heard Rani say, "Out of my way, Seaman! I'll do it. Make sure Minori's mother can get through."

  Then Rani was in front of me, and she began pulling my clothing from me. She had me naked in seconds, and someone threw warm towels at her. She wrapped one around my head, not bothering to avoid my face, and then I felt warm towels drying my body. I reached up and adjusted the towel so I could see, but I otherwise let Rani do whatever she wanted to me.

  I was shivering badly, but shivering is a good sign.

  "Hot food!" Krissa yelled, and a moment later, someone was shoving hot bread into my mouth.

  I looked at Rani while I chewed. Her clothes were wet.

  "Get out of your wet clothes, Ensign," I ordered.

  "Shut up. Captain," she said, still toweling me. "Just because I saw yours doesn't mean you get to see mine."

  "Krissa!" I yelled. "Ms. Karden's clothes are wet."

  There was a pause, and then Krissa said, "Ms. Karden, strip out of those clothes or I'll order the seamen to do it for you."

  Rani thrust the towel into my stomach, turned her back on me, and yanked off the tunic. She slid the breaches down.

  "The underclothes too," I told her. "They're wet."

  As soon as she was out of her clothes, she found more towels and wrapped herself in them.

  Glora Karden burst into the room, saw Krissa working on her daughter, and ran to her, pulling her into her arms.

  "Keep rubbing your daughter dry," Krissa said to her. "We need to warm her up."

  Rani turned back to me, wrapped in two towels, and then she was brushing my hair dry. She wasn't gentle about it.

  "Hey," I said quietly "Calm down, Rani."

  "You both almost died, Sorri!"

  "Neither of us did," I said. I reached for her, pulling her to me, and then she was crying. I knew she needed Minori as well, so I moved both of us over, and Glora invited us into a hug of her daughter.

  "Girl!" Krissa said, pulling Minori's chin to her. "What is your name?"

  Minori blinked at her.

  "Answer me! What is your name?"

  "Minori Karden," she said. "What is yours?"

  "Never mind that," Krissa said. "Do you know where you are?"

  "No."

  Krissa immediately yanked the towel from Minori's head and began probing for bumps.

  "I mean," Minori said. "You kidnapped all of us. I don't know where you're taking us. The captain said a beach."

  Krissa laughed nervously and began drying the girl's hair.

  "The captain said she'd teach me to swim."

  "That's right," I said.

  Rani pulled me tighter to her, and then her mouth was on my ear, and she was whispering, "Thank you, thank you."

  * * * *

  It was another hour before everyone was dry and warm. Krissa fussed over all her patients, including Rani, who didn't really need any fussing. I didn't think I did, either, but Krissa told me to shut up and be a good patient.

  In a medical emergency, the doctor outranks the captain.

  I think she fussed over Rani just so she had an excuse to keep her in the galley with the rest of us. It would have taken a detachment of marines to move Rani away from her niece.

  I also felt like perhaps she wouldn't have left me, either.

  We were fed soup. Somehow the cook made hot soup, thick with vegetables and some salty beef, and there was more bread for dunking. I ate ravenously, then asked for a second bowl and ate somewhat more slowly.

  Glora thanked me an even dozen times. I completely lost track of how many times Rani did.

  I yelled for Radha, and a seaman offered to get her. She appeared a few minutes later, and I asked for a report.

  "Back on course. We hooked as much of the flotsam as we could, but I didn't want to risk lives, so we lost quite a bit."

  "Anything important?"

  "No."

  "Anyone hurt?"

  "No, Captain."

  "I want to talk to you about how quickly the longboat descended."

  "Begging your pardon, Captain, but shut up. I was counting, and you had been in the water too long, and the girl even longer. I didn't know how long you would last."

  "If the boat had capsized-"

  "It didn't. The men know their jobs, Captain. You weren't there, I was."

  "All right, Commander," I told her. "You're right. Now about sending a civilian with the boat-"

  "There were no civilians. Six able seamen and one ensign, captain."

  I chuckled. "Fine. Tell me at least the ensign wasn't in command."

  Rani laughed. "Damned right I was in command. I think I issued one order. Hurry up!"

  I pulled her to me and kissed her forehead.

  I felt a hand on my arm. I turned, and Minori was looking at me with big, brown eyes. "You went into the water after me."

  "I did. I promised your aunt you were safe, and I always keep my promises."

  "You knew just what to do."

  I nodded. "We practice. It's harder at night, so we're lucky it is daytime. I know almost exactly how fast the ship travels, so I knew where to find you by the time I hit the water. I was counting the seconds."

  "Thank you, Captain."

  "You are welcome, Minori. Please don't make me do it again."

  "I won't. I'm so sorry."

  I turned to Rani. "What happened?"

  "A game of tag. She was running from a child and slipped on the wet deck."

  "Commander!" I yelled. "Why was the deck wet?"

  "I've been asking that very question," she said. "I am sorry, but I do not have an answer."

  "New rule. Our passengers learn about wet decks, and children do not play physical games on the main deck unless it is absolutely dry."

  "Yes, Captain," Radha answered immediately. "Ensign, you will personally make sure our passengers understand this rule by dinner tonight."

  "Aye aye, Commander," Rani said immediately. "Seaman Karden. Did you hear the captain?"

  "Who?" Minori asked. "Me?"

  "Yes, Seaman. You," Rani said. "Did you hear the captain's order?"

  "No playing on the deck if there are any wet spots."

  "Is everyone warm?" Krissa asked. "The cook needs to prepare lunch. We have hungry seamen."

  "I'm still cold," Minori said. "I don't think I'll ever be warm again."

  Krissa began checking her. Minori was fully responsive, and her color looked good. She wasn't shivering. Krissa fed her a little more soup and then said, "Let's get some toasty warm clothes on everyone. Captain, you have a stove."

  "We can move to my cabin," I offered. I turned to Radha. "Please handle everything else, and get more food to us when it's ready. Hot tea right away."

  "Yes, Captain."

  I stood up and picked up Minori, who clutched her arms around my neck.

  * * * *

  Rani Karden

  The captain's cabin was warm, not as warm as the galley, but warm. The captain carried Minori there, inviting Glora to join us with fresh clothes for her daughter.

  "Rani, move a chair near the stove."

  I did, and she set Minori down in the chair then grabbed blankets from the bed and wrapped them around her. The captain and I got dressed, and a minute later, Glora knocked at the door. I let her in, and she helped Minori to get dressed.
She bundled back up in the blankets and huddled as closely to the stove as she could get.

  I decided Minori was fine. This reaction was shock to what had happened.

  I turned to Sorri. "Captain?" She turned to me, adjusting the last of her clothing, and I stepped straight into her arms, pressing myself against her.

  "Thank you," I said.

  She chuckled. "You've said that a few times. I lost count. You are welcome."

  "That was the bravest thing I have ever seen, Sorri."

  "There was little danger for me," she replied.

  "Sharks."

  "No. The only danger is the cold. If it takes too long to find us, the cold would take us. But I knew Radha would leave a trail pointing straight to us."

  "She kept yelling orders, and every third was to throw something overboard. I almost jumped in myself when I couldn't find anything else that would float."

  "I'm glad you didn't."

  "You both knew exactly what to do. She had crewmen in the rigging before you hit the water. You knew she would do everything right."

  "Of course. But I am glad the Fleetwind is as maneuverable as she is."

  "Radha had seamen literally throwing the passengers into the passageway to their cabins, but she only ordered me to find something solid to hang onto. The ship leaned way to the side when she ordered us to turn around. The passengers slowed her down, didn't they?"

  "Yes. It couldn't be helped. She couldn't have turned around like that with them on deck. We would have been fishing more out of the water."

  She shook her head. "She should not have ordered you into the longboat."

  "Captain, if you need to punish me, I understand," I told her. "She didn't order me into the boat. I saw the men put the longboat in the cradle and other men beginning to climb aboard, and I knew right away what was happening, so I got in. She didn't see me until we were in the water. She was directing the derrick."

  She hugged me tightly for a moment. "You were afraid for your niece. I am glad you were there."

  "I was afraid for both of you, Sorri."

  "But your niece more than me."

  "Only because I wasn't sure you would find her. She went under and I never saw her."

  "There are tricks," she replied. "If she didn't sink too quickly, I knew I would find her."

  "Was she sinking, Sorri?"

  "She was struggling. The seas are rough."

  "I saw your dive from the quarterdeck. Why there?"

  "So the ship wouldn't hit me as it went past me, and it gave a seaman more warning to spot me."

  "Radha yelled at someone to keep his eyes on you, but we grew so far away."

  "He would have marked my location based on the debris in the water, and he probably gave distances from the debris."

  "He said something like, 'forty yards, but swimming away'. My heart was in my throat when he yelled he lost you."

  "It didn't matter. Radha knew where I was. All the debris was a big arrow straight at us."

  I squeezed her more tightly. "Thank you."

  "You're welcome. Please stop saying that now. I promised I would keep her safe. I keep my promises."

  "Was it close, Sorri?"

  "Yes. If you hadn't screamed so loudly, I may not have reacted quickly enough."

  "I should have called for you."

  "Perhaps, but what you were doing told me everything I needed to know, and I didn't need to waste any time asking questions. You did your part to save her."

  "Panicked?"

  She chuckled. "Sometimes panic is a reasonable reaction."

  There was a knock at the door, and then it opened admitting Radha carrying two pots of tea. A seaman was following her carrying a tray of cups and a basket of bread. The basket was steaming. I took the tray from him, and Radha dismissed him.

  "Cook says lunch is an hour," Radha said. "She thought hot meals for everyone were better than haste."

  "Krissa's orders?" Sorri asked.

  "Yes."

  I served. "Commander, are you staying?"

  "I'll have tea, then I must see to the ship," she replied. "Thank you, Ensign."

  Minori crammed the bread into her mouth, but her mother spoke sharply. "Do not forget your matters, Daughter. I raised you better than that."

  "Sorry, Mama. Aunt Rani, thank you for the bread."

  I caressed her cheek. "You're safe now, Minori."

  "I know. Captain Westmere?"

  "Yes, Minori?"

  "Did you lie when you said there weren't any sharks?"

  Glora hugged her daughter fiercely. "I love you, baby," she said.

  "I love you too, Mama," Minori replied. "Well, Captain? That question wasn't rhetorical."

  Sorri laughed. "It wasn't exactly a lie. The cold water would have killed us long before any sharks found us unless we had far, far worse luck than either of us deserve. But the water didn't get us because I have a very well-trained crew. You have not thanked Commander Halfheart for her part in your rescue."

  Minori climbed from the chair and turned to Radha. "I do not know what you did, but if the captain says it was important in my rescue, it was. Thank you very much." And she wrapped her arms around a surprised Radha, who hugged her back.

  "You are very welcome, Minori."

  Glora offered her own thanks, and it was heartfelt. Then she began fussing at Minori before turning to the captain. "Captain, do you think I could impose two more children on you for lunch?"

  "Of course. Ensign, are you up to fetching two more guests for lunch?"

  "Yes, Captain. But may I say something first?"

  "Of course."

  "Sorri." I looked carefully at the commander. "Radha." She nodded. "Both of you were magnificent. I know that is from years and years of experience. But-"

  "We will continue to teach you," Radha said immediately. "If you want us to."

  "Yes. Thank you."

  "Go find your niece and nephew, Rani," Sorri said.

  I nodded and scampered out of the cabin.

  Out on deck, everything was back to normal. The passengers were milling around in a group, mothers keeping a tight watch on their children. I didn't see either Lindora or Jorek, so I thought perhaps they were engaged in duties. I reassured the other passengers everyone was fine.

  I found Lindora in the galley. "More food?" the cook asked.

  I pointed at Lindora. "Can you spare this one?"

  The cook examined Lindora's progress on her current task. "May I keep her another ten minutes, or is it urgent?"

  "I will return once I discover the whereabouts of her younger brother."

  "Jorek is with the quartermaster," Lindora said. "But I don't know where. Is Minori going to be okay?"

  "She is asking questions."

  Lindora's smile was wide. "The captain saved her life."

  "Yes, she did. You are invited to join us for lunch in the captain's cabin, but your mother needs all her children right now, so hurry with those carrots."

  "Aye-aye, Auntie Ensign."

  I smiled at her. She had never made a joke to me before.

  "Head cook, what title do your youngest cooks carry?"

  "Seaman," she replied immediately.

  "Carry on, Seaman," I said immediately, offering her a wink.

  The captain was indoctrinating my entire family into her crew. I wondered if we were indoctrinating her into the family.

  I couldn't find Jorek and the quartermaster. They weren't in any portions of the ship I was authorized to visit. I returned to the captain's cabin and explained.

  "They are probably doing inventory in the food stores," Radha said. "Do you know where those are?"

  "Yes, but they are outside the limits of my parole."

  "Ensign," said the captain. "You may visit any portion of the ship required to find the quartermaster except the gun deck. That permission lasts only until you find them, then you must deliver the invitation and either remain in the presence of the quartermaster or retreat to sections of the ship
approved by your parole."

  "Aye-aye, Captain. I'll find them. Lindora is in the galley. I will bring her once I find Jorek."

  It took several more minutes to find them. They were deep in the stores. As soon as the quartermaster saw me, she frowned. "Girlie, do you have authorization to be here?"

  "The captain offered me one-time authorization to find you, anywhere but the gun deck. I am now to remain with you or retreat to safer territory."

  "You bring a summons for me?"

  "No, Commander," I said. I pointed to Jorek. "I bring a summons for my nephew. If you can spare him, his mother and sister need him."

  "I suppose after the excitement today, she would like all her chicks close to her," Commander Wattmore said. "Boy, spend today with your family, but I expect you bright and early tomorrow."

  "Aye-aye, Commander," Jorek said. He grinned. "Thank you for teaching me."

  "You can thank me by doing the heavy lifting," the commander said with a grin. "Go on now."

  I grabbed Jorek's hand and pulled him from the storeroom. He caught up and would have run ahead, but I told him he needed to stay with me, and we needed to stop at the galley.

  Lindora was ready when I arrived. "More cups and more tea," I said. She scrambled for cups, and the cook already had two more pots of tea waiting for me and another basket of bread.

  "You take care of your charges well, head cook," I told her.

  "Thank you, Ms. Karden. It is nice to be appreciated."

  "I apologize for taking your help from you."

  "I will need her and her mother back for dinner."

  I nodded and then led both children to their mother. On the way, Jorek grilled me.

  "Did Minori almost die, Aunt Rani?"

  "The ship practices for emergencies like that, Jorek," I said, not quite answering his question.

  Lindori was old enough to understand. "The captain was amazing," she said immediately. "I haven't thanked her."

  "You should do it soon, as she's getting tired of the number of times I have," I said.

  "That's not an answer," Jorek pointed out.

  I grinned. "You have been picking up your sister's tricks."

  "Does redirection work when you try it on Minori?" Jorek asked me.

  I chuckled. "The captain said there was no real danger, but I do not completely believe her. I believe it was a very close thing for both of them. You should thank the captain and Commander Halfheart for what they did today."