Privateer (The Five Kingdoms #1)
Page 44
She stared at me and looked away. "I don't know."
I took a breath. "Captain Westmere. I have twenty-five crowns and will ransom my aunt."
"Don't be foolish, Minora," my father said from behind me. I felt him reaching for me, but I pulled away from him.
I heard mother whisper to him, and he fell silent.
The captain looked at me. "I love her, Minori, and she loves me."
"I wish to ransom my aunt. Now." I pulled my pouch from my belt and hefted it. "Twenty-five crowns. You will order her brought here."
"I'm sorry, Minori," the captain said. "No."
"We are matching your price. You are obligated to give her to us," I said sternly. "Those are the rules."
I could tell she was thinking. "No, Minori."
My father began to sputter, but Mama hushed him.
"You must," I said.
"No. New information has come to light, and she is worth far more than twenty-five crowns."
"Good lord, woman!" My father said. "Of course she isn't. She isn't worth the ten of her bond, and she was foolish to go with you in the first place."
"She went with me," said the captain, "to watch over your daughter, who was terribly frightened." She looked at me sadly. "I am keeping her, Minori. I am sorry. I know you will miss her. Her price is no longer twenty-five crowns."
"Minori, if your aunt is happy-"
"Father, when is the last time I asked a stupid question?"
That silenced him, for now.
"Captain, please return my aunt to me."
"I will tell her you offered for her. She will be touched."
The captain turned to the door. The marines that had come with her were already waiting outside for her.
"Father," I said, "the captain knows what Aunt Rani does for a living, and she knows how she does it. When she grows tired of her, the captain can sell her into indentured servitude."
She turned back. "I wouldn't!"
"You don't love her enough, Captain. You don't love her enough to sacrifice for her. How can I trust you. Father, I have twenty-five gold. You have twenty-five more. That is fifty-gold, the original asking price. If we offer the original asking price, the captain must give her to us. Those are the rules. She told me herself. But if she leaves now, I do not know if those will remain the rules."
"I could keep her!" Captain Westmere said hotly. "She is worth more than fifty crowns. She is a-"
"Don't say it!" I said. "We know what she is. You can't keep her. She finds things under very specific rules. That is all she does, and she is paid very little for it. We are paying you fifty gold, and you are returning her to us. Father, give me twenty-five gold, right now."
Father stepped up beside me quietly and placed five large gold coins into my hand. I looked into my purse, counted carefully, and then stepped forward, giving the entire pouch to the captain.
"You have been paid. I require a receipt and my aunt delivered immediately."
"She won't thank you for this, Minori," the captain said. "She won't."
"She will understand in time. She would protect me, and now I will protect her."
Father produced paper, and the captain scratched a hasty receipt. Then she turned on her heel and stomped from the house. I heard the crying begin before the door closed.
I would do it again. She did not love my aunt enough.
Despondent
Rani Karden
"Hello, my love." I felt her hands touching me. I woke, looking at her. She had turned the lamp up. I hadn't realized I would fall so deeply asleep.
She untied me from the bed, but she did not remove my bonds, and she did not remove the gag.
"The ship will sail soon."
I nodded understanding.
"Everyone is returned safely. All but one."
I opened my eyes wide. Someone else hadn't been ransomed?
"I love you so much, Rani. I have never lied to you. Well, except about the kraken. I love you, and I would keep you with me forever. That is what I want more than anything."
She pulled me into a hug, crushing me to her. And then she was crying. "Your brother paid your ransom. Your entire ransom. I have no choice. I must give you back."
I shook my head violently.
"I am so sorry. I wanted us to be happy. I cannot keep you. And I can't give you to him and have you return. That is not allowed. He paid your full price, the fifty crowns, and I do not have any choice."
I shook my head. He wouldn't have paid for me, and he certainly wouldn't have paid the entire amount.
She held me tightly to her, but she didn't unbind me, and she didn't ungag me. But she cried, she cried for a long time. I did, too.
And then, both of us still crying, she picked me up, and there wasn't anything I could do. I couldn't beg her to stop.
I squirmed. I struggled, but it didn't do any good. She held me tightly and carried me from the cabin and down to the wharf. She didn't put a hood over my head.
There was a carriage waiting. Sorri carried me directly to the carriage. The door opened, and my brother was waiting. Sorri herself set me in the carriage while I struggled against her.
She caressed my cheek and kissed my forehead. "I am so sorry," she said. "I love you so much. Know that I love you."
Then she stepped away, and I would have wailed if I could.
"The bonds will fall off," she told my brother, "as soon as we sail. Please take care of her. She is very special."
Then she stepped away, and I heard her step across the wharf. I heard her sobs, and I knew she loved me. Then I heard her yell loudly, "Commander Halfheart, get us out of here IMMEDIATELY."
I renewed my struggles. My brother tried to calm me down, but I lurched to the door of the carriage, managing to open it before I tumbled out onto the wharf.
Sails raised, and I watched the Fleetwind begin to sail away.
The bonds fell from my body. The gag released its hold on my voice.
I climbed to my feet and ran down the wharf, but the Fleetwind pulled away. And on the quarterdeck, staring back at me, was Sorri.
"I love you!" she yelled to me. "Believe that I love you!"
My mouth was numb from the gag, but I summoned everything I had, every ounce of will I had, and my magic, so weak, flared out, driving away the magic of the gag. "I hate you, Sorri Westmere! I hate you for your lies. I hate you for leaving me here. I hate you for making me love you with every breath of my body!"
And she buried her face in her hands, and I watched her sailing away.
"Sorri Westmere!" I yelled. "I could never hate you. I love you from the bottom of my heart, and I will find you! You hear me! I will find you."
"You can't," she yelled. "I love you, Rani, but you can't."
"I will!" I yelled. "I find things, and I will find you."
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as robin.roseau@gmail.com or found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/robin.roseau. Robin will have a web site soon at http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Other Works by Robin Roseau
All titles available on Amazon
Novels: The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Michaela Redfur is a werefox living a quiet life in Bayfield, Wisconsin. She has a quiet job that gets her out of doors and avoids the werewolves as if her life depended on it. Which it does.
That all changes early one morning when Lara Burns, the Madison Wolves alpha, introduces herself, much to Michaela's chagrin. Lara explains to Michaela that "we only want to talk", but when a werewolf comes knocking on a tiny, delicate foxes' front door, Michaela knows talking is the last thing i
n the wolfy mind.
This novel is 93,000 words and is the first in in The Madison Wolves Series.
Fox Play
Having now agreed to a commitment relationship, Michaela and Lara turn their attention to a new threat. Durian, alpha of the Chicago wolves, wants Lara's pack for himself in order to replenish his dwindling power.
In the meantime, Michaela faces her fears built from the past while struggling to find her place in the pack.
Fox Play continues the story first begun in Fox Run. This is a novel of 95,000 words.
Fox Mate
Michaela Redfur has been accepted into the wolf pack as their fox, and a wedding with Lara, the alpha, is in the planning. But being accepted into a close-knit clan is not simply a formality. There are rites of initiation and you know you are truly accepted when the dark and ugly is accepted along with the good.
In Fox Mate Michaela, the lone and orphaned fox, finds out how acceptance works - wolf-style: some rough play, lots of love especially when a pack- member is in need of help.
Michaela struggles to hold things together and find peace in time to save the wedding.
This is a novel of 110,000 words. The novel deals with traumatic issues from Michaela's past and contains some graphic violence and scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers.
Fox Afield
Lara and Michaela depart on their honeymoon, combining a vacation into an opportunity to practice diplomacy with another werewolf pack. Their honeymoon is interrupted by a frantic phone call to Michaela from an old friend.
The wolves along with Greg Freund's team rush back to Wisconsin to right a wrong, but the clock is ticking.
Michaela and the wolves must go undercover to solve the mystery. In the meantime, Lara's overly-protective nature fires, leading to stress between Lara and Michaela.
This novel of 90,000 words is the fourth Fox novel.
Fox Revenge
Lara is pregnant with twins, and Michaela is fiercely protective. This turns out to be a very poor time to take in a refugee from a neighboring wolf pack, and things grow more difficult when the neighboring alpha demands the wolf's return.
The resulting troubles put Michaela on the opposite side of the issue from Lara, Elisabeth and the rest of the pack, adding stress to all relationships.
This is a novel of 84,000 words.
Fox Dish
While pack shows its delight with the arrival of Lara and Michaela's babies, Michaela vows to keep Celeste and Rebecca safe from all directions. This includes dealing with old enemies.
Michaela's actions have unexpected results, landing Michaela in a fight for her very existence, squared off against everyone she once thought was a friend.
This 75,000 word novel is the sixth in the Madison Wolves series. It completes the story arc begun in Fox Revenge.
Other Novels in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Moira is able to see something few others see: the aura that surrounds people. What she doesn't understand is what it all means. And then she meets Arianna, who definitely knows what it means.
Arianna recognizes Moira's unique gifts, and she isn't going to let them go to waste, regardless of Moira's consent.
This is a novel of 75,000 words.
Other Novels
Fitting In
Nicole is a 33-year-old, introverted computer programmer dealing with her own difficulties. At a party hosted by her best friends, she meets Alexandra, slightly older, beautiful, and athletic in a way Nicole could never be.
Sparks fly, but their differences, coupled with the stress of meeting the family, drives the two apart. But the stubborn Alex isn't ready to give up, in spite of Nikki's fears.
This is a novel of 93,000 words.
Novellas
Stark's Dell
Relocated to the isolated farmhouse of her stern grandmother at age 5, Emily struggles to find friends...until she meets Dee Dee. Older and wiser, Dee Dee guides Emily through childhood and adolescence, sharing Emily's deepest secrets.
But Dee Dee has secrets of her own, and it isn't until it is nearly too late that the two friends discover that what they feel runs deeper and lasts longer than even they can imagine.
Stark's Dell is a long novella of 50,000 words.
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Deb saw herself as short, dumpy, plain, and boring, a former housewife and repressed lesbian who had tried to fit into the expected norm. Her husband had left her three years ago, and in spite of her best friends' efforts, she hadn't had a date since.
Jocelyn was a gorgeous woman with cropped but stylish blonde hair, sharp features, and an athletic build. In other words, the perfect woman in Deb's eyes, and the last woman Deb would expect to want her.
Cooking for Love is an 8000-word short story.
Southern Night
Vacationing in Australia, Amber meets Jackie, several years Amber's senior. Amber finds Jackie commanding and alluring and instigates a meeting.
Southern Night is a short story of 5,000 words.
Privateer
Copyright 2013 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
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Table of Contents
Map of the Five Kingdoms
On War in the Five Kingdoms
Raiding
Parole
Papers
Calming Down
Questions
Disowned: Rani's Parents
Warming Up
Cursed
Overboard
Recovery
Explanation
Sorri's Capture
Forgiveness
Morning After
Misplaced
Accepted
Landfall
The Island
Paid
Despondent
Credits
About the Author
Copyright