Cassandra's Pirate (The Atlantis Series)

by Candace Smith

  “I know. Dive to the water if I start to fall,” she called down. She scanned the horizon through the spyglass, seeing nothing of interest but wanting to stay out of the men’s way. She knew Vincent and Pascal needed time to say goodbye, and the conversation would be stilted and awkward with her close by. She might try to talk to Addie later, but right now she was still pissed off.

  An hour after they set sail, Addie walked up on deck. She wore a garnet colored velvet dress with lace stretched across the loosened bodice and peaking from under her cuffs. “I needed to borrow lace from one of your shirts, Pascal. This bodice would barely fit a ten year old and there was no way to adjust it without adding on.” She gripped the voluminous long skirt in her fists and shook it. “It smells a little musty, but perhaps the sea air will help with that.”

  Pascal noted Vincent’s raised eyebrow, and said, “Lorena kept them stashed in the cabin I’m using, in case the dress or gloves she wore for the evening got torn or her shoe lost a heel.”

  All this time Vincent had no idea, and he could not help but wonder what other secrets his friend kept hidden. They sailed for hours, edging closer to Espedene and saying very little. Vincent finally shook his head, clearing impossible thoughts that Pascal would turn his loyalty back to the Realm. “You can call this off, Pascal. You can sail off with us and fight the sorcerers from the sea.” He stared at the back of the cold, beautiful blonde. “She’d be fine on her own, with the Royals.”

  “She’s working dangerous plans, Vincent. Before she rose I got a glimpse of her map. She fancies herself Queen, which might not be impossible. Her alliance indicates the Makers.” Pascal followed Vincent’s stare to the bow. Addie stood straight, regal, as if she had already been crowned. “No, Vincent. You were willing to trade rights to Rogamis to keep the crew safe. I need to keep watch on her ambition, and I don’t mind admitting I’ve a fascination for the woman beneath the ice.”

  Vincent thought it sounded like a confession for some bad deed. “Keep watch on her close, then. If she aligns with King Ashton we’ll sink for sure.”

  Cass climbed down from the crow’s nest, intent on trying to speak with Addie. Every attempt left her cringing from some caustic reply, feeding the rift of how false her sense of camaraderie with Addie had been. The final barb was when Addie shrugged and admitted she had not done a damn thing about finding Cass a job. As a matter of fact, her house had been sold. After the brief vacation, Cass would find her belongings from the guesthouse already packed and in a cheap storage facility she managed to locate in Henryville. She lifted her chin, announcing she paid for the move and three months’ rent, as if Cass should be grateful.

  Fighting angry tears, Cass joined Bison at the wheel. “Don’t you be minding that woman’s remarks.” Bison took her hands and curled them around the pegs. “Aim between the two moons.”

  Cass gripped the worn wood. “Do they always appear in the day?”

  “Aye, but only three nights of the month. They make ready reference out in the sea.”

  Cass watched the velvet dress flutter around Addie’s ankles. “I don’t understand how she can treat me so cold.”

  Johnny joined them and leaned against the rail. “She took to the fancy dress quick enough. Look at her standing there in Lady Astier’s old trappings of a Royal Lady.”

  Cass could hear the disdain in his voice. “Addie isn’t as cruel as the Royals.”

  Bison chuckled. “Don’t fool yourself, lass. We know selfish greed when we see it. Aye, you can almost smell it coming off her. Whatever her plans are, she’ll not be doing the folks in Fivertown a favor.”

  “Aye,” Johnny agreed. “She tossed you to the side, quick enough. You’re a threat to her, the way I see it.”

  “A threat? How could I be a threat?”

  “You know the truth about her and what she’s after. She could just as easily have brought you along as her handmaiden, but you might have stopped her plans of grabbing the throne,” Johnny answered.

  “You think she wants to rule? Addie just wants to stop the Makers. She doesn’t want to be Queen.”

  “Come, now,” Bison said. “You think she’s going to be happy holding service to the King? No, she needs to be in charge.” He glanced at Vincent and Pascal, and noticed they were also staring at Addie. “Pascal will try to keep hold of her, and good luck to him.” Bison thumbed his head.

  Mudeye called down from the crow’s nest, “Sails on the horizon, Captain. Can’t make out her flag.”

  Any ship besides the Churning Redemption would do, and even from the distance Vincent could see it was not the Admiral’s frigate. It was also too large to be a trawler from Rogamis, so this would be it. He watched the sails approach with Pascal standing by his side. “You’re certain?”

  “Yes, Vincent. It’s been a good run, being a pirate, but it looks like the obligation of my First Realm station has caught up with me.”

  “If you ever change your mind, you’d be welcome aboard.”

  Pascal smiled. “I know.” He glanced at Addie. “If she carries this off, I’ll see what I can do about getting the price off your head.”

  “I’d be happy to see my men able to visit their own in Fivertown.”

  “And Cass?”

  Vincent stroked his beard and smiled, watching her holding the wheel with Johnny standing beside her. “I’m hoping she likes life as a pirate’s mate.”

  “It’s the Sea Mist, Captain,” Mudeye called out.

  “A fitting ship to take you to harbor,” Vincent chuckled. Sandra’s husband was first mate on the ship. Vincent reached his hands around the chain and lifted the medallion over his head. “Tell Lorena I appreciated the use of her bauble.” Pascal slipped the heavy jewelry into his pocket while Vincent called up, “Cover our colors, Mudeye, so the Sea Mist won’t be firing on us.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  Pascal shook the crews’ hands, passing casual jokes and good wishes, while Addie scrutinized the frigate and the uniformed men on board. She was helped onto the Sea Mist while Pascal hugged Cass, and whispered, “Take care of my friend and his dreams.”

  “I will, Pascal. And you do the best you can with Addie.” It was all she could offer in return for getting the better end of the deal.

  Little else was said, and the ships parted. The Floralinda Sunset bobbed in the water until the Sea Mist was out of sight. “Where to, Captain?”

  He wanted to sail to Rogamis. Not for the sea witch, but a healthy dose of liquor and perhaps a fight. Mudeye could see him staring in that direction. “Got something for your Lady to wear, if you’ve a mind to tip a few back.”

  “It would be too dangerous.”

  “What?” Cass asked.

  “Taking you onto Rogamis.” Vincent turned to Mudeye. “What do you have for Cass to wear?” Was his whole damn crew hiding secrets?

  “Perhaps it would be best to show you, Captain.”

  Cass followed Mudeye below deck. He handed her the outfit and winked his remaining eye.

  The pants and boots were almost a perfect fit, and she tucked the tails of Vincent’s shirt deep down the legs. She threaded her hair in a braid down the front and tied the sash around her waist. Mudeye expected her to hide beneath one of Pascal’s less flamboyant hats, but Cass left it on Vincent’s desk.

  She walked on deck and Vincent scowled. “She could have been covered all of this time?”

  Johnny stared at his boots, a slight grin on his face. “Watching her strut in your shirt eased the pain of losing Pascal a bit.”

  Vincent’s brows knit in a frown and he scanned his crew. “The rest of you knew about this?”

  Bison laughed. “Captain, we dug the boy’s clothes out the first day we got back to the fortress. You never asked for nothing, so far be it from the crew to correct you.”

  Vincent shook his head. “Well, I still can’t bring her onto Rogamis.”

  “Vincent’s right,” Cass agreed. She looked out over the water. “First, we need to sail
back to the fortress.”

  Vincent raised an eyebrow. “First?”

  “Yes, we need the tub Pascal used for Addie.”

  Vincent smiled. “Ah, it’s to bathe like a Lady you want. Of course.”

  “No.” Cass smiled up at him, stretched to her toes and gave him a quick kiss. “I want to steal the sea witch.”

  “What?” Vincent roared.

  Cass’s green eyes flashed wicked conspiracy. “Addie isn’t the only one who can make plans. While she’s busy working her schemes on Espedene, I think we better be covering our asses out here.”

  “Pascal won’t be letting her cause too much trouble.” Vincent’s reply was not reassuring.

  “Pascal might not be able to stop her. I’ve spent three years watching that woman get what she wants. I know how her mind works, and none of us are going to give her a minute’s pause if she thinks she’s better off without us. I can’t see the benefit to her, letting us sail the sea and knowing her secret.”

  Vincent could see by the crews’ expression, they agreed with Cass. “Shit.” Vincent looked towards Espedene. “And I sent Pascal with her?”

  “You know he’s infatuated with her, Vincent. Pascal has a pretty good idea of what she’s about. He’ll be fine.” Cass followed his gaze across the sea. “Though, he’ll probably be wishing he’d stayed with the ship.”

  “So, what do you have in mind?”

  “We call a truce.”

  “We have a truce,” he reminded her.

  “Not with Rogamis, with the former rogue pirates.”

  “Is that why we’re taking the sea witch?”

  “No, we’re taking the witch to see if she’ll lead us back to Sea Witch Island or the Makers,” Cass answered. “I think we need to prepare for Addie to screw us.”

  “We take the witch and we won’t be too popular on Rogamis,” Harlan warned.

  Vincent began to understand Cass’s plan. “We take the witch and even if she don’t lead us to her island, stealing her will get the other captains to meet with us.”

  “Helluva’ way to suggest a truce,” Mudeye chuckled.

  With darkness descending, the Floralinda Sunset sailed towards the fortress. Bison manned the helm while the crew drifted below deck. Vincent gazed out over the gently rolling waves with Cass by his side. It helped ease the pain of losing Pascal. “If you can, would you be going back?”

  “No, Vincent. There’s less for me there than there is for Addie.” Cass kicked his shin and shouldered into him. “Besides, we don’t have any handsome pirates sailing our seas any more.”

  Vincent gripped the rail, managing to keep his voice steady. “You’d be thinking of staying and sailing with me?”

  “I’ve been thinking of little else.” She inhaled the sea air. “It smells clean here, and I love the ocean.”

  “’It’s a pretty good thing if you’re planning on stayin’. It’s best to be liking the water,” he chuckled.

  “With the sea rising, it’s best to be in the company of a pirate who has his own boat. Come on.” Cass took his hand and led him down to the cabin.

  They stripped off their clothes, and Cass pushed him onto the cot. After a long lazy kiss, she crawled her way down his body. Firm muscles tightened across his chest and stomach, and he groaned when her mouth captured the head of his manhood.

  His hands gripped tighter into her hair and he began a steady pull, insisting she rise. Cass smiled and knelt up, spreading her thighs and sinking down on him. Vincent’s black gaze studied her breasts, while he massaged them and brushed his fingers across her nipples. He pinched the taut buds and felt her clench around him, and then they were both lost in a climax that erupted with an oath from Vincent, causing smiles from the crew as they listened from their cabins.

  In the morning, they awoke to commotion on deck. They were docked at the fortress, and the crew was already wrestling the tub down the path. Within the hour the ship sailed toward Rogamis.

  “Easy there, Cass-lass. You’ll be blistering those soft hands with that work.” Vincent took the rough rope from her hands and passed it to Harlan.

  “Sorry, Captain. She insisted on her turn at it.” Harlan sat on the edge of the tub and let the bucket drop back into the water. The tub was half-full and already sloshing onto the deck from the rolling seas.

  “Here go, Captain.” Johnny tossed him the jar of shanker fish salve.

  “I should toss him over the side for letting you have your way.” Vincent rubbed the salve over the red splotches on her palms.

  “They’re not even blisters.” Cass raised her hand and sniffed. “At least it doesn’t smell too bad.”

  She roamed the deck and napped in the cabin, held the wheel with Bison and climbed to the crow’s nest. Cass kept the breeches and shirt on, but left the boots down below. Vincent watched her pad barefoot, joking with the crew and asking questions. It was obvious she was a welcome addition to the trip.

  In darkness they approached the rocks guarding Rogamis’ harbor. Bison had her sit beside him at the wheel. “Best not to distract him, miss. We don’t know how the Captain navigates the reef without the moons.”

  It did not take long for Cass to understand the danger the reef presented. Her wide green eyes watched the damaged vessels sunk around them. Vincent stood at the bow, his handsome figure silhouetted against the dim lights from the shore. They docked at the end of the wharf. “Build on for us, my ass,” Vincent muttered, looking down at the submerged path.

  Cass agreed to remain on board with Mudeye. Vincent did not need to be distracted looking after her while coordinating the theft of Rogamis’ greatest treasure. She stood at the railing dressed in one of Pascal’s silk tunics and her hair tucked under one of his trademark hats.

  Neither she nor Mudeye noticed the groggy sailor sprawled on the deck of Schindler’s trawler and trying to focus blurred eyes on them. “Now, why would LeSeure be heading into town and leaving Pascal behind?” The thought fogged with the whiskey and soon he was softly snoring again.

  Vincent had his crew wait behind the Broken Mast while he walked inside. Schindler looked up from his card game and sneered. “Heard Dupree finally come to his senses and deserted you.”

  Vincent’s eyes darkened with true anger, and he ordered a drink. When Schindler was certain he had everyone’s attention, he gossiped further. “Seems Dupree was holding out on you, eh LeSeure? He had himself a Lady hidden on an island near their fortress. Damn thing was sinking, and he wouldn’t be trusting the likes of a Fiver around her, so he had to take her back to Espedene.”

  Vincent hid his smile behind his drink. How the hell Schindler learned so quickly about Pascal, bothered him. But, he was pleased with the story being spread. Addie’s idea, probably. It saved Vincent from using the excuse about Pascal being sick and still on the ship. “I’ll be having a toss with the sea witch, barkeep.”

  “You still owe me a tilla from last time,” Mallory challenged. “Pay ahead and I’ll have the boy ready her.”

  “I’ll give you a tilla to cover this time as well as the last.” In character, Vincent knew he could not give in without an argument. “She’s not good for more than a five minute go before dipping her back into the tank again.”

  “It will be a tilla for each toss, Captain.” The tavern keeper spread his hands on bar, standing his ground. “Unless you’d like a spin with a one hundred in Shantytown.” Even with the mermaid damaged, she was still a far cry of an improvement over the robotic one hundred series. The pirate glared at him, and Mallory knew he had him.

  “For a tilla a toss, I want my whole half-hour,” Vincent growled.

  “You know yourself; she’ll dry out after five minutes.”

  “Then I’ll stare at her floating in the tank. I’m getting the full time for my money.”

  “Let him go, Mallory,” Schindler called over. “He’s lost his Royal puppet and I, for one, don’t need his surly attitude fucking up a fine evening.”

  The barkeep
returned from the back room a few moments later. “The boy has her ready for you.” He palmed the two coins the pirate tossed to him and returned to making money-off drinks.

  “Captain LeSeure.” Jimmy smiled. “Figured it was you when Mallory was so particular.”

  Vincent looked down into the water and noticed the android’s fin had formed up to her knees. “She’s rebuilding?”

  “Yes, Captain, though it’s real slow. I’ve still been changing her seawater twice a day. Mallory made me stop wasting time on the third. You want to tip her over the side of the tub like last time?”

  Vincent studied the back room. “How do you get the sea water here?”