Vincent watched the trawler drift away, with the two old men at the oars. “Johnny, sail to the Redemption.” The battle had dwindled to occasional shots. Trawlers limped back towards Rogamis and battle scarred frigates tied onto others, forming a floating caravan. Only the Churning Redemption remained untethered, though certainly not without damage. The masts still stood, though one missed the top half, and not one sail escaped burning ripped holes.
“Prepare the cannons,” Vincent called out. He watched Damien pacing the deck and glancing at the schooner. The Admiral did not take his usual position on the bow. “What are you up to, Damien?” Vincent whispered. The Admiral looked up and called to his man on the crow’s nest. A few moments later, his colors were covered.
Harlan stood from preparing his cannon. “Captain?”
“Cover the colors, Mudeye. Johnny, keep an eye the caravan doesn’t let loose and try to surround us.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Cass walked up and took Vincent’s arm. “What’s going on?”
“He wants to talk to me.” Vincent stroked his beard. “He’s never talked to me. What the hell is he up to?” He was further confused when the Admiral waved the frigates back to Espedene. It left only the Redemption and his schooner drifting together in the waters between the Realm and Rogamis.
Damien called over, “Is Lorena on board?”
“Aye, he wants news of his daughter. If I deny it, he’s liable to fire.”
“It doesn’t matter, Vincent. We won’t sink,” Cass assured him.
“No, Admiral. She is safe on land with her husband.”
“Not on Espedene.”
“No, not on Espedene.”
“She helped make off with my ship, and all the workers.”
Vincent chuckled. “I think she was a bit disappointed when I chose to return it.”
Damien looked up at the sky. “Something has happened. We have a sorceress in prison. My crew thinks she’s called fire from the sky against the Makers. Do you know what happened?”
“I’ll share the story if you’ll be sharing some of your fine Royal brandy,” Vincent replied.
Damien studied the woman standing beside the pirate. “I heard rumors the pirates kept a sorceress of their own.” He shrugged and looked at Vincent. “I should have guessed it was you.” Damien sent for the bottle and tied the boats off.
Vincent stood back as the Admiral boarded. Damien walked the length of the deck, noting the rail Cass had pulled free. “You’ve kept her up well, considering.”
“Aye, you built Lorena a fine vessel.” Vincent poured three brandies, and handed one to Cass and one to the Admiral.
Damien studied the amber liquor. “You know, it turned out the King is petrified of the water. He’s never been out to sea, and had a top floor added to the palace as soon as the seas lapped the first riser.”
“And you built him a boat for the dowry?”
Damien laughed. “It was his father’s suggestion. He hoped to get the coward over his phobia. I gave up three years’ supplies from the Makers for the damn thing.” Damien looked towards Espedene. “So, what can you tell me?”
“The sorceress is Queen with Pascal Dupree by her side, and the Makers are gone.” Vincent expected the man to be shocked.
Instead, Damien tucked his small chin to his chest, sipped his brandy, and sighed. “Do you have them? I’ve had word the rogues left Rogamis.”
“Aye, Schindler collected well for his misinformation. The Makers have left Aquadea, perhaps to wherever they came from.”
“Is this new sorceress Queen reliable?”
Vincent scowled. “She enjoys the life of Royals.”
“Don’t be coy, Vincent. It doesn’t suit you. Is she a Maker? There are no resources left on Espedene or Romagis.”
Vincent’s jaw clenched. This proved the Royals knew the Makers were destroying their world. “You can scavenge from Fifth Realm.”
Damien leaned back against the rail and stared up into Vincent’s eyes. “I don’t think I should care for that.” He twirled a thin finger around the rim of his glass, continuing to look at Vincent. “Suppose I consider your use of the schooner a lease arrangement. Ten years fee should be worth a sum. Perhaps even an invitation to the island the Fivers are on?”
“You’re a Royal, Damien. I doubt the life of a Fiver would suit you.”
Damien rubbed his temple. “I’m weary of the pompous rigors Ashton demanded. It is not in me to begin with this Queen’s rules. Besides, without the game of chasing you, it leaves only the trawlers to fight. And I imagine when this Queen discovers she has no laborers, she’ll draw up an arrangement with the exiles.”
“So, you’ll be wanted me to sail you to our fortress? What guarantees do I have that you will not be leaving and bringing the frigates around?”
“I’ll collect my things from my cabin on my frigate and leave with you now on the schooner, after ordering the Redemption back to Espedene. You know she can’t catch the schooner, anyway.”
“And your wife? You’ll just be leaving her?”
Damien laughed sadly. “Lorena inherited her mother’s wandering ways. My wife left me years ago, and merely accompanies me for social engagements and Royal appearances. She’ll move her Third Realm dandy into our quarters when the Redemption returns without me. I doubt she knows our parlor is two inches under water.”
“The waters have pulled back.”
Damien shook his head and looked at Cass. “You’ve been rather busy, sorceress.” Cass kept her lips sealed. It might not hurt to let him believe she had powers.
“You can gather your things and the rest of this fine brandy, but I’ll not be giving you back the schooner,” Vincent said.
“Agreed, Captain LeSeure.” Damien climbed back on the Redemption and packed. He returned to the Floralinda Sunset and called to his crew, “You have a new Queen who needs your assistance. I must try to ransom my daughter from this pirate.”
The men looked uneasy. “And, you don’t want us to follow you?”
“This is a delicate ransom, you moron. Sail back to your Queen.”
Vincent steered towards the edge when the Redemption was out of sight. They sailed passed the battered cave. “Where do you think they went?” Cass asked.
“Ah, Cass-lass, there’s some things it’s best not to have the answers to. Wherever and whoever the sky witches are, they surely were the threat that chased the Makers off.” Vincent and the crew thumbed their foreheads as they passed.
Epilogue
The rogue pirates and Fivertown citizens rarely traveled to the other side. Pascal made trips several times a year, taking a break from his domineering wife. The trip back to Espedene was usually without a few of his crew.
The other side of the world thrived, with Adelaide as Queen. She actually managed to hold Espedene and Rogamis together. No one would stretch their admiration for her abilities by stating she was adored. Respected, definitely, but not the sort anyone other than Pascal could warm to.
On the other side, people built real wood houses and began to farm and grow their food. It was added to the fish Fivertown men caught, and Harlan managed a band of hunters unless Vincent had a mind to go sailing.
Vincent built a home on Sea Witch Island. The mysterious stream in the cave had sealed off. Jimmy had a small home next to the pool, and his sea witch could spend a full half day out of water. He named her Aquadea, after the seas.
Lorena and Sandra claimed the same island. Mudeye kept a small lean-to near the shore, but he preferred to sleep on the deck of the Floralinda Sunset. Damien met a Fivertown woman and set up a new home next to Lorena and Felix.
During an afternoon stroll to their house on the beach, Vincent squeezed Cass’s hand. Even his dreams as a boy had never let him hope for such happiness. “Ah Cass-lass, you truly bewitched me the first time I saw you stretched on the sand.”
Cass walked into their one room cabin and wrapped her arms around his neck. “And I thought I
had to be dreaming.”
He dipped his head and grabbed her bottom in his hands. Cass felt her nipples tighten and the beginnings of arousal. She reached for the sash holding his breeches.
Vincent whispered, “There’s talk of voting Damien leader of the land masses, just to organize crops and fishing.”
Cass put her fingers to his lips. “Ssh. Fuck now, talk later.” She pushed him onto their bed.
Vincent folded his hands under his head and his dark eyes smiled with approval while she stripped. He kicked off his boots and rose to pull his shirt over his head.
Cass stretched out on top of him, and he wrapped his arms around her. Their tongues swirled in a deep kiss while he rolled her beneath him. Vincent watched her eyes close and a smile crease her lips when his tongue left her mouth and trailed to her breast.
The first nip of his teeth pulling an erect bud made her gasp. Vincent smiled and tugged harder. She had the strength and passion of a Fiver, and he loved to watch her squirm.
“Shit, Vincent. No teeth,” she gasped.
“You’re no Royal Lady, Cass-lass. I’ll be giving you a proper toss,” he whispered.
Cass’s thighs squeezed together around a firm, searching hand. Fingers lightly prodded to her passage and her legs fell open while her head swayed on the pillow. She felt his hair sweeping down her belly and her hips shuffled in anticipation.
Vincent chuckled. At the first nibble, she shuddered. Vincent felt her gripping in erratic spasms. She was already close to climaxing.
“I need you, Vincent,” she gasped.
“You know I don’t listen to your demands, Cass-lass.” He sucked, and she shrieked. Satisfied, Vincent slithered up her body, sliding into her warmth. He kissed her chin, temples, and around her flushed face, before settling once more on her mouth.
As he picked up rhythm, Cass wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him deeper, gripping his broad back. Vincent knew her responses, and when she began to tremble he thrust quickly and timed his climax with hers. Cass curled next to him and fell asleep, smiling at the wonderful life they shared.
Vincent’s crew joined them on sunset cruises. They were a favorite pastime for the rogue pirates who had spent their lives on the sea. Though Cass never traveled back to Espedene to see Addie, the sunset cruises reminded her of their vacation trip so long ago.
On the Floralinda Sunset, Cass wore her breeches and boots, with a billowy shirt and a scarf capped over her head. She stood at the bow next to Vincent, leaning against his chest. It’s true, Addie. Given the right company, it surely is romantic.
The End
Cassandra's Pirate (The Atlantis Series) Page 14