Pirate Lord

by Stephanie Anthony

  Merek rose slowly, stepping off of the dais towards his son. For a moment Tristan found himself imagining being in Merek’s shoes – how he would feel after not seeing Jon or Kris for twelve years. It hurt.

  Merek looked at Jim with wonder, but he didn’t go too close, didn’t go to hug Jim or even try to touch him. Tristan wondered whether Lily’s presence had something to do with that; despite him trying to disarm her slightly earlier, she still glared at Merek with open hatred, her eyes burning with that dangerous fire that he loved.

  “Rauri.” Merek whispered.

  “What?”

  “Sorry – you look so much like…I thought you were dead.”

  “Nearly. So they tell me.”

  “You were found on a wreck?”

  Jim just nodded. His expression was unreadable, though his eyes searched his father’s face, probably noting the innumerable similarities they had to each other. Now they were standing before each other it was like looking through a mirror, age being the only difference between them.

  “Your mother took you – she wanted to raise you alone. I was distant, I was never around, never worthy of her.” Merek glanced at Lily and Tristan, a sudden harshness coming into his voice, “Look, could you leave us to it?”

  Tristan opened his mouth to answer but Jim beat him to it, “No, they stay. Anything you have to say to me you can say to them.”

  Merek looked angry for a moment, but he hid it quickly. “Fine. She was right to leave – but I wish she hadn’t taken you. You were only six. When I first discovered that she had left I was furious. I had her tracked, I found out the identity of the ship she had gained transport on, that it was attacked. By the time my sources reached the wreck there was nothing left, just scraps of wood and circling sharks. They assumed the worst.”

  “Captain Wolf saved me.”

  “But you don’t remember anything about your past – your life before the raid, before you were shipwrecked?”

  “No. I just remember waking up on the deck of The Shadow. Before that I have no clear memories.”

  “You remind me of her, your mother – I mean you’ve got my eyes and hair, my jaw – but your face, your expressions, they are all hers. She was called Opal. She was a slave like me, but we escaped together. She loved me for a long time, and I guess I grew used to her presence, I stopped trying. When I became Pirate Lord she was not happy for me as I thought she would be. But she tried, she gave birth to my son, perhaps in the hope that I would come to my senses. That I would pay her the attention she deserved. I was so blind.” He broke out into a broad smile, “Rauri, it is so good to see you alive, a man. We have so much to catch up on, but I suppose there will be plenty of time for that.” He reached his hand out to Jim.

  Jim didn’t return the gesture, instead studying his father’s hand, the inked octopus tendril that caressed his central knuckle. He flicked his gaze back up to the honey coloured eyes, the twins of his own, “What is it you expect of me?”

  “Well you’ll stay won’t you – with me?”

  Jim’s expression hardened. “You asked to see me, you’ve seen me. I agreed to no more than that.”

  “What?” Merek’s anger resurfaced, and he glared at Lily. “You told me you’d let Rauri decide.”

  Jim jumped to their defence once more. It was quite unlike him to speak out like this, especially in the presence of his captains. “My name is Jim! And Lily said nothing – these are my words. You may be my blood, but I know you no more than a passing stranger on the street. You don’t get to tell me what to do, you don’t have the right to. Tristan raised me, and Lily. They are more my family than you’ll ever be. I’m staying with them. I might return to see you again, but if I do I’ll decide that too, and it will be on my terms.”

  Merek said nothing.

  “Thank you though, for telling me about my mother. I know more about my past now, and that is a start. I have six forgotten years, and right now, I don’t know whether I want to remember them or not. I know who I am, who I was is of little interest to me. Maybe that will change one day.”

  Tristan had underestimated him, he’d never seen Jim be so cold, so unshakable – he was not the little boy he’d saved, he was a man who was now able to stand before the Pirate Lord, his father, and speak his mind. Jim turned on his heel, and Tristan pushed up from the wall, hurrying to his side.

  “We’ll sign the agreement another time.” Tristan called over his shoulder.

  Merek wasn’t about to argue now, even if for a little time, that put the ball back in their court. Lily glared at the Pirate Lord a moment longer before Tristan clicked his tongue at her, and she too joined them.

  Tristan glanced back to see Merek staring after them, the disappointment and heartbreak apparent. Clearly he had imagined this going very differently.

  ~

  Tristan jumped onto the bed, resting his arms behind his head. It was nice to reclaim the captain’s cabin as his own again. It felt strange to be docked once more in the Pirate Lord’s bay. He’d feel much happier when they could leave. Of course that all depended on whether Merek would let them leave. Lily remained standing, removing her jacket with a little difficulty, her injuries impeding her movement. Not that she made any complaints, or allowed him to fuss over her. He sighed deeply, “That was hard to watch.”

  “He deserves it.”

  “Still, I hope Jim doesn’t regret his actions.”

  “He’s had the whole time we were away to think about it. He’s not an idiot, he’ll have realised what Merek would have expected from him. Jim wants to stay with us, so we’ll let him stay. He has a home by our side for as long as he wants it.”

  “Of course.”

  She sat on the side of the bed, her hand finding his. “Thank you for taking the lead with the arrangements. I was too busy concentrating on not slitting his throat.”

  Tristan grinned, “I could see you were struggling to keep it together.”

  “It’s much harder to keep myself reined in when I despise the person in front of me. Still, we now call the when and where.”

  “Any thoughts? Now you’re not distracted by the tempting idea of killing him.”

  Lily tucked her legs up onto the bed, crossing them. She reached up tentatively, gathering her loose hair into a bun atop her head. He tried to ignore her slight wince as she stretched her stitches. Once she was satisfied her hair was secure, she lowered her hands once more and rubbed at the scars on her wrists. Lily paused for a moment, “He can come to us. I’ve visited his quarters enough. It is time he got his arse off his throne.”

  “Where?

  “Hunter. Tomorrow.”

  Tristan was surprised, “You’d allow him to come on board our ship?”

  Lily nodded, giving no indication that she thought it risky to invite the Pirate Lord onto the ship that was now their home. “He can bring Roselyn. No one else.”

  “Chop can take the children into town I suppose.”

  “No. They stay here. Let Merek meet them.” She was speaking in that clipped manner that meant there was no point arguing with her.

  Tristan narrowed his eyes, “Are you sure?”

  “This involves them too. They have every right to be there. We’re surrounded by our crew, let him bloody well try to do anything.”

  She wasn’t quite looking at him, her focus on the porthole that looked out over the docks.

  He smiled to himself. So it would be, they’d meet him on their terms, on their ship.

  Chapter 19

  Slaves

  The castle was cold, the thick stone walls preventing much of the warmth of the day from penetrating the rooms. There were few windows. It was a fortress, not a palace. She shouldn’t be here, but she’d found herself unable to ignore that pull. Lily gritted her teeth, her fingers itching to wrap around his throat. Tristan had sent the message earlier, that Merek was to come to Hunter at midday tomorrow. It was all arranged, all sorted. But it hadn’t much felt like that for Lily. He had bee
n different in front of his son, he had held back, giving her little reason to lose her temper.

  “I didn’t think you’d be able to leave it at that. Come for a scrap?” His low laugh sent chills down her spine, not that she let on.

  Lily spun, wild eyed and furious. His hand grabbed her wrist before she could even roll her palm into a fist.

  “You can’t seem to keep away from me. Should I take this as encouraging?” He tightened his hold on her.

  She felt like her blood was being cut off, like her hand was going numb. His grip was like steel. Like manacles. Pure primal fear infiltrated her, driving away that inner demon. Her only real weakness, the only thing that could stifle that pure rage – the fear of confinement.

  The blood drained from her face, her heart stammering. She was only mildly aware of the amused leer that Merek directed at her. With a strength that even Tristan didn’t possess, he twisted her and threw her to the ground.

  Her brow slammed into the floor, her hand still restrained behind her back. She stifled the grunt of surprise, or was too busy trying not to panic as she remembered that slave ship once again. She’d come here to attack him. Her last chance at revenge for all those dirty looks and comments, her last act of defiance before she signed away her freedom to the very man that now restrained her – how the hell had she been the one to end up on the ground?

  “It haunts you even now doesn’t it?” Merek’s voice was cold, emotionless. She felt his weight shift behind her, and then his breath was curling on her cheek, the heat of his body above her. “It never stops, believe me.”

  “Get off of me.” She managed to hiss.

  “Make me.”

  The way he said those words, the way he let the corner of his lips brush her cheek, was enough to make the rage come sweeping back. Lily remembered she had another hand. She grabbed the dagger without even thinking, and aimed it at Merek’s abdomen. She let it prick his skin, and felt warm blood trickle over her fingers.

  He gave a satisfied chuckle, and then the weight above her was gone. She pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the burning pain from her wrist, and the throbbing from her forehead. He watched her like a hawk, his head cocked to the side, his arms folded across his torso, nothing but his octopus tattoo covering his chest.

  “What was that?”

  “A test…if you’re going to be my bitch then I want to know you’re not easy to break. I’m mildly disappointed to be honest, you took your time to remember about your claws.”

  “I am not your bitch.” Lily spat, slipping her dagger back into her belt with a level of aggression that she knew was not necessary. From his posture he was done playing, for now.

  “Yet. Still, it is worth you realising you need to master that particular reaction to anyone grabbing your wrists hard enough. You’re not alone in that weakness. I know the weight of chains.” He rubbed at the inside of his wrist, where old scars marked his flesh. Scars like hers. Scars from trying to break out of manacles.

  “Tell me how you became a slave.”

  “You’re interested in knowing about my past? Well Lily, I am flattered. But it is a complicated story, I’m not sure we have time for that now.” His usual arrogance was back, that little hairline fracture in his countenance once again patched up. “First tell me something. What makes you tick? Where does your fight come from?”

  “You spoke about weakness. You were wrong. My past is not my weakness, it is my strength. And it fuels me. I’ve always been like this, I’ve always been dangerous. I kept away from people, I tried to hold myself back. But it is part of me. Tristan didn’t understand at first, he tried to lock me up, he wanted to keep me safe. But I’m not afraid of violence. You don’t hear the thoughts in my mind Merek. You don’t know what realities my crooked imagination weaves.” The smile she gave him had made seasoned pirates tremble, but he just ran his tongue over his teeth.

  Merek’s lip twitched, “Your demon.”

  “Roselyn told you about that did she? I don’t see what advantage that gives you – a smart guy like you should realise how dangerous I am.”

  “You’re rather good at pretty words, are you sure you don’t enjoy it?” Merek strode over to a side table, poured himself a glass of wine. He offered her the glass, but she shook her head, so he shrugged, swirled the contents, and took a long gulp.

  Lily folded her arms, slipping her fingers over her sleeves to feel the familiar press of the daggers she had concealed. Even Tristan didn’t know about those ones. “Who banded you?”

  “I was born a slave. I knew nothing but to serve, for much of my childhood. Then the manager of the docks that I worked at saw something in me, some potential. He took me on, educated me, bought me my freedom.” Merek lowered his arm, his fingers gripping the bowl of the wine glass. A trace of the liquid crept down from the rim.

  “Your parents were both slaves?”

  “Yes. And I didn’t even look back when I was offered a future. They were dead weight, they were holding me back. They held me back from birth. They should have dumped me at the roadside rather than burdening me with that life, with this mark. I never missed them.” Merek’s eyes had taken on a murky shadow, but it cleared the moment he looked back at Lily. He didn’t hide the venom in his voice quite so well.

  “That’s rather heartless.” The comment was worth it for that tiny crack, for that shadow that flickered in his eye once again. He was fun to mess with.

  He tapped his forefinger against the glass a few times, a strange chuckle escaping from his lips. “Can you honestly tell me you still had some feelings for your father after he ripped open your back?”

  Lily hesitated for only a moment, “How do you know about that?”

  He grinned like a tiger, he knew he’d got to her. Again. “I told you, I do my research. Thoroughly.”

  “Roselyn.” Lily breathed. She had hoped that the assassin would be able to keep that bit of information at least to herself. It seemed not. Roselyn really was his pet. Lily ignored the sting of betrayal, and snorted at the irony, “So you were born in shackles, and now you shackle others to yourself.”

  “I don’t use shackles. I make deals.”

  The word seemed to have struck a chord. Lily decided to press on, “Is there a difference?”

  “You’ve experienced both, you tell me.”

  He’d played right into her hands. She knew exactly what to say. “Deals work both ways.”

  Merek smiled. “You’re getting your freedom.”

  “No, you’re just not going to arrest us. That’s not giving us anything. Had we refused your invitation in the first place you wouldn’t have gained access to us, you’d never have caught us.”

  “The paradox of hindsight.” He chuckled, “But you’re wrong, I would have caught you.”

  Lily shrugged. “Believe that all you like.” She wouldn’t back down now, she was so close.

  “What do you want then? What would make you feel better about our little deal?” He took a second swig of wine, then rested his glass back on the side table.

  Good, he was willing to give them a little more to even out the contract. Lily would be sure to use every inch he yielded. “I’ll think of something, and when I do I want your word that you will accept it. No matter what it is.”

  “My word? Do you really hold my word in such regard?” He turned and leered at her again.

  Honestly, she didn’t know how Roselyn put up with that leer, how she’d fallen in love with a person who would look at you like that, as if you were just an object. A man like Merek was incapable of love, all he understood was desire.

  “I have little choice.”

  “There’s not many that I’ll let make so many amendments to their contracts.”

  “But you’ll let me.”

  Merek padded over to his throne, and collapsed into it, pausing for a time before answering her. “For some odd reason, yes. Terrifying really.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands.

  “Don’t be s
cared, I have that effect on most men.” Once again she had the urge to perch on the arm of his throne, if just to stop him from pretending to be the one in charge. “Where did you learn to fight?”

  Merek grinned, “Who’s changing topics now?”

  “I just wondered; for a man who keeps to his little protected Island and rarely sends out his troops, much less involves himself in combat himself, preferring to lounge in that rather uncomfortable looking throne – you know how to throw your weight around.”

  Merek leaned back in the aforementioned throne, snaking his hands over the arms of the chair. “I’ll take that as a high compliment coming from someone with your background and reputation.”

  “Take it however you like.”

  “I learned on the streets, like you. I learned from the broken people of this world, the ones who don’t care about etiquette, but are more intent on surviving. That’s how I learned. But over the years I found that words get me further than brute strength.”

  Lily snorted, “I still find a well-placed punch makes a point much clearer.”

  “Perhaps that’s why I’m the one who’s in the throne, and you’re the one who’s about to be put on my leash.”

  She didn’t let his words get to her. She’d already accepted the situation. It was just the word he’d used earlier which had made something in her snap. “You don’t control me yet Merek. Make sure you remember that.”

  “You keep forgetting you’re not in a position to threaten me.”

  “Aren’t I?”

  “Do you want me to pin you down again?” He purred.

  Lily let herself smile, “I know you want to.”

  “I don’t take women who are unwilling.”