Rise of the Champion (The Champion Book 1)

by Clara C. Johnson

  “Pleasure to meet you all.” She pointed toward Caden. “You, the male human. You are the healer, yes?”

  “I am.”

  Her smile was bright, inviting. “Then I’d like you to come with me. There are a few of us who are in need your skills.”

  Caden hesitated for a moment, sharing a look with Serra before she nodded. He grabbed his bag of supplies and followed her back through the door they had come from. A sense of relief echoed through Serra’s body now that Milena was out of the room. She hoped Theren didn’t notice.

  “I need the rest of you to come with me. We must prepare,” Leo said, heading out the same door. Serra and her friends followed as Sharlea spoke.

  “Welcome to the rebellion.”

  The plan was simple: get onto the boat, find the information, and leave before anyone suspected a thing. Finn was to be Lord Holin. Serra was to be his servant named Mirabelle—Belle for short. Theren was Selwyn. Leo had each one of them dressed appropriately for the role: Finn was in a bright red suit trimmed with gold and Serra wore a simple brown dress with pockets and her hair was tied back into a small ponytail.

  Theren’s disguise was different then Serra had expected. He was given clean clothes, similar to her own in color. The shirt was wrapped around his torso, hovering below his hips, and tied with a thick belt. It was low enough for her to see his muscled chest peek out. When she first saw him, her cheeks reddened. Her reaction caused a smirk and a teasing comment from Finn, resulting for him a smack on the back of his head. She stomped away, hearing him snickering behind her.

  Leo wanted them to express to the captain that Finn—or Lord Holin, in this case—was wealthy and had a weak heart for hard-working slaves and fragile women. He also believed appearances meant everything, which included his slaves. While neither Serra or Theren wore expensive clothing, their cleanliness and untattered appearance made them look like the luckiest servants alive. It would be unusual, but it would show the captain that Finn could be nothing more than an idiot with an overzealous attachment to perfect appearances.

  It was all a game to make Captain Tully believe he was transporting a fool and his lackeys. A fool you can always trust to be just that. A fool who simply didn’t know better or use his head in most situations. It would lower his suspicions of them, as Leo suggested. Serra wanted to believe he was right, but she knew this entire assignment could go downhill quickly. One wrong move, one wrong word spoken could jeopardize their mission.

  As they headed for the docks, they each had practiced their lines and calling one another by their new names. So, by the time they had to convince Captain Tully who they were, they succeeded and were brought aboard the ship without issue.

  The Blackbird was given a proper name. The entire wooden structure was painted in the darkest color she’d ever seen on a ship. It looked more like a ship of death one would read in a story about some haunted vessel manned by ghosts or monsters led by a captain set on some vengeful quest against the living. It was too easy to believe the ship could be as menacing as its appearance.

  Serra exhaled the breath she was holding when they walked on the plank as they trailed behind the captain.

  Captain Tully scratched the side of his beard. “I ask while you are guests on my ship that you have your slaves help around. There’s always work to be done. Can the girl cook?” He looked at Serra. “What’s your name again?”

  Serra curtsied, bowing her head lower than she should have. “Belle, sir. And I can cook a little. My master has a chef, but I help in the kitchens.”

  “Belle,” he purred, looking at her from the top of her head down to her toes. It took everything she had not to smack the lustful smile off his face. Revolting. His mind was clearly going places she didn’t want to know. Just smile, she thought. Ignore it.

  Theren stepped forward. “I am at your service, sir.” It snapped the captain out of whatever thought he was in, turning his smile into a frown.

  “My servants are at your disposal, Captain. As long as you treat them well, of course. If their lovely faces are ruined, they will scare any guests I’ll have in the future,” Finn said charmingly. A small threat that hinted a painful death was coated on his sweet tongue.

  Captain Tully squinted slightly, making it clear he heard the threat, then shifted his lips upward. “Of course, Lord Holin. I simply want to make sure they stay busy. Can’t have anyone bored on my ship. Elf, why don’t you help Morn over there? We’re going to need to move fast if we’re to leave on time.”

  Without saying a word, Theren did as commanded and helped Morn carry the rest of the cargo down into the belly of the ship. Serra inhaled sharply. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him sneering for the briefest moment.

  Despite all of this being pretend, he was put back into a slave’s position. He would be treated like one and would hold no value and have no name other than slave or elf. She knew this hurt him, but there was little choice. Elves were still slaves in Sostar. There were no free elves in the people’s eyes. For this to work, he had to be a slave. But it didn’t change how it affected him.

  It angered her. However, her concern for Theren’s wellbeing overtook the anger by tenfold. This would be a hard journey for him, which meant she would always need to keep an eye on him. The problem would be to not show favoritism toward him or some type of special interest in him. It would raise too many questions. Someone would eventually notice their closeness.

  If only she could tell her heart to stop aching to do otherwise.

  It would be another day before they reached Valbush. The wind was prominent, carrying the Blackbird with efficient speed. Taking a deep breath, Serra took in the salty night air. She had spent the rest of the day helping in the kitchens, making dinner for the crew while keeping some measure of distance from Theren. Finn had done his job well so far. As she filled the crew’s cups of ale, the dining room roared with laughter. The jokes and stories Finn shared had given Captain Tully’s crew a reason to like having him on board.

  Winning the trust of the crew was the first step, and now they had to reach the captain. He apparently ate in his cabin alone, with only the sounds from the dining room below him and the sea waves rushing as his company. When Serra offered to take a tray of food to the captain, it was the first mate who delivered it. Either the captain had little to do with his crew or he was paranoid. Serra had watched his first mate taste the food before he finally took it to the captain.

  Earning the captain’s trust would prove far more difficult than they thought.

  Serra gripped the railing, feeling frustrated with the whole situation. There was still no proof the captain was harboring slaves. His entire crew was made of human males. She was the only female onboard, but despite the small whispers of “bad luck” she would cause them, the captain held no superstitions about it. In fact, she had found him smiling every time they shared eye contact. She knew what he wanted of her, and it made her want to vomit. It wasn’t that he was necessarily ugly; she had a feeling he was too used to getting what he wants. Whenever he wants.

  “Are you ill, Belle?” the captain’s voice said behind her.

  She silently cursed before she turned to face the captain, who was within feet of her. His hands were behind his back. “Oh, no, sir. My feet are just hurting from being on them all day. It’s a little disorienting for me, being on a ship. Throws off my balance, and I accidentally tripped on someone’s boots. Not to worry though. I made sure they were cleaned before he needed them for the morning.”

  He tilted his head then walked closer to her, bending at his knees. He lifted one of her feet, examining her shoes. “Well, no wonder your feet hurt, my dear. Your heel has broken on the side.”

  Serra didn’t notice the crack between the heel and the fabric. Trying to not let her disgust show on her face, she gently slipped her foot out of his grasp. “Oh, my. I suppose these shoes are done for. I’ll ask Lord Holin if I can get new ones.”

  He stood. “Yes, Lord Holin. H
e said he found you starving on the streets. He seems to think of you as his own.” The captain moved until he was right beside her, leaning against the railing.

  “He is very generous to think so. I’m happy to serve him,” she said, almost too quickly. She was losing her nerve. The wind shifted his scent away from her, but she could still smell his musky cologne lingering in her space. She wrinkled her nose.

  “That’s cute,” he mused.

  She sniffed, feeling a sneeze. “What is, sir?”

  “The way you twitch your nose. I haven’t seen many girls who can do that.” Uncontrollably, she sneezed when the wind shifted his scent toward her once again. Like a perfect gentleman, he handed her a handkerchief with his initials sewed into it of D.T. She tried not to cough when she brought it to her nose. The handkerchief smelled like it was doused in his cologne.

  When she thanked him and offered it back, he shook his head. “Keep it. It will give you a reminder of your time here. You know, in case our paths don’t cross again anytime soon.”

  She held her breath, trying to hold back the nasty words she wanted to spit at him. “You are too kind, sir.”

  He leaned his body toward her, close enough to feel his breath on her shoulder. “Maybe you could join me in my cabin. I’ll rub your feet. They surely must be hurting after such a long day of work.”

  The idea of being invited to his cabin for a foot rub was enough to fill her mouth with a sour taste. It was exactly what she needed to do. They needed to get into his cabin to find the evidence, but she would need to do it when he wasn’t there. If she went with him now, he wouldn’t let her out of his sight. Not to mention the things he would want to do to her after said foot rub.

  Before she could answer, a voice called out her name. The captain backed off only an inch or two, glaring at the person who interrupted them. Serra turned to see Theren by a doorway. “Belle, Lord Holin would like to see you. Something about his back hurting.”

  Captain Tully sighed. “I suppose I should let you go back to your dear lord. We’ll speak again soon,” he sneered at Theren, “when we have some privacy.” He left Serra alone by the railing, walking toward his cabin. She let out the breath as she followed Theren down the steps.

  But he didn’t lead her to Finn. Instead, he grabbed her arm and shoved her in a quiet hallway. He glanced around the corner to make sure no one would hear them before he spoke in a small, sharp whisper. “Do you have any idea what he wanted with you? If you had gone into that cabin, he would’ve—”

  “I know. Believe me, I know.” She rubbed her temple, feeling a headache coming on. “We may have no other choice. We need to get in there.”

  “No. Not if it means you have to… not if you have to allow him to—to touch you.” She hadn’t seen him act like this before. His voice was filled with fury and hatred, as if he wanted nothing more than to murder the captain in cold blood. Not only that. She hadn’t seen him so… protective of her.

  Her face softened. “I won’t let that happen. I’ll get what we need and leave. I wouldn’t let that man touch me for all the riches in the world. I’d rather scrub floors for the rest of my life.”

  As a tavern maiden, she was forced to deal with men who got the nerve to get too handsy. Usually, it was because they were lonely or had too much to drink. Whatever the reason, it never stopped her from ending it before it became habitual for the others.

  He didn’t face her, but the anger dissipated. Then, he took both of her hands. “Good to know.” His emerald eyes expressed both worry and gratitude. To ease his mind, she embraced him, snuggling her face into his chest. She could feel his body tense as she did it. After a moment, he eventually relaxed and wrapped his arms around her.

  She leaned upward toward his ear as he was half a head taller than her and whispered, “We do this together.”

  “Together,” he repeated.

  She pulled back, placing her hands on his chest, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned his forehead onto hers. “Serra…” He trailed off, shutting his eyes tightly as if he was in pain. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, unsure of what he was trying to say.

  “Now, where is my Belle? Surely Selwyn didn’t lose her!” Finn’s voice interrupted, making Theren jump back, his arms dropping to his sides. He followed Finn’s voice, not bothering to make sure Serra followed.

  Her head was dizzy from his sudden release. What was he trying to say? What had happened? More like, what almost happened? She shook her head and brushed her dress and then trailed Theren to meet with Finn to discuss their plan.

  Where there was a plan, trouble followed it like a lost puppy. Upon reaching the deck, Captain Tully called Finn over and spoke to him for several minutes before Finn returned, barely able to keep his temper in check. “We have a problem,” he muttered. “We are taking a detour to some mining town for a pickup. This will put us at least a day behind.”

  “That will not please Sharlea,” said Theren.

  Serra shook her head. “No, but this could be useful. Even if it’s not the information she wants, it could be something we can use.”

  “Perhaps,” said Finn.

  The change in their course added complications, but Serra tried to hope that it meant they would have more time to find the connection between Captain Tully and the slave trade.

  Theren’s words haunted her. The hatred in his voice was undeniable. She wondered if he thought she would allow the captain to have his way with her or if the captain would force himself on her. The thought of it ran an icy chill down her spine. She would never allow such a thing to happen. Just because she was in a dress didn’t mean she wasn’t prepared. A small, delicate knife was sheathed around her upper thigh. If the captain got too willful, she would put an end to it, even if it meant failing the operation.

  She wouldn’t be weak. She would be strong.

  Finn returned to Captain Tully to discuss the schedule and when they should be expected to return to the city. Serra moved toward the kitchens but stopped when she heard a ruckus behind her. When she turned, she saw Theren shoved against one of the masts. The mop in his hand dropped to the deck with a loud clank.

  The crewmember who pushed Theren shouted at him, “Come on then, slave! This deck isn’t going to wash itself!”

  Theren glared at the man then picked up the mop. Before he could make three swipes, the man pushed him again. He kept his balance as if he’d expected the man to do it a second time. She looked at the captain, who was still talking to Finn. He either had no idea what was happening or simply didn’t care. Finn had made it clear to him that they were to be treated fairly. Apparently, that wouldn’t be the case.

  Putting on a smile, she quickly walked over to the man harassing Theren. He was a ghastly male with a pot belly and an angled nose that exposed his large nostrils. Serra thought of him as a pig. “I’d appreciate it if you left Lord Holin’s servant alone.”

  The pig-man scoffed. “He ain’t nothing but a slave. Just as you are, bitch.”

  She lost her composure for a brief second, flinching at the word “slave.” Her smile faded. “He is treated as a servant in Lord Holin’s home. He is a person and a fine worker. Seems like that elf you call a slave is doing more work than you are on your own captain’s ship. Should I report you to him? I don’t think he likes fat, lazy men on his ship.”

  Pig-man winced, but his pride escalated as he shifted closer to her. “You goin’ to report me to the Cap’? You some type of whore then? You sleepin’ in the Cap’s bed?”

  That was the last straw. Within seconds, Serra took the mop from Theren and smacked pig-man across the face, knocking him to the floor. He touched the swelling bruise forming on his jaw. “You bitch! You’ll pay for that.” He pulled back his arm to punch her but failed to get within a foot of her face before Theren grabbed his arm.

  “You will not touch her,” he threatened, his voice filled with a thousand daggers ready to strike.

  “What’s going on here?” Captain Tully
yelled. The entire crew stopped in their tracks, eyeing the man causing the disruption. Captain Tully shot a look to his crewmen, understanding who to blame. They seemed just as keen on getting him thrown off the ship as they did. Theren released the man’s arm, backing off. The captain’s expression turned dark as they stared at him, only to slightly soften when he turned to Serra. “My dear, is he bothering you?”

  Serra brushed something off the sleeve of her dress, acting uninterested. “Just a small misunderstanding, sir. This man believed he would make Selwyn do his dirty work.”

  “She hit me, Cap’! You going to let this b—” Before pig-man could finish, Captain Tully unsheathed his sword, aiming at pig-man’s neck. The man inhaled a sharp breath.

  “Is that where you got that forming bruise from?” He touched the tip of the blade on his jaw. “Sounds to me she was teaching you a lesson. Do you need another one, Otto?” The blade moved to his stomach. “Or do I need to plunge this in your belly and be done with it?”

  Like sticking a pig. Wonder if I should fetch the captain an apple? The smallest victory smile formed on Serra’s face.

  Otto’s breath shook. “No, Cap’.”

  The corner of Captain Tully’s mouth curled upward. “Good. Then I won’t have to tell you a second time.” He faced the rest of his crew. “Get back to work, you pansies! This isn’t shore leave! Go on, move it!”

  The crew hurried in their duties, afraid to anger the captain anymore. Otto glared at Serra and Theren before he snatched the mop off the floor. His shoulder banged against Theren’s hard enough to make the elf shift.

  Theren wouldn’t look at her. Whether it was because he was angry that she saved him again or the fact Tully came to her rescue, she wasn’t sure. He walked away toward the other side of the deck, fixing a mangled pile of rope on the floor. A sharp pain in her chest caused her to wince.