Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea) (17 page)

“How is it my fault you’re stuck here?”

He took another bite of his chicken. “I watched you get aboard but you didn’t leave before the ship left port. I had to sneak on before you and the medallion were both out of my reach, and sure enough, the wards detected me.” He wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin. “I started to think you were going to leave me here to rot.”

“I didn’t know you were here. I’ve been busy.”

“Busy doing what, exactly?”

“Getting married.”

Dorian choked on his potatoes. “
Married
?”

“I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to stay on board.”

“Who’d you marry, the captain?” He laughed at his own joke.

“No, I married the first officer.”

Dorian scoffed. “Not much better, seeing as how they're brothers.”

My head snapped towards him. “Brothers? How do you—
”

“I'm a
Hound. It's my special talent to know things.” He ripped a bite out of his chicken.

Brothers? My only friend on board turned out to be the brother of my most hated enemy. I felt alone again and my heart sank. But could I condemn William for the actions of his brother? It wasn’t as though he could control to whom he was related. And he’d not been on the ship when they attacked the Iris. My thoughts were as tangled as a ball of yarn. I looked at the
Hound, chewing his chicken, the one person on the ship who cared if I succeeded.

“Thank you,” I said, settling down on the filthy ground. “For sneaking aboard and making sure I’m not alone in this.”

“Don’t thank me. I’m not a gallant type of man.”

I pursed my lips and studied him. “So I see. I thought you couldn’t get on board the ship at all. I thought finding the medallion was my part of this.”

“Yes and you’ve done a wonderful job.” He gave me a level stare. “So how is it seeing your beloved pirates again? The ones you killed the prince for?”

“That isn't what happened. I was fighting the pirates and trying to
save
the kingdom. August accidently got in the way. As for the captain, I very nearly tried to kill him. I think he is the very vilest of men.”

Dorian smiled. “Well, well. Maybe you’re not totally daft after all.”

“High praise.” I leaned in closer to Dorian. “Does this mean I have your sympathy?”

Dorian’s eyes hardened. “No. I’ve heard your excuses, but they don’t change what you did. You murdered the prince.”

“It was an accident.” I looked him square in the eye. “I swear it.”

To my surprise Dorian laughed. “Like I’d believe you.”

I ignored the way his words burned and peeked over my shoulder. Lafe and the guard were still deep in conversation and I leaned close to Dorian.

“I’ve seen the medallion.”

His head whipped up. “You have?”

I bit my lip as I thought back to the claim that it was a map. “Dorian, what do you know of it? Why does the kingdom want it back?”

Dorian shook a chicken bone at me. “I don’t question my assignments. I’m told what to track and I find it.”

“Aren’t you curious? The pirates seem to think it leads to a great treasure.”

He dropped the bone onto his plate. “Of course they do; pirates think everything is a map to a treasure.”

I frowned at him. “Still, we should let the kingdom know when we give it back to them.”

“
We
?”

“I thought you needed to turn me in to get paid.”

“I do,” he said, still surprised.

I shrugged. “I don’t plan on fighting it. Even without our blood oath, they have my sister, how could I do anything other than come willingly? She shouldn’t suffer for my choices.”

“Such noble words,” Dorian said. I didn’t miss the sarcasm.

“I wasn’t trying to sound noble.” I stood up and dusted the dirt from my trousers. “I’ll come up with some way to steal the necklace, and if you’re still in here when I do, I’ll find a way to free you as well.”

Dorian pushed his plate under the bars. “Don’t do anything hasty. It would do you no good to steal it now or even release me. Where would you hide it? Of everyone aboard, you would be suspected first. Don’t make a move until you can get us both off of the ship.”

“I know that, but I need to act quickly. Pearl’s life depends on it. The longer we wait, the further we are from her.”

He sighed and leaned his forehead against the metal bars. “You want my advice? Don’t let your emotions rule your head. Think. Plan.
Wait
.”

“I will.” I looked at him in silence for a moment before picking up the plate. I headed back to the galley, my mind fumbling for a plan.

Chapter 13

I finished my assigned kitchen duties with a thoughtful determination, my body working but my mind trying to find a way to steal the medallion. I washed every dish while Joe silently observed my tenacious scrubbing and leant a hand by scrubbing the floor. When we were done the galley gleamed. Joe dismissed me for the evening and Lafe followed at my heels.

No plan came to me and my spirits were low as I descended the stairs back towards the room I would share with my husband. I leaned my forehead against the doorframe for a moment and shut my eyes. For all I knew, William could be in there now, preparing himself for bed.

“Lafe?”

“Ma’am?”

“Would you mind making sure my . . . that my husband is decent?”

Lafe
grinned widely and I heard him chuckle in surprise. “I doubt he’d care if he wasn’t. William ain't ashamed of his own skin. He won’t mind if you see him bare.”

“Perhaps not, but
I
mind.”

Lafe
scratched the back of his neck. “But ma’am, he’s your husband.”

“Well yes, but not in the normal way.”

“Oh.” He stepped around me and knocked once, waited for a minute to see if William answered, then opened the door and popped his head inside.

“He
ain’t there. Probably still on duty.” He nudged his shoulder against mine with a laugh. “It’s safe.”

With as regal a nod as I could manage I slipped through the door. A long nightshirt lay on my bunk, a note attached.

In case you need something to sleep in.

The bed is yours. I will take the hammock.

William

“That was thoughtful of him,” I admitted to myself. I locked the door and quickly changed into the soft shirt. It smelled like pine needles and rich soil. After unlocking the door
, I slipped into the cool sheets, which had the same comforting, earthy smell.

I soon found I couldn’t rest
because my thoughts wouldn’t settle. They turned to the mystery of my medallion. It had hung from my neck my entire life. I had always thought it was beautiful, but otherwise unremarkable, except, perhaps, for the story of its origin. It had originally belonged to Princess Dawn, the first Emmía who had spilt her blood to combat the warlock’s curse on the soil. No one but the Emmía ever wore it; during the two hundred years interim, it was stored and guarded as it awaited its next owner.

Yet with all of the care and importance given to the medallion, I had never heard anything to suggest it held any power other than showcasing my obedience to the kingdom’s morals.

But the captain insisted it was a map to a treasure. I would have thought it impossible only a few days ago, but now, with everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure anymore. I remembered Aleah’s nervous expression when I’d confessed I no longer possessed the medallion. Could it really be because of a map?

I had to consider the possibility that the pirates knew something no one else did. They must truly believe it to risk so much, to go to such lengths for it. I couldn’t help but speculate. What could be worth risking the wrath of the entire
Orean kingdom? What kind of treasure would be worth such a cost?

My mind whirled as thoughts tumbled over me, choppy as the sea. No matter how I looked at the situation, it still seemed impossible to believe.

And yet, I owed it to myself and to my people to reclaim the medallion and return it to Orea. Not only would it save Pearl’s life, but the medallion would be back where it belonged. And it would deprive the pirates of their coveted treasure—if it really existed.

The wind howled and the boat creaked in agreement with my decision. I had so many questions I was afraid to ask. However, what I needed more than answers was a plan of action. While cleaning, I had the thought that the captain most likely kept the medallion hidden in his quarters when not on his person. I would need to gather my courage and sneak into his room alone. If it was there, I could steal it and then . . .

I sighed. That was always the problem: how to get away alive. I wasn’t sure how I could accomplish such a feat. Perhaps I would have to wait for the ship to dock at another port before I took it. That left me with escaping the hunting group the pirates would no doubt send, and getting back to Orean territory. Perhaps Dorian could help. That reminded me, I would have to organize a jailbreak on top of everything else. And I would have to abandon my husband, severing my marriage vows.

A pang of conscience pulled at me at the thought. I had been raised to believe marriage vows were important, not to be taken or broken lightly. I immediately rejected that thought. The captain had plainly stated that my marriage to William was a technicality only. Besides, I was sure that William would be glad to be rid of me. What young man would truly want an old woman for a wife?

The rocking of the ship intensified. After fifteen minutes or so I feared it would last the whole night. I groaned in bed. My dinner rumbled in my stomach, acid clawed its way up my throat, and a clammy perspiration dotted my forehead. The room swayed back and forth. I curled into a ball and moaned, wishing the misery would end. A knock on the door distracted me for a moment. “Yes?”

“It’s William.” He paused. “May I come in?”

“Of course.”

The door swung open and he entered, giving me a brief nod and a tight smile.

“Thank you for the nightshirt,” I managed.

He nodded just as I felt the contents of my stomach rise. I put my hand over my mouth, jumped out of bed, and
sprinted for the chamber pot across the room. Before I could get there, it all came out, spraying my sick on William from his shirt to his boots. As green as I felt, my cheeks flushed red.

“I’m so
sor—” I started, but threw up again. This time I managed to get most of it in the chamber pot, though some spilled on the floor. I pushed my gray hair away from my face and peeked at my husband, who stood frozen and wide-eyed. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’m a bit seasick.”

Without a word he turned and left. I threw up a few more times and lay on the floor, wishing for death.

“Sheridan?” Lafe asked, opening the door a little. “I heard you might need this.” He set down a pitcher of water, a bucket, and a few rags before leaving. The smell of the room added to my nausea. I stood on shaky legs and opened the round window to let in some of the fresh, salty air. What a day for poor William. He had ended up married to an old woman and spent his wedding night covered in sick.

To distract myself, I decided to put the water and bucket to use, cleaning up my mess. I emptied the chamber pot out of the window, leaning as far out as I could so it wouldn’t splatter
me or the ship. Luckily the wind worked in my favor.

I rested against the wall, gathering strength. After a few minutes I sank to my knees, picked up a rag and mopped. I had to stop to throw up one more time but the room was almost clean again when William reentered.

He stopped short when he saw me. “What are you doing?”

“Cleaning up. Isn’t that why you sent for a bucket?”

He sighed. “I sent those up so I could do the cleaning. Get back in bed.” He helped me to my feet and led me to the bunk. “You rest.” He put the chamber pot close to the bed. “Let’s keep this close.”

“Thank you,” I said weakly.

“Well it’s the least I could do for my wife on our wedding night.”

A small laugh escaped my lips. William finished cleaning and then helped me sit up to sip some water.

“Here. I got this taffy from the doctor. It’s a special blend of . . . I have no idea what is in it, to be honest. We give it to all the new sailors. It will help. I also have some crackers for you.”

The taffy tasted of peppermint and ginger, and calmed my roiling stomach. I nibbled the crackers and sipped water until I felt better. When William decided I looked less green, he turned out the lamp and got into his hammock.
What had motivated this seemingly kind man to marry a woman he thought old enough to be his grandmother?

“If you start to feel sick again, please wake me up.” He yawned. “Goodnight.”

I didn’t think I would be able to sleep in a room with a man who was practically a stranger, but to my surprise I felt my eyes grow heavy and I quickly fell into a deep sleep.