Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea) (18 page)

The next morning, the sun had barely peaked through the window when I awoke. To my surprise William had already slipped out.

A green apple lay on the desk. A note beside it instructed me to eat it on the top deck near the middle of the ship to help prevent my seasickness from returning. He swore it would help, as would the extra piece of taffy that lay beside it. A lukewarm cup of tea was also waiting for me, with a slice of bread.

I picked my satchel up from the desk chair and retrieved the pouch of dried herbal potion
Aleah had given me to maintain my disguise, and slipped a pinch into the water. I stirred it and swallowed it down with my breakfast of soft bread.

With a small smile, I
donned a comfortable walking dress, picked up the apple, and headed to the top deck. The ocean air was bracing and I shivered against it. Despite the early hour and a thick fog, the ship was full of activity. I made my way to the railing and leaned against it before biting into the apple. It was tart and delicious. I rested my back against the railing and observed the men as they climbed the rigging, hoisting the sail and lashing it to the yard arms.

A throat cleared to my right and I turned to find William. He pursed his lips, which pulled at the scars on his cheek. I wondered how he’d received such horrible wounds. But in the diffused morning light the ridges appeared less pronounced and it was easy to imagine the hardened skin smooth and perfect. Even scarred he was a handsome man.

“Are you feeling better?” He took a step back. “Or should I stay out of range.”

I burst out laughing and the corner of his mouth twitched. “I’m feeling much better. Your boots are safe.” I took another bite of the apple and chewed it slowly. “Thank you for taking such good care of me last night.”

He dipped his head. “It was my, uh . . . honor as your husband.”

I snorted. “If you say so.”

“William and Sheridan. Our happy newlyweds.” My whole body tensed and the smile that had been flitting across my face died at the sound of the captain’s voice. The anger that knotted my stomach at his presence drained away into nothing, an empty hole swallowing my rage.

The captain pulled his coat more firmly around him. “Sheridan, you will help in the galley again today. Tomorrow we will find you something else to do as well, perhaps mending tears in the sails, or rips in the crew’s shirts. Everyone works on a ship.
Even old stowaways. William, please return to your duties.” The captain continued on his way.

William watched his brother walk away. “I’ll see you later. If you feel ill again remember to visit the doctor.”

Working in the galley was not bad. I didn’t mind washing dishes or cooking. I spent the whole day in that room. I scrubbed every surface, including the tables and floors. When I was done scrubbing, it was already time to prepare dinner. That evening, after Joe and I had finished in the kitchen, I walked up on deck for a bit of fresh air. The brisk breeze chilled my skin, and I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth.

Most of the men were below deck, staying warm. Moonlight softly lit the sky, dancing along the waves while the stars twinkled. With the night so beautiful I couldn’t bring myself to retreat to my room. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms chafing the skin to stay warm as I walked. A lone man stood highlighted in the dim light. It was William, his head tipped back, studying the sky as if paying homage to the stars. I shivered as a gust of air stirred around me. William shivered too. He cupped his hands together in front of his mouth and then rubbed them together.

I glanced at Lafe, my faithful shadow. “How long will William be out here in this cold?”

Lafe
shrugged. “A few hours yet.”

The corner of my mouth dripped into a frown, watching William tug his jacket tighter around him. I returned to the kitchen, heated a pot of water, and made William a hot tea, which I carried to him. Just having it in my hands warmed me.

“William, this is for you.”

His eyes widened as he took the cup. “You didn’t have to do that. But thank you.” He took a sip. “
Ahh . . . that helps keep the chill out.” He finished the mug in a few swallows.

I gave him a small smile as he handed me the empty mug. “I’m glad I could do something for you after all you did last night.”

His eyes left my face and returned to the sky. “I didn’t do much.”

I clasped the still war
m mug in my hands. “I think I’ll turn in now.”

“Sleep well, Sheridan. Thank you again.”

I returned the cup to the galley before going to my cabin. I said goodnight to Lafe and closed the door. The moonlight made it easy for me to light the lamp. Before I could begin undressing, the ship rocked and I lost my balance as the floor lurched out from under me. My body slammed into the wall, and as I crashed to the floor a deafening boom assaulted my ears. The ship shuddered and tipped again, snuffing out my lamp and adding a layer of smoke to the room. I blinked in the darkness, trying to understand what was happening. Was there a storm? Had we hit something?

I could hear screams and the pounding of feet on deck. A shiver went down my spine as I limped toward my door and opened it, peering into the hallway. A man flashed past me as he ran toward the stairs, and a desperate clanging on the warning bell boomed ominously.

“We’re under attack!” someone shouted.

I flung open the door and stepped into the hall. The captain appeared from around the corner, tightening a sword around his waist. I watched as he stuck his pistol into his pants and draped another sword across his torso. He paused briefly, looking at my shaking figure. “Do you know any healing?”

I nodded. “A little.”

“Good; go help the doctor. I daresay he’ll soon be needing all the help he can get.”

He brushed past, then stopped, and returned to press two small daggers into my hands. I clasped the hilt, imagining for a second plunging it into his skin. The thought made my stomach churn. I doubted the bond he had on me would allow it, but even if it did, I couldn’t do it. I
wouldn’t
want to. Upset by weakness and yet, strangely at peace with this discovery, I watched him wheel around, following the crewman toward the stairs to the upper deck, a determined lift to his chin.

I tucked the knives into my belt. I couldn't have asked for a better distraction to search for the medallion. Instead of heading for the sick bay, I made my way toward the captain’s room.

I didn’t waste time being neat as I searched his quarters. His drawers and trunk proved unfruitful. I picked up his fiddle and a strange thunk resonated from the instrument. I held my breath as I rattled the fiddle. Sure enough, the strange sound was still there, as if something were inside. Could it be? I held my breath as I peered between the strings. The medallion lay nestled inside. My palms were sweaty as turned it upside down and my medallion fell into my hands, the strings squeaking as it slid past.

I let out a squeak of triumph as I closed my shaking fingers around it. A momentary feeling of wholeness shocked me as I cradled it in my hands, the polished
stone casting ruby sparkles across my face. Dropping the medallion quickly into my shirt, securing it close to my heart, I put the fiddle back and hurried into the hall.

The clang of swords grew louder as I made my way on deck. My joy at finding my prize vanished as I stepped into the night air, horrified at the scene before me. As men locked in bloody hand-to-hand combat with swords and daggers, others swung from the enemy ship and joined the battle as soon as their feet touched the ground.

From the throng of battle a voice called my name, “Sheridan. Get back.” Lafe stumbled toward me, emerging from the press of fighting bodies. He held a bloody hand against his stomach, the other loosely gripping a sword. I reached for him as he sagged forward and secured one arm around his torso. His wound was bleeding heavily and his breathing was labored. He needed a doctor. Even while bleeding, he’d cared enough to warn me away. He’d been thoughtful and funny and somehow I’d grown to consider him a friend. In that moment I realized it mattered to me whether he lived or died. His head lulled forward as I guided him toward sick bay.

I groped my way down the dark hallways towards the sick bay, struggling to support the man’s weight. My heart thudded in my chest and I clung to the walls for support.

I was soaked in sweat by the time I found the Doctor. Without knocking I flung the door open and stopped in mid-step as a sword pressed to my throat.

“Don’t move,” a sailor warned. He pulled me into the light and got a good look at our faces. His eyes flickered between
Lafe and me before he dropped his weapon.

“
Lafe is wounded. The captain asked me to help.”

He put his arm around
Lafe, taking his weight from me. The doctor was already tending some wounded.

The guard lay
Lafe down on the doctor’s cleared desk and held his hand over the cut in Lafe’s side. My attention turned to the patient on the surgical table who groaned in agony, and I cringed at the hole in his side. Other injured men were strewn around the cramped room. The air smelled of blood, gunpowder and charred flesh. My stomach heaved at the pungent stench and the wretched state of the men in front of me.

I had the presence of mind to empty my belly into a bucket rather than on the floor, but the sour smell only contributed to the noxious odor in the room. Feeling weak and in danger of fainting, I sagged against the wall, and wiped the vomit from my mouth, pinching my eyes closed.

“Can I help?” I finally managed, careful not to look at the desperate patient.

“Not if you’ve got a weak stomach.”

“I wasn’t prepared but I . . . I can help,” I stammered. “I can mix poultices or make salves.”

“Are you handy with a needle?”

I swallowed hard, the gritty taste of vomit clinging to my spit. “Yes.”

He nodded and handed me a needle and some thread. “Good, then start with this one.” He paused for a moment to consider and then continued. “Clean it thoroughly before stitching him up.” The whole ship shuddered again. “The cannons are being used. If it doesn’t burn them or kill them on impact, then it embeds them with debris. So clean it well, and be sure you pour alcohol on it to stop infection.” He gestured to a few bottles of spirits on the table next to me and moved to help
Lafe.

I had seen knife wounds before, but I wasn’t prepared for the open, bloody mess of cannon shrapnel. I cleaned the wound as best I could while the man writhed in pain. The man who had guarded the door now acted as my assistant, holding the man still while I worked. My hands shook as I threaded the needle and stuck it into his flesh. The poor soul was already in so much pain that he didn’t feel the impact, and I focused hard to imagine it was just a sampler I was sewing. The two sides of skin began to close as I threaded them together, pausing occasionally to rinse the pooling blood with the alcohol.

The man looked up at me with wide eyes, his face pale from the loss of blood. My tongue was heavy in my mouth but I felt the need to offer words of comfort.

“This will fix you right up,” I promised. “My needle work is often sought after.”

“Is Nate here?” he asked hoarsely.

“
Nate?”

“Aye. One of those
Manacle naval brats was moving in with the death blow when Nate stabbed him from behind.”

My hand faltered for a second. “We’re fighting the
Orean Navy?”

He nodded. “Promise me that if I don’t pull through this, you’ll thank
Nate for me.”

“Of course,” I murmured as I worked through this information. Was the navy after me? How had they found me? Had Dorian somehow contacted one of the other
Hounds and let him know where we were?

“Why did they attack?” I asked my assistant, trying to sound casual, but hearing the tightness in my own voice.

“It’s that blasted medallion. I told the captain to let well enough alone, but he pressed forward with his foolish idea.”

My mind was reeling at the effort the kingdom was expending to get the medallion back. Not only had they sent
Hounds after me, but the navy too. The medallion’s heavy weight against my breast became noticeable, warm now from nestling against my heart.