Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea) (24 page)

But I did know that he was good, and his past—whatever it was—didn’t matter to me and I wanted him to know it. I leaned closer and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I’m an escaped convict, too. Does that matter to
you
?”

His head turned toward me slowly. “Not at all.”

I stood, his wounds now dressed. “Do you need anything?”

He grabbed my hand, looking at my palm almost as if he could see the scars etched there beneath the magic. “Something to take my mind off the pain.”

“I can find a book for you to read.” Warmth spread up my hand, making my heart beat fast.

“Yeah, that would be fine,” he said in a subdued voice.

“You don’t sound like that’d be fine.”

I studied him, the pain evident in the way his breath sometimes hitched before exhaling slowly with a grimace. But his eyes said it all.
A hollowness showed in them, as if his world had fallen to pieces, leaving him wallowing in a deep and endless loneliness. Judging by the way he wouldn’t meet my eyes, admitting he needed help had cost him. And yet, he’d asked. He didn’t want me to go, and was allowing me to see his pain. He was letting me in. With that single act of vulnerability, William had claimed a piece of my heart.

I thought about
something I could do to entertain him and grinned, sitting next to him. “How about I
tell
you a story?”

His smile shone like a sunrise, the loneliness, slipping away. “I’d love one.”

“One of the classics or one I make up?”

“Oh, definitely one you’ve
make up yourself.” He brought his hands under his chin and gave me his full attention. “It could maybe be about two ex-convicts who end up married to each other.”

I smiled and began an elaborate tale. The story wasn’t nearly as good as the ones James used to regale me with, but William seemed to like it. I kept the story going until he fell asleep. I knew I should go back to sickbay, but I was too tired. I leaned my head against the wall, deciding to let myself rest before I made the trip. I closed my eyes, just wanting a brief moment.

A crick in my neck woke me sometime later. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was William standing in front of me.

“Have a good nap?” he asked, suppressing a laugh.

I frowned as I sat up and stretched.

“I can see,” he said with a teasing grin, “how waking up looking at this ugly face could make you frown.”

My frown deepened. “Why would you say such a thing?”

His smile was easy, all traces of his earlier pain and heartache gone as he motioned at his scarred features. “Look at me. I frighten children.”

I reached out and touched his face. My fingers wandered over the ridges of his scars, down the slope of his nose. He stood motionless, staring at me with the barest trace of the pain from earlier as the air around us seemed to come alive, making me want to close the distance between us.

“You’re very handsome,” I said softly.

“But—”

“Oh William, stop fishing for complements,” I teased. “I think you’re handsome, scars and all.”

He studied me for a minute, more serious than I’d ever thought him capable. “And I think you’re pretty.”

My hand—aged with spots, wrinkles, and knobby knuckles—looked ridiculous touching his face in such an intimate manner. I pulled my fingers away from his cheek and buried them in the folds of my skirt. He was looking at on old woman, not me. “I’m old enough to be your grandmother.”

“That doesn’t mean you aren’t pretty.”

“I’m pretty sure it does.”

He raised an eyebrow. “How’s it possible that you can find a scarred man attractive, but I can’t find an old woman pretty?”

“It’s different. That’s all.”

“How?”

He had me there. “It’s disgusting.”

“And some would say I’m disgusting.”

“Let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s ridiculous. You’re probably still feeling the effects of the medicine the doctor gave you.”

“This conversation isn’t over.”

I reached over and patted his hand. “Yes, it is.”

I stood, sorrow etching my soul, and gave him a kiss on the cheek right as the door flew open. The captain stared at us, his mouth hanging open.

“When I told you not to hurt him I didn't mean that you should swing the ship around and try to seduce him.”

Blushing furiously, I sat straight too quickly and felt at least one scab pull free.

“I wasn't—”

“I need to talk with my second in command. Get out.”

Using the wall for support, I struggled to my feet.

“Be more respectful, Clay,” William growled.

The captain rolled his eyes. “Of all the—”

“No, it's fine; I really should go,” I interrupted, suddenly more aware of the pain in my back and the fatigue in my body. I shuffled to the door, but the captain blocked my exit.

“Sheridan, I appreciate you taking care of my brother but there are some needs you're better off not meeting.”

“Shut up, Clayton!” William slapped the bed with his hand.

“Good night, William. I'll look in on you again soon,” I said.

I pushed past the captain into the corridor, and heard them arguing about me all the way down the hall. I’d never been happier to head to sickbay.

William had changed since he revealed his past to me. He seemed freer, quicker to smile. The captain allowed me to continue my ministrations to William, although never alone.

William would often catch my gaze and roll his eyes. “I think we might be the only married couple in history who is constantly chaperoned.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Maybe we should give them something interesting to report to Clay?”

“Oh, hush.” I said with a laugh. “What kind of story are you in the mood for today?”

“How about an adventure story. It could take place on a pirate ship and have a dashing first officer.”

It was impossible not to laugh in his presence and made taking care of him something I looked forward to. The task of watching me fell alternately to
Lafe and Thomas. Edmond often hovered outside in the corridor but never entered the room. I found this to be strange, but guessed Edmond felt awkward having been the one to deliver William’s wounds.

I was standing in sickbay assembling the items I needed to tend to William when
Doc came in. I greeted him with a smile, gathered my supplies, and prepared to follow him to William’s room as usual, when I noticed the look on his face. My smile wilted. “Is something wrong?”

“There's no emergency, if that's what you mean. Things are just a little tense at the moment and the captain is in one of his moods again.”

“What's he upset about this time?”

“The morale on the ship has been sinking for a while, but these last few weeks it's gotten worse.”

“Really? Why?”

He frowned. “The ship sustained heavy damage during her battle with the navy. The captain decided to press forward and complete our mission without returning to port for repairs, and it's making the crew uneasy.”

I folded the clean linen strips in my hand. “Does this mission have anything to do with this treasure the captain talked about?”

“It has everything to do with it. Captain feels there's no time to be wasted and it's worth the risk to press forward and finish what we started before we head back for the mainland.”

That captured my attention. “The mainland? Doctor, where exactly is he taking us?”

“To the underworld, for all I know. He's either a genius or a crackpot fool who's wasting his time.”

I didn't like the sound of that, and I set my supplies onto the counter with a frown. “Where is the captain taking us?” The doctor hesitated, looking at me warily. “I've sworn a blood oath,” I reminded him. “It's safe to tell me.”

Doc
puckered his lips and considered me. “What do you know about the Isle of Grey?”

I burst out laughing. “Is that where he's taking us? No wonder the crew thinks he's mad!”

“I'm glad you appreciate the problem.”

Some part of me thrilled at the idea of finding the island. And for a brief moment I imagined myself part of one of the adventure stories I used to read. I shook off that daydream and rooted myself back into reality.

“No one has found that island since Princess Dawn left it. And if the ship is as damaged as you say, what happens if a storm hits? We wouldn't survive the night with a hull pockmarked with cannon blasts.”

“Which is exactly what some of the crew have been muttering,” he affirmed.

I swallowed. “Is there fear of a mutiny? How is that even possible? I thought magic prevented it.”

“There are ways around everything. I hope it hasn't gotten that bad, but I'd bet the captain is concerned.” He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his forehead. “Of course, the blood oath should protect him from that but still . . . it is better not to have to rely on magic.”

“Then why doesn't he just turn us around? Surely he isn't foolish enough to risk all of our lives to chase after stories. No ship has ever returned after looking for the island.”

“The captain feels certain that we can complete this journey and return to
Castleport safely.”

I grimaced. “He feels certain? How could he possibly know? Can he control the ocean? Can he stop the clouds from raining? Can he truly do what no other vessel in over a thousand years has done?”

Doc shrugged and returned his handkerchief to his pocket. “Not any more than I can, but he does have something of a reputation for things falling his way.”

“William said something like that once, too
,” I said. “But this isn't a situation that he has any control over; nature could turn at any moment.”

“When the captain puts his mind to something, things just seem to go his way. I've seen it happen so many times that I can't deny it. It defies all odds. If the captain wants us to complete our mission with fair seas, chances are that's exactly what will happen.”

My mouth hung slack in amazement. “You make it sound like magic, but that's not possible for a man.” Men couldn't perform magic, only women could. No one knew why; it was simply the way things were. The only babies born with magical ability were female, and even those were rare.

Doc
nodded. “I’m not saying it is magic. I don’t know anything about that. What I do know is that the captain is the luckiest man I’ve ever met.” He returned the handkerchief to his pocket. “The men are loyal to the captain and they trust his judgment, but this is pushing their trust to the brink. If he's wrong, it'll cost them their lives.”