Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea) (4 page)

His eyes met mine briefly before skittering away. “A large wave hit us, but I didn’t see any flash.”

I was about to tell him about the bird that had somehow managed to get into my room, but James looked back over his shoulder.

“Are you all right, James?”

“Yes, of course,” he said too quickly for me to believe.

I took a deep breath and asked a question that had been bothering me for a few days. “You haven’t seemed yourself for almost a week. I was afraid you were angry with me.”

His eyes slid closed. “I was never angry with you Jade. Not at all. Please don’t think that.”

“You were avoiding me.”

“I was,” he admitted.

“Why?”

“It all became too real, the upcoming wedding and . . . everything.”

“That makes sense.” I swallowed. “I was afraid you were tired of my company.”

James’s gaze found mine. “No, no. It isn’t that at all, Jade. You’re the only thing keeping me sane.” He looked quickly over his shoulder before scooting closer to me. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn’t mean to—I was wrong to have abandoned you like that. I thought—I thought giving us distance would make the wedding less painful. For both of us. But then today—Oh Jade, I just discovered something . . . unsettling, and I’ve been trying to decide how best to tell you.”

“What is it?” I asked.

James smiled, reaching out and cradling my cheek in his palm, his thumb stroking my face. I leaned into his soft touch and let his warmth seep into me. “I remember the first time I saw you. You were just a baby and you looked up at me with those beautiful eyes.”

I grinned. “And you’ve watched over me ever since.”

James smile fell away. “I’ve tried. I’m still trying.”

“And you’ve done a wonderful job.” I remembered how he used to sit with me after the
blood-letting ceremonies, back when I was too weak to run and play. He used to bring me presents, and tell me wonderful stories from all the places I wanted to see. “You’ve loved me for
me
, not for what my blood can do. I wish the same could be said for your brother.”

“Me too.” He toyed with a loose thread on the sleeve of my dress before ripping it away. “He isn’t a bad person, but he’s not right for you. He’s too stern, unbendable. My father thinks if
I
married you, I’d be dancing to your tune.”

“I’d make it a merry dance,” I teased.

We shared an amused smile, and a comfortable silence fell between us. I leaned back on my hands and stared out at the sea, my eyes tracking a small island we were approaching.

The island grew more visible, but I barely noticed the pebbled beach and large stone cliffs because James twined a piece of my hair around his hand, the backs of his fingers skimming my neck.

I cleared my throat. “I feel like we’re in one of those adventures from your stories, searching for the Isle of Grey.”

James studied the water. “Oh yes, but unlike those unfortunate souls, we’ll find the island and with it the cure for the cursed soil.”

My heart beat faster. “And then they’d no longer need my blood and we could marry.”

If only any of the ships that had searched for the island had been successful. Many had left but none returned, until finally the kingdom gave up hope of ever finding the birthplace of Princess Dawn.

As we came around the island, a sudden wind blew across the ship, bringing a thick layer of fog that settled around us, blocking out the sun.

“Odd weather,” James said, looking again over his shoulder. “Raise the sails until the fog passes! Light the lantern. We don’t want to run into any rocks around this area.”

“Too bad it’s dangerous,” I said. “The mist is beautiful, almost magical.”

“Magical?” James jumped to his feet, pulling out a spyglass but instead of looking in front of the ship, he checked the area behind. He lowered it and nodded, murmuring something to himself. His grip on the spyglass tightened and his knuckles turned white.

And suddenly I understood. “James, are you afraid someone is following us?”

He turned toward me and shoved the glass into his jacket. “There’s
something
I must tell you. After the blood-letting, when I left, I went to find August and I overheard his conversation with my father.”

The seriousness of his tone made me swallow hard. He stayed quiet for a few moments, his face darkening in a way I never thought possible, and I watched while he picked at a small piece of dust on his shoulder, not looking at me
. He looked positively sick and I braced myself for whatever he was about to say.

At last he took a deep breath and started again.

“They were talking about the stock piled blood and how—”

“James!” an authoritative voice called.

James and I both turned to the sound of the voice and James gasped as August strode toward us, his face contorted in rage.

“What do you think you’re doing?” August asked. His thin mouth frowning, his eyebrows drawn together. He glared cold eyes at my hand in James’s. “Trying to steal my fiancé, little brother?”

“Of course not.” James paled. “What are you doing here?”

August’s lips curled into a sneer. “Did you really think we wouldn’t notice your sudden plans for a last minute sea voyage? You’ve always cared far too much about this girl, but we never once thought you would break an Edict for her.” August shoved his brother’s shoulder hard. “You put the whole kingdom at risk by bringing her outside the barrier!”

Outside of the barrier?
What was James thinking, taking us beyond the magical wall that surrounded and protected Orea?

“James, why would you do that?” I asked, remembering the silver flash James had dismissed.

Both brothers ignored me, glowering at each other instead.

“And how is your being here any less of a risk?” James asked throwing back his shoulders and standing tall. “What—did you just sneak onboard at the smallest notion of what I might have in mind?”

“I was right.”

“You’re the Crown Prince, August. You shouldn’t be anywhere without your guards.”

“Don’t try to deflect this, James. I’m here to save your skin. You’re just lucky your medallion hasn’t fallen off yet, or my hands would be tied. As it is, Father’s going to be enraged. And for what? For
her
?”

The look August gave me made me cower against James.

He wrapped his arm protectively around me, taking a slight step between August and me. “Yes, for her!”

August scoffed, looking incredulous. “You’re too soft.”

With those three words, James lowered his head in defeat, and I realized our adventure was over. And as much as I wanted to blame August, James was the one who had been foolish enough to take me beyond the safety of the barrier. But why? As loyal as I was to the kingdom, that was nothing compared to the way James had tied his very honor to the Edicts and the throne. So what changed?

A shout filled the air and we all spun toward it. A glimpse of color fluttered in the fog. A large ship burst through the
mist heading straight for us, like a demon ready to swallow us whole. My eyes instantly recognized a ship’s ensign, but it took longer for me to understand that the gray flag with the green circle and broken golden manacles didn’t belong to an Orean vessel. This ship was an enemy advancing on us with an unnatural speed and a shiver coursed through my body. We were going to be attacked.

I braced for impact, thinking it might ram the Iris, but somehow it managed to turn hard and come along side us.

“What have I done?” James whispered, almost to himself.

Then August muttered something that only confirmed what I already knew.
One word—a single word that changed my world.

“Pirates.”

Chapter 4

August’s
word echoed through my head. Pirates . . .
pirates
! I froze in horror at the sight of the vessel approaching the Iris, my chest constricting as every story James had ever told me played in my mind.

Outside the barrier, we were no longer
safe from the savages who sailed the waters.

“Come about!” James yelled. August took over, issuing orders as the crew scrambled to obey.

James grabbed my hand, and I barely noticed the pain still lingering of my scars. “Jade! Come with me!”

My body shook, but I pushed past my terror, remembering I could defend myself. The Admiral had trained me for this.

I turned toward James. “Give me a sword.”

James blinked. “A sword? Jade, now is not the time for this. Go into my cabin and hide.”

I’d forgotten he didn’t know I could fight. The Admiral had made me promise to keep my training a secret, and James had never seemed to notice the calluses on my hands from training. James paused, his free hand clutching the hilt of his sword. Our eyes found each other, and a dozen emotions flashed through his face before he pressed his lips to my forehead.

“Get to my quarters. I need to know you’re safe.” He looked past my shoulder and his whole body tensed. “Prepare to be boarded!” he yelled.

A handful of men were using ropes to swing from the pirate ship to the Iris. Without a sword, I turned and ran towards James’s room. My hand barely brushed the door when my waist was seized from behind.

“Now where do you think
you’re
going,” a voice leered into my ear.

His stinky breath raised goose pimples on my neck and my limbs stiffened. But the hours of practice with the Admiral allowed me to act. I threw my head back against his face and heard a loud crack as I connected with his nose. He cried out in pain. I took advantage of his surprise to grab the thumb of the hand around my waist. I wrenched it outward and spun, shoving the heel of my other hand up into his already bleeding nose. I felt it break and he collapsed to his knees, cupping his hands to his face.

I turned back to the door when a hand grabbed my hair, yanking me backwards. Strong hands grasped my wrists and pulled me onto my back. The pain from my scars was intense, but nothing compared to what I would’ve felt without the magical healing. Another man grabbed my feet, lifting me off the deck. Suspended like a hammock, I struggled and twisted in the air, kicking and flailing, trying to break free, but the two men were too strong.

“Get your hands off of her!
” James yelled above the fray.

He ran toward me, the tip of his sword dripping with blood. The two men righted me before shoving me into the arms of a third man who stood on the railing. He used his free hand to grab a rope, and before I could orient myself, he pushed off from the railing and swung toward the pirate ship. My hair blew in my face while I struggled against him He landed cleanly on the deck of the pirate ship, as if swinging with a struggling female were an everyday occurrence.

“I’ve got her! Cut us free!” the man yelled.

Several pirates hacked at the ropes, freeing their ship from the Iris.

They were taking me prisoner.
No!
I stomped on my captor’s foot, trying to break free. He swore but held me tight.

The deck of the pirate ship was calm, but I could hear the clang of metal on metal as swords clashed back on the Iris.

“James!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I raked the pirate across the cheek, drawing blood.

“Don’t do that again,” he warned.

I lifted my hand to strike, but he grabbed me by my wrist. I swung at him with my other hand, but he caught that too, and pinched both in his vice-like grip, sending fresh pain pulsing through my palms.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw James’s familiar form swing toward us. His momentum barely carried him across the widening gap and he had to lunge for the railing, just grasping it with one hand while his feet scrabbled for purchase on the side of the ship. He pulled himself quickly over the railing, yanking his sword free of its sheath as he landed heavily on the pirates’ deck. The crew surrounded him, while the pirate wheeled me around, pressing my back to his chest.

“Let her go,” James commanded, a steel edge to his voice as if he expected to be obeyed. He didn’t so much as flinch as three of the pirate crew lifted their swords towards him, each in a fighting stance.

But he’d trained with the King’s
Hounds, the elite guard who were feared even in the Wastelands, and it only took six quick lashes of his blade for James to disarm them.

Metal scraped behind me as my captor unsheathed his own sword. James turned toward me, but hesitated when the sharp point of a sword pricked the side of my neck.

“Stop there,” the pirate commanded. James stood in place, his eyes frantically moving between me and my captor. “Drop your sword.”

“No, James! Don’t do it. Get back to the Iris!”

James threw his sword to the side. “Don’t hurt her.”

“That’s better,” the pirate said in a soothing tone. “Secure him.” Four swords and two muskets were immediately pointed straight at James.