Chapter three
The little room had turned into an oven.
Sweat trickled down her forehead, then slipped down in gentle streams over her temple. With the door closed there wasn’t any way for fresh air to move through the small space. It didn’t help that her clothes were for cooler weather. Fabric clung to her like a second skin as the unbearable steamy condition seemed to get worse by the hour.
How could she have been so stupid?
She’d been so caught up in trying to keep to herself and had been completely distracted by all the wrong things. She’d missed all the signs something was wrong.
No, that wasn’t true. She saw the signs and knew something was wrong. She just didn’t act. But even now she felt helpless to the situation. What could she do? It had been a mistake to neglect practicing her magic. She would have been able to do something, anything to help herself.
But now she couldn’t with any type of magic. She felt very drained. She tried to lay still and conserve her energy. Her body had to work hard to keep her from overheating. If she used any magic now, it could kill her. There wasn’t enough moisture to keep her body from dehydrating completely if she tried.
She couldn’t see a thing with the blindfold on.
It left no way to tell whether it was light out still or if the sky had turned to night. Who knew how long she’d been in the room. The only thing she did know was that time had gone by. Hours, at least.
Despite being dehydrated, tears started to well in her eyes when she thought of her family. Poor Teagan. Her younger sister would be devastated that her teasing about pirates had come true. And their Father and Grandmother would have to suffer through more loss.
Her face felt blotchy and dry, with hot streams of tears down her cheeks. They hadn’t gagged her, but she wondered if she called for a drink if anyone would be there to hear- or care. Her energy level was dangerously low. So low a sleepiness began to wash over her body.
Elanor jerked awake when the ship shuddered. Had she imagined it?
But another shuddered set her sitting straight up.
Butterflies tickle inside as fear came.
The door swung open suddenly and Elanor felt herself lifted roughly off the cot. She could do nothing but hang there; like a wilted flower draping down. She couldn’t even make a sound, her mouth so dry. She gulped at the fresh air when the breeze outside blew pleasantly over her. Her lungs ached from the over expansion but she kept on sucking the air in. She groaned after being dumped her down on the deck. Wincing as her right knee took most of the fall, smacking the wood hard.
“Take the blind fold off.”
The accent wasn’t anything she’d ever heard before. A thumb dug under the blind fold yanking it from her head. Her long hair caught in the person’s hand and the material of the blind.
Little pin pricks of pain pulsed over her scalp, but the real pain burst from her eyes when they opened. The sun in its brilliance of rays caused stars to spot over her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she didn’t move her head too quickly in any direction. The blow to her head with overwhelming fear and sharp light made her lean over.
Dry heaves racked her back and sides.
Her stomach empty, she ended up taking deep breaths after the spasms ended, wishing she’d been able to vomit instead. Her ribs ached terribly.
“Her hair is darker then what is wanted on the market.” The accented voice said coming to stand in front of her kneeling form. She wanted to move back from him when he lifted a few brown thick limp locks up to inspect. But moving would cause the dry heaves to return. Her hair fell back to her shoulder.
“It can be managed though, lightened more.” The accented man dismissed after a little thought. She scarcely dared to breath when the man knelt down to her level. His head swathed in a pure white cloth, his silk clothes nothing she’d ever seen before. His dark skin making the many gold rings on his fingers catch her sight as they reached for her shoulders. He didn’t handle her roughly. When he wished her to lean back a little, he didn’t push hard; his hands gentle. She obliged him, not understanding why he needed her to move like that for but wasn’t about to struggle with the gemmed dagger so easily in his reach at his waist.
“Her breasts look full, perhaps fuller then that dress lets show. Has she been used by a man?” Her eyes lifted in fear to his black bearded face before darting back to the wooden deck. Crazily she wished he spoke in his foreign language so she couldn’t understand his questions. This was what it felt like to be inspected for purchase. If there had been anything in her stomach, it would have covered his beautifully decorated slipper shoes.
“English ladies value their virtues.” Captain Richardson said clearly embarrassed.
He had no right to sound like that. He was selling her!
“Virgins fetch a fair price on the market.” The man said standing. The silk material of his robe brushed her arm as he pass.
“Do they? Good Good. Let’s get this under way shall we?”
She was so thirsty. Her mouth so dry. Her tongue had sores on it. “Water please?” To her foggy brain’s surprise, the shaggy looking man appeared instantly. He knelt down to her level. A flask pressed to her lips and she pulled cool water from it. He seemed concerned about her state. Making sure she didn’t choke on the water.
She gulped it. Cool drops pouring down her chin and streaming down her sweaty neck. She turned her head away from the flask when she’d had enough. Even in this weak state she suddenly realized a few things about him. He knew about what Captain Richardson had planned and he was watching out for her. But, not enough to warn her. Why?
The man with the heavy accent spoke as the shaggy man lifted away from her.
“Is she well?”
“She’ll be fine.” Came the clip reply from the shaggy man. A confused buzzing and her stomach turning. Too much. It really had all been too much. She never should have left the safety of Nain’s home. She could have prevented her family from suffering more- and once again, she’d done the wrong thing.
“That is good for the Captain then I suspect.” The accented man chuckled. Their exchange had been low. Elanor had barely heard them herself. But her over heated mind couldn’t reason what they were talking about. The water had hydrated her but it wasn’t enough to cast any spells. And who was she kidding? She didn’t actually know any spell that would get her out of this danger. So many with weapons. Two ships full in fact. How could she ever overcome them. Dread lay heavy on her chest, making it so hard to breath.
Captain Richardson growing impatient, spoke up.
“As I was saying, I haven’t upped the price that much. For the ship, the cargo, and the girl, I believe we have a good deal. Her father will pay you handsomely in ransom.”
“Oh no, you misunderstand. There is no ‘bargaining’. A deal has already been made, yes?” There came a chuckle again. She saw the odd amused smile on his face when he turned back to the shaggy man. “Cut her ropes.”
She tried not to cry out against the pain of her limbs being let loose. Again, he surprised her with a swift concerned look to her arms and then a glance over her shoulder towards another standing nearby. “It will all be over soon, Miss.” He said turning back to her. “Just keep quiet and do as you’re told.”
“Do you think that wise? It might be easier to keep her tied.” Captain Richardson said after Elanor was helped to her feet.
“She’s but a small woman among many men.” The pirate captain said his accent flourished. “There is no fear. Come, show me the cargo.” After he and Captain Richardson moved down into the haul, they left her there on the deck. She didn’t move. Didn’t dare to.
Though the pirates weren’t concerned with her at the moment, Mrs. Richardson seemed to be. She approached Elanor to lean close and speaking harshly.
“Don’t think you will get away. These men have paid a great deal of money for you and this ship. I won’t let you ruin our plans, do you understand?” She jerked Elanor’s arm when no answer had come from her.
“Yes.” For the second time in her life, Elanor felt hate. A welling of anger ebbed inside her. She definitely wanted to ruin their ‘plans’ of getting rich by making deals with Barbary pirates.
It occurred to Elanor that she could very well use her magic and the ocean water to wash them all off the decks. Elemental witches like herself were rare and the stories that were told about the past ones spoke of epic magic. If she knew the right things… she could have destroyed both ships with little effort. To end this plan of selling her, along with her father’s ship and cargo. Maybe if she channeled the water hard enough, it would at least create some sort of confusion. She’d never done anything like that before but why sit there and wait for them to decide her fate?
What would Araminta call this?
Dramatic.
Let’s not be dramatic about it, she’d say.
Elanor wished her oldest sister here now to help her through this mess. Aarminta always had such a calm comforting way about her. She wished all of her sisters were here. Then they could discuss the seriousness of the situation and if it was time to be dramatic.
She didn’t want to be alone.
She crept up the stairs to the quarter deck to get away from the hateful Mrs. Richardson and the men still standing guard.
She could hardly stand. She leaned against the rail dejectedly willing her mind to come up with a plan. The pirate’s ship rocked gently on the same waves right next to the ship they were on.
Three masts, square rigged just like the ship that was her Father’s. At the mainmast flew a black flag with an arm. A tattoo of a heart being stabbed on its upper bicep and within its hand a glass. She tiled her head puzzled. Stupidly she wondered why they had that on their flag. As though reading her thoughts, a deep smooth voice answered.
“It means the Captain and the crew toast to death.” Elanor didn’t turn to even look at who had spoke to her. Fear had her frozen that yet again someone took notice of her.
“Why would anyone toast to death?” She asked meekly.
“It‘s believed, when they die battling, they go to paradise.”
“Oh.” She stared at the flag waving in the wind. “So they don’t care if they die because they’re going to get what they want no matter what in the end.”
Clearly amused, the man laughed. “That is one way of putting it.”
She knew that laugh. She turned to look at him a little too fast, eyes going very wide.
“Derek!”
“Don’t look at me like that. And no knee antics.”
“Are you part of their crew?” She asked, stunned to see him.
“No. I’ve been here. Watching over you. Caspin is with me.” While he spoke her eyes took in his face that had changed over the years. A maturity that was unfamiliar and familiar all in one.
“You’re the one who grabbed me, aren’t you? You didn’t tell me you were… why is this happening? Why didn’t you warn me?”
“I did try to. So did Cas, many times. But you were being stubborn and wouldn’t listen.”
“But you’re not one of my Father’s men. He said you turned down his offer to work for him.”
She pulled at the front of her wool dress. Even with the steady blow of a pleasant breeze it did nothing to relieve the heat radiating beneath the material. The valley of her breasts was damp and uncomfortable. They were far south now, the weather had been the best revealer of all that things weren’t right.
“No, you’re right about that.” Elanor turned to stare again. He watched the open water.
“There’s something more? How on earth did this happen to me?”
He laughed.
She blinked. “You find that funny? I really see no humor in what is happening. Answer me or the last thing I do is-” He lifted a hand to gesture for her to lower her voice.
“Alright alright, calm down. This isn’t something to laugh about. But, I‘ve never been one to be silent about winning, have I?” He pointed a hand towards the water. “My ship’s here.”
She squinted in the direction he pointed. She saw water. Miles and miles of water. Frowning, she opened her mouth to tell him nothing was out there when a call came from the mainmast that a ship was approaching.
Elanor looked out towards the water again. She didn’t see anything. It hit her then what he’d said right before announcing the other ship. For some reason she couldn’t look when she decided to ask. It was as though if she did, it would ruin the chances that it could possibly be real. She really desperately wanted it to be true.
A glimmer of hope barely shined into her dark fears.
“Derek? Are you going to rescue me from this?” She scarcely breathed.
“Yes, sweetheart. No, don’t. I can’t chance just yet Captain Richardson knowing who I am.” He said when she reacted to his answer. She wanted to latch herself to him then. Tears welling in her dry sore eyes again.
“I’m so frightened.” She choked.
His hand started to reach for her but then it tightened into a fist returning to the rail. “It’s almost over. Just do as you’re told and we’ll make it through this without anyone dying.” She nodded, her throat constricted. It really was Derek and he was there with her.
She wasn’t alone.
“Keep yourself right here on the quarter deck.” He instructed. “I promise you, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Elanor believed that and knew deep inside that with him there, everything would be alright. Her fingers curled around the rail’s smooth wood to keep from throwing herself at him when he turned to leave her side. “Your odd friend of yours said to stay off this deck because of pirates.” She whispered at him. He tossed a grin over his shoulder while taking the steps down by twos.
The sudden milling and shouting of men on the lower deck gave a signal the other ship had to be drawing near.
Captain Richardson busying himself with assuring the pirate he had no idea who the other ship was or why it headed their way. Elanor forced herself to draw near the inner rail to watch the men below.
The pirate’s dark gaze directed towards the ship Derek had said would come.
“I know the bastard who owns it.”
“Now, you said we were best mates!” Derek called down cheerfully as he took the last steps.
“I’ve got a faster ship than either of you. And let’s face it, I’m smart, you’re smart-” He jerked a thumb at Captain Richardson. “Not so smart.” The pirate Captain gave a slow lazy grin. She had to sit down. She sunk down at the top of the stairs. None of this made a bit of sense to her. This pirate business wasn’t anything like what they talked about in stories. There was a lot more talking going on than she’d heard about.
As though to prove her wrong, Derek pulled his sword out and pointed it at the men on the deck one by one. “Now then gentlemen, you will drop your weapons to the deck and step to the railing.” There wasn’t a muscled moved by the dark foreign man. He didn‘t protest but merely watched. There came a sound of metal against sheath as Captain Richardson’s crew dropped their swords, knives and whatever else they carried.
She got up, moving back to stand up on the quarter deck out of the way. Far away from all the weapons glittering on the deck. The pirate Captain’s men hadn’t pulled the weapons out of their sheath‘s. Derek placed a finger to his forehead and then gave the pirate Captain a lazy salute. After carefully looking around, the pirate Captain gave the sign for his crew to start carrying the cargo.
They started pacing like ants back and forth with the crates.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself, this was my idea.” Derek boasted.
To Elanor, the pirate Captain’s face didn’t look any different than it had. It was expressionless.
“Enough bragging, you are embarrassing yourself. This wasn‘t that hard to do. Greed is a powerful weapon.” The pirate Captain just as arrogantly said.
“You can‘t steal my thunder, mate.” She watched Derek walk over and clapped the pirate on the shoulder, laughing. “Besides, what do you care? You get the ship, the crew, its Captain and five of the crates down there. Just for making a deal with this sell out. You’re going to make a tidy profit on ransom as well.”
She could hear Mrs. Richardson crying becoming hysterical. It turned into a terrified screaming when she was dragged onto the pirate ship with the struggling Captain Richardson. They were planning to do the same thing to her but Elanor couldn’t muster up a feeling of revenge with the terrified cries they were making. Neither of the men on the deck seemed to notice or care. She put her hands together and folded her fingers. A silent prayer to the Goddess to watch over them though they were receiving their karma.
“I do not know. I think I‘ve taken a liking to her myself. I can imagine what I‘d get market for her.” Elanor released her hands to grip wood in front of her. Her belly drop at the pirate’s words.
Derek pointed to the ship now nearly on top of them. “I could sink your ship and have this one stripped faster than you can say, I’m kidding. And you better be kidding, Mate.”
“Fair enough.” The dark haired man seemed unmoved by the prospect of his ship being sunk, shrugging his heavily shrouded shoulders. Elanor tried to take solace from the fact that he wasn’t serious about his statement.
So far everything went a lot smoother than any tale of the high seas she’d heard with pirates. There had been swords drawn, but then they were dropped to the deck.
No cannon fire. No yelling. No fire burning.
Not so much as a fist thrown. A guilty sensation twinged inside her. She should be grateful that none of that had happened. When it all began, she had a much more terrifying vision of it in her head.
Derek turned then to look at Elanor. His hand gesturing for her to come down to where they were. She hesitated at first, but when his hand became less easy and more demanding in a jerking motion, she moved. As she neared he gave her a wink.
Then gave the pirate Captain a grin. “Pleasure doing business with you as always. You have twelve wives now don‘t you? You know thirteen is an unlucky number.” He gave signals for his men to carry two crates off the ship onto the small skiff boat. One of them, hers. He pulled Elanor along towards the boat as well. When they were on the surface of the water, his men took no time to row towards the waiting ship. They all seemed to be paying attention to the two ships behind them as though they expected there might be trouble. Elanor glanced at the ship they were about to get on; the name said “Swift tide”.
Derek helped her out of the small boat after it was levied out of the water. “Steppe will take you to my cabin. Don’t come out. I’ll come and talk to you when I can. Take that dress off. We’re about to sail into some hotter weather.” She felt as though she’d drop soon. Still, he’d said they would be going deeper into the heat not away from it. That wasn’t right.
“We’re not going back to Inglid?”
“Go now. The pirates out number me with men and canons. I don’t like those odds. If he changes his mind-” She knew what he meant though he hadn’t finished. He didn’t need to.