Christina Rich - Captive on the High Seas

“It is unlikely any man sound of mind will try to board my ship in such weather, but we must be prepared. I’ll not risk—”

A shout, followed by another halted his words, but she did not need to hear them to know he would not risk losing costly merchandise. After all, he’d risked his life to save her when the wave had swept her off the deck. Nicolaus glanced out the window. The color of his cheeks deepened in anger and his nostrils flared before turning his attention back to her. He held her firm as a wave smashed against the side. “Your vow, Ada.”

It was not a question. She’d heard that same tone in her father’s voice when he demanded obedience. She was fortunate Nicolaus did not sweep her off her feet and shove her inside the bench as her father would have done.

“Ay.” It was the only word she could form before he’d left her to tend to his duties. His commands to his crew cut through the howling wind, causing her to hurry in the task he’d given her. It took her very little time to change into the dry clothing, and then she tossed the discarded pillows back onto the cushioned bench. The hollow darkness of the hidden space glared at her. Oft times she sought out small spaces, places she could hide from the animosity of her sisters, but the danger pressing upon them caused her fear to overwhelm her thoughts. What if aught should happen to Nicolaus? What would happen to her then?

The ship seemed close enough that Ada could make out blurred shapes of people on the other deck. Inhaling a deep breath of salty air, she gathered her wet clothing and scooted feetfirst into the empty space beneath the bench before sliding the panel closed until there was not even a sliver of light. She would do as he asked, and then pray God would rescue her from any seafarer warriors, and more important from falling in love with a man who would surely sell her as soon as he reached his destination. After all, she was no more than a possession, one that he’d paid a handsome price for.

* * *

Nicolaus climbed the ladder to the command post, stood next to Xandros and noticed the winds had shifted against them. He drew his hand down his beard. Could the situation worsen? “How does it look?”

“They are fighting against the wind as much as we are now.”

“Aye, but something doesn’t look right. Why would they head toward Ashkelon when Joppa is closer? Their sail is unfurled in a storm. A seasoned seaman would know that to be a deadly mistake.”

“Unless they are bold in their attempt to overtake us.”

Nicolaus narrowed his eyes. “It gives me the mind they are thieves, yet their vessel seems to be nothing more than a simple fishing boat, not one made for warfare as thieves are wont to sail.” Nicolaus lifted his face toward the sky. “If only this storm would give way.”

He felt more bound than he had when he’d been taken captive all those months ago, and he blamed it on Ada. Her innocent beauty had called to him, luring him to rescue her from the ways of men. If he hadn’t rescued her, he would not care whether or not ten ships surrounded him, but something about her tempted him to live again, to breathe. He’d even smiled at her antics, a smile that warmed his innards, and that was something he hadn’t done in a long while.

“We’d still need the wind behind us, not pushing at our side. Mayhap we should head due north.”

Nicolaus shook his head. Although his ship was lighter than most vessels and could possibly outrun the one approaching once he unleashed his rowers he would not risk the consequences if he failed. Again. “I do not wish for them to think we are avoiding them. If they are about nefarious deeds they’ll only give chase.”

“Do you think they will attempt to board us in this storm?”

“I’ve seen men steal bread from a child while their bellies were full from a king’s feast.” Nicolaus twisted his lips. “Aye, if they are thieves a storm such as this will not halt them.”

“If they attempt to board us?”

Vivid memories ambushed him. A day hadn’t passed that he did not recall the events and wondered what he could have done to save his sister. He hoped this day would end differently, one where he didn’t lose an innocent maid to a band of thieves and where he did not end up in shackles. “We will not raise arms unless their actions warrant such. We will not resist their efforts to steal our merchandise if they so choose.” Nicolaus swallowed; the lump forming in his throat near choked his next words from him. He would not allow his emotions to sway him this day. “Xandros, if they require me for ransom you are to allow it. Take the maid to my father’s house, ensure her freedom at all cost and care for her.”

Xandros held his position without so much as a blink of his lashes, for which Nicolaus was grateful. His second-in-command would carry out his orders, not because Nicolaus was his captain, but because they were the best of friends and if anyone understood the battle weighing on his shoulders it was Xandros. It would not be easy for his friend to stand down and watch his captain once again be removed, just as it would not be easy for Nicolaus to allow another man to step foot on this boat after his last encounter with an approaching vessel.

The boat tossed upon the waves like a leaf in a creek after a heavy rain shower and as they moved closer Nicolaus could tell something was amiss. Whoever captained the ship had not been at it very long. “Do you notice something, Xandros?”

His second-in-command squinted. “Ay, I see women, lots of them now.”

Tension knotted Nicolaus’s shoulders as needles pricked his nape. He leaned his palms against the railing. He hadn’t been able to make out man or woman, only shapes of bodies, bodies that seemed to be clinging to the rails. “What do you make of it?”

“A ruse?”

Thieves of the sea often consisted of ruthless women as well as children. Merchant ships, unless carrying slaves, did not.

Nicolaus drew his hand down his beard. “Could be. Tell the Haemon and Argos to stay on guard. It wouldn’t do to be caught by trickery.”

Patience was one thing his father had oft praised him for, but now was not one of those times as he waited for the confrontation to come. Were they friend or foe? Even though he was alert to the possible danger, instinct told him these people meant no harm. Given the way the women clung to the sides he was beginning to suspect they were a village in need of rescue. If so, what sort of danger had they encountered for them to be desperate enough to face the great unknown of the sea?

“Bring us to the right a little and toss the small anchor overboard to slow us down.”

“You cannot think... Nicolaus, we’ll head straight for them.”

“Aye, be ready to reel it back in.”

Xandros shouted his orders to one of the men. The helmsman shifted the steering oars and the ship turned just as Nicolaus had commanded. An order to anchor cried over the roaring of the storm and the vessel began to steady in place. As the single boat approached he could see the pale and sunken cheeks of her occupants. “They do not look well.”

Although the words were more for himself than Xandros, his second-in-command grunted. “Still a ruse?”

“I do not believe so, my friend. We’ll soon know the full of their adventure, and if not then we’ll know their mischief.” He rested his palms on the hilts of his daggers and hoped he would not have to use them. After the amount of torture he’d endured during his captivity, he didn’t relish causing anyone harm, but if these people posed a threat to his brother or to Ada he would. His only comfort was that she was safely hidden. As for Brison, he’d grown up beneath two brothers and knew how to hold his own in battle.