“That,” Rónán said, “whoever is captaining the warship isna familiar with this partof the coast.”
“Why do you say that?” Lathir asked.
“From the angle they are approaching,”Rónán replied.
In the slash of frothing white, eddies curled around the tip of the oars as she, along with the others manning them, pulled forward. “You are notmaking sense.”
Tighearnán gave a mock salute to Rónán. “Aye, he is, my lady. Large rocks are shielded below water during high tide along this portion ofthe coastline.”
She scanned the rough seas as the enemy cog closed, finding naught irregular about the incoming swells. “I dinna see any sign of boulders below.”
“Which, if unfamiliar with this area,” Bran said, “is what the English will think until’tis too late.”
The distant crunch and snap of wood sounded.
Lathir, as the crew, hurried to the rail fora better view.
A large swell slammed against the warship wedged within the hidden rocks. Wood screamed and planks snapped as the cog twisted beneath the force.
Tighearnán chuckled. “Looks as if they have discovered the stones.”
The crew cheered as swells continued to bash the English cog. With each crash, groans and squeals of tormented wood spewed into the air. Large chunks of the vessel broke away, and the cog began to list, then sink into the dark churn.
“Come about,” Bran yelled, “and sail for open water.”
“Aye, Captain,” the man at therudder called.
More cheers sounded as the crew patted one another on the back, then returnedto their posts.
As if in celebration, streams of sunlight broke through the clouds and shimmered upon the storm-tossed seas.
With the number of fathoms below them increasing, the tension pounding Lathir’s body eased. Thank Godthey’d escaped.
Bran scanned the horizon, then walked over to his friend. “It looks as though the wind is beginning to calm.”
“Aye, the storm is moving out.” Tighearnán rolled his shoulders, glanced toward the stern. “Órlaith!”
The girl scrambled from her hiding place. Brown hair dancing in the wind, she ranto her father.
“There is a lass!” Her squeal of laughter filled the air as Tighearnán caught her and whirled her around, then propped herupon his hip.
Cheeks rosy, she lifted her gaze to his. “Did you stop the bad Englishmen, Da?”
“Aye, lass,” her father replied with a soft, lighthearted growl. “They be scramblingfor shore now.”
Lathir glanced back. Large, wind-whipped swells rocked the small boat as crew frantically piled in. As the final man struggled to climb in, with a violent twist, the craft broke away. The sailor lost his balance, tumbled into the water, and disappeared.
The next swell rolled the remnants of the damaged hull. Planks flew, and the fragments of the once majestic cog disappeared beneath the blackened depths.
Amid the rush of wind, with a grunt of satisfaction, Rónán stepped beside her. “Their ship willna present a threat toanyone again.”
She met his gaze. “Indeed, but those who escaped will sail again. Neither is the danger over. If not build another ship, they will commandeer one.”
“Mayhap,” Rónán said, “but for now we are safe.”
“We are.” For that, she would be thankful. With the immediate threat past, exhaustion wove through her. Lathir rubbed the low ache in her shoulder. “I havena manned an oar in many a year.”
Rónán grimaced. “Dinna be surprised if you are soreon the morrow.”
