The man who had given me water before approached us. He’d apparently heard my question. “We are in the habit of saving the innocent. Cannon fire means someone is in trouble.”
I had many questions, but he ushered us below deck and had us eat something. He introduced himself as Nathaniel Ward, the ship’s surgeon. “We’ve rescued you on our way to escort a ship coming from the United States. The pirates who ravage these waters attack nearlyevery small ship coming to St. Kitts, so we were hoping to intercept it.”
Patrice, Mr. Ashby, and I inhaled the porridge as we listened. I was glad he answered some of my questions, although he probably could not answer the most important ones. Mr. Ward sat with us while we finished our food and took out a can of salve from his satchel, then began applying it to our hands. “This will help you heal. It may sting at first.”
He moved closer to us and began applying it to our faces. We all winced as he touched our sensitive skin.
When Mr. Ashby’s face was covered in the salve, he leaned back and began asking questions. “Who are you trying to escort?”
“We are expecting a Moravian bishop for the mission in Cayon. The leader of the estate who supports the mission, is also a patron of theMaelstrom.”
A mission in Cayon? Was that nearby?
“So you dock in St. Kitts?” Mr. Ashby prodded. Apparentlyheknew where Cayon was. I had no idea there was another town on St. Kitts other than Basseterre.
Mr. Ward raised an eyebrow. “Did I say that? It is a great secret where theMaelstrommakes harbor.” He chuckled. “There will be plenty of time for us to better understand each other. Right now, we need to batten down and prepare for battle.” He stood and told us to stay put for now.
Adjusting to all this new information made me feel as if I were floating above myself and none of it was real. My focus blurred for a second before Patrice’s voice called me back.
“Miss…are you all right?”
I blinked. “How could I be?” A single weak laugh escaped me. “After all this. He doesn’t even know who I am.” I met Mr. Ashby’s empathetic face. “How am I supposed to…move forward?”
He shook his head, sighing heavily. “We cannot do anything right now. Once things settle down, then we’ll get more answers.”
“Are we to sail into a battle after trying to escape one?” Patrice asked breathlessly.
It seemed we were in the same situation we had been when we abandoned theKatarina, facing the possibility of pirates once more. I didn’t see the humor in the irony.
Much sooner than expected, a loudbangshook everything around us and nearly threw us onto the deck. Had we made it to the battle already? This ship must be extraordinarily fast. Then another blast hit on the same side, and another on the deck above us. My breathing sped up and I stood without any idea what I would do next. The hatch opened and three men fell down the ladder. They didn’t even bother with the steps. They ran toward the gun deck, and after a moment, three more men followed suit. Both times the hatch opened, I heard yelling and screaming along with gunshots and swords clashing. I felt for my own pistol, grasping it inside my pocket. Mr. Ashby’s gift still had a job to do.
Were the enemies now on board? I looked up at the hatch with horror. “What should we do?” I asked Mr. Ashby.
His face had become taut with seriousness. “Go into the cabin beyond the scullery. I’ll go above and see what can be done.”
I gasped. “No! You mustn’t!” I held on to his arm. “If you go, I will, too.”
He must’ve recalled when I’d told him he needed protection on theKatarina, because he didn’t argue. He nodded. “Very well. Let’s hide together.” His hand warmed mine and he took it carefully. Beforehe could pull me toward the cabins, however, the hatch opened once more and a large man dropped down onto the deck. He held a curved sword in one hand, a pistol in the other, and a nasty expression I could only describe as…delighted. But the kind of delight only someone with a cruel heart would feel.
“Well, isn’t this nice? Two wenches for the price of one man’s life.” He held the pistol up and pointed it directly at Mr. Ashby.
Chapter 18
Mybodymovedmuchfaster than my rational mind. “No!” I screamed, running at the man and knocking the pistol from his hand. It slid underneath a table.
I hadn’t thought about his sword, though. The arm holding it wrapped around me and the sword pressed against my neck. “You’re as spirited as you are pretty,” he said against my ear. His breath smelled foul and I wanted to push him away, but the press of his sword prevented that particular motion.
“Stop!” Mr. Ashby said to the man, holding out two hands as if trying to reach me. His voice was firm, and yet I detected a level of panic in his tone I did not know he could conjure. “Let her go!” He beckoned, hoping the pirate would give me up. His focus was fully on the sword to my neck, and I could see him calculating all probabilities in his mind.
Patrice held up her pistol. “Let her go!”
The man laughed. “What makes you think you can order me around? Put it down, or she dies.”
I struggled, but only for a second before the blade bit into my flesh. I could feel a trickle of blood roll down my throat. Patrice put her pistol down quickly and held up her hands, terrified for my life.
The pirate chuckled. “That’s a good girl.” He pressed his nose into my cheek. “Come on, lovely. I’ll take you back to my ship after wedispatch this crew.” He chuckled and then began pulling me up the hatch by my hair. I shrieked at the pain in my scalp. Mr. Ashby tried to follow, but the pirate kicked him squarely in the face. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he broke Mr. Ashby’s nose. We got up to the top and he pulled me through the hatch along with him.
As soon as I got to my feet, I began running, but another man grabbed me by the arm and threw me to the deck. His boot pressed into my wrist and I cried out, trapped.
