Page 16 of Tempest

She settled for twisting away from his hand and scurrying ahead, intent on getting to the main deck as quickly as possible.

Other pirates roved through the ship, passing amongst the hammocks of the crew quarters. Cat did not stop, clambering up on deck for a gasp of fresh air before she choked on the pirate.

But he dogged her heels, dutiful in his efforts to herd her out with the rest of the Credence. Captain Meedy, his crew, and the passengers stood assembled to one side of the main deck, with their cargo strewn down the center.

Pirate rabble picked through the crates and cases, sorting what valuables they could find. All were armed with knives, pistols, swords, or all three. Unlike the Meridian navy, they wore no uniforms, but there was no mistaking which men were pirates and which were simple sailors. The former had the look of honed blades, their edges raw and sharp. They smiled more than sailors too, jeering amongst each other, joking even as they pillaged. If not for her own terror, Cat might have thought them a happy sort, like jovial dockworkers or merchants in the market. As if raiding a ship were simply another day of work.

It probably is, Cat thought, her mouth dry.

The pirate escorting her seemed sharpest of all, his eyes even more startling in broad daylight. Cat fought the urge to study him in the sun. She felt his hand once more. He was not gentle this time, shoving her forwards. The lightning of his touch bled again, crackling a line across her collarbone, so sharp and insistent Cat wondered if it might leave a scar.

Then cold, clammy hands closed around her, holding her steady, and the lightning disappeared, a slate wiped clean.

Lord Rose looked down on her, his pale face white with fear, his grip limp as a deboned fish. Cat broke his hold with an easy twist, whirling to face her pirate.

But the nameless man was already moving through his crew, the smile gone from his tanned face. She didn’t miss the way the other pirates gave way to him, a school of fish parting to let a shark pass. He took his place at the right hand of a shorter but just as intimidating man with a violent black beard, a plumed hat, and a fine, green coat. Cat guessed it to be velvet, judging by the shine. It looked shockingly out of place among the dirty, sweating crew.

“Captain Morovant,” Meedy said, inclining his head to the man in the green coat. They shared a familiar, almost teasing, look.

“Captain Meedy.” Morovant removed his hat with a hand, showing off a lacy cuff and a fine bracelet of raw emeralds. After so long at sea, Cat could barely comprehend the spring-green jewels. Then he grinned, a tooth gleaming silver to match the rings in his ears. “I expected to find you off Great Edrin.”

A central island of the Lyrian, between the Furies and the Stills, Cat thought reflexively. It was easier to consider a map of the sea than their looming fate.

Captain Meedy pulled a face and scratched his patchy beard. “I aimed to avoid your hunting grounds.”

“And how did that work for you?” Morovant answered, smirking.

“As well as can be expected.” Meedy sighed like a man defeated. “Well, take your fill.”

“Always a pleasure doing business with you,” the pirate captain replied, bending at the waist to give a mocking bow.

Indeed, the pirates continued their pillaging. Cat could not help but flinch when one of her own trunks burst open. Her clothes spewed out, everything from traveling garments to her few remaining gowns. One pirate grinned, burying his face in pink silk. Another held out a length of white Anticlean lace, and Cat gasped, her face going hot.

At her side, Lord Rose stared resolutely at the deck, their servants huddled next to him at the rail. Cat glared at him sidelong, willing her husband to stop these men from pawing through her underclothes. Do something, she thought, her fury bubbling beneath her skin.

“Ryman,” she could not help but mutter, her voice hissing through gritted teeth.

“Silence,” he shot back, refusing to meet her eye.

A gunfire laugh cracked across the deck.

To Cat’s dismay, it was the pirate captain who crowed, her thin undergarments dangling from his hand. Morovant gave another spin of his jeweled wrist and shook the white lace like a flag.

“I beg your pardon, my lord,” he said, and a chortle went through his crew. “I suppose fashions have changed on the Continent.”

With a few quick strides, Captain Morovant stood nose to nose with the sniveling Lord Rose. Across the deck, the pirates howled their amusement. All but the one with tempest eyes. His focus was on the cargo, inspecting a crate of books.

Chuckling, Morovant draped the undergarments across her husband’s shoulders like a frilly cape.

“It is not often we meet a noble lord of the Meridian Empire, is it, mates?” Morovant said, throwing an arm around Ryman in an all-too-familiar manner. He took a step, forcing His Lordship to stumble along with him.

Then Morovant’s smile dropped, his grip tightening.

“Search him,” he clipped, shoving Lord Rose to the deck.

Ryman immediately turned out his pockets, shuddering under the white lace. It was a pitiful sight, and the pirates took to him half-heartedly, patting him all over. Even they could not stand the sight of the whimpering lord, pathetic as he was.

Cat watched it all with an impassive face, one hand in her skirts. She palmed the broken prayer bead, pouring what little faith she had into the last stone, asking for what no god would give.