“Where is she, Ramble?” asked Stitch as the men emerged from the cabin.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “She said she was goin’ to help the crew dig up treasure.”
“Oh, no. Mardon’s not going to like that. We need to stop her.”
“I’ll go,” said Ramble, looking out at the water. His eyes grew wide. “Stitch, the Poseidon is here. They’re comin’ to the island.”
“Run! Go tell Mardon to hurry. I’ll stay here but if Nereus or his men start headin’ for the Falcon, I’m goin’ to have to pull up the gangplank.”
“I understand. I’ll tell Mardon.”
As Ramble took off for the island, Emmaline flipped over the side of the ship, holding on to the rope to lower herself into the shuttle boat. She wasn’t that far from the mainland. There were oars inside the boat and she was strong enough to row to shore. She climbed into the small boat, releasing the ropes that held it to the ship. As the boat floated away, she took one last look at the Falcon, feeling her heart breaking. She was going to really miss Mardon, Nairnie, and even the crew. In the short time she’d been here, she had considered them her only family now.
“Cap’n, Cap’n,” shouted Ramble, waving his arms and running toward them. His long sash trailed behind him and his obnoxious new headpiece fell off as he ran.
“Ramble,” said Mardon, his head snapping up. He saw Nereus and his crew already on shore heading in their direction. “Damn it! Dig faster,” he told his men.
“We’re goin’ as fast as we can,” complained Coop. Mardon pulled the shovel out of the man’s hand and did the work himself.
“I think I see somethin’ down there,” said Nairnie, leaning over and peering into the hole. “God’s eyes, why did he have to bury it so deep?” she complained.
Mardon’s shovel hit something with a clank. “We’ve got it. Fast, get it out of there. We still have time to get it to the ship before Nereus gets here.”
Goldtooth and Coop pulled the chest out of the hole, laying it on the ground.
“It feels heavy,” said Coop.
“It must be filled with gold.” Goldtooth’s eyes lit up and the rest of the crew shouted with excitement.
“Finally, we’ll have the treasure,” said one of the crewmen.
“Mardon, hurry. Open the chest,” instructed Nairnie.
“Nay, we’ll take it back to the ship first,” he answered.
“Nay, open it here,” she insisted. “What if it’s filled with rocks again?”
“Don’t even say that.” Mardon clenched his jaw. He reached out to finger the padlock, seeing it was secure. “Aaron, hit it with your shovel,” he told his brother.
“Gladly,” said Aaron, hitting it hard until the lock popped open.
Mardon hunkered down to lift the lid, but immediately felt the prick of the tip of a sword at his back.
“We’ll take that, Mardon,” came a familiar voice that Mardon recognized as Noll, one of the two men who’d left his crew to join his nemesis, Nereus. “Or is it Cap’n now?”
Mardon looked over to Aaron, slowly nodding. In one motion, Mardon rolled on the ground, jumping up and drawing his sword. At the same time, Aaron shot forward, his sword clashing with Wybert’s – the second of the traitors.
Nereus and his men ran up with blades drawn and they were once again in battle.
“Damn it, Nereus, give it up,” spat Mardon, his blade crashing into the older man’s who was the captain of the Poseidon. “It’s my treasure put there by my father and you know it.”
“Yer treasure?” The man laughed loudly. “Only until I take it from ye.”
“Someone, get that chest to the ship. Now!” shouted Mardon.
His men tried but couldn’t even get close to it, having to constantly fight off the pirates from the Poseidon.
“I’ll get it,” said Nairnie, kneeling down and leaning over the chest.
“The old woman again?” Nereus laughed. “Wybert, take her as a trade for the treasure. Once again,” said the man.
“Nay!” shouted Mardon, trying to get to his grandmother, but not being able to break away from Nereus.
“I got her,” snarled Wybert, reaching down for Nairnie’s arm. He was met with an iron pan hitting his skull.
“Bloody hell, that hurts,” complained Wybert, rubbing his head.
“Let me help,” said Noll, rushing forward with his sword in his hand. He was met by Nairnie’s ladle, hooking his sword and flinging it from his hand.
“Och,” said Nairnie, looking at the ladle and nodding. “I kent this one was a better one than the one I bent. It sure does come in handy.”
When Noll reached for her again, she stepped out of the way.
“If ye want the bluidy treasure so bad, then take it,” spat Nairnie.
“Nay! Grandmother, what are you saying?” yelled Aaron.
“Nereus, take the treasure and go, but leave my grandsons and the crew alone,” she continued.
“Old woman, what are you doing?” growled Mardon.
“Dinna call me auld!” She waddled over to Mardon and pulled him away from Nereus as Noll and Wybert picked up the chest.
“Fast, take it to the ship,” Nereus called out.
“Over my dead body,” spat Mardon.
“That can be arranged,” Nereus answered.
“Mardon, listen to me,” said Nairnie. “Ye’ve already lost enough men. This isna worth it.”
“You’re addled, Nairnie. I won’t give up that treasure.”
“Then ye’ll have to say guidbye to me,” said Nairnie, taking a step and standing next to Nereus. “Nereus, I am joinin’ yer crew now.”
“What?” spat Aaron. “Nairnie, nay!”
“I swear I’ll go with them if both sides dinna stop fightin’.”
“Mardon, do something,” said Aaron. “We can’t lose Nairnie or the treasure.”
Mardon looked over to Nairnie to see her turn the frying pan around. Hidden inside was a rolled up parchment. Now he understood what she was trying to do.
“Nay, she’s right, Aaron. We’ve lost too many men. I will not give up our grandmother for a bloody treasure. Men, lower your weapons!”
Aaron rushed over and grabbed Mardon by the arm. “What the hell are you doing?” he whispered.
“Aaron,” Nairnie called out. “Let the treasure go. I’ll go back to the ship and make ye some biscuits.”
“What?” He turned to face Nairnie and she flashed him a look at the hidden clue rolled up in the pan. “Aye, biscuits,” he said with a nod. “Men, back to the ship, anon.”
“We’re just goin’ to let them have the treasure?” shouted Goldtooth.
“Let’s kill them,” shouted another of Mardon’s crew.
“You heard the captain,” warned Aaron.
“And the quartermaster,” added Mardon. “Now move.”
“Get that treasure back to the ship,” cried Nereus. “Leave these fools! Any man who would give up a treasure for a wench has to be out of his mind.”
The crews split up, each heading back to their ships.
“Cap’n, what’s goin’ on?” asked Coop, hurrying to his side.
“I’ll tell you all as soon as we’re safely on the ship and away from Nereus. Now, just trust me. And hurry!”
“Aye,” said Coop. “Come on, let’s go.”
Once all of Mardon’s men were back on the ship and the boarding plank was taken away, he looked up to the sterncastle and shouted out to Stitch. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Raise the anchor and set the sails,” shouted Aaron.
“Cap’n,” Stitch called from the helm. “Did we get the treasure?”
“Nay, they left it in exchange for the old woman,” shouted one of the crew.
“I’m no’ auld.” Nairnie swung the pan at the man and the rolled up parchment fell out.
“What’s this?” Ramble picked it up.
“Nairnie, go ahead,” said Mardon.
“On
ce again, it seems there was no treasure,” explained Nairnie. “But thankfully, while ye were all busy fightin’ I was able to at least steal the next clue.”
“So Nereus doesn’t have the treasure or the clue?” asked Ramble.
Nairnie chuckled. “Nay. Only a box of rocks, and bid the devil he is goin’ to be furious when he finds out.”
“Especially since he said no wench is worth giving up a treasure for,” said Mardon, laughing as well. “That reminds me. Where is Emmaline?” He looked around the deck.
“Cap’n,” said Ramble, handing the clue to Aaron and walking over. “Stitch and I looked everywhere for her but couldn’t find her.”
“What do you mean you couldn’t find her? I left you two here to protect her.”
“Sorry, Cap’n,” said Stitch from the helm. “Didn’t ye see her on the island?”
“On the island?” asked Mardon. “Why would she be there?”
“She told me that ye said she could join ye in diggin’ up the treasure,” explained Ramble.
“And you believed her?”
“Well, nay. That’s why I went to ask Stitch. She must have left the ship then.”
“Get out of my way.” Mardon pushed Ramble aside, heading for the stairs. “I’ve got to get higher to try to see her. We can’t leave without her.” As he hurried up the stairs, the bottom one creaked. He stopped, turned around and headed back down.
“Cap’n?” asked Ramble. “What are ye doin’?”
Reaching down, he pulled away the top of the creaky stair, throwing it to the side. “Devil take me,” he spat, seeing that the bottle of poison was gone. He noticed a hammer lying in the shadows. “Check the shuttle boats. Now!” he shouted.
“Cap’n, one of them is missin’,” called out Peg Leg Pate.
“What’s goin’ on, Mardon?” asked Nairnie. “Where is Emmaline?”
He ran to the side of the ship and everyone followed. Narrowing his eyes, he could see a small dot heading toward the shore. “She left me,” said Mardon, not able to believe his eyes. “She took the boat and . . . left.”
“Do ye think she’s comin’ back?” asked Ramble.
Mardon’s eyes shot over to the stairs again. “Damn it,” he spat, feeling like this was all his fault. He’d told her to take the poison and talk to the king about her father’s murder. He more or less told her to go, and that is why she left without even a goodbye. “Nay, she’s not coming back,” he whispered.
“Then go after her,” said Nairnie. “If we hurry, mayhap we can still catch her.”
Mardon heard Nereus shouting from his ship. When he turned to look, he saw the man waving his fist in the air.
“Well, I think Nereus found out what we did,” said Aaron. “We’d better make a break for it, or he’ll be boarding our ship with his men next.”
“Aye,” said Mardon, once again looking back at Emmaline. If he went after her, it could very well mean a battle and the loss of more of his crewmembers.
“We’ve got the clue,” said Goldtooth. “Forget about the wench.”
“Aye,” added Peg Leg. “Wenches on board are only bad luck and trouble.”
“Och, ye mean like this kind of trouble?” asked Nairnie, hitting the man’s wooden leg with her iron pan. Peg Leg Pate went down for the count. “Mardon, are ye really just goin’ to let her go?”
“It was her choice,” said Mardon, feeling his heart already aching. “I have a crew that’s depending on me and I can’t let them down.”
“Mayhap I should be hittin’ ye with this pan next,” spat Nairnie.
“Grandmother, he’s right,” said Aaron. “We can’t let Nereus get the clue. It’s too much of a risk to go back for her. Besides, a pirate ship is no place for a woman.”
“If it wasna for me, ye’d all be dead and Nereus would have the treasure right now.” Nairnie stormed away to the galley, and turned around just before going inside. “If a wench on board is bad luck, then ye’re really goin’ to see bad luck because I’m no longer cookin’ for any of ye.” She disappeared into the galley and slammed the door.
“Cap’n, should I set a course for shore?” asked Stitch from up above.
Mardon looked over to see the Poseidon heading right toward them. They had to lose them, but they were never going to be able to do it in the channel. They needed open water. “Nay. Head back north. To open sea. Let’s shake Nereus like dirt from our feet. I’ll be in my cabin.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” said Stitch.
“Everyone, to your posts,” called out Aaron. “Goldtooth, you’re in charge of the crew.” Aaron followed Mardon to the cabin, closing the door after they both were inside.
“Mardon, talk to me.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“You did the right thing,” Aaron assured him.
“Did I? Because I’m having doubts about that right now.”
“She was just a wench. She didn’t belong here.”
“Nay, Aaron, she was more than that to me. Emmaline was beautiful, special, and needed me right now, and I just let her go.”
“You did it for the crew. And the treasure.”
“I’m honestly starting to wonder if it’s all worth it.”
“Don’t say that! Of course, it is.”
“Leave me, Aaron. And I don’t want to be bothered unless it’s an emergency.”
“All right, if you feel that way.” Aaron stopped when he heard Mardon’s next words.
“Sleep in the lookout tonight, because I want to be alone.”
Aaron cursed under his breath and slammed the door behind him.
Chapter 18
“Cap’n, wake up,” yelled Ramble two days later, pounding on the door.
“Mardon, I want to talk to ye,” shouted Nairnie, sounding as if she were pounding on the door with her ladle. “Ye canna stay in there forever. Ye are the captain of this ship so get out here and do yer job.”
Mardon wasn’t sleeping. He’d been lying awake for the last two days wallowing in self-pity. He couldn’t stop thinking what a big mistake he’d made by not going after Emmaline. He kept trying to tell himself he’d done the right thing and that he’d done it for the crew. But when it all came down to it, he no longer gave a damn about anyone but Emmaline. She was the only one he cared about right now, not even worrying what happened to him. Jumping out of the hammock fully clothed and still wearing his boots, he unlocked and yanked open the door.
Nairnie’s ladle came down toward him, and he grabbed it in one hand before it hit him in the face.
“Och, sorry, Grandson. I didna mean to hit ye.”
“Well, you should hit me for what a fool I’ve been.”
“Blethers, Mardon.” Nairnie cocked her head and squinted one eye. “What are ye tryin’ to say?”
“I’m saying you were right, Nairnie. I should have gone after Emmaline.”
“Well, now’s a fine time to decide that,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s too late, Mardon. She’s gone.”
“Nay, it’s not too late, because I know exactly where she is going.” He ran out the door and headed up to the sterncastle to take the helm from Aaron.
“Have a nice sleep?” asked Aaron, looking angry that Mardon had locked him out of the cabin yet again. “Because it was damned cold up in that lookout basket for the last two nights, not that you care of course.”
“I’ll take the helm,” said Mardon, stepping in. “I’m plotting a new course.”
“It took two days to shake Nereus, but you wouldn’t know that because you were locked in your cozy, warm cabin,” sneered Aaron.
“Stop it, little . . . I mean, Quartermaster.” Mardon refrained from calling him little brother, knowing he was already angry and not wanting to make it worse. He looked around, realizing they were out of the channel and once again back in the North Sea. “We’re changing course.”
“For where?” Aaron’s hands went up in the air. “We haven’t even had a chance to try to decipher the new
clue since the rest of us were too busy trying to outrun Nereus, not to mention keep from getting killed.”
“We’re turning around and going back to Canterbury,” said Mardon.
“Canterbury?” asked Ramble, coming to join them. “Ye mean the cathedral where we found the last clue?”
“Nay, I mean Emmaline’s hometown. Her father had a manor house there.”
“God’s eyes, nay,” said Aaron under his breath. “It happened to Tristan and just like I said, now it’s happening to you, too.”
“What’s happenin’?” asked Ramble.
“He’s going to leave us. For a wench!” Aaron crossed his arms over his chest and turned and looked the other way. “Traitor,” Mardon heard him say under his breath.
“I’m not a traitor to you, Aaron, or to anyone but Emmaline. She has no one. No place to go, no family, and as far as I know, no friends either. Don’t you see? I turned her away when she needed me the most.”
“So what?” spat Aaron. “You belong here. We’re your family.”
“Aye, and we were like family to Emmaline, too,” said Mardon in a low voice.
“He’s right,” said Nairnie from the bottom of the steps. “And family doesna abandon each other. Isna that right, my grandsons?”
“Nairnie, I feel bad enough about what happened with Emmaline,” said Mardon from the helm. “Don’t try to make me feel guilty for leaving our sister behind when we turned to piracy years ago.”
“It took Gwen many years to convince her husband, Brody, to come lookin’ for ye boys. But she never gave up hope. Neither did I,” Nairnie told him.
“One thing at a time, Grandmother,” said Mardon, flashing Nairnie a smile.
“Mardon? What did ye call me?”
“You heard me.”
“These auld ears canna hear that well. Ye’d better say it again.”
Mardon chuckled, looking out to the water as he steered the ship. “Did I just hear you call yourself old?”
“Well I . . . I mean . . . ye ken what I mean.” Her hands went to her hips and she pursed her mouth.
Mardon (Pirate Lords Series Book 2) Page 19
