Tristan (Pirate Lords Series Book 1)

by Elizabeth Rose

  “Yer . . . grandmathair?” asked Gavina in confusion, sure she’d heard him wrong. After all, pirates didn’t even have grandmothers. Did they?

  “Aye. Her name is Nairnie,” explained Aaron.

  “Get in the boat,” commanded Tristan, holding on to her arm and guiding her to board. He untied the shuttle from the pier, pushed it, and jumped inside, settling down on the seat next to her. His presence filled the small area. He was so close to her on the bench that his leg pressed up against hers. “Let’s go, Ramble,” he told the pirate that was rowing.

  Anchored a short ways from the dock, she focused on the tall ship with three masts. The main sail was being raised in preparation of their departure. Her anxiety grew as the sail unfolded, becoming bigger . . . and blacker as they got closer to the ship. This was all getting way too real. The sight of the ship made her legs tremble.

  “Stop shaking,” whispered Tristan, his hand quickly resting on her knee. This only made her more uncomfortable. Why would he do that? Did he put his hands on the knees of other lads as well? After all, he thought she was a boy.

  She shifted, moving her leg so that he’d retract his hand. Thankfully, it worked. She had to take her mind off all this, especially the fact that she was now a prisoner of pirates. A prisoner, that is, with a secret map that they were looking for inked on her back. The worst part was that she couldn’t even see it. These pirates would do whatever it took to find that treasure map and, sadly, she didn’t know how long she could keep it hidden. Anything she did or said was now a risk. It wouldn’t be long before they discovered she was a girl and when they did, they’d find the map as well and probably kill her. She had to get their minds off of maps and treasure or they’d be asking her more questions or possibly searching her next.

  “Ye keep yer grandmathair a prisoner on yer ship?” she asked, trying to direct the conversation. The thought of this made Gavina wonder just what kind of men they really were.

  “Oh, nay, she’s not a prisoner,” explained Aaron with a swish of his hand through the air. The sun shone down on his blond hair and reflected off one of his earrings. She noticed he had tattoos – lots of them up and down his arms and even one peeking out from under his shirt. Her back ached as she thought of how much pain he’d probably had to endure just acquiring them. She’d only been inked on the surface but it hurt like hell for some reason. “Nairnie is only with us because she fell overboard, and we needed a cook,” Aaron continued.

  “What?” she gasped in shock. “I suppose ye were the ones who pushed her overboard to begin with.”

  “Nay, but her story of being our grandmother did keep us from killing her.” Mardon repositioned himself on the wooden seat of the boat and started digging through the bag of goods they’d pilfered. The shuttle boat continued to head for their ship along with three others right behind them.

  “Ye were goin’ to kill yer own grandmathair?” Her eyes opened wide. These were cutthroat pirates just like Birk had told her. She frantically looked back to shore, hoping there would be someone who could help her. Unfortunately, everyone was afraid of the pirates and was in hiding. In a way, she couldn’t really blame them. Pirates had a bad reputation, and rightly so, because their actions had earned it.

  “Nay, that’s not true. We were only going to let her drown, not kill her. And that was before we knew who she was,” explained Mardon.

  “I dinna see how killin’ someone or lettin’ them drown is any different,” she retorted, trying to remember to keep her voice sounding low.

  “Enough!” Tristan bellowed. “I don’t want to hear anything more about this for now. Gavin will be my personal cabin boy so I don’t want any of you giving him trouble. He takes orders only from me. Is that clear?”

  “Personal cabin boy?” asked Gavina, surprised to hear this. “I thought ye said I’m to be yer ship’s musician.”

  “That, too,” said Tristan, glancing out over the water.

  “That’s an odd thing to say, Brother,” commented Mardon, looking at him in confusion. “What did you do? Take a fancy to boys now since you’ve been so long without a wench?”

  All the men in the boat started laughing and making crude comments about bedding women.

  “Stop it,” growled Tristan.

  “Why don’t we stay in port a while?” suggested Aaron. “What’s our hurry? I noticed a few lightskirts in the tavern when we walked in that were enticing. I’d like to have a little taste before we go.”

  “Aye, I know what you mean, Brother.” Mardon looked up with interest. “Did you see the one with the red hair, rounded hips, and big breasts?” He waggled his eyebrows and made wavy motions with his hands like the figure eight. “I’d like to get her under me and plow into her until she cries out for mercy.”

  “Aye,” said one of the other men. All of them suddenly sounded like randy, lust-filled curs.

  “You can have her only after me,” said Aaron, laughing. “She’ll scream louder when I take her bent over a table, than she ever will with you lying atop her.”

  “Oh!” exclaimed Gavina, covering her mouth with her hand and squeezing her legs together. She couldn’t help picturing every one of these lust-filled pirates bending her over the rail and having their way with her until she cried out for mercy. Filled with fear, she couldn’t let them know she was really a girl. If so, just like Birk said, she’d end up as nothing but the ship’s whore.

  “What’s the matter, lad?” asked Mardon, one side of his mouth turning up slightly. His bright blue eyes were filled with amusement that she didn’t understand. “You act so squeamish hearing us talk like this. Haven’t you ever bedded a wench before?”

  “I should say no’!” she retorted.

  “That’s a pity,” Aaron broke in. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on. You’ve got to try it, and stop walking around feeling as hard as a rock.” He grabbed his groin and all the men started hooting and hollering. “Brothers, mayhap when we go back we should give Gavin a turn with the redhead, too,” suggested Aaron.

  “Stop the talk, now!” said Tristan.

  “What’s gotten into you, Brother?” Mardon narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He continued to dig into the bag and pulled out a metal tankard, holding it up to the light to inspect it. He tapped it with his nail, and it made a clinking noise. “You’re usually the one suggesting we get ourselves a good bedding every time we get to port.”

  “Well, not today,” Tristan answered. “Now, I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

  Mardon and Aaron exchanged glances and shrugged, not seeming to give it another thought. Instead, they started talking about their newfound treasures.

  “Everyone out and make it quick,” ordered Tristan as soon as the shuttle boats got to the ship. “I see some of Birk’s men at the dock starting to follow. I think it’s time we pull up the anchor and be on our way.”

  “On our way? Where?” Gavina looked back to shore, but Tristan blocked her view once again as he stood up and pulled her along with him. He pushed her toward the rope ladder that was hanging over the side of the ship. “Climb up, and whatever you do, don’t tarry,” he told her.

  She looked up the high side of the ship, trying to keep her balance as the shuttle rocked beneath her. She was afraid of heights and already her stomach was roiling. “I canna.”

  “Sure, you can. Now, up you go.” Before she knew what was happening, Tristan’s large hands closed around her waist. Her feet left the shuttle boat as he lifted her effortlessly and placed her on the ladder. “Make it fast,” he instructed.

  “I-I’ve never climbed a rope ladder before,” she protested, hanging on to it for her life. Glancing back down to the water, she became dizzy. She quickly squeezed her eyes shut and didn’t move. “I canna do it.” Her fear of heights scared her right now even more than the pirates.

  “Get moving!” She felt Tristan’s hand on her bottom end as he pushed her upward. Her eyes sprang open. She moved so quickly that she car
elessly caught her foot in the rope ladder. When she tried to untangle it, her shoe fell off and dropped into the water far below.

  “My shoe!” When she reached for it, her hand slipped and she lost her balance.

  “God’s eyes, you’re already too much trouble.” Tristan caught her, putting her back on the ladder, sheltering her body with his as they continued to climb.

  “I need my shoe.”

  “You don’t need shoes. I never wear them,” Aaron called out from the top of the ladder. She looked up at him, realizing for the first time that he was barefoot.

  “I’ll find you a pair of shoes on board,” Tristan half-whispered into her ear. She could feel his breath against her bare neck as well as the heat of his body pressed up against her back. They climbed the side of the ship with his arms on both sides of her, holding the ladder and keeping her from falling.

  “I’ll also find you some clothes that fit you properly,” he continued. “I’m surprised you haven’t already tripped on those trews that are too big for you.” With his body pressed up against hers and his strong arms cradling her on the ladder, she felt safe and protected for the first time in a long time. Odd, that it took a pirate to make her feel this way. As soon as Gavina was hoisted over the sidewall and landed on the deck, she noticed a plump woman hurrying toward them from the bow of the ship.

  “Where have ye boys been?” griped the old woman, putting her hands on her ample hips. She didn’t seem frightened of the pirates at all.

  “Don’t worry about it, Nairnie. We had some business to tend to,” Tristan told her as he flipped over the sidewall and landed on the deck next to Gavina. “Get those shuttle boats hoisted up and raise the anchor anon,” he called out to his crew.

  “Aye Cap’n,” said a man with a peg leg, hobbling over to help. Men filled the deck of the ship, going about their chores, not even paying any attention to her.

  “I hope ye were no’ out pillagin’ the commoners,” scolded the old woman. “Mardon, what have ye got in that bag?”

  “It’s nothing,” said Mardon, tucking the bag under his arm and pushing past Nairnie. He didn’t get far before the brave woman grabbed the bag from him and threw it down on the deck. Goblets and bowls, coins and playing cards, spilled out at her feet.

  “I kent it! Ye stole these things, didna ye?” snapped the old woman.

  “We’re pirates, Grandmother,” explained Aaron with sigh, walking over with a bag of booty as well. “It’s what we do.”

  Gavina wondered what the old woman would say if she knew they’d killed men on shore as well.

  “God’s eyes, stop calling her Grandmother,” complained Tristan. “Start acting like a pirate, not a milksop, little brother. Now everyone, leave your bags here and don’t try to palm any items or you’ll pay for it, I warn you. Mardon will divvy up the plunder when we get out to sea. I’m going to get us the hell away from here.”

  “Fine, but I’ll take this as part of my share right now.” Aaron held up a neck chain with a ring attached to it. The ring twirled around, sparkling in the bright sun. Gavina’s eyes fell upon it and it was all she could do not to cry out when she recognized her mother’s wedding ring dangling from the chain. It was an amethyst stone that her father had bought with money he’d earned as a fisherman when they’d first married and times weren’t as trying. That was before they had three children to feed and before he let his vices ruin him. Aye, it was a time when Finn Drummond made his living as an honest man. She thought her father had buried the ring in the grave along with her mother. Now, she realized his love for her was what made him keep it after all. It had to have meant a lot to him since he’d never gambled it away like he did with the rest of their belongings – even her!

  As Gavina focused on the ring, she realized these thieving men must have stolen it right off her dead father’s body.

  “Can I see that?” she asked boldly, holding out her hand.

  “Huh? I guess so,” said Aaron with a shrug. “It’s not like you’re getting any of the booty nor are you going anywhere with it since you can’t leave the ship.” He held it out, but before she could even touch it, Tristan’s hand shot out and he snatched the chain and ring away from her.

  “I said, we’ll divvy up the goods later,” he spat through gritted teeth. “Now get to work, all of you.”

  “All right,” grumbled Aaron. “Come on, Gavin. If you’re going to be part of this crew, you need to learn to climb the rigging, raise the sails, swab the deck, and a lot of other chores as well. I’m the ship’s bosun and in charge of keeping things in top condition. You’ll be taking orders from me now. I’ll put you to work right away.”

  Gavina’s eyes shot over to Tristan in a silent plea of desperation. She couldn’t do all these things Aaron was talking about. Especially not climb the rigging. Her eyes swept upward and her stomach turned as the ship rocked back and forth in the waves. She wasn’t strong enough to do all these chores, and neither had she any idea what swabbing a deck even meant. Her eyes drifted upward to the rigging and she watched a couple pirates holding on with only their legs as they untangled the lines. She could never go way up there. The thought terrified her. What was she going to do? Should she go with Aaron or stay by Tristan? Right now, neither seemed to be a good choice.

  “Wait just a minute,” said Nairnie, stepping closer to her. “Who are ye?” The old woman squinted one eye and cocked her head, perusing Gavina.

  “This is Gavin. He’s my new cabin boy and the replacement for our ship’s musician,” Tristan answered before Gavina even had a chance to speak.

  When Gavina glanced back at Tristan, he was putting the chain with her mother’s wedding ring attached around his neck. The thought of the symbol of her parent’s love being displayed like a war trophy by a thieving cutthroat seemed like blasphemy to her. She wanted to rip it right off of him, but that would only bring her trouble. Her hand went to her aching back and her mind raced. She needed to find a way off this ship and fast. She also needed to find that treasure. The only problem was, she couldn’t see the blasted map, and now she had no one she trusted to read it for her. No matter what happened or what decision she made, she was already doomed.

  “Cabin boy?” Nairnie asked Tristan. “Ye mean servant boy, dinna ye? And I’ll bet the lad is here against his will. So, now it seems my grandsons have stooped so low as to take prisoners. Well, I dinna like it in the least.”

  “Nay, it’s not like that,” Tristan told her. “Gavin is an orphan, and will be part of our crew and family from now on.” He hurriedly removed the flute from his belt and handed it to Gavina. “Here, play something for Nairnie. After all, you’re the ship’s musician since our last one died over the winter. As musician, you’ll also get a small portion of the booty.”

  Gavina snatched her flute from his hand, but did not play it. “If I get part of the booty, then I’ll take that ring and chain ye just put around yer neck.”

  He laughed. “I said small part of the booty. This ring is mine now since I’m captain.” He ran his hand over the ring and smiled.

  “Tristan, as long as I’m aboard this ship, there will be no prisoners,” snapped Nairnie. “I willna have my own grandsons stoopin’ to that level. Do ye hear me?”

  “Listen, old woman.” Tristan clenched his jaw and he looked out to sea when he spoke. He seemed to be trying to keep from exploding with anger. “Unless you want us to throw you back where we found you, you’re going to have to stop trying to tell us what to do. It’s getting annoying.” He looked over to Aaron’s clothes blowing in the breeze. “And take down that damned laundry from the stays. No pirate ship is going to be hanging clothes from the rigging!”

  Gavina turned to see clothes flapping in the breeze, attached to the lines near the bow of the ship. It almost made her laugh aloud. Any woman who did this was someone that Gavina wanted to get to know.

  “Hrmph!” Nairnie busied herself with wiping invisible lint from her skirt. “Well, someone’s got to do it.�
�� Her mouth was pursed in aggravation. “I swear, if I’d kent my own grandsons were goin’ to end up as pirates, I would have . . .”

  “You didn’t even know you had grandsons until recently, so just stop with all the idle threats,” Tristan warned her. “Now, take the boy with you for now, and don’t let him out of your sight. Mayhap he can help you in preparing the meals. I’m still waiting for that hot food you promised.”

  “Well, it isna exactly easy to make a hot meal when I only have hardtack, dried fruit and salted meat to work with,” snapped Nairnie. “Let me go to shore and get the proper ingredients, and ye’ll have yer guid meal, I promise.”

  “Nay. You’re not going to shore, so forget it,” Tristan told her. “We’ve brought some food from the tavern, so see what you can whip up with that.”

  “The food isna what needs to be whipped here,” mumbled Nairnie under her breath.

  “What did you say?” Tristan had all he could do not to reach out and hit his own grandmother because of the way she was acting. But Tristan had never hit a woman in his life and wasn’t about to start now.

  “Let’s go,” said Gavina, taking a hold of Nairnie’s arm, starting to walk away. She did this to keep a fight from breaking out between a feeble old woman and big, brawny men. She was sure Nairnie would take on all her grandsons in a verbal or even physical confrontation if she had to. Gavina admired the old woman’s courage, but this ship was no place for an old woman or any female at all. Walking away from this conversation was the best thing they could do right now.

  “I’m goin’ but this isna over,” Nairnie told her grandsons over her shoulder as she waddled over the wooden deck. “Gavin, I’m warnin’ ye right now. Once ye’re off this ship, dinna ever have anythin’ to do with pirates again if ye ken what’s guid for ye. I ken they’re my grandsons, but I wouldna wish them on anyone the way they are right now. God help any lassie they get near, because they’ll never respect one as long as they live. They’ll just take what they can get from her and leave her hung out to dry like one of their headscarves blowin’ in the wind.” She nodded to Aaron’s clothes hanging on the line. Sure enough, a red headscarf fluttered in the breeze.