“Ye do that and ye’ll never find the treasure,” Nairnie answered bravely. “Go ahead, kill me. It’ll be yer loss.”
“Nairnie, nay!” cried Gavina.
“Dinna worry, lass. He’s no’ goin’ to risk losin’ a treasure. Ye see how he likes his riches. Just look around ye.”
“Ye might be right, but consider the consequences,” said Nereus. “If I kill ye, I’ll do what I want to Tristan’s wife, because it will no longer matter.”
“Nay!” cried Gavina.
“Then when Tristan shows up, he’ll tell me the whereabouts of the treasure if he wants his wife returned, as soiled and broken as she will be.”
“Ye rancid cur!” said Nairnie, spitting in his eye. “Ye wouldna do that.”
He jerked back, wiping his eye with the back of his hand and then moving the blade closer to her neck. “Are ye sure?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Nairnie, he cut off the hand of one of his own crewmembers and dumped him in the sea,” Gavina reminded her.
“Aye, I never cared for that crewmember anyway. It was time I got rid of him,” said Nereus nonchalantly.
“Nairnie, please, just tell him where to find the treasure,” Gavina begged the old woman.
Nairnie looked as if she weren’t going to tell him, but then at Gavina’s insistence, she finally told Nereus what he wanted to know.
“It’s buried on the east side of the island, under two trees that make an X,” said Nairnie.
“That’s more like it.” Nereus released her and got to his feet. “Rock,” he called for his first mate.
“Aye Cap’n,” said the man, entering the room.
“Take these women to the brig while I set our new course to collect our treasure.”
“It’s no use, we can’t catch the Poseidon,” said Aaron, standing with Tristan and Mardon looking out to the sea as they tried to catch up to Nereus.
“Nereus had too much of a head start on us,” agreed Mardon. “If he’d stop moving, mayhap we’d have a chance. He also changed direction in the last few minutes in case you didn’t notice.” Mardon had the helm while Tristan looked over the sidewall, stretching his neck, trying to see Gavina. The winds changed and were holding them back. Instead of getting closer, they were moving farther apart.
“Oh, I noticed,” said Tristan. “Nereus is headed for the treasure. He must have managed to get the information out of Nairnie. That’s why they changed course.”
“Well, I suppose that’s a good thing,” said Aaron. “At least now we know Nairnie is still alive. I’m sure it means Gavina is, too.”
“Dammit, Aaron, I know what you’re trying to do, but it doesn’t comfort me at all to know that my enemy has the woman I love.” Tristan ran his hand through his hair and started pacing back and forth in thought.
“Love?” asked Aaron in surprise. “Do you really love Gavina? You barely even know her.”
“It doesn’t matter. I know now that Gavina is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I won’t let Nereus have her.”
“Tristan, I know you’re married and all,” said Aaron. “But are you really thinking you can keep a wife on board the Falcon? Especially if you someday have children?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tristan snapped, changing positions and pacing back and forth in the other direction now.
“You’re not thinking about leaving us, are you?” asked Mardon. “We made a promise to each other when we left Father that we’d always stay together, no matter what.”
“That’s right, Tristan, we did,” agreed Aaron. “It’s worked fine for us up until now.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” said Tristan, feeling agitated and wanting more than anything to kill Nereus right now. “All I know is that I am going to get my wife and grandmother back on the Falcon where they belong.”
“You said grandmother again.” Aaron smiled. “I knew you really cared about her. You’re not as cold-hearted as you pretend.”
“Shut up, Aaron, or I’ll show you just how cold-hearted I can be. Now tell the crew to trim those sails. We’re luffing. Nay, wait. Instead, set a new course toward the shore.”
“The shore? Why?” asked Aaron.
“That will take us west instead of east and we’ll never catch Nereus,” Mardon pointed out.
“Aye, a different direction. However, I assure you that by doing this, we’ll catch Nereus, save the women, and get our treasure, too,” Tristan told them.
“Wait, I’m confused.” Aaron scratched his head. “So we’re not going to board the Poseidon to save the women now?”
“Nay,” said Tristan. “The plan has changed.”
“Brother, didn’t you just call Nairnie your grandmother and say you loved Gavina?” asked Mardon. “Yet now you don’t want to rescue them?”
“Oh, we’re going to rescue them,” Tristan assured his brothers. “Only, we’re going to do it in a way that Nereus will never expect.”
“How?” asked Mardon and Aaron at the same time.
“We’re taking a little shortcut.” Tristan smiled, feeling confident of this plan. “Since I know exactly where Nereus is headed, we’re going to get there first. You see, we’re not going after the Poseidon anymore, because now we have a new destination.”
“What’s that?” asked Mardon.
A million thoughts ran through Tristan’s mind at once, but he was sure this was the right decision. “We’re changing course, because now we’re going after the treasure.”
Gavina had dozed off, tied up in the hold and not able to move. She’d been dreaming of making love to Tristan when Nairnie kicked her and yanked her out of the dream.
“Wake up!” said Nairnie.
“Why did ye kick me?” Gavina couldn’t believe the old woman would be acting this way. Ever since Nereus told her that Cato’s father was a pirate, she’d been in a very foul mood.
“I kicked ye because my hands are tied and I couldna shake ye. Now wake up, I say.”
There was only a stub of a candle stuck into the neck of a bottle that was burning, and threatening to extinguish at any time. The hold was smelly, dark, wet, and scary. An occasional rat wandered by inspecting them closely. This is the reason Gavina had closed her eyes to begin with. She didn’t want to know how close the rats were to her.
Gavina heard commotion from up on the deck. At first, she thought mayhap Tristan had boarded with his crew and they were battling it out. Then she realized that the sounds weren’t of battle. They were happy, joyful sounds like men laughing and celebrating. “What’s goin’ on?” asked Gavina.
“I’m no’ sure, but I dinna like it.”
The door to the hold burst opened, and Nereus’ first mate staggered down the ladder. “The Cap’n wants ye two up on deck.” When he reached over to cut their binds, Gavina held her breath because the man stank so heavily from alcohol.
“What does he want with us?” asked Nairnie. “Is he goin’ to kill us after all?”
“I’ll let him tell ye.” Rock yanked them up to a standing position and pushed them over to the stairs. When Gavina stepped out onto the deck into daylight, she blinked several times, trying to focus after having been in the dark hold. Nereus sat back on a chair that looked like a throne. He had his feet propped up on a box and he was holding something, inspecting it closely. At first Gavina thought it might be her ring.
“Go on,” growled Rock, pushing the women over to Nereus.
“What is this all about?” Nairnie demanded to know.
“We’re havin’ a celebration and thought ye might like to join us.” Nereus raised a cup to them and took a drink.
“Celebration?” asked Gavina. “Whatever for?”
“Yer lover has given up the chase and turned around.” Nereus chuckled. “It seems he didn’t care as much about ye as ye thought.”
“Tristan’s no’ comin’?” asked Gavina in a panic. “Nay, that canna be true. He would never leave us here with ye.”
> “Oh, it seems he has and I think I know why. Ye see, once a pirate always a pirate, lassie.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” asked Nairnie.
“What I mean, is that even though Tristan is now married, his first love will always be treasure.”
“Nay, that’s no’ true,” said Gavina. “He wouldna choose treasure over me.”
“He already has,” Nereus told her with a grin. “Since he’s no longer followin’ us, I figure he’s goin’ after the treasure.”
“I’m sure he kens ye’re goin’ after the treasure, too,” said Gavina. “If so, why isna he behind us?”
“Because, my dear, yer husband doesn’t know what I do. I’ve been to shore recently and have talked to the dockmen. I know what Tristan’s tryin’ to do but it won’t work.”
“What does that mean?” asked Nairnie.
“It seems Tristan is tryin’ to get to the treasure first, usin’ what he thinks is a short cut. He’s headin’ up the cove and approachin’ the island goin’ west instead, and sailin’ around it. However, what he doesn’t know is this last storm has made that way unpassable for now. So, he’s only sabotagin’ himself. He’ll find out as soon as he sees all the marooned boats in the bay blockin’ his way. However, by the time he figures it out and turns around, I’ll have the treasure and be long gone. Oh, and did I mention that I’ll also have his wife and grandmother, too?” Nereus laughed heartily.
“Nereus, are ye sure that’s what they’re doin’?” Birk asked from across the deck. “Those pirates seem to always have a way of kennin’ where to go and how to get places quickly.”
“Ye worry too much,” Nereus told Birk. “I’m startin’ to wonder if I did the wrong thing by pickin’ ye up. After all, I don’t really need ye anymore, do I?”
Birk looked worried. “Mayhap I should go to the brig and ask those crewmates of Tristan’s what they ken.”
“Noll and Wybert aren’t in the brig,” said Nereus. “I’ve put them to work on the ship after all. I decided to make them part of my crew now. If they knew anythin’, they would have already told me. Now get yerself a drink and relax, Birk. And prove to me ye were worth the trouble. We’ll be to the island within the hour.”
“What about those two?” asked Birk, nodding at the women. “Ye ken that havin’ wenches on board is bad luck.”
“I’ll deal with that.” Nereus held up something.
“My flute!” exclaimed Gavina, thinking she had lost it.
“My men found this in the shuttle boat. Do ye know how to play it?”
“Of course, I do. It’s mine.”
“Then play it.” He tossed it to her and Gavina caught it. “I want music. Lots of it. After all, this is a celebration.”
“Dinna ye think ye’re celebratin’ a little prematurely?” asked Nairnie.
“Not at all. There is no way that Tristan can beat me to that treasure now.”
“Oh, Nairnie,” whispered Gavina. “Do ye think Tristan really chose the treasure over me?”
“Dinna worry, lass.” Nairnie’s eyes shifted over to Nereus and then back to her. “I’ve had a vision, and ye and Tristan will be together again soon.”
“A vision?” Gavina didn’t understand what she meant.
“I sometimes have visions, my dear, and they almost always come true.”
“Almost? So, they’re no’ always right?” asked Gavina. “So mayhap I willna be with Tristan after all?”
“The only time my visions were wrong was when I foresaw my own death, so dinna worry, lass. I have faith that Tristan will choose ye over treasure because what I saw was the two of ye in love . . . with several children.”
“Oh, Nairnie, I hope ye’re right,” said Gavina, wanting more than anything to have a family with Tristan someday.
“Here, take this but hide it before Nereus realizes it’s no longer in his cabin.” Nairnie took Gavina’s hand in hers, pressing something into her palm.
“My ring!” whispered Gavina, elation flowing through her to see it. “How did ye get it?”
“I’ve learned a few tricks bein’ on a pirate ship,” said Nairnie with a smile. “When I slammed my hand down on the table, I scooped up the ring and Nereus never even noticed.” She chuckled softly to herself. “My grandsons would be proud of me if they kent what I did. I only hope I live long enough to see them again to tell them.”
“We’ll survive, Nairnie. Tristan and his brothers are comin’ for us.”
“Ye heard Nereus. They willna be able to make it through the pass. By the time they find out, it’ll be too late. I’m afraid Nereus might have won this round.”
“Nay, Tristan will save us, ye need to have faith. After all, ye just told me yer vision, so ye ken it has to be true.”
“I hope so,” said Nairnie.
“Play the damned flute!” yelled Nereus, causing Gavina to jump once again. As she raised the flute to her mouth, she tried to pretend she was back on the Falcon playing her music for Tristan instead. She prayed that Nairnie’s vision was right. It was the only thing that gave her faith that they were going to get out of this with their lives.
Chapter 19
“Cap’n, why are we no longer chasin’ after the Poseidon?” asked Ramble, following Tristan as he made his way back to his cabin.
“Plans changed.” Tristan opened the door and walked inside. He stumbled over something and looked down to see Gavina’s shoe. The one shoe she had when she first came onto his ship disguised as a boy. He picked it up, feeling a heaviness in his heart. He might never see her again, and he couldn’t live with that. He had to bring her home quickly. Home. Just the word made him feel ill. While this ship and the sea were home to him, it certainly wasn’t where a girl like Gavina belonged, and he knew it.
“Cap’n,” said Ramble, following him into the room. “Are we not goin’ to rescue yer wife and grandmother after all?”
“Of course we are.” Tristan threw the shoe down, glass crunching under his boots as he crossed the floor. Thoughts of how angry he’d been and how he’d overturned and broke things in the cabin filled his head, making him wish he could go back and change the way things were because of his actions. Then he decided he couldn’t be distracted by this right now. He had to push it out of his mind and stay focused. “We’re going to head them off at the island since I know that’s where they’re going.”
“Island? What island?”
“Urchin Island,” he told him, digging through a trunk looking for his sharpest dagger that he kept at the bottom that his father had given him for gutting fish. “It’s where the treasure is buried. We’re going to get there first, dig up the treasure, and then when they come looking for it, we’ll surprise them. I’ll take back what is mine. Ah, here it is.” He pulled out the dagger and unsheathed it, holding it up to inspect it. It had a thin blade with a very sharp edge. It could skin a fish in a matter of seconds without even nicking the flesh. He was sure it would work just as well on a man.
“Urchin Island?” asked Ramble. “Then shouldn’t we be headed east instead of west?”
“Not when we’re taking a shortcut around the west side of the island to get there before them. We’ll catch the wind and be able to sail through the pass, making it around to the east side of the island before them.” He breathed on the dagger and shined it against his sleeve. This would work well when he killed Nereus.
“Oh, I’m just surprised ye’re goin’ that way. I mean, since the storm and all.”
“What are you rambling about now?” asked Tristan, his mind still on killing Nereus.
“Well, the pass has been blocked by a part of the cliff that broke away in the storm. All the fishin’ boats that are damaged are blockin’ the way. Of course, mayhap ye know somethin’ I don’t, but I think we’re goin’ to lose a lot of time if we have to turn around and head back in the original direction. Hell, by then, Nereus will have the treasure and yer wife and be gone.”
Tristan wasn’t really listen
ing to Ramble, since he’d learned to block out the boy’s continual chatter. However, it all suddenly registered in his brain and he realized what the boy was saying. His hand stilled and his heart lodged in his throat.
“What did you just say?” He jumped up and spun around, clutching the dagger in his hand.
“Cap’n, I’m sorry for ramblin’ on. I won’t do it again.” The boy held out his hands and backed away. “Just don’t cut out my tongue with that dagger like ye’ve threatened to do in the past. I’m sorry. I’ll be quiet now, I swear I will.” He swallowed forcefully and his hand went to his throat.
“Nay, you fool. I’m not going to hurt you.” Tristan put the dagger back into the sheath and hung it from his weapon belt. “Now, tell me what you know about the pass.”
“All I know is what I heard the last time we were in port. Some of the dockmen were talkin’ about how the storm ruined the pass. I guess it’ll be a while before they get it cleared out.”
“Damn it,” Tristan ground out, pushing Ramble aside and running out the door.
“What’s the matter, Cap’n? Did I say somethin’ wrong?” Ramble hurried after him.
“Nay, just the opposite. Thank you for that information.” Tristan walked to the center of the deck and rang the ship’s bell. It was nearly nighttime and some of the men had already dozed off.
“What’s all the noise about? I’m tryin’ to sleep,” complained Goldtooth, walking out from the hold, chewing on something.
“Trying to sleep or sneak food?” Tristan let go of the rope and hurried up the sterncastle where he met with his brothers.
“What’s the matter?” asked Mardon.
“Why are you ringing the bell?” Aaron yawned, appearing from nowhere.
“There will be no sleeping tonight,” Tristan announced. “Mardon turn the ship around and continue on our original course.”
Tristan (Pirate Lords Series Book 1) Page 27
