He did.
With a loud and obvious clearing of his throat, the captain crossed his arms and turned to me, his jaw clenched so hard I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear his teeth crack.
“Care to explain yourself?”
I didn’t know where to begin. Disclosing any part of my activities would inevitably lead to more questions, and before long the captain would know everything. I might as well shed my disguise and announce myself as the former Emmía, then throw myself overboard to save him the trouble. My mind spun as I thought of other possible explanations, none of which would save me since the blood bond would tell him I was lying.
The seconds stretched on and his irritation grew in proportion. At length, when I still said nothing, he nodded curtly, then turned on his heel and strode away. I felt my arms seized from behind and turned to find two men flanking my sides. They dragged me forward, my feet trailing behind me. My hope dimmed with each landing of stairs we descended, diminishing with the sunlight. Finally we entered the dank, dark, and smelly brig.
“Welcome to your new home,” one of the pirates announced, releasing my arm long enough to open the cell door.
“Wait!” the captain yelled before I could enter my prison.
I twisted my neck and saw him striding towards me, full of purpose. “I knew you had it as soon as I saw you deserting the ship,” he fumed.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“Stand still!” His eyes flashed silver and my body froze, obeying his order, while he patted me down. He felt the hard lump and plunged his fist inside my shirt. I gasped and tried to twist from his grasp, but a second later his hand emerged with the medallion. “I meant this.”
I wrenched my hands free and raised one to slap the captain. He easily blocked my slap, grabbing my wrist tight.
“Both you and the medallion are my property,” he said in a quiet voice that sent goose-pimples up my neck.
“I am no one’s property!” I leaned close, pointing a finger into his chest.
“Oh really?” He lifted his hand and traced one finger along the scar across his still healing palm. “This begs to differ.”
He dragged me into the cell, propelling me forward.
“Do not,” he said, slowly, “ever cross me again.” With a grunt he stepped back across the threshold of my prison. The metal doors of my cage slammed shut, sending flecks of rust fluttering to the floor. The captain strode straight out of the room and his men followed without a word, leaving nothing but the clang of the bars echoing through the room.
I stomped my foot and spun around, surprised to find I wasn’t alone. Dorian studied me from the next cell. How had he ended up back here?
“Fantastic plan,” he said, the sarcasm dripping from every word.
I shot him my dirtiest look. “I at least made it off the ship, which is more than I can say for you, Hound. Where were you?”
“I saw you scuttling like a rat to the navy ship, but I was busy fighting five men at once. Besides, you untied the rope behind you,” he added dryly.
“But you’re a Hound.” I slumped against the bars. “You should have used your Hound abilities and made it over there before any of that became a problem.”
“My skill is tracking. I tracked you, and I watched you leave without me. We should have left the ship at the same time.” He scoffed. “I thought you’d be able to figure that much out on your own, but apparently not. I’ll be sure to explain everything in better detail the next time.”
I continued to glare at him as he made himself comfortable, propping his back against the bars of his cell and lowering his hat over his eyes, effectively ending the conversation.
“So what now?” I eventually asked. “Should we try again? Should we make a plan?”
“We’ll have to wait for an opportunity to present itself and act in the moment. For now, as you can see, we’re out of options,” he said, gesturing to the prison bars surrounding us.
“But—”
“We can try again when the ship returns to port. For now, we wait.”
I loathed him, but I had to admit he was right. The captain had the medallion again, and now that he knew of my designs on it, he was sure to keep it on his person at all times.
I paced furiously in my prison until my anger gave way to fatigue, and eventually I settled on the ground with a groan. How long would I be in prison this time? I would likely be here for the duration of the voyage, which could be weeks or months. I coughed, choking on the foul air as I contemplated my situation.
It was dank and cold. My clothes were still damp and my hair lay wet and tangled around my shoulders. I shivered and cradled my sore hands to my chest, curling myself into a ball, attempting to stay warm.
I allowed my mind to slip back to my time on the Voyage. I replayed my experience in a loop, and every time, the image of the admiral shaking his head to keep me from confessing my identity stood out.
The admiral had always been excellent at strategy; it was one of the reasons his military career had been so successful. No one in Orea could compete with him. He knew my true identity and that I had the medallion, and yet he had sent me back with it into the hands of the pirates rather than have me stay with him on his ship. It was treason at the highest level. So why would he do it? And how could he still wear his medallion?
I groaned in frustration and kicked the bars of my prison, only to be rewarded with a shower of rust. Even if the admiral had believed it was another ship he was after, he certainly knew the captain and his crew were pirates. He should have at least taken the officers as prisoners. Instead, he knowingly let us all go and directed his crew on a wild goose chase.
Try as I might, I couldn’t figure out a satisfactory reason as to why. At some point my furious thoughts turned to dreams and I fell into a restless sleep.
Awoken by the bang of a door, I opened my eyes and sat up, startled to find a heavily-bandaged Lafe, a red-head I recognized as Edmond, and the captain entering the brig. The captain seemed to have mastered his temper somewhat since I had last seen him. The barely controlled rage was gone, replaced by a sense of purpose. My time observing politics in the Court let me know that the games were about to begin.
I was in no mood for it though. I remained seated on the ground and stared into the captain’s cold blue eyes, watching as he sat on a stool and stared at me with a sarcastic smile.
“Hopefully a night of our gracious hospitality has loosened your tongue. Would you like to tell me exactly how you ended up on the enemy ship with our most prized possession?”
“No.”
He barked a surprised laugh and rubbed his eyes.
“Let’s replay the events from the last few days. You snuck onto my ship, forced a marriage in order to stay, stole the medallion, and defected to an enemy vessel. I would say your arrival followed so closely by the navy’s is too neatly planned to be a coincidence.”
“You think that I was in league with the navy?”
“It’s the only plausible explanation.”
“You’re wrong.” I turned back to stare at the wall. The captain waited a few seconds for me to say more, but I remained silent.
“Did you steal the medallion for them?”
I shook my head.
“You expect me to believe that,” he exclaimed, raking his fingers through his hair in exasperation.
I shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
His mouth hung open silently as he searched within himself, allowing the bond to verify my words.
“Yes, curse it, it is.”
I couldn’t help but smirk at his obvious disappointment, and it only furthered his irritation. He stood up and folded his hands behind his back.
“Did you know they were going to attack?”
I shook my head.
“Still, the first chance you had you stole the medallion and tried to take it to them.”
“How do you know, sir, that they hadn’t taken it first and I merely went t
o their ship to steal it back?” I countered.
The captain threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, you are a brazen one.” He looked at me appreciatively for a moment. “Did you steal the medallion from my room?”
“I didn't steal it.” It was the truth. The medallion still belonged to me more than him, even though it was in his possession. The blood bond verified the truth of my words and the captain frowned, his brows creasing together in confusion.
“You speak the truth. So the navy removed it from my room?”
I smiled. “Someone stole it, but it wasn’t me.”
He laced his hand together behind his neck, his lips pursed. “But you did take it to them. Why?”
“To stop the killing.” I didn’t feel the need to elaborate on who I was trying to keep alive.
“You’re telling the truth,” the captain said, truly baffled. “If you didn’t steal it, who did?”
My hands pressed into the damp floor and a sliver embedded itself into my skin. I remained silent, refusing to answer his question. I had nothing more to say.
Finally, his mouth pressed down into a hard line and cold fury flickered in his eyes. “You won’t answer my questions? Fine. This interview is over.” He turned towards the door.
“Her punishment?” Edmond asked, startled at the abrupt end to our conversation.
“Ten stripes with the cat o’ nine in ten minutes. Gather the men.”
“You’re going to whip me?” My words were hardly above a whisper. Even with my already low opinion of the captain, I’d had no idea he’d stoop so far as to beat an old woman.
“Ah, now she speaks. It’s too late.” He crossed his arms. “When you joined the crew you agreed to obey the same rules as every other member. That means you’re subject to the same punishments as well. You’re not above the law, Sheridan. Believe me when I say, this is a merciful punishment. Lafe, you will apply the whip,” he continued, pulling some leather gloves from his belt and easing them onto his hands.
Lafe balked. “Me?”
“You can’t expect me to whip my own sister-in-law, although admittedly she isn’t much of one and it would bring me no small amount of pleasure. Besides, the second in command is her husband, and Thomas is at the wheel. So Lafe, I randomly pick you. Congratulations.”
Lafe frowned. “It would be like whipping my own gran.”
“Don't let her wide-eyed looks fool you. She's as dangerous as any man I've ever met. And if your gran had tried her hand at treason, she would be whipped too,” he added. “But I wouldn’t make you do it then.”
Lafe shook his head. “I can't do it, sir.”
“No?” the captain asked, turning to look him square in the eye. “Think of everything she almost cost us.”
Whatever this meant to Lafe, it seemed enough to convince him. He considered for a moment before nodding. “I do see that, but I’m not up to it, physically. I’m still recovering from battle.” His bandages were proof of that.
The captain nodded. “Then congratulations, Edmond. As you’re about fifth or so in line, the duty falls to you.”
“You're right,” Edmond said. “She deserves it.” He glared at me, his eyes cold and hard. A whisper of fear swept down my spine..
“Good,” the captain replied, and strode from the brig. “Lafe, bring her up on deck. Drag her by the hair if you have to.”
Ten minutes later I was escorted to the deck, which still reeked of blood and smoke. I didn’t dishonor myself by fighting against Lafe when he came for me. He never once so much as looked at me, his mouth set in a grimace the whole way. As we stepped outside, I squinted against the glare of the sun off the ocean. Lafe released me from my shackles and tied my hands above my head to the mast.
His face appeared before mine, his expression softening and his eyes almost gentle. “I'm sorry Miss Sheridan,” he whispered before turning away and taking his place among the rest of the crew.
The crewmen had gathered as instructed, looking cleaner and less bloody than the last time I had seen them, but still worse for the wear, several still wrapped in bandages. Others were missing from the ranks, probably either too wounded to stand or dead.
The captain had dressed in almost formal attire, his blonde hair neatly combed, and waited until I had been secured before descending the steps from the helm. William was nowhere to be found. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Was I relieved that he wouldn't see my humiliation, or did his lack of presence mean he had abandoned me? He had been so kind and protective during my time here. It seemed strange that he wasn't here now. Perhaps he agreed with the others and felt I deserved it. I didn’t realize I had counted on his presence to get me through this until he wasn’t here. Once again I was alone.
The captain surveyed the ranks and frowned. “Where's William?” he yelled.
“He refused to join us, sir,” Lafe said. “He said he was busy.”
“Busy?”
“Aye, sir.”
The captain's jaw clenched, and I couldn't help but marvel at how far William was able to push his brother's patience.
“Very well,” the captain managed to grind out from between his teeth. “We'll proceed without him. It might be better that way,” he muttered, then spoke up so his voice carried across the whole vessel.
“Mrs. Sheridan Fredricks was caught trying to commit treason against the captain and crew of the Promise. She stole the map we worked for months to acquire at great cost, and tried to give it to our enemies. Happily, she was apprehended before she could complete said treason.” He paused then, letting his words sink in, and looked out at the crew. I heard several feet shuffle in discomfort, but the captain seemed to feel no unease at all. “She claims part of her reason was to stop the bloodshed,” he continued in his booming voice. “This part of her statement is true. Because of this, her punishment has been lessened.”
A murmur went through the crowd. Some of them approved of the captain's actions while others shook their heads in disagreement.
“I will not take her life. I will, however, give you her blood. This is a reminder to you; none of you are free from punishment on this vessel. No matter your age or relation to me,” he said, his words aimed directly at me. His eyes left me and scanned the crowd. Several of the men took off their hats as Edmond approached.
I was shaking with fear. My eyes met his and he smiled wickedly. His hand flexed on the whip’s handle and twitched, sending the rope and the sharp bits of metal woven into its fibers jerking across the floor. The ship was silent; not even the cry of seagulls could be heard.
“Wait!” a familiar voice called out. I looked over my shoulder and saw William grabbing Edmond’s hand and brandishing a piece of parchment at the captain. “As written in the by-laws, I invoke the rite of proxy to accept my wife’s punishment.”
A general cry of protest rang among the men. The captain’s face turned a shade of purple and he stared at his brother, thunderstruck and unable to speak.
“William,” he warned at length, his blue eyes flashing gray.
“Captain,” William said back. I couldn't help but notice the way he addressed his brother. He seemed to be following standardized procedures that not even the captain could argue against. “I will take her place,” William affirmed, walking towards me. He grasped the ropes that bound me and unwound them.
“What—” I asked, but he put a gentle finger against my lips.
“There's no need to waste your words,” he whispered, low so only I could hear. “I'm determined to do this.”
“William!” the captain yelled, a vein bulging in his neck. “Get away from there! Edmond, tie her back up and finish it!”
“Stand aside.” He nudged me out of the way.
“Thomas!” William called. “Thomas, leave the wheel and come decide a dispute.”
Thomas came down to stand beside the captain who quickly explained the situation. Thomas shrugged. “It does state in the bylaws that one can substitute the place of another in cases of
punishment.”
“Yes, but only if that person is a direct relation—” he cut his words off with a moan and glared at William. “Have you gone mad?”
“Secure the rope, Lafe,” William commanded, holding up the ropes that had moments before bound my wrists. Lafe stepped forward and tied William’s hands, then patted him on the back before sinking back into the crowd. “Begin, Edmond.”
“Belay that order! I don't approve of this! William, step away from there and go have the doctor check you for a fever! Edmond, secure Sheridan back up in the ropes!”
Edmond’s worried gaze went from William's calm expression to the captain's furious glare and back again. At length he mumbled under his breath and shook out his shoulders. He let out a roar as he lashed out with the whip to deliver the first blow.
“No!” the captain shouted as the cat o’ nines snapped through the air. William clenched his lips and his head fell forward. The sound of leather cracking against skin made bile rise in my throat, and I screamed and looked away.
“It's too late, Captain,” Thomas said. “He has the right and it's already begun. He has to finish.”
The captain strode straight towards me, eyes blazing. I took a step back but he managed to grab my face and turn it roughly toward William. “No looking away! You will watch this! You will see what your actions have done!”
The sound of the whip cracked again and I gaped in horror as each stroke tore off bits of flesh, leaving long bloody gashes. William pressed his lips closed to stifle a scream of agony. His hazel eyes darkened and the surrounding scars bunched as he shuddered. The light brown hair secured at his neck fell free, tendrils sticking to his sweaty skin. Over and over the lashes repeated and I cried and begged for it to stop, but to no avail. The tears flowed freely down my cheeks as William bravely—stupidly—took my punishment. With each lash, Edmond’s face tightened harder and twisted further until he looked more animal than human.
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