Son of a bitch. He was in the presence of a bloody goddess. And a gorgeous one at that. Will straightened his bruised and battered body to its full height before bending at the waist and giving her a deep bow of respect. Rising, he noticed it was the skinny grape’s turn to narrow his eyes in mistrust.
Chapter 5
Peng barked to his men, “Take him away.”
Jun halted them. “No. He is not our prisoner.”
Peng held up a hand to stop his men. The muscle in his jaw tightened before he snarled his objection to her in English once more. “He knows your name. Who you are. I say we restrain the man again and hold him until we can find out more about him.”
“That is my decision to make. So he knows of me. That is not surprising, and it is not a reason to treat him as a prisoner. He has greeted me with respect.”
“I don’t trust him.” Peng scowled.
“You trust no one.” Jun swept her hand in the captain’s direction. “Look at him. He can barely stand. He is certainly no threat.” Jun did another slow sweep of his body. Few around her matched him in height alone. His skin was the color of strong tea. It was the odd lightness of his eyes that continued to capture her. She wanted to test the heavy texture of his hair. Everything about him intrigued her.
Jun continued. “The man has been through a horrible ordeal. He reads and writes English, which means he’s a westerner. Aren’t you curious how he and his ship made the journey here? Which route they took? Need I remind you, we are seeking to answer the mystery of those routes to broaden the fleet’s reach? He may have useful information we can use. I doubt he will be inclined to tell us if we treat him with such hostilities.”
Peng moved closer and lowered his voice. “I mean not to question your authority, but as your general it is my duty to protect you.”
Jun raised her chin and glared at him. “When have I ever needed your protection? I am more than capable of protecting myself.” She indicated the captain. “He is surrounded on all sides by my people. Wounded, exhausted, and unarmed. How much of a danger do you believe he is?” Jun gave Peng an impatient glance. “And why do you insist on whispering before a deaf man?”
Peng shot the captain a suspicious look. “His inability to hear could be a clever ruse.”
“Nonsense.” To her servants she called, “Send for my physician. Ting, prepare a room, a bath, and a meal for our guest. See if you can find him something suitable to wear.” She turned back to Peng. “I want you to send a dozen men to comb the shoreline. See if you can find any evidence of the ship called the Scarlet Night. Perhaps there are more of his crew in need of our help.”
The look in Peng’s eyes spoke of his smoldering anger. It wasn’t the first time his actions forced her to override his authority, but he had the good sense not to act on such fury. At least, not in her presence. First mate or not, he was as any other under her command. Her word was final and the law, and he understood the deadly consequences of disobedience.
She turned away from him. “You have your orders. You are dismissed.”
Peng stiffened with indignance beside her. He stepped before her, gathering his dignity and bowed before turning back, collecting his men with a shout, and leaving the great hall.
Ting approached to usher Captain Quinn away. Jun wished she had asked for a larger piece of coal so could tell him all was well, and that they were going to care for him. Communication was going to be a challenge between them. All she could do was put a gentle hand on his arm and give him a small smile before handing him over to Ting. She hoped he would gather her meaning. As Ting pulled him away, Jun added one more request. “While the doctor sees to him, please gather proper writing things and put them in his room, quill, ink, parchment. We’ll need those as well.”
A short time later, her personal physician, Yeh Tien-shih, met with her.
“How is Captain Quinn?” Her words came in a rush. She hadn’t been able to think of much else save the handsome stranger since he landed at her feet.
“Beaten. Bruised. Weak, but otherwise fit. His lungs sound clear, but it is no surprise, his breathing continues to labor some. I do believe his lack of hearing is absolute. He is a captain, you say? I’ve never heard of a deaf man commanding a ship. Quite remarkable even for a merchant. In any case, I’ve cleaned the wound on his forehead and stitched it closed. I wanted to perform acupuncture to ease his discomfort, but he resisted. Strongly. His other wounds appear minor. Healing salve is all that is needed. And rest. I’ve given him a strong herbal tincture. He should sleep soundly for hours.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Jun attempted to return to her work, although concentrating on anything other than her growing questions regarding the captain continued to prove challenging. Curiosity could be a great curse at times, and patience was clearly not one of her virtues.
Yeh Tien-shih moved to leave, and paused. “I did discover something most disturbing when I examined Captain Quinn. A past injury to be sure. Nothing that will affect his recovery, but he’s suffered a severe wounding.”
Jun lifted her gaze. “Oh?”
The doctor frowned. “The man’s body bears several battle signs I wouldn’t consider typical for a simple seaman. A warrior perhaps? Scars from blades and fists mark him. He also carries distinct marks of being shot in the back. Twice. A true miracle in their positioning. Another fraction one side or another, and they would have killed him. Or crippled him, at the very least. He’s lucky to be alive.”
“A coward’s assault to shoot a man in the back. More so a deaf man.” She wondered how it happened. Jun added the question to the long list of curiosities regarding Captain Quinn and his story. “Seems death has no need for him.”
“Seems so.” Yeh inclined his head. “I will continue with his care, but I feel a few days of rest and healthy food will be the best medicine for him. He’s young, virile. He’ll be strong again in no time.”
For the rest of the day, Jun found every possible excuse to walk the passageways through the east wing of the palace until she met Ting coming from the captain’s sleeping chamber carrying a tray of food and other burdens.
“Mistress?”
“There you are.” Jun’s mind scrambled for a plausible lie. “Qi has been searching for you.” Guilt strained her conscience. She was quick to ease any shame her words might inflict. “I fear I’ve distracted you from your regular duties today. I didn’t imagine my requests would keep you here so long.”
Ting lowered her gaze to the tray. “This is the second time I’ve been back. He didn’t touch any of the fish stew I brought to him earlier. I only just left him a bit of rice and tea if he changes his mind in the night.”
“Trust you to be so efficient. You’re kindhearted. I’m sure by tomorrow his appetite will have returned. Is he sleeping?” Jun glanced back at his door. The image of him stretched out along his bed slipped through her imaginings.
“Yes, mistress.”
Jun studied the pale slide of paper wall. Artists had painted the panels in pale lovely scenes of the surrounding mountains and seas. So different from her own thick walls of stone and wood. A fortress compared to the captain’s penetrable room.
“The doctor believes he will be well in a few days. It is good he is resting.”
“There is one other matter.” Ting set the food tray at her feet and pulled a garment from under one arm and held it out for Jun to see.
“This is much too small. He is a grand man…wide shoulders, long legs. I’ve not found garments to fit him.”
Jun fingered the garments. The image of Captain Quinn’s broad chest made her smile. “Did you save what was left of the clothing he was wearing?”
“Yes, mistress.”
“Take them to my dressmakers. Tell them I will need a proper changshan for a man that size by morning.”
Ting inclined her head. “At once, mistress, but firs
t I must tend to you. I have called for your evening meal, and will come heat water for your bath.”
Jun shook her head and touched Ting’s arm. “No, you have done enough of my bidding today. I can carry my own water.”
“But it is my honored duty.” Ting bowed again.
“Your duty is to see to my wishes, and you have served me well. It is my next wish that after you carry my message to the tailors, you spend the rest of your day with your daughter.”
“But, mistress…”
“I am capable of undressing myself and combing my own hair. Go.” She looked back toward the paper wall. “Who knows what the new day will bring. I will need you fresh and bright come morning.”
A small smile tipped Ting’s mouth. “I will come early. Will bring the changshan for the stranger as soon as it is ready.”
Stranger. Was he still considered a stranger when Jun had spent every hour since he was dropped at her feet wondering about him? Her insatiable desire to discover everything continued to surprise her. She had come to learn more about him in these last few hours than most of the men under her command. Nay, he was not truly a stranger anymore.
Jun lifted the tray Ting had placed on the floor and handed it back to her. Glancing back at the fragile sliding entrance to his room, she corrected her. “His name is Captain Quinn.”
* * * *
The halls were quiet. The palace was sleeping. Jun had stripped out of her cage of steel and leather armor, and into a lavish embroidered robe of the palest blue. Face scrubbed and hair combed, she found herself still consumed with thoughts of her guest. The doctor said he would be asleep for hours. Perhaps she should have asked for a bit of his strong tincture for herself.
Sleep had always been an elusive thing for her. Tonight was no exception but for the addition of the good captain. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. Wondering about him and his history, and how he came to be a captain. Even Yeh Tien-shih had agreed his inability to hear would make his rank surprising. He must be an extraordinary man.
Or, he was lying.
Surprisingly, he knew of her even being from the west. It would have pleased her late husband to know how after his death she had continued to build upon his dream of a fleet so vast and infamous, the whole world would know of them and tremble in fear at their name.
Jun picked up her pipa, and plucked a few notes from its twisted silk strings before silencing the instrument with a frustrated slap of her hand. The escape of music usually relaxed her, but not this night. She set the lute aside and moved to her desk as the day’s ledgers still needed her attention. Work would fill her long empty hours as it had for so many years. She raised the flame on her lamp and opened the tall, columned pages, but the figures soon blurred and swam beneath her gaze as her mind drifted once again to the unusual man with the topaz eyes. Slamming the ledger closed, she rose, and stepped out into her garden.
The slight pale curve of a fingernail moon carved through a night sky rich with stars. Sweet smells and the gentle trickle of water into the ponds would surely lull her to sleep. It wouldn’t be the first time she found her rest between the flowers. Jun curled up on one of the wide pillows tucked between the plantings and closed her eyes.
Deep, steady breaths. She remembered when she was a small child. Younger than Qi. When her mother would rock her in her arms on nights such as these and tell her to close her eyes.
“Imagine a great tall tree with a thick twisted trunk and limbs that stretch high into the night’s sky, In that tree there lived a small bright bird with wings the color of fire. Her name was Jun. Each day she would play within the cool shelter of that tall magnificent tree preening her feathers and singing beautiful songs.”
Jun would snuggle closer, picturing herself with long wings of red and gold, hopping among the branches. Closing her eyes, Jun could still smell the soap her mother used to scrub their clothing.
“Each night while the other birds slept, Jun would climb to the very top of the tree. You see, it was her chore each night to count the leaves.”
“But, mother, there are too many leaves. She’ll never be able to count them all.”
Jun recalled her mother’s patient voice. “Hush child. She doesn’t need to count them all. Just the ones that help bring you to your sleep.”
Jun pulled in a sweet breath of warm night air and began to count the cool green leaves in her mind’s eye. But soon, thoughts of the great tall tree returned her musings to the great tall Captain Quinn. The twisted trunk reminded her of the odd twists of his hair. Forget the leaves. Jun sat and tightened the thin robe around her. There were too many questions to count, and she longed to know the answer to each one.
She was on her feet and padding silently toward his sleeping chamber before sanity could rein her in once more. Jun looked behind her, and down the hall, ensuring she was not observed. Slowly she slid the ornate panel open only enough to slip through before closing it behind her. Standing for a moment next to a braided bamboo plant close to the door, Jun waited for the erratic beating of her heart to slow.
The room’s lantern still burned low on a short table close to the room’s sleeping k’ang, casting a warm yellowed glow over its occupant’s features. It caught the smooth curve of his lips, pale in comparison with the raspy appearance of new beard. The cut of his cheekbones, and the noble slope of his nose. His bare chest rose and fell in deep full breaths. A sheet covered him from his waist to his feet, both of which reached well past the end of the bed.
With great care not to make a single sound, she tiptoed closer, before realizing how ridiculous she was being. He couldn’t hear her. She could march into the room clanging cymbals and beating on drums and wouldn’t wake him.
Jun shook her head at her foolishness. The whole scene was foolish. Why was she here? She should leave at once and cease this madness. But Jun didn’t leave. Couldn’t. She peeked over her shoulder again. Nervousness bubbled up in her chest. If anyone were to catch her in this man’s room, how would she explain herself? Curiosity? Snooping?
She moved to the table. The rice, tea and bit of fruit Ting had left appeared untouched. Writing instruments lay nearby just as she had instructed. Jun lifted the corked bottle of tincture the doctor had said he left. Pulling the cork, she sniffed at the contents. The sharp smell of fermented herbs stung her nose. She pushed it aside with a grimace.
Jun glanced over at the sleeping man once more, taking a measure of guilty pleasure in studying his strong features and lower to the planes of his muscled chest. Her gaze traveled over the ridges of his abdomen as a ridiculous desire to see all of him flushed through her. What was wrong with her? She was surrounded by men. Thousands of them. This man was no different. But even as the thought materialized, she knew it to be a lie.
He was different, and not just because he was deaf. He was a riddle and a mystery. His size, the color of his skin, the dark bristle shadowing his handsome jaw, all made him unique and unusual. And his hair. Her fingers itched to test the weight and feel of it.
Before she could help herself, Jun reached out and lifted one of the long twisted hanks of hair that covered his head. It wasn’t as heavy as it looked. And not coarse at all. She’d never seen another man weave his hair quite that way. It couldn’t occur naturally, could it? How?
A swift hand grabbed hold of her wrist. Jun caught her startled scream by slapping her other hand over her mouth. Shaded golden eyes glared at her beneath dark brows.
Jun was able to pull out of his grasp and back up several paces as Captain Quinn rose and swung his legs over the side of his bed. The k’ang’s sheet covering him barely covered him any longer. Jun couldn’t take her eyes away from the length of strong thigh peeking out beneath the inadequate sheet.
She shook her head, dragged her eyes away from the seductive sight of him forever etched in her mind, and held her hands up in surrender. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t m
ean to wake you. I don’t know what came over me. I…” She stopped, and lowered her hands. “You…have no idea what I’m saying, do you? I could be telling you I plan to kill you, cook you, and eat you for my breakfast and it wouldn’t make one bit of difference. I could tell you what a stunning picture you make sitting there, and how I’ve done nothing since we met but wonder about you.”
An intriguing thought ran through her mind at the same time her body reacted to the sheer presence of him in such close quarters. It had been so long since any man had stirred even the slightest interest in her. The flood of sensation made her tremble. Her nipples tightened to hardened points beneath the silk of her robe. “In fact, I could talk to you about anything at all. Tell you all my secrets. Confess anything I wanted. Tell you that right this moment I would like to have you stand before me naked and proud before kneeling and pledging yourself to me. Giving yourself to me.”
To her utter shock, he stood.
Jun’s heart threatened to punch its way out of her chest. A rush of forbidden pleasure dampened her sex. Had he not wrapped the sheet around his waist, she might have fainted. So much for her bravado.
Had he heard her all along? Heat rushed to her cheeks. Had Peng been right that the captain’s hearing loss was a ruse?
Chapter 6
Will had smelled the sweet floral perfume of her skin the moment she entered his chamber. A different scent than the woman who had tended him earlier and brought him food he could not eat. She carried the odor of fish and wood smoke.
This one wasn’t here to tend his wounds. The doctor had already poked and prodded him. But when the strange little man pulled out nine long, thin needles—four gold and five silver— Will waved him off, pushing them away. He had no idea what he wanted to do with them, but it couldn’t have helped the gash on his head to be turned into a pincushion. Will pointed to his wound until the needle-wielding idiot understood. He stitched his head and gave him some bitter concoction to drink that made the room spin and darkened the edges of his vision.
Within A Captain's Soul Page 4
