by Anne B. Cole
“I don’t approve of slavery,” James announced.
His declaration surprised Gretchen. Despite always treating their slaves fairly, she suddenly felt the need to pay them. She shook away the strange notion and concentrated on remaining hidden in the shadows.
The men continued walking and approached a large statue of a lion, crouching on its hind legs with its mouth open, ready to strike.
“The lions guard the Sacred Lake. Beautiful and terrifying in the same moment.” Dominic stood at the mouth of one lion. “In the sixth century before our Lord, purifications were ordered by Athens to make the island sacred for worship. All graves were dug up and remains of the dead were relocated to nearby islands. The Greeks also decreed no one should die or give birth on the island. They did this so no one person could claim ownership of the land through inheritance. After the purging, many of these temples were constructed.”
They passed several more lions all in the same ferocious stance. At least a half dozen of the creatures lined the western side of the small lake. No matter how creepy they appeared, Gretchen hid behind each one and closed the distance to her husband.
“Here is the Meeting Hall of the Poseidoniasts.” Dominic motioned to a row of three pillars standing about five meters high. They were connected at the top by a horizontal beam of stone. A fourth pillar, unconnected to the three, stood at the same height a few paces away.
Gretchen poked her head around the last lion to get a better view. James and Dominic studied the white columns while the other two men stood on guard, facing the sea.
“Who were the Poseidoniasts?” James asked.
“Merchants and ship owners mostly. They had an association called The Poseidoniasts of Beirut and built this temple to honor Poseidon, the ruler of the seas. Delos became the center of trading for all bordering countries. The Poseidoniasts worshiped a protective triad of gods. Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Asclepius.” Dominic rested against the fourth pillar.
“These columns represent the gods and goddesses?”
Dominic laughed. “No sir, the columns are what is left of the entrance to the courtyard of the Meeting Hall. It is odd the columns remain intact. Delos’ wealth and Roman ties resulted in her demise. The island was brutally raided and looted twice in the first century BC. The first time by enemies of Rome and the second by pirates who allied against Rome. Temples were destroyed and without protection from invaders, the population dwindled. Eventually the island became abandoned. Pirates have come and gone over the centuries.” Once more he gazed in silence at the columns.
Gretchen watched James fidget with the parchment in his hands. Something is bothering him. He isn’t telling Dominic everything he knows. A chill prickled her arms. She sidled around the lion, careful to remain in its shadow.
“Captain, a ship landed on the east shore,” one of the guards announced.
Gretchen peered into the darkness. The island measured no more than five hundred meters across from west to east. Unable to see its colors, she wondered if the owners were friend or foe.
James addressed his guards. “Scout the area to the east. Dominic and I will finish here and meet you back at the dinghy within the hour.”
The second the guards left, James circled the middle column and began running his hands over a horizontal crack on the stone’s surface.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
Keeping low, Gretchen crept to another group of rocks a few feet closer.
“What are you looking for, sir?” Dominic inquired.
“A key. What it will open I don’t know. The old man told me I would find a key which would lead me to vast riches on the island. Riches to be used for the Greek cause.” He shrugged, and threw his arms into the air in exasperation. “Everything is a pile of rubble. We are running out of time to search.”
“Do you think Mantos stashed gold or jewelry among the ruins for safekeeping before she fled to Nafplio?” Dominic queried.
“Perhaps, but with pirates looting the island, anything of value could have been found and stolen.”
Gretchen had a clear view of the men as they examined every crevice they could reach on the three pillars. Neither man found anything. Many cracks remained too high for inspection. Her eyes focused on a crevice on the middle pillar about two meters above James’ head.
The fissure glimmered in the moonlight. Stone doesn’t reflect light. She stepped out from behind the rocks, mesmerized by the narrow gap.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught James glaring at her.
“Dominic, there is nothing to be found in the dark. I need you to collect the two guards. They may be outnumbered if the arriving ship holds pirates. Meet me at the dinghy to return to the ship,” James ordered.
“Yes, sir. It may be possible to resume our search after sunrise.” Noticeably disappointed, Dominic left to catch up to the other men in the far distance.
When he walked out of earshot, James scrambled to Gretchen’s side.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“I know where the key is,” Gretchen replied with a grin.
“There’s a pirate ship on the other side of the island. If I’m not mistaken, it followed us here. I ordered you to stay on my ship. Can you not do the simplest thing for the safety of our child?” He grabbed her by both arms as if to shake sense into her.
“Lift me on your shoulders. I might be able to reach it.” Gretchen ignored her husband’s scolding and strode to the second column.
“My darling, a woman in your condition should be in bed, not traipsing around an island full of ruins in the middle of the night.”
Gretchen could tell by the inflection of his voice his patience with her had expired.
“James. Lift me, now. If there is nothing in the crevice, then I’ll return to the ship immediately.”
He growled and swept her off her feet, placing her on a sizeable marble stone beside the third pillar.
“Climb on.” He knelt in front of her.
Before he could change his mind, she swung one leg over his shoulder, then the other. When he stood and moved to the columns she had a bird’s eye view of the island. In the moonlight, she saw Dominic catching up to the two guards. Tiny and Charles remained at the dinghy on the shore. The pirate ship loomed in the distance. She refocused on the crack, still too high to reach.
“Hold steady. I’m going to stand,” she warned before knocking a foot against the side of his head.
“Gretchen—”
“If you hold still, I won’t fall.”
She placed her other foot on his shoulder and slowly stood, hugging the column for balance. With the crevice inches above eye level, she eased her fingers inside. Cool metal met her touch.
“It’s here. I’ve got it,” she cried.
“Easy now. Give me your hand and I’ll help you down.”
Gretchen slid off his shoulders and flourished a golden key about half the length of her hand. Sparkling in the moonlight, she saw Greek lettering etched in the blade. Embedded rubies and diamonds decorated the bow.
“It’s beautiful,” she gasped.
“It’s mine,” a deep voice behind them proclaimed.
Chapter 15
The Key
Sam Entwined Within James
James protectively blocked Gretchen from the stranger.
“Who are you to claim ownership of anything we may or may not have found?” he asked the filthy Ottoman pirate who stood next to the fourth pillar. His mind scrambled for a plan.
The pirate cocked a pistol. “I own the chest. According to code, the key the woman holds belongs to me.” He took two steps closer.
James inched his back into Gretchen, pressing her against the column. “Where is this chest?” With only a short sabre in his belt, the od
ds of winning a fight were not favorable. If the pirate’s gun held bullets, they were in trouble. James prayed the Ottoman was bluffing. “I don’t see a chest. Prove you own one.”
The pirate snorted and sidestepped to what appeared to be the remains of a wall. “Move and I’ll kill you and take your woman.”
James froze in place. He couldn’t endanger Gretchen. He watched the pirate easily remove two small stones from the wall, keeping his gun trained on them. He tossed more rocks aside to reveal a small wooden chest.
The pirate arrogantly placed his gun on the short wall before using both hands to extract the chest.
James prepared to tackle the pirate when he felt Gretchen lift the back of his coat. A warm hand tugged on his belt and trousers. What are you doing, woman? Cool metal slid against his hip before she released her grasp. His wife had just provided him a small gun, along with a loving caress of his backside.
Tension eased out of his shoulders and a yearning for her swelled within.
The pirate grabbed his gun after setting the chest on the wall. “Rubies and diamonds grace the top of this chest in a pattern. The key you hold is a perfect match, making it mine. Hand it over.”
James slowly reached for the gun in his belt when the pirate fired a shot in the air.
“Hands up. Consider this your warning. The next bullet will be in your head. Move.” He waved the gun in the direction of the third column.
James slowly stepped to his left, exposing Gretchen. He twisted to see her. Confidence, not fear, lined her face.
“Far enough,” the pirate commanded when James reached the stone pillar. Keeping his eyes fixed on James, he pointed the gun at Gretchen. “Keep your hands where I can see them or I shoot the girl.”
James quickly held his hands in front of him.
“Give the key to him, Gretchen.”
“Not unless he promises to let us go.”
“He’s a pirate, his word isn’t good.”
The pirate looked from Gretchen to him and back, though the gun remained pointed in his direction.
“No more talk. I’m true to my word and the code.” He kept the gun on James and began walking toward Gretchen.
“Stop. If you come any closer or I’ll throw the key into the lake. Give me your word that you will allow us to leave peacefully once I give you the key.” Gretchen sounded incredibly calm.
“I have vast riches on my ship,” James added in an effort to stall long enough for his men to return.
“Shut up.” The pirate pulled back the hammer to fire.
“Catch.” Gretchen threw the key high into the air.
James drew the gun Gretchen had slipped to him and aimed it at the pirate’s head.
The key clinked on stones landing exactly between the two men aiming guns at each other.
No one moved.
Suddenly a stifled shriek cut through the night air.
James sent a panicked glance to his wife even as he kept the gun trained on the threat before him.
And found another pirate with oily black hair imprisoning his wife, a palm clapped over her mouth. His other hand held a blade with the point touching her side.
“Well, well,” the pirate chortled, “What have we here?”
Anger filled James as he recognized Kadir Haty, the privateer he had met in Mykonos. The man who wanted Grady to join his crew.
“Captain Longworthy, may I have the pleasure of making introductions? The man you hold a gun on is Jabir, a mutinous crewmember of mine. Careful Captain, he may not be very bright or loyal, but I assure you, the man has perfect aim,” Kadir snarled.
“Let go of Grady,” James ordered.
“Grady?” Amusement crossed Kadir’s face. He leaned and sniffed her neck. “Smells of lavender.” Several rings glinted in the moonlight when his dirty fingers over Gretchen’s mouth stroked her face. “Skin, soft as a baby’s bottom.”
James ground his teeth together as Kadir leaned in and licked the side of her cheek. Restrain yourself. Gretchen can hold her own.
“Delicious.” He removed his hand from her mouth, clearly ready to kiss her.
She spat in his face.
The blade Kadir held at her side pierced her coat. She straightened and winced.
James flinched. And Jabir took aim.
“Let James go. I’ll remain with you if you release him,” Gretchen cried out.
Kadir laughed and tightened the grip on her arm. He removed the blade from her side and held it in the air.
No blood, thank God.
Desperate to kill both pirates, somehow Gretchen’s courage contained James’ rage and enabled him to keep his wits.
“Get your hands off my wife,” James ordered.
Jabir’s aim on him never wavered. If he moved he would be dead and Kadir Haty would claim Gretchen.
“Ah, the lovely Mrs. Longworthy. You and I have the pleasure of watching these men fight. The victor will face me in a duel to death. Winner takes all. The chest, the key, and you.” Kadir removed his hand from her arm and grabbed her wrist. Within seconds a length of rope bound Gretchen’s hands behind her back. “Sit,” he commanded.
Gretchen obeyed, but gave him a swift kick in the shin. He caught her foot with her next kick and tied her ankles together.
James contained his rage and held firm aim on Jabir. Kadir strutted over to the key, picked it up, and placed it in his inner coat pocket.
As Jabir’s gun wavered, James cocked his pistol. If Jabir shot Kadir, it would be his final action.
The three men stood in a tense triangle, waiting for someone to make the first move. Long seconds passed. James watched sweat bead on Jabir’s forehead. Kadir held an impatient smirk on his face.
“Where is the action? The fight? Guns bore me.” Kadir drew his own gun and aimed it at Jabir. “If you take a shot at Longworthy, I will shoot you.”
To James’ surprise, Kadir tossed his sword to him. Without dropping his gun, he caught the grip of the heavy piece.
“Longworthy, hand your sabre to Jabir.” Kadir kept his gun on the other pirate.
Whatever Kadir’s intentions, James felt compelled to follow his orders to ensure Gretchen’s safety. He placed his gun on a rocky ledge and drew his sabre. With a gentleman’s nod, he pitched the blade in the ground at Jabir’s feet.
Jabir growled and set his gun on the same ledge. He picked up the sabre, accepting the challenge.
James attempted to contain his fears. The bulky curved scimitar felt awkward compared to his lightweight sabre. He had battled in sword fights before, but this time Gretchen and their child’s lives were at stake with absolutely no room for error.
Jabir screamed in Arabic and lunged forward. Their blades crashed together with James blocking the blow. The heavy sword took the brunt of the impact and James forced his opponent to take a step backward. They parried to assess each other’s weaknesses and strengths. James determined Jabir to be more skilled. He knew he wouldn’t be able to defend himself for long.
Where are my men?
“I underestimated you, Longworthy,” Jabir sneered. It may take a minute or two longer than I expected to kill you.”
“Watch your step, Jabir, it wouldn’t be fair to defeat you if you stumbled over your own feet,” James cried and blocked a fierce blow above his head.
Jabir laughed and swiped low. James jumped to avoid the razor sharp blade. He stumbled and Jabir advanced.
James regained his stance and struck an impressive blow. Jabir expertly thwarted the strike and engaged the sword with the shorter sabre. With a flick of his wrist, Jabir spun out of the hold. The polished blade flashed before his face.
“James!”
The sound of Gretchen’s voice screaming his name pierced his heart. He parr
ied Jabir’s next strike and noted blood on the tip of the sabre.
Damn.
A sting in his forehead followed by warmth running over his cheek confirmed his fear. The superficial wound could prove deadly. Blood running into his eyes would impair his ability to defend himself. He swiped his forehead despite the searing pain and prepared to strike.
Jabir growled and opened his stance with confidence. James took advantage of his opponent’s arrogance and struck high. The weight of the sword bore down on the thin sabre, snapping it in two.
When James sidestepped to prepare for the final blow, Jabir grabbed the gun off the ledge and aimed at his head. He watched Jabir squeeze the trigger.
Gretchen screamed when the sound of a single gunshot rang in his ear.
Chapter 16
Disbelief
Sam Entwined Within James
Jabir’s head snapped to the side before he collapsed to the crumbling wall.
“James.” In Gretchen’s attempt to hobble to him she tripped on loose stone and fell to the ground.
James ran to his wife, tugging her into his arms despite the fact Kadir could shoot him, too. She buried her face against his chest and he tucked his coat around her. His grip on her tightened when he felt her body tremble. Letting go of her wasn’t an option, even if this was his last moment of life.
He kissed the top of her head.
“Keep your eyes on Kadir.” Determined eyes met his. “I love you, James.” Gretchen pressed her cheek to his coat, weeping loudly as she began working the rope around her wrists against the blade of a small dagger which she removed from his belt.
Amazed by her quick thinking, he focused on Kadir. The pirate had wasted no time in placing the key in the lock of the chest. Before he unlocked the latch, James called to him.
