The Reckoning (Legacy of the King's Pirates)

by Marylu Tyndall

  "I don't understand."

  "'Twas Rowan's orders. Head to Kingston and find his sister and her husband, The Pirate Earl."

  The Redemption

  Chapter 19

  Morgan had now been on a boat--ship--for twelve days, and had come to know the various hums and creaks of wood, jerks and cants of decks, and flutter and thump of sails to indicate that they were turning, speeding up, or slowing. At the moment they were slowing ... considerably, and turning slightly, and she wondered if they'd arrived at Kingston.

  She hadn't left Edith's cabin for two days, too afraid to wander about the ship without Rowan in charge, too afraid to do much of anything but sit with Blackbeard and plead with God for Rowan's life. But as usual, heaven was silent.

  She would probably die of cancer in a few months, but did she have to ruin Rowan's life in the process? If not for her, he wouldn't be a prisoner on Bloodmoon's ship and suffering God-only-knew-what tortures. How was she supposed to live out the rest of her agonizing life knowing that? She dropped her head in her hands. Why, why did You send me back in time, God?

  But she was done crying and praying. It did no good anyway. Not for her tight nerves, nor for her predicament. Blackbeard circled her feet and meowed. Scooping him up, she rose and paced the small cabin again. Two feet in one direction, two feet back, with an occasional glance out the porthole--if she stood on her tiptoes--to remind herself she hadn't been buried in a four-foot-cube coffin and left for dead.

  Edith did much to remind her of that glorious fact, as the woman constantly checked on Morgan, brought her food, and tended to her needs. Morgan apologized profusely for intruding on her space and evicting her husband to sleep with the other men in the gun room, but Edith was her usual kind self, waving her hand through the air and declaring a little separation now and then was good for a marriage. What a kind, unselfish woman. She even took time out of her duties to bring Morgan ginger tea for her upset stomach, a rather nasty herbal concoction for her cancer, and biscuits and dried beef for supper. Not to mention the fish soaked in coconut milk for Blackbeard.

  Such a lovely lady deserved more than a depressed, panic-stricken, sobbing roommate, and Morgan had determined to do her best to cheer up.

  After all, a pinprick of hope remained. She'd not missed the glimmer in Nick's eyes when he said they were going to find Rowan's sister and some pirate Earl. Surely Rowan wouldn't have ordered such a thing unless he knew they would help him.

  Edith burst into the room, rubbing her apron and smelling of fish and flour. "Come above, child. You'll want to see Kingston harbor an' what's left o' Port Royal."

  "I don't know." Morgan sighed. "Is it safe?"

  "O' course! Come along, now." Edith all but dragged her out the door and up a ladder, through a hatch, and onto the main deck. Sunlight blinded her. Wind slapped her, flapping her dress and sending her hair into a tailspin as she stumbled behind the older woman who took her up another ladder to another deck where Nick stood beside the helmsman.

  He smiled at her, but continued spouting orders to the crew to lower sail and turn the tiller. Edith dragged her to the railing. On the main deck, pirates pulled thick, heavy ropes, while above among the sails, others lined the beams and gathered loose sail cloth.

  "Look!" Edith pointed. "There's Port Royal!"

  Shielding her eyes from the sun, Morgan gazed off the front of the boat where a strip of land reached into the sea like a long pointy finger.

  "Haul taut! Furl mainsail and spanker! Two points to starboard!" Nick shouted, and Scratch repeated the order from the main deck.

  The boat tilted and Morgan clung to the railing as they slowed even further and headed for an opening between the strip and the mainland.

  Edith grew silent, her sorrowful stare upon what appeared to be broken-down buildings lining the shore of the peninsula. The Reckoning glided past a fort that extended out from the land, guarding the harbor with guns poking through turrets and men marching on top of its walls. Though some of the structure's bricks had crumbled, most of it was intact. Which is more than Morgan could say for the buildings in the city behind it. A few stood upright, including a church with a tall white steeple, but otherwise, only ruins extended as far as the eye could see.

  "This was your home?" Morgan asked.

  Edith remained staring at the sight, an unusual sorrow clouding her expression. "I only seen it once since the quake. So much is missing, down at the bottom of the sea."

  Morgan swung an arm around Edith's shoulder and drew her close. "I'm sorry."

  "So many people died. They's only now starting to build it up again." She gestured to the men assembled around various buildings hauling planks of wood and wagon-loads of bricks.

  "It will return to its former glory, I'm sure."

  "No, I doubts it. The sea has reclaimed most o' the land. An' the people have moved to Kingston across the harbor." She tilted her head toward the mainland as they passed Port Royal and sailed into the most beautiful bay Morgan had ever seen.

  Swaths of glittering turquoise and emerald filled a natural harbor sheltered from the sea by the peninsula of Port Royal--a giant pool of calm, crystalline waters that stretched toward the mainland, where a golden shore gave way to blue mountains beyond.

  Several ships anchored in the harbor, most congregated toward the mainland, and a vision crossed Morgan's mind of cruise ships and people jet-skiing and parasailing, reminding her once again that she was no longer in the twenty-first century. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of seagulls and the water humming over the hull as the ship slid through the warm bay. How had her life become so out of control? All her plans and schedules ripped from her--everything that made her feel secure and safe. Now, she had no idea what was coming in the next minute, let alone the next day.

  As if sensing her discomfort, Edith laid a hand on Morgan's arm. "Don't worry, child. It'll be alright, you'll see."

  Morgan opened her eyes to the woman's reassuring smile. Her mother had said the same thing on so many occasions, Morgan no longer believed it.

  "All hands, bring ship to anchor!" Nick bellowed across the deck before he appeared beside Morgan and gazed toward the mainland. Other than a few wooden buildings, most of the city of Kingston was comprised of tents, which surprised Morgan since she'd heard the earthquake had happened two years ago. But she supposed without machinery or easy access to building materials, things in this century didn't happen fast.

  They slid past several tall ships rocking in the bay.

  Nick slammed his hand on the railing. "Och, aye. God is indeed wi' us!" His exuberance caused Morgan to follow his gaze to two ships anchored closer to the city.

  Edith squinted toward the vessels.

  "Why? Who is it?" Morgan asked.

  "The Ransom is here like Rowan said. Tha's his sister's ship." He gestured toward a ship with only two masts anchored close to another one of similar size. "An' there is another surprise as well," Nick exclaimed. "See tha' other ship beside it. That's the Redemption."

  Morgan guessed the name was supposed to produce some reaction. It did in Edith, who offered a "Praise be to God!"

  Nick laughed and scratched his beard. "You really are no' from our time, lassie, eh? Tha's the great pirate-missionary's ship, the famous Captain Edmund Merrick."

  ♥♥♥

  Clank! Alexander Hyde, Lord Munthrope, met his mother's blade high and to the right. He hadn't expected such a swift move for one so old, but as usual, the lady surprised him. Spinning away from him, she slashed toward his legs, but he met her thrust and leapt out of the way. Sweat formed on his forehead. Afternoon sun showed no mercy to those foolish enough to swordplay above deck. But how could he resist his mother's challenge?

  She grinned at him as she whipped her blade through the air. "Had enough, my son?"

  Alex dabbed the sweat from his brow, wondering why his mother never appeared to perspire, but only to glisten in the sunlight. In truth, the lady appeared far younger than her o
ver-fifty age--the exact number she would not divulge. Mayhap 'twas the breeches, boots, shirt, and doublet which made her look more like a boy than a woman, Mayhap 'twas the bounty of golden curls--in which only a few streaks of gray appeared--that defied her every attempt to restrain with pin and clip.

  Or mayhap 'twas the way she now twirled her blade and challenged him with her sparkling blue eyes.

  Lud, but he had missed her during the five years he'd lived in Port Royal. He swung his blade to her left. Their swords met with a chime that echoed in the still air and brought a clap from Rusty, the helmsman standing watch on the quarterdeck. White teeth beamed from within a freckled face haloed by a bush of flaming hair tamed by a black bandanna.

  "Ye show him, milady!" he shouted.

  Lady Hyde cocked her head and gave her son a sly look. "Pray tell, don't go easy on me, Alex. I need the practice."

  "Easy? Pshaw!" He lunged toward her midsection. She shoved his blade aside and leapt onto the bulwarks before he could swoop down on her again. "I give you my all, milady." Though, in truth, he did hold back slightly. Forsooth, she was a woman, after all.

  "Alack, 'tis unfair you've been practicing with Father," he added.

  "Whilst you have grown fat and sluggish in your newly-married life, my son? What has happened to the great pirate earl?" She laughed, jumped down from the bulwarks, and rushed him again. Sunlight glimmered off their blades as they collided and rang through the humid air.

  Alex gently shoved her back and cut in to her left, but she sprang with the agility and speed of a cat and caught his chest with the tip of her blade. She held it there, a superior grin playing on her lips. "Do you forfeit, Pirate Earl?"

  Boot steps preceded an authoritative voice, "What's this, woman? Are you to kill my only son?" Captain Edmund Merrick emerged from the companionway of the Redemption, strode toward them, and planted fists on his waist, eyeing them both with an alarm that failed to reach his smile.

  Alex's mother lowered her blade, her chest heaving. "Nay, my lord, I'm only trying to rid him of his spongy muscles for our upcoming adventure." She sauntered to her husband and slid her arm through his.

  "Spongy?" Alex gave an indignant chuckle and sheathed his blade. "Then, I must confess that, indeed, I was holding back, Mother." But she was no longer paying him any mind. Her full attention was on her husband. Shifting his stance over an incoming wavelet, Alex stared at the way his parents looked at each other after nearly thirty years of marriage--as if they'd just met and fallen in love. He only hoped for the same lifelong affection for he and Julianna, though it had certainly proven true for the two years since their wedding.

  Ripping his gaze from Charlisse, Merrick faced Alex and gripped his shoulder. "Don't let her win, it only goes to her head. She fancies herself a pirate, this lady. Ever since she commanded my ship all those years ago."

  "And I have more than proven it, milord, through all those years since." She rose on tiptoes and kissed his cheek, making Alex suddenly sad he hadn't been allowed on their many adventures when he'd been a child. In truth, he'd seen more of his parents these past two years than in all his years growing up. Mayhap, not quite. Still, he was more than thankful to God for the time they had now, spreading God's love throughout the West Indies.

  However, he found himself all the more ashamed of his wasted years of dissipation and pirating at Port Royal. If not for Juliana and God's mercy, he'd be at the bottom of the bay with so many of Port Royal's pirates. Yet, for some unknown reason, God had saved him--saved him and forgiven him and given him new life.

  "Alex," the sound of his wife's voice brought his gaze to Jackson, his father's first mate, helping her through the hatch from below. The large bald Negro had sailed with Merrick ever since Alex could remember, and though he had slowed down a bit, his powerful frame still invoked fear from the hardiest of pirates.

  He'd taken to Juliana immediately. Of course. She had that effect on everyone--sweet, generous Juliana.

  She thanked Jackson and wobbled toward Alex, her face beaming.

  Alex's mother stopped her. "You should be resting in your condition, Juliana. Especially during the heat of the day."

  "I know, Lady Hyde, but--"

  "When are you going to call me mother?" One brow arched on Charlisse's face.

  Juliana laid a hand on her arm and the two ladies exchanged such a loving glance, it made Alex swallow. He knew how much Juliana longed for a mother's love after her own had died five years ago. "Forgive me, Mother. I heard the chime of swords, and I grow so bored below."

  Merrick swept a hand through his coal black hair, frosted in gray, and snorted. "Ah, don't tell me we have another lady pirate in the family?"

  "Do allow her to bear my son first." Alex swung an arm around his wife and drew her close.

  "Son, is it?" Merrick smiled and winked at Charlisse.

  Alex placed his hand over his wife's swollen belly. "Has to be. No female kicks this hard."

  "And all night," Juliana added with dismay. "He's causing me nearly as much trouble as your son did while we were courting--dancing and twirling around in there like some foppish jester."

  Merrick smiled at Alex. "Let us pray he doesn't emerge covered in satin and lace with white paste on his face."

  Alex chuckled. His father referred to Alex's triune persona as the town buffoon, Lord Munthrope, and the feared Pirate Earl--a deception he'd managed to pull off for many years.

  They all laughed, and a glimmer caught Alex's gaze from his ship, the Ransom, anchored just a few yards off the Redemption's starboard beam. Jonas, his first mate, hovered over one of the cannons, directing the crew to polish the brass, amongst other things, in preparation to sail on the morrow.

  "You expect news of Reena tonight, Father?" Alex asked.

  Concern tightened Merrick's stubbled jaw as he stared toward shore. "Aye. The man I sent to investigate arrives soon. His ship was sighted off the eastern shore this morning."

  Alex's mother grabbed a lock of her hair, her eyes moistening. "Foolish, foolish girl."

  "We will find her, my love." Merrick raised her hand to his lips for a kiss. "God will be with us as He always is."

  Jackson marched to the railing and pointed aloft. "Captain, a ship approaches."

  They all snapped their gazes in that direction, but it was Juliana who screeched in delight and pushed past Alex.

  "'Tis my brother's ship. The Esther's Dowry. Or whatever he calls it now. I'd know it anywhere. Rowan has come home!"

  Chapter 20

  Morgan once again found herself climbing a rope ladder on the side of a pirate ship. This time, instead of Rowan, Nick followed beneath her, both to catch her should she fall and to keep prying eyes from peeking up her billowing skirts.

  Nerves even tighter than usual, she had no idea what sort of people she would meet once she got on deck. Pirate missionaries? Quite an oxymoron, if you asked her. You were either one or the other, but how could you be both? Still, if they were willing to help save Rowan, she wouldn't care if they were flying monkeys. In fact, despite her racing heart, she'd insisted on accompanying Nick and his men, not wanting to leave Rowan's fate up to anyone else. Even though Nick seemed a decent enough guy, he was a pirate after all. And pirates liked to mutiny, didn't they? As Kerr had already proven.

  A thick, tanned arm extended down to her, and she gripped it and allowed the owner to hoist her on board. Attempting to swing her legs with as much modesty as possible over the railing, she landed on the wooden planks, released the man's hand, and gazed up to thank him. Wowza, but the man was handsome ... in a dark, rough I'm-not-the-boy-next-door sort of way. His grin was even more proof she definitely had a weakness for the wrong type.

  Nick leapt behind her, along with Terrin and Scratch.

  "Where's Rowan?" A pregnant woman darted up to them. "Where's my brother?"

  Nick shook his head. "No' here, lass. I'm sorry."

  The lady shrank back as if she'd been slugged and snapped her gaze to the
Reckoning as if--in defiance of Nick's words--she hoped to find Rowan walking across the deck. Morgan could relate.

  "But where? Why? ..." She gripped her belly, and the handsome man who'd pulled Morgan on board moved to take the woman's arm for support. So this was Rowan's sister, though Morgan could have probably guessed from her appearance. Same light hair--though Rowan's was a bit darker--same blue eyes, same good looks.

  "You must be Captain Merrick," Nick said with a bow toward an older man who stood in the middle of the deck, dressed in black leather, strapped with weapons, and wearing a suspicious scowl. Age lined a tanned but handsome face, while gray slashed his otherwise jet black hair. Morgan glanced between him and the man who'd helped her aboard, realizing they had to be father and son.

  "I am Merrick," the man replied. "And you best have a good reason for sailing on Captain Dutton's ship without benefit of the Captain himself."

  "I do. That's why we've come."

  An older woman, dressed in men's clothing stepped forward. "Then answer Juliana's question. Where is her brother?" Her tone bore authority, her blue eyes narrowed upon Nick, while her hand hovered over a sword strapped to her hip.

  There were lady pirates too? Hey, what sort of missionaries wore swords? The sun set behind Morgan, but its departure did not relieve the sweat trickling down her back. Why had the wind suddenly halted? She gasped for air beneath her stays, regretting coming aboard with these volatile people.

  "He's been captured an' in need of our help," Nick said. "I'm his quartermaster, Nick Doran. This is Scratch, the first mate, an' Terrin." He thumbed to the two men behind him. "An' this is Miss Morgan Shaw."

  Merrick and the woman glanced her way but returned their gazes to Nick. "Captured by whom?"

  Tired of all this chitchat, Morgan swallowed her fears and forced her way forward. "By Bloodmoon. And he's going to kill him if we don't save him right now. We don't have time for this. He said you would help."