After watching Rupert handle the three pirate ships, Brody flew in a southerly direction along the shore, searching for Nevis and his soldiers. In addition to being King Leofric’s best friend, Nevis was a captain in the Eberoni army. Leo had sent him with a few troops to guard the coastline and capture the Tourinian pirates who were raiding the villages there.
Nevis’s father, General Harden, was now Lord Protector of the Realm, which had been Leo’s job before he became king. General Harden and the bulk of the Eberoni army were currently guarding the northern and eastern borders of Eberon.
Brody glanced westward, where the sun was lowering toward the horizon. In another hour or so, it would fall beneath the Great Western Ocean, and the twin moons would rise in the east. For the past month, the paths of the two moons had been drawing closer and closer together. Tonight they would eclipse.
Any child born tonight would be Embraced. How many parents would be horrified when that happened? Brody had been fortunate that his family had loved him as he was. Until he’d lost them.
He shoved those thoughts aside, for he’d learned the hard way that he couldn’t afford to lose his concentration while flying. After a few minutes, he spotted the small army camp. He swooped down to land behind some bushes, then shifted into his usual canine form. As he trotted into camp, the guards, who were accustomed to seeing him, merely called out a greeting as he passed by.
He scratched at the closed flap of Nevis’s tent and gave a loud bark.
“Brody, is that you?” Nevis lifted the flap with one hand, his other hand holding a half-eaten pork chop.
Food. Brody dashed inside. The heavenly scent of freshly cooked meat led him straight to the desk, where a lit candlestick illuminated a tray filled with five different dishes. Nevis was having a huge dinner.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on a ship with—sheesh.” Nevis stopped talking when Brody shifted into human form and helped himself to a pork chop. “Put on some breeches, will you?” He tossed him a pair.
Brody caught them with one hand while he continued to eat the pork chop. After hours of swimming and flying, he was starving.
“If you’re here, you must have uncovered something important. What is it?” Nevis asked, but Brody kept eating. “Hey, you’re eating all my food!”
“And it’s delicious,” Brody mumbled with his mouth full.
Nevis snorted. “Fine. I’ll bring some more.”
In between bites, Brody pulled on Nevis’s breeches. They sagged around the waist, so he sat in Nevis’s chair to keep them from falling down. He was just finishing the last morsel of food when Nevis strode inside the tent with another tray and pitcher of wine.
“Here you go.” Nevis set the new tray next to the old one that was now stacked with empty dishes. “Damn, Brody. Are you sure you’re actually human and not a pig?”
With a pig-like snort, Brody pulled at the waist of Nevis’s breeches to show how loose they were. “I’m not the one carrying extra pounds.”
“This is muscle.” Nevis tapped his extra-wide stomach.
“Right.” Brody grabbed a loaf of bread off the new tray, tore it in half, and handed a piece to Nevis. “I have news.” While he slathered butter on his bread, he explained how one of Queen Luciana’s sisters had been kidnapped.
“Damn.” Nevis dropped his piece of bread on the tray. “I had no idea Brigitta was a Tourinian princess.”
“Neither did I.” Brody ate his half of the bread.
“And that bastard Rupert took her,” Nevis grumbled. “I’ve been trying to capture him for months.”
“He’ll be hard to catch. The local people will protect him. They consider him a hero.”
“What? Why?”
Brody downed his cup of wine, then described what had happened with the three pirate ships.
Nevis stiffened. “So two of the ships were run aground? Where?”
“About five miles north of here. The men were scrambling to get ashore.”
“Now you tell me?” Nevis shoved the flap of his tent open and yelled at his men to ready their horses. “We ride now!” He dashed about the tent, grabbing his weapons. “Dammit. You should have told me that right away!”
Brody shrugged as he helped himself to Nevis’s discarded piece of bread. “I think you should send a message to Leo that Brigitta and Sister Fallyn are safe. I’ll go back to the ship to keep an eye on them.”
“Write the message yourself,” Nevis growled as he buckled on his sword belt. “If all goes well, I can deliver it to Ebton along with some pirates.” He ran outside, and soon Brody could hear the sound of his troop charging away on horseback.
Brody refilled his cup with wine, then removed the first tray from the desk so he would have room to write. After a brief description of all that had happened, he added a few lines about Rupert.
I believe he will keep the ladies safe. In fact, he seems intent on keeping all the Eberoni people safe. The only one he steals from is the Tourinian king, whom he hates. I don’t know why yet.
I will continue to watch over the women and keep you informed.
Brody signed the letter, then smiled at the food on the second tray. It would be a shame for any of it to go to waste.
* * *
Still hidden behind the barrels, Brigitta watched the dinghy from the last surviving ship slowly approach. There were four men on board—two rowers and two sitting stiffly with feathered hats on their heads. They must be the captain and an officer, coming to surrender their ship.
She glanced up at Rupert, who was standing perfectly still in the crow’s nest. Apparently, he wasn’t going to use his power to move closer to the dinghy and make it easier for the surrendering pirates.
Meanwhile, Captain Landers was busy giving orders. Sails were lowered, the anchor dropped. Was Rupert intending to stop here for the night?
As the dinghy drew near, Captain Landers had the crew line up, all well dressed in clean clothes with sword belts strapped on. A display of power and wealth, Brigitta assumed. She also figured Rupert would be coming down from the crow’s nest to meet the newcomers, so she had better move belowdecks before he or the captain spotted her.
“Let’s go,” she whispered to Jeffrey, and they scurried back along the wall, then slipped through the door.
Sister Fallyn was sitting on the bottom step and jumped up when they descended a few stairs. “Finally! I was so worried. These pirates are having a bad influence on you, lass. Ye’re doing things that are far too dangerous.”
“No one saw us.” Brigitta assured her, then described everything that had happened.
“So the even-more-evil pirates are coming onboard?” Sister Fallyn motioned toward Jeffrey, who lingered at the top of the stairs. “Quickly, child, close that door!”
Jeffrey peered outside. “They’ve arrived.”
“Wait.” Brigitta stopped him from shutting the door all the way. “I want to hear them.”
Sister Fallyn scoffed. “We mustn’t let them see us. They would ravish us for sure!”
“I’ll be careful.” Brigitta eased close to the crack in the door and heard Captain Landers introducing himself and Admiral Rupert in the Tourinian language.
“I am Captain Wermer,” a gruff voice replied, then mumbled something Brigitta couldn’t catch. She opened the door a bit wider.
“Don’t ye dare go out there,” Sister Fallyn whispered. “’Tis too dangerous.”
“I know.” Brigitta hunched down on the first step next to Jeffrey.
“And this is my first officer,” Captain Wermer said. “Commander Stahl.”
Sister Fallyn gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Brigitta asked, but the nun hushed her and leaned over Jeffrey to listen.
“An honor to meet you, Admiral, Captain,” the commander said.
Sister Fallyn gasped again, a hand pressed to her chest. “Nay. It cannot be.”
“What?” Brigitta whispered.
Without warning, Sister Fallyn barreled past her and Jeffrey and dashed out the door.
“Wait!” Brigitta ran after her.
The nun darted around the line of seamen, then stopped with a jerk. Brigitta caught up with her and winced at the disapproving glares from Rupert and Captain Landers. The new captain and commander were looking them over with annoying smirks.
“Ladies.” Captain Landers strode toward them and lowered his voice. “Please return to your cabins now.”
“Sorry,” Brigitta murmured as she tugged on Sister Fallyn’s arm, but the nun remained frozen as she stared at Commander Stahl.
“Kennet,” she whispered.
A trace of shock crossed the commander’s face before he turned away with an air of indifference.
Brigitta’s breath caught. This man was Kennet?
Sister Fallyn’s eyes misted with tears as she stepped closer to him and spoke in the Tourinian language. “It is you, isn’t it?”
Captain Landers’s eyes narrowed on the commander. “You know this woman?”
The commander scoffed. “How would I know a nun?”
Captain Wermer cast him a wary look. “Your given name is Kennet.”
“You’re alive.” A tear slid down Sister Fallyn’s cheek. “Why didn’t you let me know? All these years, I thought you were dead!”
“You know this man?” Rupert asked her.
“Yes, I—” Sister Fallyn began, but the commander interrupted her.
“She’s confusing me with someone else! She doesn’t know—”
“I would know my own husband!” Sister Fallyn cried.
Captain Landers stiffened, then his eyes hardened as he glared at the commander.
Kennet muttered a curse. “That was a long time ago, you stupid wench.”
Sister Fallyn flinched.
“Watch your tongue,” Captain Landers growled.
“What happened to you?” Sister Fallyn eyed him warily, her expression both injured and confused. “I thought my father’s men had killed you.”
Kennet snorted. “They paid me to leave you. Why the hell did you become a nun? You were supposed to go back home.”
Sister Fallyn stumbled back a step, and Brigitta caught her. “Y-you left me? For money?”
He smirked. “Did you really think I wanted to spend the rest of my life stuck on the Isle of Moon working in a butcher shop?”
Sister Fallyn’s face crumpled as tears ran down her cheeks. “How…?”
Brigitta couldn’t bear to watch anymore. She wrapped an arm around the nun. “Let’s go,” she whispered in Eberoni.
With clenched fists, Captain Landers stepped toward the commander. “You abandoned your wife?”
Kennet snorted. “Come now, we’re all pirates here. We’ll do anything for gold. I got twenty pieces—”
Crack. Captain Landers fist slammed into Kennet’s face, and the man fell back onto his rear. His feathered hat flew off his head, and a sudden breeze blew it overboard.
Yes! Brigitta had been raised to abhor violence, but the sight of Kennet’s bloodied lip was oddly satisfying. And she suspected Rupert was responsible for the loss of the commander’s fancy hat.
With a grimace, Kennet sat up and rubbed his jaw. “Fine. You avenged her. We’ll call it even.”
“No, we will not,” Rupert said, his voice edged with steel. “If you cannot be loyal to a wife, how can I expect you to be loyal to me?”
“What?” Kennet hefted himself to his feet. “Forget the wench. I’m a good pirate. I’ll serve you well!”
Rupert ignored him and turned to Captain Wermer. “I’ll accept you and your men, but not your commander. He will be put ashore.”
Captain Wermer nodded. “I understand.”
“You can’t do this to me!” Kennet shouted. “I’ll be penniless.”
“I’ll take him ashore,” Captain Landers offered, and from the rage burning in his eyes, Brigitta suspected the captain was planning a little more violence.
Kennet shot an angry look at Sister Fallyn. “This is all your fault, you stupid—”
“Watch it!” Captain Landers raised his fist, ready to strike.
“Oh, I see.” Kennet smirked. “You’ve done quite well for yourself, haven’t you, Fallyn? You’re not a nun at all, are you? You’re the captain’s whore.”
Sister Fallyn gasped, and Captain Landers struck the commander hard, knocking him out.
“Sister,” Brigitta whispered. “We should go below.”
“But—” A look of panic streaked across the nun’s face. “What should I do? Aren’t I still married to him?”
Captain Landers frowned at her. “Do you still wish to be with him?”
“No!” Sister Fallyn cried, and the captain looked relieved.
“Madam,” Rupert said. “You should have no trouble getting the marriage annulled due to abandonment.”
“Oh.” Sister Fallyn cast one last look at the unconscious Kennet, then turned away. She simply stood there, looking dumbstruck, so Brigitta led her back to the stairs.
“Is there anything you need?” Jeffrey asked as he followed them to their room.
“Perhaps some more wine,” Brigitta told him, and he rushed off. She shut the cabin door as Sister Fallyn collapsed silently on a chair. “Are ye all right?”
The nun remained silent.
“Ye must have been terribly shocked.” Brigitta filled a cup with wine. “I know I was.”
Still no reply. Sister Fallyn was staring into space.
“Something to drink?” Brigitta offered her the cup. When the nun didn’t budge, she sighed. “Well, at least we know that yer father didn’t have someone killed.”
Sister Fallyn blinked. “Nay, he just offered Kennet twenty pieces of gold.” Her face crumbled. “And he took it! I thought he loved me, but he left me!”
“I’m so sorry.”
“He betrayed me! How dare he!” Sister Fallyn grabbed the cup and downed it.
“That’s it. Ye should be angry.” Relieved that the nun had come out of her shock, Brigitta took the empty cup and refilled it. “I’d have punched him myself if the captain hadn’t done it.”
Sister Fallyn shuddered. “Such violent behavior. But I suppose it is to be expected from a pirate.”
“Actually I found it quite satisfying.”
A small smile twitched at Sister Fallyn’s mouth. “It was a bit, wasn’t it?”
“Aye.” Brigitta smiled as she handed her the cup.
The nun drank it, then sighed. “I fear these pirates are a bad influence on us. We mustn’t forget our training.” She winced. “Am I even a nun? Did my vow count when I was still under the vows of marriage?”
“Yer intent was sincere, so I would think it counted.”
With a frustrated groan, Sister Fallyn jumped to her feet. “Why did I ever marry that … that…”
“Bastard?” Brigitta poured more wine into her cup.
Sister Fallyn looked appalled for a second, then nodded. “Ye’re right. He’s a bastard.” She grabbed the cup and drank it down. “All men are bastards!”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Brigitta recalled how much she’d enjoyed seeing Rupert reject Kennet.
“Oh, they are.” Sister Fallyn strode to the sideboard to refill her cup. “’Tis just as I told you. There are no good men from Tourin.”
“I think Rupert and Captain Landers are all right.”
Sister Fallyn shook her head. “They’re still pirates.”
“The captain was very quick to defend yer honor.”
The nun paused a moment, her cheeks blushing. “I—we mustn’t allow ourselves to be swayed. They’re not like the dashing young heroes in the stories ye write.”
Brigitta hesitated as an alarming thought crossed her mind. Was she being swayed? She’d already convinced herself that Rupert was an amazing man. Handsome and capable of acting in an honorable manner. And even though he was a Wind Sorcerer, she could hardly blame him for being Embraced when she was, too. But like Sister Fallyn said, he was still a pirate. He’d captured her so he could use her to earn a hefty ransom.
Instead of admiring him, she should be angry with him. And even though he piqued her curiosity, uncovering his secrets should be viewed purely as a mental exercise. Nothing more. She could never allow herself to trust him. Or be attracted to him.
A knock sounded on the door, then Jeffrey peeked in. “I brought you some dinner.”
“Oh, thank you.” Brigitta rushed over to relieve the boy of the heavy tray. “Ye should let me know when ye’re bringing food. This is too heavy for yerself.”
“Oh, I can handle it.” Jeffrey smiled. “I want to have big muscles like Rupert.”
Brigitta sighed as she set the tray on the table. “His muscles are rather big.” Don’t think about him like that.
“Not any bigger than the captain’s,” Sister Fallyn muttered. When Brigitta gave her a curious look, she cleared her throat. “Jeffrey, what is happening now?”
He scratched his head. “Not much. Everyone’s having dinner. The other ships are busy exchanging crewmen with the new ship. Oh, Rupert wanted you to know that none of the new pirates will be here on the Golden Star. He didn’t take any ’cause he wanted to be sure you would be safe.”
Sister Fallyn scoffed. “He might as well admit that they would want to ravish us.”
“Please convey our gratitude,” Brigitta told the boy. “Is the ship going to remain here for the night?”
Jeffrey nodded. “The sun will be setting soon. I have a cot at the end of the passageway, so let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Brigitta walked him to the door.
After she and Sister Fallyn ate their dinner, they soon grew bored. Brigitta opened the window to let in some fresh air. The sky was turning pink and gold as the sun neared the horizon.
“I suppose Mother Ginessa and the girls will have arrived in Ebton by now,” Sister Fallyn grumbled as she poured the last of the wine into her cup.
“Probably so.” Brigitta curled up on the window seat and rested her elbows on her knees. Would Luciana be upset when she learned what had happened? “Tomorrow they’ll have a birthday celebration for Luciana and Sorcha.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Sister Fallyn sipped some wine. “They were both born on the Spring Embrace.”
And Luciana’s baby was due in a few days, Brigitta thought. She would miss the birthing. She already missed her sisters. Tears crowded her eyes, but she blinked them away. Feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to change anything. “We should do something.”
“Like what?” Sister Fallyn took another sip.
Brigitta frowned. She’d never seen Sister Fallyn drink this much. No doubt the poor woman was still upset. “I know. Let’s try on Sister Ellen’s clothes!”
“Why bother?” Sister Fallyn mumbled.
“’Twill be fun.” Brigitta strode over to the bed to pick up the gown. “’Tis lovely, don’t ye think?”
Sister Fallyn shrugged and finished her cup.
“I think it’ll fit yerself better than me.” Brigitta held it out to the nun. “Come on, I want to see how beautiful ye look.”
Sister Fallyn snorted. “Would Kennet have left me if I was truly beautiful?”
“Ye are beautiful, Sister. And we’ve already established that Kennet is a bastard. I would say ye’re much better off without him.”
Sister Fallyn nodded slowly. “Ye have a point.” She eyed the gown warily. “’Tis much prettier than I’ve ever worn before.”
“Let’s do it!” Brigitta laid the gown over the back of a chair, then fumbled through the bag of clothing to find a pretty shift and matching shoes.
Soon Sister Fallyn was dressed. The blue velvet gown fit her perfectly around the waist, but the skirt was a trifle short.
Brigitta clasped her hands together. “Look at you! Ye’re truly stunning!”
The nun shook her head, her cheeks pink. “I feel like my breasts are falling out. And my ankles are showing.”
“Come, sit down.” Brigitta drew her to a chair. “We should do yer hair.”
“’Tis not necessary.”
“Ye have lovely hair.” Brigitta unraveled the long blond braid, then combed through it with her fingers.
A knock sounded on the door.
Sister Fallyn lurched to her feet and nearly fell over. “Good goddesses, my head is spinning.”
Brigitta steadied her. “Ye drank a bit more than usual, but don’t worry. I’m sure it’s only Jeffrey.”
The boy peeked inside and blinked at Sister Fallyn. “Jeepers. You look like a queen.”
“I—don’t be silly.” The nun pressed a hand to her chest to cover up the exposed skin.
Jeffrey scurried inside. “I came for your dinner tray.”
“Thank you.” Brigitta handed it to him, and he headed out the door.
“Oh, good evening, Captain.” Jeffrey’s voice filtered from the passageway.
Sister Fallyn gasped. “Quick! Close the door.”
Brigitta dashed toward the door just as Captain Landers peered inside.
“Good evening, my lady,” he greeted Brigitta. Then his gaze landed on Sister Fallyn and his mouth dropped open.
Brigitta glanced at the nun, who was frozen in shock, then looked back at the captain. Oh dear, if she wasn’t mistaken this resembled a scene from one of her overly dramatic stories. “Captain, how kind of you to drop by.”
He didn’t seem to hear her.
She cleared her throat. “Captain Landers?”
He blinked. “Ah yes, I-I would prefer that you call me Stefan. I wanted to make sure you were both comfortable.”
“We are,” Brigitta assured him. “Aren’t we, Sister?”
Sister Fallyn suddenly remembered to breathe, and her breasts nearly popped out.
The captain’s eyes bulged and he audibly gulped.
“Was there anything else?” Brigitta asked.
Stefan tugged at his shirt collar. “Yes. I-I wanted to assure you that Commander Stahl was taken ashore. You should never have to see him again.”
Sister Fallyn nodded.
“Also…” The captain withdrew a folded sheet of paper from his coat. “I took the liberty of having the commander write this. He has declared the marriage null and void and vows he will make no future claim on you.”
Sister Fallyn’s blush faded away as she grew pale.
The captain unfolded the paper and set it on the table. “You are a free woman, Mistress Fallyn.”
Tears glistened in her eyes.
“I-I’ll be going then.” Stefan headed toward the door. “Good evening, Lady Brigitta.”
“Good evening,” Brigitta replied.
He paused in the doorway to glance back. “Good evening, Mistress Fallyn.”
She winced. “’Tis Sister Fallyn.”
His gaze grew more intense as the seconds ticked by and he continued to stare at her. “Mistress Fallyn, you will never be a nun to me.” He left, closing the door behind him.
Sister Fallyn’s knees gave out and she collapsed onto the floor.