Chapter Nineteen #2
We walked to a park at the edge of the water and were approached by a couple of vagrants, who were satisfied when Dinesh tossed them some coins.
They went to spend them, presumably, and we settled on some large rocks where we could watch the ocean, comforted by the sight of the Arrow at anchor.
I stroked Pearl’s head and rubbed the fur under her braided collar in the way I knew she liked.
I had been mostly silent, trying to come to terms with the fact that I’d come face to face with a powerful, experienced witch, who knew who I was, knew what I was, and wanted to help me.
“I don’t even know what to say about what happened at the Penny Whistle,” Dinesh commented, leaning forward and wiping at his face.
I put a hand on his back. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for, Rooster?”
I shrugged. “You know. For…all the trying circumstances I’ve put you through.”
He gazed at me. “You mean for saving my hide. At least thrice?”
“Well…of course I saved you. But that had some self-interest in it.” My gaze drifted over him in his formal naval wear.
He stared at me with much solemnity.
“You trust her.”
“I do.”
“You believe that she’s…a witch like you?”
“Not like me. Much more powerful and experienced.”
He nodded, a grave expression on his face.
“But not a threat?”
“No. Not a threat.”
“How can you be sure?”
I opened my mouth to explain in a way that made sense and realized that the task was impossible.
“A feeling,” I said.
His expression turned sceptical. “Simon…”
“A strong feeling,” I added. “A…a witchy feeling?”
He gazed at me sedately, in almost a resigned way.
“All right.”
“All right…what?”
“I’ll trust her and her lovely companion. For now.”
“So…where shall we spend the night? Curled up beside these rocks?”
He laughed and stood, extending his hand. “Let’s go find a room and something to eat.”
“Will we have difficulty securing one?”
“I don’t think so. But the lodging might not be fancy.”
I shrugged. “Don’t matter. I’d bunk with the pigs as long as I was with you.”
He laughed again. “Since I can’t stand pigs unless I’m eating them, you likely won’t have to.”
***
We found a room to let at one of the more salubrious inns near the waterfront, enjoyed a hearty but plain meal in the kitchens, and spent a relatively uneventful night in a large space with windows that opened to let in the breeze, not that the fresh air helped disperse the heat of the tropical island.
Instead of cuddling, we were content to lay spread out beside each other and sleep barely touching.
Even Pearl was happy to lie on the floor at our feet, where it was no doubt somewhat cooler.
At least we were together, and there would be much time yet to continue to explore our intimacy.
And besides, I couldn’t stop thinking about Smoke.
Similar to Dinesh, she had a compelling sense about her. Fleur was lovely, and also possessed a certain fascination for me. But Smoke… She had a presence, a compelling energy. I wanted to know more about her and what she thought she could teach me.
Which presented a problem. Presumably she would need access to me if she were to instruct me, and I would be returning to the Arrow with Dinesh in a day or two, once the men had purchased the required supplies for the course we were to embark upon.
Was there space for them on the Arrow? Did they want to come aboard? Would Dinesh allow it?
He was much more wary of them than I, and that was understandable. Smoke had demonstrated a power, and a control of that power, that put my fumblings with magic to shame. Dinesh might not want someone with that sort of ability aboard his ship.
Yet she was aligned with me, wanted to protect me and teach me. I hadn’t had any woman want to do that since my mother had died. Smoke was a connection to her, and that was significant.
We enjoyed a lazy morning and a late lunch at the inn and when we were walking back to the Penny Whistle, I broached the subject.
“Dinesh, how is Smoke going to teach me about my magic if we’re going to lift anchor in a few days?”
He eyed me as we walked side by side and shook his head, as if this was a question he’d been waiting for me to ask.
“I suppose they’ll have to come aboard.”
“Aboard your ship? The Arrow?”
“Yes, that is my ship. As you know. That is our home.”
I didn’t say anything, surprised that he’d already come to this conclusion.
He continued. “And although I have reservations about trusting two complete strangers, one of whom is a witch with immense powers that I do not understand…well, she professes to want to help you, and I cannot stand in the way of that.”
I blinked back strong emotion.
“There will be trouble from the men. The crew won’t want women aboard,” he warned.
“They won’t?”
“Sailors are superstitious. A load of nonsense in my opinion, and I shall let them know of my feelings on the matter. The fact that there are two and they are companions, might help. The men appreciate folks who are living their lives as they please.”
“Of course. And Smoke, she’s…well, I’ve never met anyone like her.”
“I do like her and Fleur. I imagine the men will come around.”
“Aye. Thank you. For taking the risk. For allowing them access to me.”
He stopped walking and turned, crossing his arms and giving me a serious look. Pearl, who had been trotting along beside him, went a few more steps, then turned back and came to sniff at my boot.
“I will do anything to make your life easier, Rooster. You’ve had a hell of a time.”
I felt tears threaten, but I blinked them back.
“If Smoke and Fleur can give you the mothering you’ve missed and teach you what this mysterious power you wield is all about, then who am I to stop them?”
He checked our surroundings. There were others nearby, so he merely extended his hand as though we were making a deal.
I wrapped his fingers with mine and held his gaze for a moment.
“I would move the stars for you if I could,” he said. “You know that, don’t you?”
“And I, you,” I replied.
He dropped my hand to maintain an appearance of friendship.
“Well, you might actually have that power. Let’s see what Smoke can teach you.”
The idea that I might have such great power was a frightening and awe-inspiring prospect. We started walking again, and my mind, as it generally did, took his words and ran with them.
I cleared my throat. “You wouldn’t actually ask me to move the stars, would you?”
And he laughed with a satisfaction and joy that comforted me to no end.
“Oh, Rooster. Don’t ever change,” he said, with a wistful look at my freckled face.
He offered his hand again, despite the presence of others, and I took it, letting him enfold me within the warmth of his grasp as we walked to the Penny Whistle to meet with our new acquaintances.