Chapter 13
Thirteen
“Ahoy! Thrain called up from below.
Cali peered down from the crow’s nest, her forearms leaning against the rail as she scanned the open seas and her hair fell forward.
Since Bramble was doing his part in the galley, it was only fair she pitched in on deck. Or technically, above it. Besides, climbing was as easy for the pantheri as walking, and the high perch gave her plenty of time to think.
Despite Cali’s natural aversion to water, there was something calming about cutting through the gentle swells, as waves frothed white in their wake.
The whisper of the water against the hull and the creak of the wood as The Cruel Mistress swayed from side to side had quieted her turbulent thoughts.
Now, the sun sank lower on the horizon, and orange and pink soaked the sky as the sea was dappled with golden light.
“Planning on joining me?” Cali yelled down, the wind snatching the words from her lips.
The dwarf put a hand to his ear and shook his head. “What’s that?”
She laughed. From high above, she could barely hear Gert bellowing orders or the shuffle of feet as they were obeyed or the faint melody of the sea shanties that were sung.
Cali sucked in a breath of briny air and brushed droplets from her fur.
She was starting to understand the appeal of life on a ship and of manning the crow’s nest.
The mast shuddered, and she leaned out farther. The purple-haired gnome was scampering up the wooden pole, and she grinned when she reached it and poked her face above the edge.
“Time to switch out.” Pinkie hiked a thumb behind her, which was Cali’s signal to vacate the perch.
“You sure?” the pantheri asked. “I don’t mind being up here.”
The gnome’s grin widened. “You’ve got a date with the captain.”
This startled Cali, but before heat could prickle her fur, Pinkie laughed.
“You and the dwarf. Cap’s invited both of you to dine in her quarters.
” She swung one leg into the crow’s nest, flicking her gaze to Cali and then the ship below.
“You better get a move on. The captain might be patient, but our cook isn’t.
You let Marvella’s dinner go cold, she’ll show you the business end of a kitchen knife. ”
Cali laughed, but the gnome only raised a brow. The archer’s laughter faded into the wind as she stepped back to let the gnome hop in completely, although there was barely room for both of them, even considering Pinkie’s small size. “Guess I’ll go then. Have a good watch.”
Pinkie winked at her. “Always do.”
Using her claws to keep her attached to the wood, Cali climbed from the crow’s nest and down the mast, landing in a crouch next to Thrain.
He glanced up and frowned. “Better you than me.”
Dwarves might live in the mountains, but that didn’t mean they enjoyed heights. Not when their elaborate cities hunkered deep under the high peaks.
“I hear we have dinner plans?”
Thrain grunted. “Aye, and about time too. I’m out of pastries.”
Cali stared at him. “You ate them all?”
It was no secret that dwarves had sizable appetites, but Pip and Lira had sent them off with bags and bags of baked goods. Even after sharing some with the crew, he should have had leftovers.
“Not myself. I shared most of them, remember?” He lowered his voice. “I gave the last few to Marvella. Had to make friends with all these lady pirates so they won’t be tempted to throw me overboard—especially Marvella.”
Cali patted his arm as they headed for the stairs leading below deck. “I would never let that happen.”
Another grunt as Thrain let her go first down the color-splattered stairs, his heavy footfall shaking the steps behind her.
Once the pair reached the bottom, Cali paused.
She knew where their quarters were and where the kitchen was, but she was at a loss as to the location of the captain’s quarters.
“Do we start opening doors?” Cali asked as she eyed the long corridor with closed doors on both sides.
Before they could start their search, the dwarf cook emerged from the far end carrying a steaming platter.
“Good,” she said, giving them both a nod. “I was hoping you wouldn’t be the type to make me hold food.”
Thrain pushed past Cali and hurried forward. “Not us. You’ll never catch me late to a meal.”
That was true enough, Cali thought as Thrain left her to follow in the cook’s fragrant wake. Luckily, Marvella opened a door near the aft and backed into the room, solving the problem of locating the captain’s quarters. Cali gratefully fell in step behind Thrain, who was close on the cook’s heels.
Once Cali took a breath, she realized she could have followed her nose to find dinner.
The savory aroma from the food left a trail that was only overshadowed by the heady scent of yeast. Her stomach rumbled, a potent reminder that she hadn’t been one of the crew members Thrain had bribed with teacakes or berry hand pies.
Before she could duck into the room behind Thrain, Bramble appeared carrying a wicker basket filled with something wrapped in cloth. He waddled past her from the kitchen, proudly holding the basket in his outstretched paws as his striped tail swung behind him.
Cali had to admit to herself that she was glad that the raccoon had stowed aboard their cart.
She also begrudgingly allowed that she was pleased Thrain was with her.
It was comforting to have a bit of Wayside with her on the pirate ship, even if it was in the form of a burly dwarf and a baking raccoon.
She shook her head as she walked through the doorway, part of her in disbelief that she’d come to think of both the dwarf and raccoon as family. Then she stopped short, her breath catching. All thought of Thrain and Bramble evaporated as she took in the captain’s quarters.
Instead of a cramped room with swinging hammocks, Bonnie One-Eye’s room was an open space with gleaming wooden floors that glowed from the flickering wall sconces and a four-poster bed under a wide window.
But it wasn’t the bed dressed in colorful silks, or even the round table set with an ornate silver candelabra and bone china, that made Cali forget to breathe.
It was the walls lined from floor-to-ceiling with books.