Motley Crew
Chapter twenty-six
A cold coastal wind tore through Finn’s hair.
Waves rocked the ship he stood on as he waited on his wife to say her goodbyes.
He peered through the mist to make out her slight figure on the pier below.
The only light was from the two lanterns at her feet, dim and flickering in the gusts coming off the Tides.
Due to the nature of their undertaking, their departure was planned for the dead of night. Most dockworkers were tucked into bed, and the few that weren’t were paid handsomely to look the other way. Thus, the surrounding docks were abandoned—save their crew and Lucianna’s family.
Behind him, Finn made out the quiet murmurs of his cousin giving orders.
He supposed he should make himself useful, but something affixed him to his spot.
He’d felt it necessary to give Lucianna her space while saying goodbye, but he didn’t want to let her out of sight.
This close to the water, and at night . .
. a creature might be brave enough to breach the surface for a meal.
Lucianna hugged her father, then her brother.
After a few more words he could not hear, his wife walked nimbly up the gangplank and onto the deck.
Finn turned to face her, leaning against the side of the ship on his elbow.
She met his gaze through the mist. They had hardly spoken since their conversation in the market two days ago.
Nothing beyond polite niceties at dinner and cordial business conversation during meetings with Castien.
He was sick of it.
“You must feel right at home, little thief,” he said with a smirk.
“And why do you think that?” she asked in return, walking over to him with her chin raised.
Finn scanned her appearance. She wore a billowing black shirt, with an equally dark leather corset.
Her pants were loose, also black, and tucked into tall boots that shone in the light of the lantern Finn had placed nearby.
Around her waist was the scabbard belt Finn had become accustomed to seeing on her.
His dagger caught the light and winked at him.
“I imagine much of your work is done under the cover of darkness.”
“And your work, no doubt, occurs in similar conditions,” she retorted. “Though perhaps there should be more candles and velvet, to suit your purposes.”
Finn’s jaw clenched at her implication, his thoughts turning to her conversation with her brother mere hours ago that he overheard. He’d done little else than replay her words over and over throughout the night, but it wouldn’t do to dwell on them now.
“Do I sense some jealousy in your words?” Finn teased to cover up his pain.
“Absolutely not,” she snapped.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Valengard, I’m all yours,” he drolled.
Lucianna scowled. “You’re a despicable rake.”
“Now that we have that well-known fact established,” Castien said dryly, making Lucianna’s eyes widen in a comical fashion, “shall we get to more important matters? Like meeting our captain?”
Finn pushed off of where he was leaning against the boat and grinned.
“Yes, I am quite looking forward to meeting this mysterious wayfarer. You have kept him hidden from us.”
Castien gestured toward the captain’s quarters.
“That was not intentional. He took quite a lot of convincing.”
“And you didn’t include me?” Finn asked, placing a hand over his heart in mock outrage. They started across the deck. “Why am I even here?”
“I ask myself that every day,” Lucianna muttered next to Finn as they walked.
“I needed you elsewhere,” Castien answered cryptically before swinging open the wooden door.
The interior of the cabin was warmly lit by several oil lamps and a few beeswax candles.
Wren sat in a wingback chair that was too big for her behind an equally oversized desk.
Petals leaned against the wall furthest left, casting surreptitious glances to Cora, who was huddled in a corner opposite of him, scribbling in a tiny notebook and muttering to herself.
Near Cora, pretending to browse a half-full bookshelf, was a young boy who looked to be the same age as Finn’s sister, wearing a pirate hat.
And the final occupant, sitting on the edge of a four-poster bed at the back of the room, was a gentleman with a thick black beard streaked by one patch of silvery-white at the right corner of his downturned mouth.
“We’re all present. Good,” Castien stated once they were all inside. He gestured to the man on the bed. “This is Captain Kaiden Bowbearer. He’s a Gifted cartographer and experienced sailor. He will guide us to and through Grimhaven.”
“Pleasure,” the captain rasped in a manner that indicated the opposite. He threw a hand toward the young boy. “This is my quartermaster, Kelwin.”
Finn fought the urge to raise his brows. A quartermaster was second-in-command. Kelwin was barely a teenager, and Kaiden was much older, probably close to fifty if he ventured a guess. It made no sense for any ship, but especially not one sailing to Grimhaven.
“He knows the risks?” Finn questioned in regards to the boy.
“Yes,” the captain snapped. “And I’ll thank you not to question his presence here again, lest you want to find a new captain and boat.”
Finn held his hands up in surrender and loosed some of his charm.
“Forgive me, I was merely concerned for his safety.”
“Kelwin can take care of himself,” Kaiden grumbled.
Kelwin said nothing, merely kept his gaze on the bookshelf.
“Well.” Wren spoke up. “I know you’ve met Castien and me, but the rest of our crew has yet to be introduced.”
Wren waved a delicate hand toward Finn, her wedding ring sparkling in the candlelight.
“This is Finn, Castien’s cousin, and our way out of any . . . sticky situations.”
Finn chuckled at her wording and gave a slight bow by way of introduction.
Wren gave another royal wave in the direction of Lucianna.
“This is his wife, Lucianna. She steals objects and voices.”
Kaiden’s gaze sharpened at this. Finn stepped closer to Lucianna on protective instinct. She gave him a look of distaste and stepped away. He sighed. It seemed that they would not be maintaining any illusion of a happy marriage on this journey.
“Cora is our alchemist,” Wren said, and Cora’s head popped up at the mention of her name.
“Yes,” she said quickly, then returned her gaze to her notebook, red locks falling into her face.
“Lastly, Adriel Petalton, though most call him Petals. He is our muscle.”
Kaiden surveyed the room. Finn could not make out what the man thought of their admittedly motley crew. He himself was not fully confident in their abilities, but he trusted Castien. His cousin would not lead them into danger ill-prepared.
“We’ll push off as soon as I leave this room,” Kaiden said. “Kelwin and I are quite capable of managing a ship on our own, but I expect everyone to chip in.”
Kaiden stood up, then gestured to the bed.
“Though this is the captain’s quarters, the prince and princess will be staying here. The rest of us will be in the forecastle. There are hammocks and a few pallets. For those of you used to finery, you might want to prepare yourself for a harrowing experience,” he groused.
Finn had sailed several times in the past, though admittedly on much larger ships, on which he had a room of his own. This would be different, but he wasn’t opposed to adventure and new experiences.
“I recognize that there will be women, in particular one unmarried woman, in close quarters with a group of men.” Kaiden took his time meeting the eyes of every man in the room.
“So let me make myself clear: if any woman is mistreated on my ship, I will tie you to the anchor and drop you to the bottom of the Tides. Am I understood?”
A chorus of agreement in baritone voices rang out. Wren smiled at Kaiden with an appearance of heartfelt approval.
“Good. No one talk to me until I get this ship out to sea,” he growled, then stormed out of the room, Kelwin following in his wake.
“Well, he’s a delight,” Finn remarked.
Wren laughed. “I like him.”
“Good, because I suspect Castien will be his twin in ten to twenty years,” Finn joked.
Castien shook his head.
“I get the feeling I’m going to regret sequestering myself for two weeks on a ship with you,” his cousin said with a sigh.
Finn grinned. “If all goes according to plan, you’ll want to toss me overboard by lunch tomorrow.”
Wren laughed.
“This is going to be fun,” the princess declared.
Finn looked around at the group of hesitant faces. Disbelief was thick in the air, but Finn chose to side with his friend.
“I agree.”