Chapter Twelve Before #3
Relief, small as it was, washed over Cat. She dipped her chin an inch in gratitude. Valerian returned the gesture, and the stormy green of his eyes flared again, catching the sun.
Then Fell hissed up at her from his knees, shifting close to her hip.
“You know this pirate?” he whispered, looking at her sidelong. The lieutenant seemed torn between scandalized horror and fascination.
Cat chewed her lip. “He waylaid the Credence on the crossing from Meridia. Or his former captain did.”
She eyed the ship again. Though smaller than Captain Morovant’s, it was still impressive. And likely stolen from the Meridian navy.
Her voice dropped. “It seems Valerian Kane has moved up in the world since then.”
Scandalized horror won out, and Fell’s eyes widened.
“You know his name?” he sputtered.
But Cat had no time for Jasper Fell’s judgement. She gritted her teeth, weighing the crew, its captain, and the sea stretching endless in every direction.
“Shut up and let me save your life,” she hissed so only Fell could hear.
Then she took a shaky step forwards, away from the lieutenant, to stand alone in the middle of the deck.
It felt like crossing a threshold. Even the wind seemed to know it, a sudden gust catching her wet hair, blowing damp bronze curls across her eyes.
The air swelled, the smell of salt and smoke and distant blood filling her senses.
Hidden in her sleeves, her hands trembled, but her spine was straight, her amber eyes unblinking.
Catrine Rose was a lady of the Meridian Empire, no matter how bleak the circumstances might be. If anything, her life depended on it now.
“I did say I would like to treat with your captain,” Cat said, loud enough for all to hear. Her voice echoed, sharp-toned as a governess scolding a lazy pupil. “On behalf of my husband, Lord Rose. And Lieutenant Fell.”
Valerian glanced at Fell, sizing him up again with a flick of his eyes.
“Lieutenant, you say?” he echoed, grinning as another ripple of glee went through the crew. “And Lord Rose. It seems we are not without a prize,” he added loudly, gesturing with a sweep of a hand.
Beyond the rail, the wreck of the Venerable still burned, its crew and cargo lost to the deep.
Though most members of Valerian’s crew kept up their smiles, cheered by the thought of ransom, Cat did not miss the darker faces.
Some even grumbled behind battered hands, clearly disgruntled by the events of the night.
It was an easy card to add to her hand, and Cat tucked it away to be played later.
Valerian took steps to meet her, his sea legs giving him a swaying gait. One hand rested on the pistol at his hip, long fingers drumming a rhythm only he could hear.
“Very well, Lady Rose. If you would parlay with the captain of this vessel, so be it,” he said, coming to a halt in front of her, leaving only spare inches between them.
At such a distance, Cat expected him to smell like death.
Instead, there was only ocean and sweat, and something deeper, like woodsmoke or tobacco.
It seemed to cling to her, and Cat could not help but lean into the scent of him.
But that was oddly comforting too. To know Valerian Kane was just another man, flesh and blood as much as anyone else.
His arm swept again, this time pointing behind Cat. She followed the gesture, turning to look at the quarterdeck of the ship. A set of doors in its face led within. To the captain’s quarters.
Flesh and blood, she reminded herself. It was a less comforting thought than a second ago, but Cat held firm.
“No harm will come to them while we speak?” she asked, eyeing the two men still bound on the deck.
Fell gritted his teeth, while Ryman screamed into his gag, his face turning redder with every passing second.
Cat hoped he would faint with the effort.
“None,” Valerian answered sharply. His jaw clenched, the hard edge of it like an anvil. “Or at least no harm they do not give themselves. You have my word of it.”
Lady though she was, Cat was not na?ve. She did not trust a pirate captain. But she trusted his crew’s loyalty and ability to follow orders. It was enough. It had to be.
It was all she had.
“Lady Rose, you should not—” Fell bit out, trying to get to his feet, only to be shoved down again with one strong, annoyed push from Valerian.
“His Lordship is in hysterics,” Cat answered neatly. Indeed, Ryman was now cross-eyed and struggling to breathe. “I will do what I can to solve this matter, even if I am just a woman.”
Jasper Fell was hardly satisfied. He glanced between lady and pirate, cheeks flushed, eyes darting and desperate.
“Cat—”
“To the brig with them,” Valerian barked, motioning for his crew. They jumped to attention, hauling both men to their feet. “Safely.”
“Cat—” Fell said again, barely getting her name out before being gagged too.
She could only watch as they were marched away, her heart ramming in time with their footsteps on the deck. Until both Jasper Fell and Ryman Rose disappeared into the bowels of the pirate vessel, leaving their lady to stand alone.
Cat lifted her chin.
“Shall we?”