8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Captor and Captive
Valda:
S ince I have no intention of wearing a mercenary’s cast-offs, I don my coral gown again. It won’t be fit for rags by the time this unfortunate chapter of my life is behind me, but it will do for now.
I have an eternity to recover from the travesty of so many wrinkles in my favorite gown. What I will never forgive, though, is a male’s rebuff of my kiss— twice!
Pacing back and forth, I do my best to redirect my rage into focus. I obviously need to formulate a new strategy. But to do that, I need to determine where I went wrong.
Even if I did not have unnatural power in my kiss, even if I were a normal woman, he still should have leaped at the chance to do as I demanded!
I am not na?ve concerning the way men look at me, including this one. Granted, he does not leer like most of the other creatures on this ship. But I can make his ears red when I bat my lashes, so I know his desire is not the issue— his resolve is.
With a groan, I reapply my perfume. Then I take the comb I found in the chest with Konrad’s garments through my hair. He recoiled from the first kiss because he had ignoble intentions and did not want to compound guilt upon guilt. Otherwise, there was pleasantly surprised delight in the way he gently held me the first night, like he wasn’t sure if I was a delusion even though I felt like a real woman. And my tricks for controlling men were all properly employed. With a bold kiss, I drew him in. With a demure glance, I kept him from considering ill intent.
As for just now, I gave him a way to remove ignoble intentions and still have the delight of my kiss. I could tell it’s what he wanted by the possessive hold he took of me, his hands on my waist so I could not escape in more ways than one. And I moved beyond using tricks that apply to all men to tailor the experience around his individual preferences. He very much liked my fingers in his hair and my breath against his ear.
But he needs money as much as revenge? And more than my affections?
I toss the comb away roughly. Honestly, though, he is such a fool. I am the most prized jewel of the wealthiest Baron in all Constantinium. And a penniless mercenary cast me away ?
Glaring at the door he put between us, I bare my teeth and hiss. With his blood in me, I could probably tear it off the hinges if I so desired. Honestly, I could probably do that even without considering how furious Konrad has made me.
I can offer him money— more than my vater would ever ransom me for, to be sure, when he knows I am capable of rescuing myself from almost every situation. Not when I am exactly where I am meant to be, just farther out to sea than expected.
I’ll admit, I had my compunctions concerning my vater’s designs for the one werw?lfe in his domain, at least when considering the daughter he’ll leave behind. But considering he has taken me captive and rebuffed my kiss for paltry coinage, I think I shall relish following through after all.
Konrad:
I wish the pigeon had had the chance to fly into my room so I could read the response in privacy. However, due to quite the pile of crumbs somehow defended from the seagulls, he was lured into a trap set by the twins, and neither can keep their mouths shut. Therefore, nearly the entire crew is gathered around as I take the message from its canister.
Sir Pigeon coos at me, trying to tell of his horrible trip before flying onto Eloise’s waiting arm like a falcon.
For a moment, I stare at the small island just ahead. Then I take a deep breath of salty sea air.
Unrolling the note, I read:
Unnamed mercenary,
My daughter is far too clever to be captured in a mere mercenary’s net, and I take offense at the insult you have made to her honor. I shall duel you when our paths inevitably cross after I make the appropriate inquiries at the Guild. You are a dead man and shall remain unnamed forever.
— Baron of Schwerin
I frown, rereading the missive. No— this can’t be right. I fully anticipated threats and knew I would likely need to leave behind my name and Guild membership when all was said and done.
But never in my darkest fears did I think he would simply dismiss my claim !
The message is snatched out of my hand before I can finish processing it. It is passed down many hands until it is given to Cook, the one member on my crew I know can read.
And read he does— aloud.
A great outcry goes up from the men— I can barely make anything out of the clamor.
This is getting decidedly out of hand. I gesture to Eloise to back away. Then I step forward. “Everyone, quiet!”
I have to yell a few times before everything dissolves into whispers and all eyes are on me.
“What did you send him to certify our claim?” demands the Klepper twin with the injured shoulder.
“Her hair ribbon.”
The drone rises in tempo, and I have to clap my hands to silence them. “Obviously, I will need to send more evidence—”
“Her finger!” a voice cries out.
Before I can rebuff the speaker, the men begin to call out their agreements.
“Aye, her finger! Her finger! Aye, aye!”
The smell of a storm is heavy in the air. But the bloodlust in these men’s eyes is about to create a different sort of storm.
I clap my hands louder. “No! Lady Valda will not be injured in any way while under my charge.”
“Except for the hickeys you give her, you mean,” mutters the Klepper twin who fetched me from her chambers.
Baldy looks up in indignation. “Oh, so you can help yourself to the prisoner, but ain’t no one else allowed?”
“ No one is to touch her from this point forward,” I counter.
“We don’t have time for chivalrous urges,” the first twin counters. “All our lives are at stake, and if we don’t get the payout, our lives will be at stake with nothin’ to pay for our escape. ”
More mutters are made, and I hear a demand begin for payment now rising.
“You will all be paid after the job is done, as is the standard!” I yell but feel like my words are washed away.
“ I’ll do the job,” Baldy offers, louder than me. “I’ll cut off her finger if our fearless leader is too squeamish to do what it takes.”
Several “Ays” are proclaimed, like this is an official vote.
I’ve never witnessed a mutiny before, but I can sense that one is brewing.
I turn back to Eloise and find her eyes wide in a silent question as Sir Pigeon nuzzles her shoulder.
Not sure what I’m affirming, I nod.
Eloise rushes off.
Then I turn back to the men. “I’m not paying you to question my orders.”
“You’re not paying us at all!” Baldy yells.
“I will once the job is finished, as we agreed—”
The twin with the injured collar looms next to me the best he can despite my being taller than him. “We’ll never get the job finished playing by your rules.”
His brother cries out from across the crowd. “We have the girl already. We don’t need him as the go-between!”
More “Ays!” are declared. Then my saber is in my hand.
Weapons are drawn all around me, but no one takes a step. We all stand in limbo as they determine their fates.
“Come now, gentlemen.” I flash them a deadly calm grin. “Let’s not forget what ring of Purgatory is reserved for mutineers.”
Baldy sneers. “We’re all going to Purgatory at this point. We just want to keep from going any sooner than we have to.”
With that announcement, they surge forward as one.