Part 2 (1/2)
”You are afraid of this man, aren't you?” Miranda asked.
”He is an enemy,” Judah admitted. ”A powerful one.”
”More powerful than even you?”
”Quite possibly. But I have something he does not have.”
Miranda understood. ”The mask of Baal. Perhaps I could - help you set a trap for him - ” she offered, only to have him turn that dark gaze on her again.
”No,” he said, his voice firm. ”You will have nothing to do with Aaron For-sythe, Miranda. Nothing at all.”
Aaron Forsythe watched the rat-faced little man talking to someone on the docks, saw that man point to the Sea Witch. Soon after the questing man departed, Aaron walked down the gangway to the dock. ”Can I help you, Cap'n?”
”Most probably. That man you just spoke to. Do you know him?”
The old sailor snorted. ”Sure 'nuff. Mos' ev'rybody knows Jamie.”
”What did he want to know?”
The old man rubbed his stubbled chin. ”Not rightly sure I can remember, Cap'n. Memory's not what it used t'be.”
Aaron placed a handful of silver on the barrel between them. ”Will this restore your memory?”
Casting a greedy glance at the coin, he grinned. ”He asked me about the Sea Witch”
”What about her?”
”When she'd come into port, if her cap'n was aboard.”
”I see. Who does this Jamie work for?”
This time the man gave out a wheezing laugh. ”That be somethin' else ev'rybody knows. He works for Judah Zachary.”
”Thank you for your help,” he said, tossing a gold piece atop the silver before returning to his cabin on the s.h.i.+p. So Judah had recognized the meaning of his gift. Excellent. For six years, Aaron had waited, biding his time before avenging Elsbeth's death. His junior by only a year, his sister had left England at his side ten years before when their brother Philip had suggested that he leave or face a murder charge. Aaron had not killed that girl, had known that his younger brother was responsible, but to avoid a scandal, Aaron had left his homeland for Martinique. Philip was now the Earl, and Aaron found he didn't care. He enjoyed his life on the Sea Witch.
On his first voyage north from Martinique, Elsbeth had met Judah Zachary. Aaron, having heard the many rumors about the man's dark practices, tried to warn her, but it was too late. Elsbeth had been under Judah's spell. Aaron had been left with no choice but to leave her in Bedford, visiting her on subsequent voyages.
But six years ago, she had not been anywhere he had searched, and Judah had tried to say that she had left Bedford to return to England. Knowing as he did how much Elsbeth hated their brother, Aaron had refused to believe the story, and had finally found a member of Judah's coven who admitted to Aaron that his sister had never left: she had died in one of Judah's black ceremonies - a sacrifice.
Furious, Aaron had confronted the man and sworn revenge. Judah, arrogant as always, had laughed.
”I do not fear you, Forsythe. I fear no man.”
”Laugh now, Zachary. I can wait for vengeance. When you have it all, and truly believe that no man can touch you, I will topple you and crush you like - a china doll.”
Aaron had not returned to Bedford in those six years, but he had spies here. Spies who reported that Judah thought himself all-powerful, above even the witch tribunals. Aaron's own powers, learned on the islands, were at their zenith, and the time would never be better.
The spies also told him of the young woman who had replaced Elsbeth in the coven. A beautiful blonde with big blue
eyes. He would destroy her as well, Aaron decided.
Miranda was on her way to Judah's house to attend the coven when a horse was ridden into her path. She looked up into a pair of laughing hazel eyes that made her heart stop beating and then start again at a faster pace. ”Excuse me, sir. I must -”
”You must talk to me,” he said. He was dressed in fine clothes, she noted.
”I do not speak to strangers, sir.”