Part 31 (2/2)
Lock-to Sparrow's relief and dismay-seemed born to control a s.h.i.+p. At least she could walk about without fear-or at least with little fear. She remained in charge of the galley, but spent much time on deck, glad to breathe the salty sea air and enjoy the sun and wind on her skin. She and Lock didn't speak again of their plans for when the Lady Fire docked. Once the tension of restoring the s.h.i.+p pa.s.sed, his temper improved and he often acted like the man she'd known in Begonia.
Perhaps if he treated her differently the idea of leaving him would have been easier, but he still cast her affectionate glances throughout the day. In between overseeing the running of the s.h.i.+p, he ducked into the galley for some brief conversation or touched her arm or hair when they pa.s.sed one another on deck. She didn't doubt his love for her, but she didn't know if it could compete with his love of the sea and for the power that accompanied his position on the Lady Fire.
”Enjoying the view?”
Sparrow started at the sound of Lock's voice close to her ear. She turned from the rail where she'd been gazing into the sea and looked at him. ”Trying to see more dolphins.”
He smiled. ”Thought you might have been searching for a merman. Legend has it, when women go to sea, mermen steal their hearts and take them below.”
”My heart's already been stolen.”
He bent to kiss her when Ilias bellowed from the crow's nest. ”Look! Gulls!”
Both Sparrow and Lock glanced skyward. Two grayish birds dipped and soared overhead.
”Means land.” Lock told her.
”Land?” Sparrow's stomach clenched. She almost dreaded the idea of docking. Now she'd know exactly how much Lock loved her.
She wanted to ask how far they were from sh.o.r.e, but he'd already turned and begun issuing orders. She felt the crew's excitement about docking and noticed they laughed more than usual.
By midday, a dark rise loomed in the distance. Several hours later, they docked on the sh.o.r.e of what appeared to be a small island.
Lock sent Ilias and several crewmen ash.o.r.e in the dingy, and when they returned, informed them they'd landed on Gray Horse Isle, located between the Western continent and the Kennas.
”Not all that far from Begonia, but far enough to be out of the Empress's reach,” Lock told Sparrow. ”I've stopped here before. Not the wealthiest isle in the world, but self-sufficient. We can buy supplies here and make repairs.”
”Can we settle here?” Sparrow asked.
He shook his head. ”Wouldn't want to stay here, girl. Can cross the whole island in half a day on foot. Besides, it floods badly during storms, which come often. Water's also full of sharks-”
”All right, Lock.” Sparrow raised an eyebrow. ”I understand you don't want to live here.”
”Now that we know where we are, plotting our course will be simple. Don't worry, girl. We'll find someplace soon.”
She touched a finger to his lips. ”Lately everything out of your mouth has been a lie.”
”We can't stay on the s.h.i.+p forever. If I say we'll be docking again soon, then we will. In the meantime, let's go ash.o.r.e while the weather's good. I have to barter with the sellers in the market. Won't be pretty. They know if we've stopped here to buy, we've got to be hard up.”
”I want to go, too. I need some clothes.”
”Ilias,” Lock glanced at the man who stood a short distance away, ”you'll go with Sparrow to the market. Get her whatever she wants and the two of you are in charge of buying provisions. Come with me, and I'll give you money.”
”If you mean the money in the hold, it's stolen,” Sparrow stated.
Lock raised an eyebrow. ”And I don't know who it was stolen from, so I can't very well give it back now, can I?”
Sparrow glanced at the sea while Lock took Ilias below.
I can't live like this, she thought. No matter how much I love him.
”Can I ask you a question?” Ilias glanced at Sparrow as they walked side-by-side through the market.
When they'd arrived on the island, Lock had kissed Sparrow's cheek, taken several crewmen, and gone to barter for supplies while she and Ilias went to buy food.
”Of course.” Sparrow considered the ape-like man her only friend on board the Lady Fire.
”How did you end up with Lock? I mean, I know you bought him as a slave, but how did you end up as his woman?”
Sparrow sighed. ”Sometimes I wonder that myself.”
”Not that he doesn't like you. No man on board would dare touch you.”
”I certainly feel safe with him, if that's what you mean.”
Ilias laughed. ”He pays you a lot of attention, not that any man wouldn't... Sorry.” Ilias shook his head. ”Didn't mean no disrespect. Don't tell the Captain.”
”I won't. I consider you a friend, Ilias. I-”
”No need to explain. Friends.h.i.+p is fine for me. Don't think I'd have the guts to fight Lock for you, anyway.”
Sparrow smiled, imagining what an unfair fight that would be. ”The only man I've ever wanted is Lock, but I didn't expect him to go on pirating.”
”But he's a pirate.” Ilias raised an eyebrow. ”Most feared pirate ever to sail out of the Archipelago.”
Sparrow glanced at her shoes and sighed. No matter how she tried to forget about Lock's reputation, it seemed neither of them could escape it.
”So you're saying you love him?”
”Yes, I love him.”
”In a way that's good to know.” Ilias offered a quirky smile. ”Gives me hope that even though I'm a pirate a decent woman might want me someday, too.”
”You don't have to be a pirate, Ilias. Wouldn't you like to settle somewhere and raise a family?”
”Raise a family, yes. Settle, no. It's not in my blood. I'm not from the Archipelago. I just boarded a vessel one day and that's where I ended up. My people are travelers. Gypsies, they call us.”
”Really? Gypsies pa.s.sed through my homeland once. They were fascinating. They provided entertainment like dancing, a magic show. They sold the most wonderful perfumed oils.”
”My people have a rich culture. Many are horse tamers and musicians as well, but we rarely settle for long. It's a good life, and at times I miss it, but there's something I like about the sea.”
”That's what Lock says. I know it's a part of him. That's why leaving the Lady Fire would be so difficult.”
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