Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea) (14 page)

“Are you sure, William?” he asked again. “It’s not too late.”

“Just finish it,” William said.

The captain muttered furiously under his breath, and from the tone I was grateful I couldn’t distinguish the words. The cadence and timber of his voice were enough for me to get the rough idea. But he finished the ceremony without stopping.

“I now pronounce you
Mr. and Mrs. William Fredricks,” he said. “My condolences to the groom.”

The crew applauded loudly, more for the captain’s jest than the wedding. William gave my hand a gent
le squeeze, which I found strangely comforting, before he released it and stepped away from me. My husband never once glanced my way during the ceremony. I knew because my eyes stayed on him the whole time.

And there, in the course of a few minutes, with the sound of the sea playing the part of an orchestra, I found myself married to a pirate.

Chapter 12

Either the pirates had no rings among their plundered treasure or they were unwilling to part with them for my sake. Instead of a beautiful gem-encrusted ring, my finger was fit with a much humbler circlet. William's finger bore a matching band, both having been cut from a length of discarded rope. My ring seemed a perfect symbol of my new life: coarse, rough, and misused. I stroked its frayed edges, knowing no other ring would have suited me even half as well. It actually felt more right than August’s elaborate one ever had.

The captain turned his gaze upon me and spoke with an edge to his voice.

“All right witch, you're married now. And since you’re so keen on the idea, I’ll give you another one. It's time for you to marry the Promise.”

“Marry the ship?” I repeated, sure I’d heard him wrong.

“All members of the crew go through it,” William affirmed.

“Does this bother you?” the captain asked with a grin. “Because if it does, let me remind you that
you
were the one who stowed away and threatened us. It's not our fault if your plan requires more entanglements than you thought.”

The captain motioned for the cook and whispered in his ear. The cook smiled and then faded behind the rest of the men.

William ran his fingers through his hair. “Let's just carry on.”

“So how exactly does one marry a ship?” I asked. “It's an object.”

“Tell her, William,” the captain said.

“You swear your fidelity to our ship, the captain and the crew, which will make you able to learn our secrets and
un
able to reveal them or enact any other form of mutiny,” he explained. “You will be expected to follow the same rules and be subject to the same punishments as any man on board. An understandable precaution on our part.”

I didn’t like the thought of swearing any oaths to them, but I couldn’t imagine any sort of ceremony creating that kind of devotion to these pirates. Not even magic could do that unless . . . I gulped. “Are you speaking of a blood oath?”

The captain merely lifted his voice. “Someone bring me the knife.”

I felt myself grow pale. Was I willing to tamper with magic again, to risk losing myself to these pirates? The man who had ruined my life and set me on the course that endangered my sister’s life was once again demanding I make a terrible choice.
Two impossible circumstances, same horrible man. My resolve wavered, but then the image of my dear sister flashed in my mind and I knew the answer. This was just another challenge in the quest to save Pearl’s life.

“Afraid of blood?” the captain taunted.

A laugh bubbled from my throat. “No.”

He held up the knife someone had brought him. “Afraid I might cut too deep?”

“Afraid I might curse you?”

The corners of his mouth quivered. “So we understand each other?”

I took a deep breath, knowing Pearl was worth the risk. I thrust out my hand. “Go ahead with your ceremony.”

The captain performed the ritual himself. Gripping the knife by its mother of pearl handle he sliced my palm, then closed my hand into a fist. His touch pained me worse than the cut. Warm blood pooled inside my palm. He lifted a vial filled with a rusty colored liquid, which I guessed to be the collective contents of the other blood oaths he had performed.

After he undid the stopper, a rancid, metallic smell filled my nose. I gagged at the sour stench but the captain simply tipped my hand so a few drops of my blood fell into the liquid.

The captain nodded at William who began chanting over it in the archaic language of magic. William took the vial and swirled it before tipping it over to let a few drops fall onto the deck of the ship. I watched as the blood seeped into the arid cracks and disappeared, tying me to the ship’s secrets and its fate.

I expected the ritual to be over, but to my surprise the captain made a similar cut along his own hand, tracing a faded silver scar across his palm, before grabbing my hand and smashing it against his own, mingling our blood.

I tried to pull my hand free despising his touch but he held my fingers tight. My knees weakened as I thought of our blood combining, at the intimacy it symbolized, and darkness crept into the edges of my vision. A whimper escaped my lips. I didn’t want to be tied in any way to this man. He’d destroyed everything.

“Sea water, to join the captain to his crew,” William said, his eyes studying mine. He held a cup of water that he poured over our joined hands. The cold, salty seawater stung the fresh cut and I winced.

The pain drew me from my near hysterics. I took a shuddering breath, trying to push past the emotional barbs that clawed at me. Still clasping my hand, the captain walked us over to the edge of the ship where our watery blood trickled into the sea. The water began to sizzle and foam where the blood had fallen.

“It seems the sea is pleased with our offering.” He gave me a sidelong glance as I pulled my hand free. This time he let me.

A pulse of magic flared through me and for a moment the world spun. My body convulsed and my angry emotions about the pirate attack and the captain leaked from me, being siphoned out until the memory remained but not the full weight. No! I clung to my feelings, trying to hold them as my own but the magic of the blood oath ripped them away and they slipped through my fingers.

My worry for my sister, my love for my parents, and the bitter betrayal by James still burned in my heart, but the others about the pirate ship and its captain faded. I stared at the captain, trying to hate the man who had led me to this low point, but the fury and the murderous rage had vanished. I knew my true emotions were there, but I couldn’t grasp them, as if they were merely empathy for someone else. And with that the old Jade was gone completely. I had said goodbye to her in Rizo but until this moment, I didn’t know how much of her I had still carried. A single tear trickled down my cheek and I couldn’t bring myself to wipe it away.

William chanted more words while the captain stared at me, a peculiar look on his face. When William had finished his chanting he inclined his head toward the captain. “It’s finished.”

“Congratulations, you're now a full member of the crew. I’m so pleased,” the captain said in a voice that let me know he was anything but happy. The crew let out a whoop at the completion of the ritual. “Your blood has joined theirs in the jar. They all share my blood and are bound to me . . . as are you.”

I knew it; I could feel it in my magically altered feelings. The blood bond might have lessened my fury at him but my mind would remember. I may not be able to truly hate him again but I would never forget.

“One more thing to make it all official.” A smile lit up the captain’s face. “Cook, a toast!”

The cook and several other men were carrying trays filled with red liquid.

“Wine,” William whispered, “to celebrate the ritual and our wedding. It is tradition to drink the whole cup; it seals the vows of the wedding between the two of us and your becoming part of the crew.”

I nodded. The cook handed me a beautiful cup inlaid with topaz.

“To our unexpected addition to the crew,” the captain toasted, “and to William’s new—well old, if I’m going to be honest—wife.”

I gave him a dirty look as we all raised our glasses and the men around us cheered. I brought the cup to my lips and drank deeply. A strange taste filled my mouth. This wasn’t wine. It was revolting, but I forced myself to swallow my mouthful.

William raised his eyebrows. “Something wrong?”

“The wine,” I choked out. “It has an . . .
unusual
flavor.”

The captain’s eyes twinkled. “Oh that isn't wine. We were being considerate of your age and gave you prune juice.” The crew erupted into laughter. “We added plenty of lime too because we have enough to spare, now that you aren’t cursing them.”

William groaned. “Clayton! Of all the—”

“You can always skip the drink and call off this marriage,” the captain interrupted. “Nothing is completed until you finish the wine.”

“I’m already a part of the ship and crew. And we exchanged vows.” The captain couldn’t get rid of me now. Pearl’s innocent life hung in the balance. I needed to stay on this ship for her. She’d put herself in jeopardy for me—I could survive the pirates for her. I took a steadying breath and then finished the drink in one huge gulp, shuddering as I swallowed. “It was delicious. Just an acquired taste.”

The captain’s eyes hardened slightly. “I'd like to have a word with you now, Sheridan. In private, if that’s al
l right with you, William,” he added, glancing at my husband.

A warning flashed in William’s eyes. “Yes, but tread lightly, Clay.” The captain nodded, and rolled his shoulders as if steeling himself for a fight.

“Follow me.” He spun on his heel and started across the deck. William gave me an encouraging nod.

With a knot in my stomach, I followed the captain below deck to his cabin. My eyes darted around the well-kept room as I entered. Adjacent to the sleeping quarters were the privy and bath. A desk with maps spread across its surface was pushed against a far wall in the sitting area, across from the dining table where he could eat his meals or entertain guests.

The captain crossed his arms and peered at me as if I were a puzzle he was trying to piece together. His observant eyes scrutinized me as if they could penetrate through my disguise, but then he shrugged. I scooted back a few steps so there was a good distance between us.

“Let's speak plainly, shall we, witch? Why did you sneak aboard my vessel?”

I bristled at being called a witch even though I’d proclaimed myself to be one. His gaze was so heavy upon me it left me feeling exposed. I was afraid for him to know that the ‘power’ I had exhibited earlier was simply a fluke, or a bit of luck or . . . honestly I had no idea what had happened there. “My reasons for coming aboard are my own.”

“Somehow I knew you wouldn’t be forthcoming. I have half a mind to throw you overboard just for tricking William into marrying you.” He leaned his shoulder against the wall as he pondered me. “You managed to stay aboard. Your game was well
played, I'll give you that. I’m just not sure what exactly you're playing
for
.”

I gave him a wide smile, but said nothing.

“You know, you have remarkably fine teeth for an old beggar.”

My lips closed around my tattling teeth. “Did I say I was a beggar?”

“Aren’t you?”

“You have fine teeth too, sir. For a pirate.”

“I get the feeling you don’t care for me much.”

“You are incredibly astute.” Sarcasm dripped from my words.

He cleared his throat and stood up, pacing back and forth in front of me. “Whatever plot you've schemed, it won’t work.”

I played with the hem of my shirt, picking at a loose thread. “I haven't schemed any plot.”

He snorted. “I never knew a woman who didn't have a scheme or two up her sleeve. I should remind you, however, now that you are sealed by blood oath, your loyalty is completely mine. So whatever plans you’ve made, you can save yourself the trouble; they will come to naught.”

My chest tightened and my throat constricted
. Was he right? Did my forced allegiance to the captain outrank the desire of my heart, to save my sister? I could feel the two factions of myself warring, and in a moment of triumph, Pearl emerged as victor. Which meant, I could keep my deal with the Hound and save her life. The best part, the captain had no idea.

Unaware of this epiphany, the captain continued, “And I wouldn’t count on
William to protect you from me. He’s soft-hearted, but his loyalty lies with me.”

“Forced on him with a blood oath?” I asked.

He laughed. “In a manner of speaking. You have no real claim to him, marriage or no marriage. He’s your husband in word only.”

“I'm aware of the reasons for our wedding. I expect nothing from him except that I’m allowed to remain aboard.” A thread pulled loose on my hem. “I have no romantic designs on William.”

The captain contemplated me, pursing his lips and rocking on his heels. “You speak as if you are a high-born lady, with a bearing as regal and self-entitled as any woman of the Manacle’s court. Your teeth suggest a life of good care, yet your general appearance suggests one who has spent her life on the edge of survival. You’re a study in contradictions. Who
are
you?”