Privateer (The Five Kingdoms #1) Read online

  I climbed into bed but turned to face her. "Captain? Why that lesson?"

  "There may be times I invite you to join me for a stroll on the deck but suddenly be called somewhere you shouldn't go," she explained. "I may not remember you are following me."

  "It won't happen again," I said again. "Thank you for explaining."

  "Go to sleep, Ms. Karden."

  And I did.

  * * * *

  I didn't wake for her next visit to the deck, but I woke when she returned.

  "Is everything all right?" I asked her as she climbed back into bed.

  "Yes," she said. "Sunrise is in two hours. Try to sleep."

  And I did.

  * * * *

  The next day was bright and sunny, cool in the morning, but I knew it would warm up. The captain woke me with a brief shake to my shoulder. She was already off the bed by the time I sat up.

  "Get up, Ms. Karden," she said, a clear command. "You have five minutes to use the head and get dressed."

  I scrambled quickly. I passed her on my return from the head, and I was dressed by the time she returned.

  "Your duties start now," she said. "You will descend to the galley and return with breakfast for four. You will serve."

  "Yes, Captain."

  "I will have more orders for you later."

  "Yes, Captain."

  I stood waiting to be dismissed. "Go on," she said, and I scrambled from her cabin.

  I wasn't pleased to be treated as an errand girl, but I kept my comments to myself. I stepped out onto the deck, and stopped, stunned.

  Sunlight kissed the tops of the sails; they shimmered with morning dew, and I saw a little rainbow when a gust of wind blew water from one of the sails.

  The first mate caught me staring up into the sails. "Get a move on, Sailor," she ordered me.

  I turned to face her. "Sailor?"

  "The captain sent you for breakfast, did she not?"

  "Yes." I paused. "I don't know what to call you."

  "Commander Halfheart."

  "Right, now I remember. Yes, Commander."

  "She doesn't like being kept waiting, Ms. Karden. Careful on the deck; it will be slick."

  "Thank you, Commander."

  I moved across the deck, my feet holding their traction, but I could feel that I would slip if I weren't careful. I took two wrong turns, but I found the galley. Four unfamiliar faces, one matronly-appearing woman and three men several years younger than I was, turned to me, and I didn't know what to do.

  "The captain sent me for breakfast for four," I announced to the room.

  "Take care of it, Findon," the woman said. One of the men turned from the task he was doing, took down a tray from a hook on the wall, and then proceeded to fill it with more than I thought I could carry. He left it on the counter and then filled a second tray with plates, cups, silverware, and a jug of water.

  "I can't carry both of those," I said.

  "Take this one," he said. He picked up the food tray and I collected the try with the plates. "Go ahead," he said. "I'll follow you."

  I proceeded out of the galley and turned in what I hoped was the right direction, then looked over my shoulder. "Is this right?"

  "Yes," he said. After that, I made it onto the main deck without any wrong turns.

  "Walk slowly from here," he warned. "It's slippery."

  "I know, but thank you for the reminder," I said over my shoulder. I made it across the lightly rolling deck without mishap. I balanced the tray and opened the next door, then did the same thing at the captain's door.

  Four faces turned to me with a scowl.

  "Now what?" I said defensively. "I'm allowed here, and the captain told me to fetch breakfast."

  "Serve us," the captain said immediately. I stepped the rest of the way into the room and set the tray down on the table. I passed out plates, silverware and cups, then poured water before whisking the tray away. Findon followed me and deposited the platters of food on the center of the table and quickly departed, carrying his tray with him and closing the cabin door. The four officers sat at the table, waiting for something, and then together all turned and glared at me.

  "What?" I said.

  "Serve us," the captain repeated. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

  I glared at her, then I saw the commander look meaningfully at the platter of breakfast meats, and then at her plate.

  "Fine," I said. I stepped forward, leaned between the captain and the commander, picked up the fork, speared a sausage, and dropped it onto the captain's plate.

  "Are you making me angry on purpose, Ms. Karden?" she asked in a low voice.

  "You are the one who told me you dislike misunderstanding due to incomplete explanation. If I am doing it wrong," I said, "perhaps you should review the quality of the orders I have been given and ask yourself whether additional clarity was called for. If this is the way you give all your orders, it's a wonder you manage to ever exit the harbor."

  "Watch your tone!" she barked at me in response.

  I recognized three of the faces watching me: the captain, the first mate, and the navigator. The fourth person was also a woman. She was older than everyone else, with a round, ruddy face. Her eyes were twinkling at me, but when the captain glanced at her, she schooled her features.

  I stood up straight, stared at a point on the wall, counted to ten, and then said reasonably calmly, "Captain, I do not understand my orders."

  "Girlie," said the woman I didn't know, "pick up the platter and offer it to each of us in descending order of rank. For most people you will serve from the left side. However, I am left-handed, so please serve me from my right."

  I offered a quick look of gratitude then picked up the platter of breakfast meats from the table. I stepped to the captain's left side and offered the platter.

  "Lower," said the woman. "Make it easy for her to reach, not easy for you to hold."

  I lowered the platter further, and the captain picked up the fork and moved a few selections from the platter to her plate. As soon as she replaced the fork I considered the table, then moved to the first mate's left. After that, I looked between the woman I didn't know and the navigator, and I moved to the right of the woman who had helped me. She smiled and made her selections. I served the navigator last.

  "How did you know the order?" she asked me.

  "Did I do it right?" I asked as I set the meats back on the table.

  "Yes."

  "I guessed."

  "Enlighten us while you serve the potatoes," she said.

  "Yes, ma'am," I said. I picked up the platter and offered it to the captain. "The captain is the senior ranking offer on the ship."

  "Yes," the woman agreed.

  "At one point, the captain referred to Commander Halfheart as the first mate. I thought that meant she was second."

  "She is. Do you know who I am?"

  "No, but I have met Lieutenant Nordon. Lieutenant isn't a very high rank. There are several ranks above that and below commander, so I presumed you hold one of them."

  "I am Commander Krissa Wattmore," she said. "The quartermaster."

  I continued to serve the potatoes. "If you and Commander Halfheart are both commanders, but you are-"

  "Older?" the woman supplied.

  "Yes. How did I get it right?"

  "The first mate ranks the quartermaster," the woman explained.

  "Would anyone have been upset if I had done it the other way around?"

  "No," said the quartermaster at the same time that the first mate said, "Yes."

  I sighed.

  "You did fine, girlie," the quartermaster said with a smile. "Now go stand quietly in the corner and wait for more cryptic orders."

  The captain growled, but it wasn't at me this time. I took the quartermaster literally and found a back corner of the cabin. The air from the window was refreshing. I ignored their meeting but instead fretted.

  I wasn't doing my niece one ounce of good so far. I should
n't have stepped forward when I had. I hadn't accomplished a thing. I didn't understand the captain, either. At times she seemed so kind, but she had been cruel to me, and the business she was in was exceptionally cruel. She was constantly setting me up, and I was sure she had done so on purpose, each and every time.

  I briefly entertained the notion of slipping a knife between her ribs. I wondered if I had it in me. I wondered if anyone would suffer for it beyond me. I wondered if I could find a sharp enough knife. I wondered how much strength it would take. We shared a bed; I was sure I could find an opportunity when she wasn't guarded.

  I didn't want to die, but the unfairness of the situation made me livid, and the smirk I was sure was on her face enraged me.

  If I killed her, I wondered if they would catch me before I could throw myself overboard. I was sure if I killed their captain, they would kill me in some horrible fashion.

  I wondered if I could kill more than the captain. They were all guilty of what they were doing. None of them had the right to do what they were doing. If they wanted to play war games, they should play with other people who wanted to play war games and leave the rest of us alone.

  When they all turned to me, that was when I realized I had said the last part out loud.

  The captain glared at me, then she glanced down at the pouch hanging from her belt, slipped a hand in, and slowly withdrew one of the gags. She didn't say a word but simply set it on the table where I could see it. She turned her back on me. I stared at the gag.

  "You don't seem to have tamed her yet," Commander Halfheart said, loudly enough for me to hear.

  "I don't believe this one is tamable," the captain responded. "Breakable, perhaps, but not tamable."

  "Damned right I'm not," I muttered. The captain's head twitched, so I thought perhaps she heard me, but that was the only reaction to my words.

  The gag remained on the table for the duration of their meeting. They were still talking when the captain turned to look at me. "Clear the dishes. Leave the water."

  "Yes, Captain," I said. I stepped forward, retrieved my tray, and then studied everything. I thought there was more than I could take in one trip.

  "Take two trips," suggested the quartermaster. "When you return, knock before entering."

  "Yes, ma'am," I replied. I began pulling plates from in front of the officers, but the captain growled at me.

  "What!" I said.

  "Damn it!" she yelled back at me. She shoved away from the table, her chair crashing to the floor behind her, and she reached for the gag.

  "No!" I yelled. "If you told me what you wanted, I would do it, but to give me cryptic orders then growl at me for not doing it correctly, what do you expect?" I backed away from her.

  "You're making it worse," the commander said quietly.

  "No!" I said, backing around the table, the captain stalking after me. "This is your fault, not mine! If you had proper facilities for your prisoners, you wouldn't have to put up with me, and I wouldn't have to take your crap. And if you weren't such cowards, you would fight your wars against soldiers, not women and children."

  Stepping backwards, with Captain Westmere stalking me the entire time, I circled the table.

  "Come here!" she ordered. "Now!"

  "No!" I yelled. I was between her and the door, and I made a break for it, but she caught up to me before I could make it out into the passageway, yanking me back into her cabin.

  "No!" I screamed. "I won't go back to the brig!"

  And then her hand was over my mouth, the gag in her hand, and she spoke the magic word. The gag slid into my protesting mouth, cutting off any future words. I continued to struggle with her, but she was much bigger and stronger than I was. She shoved me against the closed door, lifting me from my feet so I dangled helplessly. Her face was red, and I saw a vein throbbing in her neck. She held me like that, panting at me, and slowly calmed down. Finally she set me gently to my feet and spoke calmly.

  "I never said anything about the brig, Ms. Karden. Now turn around and behave."

  Stunned, I let her turn me around. She secured the ties of the gag, and they tightened against the back of my neck. She turned around again to face her. "Behave, and I'll take it off. Do you understand?"

  I nodded.

  "If I give you an order, you will do it. Do I make myself clear?"

  I offered a rude gesture in response. She was a bully and not worthy of my respect, and I don't take orders from anyone.

  The captain's jaw opened and closed, no sound coming out. I glared at her. Then from behind her, I heard the quartermaster say, "Girlie, are you willing to learn to properly clear the table?"

  I looked past the captain and nodded.

  "You serve from the left, but you clear from the right," the quartermaster explained. "Pick up the tray, move to the right of the captain's place, and clear her things."

  I turned back to the captain and raised an eyebrow. She released my arms and stepped away from me. I immediately stepped past her, picked up the tray where I had dropped it, and moved to the right of the captain's place, stepping around the fallen chair. I was holding the tray with two hands, and I was tired of doing things wrong and getting yelled at, so I looked at the quartermaster.

  "Balance it on one hand if you can," she said. "Or balance one edge on the table if you must."

  I nodded and did what she instructed. The captain watched me quietly as I efficiently cleared the table. When I got to the quartermaster, I moved to her left, but she said, "No. You can clear from my right as well." And so I did.

  The captain was standing with her back to the door. I stepped in front of her and waited. She watched me like I was some laboratory experiment, then stepped aside, opening the door for me. My face burned as I heard raucous laughter behind me.

  The same four crew members were in the galley when I arrived. They took one look at me and stopped what they were doing. One of them snickered, but Findor stepped forward and said gently, "They go here." He helped me unload the tray. "You shouldn't mouth off to her."

  I didn't say anything, but once my tray was empty, I stepped in front of the one who snickered and gave him the same rude gesture I had given the captain a few minutes earlier. That earned me more snickers, but those I could handle.

  I returned to the captain's cabin, knocking at the door and waited. I heard gentle conversation but no voice ordering me to enter. I began counting heartbeats, and when I reached sixty, I knocked again, more loudly. I heard noise from inside, then the captain yanked open the door. We glared at each other.

  "You were told to knock," she said. "You weren't told to wait. Get in here."

  I gave her a rude gesture on the way past, earning me more snickers, silenced by a glare from the captain.

  "Fill our water glasses before you take down the next load. Then you will wait on deck until I come to get you."

  I offered one more rude gesture, but I did what she ordered. I got to the doorway before the quartermaster's voice stopped me.

  "Girlie," she said. "Turn around."

  I turned to face her.

  "You've got grit," she said. "You spend it foolishly, but you've got grit."

  I shrugged awkwardly. She was right, after all. Then I nodded to her.

  "Go on," she said.

  I turned around, awkwardly opened the door, then struggled to close it behind me.

  "She's exactly what you've been looking for, Sorri," I heard the first mate say. "She'll have you wrapped around her finger within the week."

  Damned right I would.

  Calming Down

  Rani Karden

  Returning to the main deck, I looked around for a place to sit quietly. I found a bucket hanging from a hook off the foremast. I put my hand on it and then waited for a seaman to notice me. I pointed at the bucket and then to a place near the railing I wanted to sit.

  He stepped over and offered a kind look. "Mouth off to the captain?"

  I nodded.

  "Now she sent you o
nto deck so your friends would all see?"

  I nodded, chagrined at the thought.

  "Why do you want the bucket?"

  I made a sitting motion, then pointed to a place near the railing.

  "Oh," he said. "No, I've never seen anyone do that. You might get in more trouble. But the deck is dry now. It didn't take long under the sun."

  I tried to sigh, then I took his hand and pulled him after me to the railing. I sat down, and then made a point of trying to see over the edge of the railing to the water.

  He laughed. "You are a small one. I normally sit up on the forward quarterdeck."

  I shook my head.

  "Right. You're not allowed up there," he said. He paused. "Wait right here, all right?"

  I nodded, and he scampered away. A moment later, he was climbing the ladder to the aft quarterdeck. He didn't climb all the way up, but after a pause, I saw another man come to talk to him. I didn't recognize him. But then the sailor came back and said, "Come with me." He held out a hand and helped pull me to my feet. He led me to a point near the railing where a bunch of ropes were attached. The other end of the ropes disappeared up into the ship's rigging.

  "You'll need to ask the captain about this, but I got temporary permission for you to sit here. If the captain yells at you, tell her that Neeson said it was okay."

  I pointed to the gag.

  "Oh, right. Well, point to Sergeant Titan up on the aft quarterdeck. He gave permission. Did you see who I talked to?"

  I nodded.

  "All right," he said. "You can sit on the railing here like this. Then he threw one leg over the railing and wrapped an arm in the ropes, leaning against them. "If you're real daring, it's even more comfortable like this." He threw the other leg over, and it looked quite comfortable. "But you must hang onto the rigging, and be ready to get out of the way if we all start climbing into the rigging. Do you understand?"

  I nodded. He threw his legs over the railing and landed lightly on the balls of his feet.

  "Go ahead," he said.

  It was much harder for me than it was for him; I was much smaller and had no practice, but after a minute I found a position I thought was comfortable. I turned to face Neeson. He smiled. I held my hand over my heart and offered a small head bow.