So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(15)

A sudden wind swept past her. She turned with it just in time to see the dinghy take off. The rowers yelped in alarm as their boat skipped like a stone across the water’s surface all the way back to the Eberoni ship.

Brigitta blinked. It had happened so fast. It must have been caused by the Wind Sorcerer, Rupert. She glanced over her shoulder again, but none of the crewmen seemed to be paying any attention to the dinghy.

By the time she looked back at the Eberoni vessel, the rowers had already tied off the dinghy and were scrambling up the ropes like frightened mice.

The second the rowers landed on deck, another wind, an even stronger one, shoved Brigitta up against the rail. It shot past her and blasted into the Eberoni ship, filling its sails and pushing it away.

“Nay,” Brigitta breathed. That horrid Rupert was whisking her sisters away. She waved frantically at them, and they scurried to the back of the vessel to wave at her.

Tears burned her eyes as their ship raced away and became a smaller and smaller speck on the horizon.

“Goddesses protect us,” Sister Fallyn whispered as she made the sign of the moons.

Brigitta wrapped an arm around the nun and gave her a tremulous smile. “Thank you for coming with me self.”

Sister Fallyn blinked away tears. “I will try my best to protect you.”

“I know ye will.” Brigitta gave her a squeeze.

“Aye, well.” Sister Fallyn sniffed. “We must be strong enough to confront the future without fear.”

“Aye, Sister.” Brigitta nodded.

“And we must always remember our training. Shoulders back. Chin up. No matter what, we will remain calm and dignified. Serene in the face of danger.”

“Ladies?”

“Ack!” Sister Fallyn jumped when Captain Landers approached them.

He smiled. “I’d like to introduce Jeffrey.” He motioned to a boy who looked about ten years old. “He’ll be taking care of you.”

“My ladies.” The boy sketched an awkward bow, then gave them a lopsided grin.

Brigitta exchanged a look with Sister Fallyn. What on Aerthlan was a young boy doing on a pirate ship?

Sister Fallyn aimed a disapproving glare at the captain. “Why isn’t this boy at home with his family? Don’t tell me ye stole him!”

“I ain’t stolen,” the boy muttered.

Captain Landers’s eyes narrowed as he returned the nun’s glare. “We don’t steal people. Only gold.”

“Oh!” Sister Fallyn scoffed. “How magnanimous of you.”

The captain stepped toward her. “We know what we are, Mistress Fallyn. We don’t pretend otherwise.”

Her chin went up. “It’s Sister Fallyn.”

He arched a brow, then turned to Jeffrey. “Escort them to the guest rooms, please.”

“Aye, Captain!” Jeffrey saluted.

“Ladies.” Captain Landers bowed, then strode toward the rear of the ship and climbed the steps to the quarterdeck.

“Infuriating man,” Sister Fallyn muttered. The ship suddenly lurched, causing her and Brigitta to stumble. They grabbed on to each other to retain their balance.

Jeffrey grinned at them. “Don’t worry. You’ll soon have your sea legs.”

“The ship is turning around.” Brigitta looked over the railing. The other pirate ships in the fleet had fanned out in formation behind them. Was the horrid Rupert moving all the ships with his wind power? “Where are we going?”

“South, probably.” Jeffrey shrugged. “We go wherever Rupert wants us to go. Come on!” He scampered toward the door that led below the quarterdeck.

As Brigitta followed the boy to the back of the ship, she scanned the quarterdeck, searching for someone who looked like he might be controlling the wind. But only the captain and a helmsman were there.

The tingling sensation inched up her spine once more, and she glanced back. Why did it feel like someone was staring at her? And where had the masked man gone? Why did he wear a mask when none of the other pirates did?

She touched Sister Fallyn’s arm. “Did ye see the masked man earlier?”

The nun shuddered. “He’s a frightening one, he is. Ye should keep yer distance from him.”

“Do ye know where he is?”

“Far away, thank the goddesses.” Sister Fallyn pointed up.

Brigitta glanced up and her heart stuttered in her chest. She couldn’t see him well, for the sun was too bright overhead, but she could make out his tall silhouette against a blue sky that was now devoid of clouds.

He was standing in the crow’s nest, facing her. Watching her, she could feel it. He bowed slightly, and her heart leaped into a fast rhythm. Who was he?

Unlike the other bare-chested crewmen, he was wearing a white shirt. She had noticed earlier that the top few buttons were undone, and his neck and chest had seemed tanned … and strong. And when he’d held his own weight, his sleeves had pulled tight against the muscles in his arms.

She turned away, not wanting to admit she’d studied him that carefully. But how could she not be intrigued? Her special gift compelled her to uncover secrets, and he was hiding so many. He was even hiding his face.

She shook her head. There had been something off. Something wrong, but she’d been too flustered to figure it out.

His eyes had been a golden color. Amber, and they had twinkled with a smoldering fire. Because of his mask, only the bottom portion of his face had been visible, but it had looked quite attractive. His jawline had been strong and sharply defined, his mouth wide and expressive. When he’d smiled, she’d forgotten to breathe for a moment.