So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(28)

“A noblewoman?” Sister Fallyn asked. “What happened to her?”

“She was in big trouble,” Jeffrey explained. “It was a few years ago when King Frederic was in power. Lady Ellen’s husband failed to do something that King Frederic had ordered him to do, so he was executed. The king took his land and ordered Lady Ellen to be executed, too. She fled to Danport and begged Rupert and the captain to help her. We took her to the Isle of Moon where she’d be safe. She didn’t have a way to pay for her passage, so she left the clothes behind. Said she wouldn’t need them at the convent.”

Sister Fallyn exchanged a surprised look with Brigitta. “Sister Ellen!”

“Of course.” Brigitta grinned. Sister Ellen had helped Luciana prepare for her role as a noblewoman. “She taught us how to do the court dances.”

“Then she’s all right?” Jeffrey asked.

“Aye. She’s very happy.” To be alive. No wonder Brigitta had felt a great sense of relief when she’d touched Sister Ellen’s discarded clothing.

These pirates weren’t so bad after all, Brigitta thought as she draped her cloak on the second step, then took a seat. They were not only intelligent, but capable of acting with honor and compassion. They’d rescued Sister Ellen, so perhaps they would help her, too. She just needed to explain everything to Rupert.

The thought of spending time alone with him made her heart beat faster. If she touched him again, would she see more of his secret past? Would she be able to figure out what was bothering her?

Horns suddenly blared again, and Brigitta stiffened.

“Good goddesses.” Sister Fallyn made the sign of the moons. “What is happening now?”

Brigitta eased to her feet. “What do the horns mean?”

Jeffrey hesitated before mumbling, “Battle stations.”

Sister Fallyn gasped. “Goddesses protect us!”

“Who is threatening us now?” Brigitta asked.

“Pirates,” he began but when they gasped, he quickly added, “Don’t worry. There are only three of them. Rupert will finish them off before you know it.”

“Why are we fighting other pirates?” Brigitta winced when she realized she’d said we. Was she siding with Rupert now?

“They’re the bad pirates,” Jeffrey explained.

Sister Fallyn scoffed. “All pirates are bad.”

“No.” Jeffrey looked insulted. “We’re the good guys. Whenever we buy supplies from a village like Danport, Rupert always pays in gold. The villagers love it, so they never report him to the Eberoni army. It’s what Rupert calls a mutually beneficial business arrangement.”

Sister Fallyn planted her hands on her hips. “Ye mean he bribes them to stay quiet.”

Jeffrey scowled. “They consider him a hero ’cause he protects them. You see, the bad pirates figured out that whenever Rupert leaves a village, there’s gold there, so they started attacking the villages after we leave. You wouldn’t believe how angry Rupert and Captain Landers were when they found out. Rupert calls them bloody vultures.”

“So these bad pirate ships are about to attack Danport?” Brigitta asked.

Jeffrey nodded. “We bought supplies there two days ago. We were staying close by when Rupert got the message about you, my lady. So we hurried north to get you, then rushed back to make sure Danport was all right.”

Outside, Captain Landers shouted, and a thunderous noise vibrated throughout the ship as cannons were rolled into position.

“Goddesses help us,” Sister Fallyn whispered.

“I doubt we’ll even use the cannons,” Jeffrey told her. “Rupert can handle it himself.”

What on Aerthlan would he do? Brigitta peered through the open doorway. She could see Rupert in the crow’s nest, but couldn’t tell what was happening with the three pirate ships.

The pelican took off, flying high into the sky. A bird’s-eye view, Brigitta thought with envy, as the door started to swing shut. How could she remain here, not knowing what was happening?

She caught the door before it could close.

“We’re supposed to stay below,” Jeffrey muttered.

“I know.” She didn’t want to endanger anyone by being a distraction, but her strong sense of curiosity was compelling her. “Don’t ye want to know what’s happening?”

When he nodded, she peeked outside. Close to the wall of the quarterdeck and the portside railing, there were three large barrels for collecting rainwater.

“We can stay hidden.” She eased outside, staying low and close to the wall of the quarterdeck.

“Brigitta, no!” Sister Fallyn yelled.

Jeffrey followed her and shut the door. Together they scurried along the wall, then hunched down in the narrow space behind the barrels.

She peered over the railing and whispered, “I can see the pirate ships. They have their cannons ready.”

“Rupert will have to do something before we get into range,” Jeffrey whispered back.

She glanced up at the crow’s nest. Rupert was focused on the pirate ships. Slowly he lifted his arms. His fingers were splayed, his palms slightly cupped, his movements graceful and measured, as if he were conducting an orchestra. A whirlwind spun over his head, growing in intensity as he fed it more and more air.