Heart of the Fae (The Otherworld #1)(21)

“You sound like you aren’t from around here, so let me tell you a few things. The docks aren’t safe at night. Even for whores.”

“I’m not a whore.”

“Why else would you be on the docks? Respectable women stay up there,” he pointed towards the candle light of the city. “The rest come down here to play with the likes of me. You look tired, hungry, and travel-stained. You either are a whore, or you will be soon enough.”

Sorcha felt as though she needed to defend herself, or at least the title of whore. “My sisters run a successful brothel in Ui Neill. I don’t take kindly to a man making less of their profession. And as for your knowledge,” she struggled to her feet, “I am looking for a particular ship. I need to travel far from here.”

“A customer?” he chuckled. “Sweetheart, you have to lie better than that.”

“I am not lying! I was told to find the captain of a ship painted yellow and that he would take me to where I need to go.”

“What do you want with the Saorsa?”

She smiled, the name was fitting. “The ship is named Freedom?”

“Who are you?” The man crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at her. “The Freedom doesn’t take passengers.”

“I’d think that would be the captain’s decision.”

“I am the captain.”

The words echoed in Sorcha’s mind. It couldn’t be. Him? She looked him up and down. “You don’t look like a captain.”

“Have you ever seen a captain before?”

“No.”

“Then you’re a rather poor judge, aren’t you?” His feet slapped against the dock as he turned away from her. “Oh, and by the way, being polite to a captain is a good start.”

Sorcha stared at his back in shock. That was the captain? He couldn’t be serious. She hadn’t just ruined her chance at getting to Hy-brasil without even asking him if he’d take her?

She licked her lips and shouted, “The MacNara twins sent me!”

The captain froze. “Excuse me?”

“The MacNara twins sent me to ask you for safe passage. I need to go Hy-brasil, and they said you are the only person who can get me there.”

The moon floated in the air behind him, outlining his figure with silver. “They were right, but I’m not going to the phantom isle.”

“You’re my only option. I have to go, and I need you to take me. I cannot apologize enough that I was rude, but it’s imperative I go.”

“You can’t even see the isle.”

“You can in six days,” she said. “The dullahan told me. Please.”

He turned back towards her and crossed his arms. “What are you paying?”

“I have nothing to give.”

“Anything in that pack?” He pointed at her bag.

“Personal items, mostly journals. I’m a healer. I can help in any way while aboard.”

Hope blossomed. He was sizing her up as though she was a person, not just a piece of meat. That had to mean something. Perhaps he would take her.

At this point, Sorcha would swim to the damn isle if it meant progress.

A caw startled her. Sorcha flinched and looked at the sky. Outlined in darkness and stars, a raven called out again.

“I thought those only flew during the day,” she whispered.

“Damned Fae,” the captain grumbled. “All right. Fine. Onto the ship with you, but you will help the entire trip. And don’t you forget what I’ve done for you.”

“I won’t service your men on the trip. I’m to have my own quarters.”

“You’ll be sharing mine,” he grunted as he walked away from her. “Having a woman on board is bad luck enough. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

Sorcha grabbed her pack and swung it over her shoulder. Blisters be damned, she would make it to this ship. “My name is Sorcha. What’s yours?”

“Manus.”

“The great?” She grinned. “It’s an apt name for a captain.”

“Now you’re complimenting me?” He glanced at her once she caught up. “Women are so damned difficult to understand. One minute you’re blistering my ears off, and the next you’re calling me after some historical figure.”

“You didn’t know the name Manus means great?”

“It’s a name. Who knows what their name means other than themselves?” He must have noticed the pout of her lips, because he added, “What’s yours mean?”

“Radiant,” Sorcha said with a soft smile.

Manus growled again and pointed at a ship out to sea. “That’s mine.”

“How are we to get there?”

“By boat.”

“I don’t see any other ships.”

“You ever been to the sea?” he said, lifting a brow. “You take a rowboat to the ship, and then we’ll climb aboard.”

One more thing she had to do, and then she could rest. Sorcha took a deep breath. This man could be lying to her, she certainly couldn’t see the bottom of the ship to determine if he was telling the truth.

“Okay,” she said. “Show me the way.”



Sorcha rolled to her side, eyes stuck together with sleep, her mouth dry. A scratchy blanket covered her legs and the overwhelming scent of tallow candles made her sneeze. She rubbed at her nose. The slight movement made her stomach roll.