Unexpected visitors

Black Coral

Several hours later and rested, the captain relaxed next to the helm ...

Partly calmer and more sure of himself, Morgan looked up as he took a deep breath of the salty, night air. His rough and calloused hands held the ship's rudder with ease and grace when handling the vessel on that stretch of the sea near Chabone.

A few small cuts and abrasions on his fingers bothered him after a fistfight that had started when he returned to Star. He detested the physical punishment imposed on the crew. He had made his opinion of the whip quite clear to a certain Spaniard. It was a subtle warning that was far from Kassuim. He would use all his influence with the White Order, if necessary.

He didn't want to think about her. As his gaze rested on a falling night, he caught a glimpse of the waves of foam crashing against the rocks.

Those treacherous waters often caused damage to unprepared vessels. He intended to take the ship near the cove in the southern part of the island, from where they would be close enough to the gypsy village. From there he would depart for Wolf House. Much work awaited him in the lands of the border.

He let his hand scratch his beard for making himself uncomfortable. Wondering how long it would take them to find out that there was a woman on the ship.

The girl was a witch. He urgently needed tear powder to disguise her scent. He could feel it in the distance.

- You know you've got an enemy. - Michael commented casually as he approached.

Morgan sighed. One more problem on your list. It was getting big.

- I left him alive. - The answer was simple. -It was certainly more than the rascal deserved.

Michael laughed incredulously.

- Oh, without that. You got angry because the boy got a few lashes.

Casual observation made Morgan clench his fists.

- You would have done worse. Believe me. If it were Adam ...

Michael twitched his features.

"If it were Adam," he went on very seriously, "Corner wouldn't just have black eyes and a cut face, my brother."Michael looked at the captain questioningly.

Sometimes the lack of telepathy was a problem. There was something about Morgan. The crew was beginning to comment on the presence of a boy in the captain's cabin. They weren't used to sharing the dorm with Morgan. Exactly what had happened the night before.

- Did you send Adam clothes? - Morgan forced himself to show indifference.

-Clothes and food. Adam commented that the boy doesn't have a big appetite.

Morgan nodded vaguely. He had spent much of the day doing something he would never have imagined doing. There was nothing left of the tear powder stock in the Coral after all Faith had been dead for two years. He wondered how was going to hide a witch. It wouldn't be long before Adam or Michael sniffed her scent. The border...

-Want to explain to me what's going on? - Michael proposed calmly.

Morgan's mind refused to think of the tempting creature in his cabin. No explanations. None at all. The woman intended to drive him crazy.

-Kassuim really managed to take you seriously.- Michael hissed in amazement.

Kassuim.

Ah! Michael was not a fool. knew something was up. What could he say? cassie was...

The brother looked at him in silence. For the first time, against his habits, Morgan was silent.

-What did you think of the boy?

The boy shrugged.

-I hadn't noticed when Faith died that your brother was that young.

Only that?

Morgan forced his best smile. Just that?

"By the way, my brother, did you not even notice that Kassuim is a woman?"

Very slowly he started to complain. She could be experienced with swords, pistols, and muskets ... May God have mercy on him! But she was a foolish fool. How had they not yet discovered that the girl was a witch? Although aboard Star, there were no wolves, even so ...The girl was stubborn and willful. The way he had provoked Cornner.

She didn't usually show such a strong temper in the cave. Maybe stubborn. Only something was different. Something wrong. He noticed a certain caution in those green eyes that intrigued him. She was so different from the young woman who had saved his life. It was an absurd sensation, but it gave the impression that she only attacked to defend herself. Defend yourself from him?

What had happened?

And as if it weren't enough, she still had the audacity to give him orders. Now, as a captain, he was able to maintain the discipline of the crew. Not only that. It was respected in the borderlands. Almost an ambassador there.

-Because of Kassuim is irresponsible, inconsequential, and unbearably stubborn, Michael.

Morgan smothered the hurt memories. He expected any explanation. He hoped she would throw herself into his arms. She had run away after all. How long did the girl think she was going to pose as a boy? Or being locked in that damn cabin?

-Tell me, man: who in his right mind would make trouble with Corner?

-A woman, no doubt. Like Faith. - Michael replied between laughs. - What is happening?

He intended to talk.

Decided, he decided to return to the cabin. Perhaps if she realized could trust him, she would finally give him the answers he wanted. A smile broke out on his face. And maybe seduce her. The idea was very tempting. The girl was his wife. Those vows she had made to him were valid in Chabone. He couldn't imagine that the simplest of his wishes would be denied.

The cabin was empty.

The cabin was completely empty. And, Cassie, with all the hells...

-where were you?

Where would a woman have got on a ship?

His gaze swept the empty spot, suddenly very attentive to the clothes lying on the bed. The plate of food was untouched. The dirty sheets ... That was blood. It hadn't just been a scratch. That irresponsible modesty had hidden the wound that should probably be burned. It was going to be another incredible night.

They were onboard a ship.

What did she intend? Leaving the Coral? There was no way, at least not without drowning. Why hadn't she asked for help? It couldn't be that difficult.

"She didn't ask for help because you were an animal with her. And arrogant. "

Grumbling all sorts of bad words, Morgan returned to the deck and walked over the deck, holding the oil lamp.

Suddenly the sudden and dense fog from before returned to envelop the ship's air charged with electricity. The silence was total and abnormal. He didn't hear the waves ripple. The sky was dark without stars or moon, bringing a biting cold.

The girl was posing as a boy, she was hurt. It couldn't be that far.

Did she really think he hadn't recognized her? Did she think he was that foolish? The Coral had a crew of one hundred and twenty men. It was dark and no one had lit the lanterns on the deck. He stumbled angrily. The unexpected and tense cold made him shiver. Organ felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end with his mind refusing to function. That was impossible and they were on a ship. And those things ...