Page 6 of A Flash of Golden Fire

“Bloody hell, boy, get that feckin’ goat outta here!” A burly, tattooed man yelled.

“Not again!” someone muttered. “Can’t ye keep her tied up or somethin’?”

“Sorry, sorry. Excuse me. Lillith, get back here! Leave them be,” I shouted, dodging bodies and trying not to slip on the soapy boards.

“Jesus, the bloke’s gone and named the beasts,” someone else said.

“He’s touched in the head, I reckon,” a fellow laughed.

I turned my head to give the man a piece of my mind and lost my footing, falling onto my arse and sliding until I was flat on my back. A massive shadow blocked the sun.

“Simon Bartholomew White, what the fuck are you doing?”

Captain Martin stared at me from above.

He wasn’t wearing his jacket, and his faded cotton shirt gaped open, revealing a tawny chest feathered with dark hair. His long black locks were tied with a ribbon, but loose strands draped rakishly around his comely face. He looked like a disgruntled angel come to carry me to hell.

By now I was in fine condition, a regular diet of bread, cheese, and meat giving me a more manly shape. I’d regained my energy and ability to function. And also my contrary attitude.

“I’m trying to catch that fucking goat,” I said, sitting up and checking to see if I’d hurt myself. Before I’d finished a mental inventory of the pains assailing me, Captain Martin grabbed a fistful of my shirt and pulled me up with the ease of a man used to physical labour.

“I thought you said you knew how to manage animals.”

“Well, I do,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “But, apparently, not goats. Turns out they’re bleedin’ arseholes with shit for brains.”

Captain Martin’s lips quivered with either fury or amusement, and I couldn’t for the life of me tell which.

At that moment, Lilith gave a tremulous bleat from somewhere ahead. We turned toward the bow, to see the blasted white and brown creature tangled in ropes and chewing on the edge of a sail.

Captain Martin levelled a stern eye to me, and a part of me rose to greet that look. I wouldn’t dare to say which part. Now that I was feeling better, my other appetites had returned in full force, which was dangerous on a ship full of men. However, I only had a yearning for one of them.

“Go get her. Put her somewhere secure. Then come to my cabin, Mr White.”

Oh, fuck it. Was he going to make me walk the plank?

“This ain’t my fault. I’ve tried my best to—”

“I’m not discussing this here,” he said and walked away.

“Yes, Captain,” I said, my face red from the running, the tumble I’d taken, and the rampant lustful thoughts that assailed me.

Why did I have to be like this? Another man would be quaking with fear at being caught failing at his duties. But all I could think about was that I’d finally have a private audience with the captain. Hopefully, I could convince him of my worth so he wouldn’t toss me overboard.

I took the thin coil of rope out of my belt loop and attached the clasp to Lilith’s halter.

“Come on, you lousy trollop. You’re getting me in bad with the captain and everyone else.”

I tugged on the rope, but the goat planted her feet and bleated, calling everyone’s attention to my predicament.

“He can’t even get a goat to move. How’s he gonna survive when there’s more at stake?”

“What was the captain thinking? Allowing that man on board. He’s barely bigger than a lass. And less useful, if you get my meaning.”

“Oh, aye. Although Captain Martin might not agree. And I can tell you what he was probably thinking.”

Laughter.

I glared at the offending animal and channeled my rage and annoyance into my voice.