Page 10 of Escaping Pirates (Legends of Neverland #4)
Given that our cells shared bars and I was tied up less than two feet from his cell, I couldn’t give him much privacy to grieve for his crewmates, but did my best to remain quiet so I wouldn’t disturb him, clenching my jaws tight to prevent any groan escaping my lips.
When he finally looked up, he caught my eye and looked slightly taken aback, as though he hadn’t realized he wasn’t alone.
“Welcome to the Kraken’s Revenge ,” I croaked with a sardonic smile.
He shifted his weight and stood, coming to wrap his fingers around our cells’ shared bars. “They tie you up while you’re in the cell?” he asked softly. His eyes were red and puffy, and his voice sounded choked.
“Not every time. This is because I accidentally insulted Blossom.” Then, upon seeing his slightly confused expression, I added, “The captain’s older daughter. She’s the skinny one. She took offense to something I said.” My mouth was nearly too dry to talk, so my voice came out raspy and weak.
The stranger’s face darkened. “Blossom, is it? So we’re both in here because of her.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Don’t tell me she wants to use you for a scullery maid, too. You’d look odd in a skirt and apron.” The first real smile since coming aboard cracked my chapped lips, then I winced as my arms shifted slightly and the ropes dug into my raw wrists again.
“What’s wrong?” Concern flickered in the man’s eyes. I nearly didn’t recognize it; it had been too long since anyone showed any kindness toward me.
I flicked my eyes toward my bound wrists.
“I’ve been holding my arms in the same position for more than an hour, and my wrists have seen better days.
I’ll have biceps of steel by the time I get to walk the plank.
” How I found the energy to joke, I’d never know.
For all I knew, this man could be an enemy pirate being held for questioning.
Being clean-cut and handsome wasn’t enough to make one trustworthy.
“Here,” the man offered, and he reached through the bars, holding under my elbows to support their weight. “You rest your arms.”
Relief, blessed relief, drained out of my upper arms as I relaxed my elbows into the man’s hands.
He held my arms up for me so that there wasn’t any tension on the rope and it didn’t cut into my wrists.
Tears of gratitude sprang to my eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered, pressing my forehead against the bar between us.
“You don’t know how much this means to me. ”
“How long have you been here?”
“Here tied up in this cell, or here on this ship? I was on a merchant vessel departing Haven Harbor when we were attacked, probably a month ago? I don’t think two months yet.
” The bar left a vertical imprint on my forehead as I rolled my head to look at him.
My days of servitude were blending together, with only my fingernail growth to help determine the length of my captivity.
“They burned my ship. My crew…” My throat choked up at the memory rushing back in detail, complete with Enid’s horrified face gazing up at me as she clung to that crate lid.
“the crew were all thrown overboard. I tried to save them, but…”
The stale air shifted between us as the man let out a groan. “They just did the same with my crewmates.”
“I’m so sorry…I don’t know your name.”
“Harlan,” he answered. I heard the strain in his voice and recalled how painful the memories of losing my crew had been when they were fresh, so I sought to keep him talking.
“Well, Harlan, I’m pleased to meet you, though I wish it were under more fortunate circumstances. My name’s Elena.”
“That’s a pretty name,” he offered. His hands moved slightly as he flexed his fingers around my bent elbows, and a small cry of pain escaped my lips. “Sorry! Sorry, I didn’t mean to move.”
“It’s all right,” I gasped. “I’m used to it.”
A long silence followed. “No one should be used to this sort of treatment. Tell me, what is it that Blossom has you do?”
“It’s both the sisters,” I corrected. “And I’m their personal handmaiden…basically whatever they want me to do, I do. Cleaning, hair-styling, reading aloud, trimming toenails…”
“What would happen if you stopped or refused?”
“I end up right back here when I give any sign of rebellion, but also”—I bit my lip and took a few deep breaths to steady my voice—“Captain Harsh’s brother expressed an interest in buying me otherwise.
” I gave a dry swallow. “The captain told me that any disobedience on my part would result in my being sold and I have a strong suspicion that I would prefer life here to life on the other ship.”
A long silence extended, and I couldn’t think what else to say.
“That’s despicable,” he finally stated, blatant disgust in his voice.
“They’re pirates.” Then, because I wanted to change the subject, I asked, “So what offer did Captain Harsh make to you? You said that you’re here because of Blossom.”
The disgust in Harlan’s throat deepened. “It seems that she took a fancy to me, and the captain thinks that time in the brig will soften me to the idea of entertaining his repulsive daughter.”
I couldn’t help it. A light, breathy laugh escaped as I choked out, “Blossom wants you as a suitor?”
“It would seem so.”
“How romantic. Do you have to choose between kissing her and walking the plank?”
“That’s an easy choice. I’d walk the plank any day given the alternative, but no, I was rather, erm, resistant to the idea even before the details were explained, so the captain had me brought here to think it over.”
I lifted my head off the bars, a smile lifting the corners of my mouth again. “Suddenly, I’m glad that I’m only asked to shine shoes, make their beds, and tighten corset strings. You have the worse deal between us.”
Harlan stared at me, and I stared hungrily back.
His eyes were a deep green that reminded me of the forest in springtime.
The forest symbolized land. For the first time in weeks, hope swelled within my chest. One day, I would walk in the forest again, smell the damp earth, and listen to the songs of larks singing to each other.
The strength in Harlan’s hands never wavered as he continued to hold up my exhausted arms. I almost wanted to laugh at how he and I had only known each other for an hour and had already cried together, and that he felt more like a friend than anyone else on board.
“I think we both have been dealt a bad hand, Elena,” he finally said. “Maybe we can put our cards together.”