Page 20 of Scourge of the Shores

The Needed Trade

Moonlight glinted off the sea of black glass waves in the distance.

Its sky was calm—a good omen for the following day.

The small ship sat at the port, awaiting its short journey to the neighboring island.

Danna wished her mind were as calm, but ever since her walk with Robert a few days earlier, his words had echoed relentlessly in her mind.

“What ye decide to believe,” she muttered and shoved her hands on her hips. Her leg still throbbed, but the fatigue was gone. She wanted Robert out of her mind, but the pirate had charmed himself a residence.

Lucas’s voice cut through the night like a blade. “Ye shouldn’t be out here alone, Danna.”

She peered over her shoulder at his approaching shadow. “Ye’re here.”

Lucas stepped beside her and crossed his arms, staring out at the sea as well. “The pirates came. They’re waitin’ for ye.”

“Let ‘em wait. Show ‘em who’s in control,” she said, lifting her chin.

“Aye, that’s me girl,” Lucas said with a grin.

“Lucas,” her gaze shifted to him. “Why did ye never tell me about a prophecy of weddin’?”

His hand fisted. “I’ll kill that Jaymes.” He shook his head. “Ye’ve got so much on yer mind, Danna, I didn’t wanna add to yer burdens.”

“So it’s true?”

Lucas nodded. “A worthy man would come from the sea, wed ye, and ye’ll have a child that dies but lives forever.”

Her chin dipped, wondering about the child, but instead pressed Lucas on the more important matter. “Did Jaymes say somethin’ to ye that made ye tell him about it?”

“Why ye askin’? Did he try somethin’ on yer walk?”

She shook her head. “I can tell he fancies me, but I don’t know if it’s real.”

Lucas let out a dry chuckle. "Oh, it’s real. But he ain’t the one. The worthy one stays, Danna."

Her body stilled in the breeze. She didn’t want to stay. “That’s part of it?”

“More or less,” Lucas said, glancing at her. “The prophecy says I’m to prepare ye—to lead, to rule. That means ye’re stayin’.”

Her heart dropped into her stomach as her gaze returned to the sea.

She loved the island. It had been her home, her safety, her kingdom.

But the sea—it was something else. It was freedom, possibility, escape, a watery death.

Maybe she’d become a siren, reborn in seafoam, the DeepMother’s sorrow turned flesh.

The Northern Boulder had been her only glimpse of the life the DeepMother’s soul offered, and the thought of never leaving the island, of never sailing the great beyond, wrapped around her chest like a shackle. Maybe she had always known. But hearing it aloud made it all the more real.

“Prophecy or not, if he stayed, would that make him the worthy one?”

“He won’t stay, Danna. And he ain’t the one. Don’t let him get in yer head. Don’t believe his lies. I tell ye this as yer friend and as a man who loves ye like his own.” Lucas slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in. “Keep yer focus, and Robert Jaymes’ll soon be gone forever.”

She licked her lip as she leaned into Lucas’s side embrace. “I feel a draw to him. I hate it.”

“He’s got a pretty face, probably a sight for sore eyes, starin’ at this lot every day,” Lucas said with a chuckle. “Just remember, snakes be pretty too. He’s here for one thing. That’s it. I don’t know why he saved ye, but I fear it’s for control over ye. Don’t let him have it.”

“They could’ve taken us by now, Lucas. What if he’s keeping them on the East side? What if I reject his yearnin’, and he don’t hold ‘em back?”

The risk to the islanders was too great.

It was the only logical reason she could think that the massive number of pirates on their Eastern shore hadn’t tried to steal their food or force their labor even if they had respect for the pirate kings of old.

It was odd. Robert kept them from conquering them the night Cain attacked, but it was the why that needed answering.

She doubted it was solely because of his feelings for her.

He wanted his glory. His legacy. His sea dragon relic.

He knew she knew Cain’s lair. Maybe they needed the island’s extra thirty-seven ships to kill the demon.

They wouldn’t have the crew if they had conquered the islanders.

“Ye spinnin’ assumptions,” Lucas said, taking a deep breath. “But ye’ve always been better at reading men than me. I don’t trust him—fully. I know ye don’t. He’s either sly, biding time to get what he wants or stupid to risk it all for a lass, even if ye’re a Chadwick.”

One thing was certain to Danna. Robert Jaymes was not stupid. He was cunning, clever, and wore too many masks. So if he wasn’t stupid, he was sly and wanted something. She just didn’t know what.

A few moments of silence lingered between them until Lucas squeezed and gave her a long, knowing look.

"Ye can’t let a pirate’s charm soften ye, Danna. They take, twist, and leave. He ain’t one of us—and he ain’t gonna be.”

She didn’t answer right away. Her eyes stayed on the sea, voice low. “Maybe,” she muttered to herself.

Lucas leaned in. “What was that?”

Danna shook her head. “Nothin’,” she muttered quickly, then added to shift the focus, “What would Father’ve done?”

“Treat ‘em as guests,” Lucas said, rubbing her back. “But keep yer leverage in case their blood starts runnin’ hot.”

“Whatever Jaymes feels for me —that’s the only thing holdin’ his pirates back.

That’s me leverage.” Her jaw grew taut. She hated it.

Hated that she had to count on a man’s infatuation to keep her people safe.

But leverage was leverage. “I ain’t sellin’ meself to keep us safe. I ain’t that kind of woman.”

“Then stay neutral,” he countered. “Don’t spurn him; don’t swoon either.”

The briny sea air filled her lungs and called her hither, but once again, she rejected the call of the waves.

“Let’s get to it, then,” she muttered, and with Lucas by her side, she made the long walk to the main hall.

The doors opened and the hearth fire illuminated the space. The long table with the map etched into its face stood proud in front of the village captains and a few of the pirate kings and their filthy comrades.

Danna stepped to the center. Her shadow fell long and touched the entrance’s double doors. “It appears we’ve all run low on hardtack and flour,” she said, her presence quieting the room.

“Laurence Isle’s a two-day journey, and they only deal with me,” Danna said, eyeing Robert, Rosa, and Garrick. “I’ll need two sailors so tar and pitch production don’t slow down.”

“Well, I’m comin’ with ye,” Robert said.

A slew of “Aye”s from the pirate bunch filled the air.

"No, ye’re to stay and cut lumber,” Danna said, planting her hands on her hips. His sudden pirate-speak made her squint. Was he tryin’ to endear himself again? And if so, to her or his own men?

“Laurence Isle only deals with me,” she restated, as steady and strong as the currents. “That’s the way it’s always been. I’ve made every trade fair, and we all know it.”

Robert prowled forward, his boots echoing like a countdown ticking. He didn’t stop at the table. No—he invaded and leaned into her space, close enough for the briny scent of sea and spiced rum to coil around her.

He said nothing at first. Just stood there, watching her, eyes a storm-dark blue.

“As much as ye’ve a trustin’ face, I don’t want me men to be cheated,” he said with a pinch of his lips.

That hit hard.

A slew of “Aye”s from the pirate bunch filled the air again.

“I ain’t gonna cheat ye,” she said with a growl. Where was the man from the shore?

“Wouldn’t ye?” he asked, spinning to his pirate crew. “She strikes a bargain, keeps most of it, and tells us it was a bad trade. Our numbers be thinnin’, easier for ‘em.”

Danna stared at the back of his head, partially in disbelief. “Why ye spinnin’ tall tales, mate?”

“I ain’t trustin’ a pretty face,” he said, spinning back around and locking her gaze in. “I’ll go with ye and make certain the trade’s good and we be getting our fair share.”

A third slew of “Aye”s from the pirate bunch filled the air again.

Her eyes narrowed at the liar, the pretender, the sea rogue. The villagers watched the silent exchange of power.

“Take yer own ship,” she gnashed.

“Ships’re broken,” he countered. “Yers is the only one ready to sail and seeing we be starvin’ . . .” He trailed off before he leaned in and whispered, “It’d be a shame if me men felt cheated, Captain Chadwick. Hard to keep order on an empty belly.”

“No pirate’s code of honor then, Captain Jaymes?” she asked.

He chuckled with a half-grin. “Invite me and a few good lads to come with ye, and all will be well,” he whispered again.

He had sucker punched her, and in front of her people. She knew they wouldn’t win a fight, not after Cain’s last attack. This was a game to him. See how far he could beat her down before she broke.

Lucas was right.

Jaymes had gotten into her head for a power play. Well, it was time to push him out. Her spine straightened as she stepped onto the table, towering over him. It wasn’t going to be a complete defeat.

“I’ve made me decision—A pirate king’ll be present, witnessin’ fair trades. Trust’s earned, after all,” she said.

“Well, sink me ship,” Robert exclaimed with a hearty shiver as he planted both boots firmly on the ground, mimicking her stance. “Captain Chadwick’s one smart lass.”

She adjusted the hat on her head but refused to submit to his mockery. That cocky grin, that too-easy swagger—he thought he’d already won. And worse, maybe he had. Her fingers curled into fists. Her pulse hammered. Giving up was for fools, for the weak.

She spat at Robert’s feet to show him exactly what she thought of him. “Good, ye get two men. That’s it. Ye’re to be a shadow, but a shadow ain’t the sun.”