Page 9 of Scourge of the Shores

He ran his finger on a stab mark over the lair and smoothed some splintering wood down, before tracing the area around it. “Dark waters. Never sailed them.”

“How dark?” she asked.

“Black. Like the West. There’s a belief among the veteran crew that they’re the waters of Tophet. They believed souls would sink your ship and take your body.” He peered up at her to see if she paled, but instead, her brow furrowed in determination.

“That be Cain’s den—or so we believe,” she said. “I tailed the beast one night, watched him vanish into the dark. Lost him here.” She stabbed her dagger into the map. “Couldn’t see a blasted thing. Night or not, them waters swallow ye whole.”

“Aye, they’re dark during the day, too,” Robert said as he straightened up. “You’re brave to chase after a sea dragon at night, especially being this close to siren waters. You tryin’ to further your family name?”

Danna scoffed. “I don’t need to chase glory, pirate.

” She turned fully toward the table, leaning both hands on its top.

“Chadwick’s the sole pirate of North Sea legend.

” Her stare intensified on the dark waters.

She took the point of her blade and etched in deeper and darker waves. “Cain escapes me.”

Robert thinned his lips, gauging the intensity in her voice and tracing the curve of her back and rear as she leaned over the table. Fine enough to make the sea itself stop and stare. He lifted his eyebrows and decided to lighten the mood. “Looks like ye got a tough job.”

“Ye sure ye want to retire here?” she asked and peered up at him.

He threw his attention toward the open doors to keep from staring at the perfect curves of her lips or backside. “If you succeed.”

Danna sighed. “Anything else ye can tell me about this map?”

“I’ve heard there is an enchanter’s brew from the East that will dispel dark waters and make them crystal clear under the sun,” Robert said, mentally examining his stash of stolen enchantments. He didn’t have it.

Danna shifted her weight. “Aye, and I suppose ye got one in yer pocket?”

Robert crossed his arms and inclined his head. “Even if I did have any enchantments, I wouldn’t give them to you. An enchanter’s brew is worth at least a hundred Delphi. And one that powerful,” he clicked his tongue as he thought. “Priceless.”

“No harm in askin’,” Danna retorted.

He stole a glance at her.

She wasn’t paying him any attention as her hand curled into a fist. “Anythin’ else ‘bout the map? The dragon? The waters? Have ye heard anything about sailing them?” The desperation in her voice made his chest ache—to be so full of vigor and life, and yet so defeated.

“No,” he said.

“Ye’re full of piss and promises, and I got no use for either.” She slammed her fist on the table and jolted up. “Get out.”

His smug smile reached across his face. “I am not useless.” He locked eyes with her and crossed his arms and ankles as he leaned into the table. “Help me help you,” he crooned. His gaze dipped to her healing lip for a brief moment.

“Stop it, mate,” Danna said with a stiff neck.

He scoffed, removing his attention from her lips. “Stop what?” he asked, knowing exactly what she was referring to. He didn’t give her the chance to respond. “Let me help you make tar and pitch or harpoons, or something. Then you can help us?”

For the first time, Danna hesitated. A second too long. Long enough for Robert to see she wasn’t entirely indifferent.

“Trade one man’s labor for four or five.” She crossed her arms. “Seems hardly fair.”

“But you have my knowledge of the dark waters.”

“I already knew they’re dark.” She scoffed. “Leave.”

Robert rocked himself off the table and squared his shoulders to her. His eyes traced her face, etching her features into memory. She was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on. He dipped his chin to her in respect.

“Aye, Captain,” he said and let his arms fall to his side.

Her attention dropped momentarily to his bare chest beneath his open shirt. “Stop doing that,” he said with a half-smile.

But she only pointed the dagger at his face. “I said, ‘Leave.’”

He rubbed his father’s thumb ring with the pad of his forefinger as he debated leaving as she wished or trying one more time to stay. If he left with her forced farewell, he doubted he could return with any other excuse. So he licked his lip and chuckled under his breath.

“Danna, I won’t try to hide my admiration for you.

” He met her gaze, and at her uncomfortable silence, he continued.

“At least, come see what I say is true. See how much work there is for our ships and how long it will take us to leave. Wake Ervin, bring him, and the other man. Bring the whole island, I don’t care. ”

“What for?” she shot back. “I already told ye I can’t help.”

“Well, we make up a lot of bodies.” He shrugged and hoped to win her over with one last plea for his hidden motives. “Maybe we can form some assembly line or work smarter and together rather than alone? Mutually beneficial, of course.”

“I’m sure it’ll be to yer benefit, more so.”

“Ye of little faith,” he said. “I’m a Jaymes. Ruthless, aye, but also honorable. My word is my word. I admire you for your dedication and leadership, obviously. I can already tell men cower before you. Such a strong woman. I’ve never encountered such before.”

“Flattery don’t fill bellies or fix ships, Captain Jaymes.”

“Robert,” he said. “Call me Robert when we are alone, as I call you Danna.”

“We’re not that familiar.” But her eyes betrayed her words.

“I think we are. You and I share many characteristics.”

She scoffed. “Like what?”

“Well, you’re persistent. You endure. You’re meticulous, clearly,” he said, waving an arm over the table.

“You are a bit obsessive. Probably too critical of yourself. You doubt yourself and your ability to make the right decisions, yet you do it well. You’ve been forced to become a leader before you were ready. ”

Danna narrowed her eyes. “What in the depths are ye ramblin’ about?”

He thought he might as well throw in something for fun. “You’ve probably never been kissed, though all the men on this island probably would love to be your chosen man.”

“What?” Danna stood, shocked at the last one, with red rose blossoms on her olive cheeks. Her knuckles grew white around the dagger’s handle. “Ye wanna a kiss, Jaymes? Step closer, and I’ll carve ye one.”

“And you don’t let anyone push you around,” he said as he took a few steps toward the open doors, just in case she decided to swing the dagger. “And you probably avoid the grog to keep your wits about you. Smart woman.”

“Ye’re a self-obsessed, lying princock that doesn’t know when to shut his mouth.”

“I am not a princock, Danna. I speak the truth. Come see for yourself. Then tell me if it’s worth letting us rot here.

I also know how men think, and as they are not blind, I’m sure there ain’t a man on this island that hasn’t wondered, Captain Chadwick.

But only the foolish ones would dare say it aloud. ”

Danna’s grip on her dagger tightened, but she didn’t take the bait. “Ye love the sound of yer own voice, don’t ye, Jaymes?”

He tilted his head. “Only when it gets under your skin.”

“I’ve heard enough.” She turned sharply, shoulders squared. “Get out.”

“Come with me, then,” he called after her, his voice dropping lower, smoother.

“Let me show you I’m not a self-obsessed, lying princock.

Let me show you our ships and the repairs they need.

It will not be a short stay. We can think through various deals to get us off this island faster and maybe help you with your Cain troubles. ”

Her eyes narrowed. She was silent for a long time, long enough for Robert to think she wouldn’t repeat herself until a short “Fine. But ye step outta line, and I’ll gut ye meself” burst through her tight lips.

She shoved him out of her way and ordered, “Scotty, wake Captain Ervin. The three of us are going to the pirates’ camp.”

“Aye, Captain,” Scotty said.

Soon after, Ervin accompanied the trio, and they walked to the eastern shore.

* * *

“Look who the tide brought in,” Daniel Rosa said and he approached Robert, hugging him. His shirt was tied around his waist, and sweat ran down his chest.

“Ah, Rosa, the tide is good,” Robert said and turned to introduce Danna, but Rosa spoke before him.

“An’ this be the blood o’ Chadwick, then?” Rosa said, running his eyes up and down Danna’s body, letting his fat tongue roll across his bottom lip. Ervin stepped near her and puffed his chest.

“Respect Captain Chadwick,” Ervin said.

“A woman leadin’ men?” Rosa laughed. “Ha! What’s next in this strange world, a fish teachin’ sailors how to swim?”

Danna smirked, crossing her arms. “Aye, Rosa, and yet here ye stand, barkin’ like a stray dog at me feet, while I’m the one givin’ orders.” She leaned in slightly. “Strange world indeed.”

Rosa stopped mid-laugh and growled, but stayed his hand as Foy Blackwood and the other Pirate Kings appeared behind Rosa, similarly drenched in sweat, shirts off or tied around their waists.

Blackwood clicked his tongue. “Best not get too sharp with a lady, lads, especially when she’s got a face worth ransomin’.

Captain Foy Blackwood at yer service.” Blackwood grabbed Danna’s hand and kissed it before she could yank it away.

He chuckled and smirked at Danna’s resistance, holding it tight.

The small gesture and the resulting mockery filled Robert with the urge to knock Blackwood senseless.

But Danna held her own. She jerked her hand away in a fist and swung her dagger across Blackwood’s chest, leaving a fine trail of blood, barely cutting the skin.

“Next time, Captain Blackwood,” she said, voice even, “ye’ll find yer guts in the sand.”

Blackwood stumbled backward in awe, eyes filled with respect at her mastery of the blade. He ran a finger across his chest and licked the blood off the tip.