Page 8 of The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge

“Well, that’sjust fine, I have a map in here.” He walked around the side of the structure and opened a door. Inside, there was a bank of windows lining the front and a large wheel that looked familiar to Elspeth. Next to it, however, was a large lever, andthatfelt entirely alien—she couldn’t even read the labels on it.2

Turning away from the bank of windows, Aegir waved his hand behind her. The back wall of the small room was covered in a large map of Caihalaith, written in her own tongue. He pointed his finger at a section in the water, the deep black of his skin a contrast to the pale blue of the map.

“We’re right here, and this is where I found you, not far off.” He dragged his finger a miniscule amount and tapped the map twice.

Scanning the coastline near them, Elspeth realized she didn’t recognize any of the towns nearby. Instead, she followed the coastline north. Hillskerry was cold most of the year, so she figured it might be a fair guess. She was beginning to lose hope when finally, near the very top of the map, she began to recognize names of the towns. Hill. Winter Harbor. Bay of Shoals.

Once she found them, she traced her eyes out to sea, surprised at how far she needed to go. Eventually, she found a tiny islandthat matched the shape she knew so well.

“I’m from here,” she said, pointing instead at Winter Harbor. It wouldn’t do for him to actually know where Hillskerry was.

His eyebrows shot up. “You’re a long way from home. Did you swim all that way?”

“No,” she answered simply. She didn’t owe him anything about her life or what she’d been through. If he was willing to deposit her home, then they just needed to get there.

As if he just assumed she would follow him, Aegir left the wheelhouse and walked along the side of the ship until he arrived at another door.

“That’s quite a long way. We’ll need to get going, though it might take us a few weeks. My crew and I—well my crew of one and I—do have some business to attend to in the area, so I hope you’ll forgive me if we need to make some stops along the way. But we should be able to get you home in one piece very soon.

“It shouldn’t take too long…” He walked through the door and into what appeared to be his sleeping chambers. It was a strange amalgamation of extravagant materials and ephemera. It stretched the entire width of the boat with windows on either side. A large plush bed was built into the wall, and a wide desk dominated the space. Though it had stacks of papers on it, they were all held down with clips that seemed mounted to the desk. The walls were lined with bookshelves that had railings on hinges, keeping the books in place.

Those things spoke of wealth and comfort, but the effect was ruined by clothing strewn everywhere. A pair of trousers sat on the floor next to the bed and a boot and its mate traced a path from the door to the desk. A stocking that didn’t look likely to belong to the man in front of her even hung from the chandelier above the desk. Still speaking, he crossed the room and nonchalantly donned the pants.

“I suppose, considering how long you’ll be with us, I ought to assign you a berth. Let me get some clothes on, and I’ll show you where you can bunk.”

He stopped with the fall front of his trousers undone and one boot on, cocking his head to the side. “You’ll probably need something to wear as well, other than that I mean.” He lifted his hand to gesture at her, and Elspeth very suddenly became aware of the fact that she was indeed entirely nude under her pelt that she clutched around her shoulders.

He was speaking so much, so quickly, that she’d been swept up in it. “That would be nice. Though, I’m not sure if you or your crewman have anything that would fit me.”

“Oh, I’m sure we can find something. Jokith and I are both large fellows, any one of ourshirts would be like a dress on you I’m sure, our socks would be thigh-high stockings.”

“Well, it seems if I’ve a need, you already might have a few ladies’ stockings.” She looked pointedly at the stocking hanging from the chandelier.

With a cough, he whipped it down. “I’m afraid that’s not likely to have a mate.”

He opened a drawer and shoved it inside, retrieving a balled-up pair of socks and a shirt. He tossed both across the room to her as he pulled on a different shirt.

As quickly as she could, Elspeth threw the shirt over her head, dismayed at how long the sleeves were. She had to roll them several times to get her hands out and Aegir had been right, the stockings came up to her thighs. It was probably too much to ask for him to have some ribbon to tie them… but then again, he did have a lady’s stocking.

“I don’t suppose you have any ribbon?” She asked.

“Actually, as it happens, I do.” He moved to another drawer and pulled out a spool of shiny teal ribbon. “I try to pick things up, bits and bobs that I spot to take home with me. I figured this would sell well when I returned, but you’re welcome to whatever youneed of it.”

He tossed it to her, and then motioned toward the door. “There’s no way any of my shoes will fit you, but we’ll see what we can find next time we go ashore.”

Elspeth shuffled after him, clutching her pelt to her chest.

He led her down a set of stairs, and into a hallway. It was short, one end appearing to hold a kitchen, with a door immediately to the right, and another a little farther down on the same side.

Aegir opened the door closest to them, and revealed a small room with six bunks, two on each of the other three walls. Only one of the bunks seemed to be in use at the moment. It had a bag that had been set on the bunk above it, and a pair of boots tucked underneath. The bedding was rumpled, and the sconce on the wall held a partially burned candle.

“This is where Jokith bunks and where—” he pursed his lips, and pulling the door closed behind him, ushered her out. “Actually, I think it might be best if you stayed in my room, I’ll grab what I need and move it down here with Jokith.”

“If that’s what you’d like to do…” Elspeth said. Really, now that she had her pelt, she just needed to keep him happy and from asking too much about their relationship until she could leave.

“Are you hungry then?” he asked, walking toward the galley. He put an arm up against the door frame, crossing one foot over the other. He placed his other hand on his hip and rolled his head toward her. “Since my first snack got away, I’ll need to eat something else.”

He smiled, and something inside Elspeth turned almost pleasantly.