Page 51 of The Lord's Compass
The rise and swell of the boat must have rocked her to sleep, for soon enough she was leaning against him, her head resting on his chest. Eric wrapped his arms around her, holding her back against him as he leaned his head forward and nuzzled her hair, which was still sweetly scented.
He had promised to return her home. Now he just had to make sure he followed through, which was no burden. He had been truthful in what he said. Keeping her safe was all that mattered anymore.
He had undertaken this journey for adventure.
Little had he realized the turn it would take.
When the shores of Bilibao appeared on the horizon, Eric’s relief at their safe arrival swelled along with hope when he spotted the large English ship in the harbor. A frigate, from what he could tell. If it was headed in the right direction, it just might mean a speedy passage home, beforeDonRaphael and his friends received any indication as to where they had escaped.
“Thank you,” he said, paying the fisherman as promised, who smiled and tipped his hat once docked, apparently having considered his wages for the day rescued – and, from the direction he was taking, might spend a few of them at what appeared to be a tavern.
“What now?” Faith asked as Eric held out his arm to help her onto shore, noting that this time she naturally accepted his offer without protest.
“Well, Bilibao seems to be a slightly larger port than San Sebastian. Hopefully, we can find a ship to take us in the right direction. Do you see the frigate over there?”
Her gaze followed his finger. “I assume you mean the square-rigged sailing ship with the guns?”
“That it is,” he said, impressed. “How do you know so much about ships?”
“I’m a fast learner,” she said wryly. “So do we just walk up and ask for passage on what appears to be a warship?”
“Let us hope that it does not intend on using those guns, but instead was selected for its speed,” he said. “I’ll see if I can speak to someone on the crew. “Once I find out more, we can determine how we will approach this. We can go with it as we determine the best path forward.”
“You do not want to plan?” she said, her mouth opening slightly and he laughed.
“Of course not. This is far better!”
She shook her head, and he could practically read her thoughts – on what a different approach he would take – in this and almost anything else.
“We work better together,” he said, nudging her with his elbow. “You are trusting me, remember?”
“I remember,” she said, shaking her head, but it was with a smile. “How do you know so much about warships?”
“My father was an officer.”
“Ah, yes, that’s right,” she said.
Keeping a tight grip on the bag that held the map, which he had promised Faith he would never let out of his sight, he walked down the dock as nonchalantly as he could until he came upon a group of crewmen. He paused a moment, listening to them chattering with one another, discovering with delight that they were speaking English. Eventually one of them spotted him and they stopped, waiting to see what he wanted.
“Apologies for the interruption,” he said. “My… wife and I are looking for passage home. I do not suppose that you will be returning to England anytime soon?”
Two of the crewmen who he guessed to be the most senior exchanged a glance before one of them stepped forward.
“That would not be for us to answer,” they said, looking Eric up and down, likely trying to reconcile his polished British accent with his rich Spanish attire. “That would be for our captain – and his guest.”
“His guest?”
But they would say nothing further, worrying Eric, for it meant that there was likely something out of the ordinary about this ship, which didn’t bode well for their chances of passage.
One of the crewmen lifted his chin, pointing behind Eric, and he turned around with interest to see just who this mystery guest might be.
When Eric turned in that direction, however, he spent no time on the man himself, for he was caught by Faith, who had been waiting for him at the end of the dock.
She was close enough that he could read her expression; far enough that he couldn’t be by her side as fast as he would like.
She was rooted to the spot, her body frozen, her posture tense. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide, her mouth quivering, as though uncertain whether to lift her lips in happiness or let them fall open in horror. As Eric moved toward her, he passed by a man who he belatedly realized was also standing still, and as he reached Faith’s side, he wrapped his arm around her, drawing her close as he turned to stand with her to face their foe as a united pair.
When Faith spoke, her voice wavered just once, before she cleared her throat and allowed strength to fill it instead.
