Page 4 of The Tempest
Those softly uttered words by Tay brought consternation to a group that was already plagued by confusion. Kristian, who was their seagoing trainer, seemed particularly serious in the face of such information.
“We are safe from Triton’s Hellions and the Demons of the Sea by virtue of the fact that Blackchurch is related to one through blood and to the other through marriage,” he said, brow furrowed. “Because of that relationship, other pirate factions leave us alone, but do Medusa’s Disciples have no such restraint?”
St. Sebastian shook his head. “It seems not,” he said. “My father is very concerned because of their leader. God, I cannot even say the name.”
He shuddered, averting his gaze, but they all knew whom he was speaking of. Someone that no sane man liked to acknowledge. Tay, who had been contemplating the situation, finally dared to say it.
“Bloody Maude,” he muttered. “We all know what she is capable of. We’ve heard the rumors.”
There was some serious grunting of concern going around the table at that statement. “I met a man once who had a brush with Bloody Maude,” Creston said ominously. “He said that she wears her trophies around her neck. The woman has a necklace of dead and dried male members she’s put on a chain and uses it to frighten her enemies.”
“It would frighten me right out of my skin,” Tay said with conviction. “She cuts off men’s male organs without thought. She displays them like some grotesque chain of jewels and I, for one, do not intend for my wife’s greatest pleasure to become part of some macabre collection.”
“And that is why we must return home,” St. Sebastian said, gesturing to the door. “Come, now. We can discuss Bloody Maude as we run back to the safety of Blackchurch.”
He didn’t need to prod anyone. The mere threat of the brutal Scottish pirate queen and her disregard for what men held precious had them all quite ready and willing to depart, heading out into the darkness. Running out was more like it. No one wanted to stroll home leisurely with that kind of danger looming. Tay lingered behind for just a moment to warn the tavernkeep, who thought it might be a good idea to close early and lock up for the night.
But why she was coming was anyone’s guess.
An evening of triumph was ending on a frightening note.
PART ONE
THE PIRATE QUEEN
CHAPTER ONE
This was herlife now.
Captive of Bloody Maude.
Chained up to a wagon, with her wrists chafed and bleeding from being restrained and her legs bound at the ankles, it was her fault that she was in this position. She’d kicked someone in the face one too many times. She’d gouged one too many eyes. From the moment Maude and her band of pirates had captured her off the coast of the island of Formentera, her entire life had been filled with fighting. They’d managed to surprise the vessel she’d been traveling on and before she even knew what was happening, men were boarding the ship and either killing those on board or taking them prisoner.
Fortunately, she’d been taken prisoner.
Although she was beginning to question that luck.
The old wagon she was riding on lurched over the rocky road and slammed her against the bed. Grunting in pain, she tried to keep her balance, which was difficult considering how tightly restrained she was. Splinters were digging into her backside and into her arms. They’d offered to untie her when they transferred her from the ship to the stolen wagon, provided she would behave herself, but she couldn’t. In this situation, it simplywasn’t possible. Prisoners had a right to escape and she would try, at every opportunity, to exercise those rights.
But her resolve was wavering.
“Are ye hurt, lass?” A woman came around the side of the wagon, shouting at the driver to stop before she addressed her again. “This road is terrible, made worse at night because we canna see it well. That last hole was a big one.”
The prisoner glared at her, unable to speak for the gag on her mouth, so she didn’t answer. She simply looked away after a moment, which prompted the woman to remove her gag.
“There,” she said. “That’s better, is it not? If ye behave yerself, I’ll leave it off.”
The prisoner licked her dry, cracked lips. “If you were in my position, would you behave?”
The woman cocked her head thoughtfully. “More than likely not,” she said. “I’ve told ye before that I respect the fight ye have in ye. I dunna fault ye for it. But ye’ve hurt three of my men and that is why I’ve had tae restrain ye, Princess Astria.”
There it was. The damnable woman knew her name, one she’d tried to keep from her when she was first captured, but a frightened sailor was tortured into telling Bloody Maude everything about her captive.
Princess Maria Astria Julia.
Daughter of a king.
Her father had been Sancho of Portugal, a once-powerful ruler with a great army and a penchant for political games. He was gone now, but her family still held the throne. Astria had been taken to Wales, she thought, but she couldn’t be certain. She’d heard some of Maude’s men speaking of Wales, so she assumed that the pirates intended to hide her from her family before ransoming her. She was to be used as a prize.
