Mardon stopped at the foot of the stairs and chuckled when he saw the men quickly move away from the nun. Nairnie held them at bay with her threats and he admired her tenacity. Too bad she had a bad attitude about pirates because she made a better pirate than some of his crew. He chuckled, and called out to his men. “We’ve got a guest on board and you’ll all show some respect. We’ll be dropping her off in Canterbury in a few days.”
“Is she really goin’ to help us find the treasure, Cap’n?” asked Goldtooth. He crossed his burly arms over his chest. “Because we don’t like havin’ a bloody nun on board.”
“Aye, she’s going to help us. And Nairnie’s words are mine, so no one touches the wench. Savvy?”
“Aye, Cap’n.”
“We hear ye,” the men answered one by one.
“Good. Weigh anchor. Let’s set sail, and get a move on. We have to get to the treasure before Nereus, and he already has the clue.” That put the fire under them. The men hurried about the ship, climbing the lines and setting the sails, getting ready to head out to collect the king’s treasure that would make them all rich men. Mardon’s eyes once again fastened to Emmaline. He was drawn to her and he found it hard to look away.
“You’d better mind your own orders,” came Aaron’s voice from the air, hanging on to the ratlines, watching him from above. Mardon felt as if his brother were reading his thoughts and he didn’t like that.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your damned hammock, Aaron. Eventually,” he growled. Mardon turned and headed back up to the helm, still thinking about the nun. Damn, this was going to be a long journey for the next few days, and he felt as if he were going to go mad before it was over.
“Where do I go to get washed up?” Emmaline asked Nairnie as the ship set sail. A gust of wind filled the sails and the ship glided easily across the water and out to sea.
“Ye’re on a pirate ship now, lass,” said Nairnie, picking through the rubble from the fire, finding some bowls and pans. She shook off the soot and started stacking the items in her arms. “If ye ken what’s guid for ye, ye willna take off a stitch of clothing around these men. Ever! They’re no’ to be trusted.”
“B-but I’m a nun,” she told the old woman. “Surely, they wouldn’t touch me.”
“Are ye really that daft or just tryin’ to get yerself rogered at the rail?” spat Nairnie, pushing a stack of cooking items into Emmaline’s hands.
“Rogered at the rail? I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Figure it out.” Nairnie hooked the end of the ladle on to her belt. “Just keep swingin’ those hips of yers the way ye do when ye walk and I’m sure ye’ll find out what I mean very quickly.”
“Is there something wrong with the way I walk?”
“No’ if ye’re tryin’ to get a man’s attention. Bring those things over here,” she told Emmaline, brushing off the top of a barrel. “I’ve got to start cookin’ and I need somewhere to do it.”
“What happened here?” Emmaline asked Nairnie, eyeing up the burned remains of what looked like a small room at the bow of the ship.
“We had a couple of traitors aboard the ship that tried to blame the fire on me. Those fools set my galley on fire and almost took the whole ship with it.”
“Are they still here?” she asked curiously, not knowing what to expect.
“Nay. Noll and Wybert jumped ship and now they work for my grandsons’ nemesis, the pirate name Nereus.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’m no’. After bein’ a prisoner of Nereus, I realize those two fools deserve everythin’ they get from Nereus. He’ll probably end up killin’ them just for fun.”
“You were taken prisoner?” She wanted to know more but Nairnie was reluctant to tell her.
“Enough talk. I have work to do. Stay close to me and ye’ll be fine. Dinna stray or ye’ll regret it.”
“Nairnie, I’m sure none of the crew even gave me a second glance,” said Emmaline, laying the items down atop the barrel.
“Really.” Nairnie’s one brow arched and she nodded. “Turn around and see for yerself if ye dinna believe me.”
Emmaline turned around to find each and every one of the pirates watching her from their positions on the deck. Some were up in the lines, others swabbed the deck, and still more men were positioned up on the forecastle, looking down. Like Nairnie said, they all worked but had an eye on her at the same time. That made her feel very ill at ease.
“My grandson seems to have taken the most interest in ye. He hasna taken his eyes off of ye since ye stepped foot on this ship.”
“You mean Mardon?” she asked, her eyes flashing up to the sterncastle where Mardon was at the helm talking with another of his crew. Sure enough, he was watching her. He nodded his head in acknowledgment when he saw her look at him.
Emmaline jerked and spun around on her heel. She lowered her face, hoping none of these men had gotten a good look at her. Not that they’d remember her face when she was sure they’d been staring at other parts of her body instead, where the painting was concerned. A knot formed in her stomach. “Mayhap I shouldn’t be here.”
“Nay, ye shouldna. This is the last place ye should be. But it’s too late to change that. Ye are a part of this treasure hunt now whether ye like it or no’.”
“What’s in it for me?” she asked Nairnie.
Nairnie’s head turned and she looked at Emmaline over her shoulder. Her lips pursed and her eyes glowered at Emmaline as she made a face. “Don’t let my grandsons hear ye talkin’ like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Only a fool would believe a nun was thinkin’ about herself, askin’ to make a deal that would benefit her directly.”
“Well, they won’t hear me. This is just between us, Nairnie.” She flashed the old woman a smile. “I’m just curious. Why should I risk my life to help steal a treasure for stinking pirates?”
Nairnie chuckled. “Aye, they dinna bathe as much as they should, but they’re no’ all stinkin’, I assure ye. Tell me, what is it ye want?” Nairnie put down a few items and looked directly at her. The woman’s eyes were mysterious with speckles that made her look wise like a sage. It was almost as if she were gazing into Emmaline’s mind, and this made her feel very unsettled. She broke the connection by looking at the deck, pretending to find interest among the ashes.
“Me? Why do you think I want anything at all? For myself, I mean.” Emmaline walked over and placed the items she held on a nearby wooden box.
“Ye didna seem to fight very hard about comin’ aboard a pirate ship. So that leaves me to believe it is a risk ye’re willin’ to take to get whatever it is ye want. Am I right?”
“All I want is a good reputation. That is something I’m never going to get if I help you steal from a church!”
“Is there somethin’ wrong with the reputation ye have now? Is this part of that deep, dark secret ye’re hidin’?”