Caleb laughed and gripped the quarterdeck railing.“She says she hails from the future.”
Chuckling, Alden gazed out at sea then up at the men in the tops adjusting sail.“My guess is she must be mad or a witch as Ayida said.”
Leaning toward Alden, Caleb lowered his voice.“She had the Ring.”
“Faith now!”Alden thumbed the scar across his cheek and gave an incredulous snort.“How?”He glanced down at the main deck where Liam strolled, inspecting the rigging.“Was it not in—?”
“Aye.Last I saw it.”Wind blasted over Caleb, and he snapped hair from his face.“I have no clue how she knew where to look.Only you and I knew its hiding place.”
“Hmm.Most curious.Someone must have sent her aboard.Someone who knows about the Ring.”
“But who?Only my family knows.”
Alden nodded, rubbing his jaw.
“The strange thing is,” Caleb said.“I could swear I’ve seen her before.There’s something familiar, even haunting about her.”Feeling foolish, he shrugged.“Just add it to the other mishaps we’ve had on this mission.”
“It has been quite the adventure already.”Alden shook his head.“That leak in the hold that ruined our rice.”
“Then that sudden squall that threw us off course.”
“And don’t forget the galleon that almost sank us,” Alden added.
Caleb blew out a sigh.“Indeed.Seems someone orsomethingdoesn’t wish me to complete my mission.”
Alden gripped Caleb’s shoulder.“But you are strong.You are your father’s son.With God’s help, we will be victorious.”
A blast of brine-laden wind swirled around them as if adding a seal of approval to Alden’s statement.
Though not much older than Caleb, his quartermaster possessed a wisdom far beyond his years, along with a faith in God that put Caleb’s to shame.Which was probably the reason Caleb’s father had asked him to join theSentinel.More proof of Caleb’s inadequacy, his need to be watched over.
Sunlight bounced off the man’s wooden cross, and Caleb gripped his own silver one.A gift from his father.Now, if only Caleb could measure up to such a mighty man of God.
Yet hadn’t he already destroyed any chance of that?“Seems I am not destined to such victories, my friend.”
“Nonsense.”Alden studied him.“You must release the past, you know.”
“Hard to do when I cannot escape the pain in my sister’s eyes.Or the screams of the dying in my nightmares.”
The ship bucked over a wave, and Alden adjusted his stance.“You take on too much.Leave the past where it belongs and accept God’s forgiveness.”
“As you keep telling me.”
“And I will continue until you follow my wise advice.”He arched a playful brow.
“You sound like my father.”
“That pleases me more than you know.”Alden glanced aloft and shouted.“Ho there, Spike, God gave us wind, don’t waste it!Sheet ’em home and let her fly.”Then turning to Caleb again, “So what are you going to do about this strange woman?”
Shaking his head, Caleb crossed arms over his chest.“I do not know.Something about her.She seems sincere.Yet, I was so terribly wrong about Geneviève.I don’t trust myself.What do you think?”
“You’re the captain.’Tis your decision.”
Aye, he was.And oft the weight of that responsibility felt far too heavy.“She knows about the Ring.I must find out why and how.Either way, I cannot release her yet, or she’ll surely tell someone of its existence.”
Alden shielded his eyes from the sun.“We will soon be at the location.Then you can complete your mission.”
“I long to toss the foul thing overboard right now.Be rid of it.Perhaps ’tis the reason for all our mishaps of late.”
