“I’m sorry, Lord,” he whispered, fingering the cross around his neck.“Somehow I drifted from You.”And nothing had been right since.
He’d disappointed his Lord, the One who had died for him.He’d allowed a woman to deceive and distract him, to lure him off course.Many had lost their lives.And Caleb had not only lost his confidence, but he’d also lost his deep connection with God.
Could he get it back?Or was it too late?Were his mistakes too glaring?The deaths he caused too many to be forgiven?Or at least too many for God to ever trust him with anything important again?
“I need you, this night, Lord,”
A knock preceded Alden poking his head through the open door.Upon seeing Caleb’s open Bible, his smile grew wide.“Good.You’re praying.We will need God’s help more than ever.”
Rising, Caleb set Patches on the desk and closed the Bible.“So, word was sent?”
Liam burst through the door.“Aye.His servant just dropped this off.”He waved a small piece of rag paper, folded and sealed with red wax, and handed it to Caleb.
To Capitaine Caleb Hyde,
You will present yourself at midnight at the old auction yard beyond the town wall.Bring the Ring of Solomon.In exchange, you will receive the woman.
I counsel you to come alone, and to come swiftly.Any delay or deceit will forfeit her safety.
— Louis-Étienne de Montverre
Caleb tossed the note onto his desk, not wanting to even handle the same paper the marquis had touched.Midnight.He glanced out the stern windows.Another four hours.Four hours in which Desi suffered God-knew-what at the hands of the French madman.Reaching into his doublet pocket, he withdrew the rings, one warming to his touch, the other cold as the gold it was forged from.Then circling the desk, he held them up to the lantern light.
Liam whistled and drew closer.“I can hardly tell ’em apart.Which is which?”
Caleb slipped the Ring onto his finger.A perfect fit, heavy with a power and authority that spanned time.The amber jewel in the center glowed.
Flinching, Liam gasped.
Alden grabbed the second ring and held it up to the one on Caleb’s finger.Both were nearly the same size, both made of gold, both had a reddish-yellow gem in the center.Both had etchings around the jewel and down the sides.“The only difference I see is the Ring’s gem is larger, more brilliant, and the markings are in ancient Hebrew.While these,” he pointed to the other ring, “are in what appears to be Egyptian hieroglyphics.”
Caleb stiffened his jaw.He’d been surprised to find so similar a match among the chest of jewels they’d recently pilfered off a Spanish merchantman.“The problem lies in whether the marquis has ever seen the real Ring and hence, would be able to tell the difference.”
Alden handed the fake ring to Caleb.“He’s quite accomplished, but I wager he’s only heard descriptions of the relic.’Tis worth the attempt.”
Liam’s gaze remained locked on Solomon’s Ring.“How powerful is it?”
“Not as powerful as God, Liam,” Alden said pointedly.“And its power hails from the darkness.”
Ignoring Alden’s words, Liam’s green eyes glittered.“Are you taking it with you?”
Caleb shook his head.“Best to keep it safely locked up here should Montverre break his word and take me captive.”
“I’m going with you,” Alden announced, his tone brooking no argument.
“Nay.”Caleb slipped the fake ring into his pocket.“I must go alone.I cannot have her harmed.”
The door creaked open, and in swept Ayida, tray in hand, and a warm breeze in tow.The sound of a flute, the rap-tap of bones and spoons, along with a sailors’ ditty followed her in from above where the men were enjoying a night of revelry now that the repairs were completed.
The cook’s sharp gaze went from Caleb’s uneaten bowl of fish stew to him.“You can’t keep up your strength, Capitaine, if you don’t eat.”
“Not very hungry tonight, Ayida.Thank you.”
While she busied herself collecting his bowl and silverware, Caleb faced Liam.“Get above and ensure the men are behaving themselves and not overindulging.We may have only moments in which to weigh anchor and set sail.”
It all depended on how long it took the marquis to figure out the ring was a forgery.
Pulling his gaze from the artifact, Liam nodded and left, grumbling under his breath.Something Caleb was accustomed to with the Bosun.
