The iguana stuffed his face into mine. “Are you ready to listen to me and get in the cabin?”
I took a deep breath and darted across the deck. Another shot struck the deck just as I reached the door. I was shoved into the wood, but managed to grab the handle to keep from falling.
“Grab a hold and brace yourselves, men!” came the voice again.
The vessel lurched to one side away from the other ship. I pushed down on the handle, and the door swung open, sending me tumbling into the interior. The iguana pushed the flat part of his forehead against the sole of my foot.
“Get up, you stupid girl, and close the door!”
I rolled over, nearly striking the lizard with my foot, and lunged at the door. My hands wrapped around the handle, and my weight slammed it shut. I slumped onto the floor, dazed and very confused. The ship shuddered with another thunder strike.
My mind and body had finally had enough, and I dropped into unconsciousness.
Chapter 4
I had the strangest dream. I dreamed someone slipped their strong arms under me and lifted me off a cold, hard floor. They carried me a short distance before gently setting me on soft sheets. The bed sheets were soft and warm. They also shifted as the person sat down beside me.
I flowed in and out of consciousness. Hands moved over my head. A dull pain struck me. Faint noises echoed in my mind.
A voice spoke out of the muddled gloom of slumber. “She doesn’t look that important to me.”
An unfamiliar male voice answered him. “Encina wouldn’t have had her in his hold if she weren’t important.”
The lizard sighed. “I suppose that means we got our money’s worth from that old dog. We’d better have. It cost enough.”
A handsome chuckle was the reply, and I felt the bed move as the person stood. “You’ve done a good job with her so far. I’ll leave you to it.”
“W-what?” the iguana sputtered, and something skittered across my legs. “I will do no such thing!”
Footsteps strolled across the floor. “It’s only until we reach home.”
“You are not leaving me to be nursemaid to this woman! She can’t even swim!”
The footsteps stopped far away. “You’re always bragging about your swimming skills. Teach her.”
“For free?”
“I doubt she has any gold coins on her person.” A tail tapped against my side. “And you don’t have permission to search her.” The tail went limp across my leg. “I’ll check on you in a while.” The door opened and shut.
A grumble came from the lizard as he paced up and down at my side. “Probably doesn’t want me touching her because he wants her for himself. . .”
My mind had begun to awaken during the conversation, and I forced my eyes open. A small, blurry shadow loomed over me. I blinked twice before the iguana’s long, scaly face became focused. “About time.” He was as pleasant as ever.
I shifted and winced. A pounding headache moved into my head with all the grace of an uninvited relative. I reached up one hand, and the tips of my fingers brushed against a bandage.
The iguana plopped himself close beside me. “You have an impressive lump.”
I looked around and furrowed my brow. The door had led me into a single large cabin. My dreamy carrier had carried me to a king bed. There were pillows galore above my head, and the soft white sheets covered the softest mattress I had ever lain upon.
A long, heavy table stretched across the wall opposite where I sat. The thick legs were nailed to the floor, but all the contents were piled in the center, as though someone had dropped it onto the top. A heavy dresser to my left and a large chest at the foot of the bed finished off the furniture.
Windows hung at the back, and a soft blue light flowed through the glass. I squinted at the windows and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My long shirt fell over my lap and tickled my skin.
Wait, long shirt? I dropped my gaze to myself, and my mouth dropped open. My shirt and pants were gone, replaced with a long white blouse. My socks and shoes were also missing, but they weren’t quite as important as the other bits.
I yelped and grabbed one of the sheets, yanking it over my lap. The iguana happened to be on that cloth, and he was sent tumbling onto the floor. He came up sputtering, and his nostrils flared.
“Y-you stupid woman!” it snapped as its tail thwacked against the floorboards. “Why are you throwing around the-”
