Yet for reasons unknown, he’d hesitated to kill her that day he’d come to her adult nemeton. She still didn’t know why. Any more than she understood why her sister had killed him.
Nothing made sense in this world.
But at least she appeared to be healed now. Grateful that Duel had kept his word, she pushed herself up and went to see where they were.
As she reached the upper deck, Mara expected them to still be at sea.
Instead, they were docked on an island, and she’d slept through most of the day. The sun hung low in the sky, casting shadows across the palms and greenery, while fishermen, merchants, sailors, and those inclined to less than legal means of support scurried about their business on the docks.
But the most curious of all had been left aboard her own ship, while the others appeared to have taken a short liberty ashore. Mara scowled at the two inseparable humans who were working on swabbing the deck. Though to be honest, they were far more engrossed in swapping insults than completing their assigned task.
Jake Devereaux and Blake Landrey. Rugged and tough, they were opposite in every way. One tall, the other short. One plump, the other emaciated. One fair and the other darker than sin. Yet they were best mates and forever fighting over every little thing. She’d never seen anything quite like them.
“Would you stop with the shifting the bucket while I be mopping, Jake? What’s wrong with you, man?”
“Me? Ye be the idiot what’s moving it!”
Hinder Desai, who’d also been left behind to referee the two—lucky him for that punishment—let out an exasperated sigh as he raked his hand across his face and met Mara’s gaze. “Can I be killing them, mum? You think the captain would notice it?”
She laughed at his dire tone. “Probably. Where are we, Mr. Desai?”
He wiped at the sweat on his forehead, then pushed back his black hair before he answered. “Tortuga. We pulled in about two hours ago to make repairs. How are you feeling, mum?”
“Much better. Thank you.”
“Good. Do you need me to fetch anyone for you?”
She considered it. “Are most of the crew on board or on shore?”
“Shore, mum.”
As she figured, then. “Thank you, Mr. Desai.”
“Pleasure, mum.”
She wandered away as she considered his disclosure. It wasn’t like Du to clear the ship completely. What could he have been thinking?
Lost in thought, she collided with Kalder, who came out of nowhere to catch her against his lean, hard body. She gasped in startled alarm.
“You all right?” he asked quickly as he righted her.
“Aye. Sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
“It’s all good. Captain told me to stay behind and keep an eye on you. Not get in your way. Least I accomplished half my mission.”
She laughed. “Where is he?”
“Chasing demons.”
Her chest tightened. “Was he fit for it?”
“Didn’t think it my place to question him, as I didn’t want my throat handed to me.”
She bit back a curse. “Where did he go?”
“That way.” He pointed toward the gangway.
She gave him a droll, irritated glare at the obvious answer, since that was the only way to leave the ship and it gave her no clue as to which way Duel had traveled once he’d reached shore. “Really?”
