As soon as dawn broke, he fled to the galley, grabbed bread, cheese, and water, then made his way to his cabin. He spotted his father twice, but duties kept the captain from noticing him.
Petran knocked on his cabin door, whispering, “It’s me.”
The door opened. Arkenn stood, sheet wrapped around his waist. Clean, and with nearly all his injuries healed, Petran finally realized Arkenn wasn’t a boy, but no more than a summer older than Petran’s own eighteen, though small.
And he was beautiful. So very beautiful. Pale skin, fair hair, and those blue eyes. He was a hand shorter than Petran, with the beginnings of a stocky build. Pink crept into Arkenn’s cheeks.
What? Why… Oh. Petran averted his gaze. Staring. He’d been caught staring. “I brought you food and drink.” He placed his offerings on a box he used as a table. “How are you feeling?” Once more, his gaze landed on Arkenn’s shoulder. No burns. No scars, even. What? “How… how did you heal so fast?” Without making a conscious decision to do so, Petran ran his fingers lightly over the soft skin he’d seen badly burned a few days ago.
They both froze. Petran dropped his hand, settling on the end of the bunk, too far away to appear a threat.
Arkenn shivered, though heat permeated the cabin. “The burns weren’t as bad as you thought, probably. What are you going to do when we reach the city? Will you go ashore?”
“This is my father’s ship, which is why I have my own quarters instead of sleeping with the crew. I’m under his command. Don’t worry, though. I’ll find a way to get you ashore without anyone the wiser.” At least, Petran hoped. Then again, no one paid him much attention. While the men and women aboard the ship fought, fucked, and otherwise interacted with each other, his father declared Petran off-limits, forever seeing him as a lad instead of the man he’d become.
I promised yer mum.Da’s answer to everything.
Why can’t I go on raids?
Because I promised yer mum.
Why can’t I be a pirate like you?
Because I promised yer mum.
Why do I have to learn? You never did.Petran wore his belligerence like a badge of honor when asking.
Da didn’t rise to the bait, merely giving a soft smile, barely visible through the scruff of his beard.Because I promised yer mum.
Only vague memories of Petran’s mysterious mum remained, but she must have been a formidable woman for Da to work so hard at keeping promises long after her death.
Da and the crew also tolerated a horrible cook because the man taught Petran to read, write, and work with numbers. Even some healer’s art.
Both brows climbed Arkenn’s forehead. “Your father is the captain?”
“Yes. Jaed Three-fingers, they call him.” Petran smiled. “I’ll tell you a secret. The crew believes he lost two fingers to a rival captain—a captain who’s now missing more than fingers.” He made a face and drew a finger across his neck. “The truth is, Da caught his hand in the reins while plowing when a snake spooked the horse.”
Arkenn winced.
“Yeah. He said it was pretty painful, but my mum fixed him right up. She couldn’t save the fingers, though.”
“If he’s captain, does that mean you’ll be captain one day?” Arkenn didn’t seem in the least perturbed, merely curious.
“No.” Petran shook his head, suppressing bitterness from his words. “He promised my mum I’d be more than a pirate. Not that I mind life at sea, but he won’t hear of it. One day soon, we’ll go ashore, and he’ll leave without me.” The thought made Petran’s heart ache. The ship, his da, the crew, the sea… all he’d ever known.
He’d be abandoned, alone, with only himself to rely on.
Arkenn squirmed a bit closer on the bunk. Close enough to touch with minimal effort. Petran kept his hands to himself. “That’s horrible.”
Petran shrugged. “That’s the way of things. It’s also why I always take my share with me when we’re in a port he’d deem acceptable for my future.” It wouldn’t be long. Petran was now a man and couldn’t help looking at an attractive young crewman who’d come aboard a few seasons back.
When the new recruit returned Petran’s affections, the captain left him ashore at the next village.
A pirate ain’t good enough for you,Da had said.
Yeah, yeah. He’d promised Petran’s mum.
Which didn’t help his frustrations when the only possible lovers available were all pirates.
