The Captain's Treasure
Author
B. Shock
Reads
256K
Chapters
21
Chapter 1
VIOLET
I ran across the grounds, the cold night air biting my skin as each breath bloomed into tiny white clouds.
Iām doing it! Iām finally doing it!
My cheek stung from where Lance had struck me, a thin trickle of blood trailing down it as I darted into the stables. I paused for a moment, glancing back at the house to see if anyone had noticed my absence yet.
The windows were still dark. Most of the staff had hastily turned in after the scene at dinner, leaving only me and a few night watchmen awake at this hour. Iād managed to avoid them so far, hiding in the shadows as I gathered whatever I could carry.
I wasnāt going to be the obedient little wife Lance wanted. Seen but not heard, forced to scurry around my own home for fear of my husbandās wrath.
Iād rather take my chances on the streets than live like that. Iāll get to the docks and find a ship. Start over somewhere new. Somewhere far away from Lance.
I pulled a bridle down and dipped into one of the stalls, shushing the steed as I slipped it over her head. Shouts suddenly erupted from the house as the guards rushed into the courtyard, their torches held high.
āWhere is she?ā roared the imperious voice of my fiancĆ©. āFind her and bring her to me!ā
My hands shook as I swung my leg over the horseās back, grateful to not be wearing a dress for once as I dug my heels into her flank.
āHiya!ā I cried.
āThere! Thief!ā someone shouted as I thundered out of the stables.
My gaze shot toward the figure in the doorway, catching the dark look on Lanceās face as I sped past. I snapped the reins, urging the horse to go faster as we quickly left Lanceās estate behind us.
Thereās no turning back now. If he catches me, Iām as good as dead.
***
I ditched the horse just outside of town, navigating the streets by lantern light as I made my way toward the docks. Five ships were moored in the harbor, three of them the crownās mighty naval vessels. I steered clear of them. Their devoted crew would just hand me back over to my fiancĆ©, their admiral.
I headed toward one of the other ships, a newer merchant vessel with crisp white sails. The quartermaster stood by the gangway, picking his nails with a dagger.
āGreetings!ā I called, lowering my voice so I sounded more like a man.
āWhat do you want?ā he grumbled, glancing at me with a raised eyebrow.
āIād like to book passage on your ship! Pray, what is your next port of call?ā
He glared at me, crossing his arms over his chest. āPort Karshin.ā
Port Karshin?! Thatās perfect! Lance would never find me in a big city like that!
āExcellent. How much?ā
I pulled out my pouch of stolen coins and jewels. He glanced at the small bag before bursting into laughter.
He shook his head, wiping the blade he held on the worn fabric of his breeches. āGet lost, kid.ā
āSir, please. I really need to get off theāā
He shoved me, his dagger cutting my arm as I fell to the ground. Blood dripped from the wound onto the wooden planks.
āI said get lost! Weāre not taking on any passengers, and even if we were, we wouldnāt do it for a few measly coins! Now, scram!ā
I quickly retreated, clutching my hand around the gash on my forearm. I spotted a barrel of water near an alley and rushed over, barely glancing at the reflection of my stable boy disguise as I scooped up a small handful. I winced as I cleaned the blood and debris from my arm.
What a rude man. I untied the scarf from around my neck and used it to bind my wound, sighing as my gaze drifted back to the docks. There doesnāt seem to be anyone standing by the other ship. Its crew is probably in one of the taverns. If I can find their captain, maybe I can barter for passage.
The sound of voices drew my attention, and I turned, paling as I spotted four of Lanceās men approaching. I quickly hid behind the barrel as they neared. My stomach churned when the subject of their conversation reached my ears.
āWhy are we out here in the middle of the night? What are we even looking for?ā one groaned.
āThe admiralās fiancĆ©e is missing, you idiot. She wasnāt in her room when the maid checked on her, and there was that horse thief in the stables,ā another responded. āIf you ask me, she probably ran away with the stable boy. A little loverās tryst, you know?ā
āDonāt know what the admiral is so worked up about,ā the third said with a scoff. āGood riddance. Sheās the bastard child of the baronās maid. Donāt even understand why he was even interested in her.ā
āItās business,ā the second replied. āThe baron wants protection from the navy. Too many of his ships have been hit by pirates, and heās losing money. Heāll make the admiral a partner once he marries the girl. Heāll be a very rich man. Wouldnāt fancy being his bride though. Heās gotāā
āShut your mouths before you get us into trouble!ā the last guard scolded as they passed by, completely oblivious to my presence.
I waited a moment until I heard them talking with the quartermaster before sneaking out from my hiding spot and sprinting back into town.
Damn. How did they find me so quickly? I thought I had more time.
I shook my head, pushing my doubts aside as I tried to focus on how to get off the island. I needed to find the other shipās captain. Judging by the state of his ship, heād be willing to take whatever coin I offered.
The sound of cheering and music echoed from one of the buildings. Drunken men loitered out front, a couple of harlots standing by the door and tempting passing sailors into spending their coin on gambling and good times.
Iād be willing to bet someone in there could tell me where he is. I might still have a chance.
I made my way toward the tavern, determined not to lose my one shot at freedom.
***
A woman shoved open the tavernās front door as I approached, angrily throwing a very drunk man into the streets.
āIf you canāt pay, you donāt play!ā she shouted, straightening her skirts as the girls on either side of her laughed.
He scrambled to his feet, roughly grabbing the womanās arm as she turned to go back inside. She spun, giving him a good hard kick between the legs and making him release her. He dropped to his knees, his hands clutched around his precious pearls as he yelped.
Wincing, I darted around him and followed the woman into the establishment. I pulled the brim of my hat down, hiding my face as I entered. The men around the bar cast a bored glance my way, making me grateful once again for my disguise.
Heaven knows what would have happened to me had I stolen a uniform from the maid.
A large body collided with me, knocking me into a table and spilling some of the drinks on top of it. A gruff man grabbed me by the collar, nearly pulling me off my feet.
āWatch it, boy!ā he spat.
He pushed me away, scowling at me as he walked to the bar for another drink. I quickly made my way toward the back where a crowd had gathered around a table. Curious, I rose on my tiptoes to see what game they were playing.
Five players sat in a circle, each one with a wooden mug in his hand. They shook them, the sharp sound of dice rattling against the edges, before they slammed their cups facedown onto the table. Each gambler then raised the rim just high enough to take a peek while still keeping their roll hidden.
Oh! Liarās dice! Iāve seen the men at the estate play that. You just have to be a good liar and keep a straight face. I could do that. I hide my true thoughts around Lance all the time.
The man opposite me caught my eye. He was lavishly dressed in a dark-red coat, his large hat shielding his face as he glanced down at his dice. I could just see the line of his jaw, the light stubble of his cheek giving him a hard, rugged profile.
That has to be the captain. He looks intimidating. What if I donāt have enough for passage?
I bit my lip as I stared at him.
Wait! What if I played him for it? Heāll have to take me if he loses a bet, right? Thatās crazy. If I lose, then Iāll have nothing.
āBetterā¦stay here, lad,ā a drunk slurred as he leaned against the wall near me. āNavyās out lookinā for aā¦stable boy like you.ā He hiccuped, his eyes drooping as he drained his tankard. āSay he stole a horseā¦and the admiralās woman. Theyāllā¦hang himā¦by sunrise, for sure.ā
I watched the drunkard slowly slide to the floor, his hand still clutched around his cup as he snored.
My chest tightened as I turned back to the game. I had no choice. Iād have to play and win if I wanted off this island.
