Page 81 of Highland Dragon Master
Rising from her seat, she lifted her chin, then came over to settle herself against Erik’s side. At first her limbs were tense, as though she waited for a challenge, but none came and she let out a breath when Erik put his arms around her. He saw her look across the fire, meeting Marcus’s eyes, and then saw the other man smile rather triumphantly.
“Hmm?” Erik asked Toinette under his breath.
She made a face. “He was right, the bastard. Bless him.”
* * *
Battered, patched, ransacked for supplies, theHawkstill floated, and Toinette still stood steadier on her deck than anywhere else. With her hand on the wheel, she scanned the cloudy sky above and then looked to the crew at their places.
The wind was right. The tide was right.Visio deihad shown that the island’s center was oddly empty, but the black-purple web from before had crumbled entirely away. Unless they waited through the winter, there was likely no better time.
“Very well,” she said. “Let’s cast off.”
She held her breath as the ropes dropped away and the sails snapped out. She would have wagered that every man aboard did the same.
And yet it waseasy, almost the smoothest launch Toinette had ever made. TheHawkcaught the tide at once, with never a bump or a sense of dragging the bottom. Wind filled the sails almost immediately. Perhaps, Toinette thought, the spirits of wind and water were themselves glad to be free, eager as long-tied dogs.
Within a few minutes, they were out past the point where the wind had turned before. They’d almost made the open ocean before Toinette recalled herself and grabbed the wheel, laughing. “Bring her about!” she called to a crew who’d stood as astonished as she’d been. “We’ve a day of provisioning still to go.”
She didn’t add anything, not wanting to tempt fate, but the rest of the words were in her heart regardless:And then we make for home.
* * *
“Right now,” said Erik, “I can see why you take so much joy in the sea.”
In the dawn light, the island receded behind them. The cabin would stand empty. Perhaps one day others would use it for shelter and wonder who’d come before, just as they might survey the graves on the beach. Perhaps the woods would retake the cabin before another set of human eyes looked on the island.
The wind was chilly against Erik’s face, but he wouldn’t have traded it, or the smell of salt and the feel of their brisk passage through the ocean, for any moment of stillness by a fire.
Toinette turned and smiled at him. With her hair and gown blown back, she could have graced the prow of a ship herself, save that she was far more vividly colored than any figurehead. “Just now, I think you’ve a place here any time you’d like.”
“Certainly so,” said Marcus, looking up from coiling rope, “especially as I fear we might be in sore need of hands soon. John, at least, wants to spend a year or so raising crops and children, and Raoul’s been speaking more of his girl back home.”
“Undeserving wench,” said Toinette. She turned the wheel and then went on. “Though I admit the idea of a few seasons on land appeals more these days. Perhaps,” she said, not looking at Erik, “it’s time I saw what summer looks like a little further from the coast.”
“I know of a place or two that might suit,” said Erik, putting a hand on her shoulder. He looked at Marcus.Eroswas not the only sort of love—his education had been classical enough to cover that—and loyalty was a great treasure itself. “And I’d wager that half a score of strong men would be welcome there. Men who’ve seen the world and proven their worth particularly.”
“A man does have to consider his old age,” said Marcus. “I’d very much enjoy spending mine in the company of friends, and among those who’ve seen…some of the stranger corners of the world.”
“Then put the word out,” said Toinette. She raised a hand to cover Erik’s, squeezed it, and added with a grin, “And know that it’s likely to be cold.”
“I always knew you’d lead me to a bad end, Captain.”
Laughing, they made for home.
