Page 3 of Bride of the Sinful Laird
“Ye are slaves?”
“Aye, bound in chains tae be taken tae the East tae satisfy the appetites of Sultan Osman, of the Ottomans. It seems he desires fair hair and blue eyes above all else.”
“And ye’ve all been…kidnapped?” Annora glanced around in horror.
“Aye.” The woman’s voice hardened. “I was ripped from me bed chamber and dragged tae the shore, where they clamped me in chains and forced me ontae the ship. All the lasses here share a similar tale.”
Once she was shackled like this there could be no escape.
“Who are these evil men?”
“Why, have ye nae heard of the Barbary Corsairs? They menace the coast, stealing us fer slaves.”
Annora’s heart plummeted. Somehow, she had to find a way to get away from that ship. For some reason they had not yet put her in chains, probably because they were busy setting sail and she posed no threat to them. But she knew she had very little time before they went looking for her. She stumbled to her feet clutching her cloak around her and made for the door.
Behind her she heard the woman’s laughter. “Ye’ll never escape except overboard tae feed the fishes.”
All Annora’s reason had fled. She had thought she was escaping a life enslaved to a husband she despised, yet here she’d found herself bound for an even worse fate.
This is far from luck!
Once she was outside the cabin, she leaned against the railing, breathing deeply, trying to steady herself while she vainly sought for a plan of escape. She knew, now, that her idea of being put ashore at the first port of call was in tatters. These men would never allow her to leave.
Peeking around the corner of the little structure she saw the man she recognized as the captain conferring with several other men further along the deck. She could see from their clothing that they were foreign. Each of them wore a turban wrapped on his head, their clothing was loose, and they had bare feet. Tuckedinto their wide cloth sashes were fierce-looking weapons like sharp, curved swords.
Annora drew back, hoping to remain unnoticed - at least until she could decide what her next move would be.
Looking around in desperation she found a small alcove where she could hide. She crawled inside and tucked her legs up, holding her cloak around her in an effort to keep out the biting wind. No doubt the captain would think she was with the other lasses and he’d pay her no attention as long as she was out of sight.
As the minutes passed, the ship kept up a brisk pace, the wind filling its sails, and Annora made up her mind that if they came close to land, she would slip overboard and attempt to swim to shore.
Even if she drowned it would be far better than giving in to what fate seemed to have in store for her.
It was approaching dusk and the sky was turning sunset gold when she dared to creep out of her hiding place and peer into the distance.
Squinting into the west her eyes made out the dark outline of hills against the setting sun.
This could only be the Isle of Skye.
Her heart was pounding, the blood roaring in her ears, as the ship drew ever closer to the shoreline.
Mayhap they intended to go ashore here in search of yet more captives.
She waited, hardly daring to breathe, as the coastline came into view. They were heading for a rocky cove directly ahead. She could make out at least two other vessels riding at anchor in the little bay. If they drew close enough, she could slip overboard and swim toward one of them.
Time seemed to stand still as the passing moments eked slowly by.
Before losing another second, Annora undid her cloak and removed the boots that would weigh her down, and crawled closer to the railing.
They were still in deep water but scarcely moving when she heard the splash as the anchor was lowered. If she was to have a hope of escaping, she had to act quickly, before the men left the ship and moved toward the shore.
She heaved up her skirt and petticoat and threw her legs over the railing, balancing on a small ledge as she prepared to throw herself into the sea.
To her horror she heard a cry go up followed by fast, heavy, footsteps along the deck heading in her direction.
I’ve been seen!
Sucking in a deep breath she struck out for the nearest ship, which, alas, seemed to be much further away than she’d first gauged. Through the sound of her own splashing, she heard shouts coming from the Corsairs’ vessel and realized that the men had followed her into the sea.
