Dead Man's Chest (The Plundered Chronicles Book 5) Page 16

  Maggie looked up from the arrow she was carefully removing. “Poison.”

  “What?”

  Maggie smelled an arrowhead and handed it to Quinn.

  Taking the bloody arrow, Quinn smelled it. “What can I do to help?”

  “I have to be honest, my dear, I ken if we can do ennathin’ to help them. I simply do not have the ability. We need a real healer, and that is not me. I’ll do the best I can, but it’s up to Kaylish’s will at this point. There are others I can help, so I need to do so.” Maggie moved to Arracht, who opened his eyes.

  “Ja… cob.”

  Kneeling before him so they were face to face, Quinn explained what they were going to attempt on land. For his part, Arracht listened quietly while Maggie worked over his wounds.

  When Maggie locked eyes with Quinn, she shook her head. “No poison on these, or he would probably be dead.”

  Quinn patted Arracht’s shoulder. “Stay still. She can get these out if you stay still.”

  Arracht nodded. “Jay-cob?”

  Rising, she pulled Maggie aside. “Will he be all right?”

  “Strong as an ox, that one. Physically, he will be fine. I can’t say what will happen if ya doona find his mate. That boy means the world to him.”

  “Doing the best we can.”

  “I’ll do the same, but those two over there,” Maggie pointed to two of Quinn’s wounded men, “will not live through the night.”

  Quinn sighed. “How are you, Maggie? Is there enna thing I can do for you?”

  “Physically, I am fine. My heart is heavy. We have suffered so many losses, and the ship… it is as if our home burnt to the ground. It is… heartbreaking.”

  “Aye. It is. We are working on getting a ship that will take us home.”

  “Verra well, then. I best get to it.”

  When Maggie went back to attend to Arracht, Quinn knelt beside the two dying men and sent a prayer to the goddess. She knew it was futile, but felt it necessary in the event they were spiritual beings.

  “Captain? Freitas wants to see you,” Fitz yelled down the stairs.

  Quinn met Captain Freitas on the bow.

  “Night favors us,” he said, peering through a telescope longer than Quinn’s.

  Quinn pulled hers out and looked out at the galleon. It was beautiful and looked very new. “She’s a beauty.” Quinn noted, seeing how low she sat in the water. She held a great deal of plunder in her hold.

  “That she is. And her belly is about to burst.”

  “Why haven’t they unloaded her?”

  Freitas gently moved her telescope to the right. “The only way to calm those natives is with drink. They call it fire water,” he chuckled. “And they love it. Before they will trade, however, they insist on trying it out.”

  Quinn lowered her ’scope. She had underestimated Freitas as a seaman. “Then now is the perfect time to strike, aye?”

  “Oh yes. Your men… are they—”

  “They are ready, yes, but I do not believe shedding more blood than is necessary will accomplish enna thing this night. If it is all right with you, we’d like to take the lead.”

  “Take the ship first?”

  Quinn nodded. “Once we get her away from land, we can transfer the plunder to your ship.”

  Freitas nodded. “I trust that you will, Captain.”

  “Give me one minute with my crew. Then we will be ready.” Quinn pulled her men together. “We lost twenty-nine men on this voyage, with eight more in the hold struggling for their lives. I will not ask ya to lay it on the line against these natives. I know—”

  “I speak fer alla us, Captain, when I say we are in this together. To a man.” Fitz looked over his shoulder at the nodding men. “To a man, sir.”

  Quinn fought the tears threatening to fill her eyes. “Verra well, then. We lose no one else, you hear me you stinkin’ sea dogs? Not a one. We leave here together, we return together. Firsts, I want you to clear the way. The Spaniards are a drunken lot. They may not be much of a worry. Take the ship as quietly as you can. We do not need to alarm those revelers or the Indians drinking with them. Seconds will follow on my command. Tavish will take lead with the seconds. Once the ship is secure, we will pull it from the bay.”

  “Pull it, sir?”

  “Aye. We can’t row, and there is very little breeze. We just need to move it far enough away from land so they cannot set it on fire. Fitz and Tavish will captain the galleon until it is clear of the bay.”

  “Captain, don’t we get to bloody the ground with the blood of the fuckin’ barbarians that attacked us?” one of the crewmen asked.

  Quinn locked her hands together behind her back. “I’ve thought long and hard about that, fellas, but here’s the thing. Back home, are we fighting against England’s plantation?”

  They nodded. Some said, “Aye.”

  “And aren’t we fighting to keep our clan way of life against those who would destroy it?”

  Again, they nodded.

  “And aren’t we being forced to change our lives, our traditions because of the people invading our lands?”

  They stared at her now.

  “Those native men did not attack us, gentlemen. They were defending their land, just as we have been doing. They are trying to protect their way of life, as we are, and their traditions, as we do. They are in the exact same position as we are. They are not to blame enna more than we are for all those men we’ve sent to the bottom of the sea for attacking us.”

  “So that’s a no?”

  Quinn nodded. “That’s a no. We do not need to kill enna more than we need to in order to get the galleon and start for home. We will not seek vengeance this day against a people who merely wish to be left alone. Enna question?”

  When there were none, Quinn sent the Firsts to the aft side of the ship where they would lower the boats into the water.

  “Your crew is well disciplined, Captain Callaghan, I’ll give you that. I am impressed.”

  “You haven’t seen enna thing, Captain Freitas. My men will make quick work of whoever they left on that ship and have it ready to tow out of the bay in no time.”

  “My crew can fight as well, Captain. If it comes to that, they’ll not know what hit them.”

  “I doubt they will.”

  Quinn watched as her men lowered to the boats, the Portuguese crew following closely behind.

  “Why do you call them firsts?”

  “Because I send the largest, slowest men in first—the real warriors. The men who can take an arrow or a blade and keep fighting.”

  “I see. Well, you do have some rather large men.”

  Quinn did not want to mention how small in stature the Portuguese sailors were. Her men, by comparison, were enormous. The Scottish warriors even more so.

  “I am surprised you did not accompany your crew,” Freitas said.

  “Normally, I would, but there are times they get too concerned with my safety. I’d rather they focus on the task at hand and just get the galleon.”

  Getting the galleon was much easier than either Quinn or Freitas thought. So drunk were the Spaniards, Quinn’s men easily hauled the ship out of the bay without losing one life.

  By the time the Spaniards realized what was happening, it was too late, and when they stumbled to the shore shouting at them. Quinn and Freitas stood on the back of the ship, watching as the Spaniards watched their ship leave without them.

  “My men said the hold is filled with fur. Lots and lots of fur.”

  “That’s great, but we cannot eat fur,” Quinn said.

  Freitas chuckled. “No, we cannot, but there is an island… Bermuda, where we can fish and gather fruits and vegetables for the long journey.”

  “What sort of vegetables?”

  “They have a root vegetable called a…” he looked up as he thought. “Cassava? It is much like a potato. There is much a good cook can do with it and this plantain. We should be able to fill our holds.”

  “There
is an island?”

  “We must travel south a bit, but it will be worth it. As it stands now, we do not have enough food and water for the voyage back.”

  “I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for my crew.”

  “Captain, you need not thank me again. We are alive because you stopped. We have our ship because you so graciously did not sink it. We are no longer indebted to each other. We live. We are allies That is worth rejoicing.”

  Quinn shook his hand and quickly went downstairs to check on her wounded.

  One of the two critically injured had died. Kaylish had not woken but was still alive, and Arracht slept, no longer with arrows protruding from his back. Maggie was sitting on a stool, her head against the wall, mouth open with a soft snore coming out.

  Quinn lightly touched Maggie’s knee.

  “Huh? Oh. I must have fallen asleep. Is everything all right?” She started off the stool.

  Quinn gently forced Maggie back to the stool. “Everything is fine. I just came to check on you and the fellas.”

  “We lost one.”

  “Not for lack of trying, Maggie. You rest now”

  “Have the Scots returned?”

  “We’re not there yet. In the near darkness, we’re going to have to wait to see some sort of light.”

  “Callaghan, do you really believe they will find Jacob? It’s a terribly big island.”

  “I do. The Scots are unrelenting fighters. They have Wabi to help guide them and to hear enna thing the Croatoans may be saying about Jacob. I do believe.”

  Maggie nodded. “Inconsolable that young man will be if Jacob isna alive. You will have to leave him here if ya doona find him.”

  “We will find him. For now, get some rest.”

  “Kaylish…”

  “She seems to be asleep.”

  Maggie shook her head. “I do not believe she is asleep. It’s as if her body has shut down to fight off the poison. I wish there was more I could do, but I have no heals, no paste, nothin’. She is on her own.”

  Quinn leaned over Kaylish and caressed her hair. “Come back to us,” Quinn whispered. “Please.”

  Back on deck, Quinn was not the least bit surprised to find the majority of her crew standing at the railing.

  Looking for the Scotsmen and their boat.

  “Your men are very bonded,” Freitas said. “They will not leave until we find your boat. I hope we do before daybreak.”

  Quinn understood his meaning. The Portuguese would be underway tomorrow regardless of whether or not they found the boat. “I gave them plenty of time to look. If they are not here tonight, they have until tomorrow.”

  It would take most of the night to transfer the booty from the galleon to the Portuguese ship even with all of the extra hands. For her part, Quinn oversaw the transfer from the deck of the galleon, her new ship.

  “She’s a sturdy ship,” Tavish said, standing next to her. “Might even be her maiden voyage. Pretty new.”

  Quinn nodded. “Aye. Twice as big as the Emerald, but slow as shite. Even empty, we’d never outrun an English ship.”

  “Slow, aye, but twelve cannons on either side. Full armory. Runnin’ isna our first option. We will be verra able to defend ourselves.”

  “We need food for the voyage, though.”

  “That island they want to take us to should provide, and the goddess knows we have the room.” Tavish moved closer. “How long are ya gonna wait?”

  Quinn did not move her eyes from the dark water. “Honestly? We’re not leaving without him.”

  Tavish moved so he stood in front of her. “I ken how ya feel about those boys, lad, but ya canna put the crew at risk enna more. If they are not here by noon tomorrow, we have to leave with the Portuguese.”

  “We don’t leave men behind, Tavish.”

  “This time, I think we do. We have a long journey home. We need the Portuguese. I don’t think the crew will support ya if ya choose to stay. We’ve lost alotta men since arrivin’ at this accursed place. I don’t wanna see ya lose their trust, but believe me. Ya will.”

  Quinn felt her chest get heavy. The thought of losing her crew’s faith was tough to reconcile, but leaving the Scotsmen was unfathomable as well.

  “I’ve never lied to ya, lad. Ever. You choose to stay, there will be a mutiny. I guarantee ya that. The men ken that stayin’ with the Portuguese ship is the only safe option.” Tavish stepped away. “The needs of the many, lad. Doona forget that.”

  Quinn stared out into the darkness, feeling the immense weight of her position.

  If she had to leave them behind, she would.

  But she would be back.

  “I see ’em! Starboard side!”

  It was probably sometime near three o’clock in the morning when one of her crew called out that he saw the boat.

  Quinn, who had only gone below to check on the wounded, sprinted to the starboard side of the ship. A small light flickered in the still darkness.

  “Thank the goddess,” Quinn muttered under her breath. “I want some of those furs up here when they get on deck. Baxter, get water. Tavish, bring Maggie up top. They might have injured.”

  Quinn did not leave the railing, her eyes glued to the light as it neared.

  “Your men are well disciplined,” Freitas said softly. “My crew could learn a thing from them.”

  Tilting her head. Quinn asked, “So you are the captain of this crew?”

  “I wasn’t. I am now. Damn hard work, too.”

  Quinn chuckled. “Isn’t it, though? Like herding children, sometimes.”

  Freitas laughed. “Indeed.”

  “I appreciate how much you left us.”

  “Our ship is much smaller than yours. We’re full up. I was happy to do so. Well, it’s late. I’ll be getting back to my ship. We leave at first light.”

  When Freitas was gone, Quinn turned to find Maggie carrying the furs. By the time she’d checked on the furs and water, her men had hauled the boat up.

  Turning at the first voice, Quinn saw One Eye with his arm around Jacob.

  Quinn threw her arms around One Eye and hugged him tightly. “Well done, my friend.” Pulling back, Quinn knelt in front of Jacob. “Are you all right? Did you get injured?”

  “No. I am fine.”

  Quinn looked over his shoulder, waiting for the Scotsmen to join them. After several beats, she glanced over at One Eye, who shook his head. “Where are they?”

  One Eye ran his hand over his bald head. “The Scot boys found Jacob. It was quite a fight, though.”

  Quinn’s hand went to her mouth when she realized the laoch cuidich we not on board. “No.”

  “Oh. No. It’s not like that. They’re fine. They’ve just decided to stay. Wabi took them across the island once we got our hands on Jacob.”

  “Then they’re… gone?” Quinn immediately felt the loss of their presence, and it weighed heavy on her.

  “Aye. Told me to tell ya thanks fer bringin’ them along, but they are lookin’ fer a safe place to start over, so Wabi took them to the colony.”

  She nodded. “Thank you for bringing Jacob back.”

  “Took me longer to row back out here than I wanted, but seein’ as it was just me…”

  “You did well, my friend.”

  “Thanks. The boy was scared to death. Kaylish had hidden him in the crevasse of the rocks before getting in herself. She was protecting him at first… then she started shooting at others.”

  “Maggie’s got food and some fur if you’re cold.”

  “Not me, Captain. Just hungry, is all.”

  “Take Jacob below with you then to get some rest. Arracht has been calling for him. Take him to see the giant first. We sail at first light.”

  When Maggie approached Quinn, her face was kind and gentle. “You need to get some rest yourself. I need to move Kaylish to your quarters so I can tend to the other crew members. I’ve told my husband to move her if ya doona mind.”

  “Thank you, but
I probably should stay.”

  “To what end? Go on and get some sleep.”

  Quinn opened her mouth to reply, but Maggie silenced her with two fingers to Quinn’s lips. “Uh uh. I am trusted to be your healer, and therefore, I am not suggesting you sleep. I am requiring it.”

  Tavish joined his wife. “I agree with my wife, lad. We need you to be at your best fer this trip. The men, well, they’re gonna want to ken what happened to ya, where the box went, and why we lost so many of our boys’ lives. Ya can’t put it off much longer, so fer now, get some sleep.”

  Quinn hadn’t realized how tired she was until they’d said something to her. Now, it was all she could do to keep her eyes open. “Maybe you’re right. I could probably use a little sleep.”

  “Excellent. Then you check on the boys and I’ll get Kaylish moved. To yer room, then?”

  Quinn shrugged noncommittally, though she approved the idea. “I’ll be in my quarters before you know it.”

  And before she knew it, she was curled up next to Kaylish in her bed, listening to her breathe slowly in and out. She was pale and her skin clammy. Quinn wished Bronwen were there. She would know what to do. She would be able to keep Kaylish alive.

  Closing her eyes, she gently lay her arm across Kaylish’s belly and held onto her tightly.

  Five seconds later, Quinn was sound asleep.

  The trip to the island of Bermuda was uneventful and gave Quinn time with the crew to explain what had happened to her and what she had learned at the colony. She was also able to set their minds at ease that they would make a great deal of money from the furs and other booty the Portuguese allowed them to have.

  Then she showed them the emeralds.

  Whatever doubts they might have had were gone when they saw the shimmering green stones Quinn poured into her palm.

  As they set anchor outside a derelict port town, Quinn surveyed the shore through her telescope. “It does not appear inhabited.”

  “I suppose Freitas would know. Seems a good man, that one,” Fitz said.

  Quinn nodded. “Very good, and an excellent captain. That storm we encountered would have bested a lesser captain.”

  “We collected a great deal of water,” Tavish added. “This ship was really well equipped. It’s actually better than our old ship. For such a lengthy voyage.”