X Marks The Spot (The Plundered Chronicles Book 6) Read online

  Quinn paused her eating as she watched Bronwen approach from the woods.

  “Good. You’re up. Sleep well?”

  Quinn nodded. “Aye. I don’t imagine that was the end of my lesson.”

  Bronwen nodded. “I know you too well, my friend. I had to move before you put your defenses up.’

  “I must be losing my edge, Bron. I should have seen that coming.”

  “Ya came all this way, Cap, and yer lookin’ fer healin’ and answers. Take some time and find them both.”

  “I thought I got my answer last night.”

  “Answers, yes, healing, no.” Bronwen kissed Evan lightly before sitting next to Quinn. “You have suffered some great losses, my friend, and your wounds from them have never fully healed. I want to help you heal them. I want to, once and for all, release you from the pain of them.”

  Quinn cut her eyes over to Evan, who nodded.

  “She healed me, Cap. You, of all people, know what she can do. Let her do it fer you.”

  Quinn thought back to the losses she’d suffered since becoming a pirate. It was bad enough she’d lost men to the sea, but she’d had to listen as her best friend, Tavish McGee, was tortured. She had to kill Connor after he was put on the rack and stretched until his tendons popped. She lost Fiona, lost Becca, lost Grace for a bit, and in the process of it all, had lost herself. It was no wonder going back out to sea hadn’t occurred to her much in the last six months.

  She was afraid.

  There. She said it.

  No, no she didn’t. She only thought it, but that was enough, wasn’t it?

  “I’m prepared to do whatever it takes,” Quinn said to Bronwen. “My crew deserves an able-bodied and mentally well captain, and that’s what I intend on being.”

  “No matter how long it takes?”

  “No matter how long it takes.”

  Quinn met Fitz at the tavern a week later, feeling like a new person. She walked taller, held her head higher, and felt like she could take on the world.

  “Good to see you, Fitz,” Quinn said, pulled him into her embrace and clapping him heartily on the back.

  “Ya look… I dunno… different.”

  “Different better or different—”

  “Calmer. You look good, Callaghan.” Fitz grinned. “Really good.”

  “And you look like you’ve got stories to tell.”

  “Aye. That I do. Ya left me fer a week. If I didn’t have enna tales to tell, I’da have to make ’em up.”

  They rode hard all the way to the outskirts of Moynihan land, when Quinn suddenly brought her horse to a stop.

  Just outside the bay sat a familiar ship. She hadn’t seen the flag of that ship in a long time, but she knew who was on it.

  “Sayyida al Hurra,” Quinn muttered.

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Fitz asked. The two of ya are so off hot and cold, one can’t ever be sure.”

  Quinn thought back to her vision quest. Was Sayyida the woman in the flames? She didn’t really think so. “One never knows with Sayyida, my friend.”

  “I’ll ride to the coast. See what I can see.”

  “Good. I’ll head to the castle. Make sure all is well there.”

  “I can’t remember if yer on good or bad terms with her,” Fitz said, scratching his head. “Ya can piss off a woman faster than enna man I ever met, that’s for sure.”

  Quinn could not disagree. She and Sayyida had an on again off again relationship/business arrangement for a decade. “Report back as soon as you can.” With that, Quinn headed to the castle, where she was met by One-Eye, a balding pirate with a leather eye patch.

  “What do we have?” Quinn asked, sliding off her horse.

  “We was primin’ the masts two days ago when she sailed up. Luckily for her, Able recognized the flag. She’s runnin’ a new ship – one a them Corsair speedsters, but it’s her, all right.”

  “How do you know for sure?”

  “She sent a messenger to the Edge. He said she requested a parlay with ya.” One-Eye shrugged. “When I told him ya were gone and wouldn’t be back fer a piece, he told me she instructed him to say she’d wait. She’s still waiting.”

  “Good work, One-Eye. Send a boat back to her requesting her parlay at dinner.” Quinn handed the reins to the stable boy and told him to check the horse’s left back hoof. “How’s everything else?”

  “All good, Callaghan. The men are ready to sail as soon as you are.”

  “I meant with Kaylish and Gallagher. Did Jacob and Arracht get back all right?”

  “Oh. Them. Aye. Only Gallagher and Jacob been wantin’ to come aboard. Her ladyship won’t have none of it. Ya best speak to the lad. He’s wantin’ on the Edge in a bad way and Missus Gallagher is right behind him.”

  “Enna idea why?”

  One-Eye chuckled. “Near as I can tell, Callaghan, after all that learnin’, the lad fancies himself a pirate.”

  “Imagine that. You didn’t take him on board, did you?”

  “Are ya daft?” m’lady would have my head. She caught Bog sneakin’ out last night.”

  “Oh fuck.”

  “Aye. I guess it didn’t set so good with the Lady.”

  “I imagine not. So tensions are high here.”

  One-Eye chuckled. “A wee bit. I’ll tell ya this much. I love ya, Callaghan, but there’s not enough coin to make me go back in there.”

  Clapping him on the back, Quinn chuckled. “I understand, my friend.”

  “One last thing, Captain. The messenger said it was verra important. He empathized verra.”

  “Thank you. Send a message to her that I have returned and would prefer to entertain her in the castle.” Quinn entered the castle and came upon the giant Arracht first.

  “Arracht! So good to see you!”

  Arracht nodded. The young man, who stood over six and a half however, having saved Gallagher’s life by taking arrows to his back.

  “Where’s m’lady?”

  Arracht pointed up the stairs.

  “And Bog?”

  Arracht shrugged.

  When Quinn started up the stairs, she watched as Kaylish, standing on the first landing, started out a window in the direction of Sayyida’s ship.

  This wasn’t going to go well.

  “She’s come for you, hasn’t she?”

  “Come for me?” Quinn asked, joining Kaylish on the landing. “As a fellow pirate maybe, but not as a lover, if that is what you’re implying.” Sliding her arm around Kaylish’s waist, Quinn looked out the window at the ship. “But I must say, I expected a much warmer welcome home.”

  Turning quickly in Quinn’s arms, Kaylish threw her arms around Quinn’s neck and kissed her deeply, her tongue slipping between Quinn’s warm lips. “Oh how I have missed you, my love.”

  Pulling slightly back, Quinn smiled softly in her face. “That’s more like it.” They kissed again, allowing the lingering kiss to bridge the gap distance caused. When the kiss finally ended, Quinn pulled back and gazed in Kaylish’s face. “Now, what in the devil is going on?”

  “She’s been out there three days now. Sent a messenger. You know, she could have come here. It looks suspicious with her sneaking around and sending messengers. Can’t she just show up on lad like a normal person?”

  “Well, first off, normal is not a word that would ever describe Sayyida. Secondly, why would she come to land?”

  “What about to talk to me? Tell me what’s happening? She’s a woman, after all. Surely she would prefer the creature comforts of a castle while she waits.”

  Quinn tilted her head. “She would never do such a thing.”

  “Because I’m your lover now?”

  “No, because you are not a pirate. As for creature comforts, captains don’t last long who accept those comforts while their men eat rations. No, she didn’t come to land because she is here on pirate business.”

  “Pirate business. How can you be so certain?”

  Quinn turned her gaze bac
k out the window. “Because a great deal has passed between us, and of all the people in the world she could never ever bed again, it’s me.”

  “And why is that? You’ve always skimmed the surface when telling me about Sayyida al Hurra, so convince me she isn’t here to take you away from me.”

  “Well, if you must know…I stole her ship.”

  Kaylish barked a laugh. “You. Stole. Her. Ship? I can’t believe you never told me this.”

  “Aye, I did, and it is not funny. I nearly ruined her reputation as a fine captain. I caused her to lose face in front of her men, so she hunted me down and when she came after me—”

  “She hunted you down?”

  “Oh yes. She should have killed me, too, in order to save her reputation and her pirating career. Instead, well, she did not. So, for her to have come to me, of all people, for help, it must be dire.”

  “All our time together and you never told me this tale.”

  Shrugging, Quinn started down the stairs. “Stealing a friend’s ship is not one of my prouder moments. Needless to say, she is not here to bed me or to take me away from you.”

  “Well now, that’s a relief.”

  “I understand you had some… problems with Gallagher.”

  Kaylish followed Quinn down the stairs. “I took care of it. She wants to be on that ship when you leave and I forbid it.”

  “Of course she does. She wants to be a pirate like me.”

  “Quinn—”

  “Not now, Kaylish. I smell like a horse and I’ve been in the same clothes for a week. I need to bathe and get some—”

  “You’re cleaning up for her?”

  Quinn stopped descending instantly. Slowly, she pivoted, looking up at Kaylish. “Nooo. I am cleaning up for myself. I am filthy. My insides are healthy now. All I need is to clean up my outsides and I’ll be fit to go.”

  Kaylish blinked, then slowly nodded. “I have no option but to believe you.”

  Quinn continued down the stairs where she quickly washed up, brushed her hair, and changed her clothes. By the time she finished up, had a heart-to-heart with Gallagher and Jacob about sneaking around, and helped prepare their meal, Quinn was ready to go.

  To her surprise, she met Sayyida walked into the Great Hall with four of her men. Her eyes lit up when she saw Quinn. “Sayyida.”

  “Callaghan!” Sayyida was to Quinn in five long strides and engulfed her in a hug. “So good to see you!” Crushing Quinn to her, Sayyida slowly backed away before nodding to Kaylish, who stood ramrod straight. “Permit me to introduce myself. I am Sayyida of—”

  “I know who you are.” Kaylish’s tone was slightly icy. “Kaylish O’Brien.”

  Sayyida made a low bow. “Wonderful to meet the woman who holds Callaghan’s heart so dear. I assure you, I am not here to reclaim your lover, Kaylish O’Brien, though if I were, I can see you would be a worthy adversary.” Sayyida spoke in Latin, the only language she and Quinn shared.

  Kaylish’s left eyebrow rose in question. She replied in flawless Latin. “I am not the least bit worried that Callaghan will leave me for you. She’s tasted your fruit and clearly found it wanting.”

  No one moved.

  The silent moment ticked by.

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  And then Sayyida threw her head back and laughed. “Is that what Callaghan told you? My fruits were not wanting, Kaylish. In truth, I believe they were too spicy for her. Eh, Callaghan?” Sayyida elbowed her.

  Quinn looked at Kaylish helplessly. “I… it’s—”

  “I do not have time for petty female squabbles or insecurities,” Sayyida said, waving her hand in the air. “I’ve come to ask your help, my friend.”

  “Petty—”

  Quinn shot Kaylish a look that closed Kaylish’s mouth. “Would you mind grabbing some of the Lord’s best whisky for us, love?”

  Kaylish glared at Quinn before turning on her heel and leaving.

  “Fiery one, that one,” Sayyida said.

  Nodding, Quinn showed Sayyida to the long oak table in the Great Hall. “Aren’t we all? Food should be ready shortly.”

  “Thank you.” Sitting down, Sayyida folded her hands on the table and waited for Quinn to sit across from her.

  “It is good to see you again.” Sayyida’s deep brown eyes looked Quinn up and down appraisingly.

  Quinn nodded. Good to see you as well, though my woman clearly has some problems with you being here.”

  “Insecurity is not very becoming. I have not come here to cause domestic issues with you, Callaghan.”

  “No? Then what can I do to help you, Sayyida?”

  “I understand you intend to leave Ireland one day and are in need of refuge along the Barbary Coast.”

  Quinn hid her surprise. “News travels fast.”

  “Good news does. In truth, your man called Murphy…Grace’s cook, I believe, was in a fight in a tavern in Rabat. He came to me asking if I needed a cook.”

  Quinn’s façade began to melt.

  “He believes you to be land bound now and does not wish to sail with Grace nor protect Ireland.”

  Quinn waited for more, her stomach tightening at the thought that one of her old crew, or more, believed she’d become land bound. Was that what some of her current crew members thought?

  More importantly…had she?

  “… I’ve brought him back, though, and thanked him for coming on your behalf.”

  “But he wasn’t.”

  Sayyida cocked her head, her dark brown eyes piercing. “Wasn’t he?”

  Blowing out a breath, Quinn ran her hand through her hair. “It is true we are looking for someplace else to sail and dock. Ireland is soon becoming a place that does not resemble our home. The crew and I have spoken about the Barbary Coast, but I was unsure if the Corsairs would allow an Irish vessel to dock there.”

  “An Irish vessel, no. Yours? Quite possibly. You happen to have friends in very high places.” Sayyida smiles softly. “Anything is possible these days, Callaghan.”

  “And that possibility will require what from us?”

  Sayyida grinned then turned her attention to Kaylish, who brought them two plates filled with meat, potatoes, and turnips. She set both trays down. “Whisky is for later. Right now, you need to eat, love. You are too thin from your week away.”

  “Smells delightful,” Sayyida said. “Are you not joining us?”

  Kaylish offered a genuine smile, her earlier frostiness seemingly thawed. “Pirate talk is for pirates. Callaghan does not need my presence.”

  When Kaylish was gone. Sayyida leaned in. “Your love for her is different than the others.”

  Quinn shook her head. “I’ll not engage in conversation about Kaylish.”

  “Then I shall. You love her in a way that suggest it is not as deep as she would like. This is why she is threatened by my presence here.” Sayyida glanced around the room. “And you tire of playing house in this cold monster of a castle.”

  Quinn ignored her. “What is it you need us to do in order to secure a pass from the Corsairs?”

  “You can ignore the truth all you want, Callaghan, but that won’t make it go away.”

  “Because it’s not true. I am very happy with Kaylish.”

  “Happy with a woman is not the same as being happy with the life. It is just an observation.” Sayyida took a bite of the meat. “Oh, but this is very good.” She ate some more and then caught Quinn’s gaze. “Fine. On to my business. I have no doubt you recall meeting Dragut Reis.”

  Dragut Reis, the Ottoman Empire’s greatest naval commander.

  Quinn knew his exploits well. He was feared throughout the Aegean, Irish, and Mediterranean Seas as a man who would stop at nothing to get his goal.

  “Of course I do. My brief encounter with him was longer than I wish it to have been. He is a nasty character.”

  “He has done a great many things since you first met him, if you believe men can change.”


  “Men can change. Everyone can change, but I would need to see it to believe it. I understand the Sultan awarded him the title of Beylerbey.”

  “Indeed. There is much gold in the slave trade.”

  “My men and I are not friends of slave traders, Sayyida. The Irish find it to be an abomination.”

  Sayyida chewed and swallowed before replying. “I am well aware of that. Dragut is merciless. Ferocious. Some say he is touched.”

  “Perhaps all are true. Perhaps none. It is hard to tell.”

  “So what about him?”

  “He has become too powerful. Sultan Suleiman fears that he has lost control of Dragut, and now that there is news of him beheading people and enslaving the rest, the Sultan has hired me to put a stop to him and his less-than-desirable means of subduing people.”

  “What does put a stop to him mean?”

  Sayyida shrugged. “It means to do what we must to make him stop killing innocent people and dragging the Sultan into a war he doesn’t wish to enter.”

  Quinn paused eating and blinked. “You want me to help you kill Dragut?”

  Sayyida shook her head. “No. I will do that myself. There is a bit more to the puzzle that that.”

  Quinn pushed the food around on her plate. “I’m listening.”

  “What I need from you is to get the Sultan’s two granddaughters out of harm’s way.”

  “What harm are they in?”

  “The Sultan sent them to Italy to be with his wife’s family. Do you know of their history?”

  Quinn shook her head.

  “Roxelana was captured and enslaved, eventually proscribed to Suleiman’s harem. She was a Christian before coming to Istanbul, but converted to Islam after he married her.”

  Quinn help up her hand. “He married her? Isn’t that against tradition?”