Chapter Four

“Cap. Wake up, Cap.”

The words slowly penetrated his haze. Pug’s head was cloudy and throbbing as he tried gingerly to move. He cracked his eyes opened and winced at the pain piercing his skull. Drav crouched beside him and assisted him in sitting up. Taking his time, Pug slowly scanned the area. A cave with a few of his men along with him.

“What happened?”

“Did you see them?” Pug lifted his arm and grimaced.

Drav frowned, sharing looks with the others in there. “Who is them?”

“The kids and the woman…the woman who cut me.”

“You were alone in a puddle of water. Luckily, your face was not down.”

His memory returned, and he thought about the woman. She’d done this to him. Whatever it was she’d done to his body. And, he was furious. He felt sluggish and as if he’d spent all night deep in his cups.

“I want her found,” he growled, shoving to his feet.

“The rain would have erased any tracks,” Drav began.

“I do not care. She has five kids with her. How fast could they be? No harm comes to any of them, but I want her found.”

He made certain to meet each gaze there. One by one, they left until he was alone with Dravya Plucking at his wet and uncomfortable clothes, he rolled his shoulders. “I will find her.”

“You changing first?”

“No.” He peered about the cave, wanting to find some clue of where his mystery woman went. “Maybe,” he amended as he peeled the wet shirt away from him once more.

He led the way from the cave and tried to shake the lingering heaviness of his muscles. This didn’t make sense.

“She drugged me, Drav. Believed me to be a threat to the kids, yet did not relieve me of any of my weapons. Who does that?”

“Someone running.”

He paused at his friend’s statement. The arrogant anger, which had owned him based on the fact a woman had bested him, slid away. Only to be replaced by concern.

“I will ask her when I find her.” He ignored Drav’s stare. “Keep moving.”

The entire trek back to the cove he’d anchored in had him sweaty and exhausted. It also sent his mood back down to where he longed for revenge—and the knowledge of what she’d done to him.

After he got cleaned up and ate, he felt marginally better. The warm sun beat down upon the teak deck. Off to his left, two of the crew swabbed that very deck. He inhaled and tipped his head up to the sun, allowing the rays to fall along his face.

“Cap!”

Pug turned to find Mr. Krill striding toward him. He never understood where the man got his name but didn’t care. When they first met, he’d said his name was Krill. Pug added the mister on once he’d joined the crew. But, as to who would name their child Krill, he didn’t know. Who am I to talk? I go by Pug. . Krill served as an outstanding first mate. His bald black head gleamed in the sun, and the spiral dot tattoo that occupied the left half of his neck and face added an air of menace to him. Mr. Krill had joined the crew from an African plain, yet had taken to the seas as if he’d been born on them.

“Mr. Krill.”

“Two kids spotted watching the ship.”

“Where?” His interest was piqued.

“Over my right shoulder. Two boys. One black and one white. Well hidden but definitely curious.”

He moved only his eyes and marked the position. “Do not let on we know they are there. I want them to lead me back to her.”

A teasing smile filled his first mate’s face. “The woman who rendered you unconscious.”

“Just let me knew when they leave.” He crossed the deck and rested his hands along the rail. The anticipation grew inside him. Soon, he would find her. He couldn’t explain it, but she was all he’d thought about since he’d woken.

“Stores are refilled, Captain.”

Mr. Krill rested beside him, massive arms crossed over an equally massive chest.

“And water?”

“Ready as well.”

“Excellent. With this upheaval, we may have to leave quickly. Post two men on watch and have the cannons ready to fire if we are caught here without the tide on our side.”

“Will do, Cap’n.”

“Good. From here, we sail to Port Royal.”

“I best inform the crew.” Mr. Krill headed off.

Pug readjusted his weapons as the whistle he’d been waiting for came, it was Mr. Krill’s way of letting him know the children had left. Drav had already climbed down and waited for him in the scull. The man always knew what was going on. Soon, they ran it up on the beach and hid it before tracking up to where the kids had been spotted.

Drav did his thing, and Pug followed him. They took many twists and turns before he heard a child yelling. Not loud but faintly. He and Drav worked methodically to find the entrance to where the voice had come from. Despite being extremely well-hidden, they finally located it and entered through the heavy foliage.

He stepped into the opening first. It may not be fully open, but there was a slight easement in the trees. Pug picked out the small building, which blended in perfectly with the landscape. Had he not seen the kids outside, he would have kept going, despite Drav’s tracking ability.

The children—two girls who were nearly identical in appearance—froze and watched him with wide eyes. One opened her mouth the moment a leggy boy in only a ragged pair of breeches jumped in front of them, holding a sword. These were the same children. That meant she was here as well.

“Where is she?” he demanded as the silence stretched on.

With no answer forthcoming, he took a step forward, only to be jerked back by Drav with a fistful of shirt. Two arrows thudded into the ground precisely where he’d been seconds ago.

Who was this woman?