Boyett-Compo Charlotte - Wind Tales 01 by Windfall

Author:Windfall [Windfall]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-12-24T00:01:16.234000+00:00

Chapter Seven

Nick and Lumley had not slept. While the fat priest had snored in front of the fire on the cot, Nick had

dragged down from Kaelan's bedchamber, the two men had talked of sailing and ships, foreign shores

and foreign women. It had not taken Tarnes long to make up his mind: when the lad sitting beside him

was ready to buy a ship, he'd lend his own brand of expertise to the acquisition.

“There are things to look for,” Lumley had explained.

“Like a First Mate who knows more about the ship than her captain?” Nick had teased.

“That, too,” Lumley had grinned. “Most do, you know!"

There had been a moment of companionable silence, then Nick had put forth the proposition he'd been

waiting all the past evening to make:

“Would you be of a mind to go a'pirating with me, Master Tarnes?"

Lumley Tarnes had drawn deeply on his pipe as he considered the young man. He liked the cut of

Nicholas Cree's jib, he did, and the lad was more knowledgeable about the ways of a sailing man than

most of the members of Captain Nyberg's crew.

And the lad knew his ships.

“Why The Revenant?” Lumley had inquired of Nick's choice of names for the vessel.

There had been no hesitation: “My great grandfather sailed with the Outlaw, himself!"

Lumley had smiled as though he had already known. “A relation of mine was First Mate on the

Windlass."

Respect and awe had washed over the young Chalean's square-jawed face and his emerald eyes had lit

up. “Norbert Tarnes was a relation of yours?” the young man had asked with something akin to

adoration.

“Aye, lad, that he was.” Lumley grinned. “Just as Caere Cree was your relation."

“I'll be gods-be-damned!” the young man had whispered. “We're practically related, Lumley!"

For another few moments, Lumley studied his companion then made up his mind. Through a noxious

billow of smoke, he'd nodded. “A man could do worse than to go aspirating with the likes of you, Lord

Cree. I'd be honored to take to sea with you."

Over the long hours, the two men had planned. Neither noticed their tiredness nor the stiffness in their

bones as they hovered close to the fire to keep warm during the cold night; there were more important

things in life to consider.

Just as the false dawn lifted her head in the east and began to shake her crimson hair, Nick stood up,

stretched mightily, and groaned as his backbone snapped and popped with the movement. He was

anxious to be on his way to Serenia.

“That be where the best clippers be built,” Lumley had echoed something Nick already knew.

Tarnes, too, got to his feet—although not nearly as quickly or as painlessly as did his

captain-to-be—and stood there wavering for a moment as his old bones adjusted.

“I think I'll see to the horses,” Nick said, pointing to the stove. “How about making us up something to

eat on the way?” He clapped his hands. “Come on, Brownie! Let's go out, girl!"

The big dog woofed once then trotted eagerly to the door beside her new friend. Brownie's tail thumped

rapidly against one of the cabinets.

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