The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate by Kay Berrisford

Author:Kay Berrisford [Berrisford, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, M/M romance
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC
Published: 2014-07-29T05:00:00+00:00

Ten

Raef found the Alice O'Shanty near the mouth of the wooded creek, anchored mid-channel and ready for a quick getaway. He hailed her, as did Kemp in a weaker tone. When a couple of figures appeared at the rail, Kemp lifted an arm from about Raef's neck and waved.

"I'll be buggered," exclaimed George, scrambling down the ship's side so he could help. "How's the mad boy managing to swim like that?"

He hadn't seen Raef's tail yet, nor the gills concealed beneath his flowing hair. Though Raef was elated he'd delivered Kemp to safety, his nerves began to thrum. How might the crew react to him—indeed, how might Kemp react—when they no longer needed his help? After all, Kemp hadn't seen him properly in his mer form. As he glided near the hull, he recalled his grim imprisonment on the other side of the balks. He wanted to trust Kemp after all they'd just been through together. But he wouldn't be hasty.

George clung to a rope and reached out. Kemp took the proffered hand, Raef relinquished him, and George aided his progress up the side of the boat. A couple of other crew members leaned over and hauled Kemp in. George headed back down, stretching toward Raef. "Come on, lad."

Raef removed Haverford's sopping waistcoat and tossed it up onto the deck, where Peffy grabbed it. No good having it ruined further. He edged away, placing some snaking lines of foam between himself and the hull. "I'm all right in here."

"You might be the world's best swimmer," said George. "But surely you need a rest. 'Tis the first real squall of autumn tonight."

Raef paddled back another foot, grateful to be negotiating the calmer waters of the creek. He couldn't face the wild seas again tonight. Even with his tail, the hard graft was making him weary. He still didn't want to take George's hand.

"Raef, we won't hurt you. Come aboard." Kemp was leaning over the railing, a blanket draped over his shoulders. His voice remained shakier than usual.

"No," called Raef. "I need to rest, and you must set sail."

"He's right about that," said Peffy, touching Kemp's arm. "If the lobsters find this creek, we'll all be nabbed and dangled." Raef worked out the lobsters must be the dragoons, or the world was turning stranger than he imagined. He hated to think what nabbed and dangled meant, but it sounded unpleasant. "We've got to take this tide."

George climbed back onboard, and Kemp drew his crew into a huddle. Raef guessed what was happening. Kemp was telling them about him. Revealing what he was. Sure enough, moving almost in unison, the crew turned and boggled. Raef sank so the waters lapped his chin, a wet blanket to hide beneath. At least one of Kemp's pirate crew must be contemplating trapping him. A pirate captain would be bound to stick up for his followers, and Kemp might even be considering caging Raef, too.

He didn't think Kemp would do that, but he still knew so little about the man, and he couldn't endure the notion of a final farewell.

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