Pirate's Ruin (Master and Command Her Book 3) by Marie Hall

Author:Marie Hall [Hall, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781639543267
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2022-09-07T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

"Ship, starboard, aft," the call went out over the deck from the crow's nest and all work onboard stopped.

"Are they going to hit us, Captain?" Nox asked, trying to turn and look. Mason's hulking form prevented it, and his hands on her shoulders kept her in place at the helm.

"No, but if you don't do better navigating this ship, we might hit something," he told her with even more disapproval than this morning when she didn't shoot the azimuth correctly again. At the moment, she wouldn't mind breaking off his long finger which currently tapped the compass housing, the binnacle, which showed she'd, again, let the rudder drift just a few degrees.

Not wanting to again hear fifty men lecture her on how important it was to be exact in one's navigation, Nox worked the wheel, keeping an eye on the compass until the arrow began to show they’d moved back on course.

She wasn't quite sure what caused it, but she was certainly aware the moment the feel onboard shifted. What had been an easy day of sailing, in calm waters with a good wind and lots of laughter, suddenly became somber and serious. And when Mr. Anders stepped up, Mason stepped far enough away, Nox not only had to concentrate harder on the compass and holding the wheel, but with their lowered voices, she couldn't hear what was being discussed. Given, this last week, Mason had insisted she be a part of every conversation he and his top crew members had, she could only guess at what matter could once again have her excluded.

Without explanation, Mason stepped back to the helm and moved her out of the way. "Easy starboard, fifteen degrees," Mason yelled out, the call repeated three times across the deck, and Nox watched the arrow on the compass begin to edge that way. She knew now the wheel only did the detail work. Looking up, she could see the sails being turned as well. The fact that the shift took them out of the wind, meant they'd be slowing a great deal.

"Is the other ship in distress?"

Mason didn't answer, not that she expected him to as he concentrated on getting the heading he wanted. But when she tried to step away and look for herself, she was grabbed back and curtly told to stand post. Several long minutes passed as the ship, which was once heading north-northeast almost parallel to some longitudinal number she still couldn't identify or remember, was made to head almost directly east, which she was ready to say, if asked, was along the latitude. Not knowing exactly which one wasn't likely to get her handed a bucket again. Not knowing the difference between longitude and latitude saw her cleaning the bilge.

"Haul the sheets," Mason yelled out next.

"Captain?" Nox questioned, as she'd never heard that command in good weather and daylight, unless they were stopping at some island. Hell, most nights, if the skies remained completely clear, the sails were used to the fullest ability.

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