His Seafaring Siren (Caledonia's Captives) Read Free Page A

thin line. “Time? I don’t think that’s the problem. Septimus wants me to be his, but he also wants every other maiden he sees as well.”
    “I will admit—”
    “No. Let us simply say goodbye.”
    Decimus nodded. “As you wish.” He bent forward and hugged her again, then released her and helped her climb the rope ladder to the deck. She had to admit, the shorter tunic and long breeches made it far easier than climbing in the gown she had worn earlier.
    Septimus grabbed her hand from the top and helped pull her over the ledge. “Welcome aboard. I’m the Captain and you’re my first mate. Time to start your training.” Septimus grinned and motioned to Decimus, who cast the mooring lines off from the pier.
    Septimus pointed to the rope that was far aft. “Start pulling that one up and laying it on the deck,” he said to Mowriyah. “We’ll stow them later after they dry some.”
    Mowriyah trotted back to the aft of the ship and reached for the line. She strained at the weight of the wet heavy rope, and cursed silently beneath her breath. She looked to Septimus, who was laughing loudly as he yanked the lines up with ease and coiled them on the deck.
    Frustration rose within her and she tried to quicken her motion to no result. She continued through the pain that was forming in her upper arms and looked down at Decimus and Abagail one last time. Decimus was holding Abagail and the pair were waving.
    Septimus joined her and helped her finish the line. “Next, we set the sail.” He quickly showed her the rigging lines and told her how to pull and tie them off. “I will go aloft, and wait for you to lift the sail.” He scaled the mast pole and waited for the cloth to meet its halfway point.
    Mowriyah pulled and tugged on the rope, steadily making the sail rise. Septimus grabbed its hook and bound it to the mast. He scurried down with a shuffle and Mowriyah couldn’t help but think he was making her work this hard on purpose.
    She rubbed her arms at the burning sensation that spread from her shoulders down to her wrist. Septimus passed her with a wide grin across his face and headed for the rudder stick. Grabbing hold, he pulled it hard left. He yanked on a line and the sails shifted to catch the wind that would take them away from the dock. As they drifted toward the open water, Mowriyah joined him at the aft of the ship, anxiously awaiting her next instruction.
    She looked over the rails once more and saw Decimus wrapped around Abagail, who was obviously sobbing into his chest. Everything will be all right, Abby. She breathed in the last smell of home, wild onions and salty air filling her lungs.
    She swallowed and then turned to Septimus. “So, Captain. Do we have a plan?”
    Septimus raised his eyebrows and playfully grabbed at her breeches, pulling her close to him, with only the wooden pole in between.
    “Well, every Captain has a first mate. Your training has begun.” He kissed her nose and then her lips.
    Mowriyah shivered with anticipation, but could only think of two words to say. “Yes, Captain.”

Chapter Two
    Mowriyah and Septimus navigated the ship together for six days and were now only a day from the Mediterranean Sea. He had trained her on almost every aspect of the ship. She was a fast learner, and she grew her sea legs easily.
    The sun was setting in the west and millions of sparkles reflected on the water’s surface. Septimus’s instincts had him wary and on high alert. He walked around the ship’s deck several times, looking out in every direction. The air felt thicker. The scent of rain mixed with the saltiness of the ocean had him panicked. On the eastern horizon, the clouds darkened and thunder rolled across the sky.
    Septimus turned to Mowriyah, who had joined him on deck. “This is not the time for Jupiter and Neptune to fight. We must hurry.” Septimus raised the sails to full open and pointed toward the rear of the ship. “Stay steady on the rudder. The waves are beginning