Chapter 34 – Acclimatising
After the interesting introduction to yet another one of Remy's crew, the small group finally made their way out of the main streets and into the surrounding jungle. They followed an almost invisible path, leading them high into the hills and close to the cliff faces overlooking the water below. While the others trekked the steep path with relative familiarity and ease, Rogue was not so sure of her footing. Being used to blistering cold winds and ominous rain clouds on country routes, the humidity and jungle-clad path proved to be somewhat of a challenge. More often than she had liked to admit, she stumbled and fell on a loose tree root or rock. Her hands and knees were bruised and beaten and far too intimate with the jungle floor. What was more aggravating however, was her being helped up by none other than her grinning (and all together infuriating) husband. When she stumbled for the millionth time, and he reached out to steady her by the waist, Rogue had had the last straw.
"Just- let me do it mahself. Ah'm not a toddler!"
She remained kneeling in the path and turned her head to shoot a glare most foul over her shoulder, daring her husband to protest. When Remy stood silent and quiet (that ever present smirk on his lips) she heaved a quiet sigh and pushed herself to her feet- only to stumble back when the already loose ground crumbled under her first step. The back of her head hit his chest before he caught her elbows to steady her. At the angle she was positioned, all Rogue could do was look up at him. Originally, she had every intention of growling at him but the second she looked up… she lost her words. His unusual eyes were so full of laughter and tender affection. It was a particularly disarming look that left her, well, lost for words.
A husky chuckle pulsed between them from his chest to her back, causing her skin to tingle traitorously in effect. She hoped he would mistake the new shade of pink in her cheeks for exertion- or better yet, annoyance. But of course, it only made that charming grin of his spread a little wider across his face. He chuckled again as he replied in a voice only she could hear.
"Oh chére. Y' have no idea how adorable y' are when y' look at moi like dat."
Rogue thought she had an abundance of good sense not to punch him. After all, the movement alone would have sent them both tumbling down the hill. Instead, she set her gaze to a hardened scowl and began to push herself out of his arms. But of course, he seemed to read her actions before she could enact them. He gently set her upright on her feet but did not release his hold on her elbows. She remained with her back to his chest as the others bypassed them. His nose brushed against the shell of her ear, causing more of those traitorous tingles to course over her skin. And it only worsened when he spoke.
"We'll be dere soon. Best try t' keep up wit' de others, non?"
While he sounded wise and oh so very logical, she could feel the tempting undertone in his voice. The undertone that said they didn't have to try to keep up with the others and just… keep doing whatever it was they were doing right now. With his hands cradling her arms in a gentle, safe hold and her back to his warm chest. It was tempting, to say the least. And it caused Rogue's cheeks to burn a few shades brighter and annoyance had almost nothing to do with it. To her surprise, he lingered only a few more moments before helping her to stand upright on her own feet and even waited a moment to allow her to go first. Rogue ignored the thought that it might be so he could catch her if she fell again, and decided to think of his actions as a means for her to make her own way without being coddled.
Either way. She couldn't help but wish he hadn't let her go…
Rogue shook herself as she began to climb the steep path again. She wouldn't linger on her mess of feeling until she was at least on level ground, and even then, she was sure she wouldn't know what to do with them. Determined, she looked up to see how far ahead the others had gone only to set her gaze on a familiar figure in the distance. Jubilee stood a few yards ahead, one hand braced against a large rock and the other set on her hip. Even from this distance, there was no doubting the narrow glare the girl was shooting her way. The morbid thought came to mind that if Jubilee could shoot bullets from her eyes, she would most certainly be dead at this moment. Rogue sent the girl a well-devised smile. Like clock-work, Jubilee turned on her heel and began to follow the others up the hill with a decidedly irritated pace. Rogue could just imagine the girl had turned her nose up to similar effect. The thought caused a small chuckle to escape her lips. She had no doubt this would be the least of her troubles with the mouthy Girl-thief.
"Somet'ing amusing y' chére?"
Rogue turned and caught his glance from the corner of her eye. She bit back a smile as she continued to climb whilst she replied.
"Nothin'. Ah just realised ah probably made another…friend in your petite fille up the hill."
A husky chuckle of amusement erupted from his lips as he followed behind. A grin spread wide across his lips as he replied in good humour.
"Oh ma chére. Y' will have t' be patient wit' Jubilee. Don't let today's misstep determine your opinion of her. Mon famille has practically raised her since she nine years-old et t' be honest… she has been denied almost not'ing and y' should probably watch y' self. At least at first. I can't say dat she won't make t'ings… awkward."
Rogue managed a scoff and a roll of her eyes. It was a great understatement on his part to say.
"Mais, I t'ink y' will grow t' like her."
Rogue turned and gave him a pointed look that said he was asking for the impossible. But the man was impossible, so it wasn't too surprising that he asked such a favour. He matched her look with that dazzling smile as he replied.
"Y' would be surprised how alike y' deux are, chére."
Rogue gave a loud snort of disbelief.
"Oh really? How?"
The grin across his face barely moved as he spoke.
"Well, for one t'ing. Y' both a force t' be reckoned with. Oui?"
Rogue stared for a moment before blowing a stubborn strand of hair out of her eyes.
"Jus' shows how ya sure know how t' pick your girls."
Rogue practically winced the moment the words were out of her mouth. As expected, Remy took advantage of the ammunition she had warranted to his ego.
"Oh, so y' finally admit t' being ma fille, hein?"
Rogue bit her lower lip as she stepped over a large fallen log in their path before turning to face him again. Remy had removed his coat and tied the sleaves around his waist, revealing the white shirt and vest beneath and the chiselled upper body it clothed. And what a sigh he was in the lingering afternoon sunlight. His sun-kissed skin seemed to glow with warmth even through the white cotton shirt. The urge to stare was hard to fight but Rogue managed it by setting her gaze on the hint of a scar peeking out from his open shirt collar... which lead to his chest, and other parts of him she had started to admire as of late. She had to force herself to look back at the scar as she spoke resolutely.
"Ah'm not your girl, Remy. Ah'm your wife. There's a considerable difference."
She turned away to continue climbing the hill when he replied in a tone that sent thrills down her spine, and made her remember what it felt like to be in his arms and other intimacies they had had but a taste of.
"Oui, y' are my wife. Et je n'aurais aucune autre femme, mais vous." (And I would have no other woman, but you)
Rogue stopped in her tracks as his words resonated in her like a flame flickering to life in her very chest. She turned slowly, and her eyes immediately locked with his. The smile across his face had loosened, gentling his expression that seemed to reveal everything his words meant. Emotions he usually hid behind that debonair smile…except with her.
Rogue felt her heart beat like a caged animal against her rib cage as he climbed the path to close the gap between them. Before she knew it, his hands were around her waist and pulling her closer so that they stood with their chests touching and their lips a few short breaths away. His warmth melted the chill that kept her body frozen in place.
"Rogue, I…"
For once, he was lost for words. His eyes bore into hers, searching for her response before she could put one to verbal form. They had been here before, at this very brink of understanding what they were to each other. Rogue felt her hands tremble as they rested against his upper arms but she didn't pull back. His lips were closing in, waiting only for her to bridge the gap with her own. This was it-
"Captain! The others are already at the top! Father Wagner sent me back for you- he's waitin' on you!"
Rogue felt the rosy, warm feeling in her chest dissipate at the sound of Jubilee's interfering voice. The brief spell that had encased them passed swiftly as everything from the sound of the jungle to the feel of the humid air around them seemed to reappear. Rogue felt a new dose of pink burn her cheeks as she stepped away from Remy and turned to face the insufferable girl who had ruined the moment. It didn't surprise Rogue to see that Jubilee was fighting a satisfied smile from her perch a few short yards away. However what did surprise her was Remy's sudden transformation from Remy to Captain LeBeau again. There was commanding tone that bordered on irritated in his voice as he called back.
"Merci Jubilee. We'll be dere in une moment!"
Jubilee gave her trademark two-finger salute and began to climb the path again, albeit at a solid, slow pace. Rogue felt a pang of displeasure burn in her stomach as she too began to climb again- only to stop when she felt Remy shift into the space beside her. Before she could speak, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her close enough to press his lips against the side of her head. His thumb gently grazed her cheek as he spoke in a low voice so that she could only hear.
"Worry not, belle. I'll talk t' her."
Rogue felt her cheeks burn as he moved away, smiled and continued on the path ahead. As she followed his sure-footed steps, she wondered if she should set a tally for how often his words rendered her in such a state. Upon second thought, she decided it was not in the interest of her pride to tally how often he made her blush with infuriation. Or pleasure.
A few minutes later, they finally made it to the top of the hill- or as it turned out, the top of a cliff side overlooking the ocean. Rogue had to catch herself from gasping at the splendour of the view. After years of nothing but the English countryside to look at, the sight of the afternoon sun as it began to dip itself into the emerald green sea on the horizon was a little more than just a refreshing sight to behold.
Remy, who had made a point of watching her closely since their last interlude, only smiled beside her and allowed her a minute's grace to watch the sunset and catch her breath. How could he not? The look of wonder and instantaneous pleasure that had spread across her features was worth lamenting from afar. Even more so since he was close by. The sunlight caught the red tones in her hair, setting it ablaze while those emerald eyes seemed to glow brighter with their own kind of flame. Remy couldn't help compare the hint of a smile that tugged at the corner of her lips to his own heart, which was being tugged.
Remy had had every intention of letting her make the next move but he was a man and he could only hold himself in check for so long in such circumstances. He realised quickly in recent days that Rogue was much like her own horse Éowyn when it came to their new marriage. Untrusting at first, easily startled despite the magnificent show of bravery she put forth. Any step forward they took could very well be sent a few steps back if he made too much of his intentions known. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes at times. Even with her hardened glares and sharpened tongue, she was still quite vulnerable. Too raw from being abused by those who by blood kin should have cared for her. She didn't trust enough yet to test the waters between them. And really, how could he blame her? Her words from just a short while earlier had struck him like a shock of lightning. A step forward he had not anticipated from her. It was the first time she had acknowledged herself as his wife so openly without the taint of their initial circumstances. And to say it made his heart sing was an understatement.
You make my heart sing… oh mon dieu.
The notion would have made him snort with incredulity if it weren't so true. And he was quick to realise he never wanted to lose that feeling. Still, he would have to wait until she was sure of foot to tread the waters before he made any declarations of singing hearts. He deemed it a wise move not to pressure her. He amended that he would try…but a man could only withstand so much torture before going man with it. Small instances of contact such as brushing back that stubborn strand of hair were the only things keeping him in check. And even they felt like stolen pleasures. The pirate in him scoffed at his gentlemanly attempt to keep himself in check. Their interlude on the path had been almost too perfect until his other wayward girl interrupted them. He made a mental note to speak with Jubilee as soon as Rogue was out of sight and ear shot.
Finally, when the sun was partially under water, Remy decided to break the trance the view had over his wife. He led her towards the small clearing where stood a small cottage in the overshadowing facade of a salt-washed church house. But for the carved cross on the door, Rogue would have mistaken it for a barn but that was not what made her frown at the sight of it.
"Where are we?"
Remy took her by the hand as he led her towards the small veranda on the face of the cottage. However he stopped them on the step and turned to her before they could reach for the door.
"We need to pick up somet'ing before we head t' de ship. I shall go in to speak with the priest first et call for y' when he is ready for y'."
At her bemusedly raised brow, he added with a smile.
"Father Wagner is an old ami. Et I can honestly tell y' dat of all de people y' have met so far, he probably the most trustworthy et normal of us all. Y' will like him."
Her brow remained incredulously raised despite his assurances.
"Somehow ah doubt even a priest in your circle of friends could be considered so… highly principled."
Her words might have stung of fair assumptions but nonetheless caused Remy to grin a little wider. Affectionately, he tipped his curled finger under her chin and winked.
"Dat, from y' ma chére, might be considered a glowing show of good faith in y' mari (husband)."
Rogue remained as dispassionately unconvinced except for a small snort of amusement. Though that didn't seem to unhinge Remy's smile.
"Won't be long chére mais, dis is important. Now, would y' mind going to wait wit' de others?"
Rogue followed his trail of sight only to realise that between the cottage and the church house stood a small horse pen. A brown spotted mare hung about at the back of the pen meanwhile the rest of their companions stood leisurely about the fence nearby. Logan smoked a cigar with his back to them. Piotr and John sat with their backs to the fence and a deck of cards between them as the conversed. Meanwhile, Jubilee had perched herself on the highest beam on the fence line and watched them with practically palpable displeasure. Rogue couldn't help a heavy sigh of resignation, which caused Remy to chuckle.
"Try et play nice wit' Jubilee. She's not used t' being de only fille around. S'il vous plaît ma chére?" (please my dear?)
Rogue shot Jubilee a lingering glance.
"Ah can't promise anythin' but ah'll try…"
"But if she starts somethin'. Ah'll sure as hell will finish it," she added in her own thoughts.
However the knowing glint in Remy's eyes told her he was well aware that the results of his request might vary.
"Bien (good) ma chére. I'll be back in a minute."
With a last, lingering touch of his hand in hers, he left. Once Remy disappeared behind the cottage door, Rogue set herself towards the remaining crew. Immediately she noticed that as soon as Remy was out of sight, Jubilee's interest in her had diminished considerably. Rogue took the small mercy in stride as she came to stand beside John and Piotr. John rewarded her presence with a friendly smile.
"Quite a change from the frosty English hills, aye sheila?"
Rogue smiled gently and nodded. Her gaze swept past the cottage and towards the sunset on the horizon. The view wasn't so distracting from this distance but the pink hues that meshed with the growing thunderclouds were a sight worth lamenting with awe.
"Ah thought ah remembered what a Caribbean sunset looked lahke until ah saw this. Nothin' lahke ah remember."
John grinned and set down his hand of cards in nonchalant defeat to Piotr's winning hand.
"Just you wait until ya see a sunset aboard the Devil. That's a sight that'll take hold."
Rogue smiled as she gently slipped to the ground beside him. New interest in Remy's beloved Devil's Revenge began to course through her again.
"How far away is it now?"
Despite being especially careful about arranging his hand of cards, Piotr replied to her.
"There are two row boats below the cliffs on the other side. It waits to take us to the ship."
Rogue didn't even think to curb her enthusiasm. For all the strange and varied events that had befallen her as of late, the thought of finally seeing what was so clearly a huge part of Remy's life (and now her own) was nothing short of invigorating. However when John caught her expression and chuckled as if he read her thoughts, her cheeks betrayed her with their pink taint. She tried to hide it by turning her gaze- only to catch an unexpected sight.
From her perch on the fence, Jubilee withdrew a thin cheroot cigar and was proceeding to light it when Rogue espied her. However she didn't get the chance to take the first drag before-
"What the hell Wolverine! Give that back-"
Logan had appeared and plucked the cigar from her fingers before it even made it to her lips. Rogue forced back a scoff of amusement as the girl flew from her perch like an angry bird and began to claw at him in an attempt to retrieve her cigar. Logan needed only to give her one solid push to back her away but it was his glowing scowl that kept her in place, albeit not with so much as a hint of remorse in her face.
"You got real guts tryin' t' smoke that 'round me, kid. You know you ain't allowed– and I know you ain't allowed. So quit your yappin' an' hand over the rest of 'em."
There was a silent, elongated battle of wills between the two before Jubilee reached for her yellow sash and from between the fabric folds retrieved a small box of cheroot cigars. However when she handed them over, Logan was not quite finished with her.
"The matches, kid. Don't forget 'em."
Jubilee rolled her eyes to the heavens, sighed dramatically and fished them out as well. With these confiscations in hand, Logan eased away and returned to his place by the fence. By the time he was settled, he was lighting up one of the cigars. Jubilee made an outraged cry. When Logan took the first drag and said nothing however, she folded her arms and turned herself as far away as possible. Unfortunately for Rogue, this meant she saw her amused expression. Her dark eyes turned livid with rage.
"Somethin' funny Mississippi?"
Rogue remained as cool as possible in her reply.
"Nothin'. Don't mind meh."
Rogue knew everyone watched them with growing unease, as Jubilee's glare seemed to worsen. Her small frame stiffened into a defiant stance as she set her hands on her hips.
"I think your laughin' at me in that pretty little head of yours-"
"Jubes, come on girl. Stop stirring up trouble that don't need stirring."
John's light words of warning were met with more glaring until Logan shifted to stand beside Jubilee. Effortlessly, he grabbed her by her coat collar and lifted her off the fence. He was undeterred from smoking his cigar as he put the protesting Jubilee on her feet. His hand remained locked on Jubilee's collar even after he firmly planted her in front of Rogue.
"Kid, don't ya have somethin' t' say t' her?"
Jubilee rolled her eyes as she finally stopped trying to slip out of his hold. When Logan gave her a meaningful shake to speed up her response, she crossed her arms and grumbled a reluctant reply.
"I'm sorry I stole your pearls. I apologise."
Logan gave her collar another tug, causing her to set her glare a little firmer on Rogue.
"And for calling you Mississippi white trash."
Rogue spared a glance at Logan and John before replying coolly, nee reluctantly.
"Ah accept your apology."
Brat. Rogue added irritably. The idea of she and Jubilee becoming anything more than tolerant of each other seemed as far fetched as Logan offering to buy the mouthy girl a case of cigars. Of course that was when Remy's plea sent a force of obligation through her and she had to force herself to refrain from calling the girl anything worse than a brat. A weary sigh escaped her as she pulled herself to her feet. Feeling the need for distance from the motley crew, she began to follow the edge of the fence, brushing her hand against the posts as she passed. It was a little while before she realised that someone had traced her steps. Turning, she found Logan staring back. Confusion barely had a moment to spread across her face before he held up something between them. Rogue recognised it instantly and felt her stomach hollow with panic. Her engagement ring was clasped between his fingers- and the realisation hit her that it hadn't been attached to her pearl necklace since she had got it back from-
Rogue's gaze turned towards the known culprit who was currently sulking from her perch on the fence. Rogue felt new annoyance boil in her chest as she narrowed her gaze on the little thief but her view was suddenly blocked by Logan's burly form. He surprised her by taking her hand and slipping the ring back into place as he spoke in a low raspy tone.
"Don't let on you know she took it. She thinks its still in her pocket."
Rogue felt all obligations to befriend Jubilee for Remy's sake evaporate- until Logan met her gaze with a stern frown, holding that obligation in place by a thread. Rogue matched it evenly with her own stubborn scowl as she replied in a harsh whisper.
"Is she likely t' steal it back once she knows?"
"Not if it's on your finger where it's s'posed t' be, kid. She won't say nothin' if you don't."
Rogue felt some of her annoyance deflate as she fiddled with the dual bands now wrapped around her marriage finger and embarrassment began to sink in. It seemed now that it was a rather foolish thing to keep the ring off her finger, even if it had been in what she had thought to be a safe place. Rogue heaved a defeated sigh and crossed her arms across her front.
"Fine. Ah won't say anythin'. But what exactly is her problem with me? Ah can overlook what happened in town as a mishap. Why is she so… determined to be such a brat towards me?"
Logan finally showed a sign of discomfort but deflected it with action. He uttered a low grumble and began to dig into one of his pockets for a fresh cigar. Once it was lit and between his lips, he made every effort not to beat around the bush as he replied.
"Don't s'pose the little reunion between the firecracker and the Captain earlier was any indication but t' put it bluntly- Jubes fancies the Captain."
One of Rogue's feminine brows arched high like a strung bow.
"That's it?"
Logan gave a brief nod as he exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Thought three months away from him might snap her outta it but it looks like it's only got worse since- since…"
"Since ah arrived," Rogue finished with a scowl.
Logan allowed a small smirk of amusement to spread across his lips before he took another drag of his cigar.
"Don't think you have anythin' t' worry bout, kid. He married you, he'll stick by you."
Rogue gave a derisive snort, even though his words did actually ease something in her chest she didn't care to acknowledge. Nevertheless, now it seemed that Jubilee's brattish behaviour had a source… and it wasn't at all unbelievable. Remy, handsome and full of charm as he was, could- or most likely had seduced any woman he ever wanted without much effort. Rogue could even concede that she was probably such a woman, even with his known deceptions. She could understand why Jubilee was so infatuated with him. She just wasn't happy to be the one to bare the brunt of resentment Jubilee so clearly felt towards her as a result of her feelings.
Rogue leant against the fence as she watched Jubilee from afar. Her sulky attitude had evaporated; her interest now on her Captain who had finally emerged from the cottage along with a dark-haired priest in black robes. Rogue bit her lower lip anxiously as Jubilee flocked to his side with the enthusiasm of a love-struck puppy. A swell of pity hit her. Recollections of her own youthful infatuation with Scott came rushing to the front of her mind and the sympathetic feelings in her chest practically burned in effect. She remembered what it was like when she was fifteen and thought herself in love with one of her best friends. What it felt like to be overlooked because he was so clearly in love with someone else...
"Does he know how she feels about him?"
Logan exhaled deeply as he leant against the fence in the place beside her.
"A blind man could see it, kid. He knows. But I don't think he'll try to …confront the issue unless she does something…drastic."
Rogue's brow arched in mild wariness.
"Is that likely t' happen?"
Logan merely shrugged.
"Let's hope not."
With that, it appeared the subject was finished. Logan finished his cigar and crushed it under his boot before setting off towards the cottage. Rogue made to follow but was forced to stop when Logan halted in his stride and just about knocked her back.
"Now that you know what's makin' her so hot heated, maybe you can start t' see things her way."
Rogue gave him an incredulous look.
"Are ya saying I should overlook her behaviour t' meh?"
Logan shook his head.
"Jus' be more understandin'. That's all I'm asking, kid."
He began to move away again and Rogue followed as a steady pace. Just before they joined the others, he stopped and spoke over his shoulder.
"Best not let her know we had this talk."
Rogue rolled her eyes.
"Ah thought that was an unspoken promise."
By the time they reached the others, it appeared the ale had been brought out for the friends reunion. While Piotr and John nursed cups of ale from the nearby fence, Jubilee was in the middle of telling what appeared to be a wild and most likely over-exaggerated tale of her own cunning accomplishments to Remy. Rogue barely caught the end of her tale about a barrel of rum she rolled down to the end of a jetty whilst being chased by a pair of French soldiers but there was no doubt the girl was as expressive with her stories as she was with her personality. Waving her arms to illustrate her story, she moved about on the spot, loud and full of energy. Remy, who sat on the porch step with his hands resting on his knees and his attention completely on her, threw his head back in a good-humoured laugh as she acted out one of the French soldiers with a terrible French accent. Rogue had to admit the sight of him in such good humour did things to her heart rate like nothing else. When he spotted her however, the feelings only amplified.
"Chére! Come meet a bien ami of mine!"
Before she could say anything, Remy was on his feet and pulling her towards the priest sitting on a chair on the porch. He politely stood up and greeted her with a kind smile. He was at least ten years her senior, with dark hair and hazel-brown eyes and a face that seemed destined for calmness and understanding, as a priest ought to be. Remy gave the priest an affectionate slap on the shoulder as he made the introductions.
"Rogue- dis is mon ami Father Wagner – formerly Kurt Wagner, a crewman of The Emerald. Kurt, dis is ma wife- Rogue."
He held out a hand to shake. Rogue managed to shake it despite the surprise that rocked her. She managed to say the first thought that came to mind in her bewildered state.
"Ya knew mah father?"
The priest brandished an almost devilish grin and suddenly the thought that he was Remy's friend instantly became more apparent. He wasn't the conventional Priest she first thought. Who would be with pirates for friends! Father Wagner patted her hand affectionately as he led her towards the set of wicker chairs on the porch. When he spoke, his words held the hint of a Germanic accent that appeared watered down by time spent in the Caribbean.
"He was a good man, meine lieben (my dear). I have fond memories of him from my youth on The Emerald. Of which I hope to share with you at a more convenient time. For now, I will say I am pleased to finally meet the daughter of my old mentor."
Rogue felt her heart burn with warm anticipation and promised to make such a meeting as soon as possible. Finally, after he had offered her a cup of ale and set her in the chair opposite his on the porch, the purpose of their meeting was finally addressed. Remy stood merely as a sentry with his back to the wall behind her and allowed for the priest to handle the negotiations. To her surprise, he reached under his seat and withdrew a beautifully carved chest that fit the span of his lap. Rogue felt a twinge of familiarity nag at the back of her mind as he gaze swept over the beautiful carving on the lid. The likeness of a mermaid with long flowing hair was carved into the lid, holding what appeared to be a small emerald that had been set in the wood. On the edge of the lid, just above the brass lock, were the initials A-M.D.
"Those are my initials..."
The observation was met an approving nod from the priest. He began to explain as he held out the chest for her to take.
"This was left in my keeping with specific instructions that it be concealed until you came to claim it yourself. All the necessary details are enclosed."
With shaky hands, Rogue took the chest and rest it on her lap. Confusion still warred against her as she looked between Remy and Father Wagner.
"Details? What exactly is this, father?"
Father Wagner rested a gentle, reassuring hand on hers. Rogue felt her heart lodge in her throat as her suspicions were set a flame by the Priest's gentle words.
"Meine Lieben, your father handed this to me days before he died. He made me swear I would keep it safe until the time was right for you to have it. This is your father's legacy."
A long chapter deserves a cliff-hanger.
Be kind and gentle, and review! Next chapter, we board the Devil's Revenge and possibly run into Joseph at some point like I promised a few chapters ago.
-Gams