Chapter Nineteen

I was alone in my cabin, my back turned towards the door as I gazed out the large pane glass windows and onto the ocean that was left behind us, yet though the waters were calm and the sky had become a beautiful array of reds and golds with the setting sun, I found no peace in it. My mind was too troubled and my thoughts far too many. It had been months since my beloved sister had been with us last, and while I had not paid her much attention before her disappearance, I longed to have her back again. Until that time came, I was well aware I would find no happiness in life, for in truth, she was the only happiness I had ever known.

Even when she was naught but a babe, I loved her more than the whole world. She was born while my father was away at sea... before he had gone forever, and from her first smile bare of any teeth and containing only a wet and swollen tongue that knew only useless babble, I knew I was to care for her like no other. Had it not been for our father leaving to find a cure for our mother, we may have been given the chance to become close as that of siblings. Such fantasies were not meant to be, however, and so I become something of a father to her though I was only a mere twelve years her senior.

Perhaps I was being overly compassionate in my pursuit of her, for the pirates had more than likely had no chance to steal her away after such a feebly planned strike on my home. A thought which had only occurred to me after I had given the order to depart from our home port. Then again, as I would often remind myself, they had stolen away with her all the same, for even if she had sought them out for reasons I could not begin to imagine, they had still made the decision to take her aboard their ship. They were the ones to take her from me, and for that, not even a pardon from the king himself would save them from the likes of a noose wrought by my own hand.

We had always had a rivalry, Viento and I, as I had often said. However, to attempt to take the life of the vice admiral- no doubt myself as well- and then to snatch my sister away from my own home lacked any credit of dignity I may have thought to have given him.

"None of it makes any sense," I muttered darkly to myself. "What good would it do him to have her when he knows I will come after him? What would he accomplish besides being brought into a battle he cannot hope to win?" After all, though I had no way of knowing the numbers that were aboard his ship, there was no feeble means in which he could hope to defeat a fleet such as my own. "It defies all logic."

Perhaps that is because there is no logic to it all.

I only shook my head at the thought. Even if Viento was a rogue, he was not a fool, and I was more than certain that for every action he took, there was a reason. The only question that remained was what that reason was, and with that being the case, I found I could no longer contain my frustration with the situation.

"Mr. Taylor!" My voice carried across the top deck, and no sooner had I called than the man came to stand before me. Even in his uniform, he was a rugged sort with his brown hair cut close to his scalp and his arms being so large that one could not wrap his hands around them with any chance of one's fingers being able to reach one another. Had I not known him as well as I did, I may have thought of him as an imposing figure to stand up against, yet since he had worked under my father before me, I knew he was among the very few men I could truly have confidence in. "Has there been any word from the vice admiral?"

"No, sir," he replied. I only nodded, for I knew there was no rushing such things as finding one lone ship in the vastness of the Caribbean. However, the sailor could see that I was impatient, and so he grinned broadly and placed a strong hand on my shoulder. "We'll find them, Rick. The Miss and that scoundrel," he assured me. "As I told your mother once-"

"Zack... now is not the time for such things," I warned, my tone firm as I narrowed my eyes. His face paled, having learned that while I respected him as a friend of the family, I was still the one in command. "We will need to bring the fleet in to the nearest port to regroup and gather supplies as well as more information concerning Viento's most recent movements. However, no man is to leave any ship without direct orders from myself or the vice admiral. Be sure to tell the others of my wishes."

Without another word, the man gave me a stiff nod before standing at the helm to speak with the other who command- a man with a large but well kept beard and a broad chest. I knew it would be better for myself to be the one giving direct orders to my subordinates, yet I had no energy for it. If it had been any other pirate, I would have dispatched of him with no hesitation, and I had to wonder if I was really so vulnerable as to not to be able to face a true challenge when it showed itself to me.

It was not fear that I felt, of that I was more than certain. No... it was much more serious than that. It was the will and the very need to see him fall that pressed me on, and in order to realize that final desire, I had to have time to plan out my assault. Precious time that had been stolen from me the very moment that Popuri had been lost.

No, not lost, I reminded myself quickly. Just misplaced. Soon she would be back at my side, and once she was safe at home, I would waste no time in being sure that she would never be at risk again. She would marry a man of my choosing... one who would ensure that she was kept apart from rogues and vandals of every sort. "And she shall not have any say in it."

Of that I would have to make absolutely certain or else I knew I would lose her once and for all.