Mad Ship

Wintrow rocked slightly forward. He looked as if he'd been punched in the belly. "I didn't mean it," he said in a hoarse whisper. "Not like this, not just vanished away while I slept. Please, sir. Bring him back. I'll take care of him and make no complaints."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Ke

Wintrow moved woodenly to obey him. Then he stepped back from the table and stood as if frozen, his eyes fixed on the wall. Fine. Ke

"There was blood all over your coat. And the side of the gig." Wintrow's stubborn words broke into his reverie and his dining.

Ke

"You killed him because I hated him?" There was panicky disbelief in Wintrow's voice.

"No. I killed him because he would not do as I wanted him to do. He really left me no choice. His death is no loss to you. The man had only contempt for you and your father." Ke

"And Ankle?" he dared to ask in a sickened voice.

Ke

To the pirate's surprise, it suddenly kindled an answering spark in the boy's eyes. Wintrow straightened himself. Ke

Ke

Ke

"WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME?" WINTROW DEMANDED. HIS UNRESOLVED anger at Ke

"I told you." Vivacia reacted stubbornly to his tone. "You were weary and deeply asleep. I did not see any harm in what he was doing. You could not have stopped him anyway. So I saw no sense in waking you."

"He must have come right up here to get Ankle. She was here when I fell asleep." A sudden suspicion jabbed him. "Did he tell you not to wake me?"

"And if he did?" Vivacia asked, affronted. "What difference would it make? It was still my decision."

Wintrow looked down at his feet. The depth of his hurt surprised him. "Once you would have been more loyal to me. You would have wakened me, whether you thought it was wise or not. You must have known I would have wanted that."

Vivacia turned her head and looked out across the water. "I fail to see your point."

"You even sound like him," Wintrow said miserably.

His unhappiness spurred her more than his anger had. "What do you want me to say? That I am sorry Kyle Haven is gone? I am not. I have not known a moment of peace since he took command. I am glad that he is gone, Wintrow. Glad. And you should be glad, also."

He was. That was the rub. Once she would have known that, but now she was so taken with the pirate, she considered only Ke

"What?" It was her turn to be shocked. "Why ask such a thing? Of course, I need…"

"Because I thought that if you were happy with Ke

"You sound like a jealous child," she retorted.

"You haven't answered my question."

In that moment, she did. She opened herself to him, and he felt her pain at his hard words.

"Oh," Wintrow said softly. That was all. His gaze followed hers. The Marietta rocked at anchor so close by that Wintrow could see the face of the man on watch. Sorcor had not been pleased when an anxious Brig had sent to ask if he had word of the captain. The new, closer position of the other ship reflected his renewed watchfulness.

She cut to the heart of the squabble. "Why are you jealous that I care for Ke