“Aye, I neverthought I’d say it, but ‘tisbloody good to step on land,” Finn exclaimed. A resounding sigh ofrelief made its way through our circle. “So, the plan is?”
Henry steppedin. “We’re to find lodgings and rest up for the night. It’s been along journey and I reckon we all deserve some clean clothes, afresh meal, and a good bed.” His lips pursed in thought and Henryleaned further, motioning us all to listen in. “But, bear in mind,we must practice the utmost discretion in all we do. A trip toWallace is inevitable, but we do not have time for it right now.We’ve got a mission. Figure out if The Burning Ghost or MariaCobham has been spotted around.”
“Once I knowfor sure, I’ll–” I glanced around, realizing that we weren’t alone.Something I wasn’t used to. “Um, once I can make a confident…decision, I will.” I made eyes at my crew before me and they allnodded in understanding. I turned to Seamus and John, the two youngdeckhands. “I’m sorry, boys, but Ineed you two to stay aboard The Queen while we find a place tostay. We don’t want any nosey visitors poking around when we haveso much to protect. I’ll send for you and the trunks as soon as Ican.”
“I’ll staybehind with them,” Gus offered gallantly.
I smiledproudly at my stoic quartermaster.“Even better.” I then turned to the rest of my tired and wearycrew. “Now, let’s find a tavern, shall we?”
Just past themerchant tents and one dirt road up from the waterfront, we spotteda row of Victorian buildings, painted dark to match the blooms offog and smoke. Finally, we spotted a quaint tavern that hugged theend of one long row of shop fronts. I stifled a laugh at the namecarved into the wooden sign which hung outside.
The Kraken’sDen.
Henry caughtmy gaze and peered up at the swinging sign. He gave a chuckle ofhis own and then squeezed my hand. “Suitable, don’t you thinkso?”
“I’d say it’sthe perfect place for a bunch of pirates to rest their heads for afew nights,” I told him and admired the gorgeous workmanship ofcarved tentacles that covered the thick wooden door.
I waited asHenry heaved it open and the four of us filed in behind him; me,Finn, Lottie, and Charlie. The large inn boasted neat wooden floorsthat matched its walls and the exposed beams above. The air smelledof warm food and Christmastime. And, with a closer look around, Irealized it must have been close to the holiday; green garland ofpine boughs hung from surfaces with a red ribbon.
We came to ahalt in the large entryway as a hoard of gawking guests, dispersedthroughout the common areas, stared at us. I realized then just howgrungy we must have looked. Months at sea. No way to properly washour clothes, or ourselves. Even Henry’s all-black leather ensemblecould have used a good scrub. His long blonde hair slick withgrease and pulled back in a haphazard knot. The rest of us were nobetter; soiled cottons, dirt smeared faces. Me, too pregnant tohide. I flushed red in embarrassment and turned my gaze to thefloor as Henry made his way to the front desk.
“Do you haveany rooms available?” he asked the person standing there, a tallolder man with a balding head and a goofy smile. “At least five orsix?”
Theman’s words seemed to dry up inhis throat as he stared incredulously at the band of misfit piratesstanding in his tavern. “I-I, um, sir, I don’t–”
Henry moanedimpatiently and stuffed a hand in his jacket pocket, pulled out asmall satchel of gold coins and plunked it down on the hard, woodendesk between them. “Let me ask you again. Do you have half a dozenrooms available, good sir?”
The startledpanic washed from the inn keeper’s face and he happily accepted themoney. “Of course!” He ducked below the desk and popped back upwith a handful of keys. “I have more than enough room toaccommodate you. Will there be more joining your party?”
“Yes,” Henryreplied. “Three more. Two of which can share a room, if need be. Wedon’t want to impose.”
The man wavedat the air. “Nonsense. The Kraken’s Den can provide whatever youneed, Mister…” He raised his eyebrows in wait.
Henry scoopedthe keys up and turned them over in his hands, eyeballing the roomnumbers carved into each one. “You may call me Mr. White, if youplease.”
The sound ofHenry’s true name coming over his lips surprised me. I’d neverheard him say it like that before, like he owned it. But then Irealized, as he turned back to us and my eyes caught his tellinggaze, that he’d given that name because it was one that nobodywould know.
We each tookour keys and Finn adjusted his thick leather belt after pocketinghis. “Aye, I’ll head back to the ship, let the boys know where webe. Help ‘em with the trunks.”
Lottie grabbedhis arm before he left. “Tell Gus I’m in room seven, wouldyou?”
Finn grinnedwildly and gave her a mocking waggle of his red brow. “Oooh!”
Lottiereleased his arm but gave it a hard smack before turning andheading for the large staircase behind us. But I caught her hidinga smirk as she passed me by and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Finn becareful heading back,” I told him.
Henry pipedin, “There should be some wagons outside for the trunks, be sure tograb one.”
“Aye,Captain,” he replied, seemingly to both of us, and was off.
I turned toHenry and stuck my arm through the loop he provided with his. Mybody relaxed as a stale breath of air heaved from my chest and Ilaid my head against his firm shoulder. “Can we go to bed now?”
He chortled,deep and low under his breath. “I’d kill the man who stood in myway.”
We pulledourselves up the creaky wooden staircase, stained dark just likeevery other wooden surface in the tavern. The Floors, thewainscoting, and the tray ceiling were all stained an ashy ebonyand I soaked it all in, the old-timey beauty of the place. Henryand I came to a stop outside door number four and I waited as heinserted the key into the hole and turned the knob.
The dark
