Page 67 of The Noble's Merman

Kent couldn’t control himself as he flung over to the railing. Young took a step backwards, obviously curious as well letting out a confused groan, and they both gazed into the water.

There in the channel between the two ships was Mo, his shoulders above the water’s surface.

“Now, what do we have here? Man overboard?” said Young, stroking his beard. “Ha! No, I see you for what you are.” He peered his devilish eyes at Kent. “Is this your merman?”

Kent gulped. He was at a loss for words, so all he could do was nod.

“What did he call you? Kent? Is that some sort of nickname?”

“No, it’s, um… my Christian name.”

Young pouted. “I’ve heard stranger. But if he’s calling you by your Christian name then… you must be rather close.”

“Kent, pirates are dangerous!” Mo shouted from the water. “If you board their ship, who knows what will happen?”

“If they agree to this ransom,” —Kent gestured his body toward Mo but kept his eye on Young— “and deliver me back to England unharmed for the pounds, I should be all right.”

“Are you sure you want to do this, Fareham?” asked Brooks, walking closer to him. “Mo is right—you’re putting yourself at risk for all of us on the pirate sloop. I’ve no quarrels about giving them the medicine if it means we are let go safely, especially when Allen here is injured. You’ll need to tend to him. I don’t want to lose him.”

Kent gripped his fists tighter, nails nearly tearing at the skin. “Yes. This could work. I wasn’t done with listing my conditions, however.” He turned toward Young. “If you bring me on board, you’ll need to bring Allen as well, so I can tend to him on the way back to England. I’m the surgeon of this ship, and I need to provide him care.”

“What use would we have bringing an injured man on board with us? He’d be nothing but a freeloader,” rasped Young. His nose scrunched in a grimace.

Allen stepped closer to the pirate captain, holding his injured shoulder. “Well, there’s always the possibility of infection, and this wound killing me. I won’t be a bother to you then, and you can just toss me overboard.”

“Allen, don’t talk that way,” said Walker, strain in his voice.

“But I trust Fareham’s skills in mending me.” Allen nodded toward him. “If I survive the voyage back to England, once I’m healed, I can—I will…” He swallowed thickly, looking at Young directly in the eyes. “I will join your crew.”

“Allen!” called Brooks.

“Will you now?” said Young, peering at the sailing master. “You are quite large. We could use someone with your strength, with muscles of that size. Aye, I like that idea quite a lot! What do you say, brothers?”

The pirates cheered, raising their fists and causing commotion.

Kent was stunned. “You’d really do this?”

“Aye.” Allen then looked at Brooks. “Fareham is right. This medicine needs to be delivered to Fall River. That’s what’s most important. I don’t want my injury to hold you back when I’m the only wounded one here. Our fallen would have died in vain if you’re not to complete our mission. So please, let us do this.”

Brooks held still for a moment, fists at his sides. His mouth was sealed in a fine line. But he furrowed his brows in determination, and nodded affirmatively. “Do as you must.”

“How can we be sure the boy’s tellin’ the truth?” one of the pirate crew said. “What if he ain’t truly nobility and this all is just a ruse to let the merchant ship go free?”

That got some commotion to come from the other pirates, but another one said, “Wait! Earl of Fareham, he said? I remember him. There was a scandal with his son, where his sweet little betrothed jilted him and fled to the continent.”

“Aye, I remember that as well!” shouted another further back, and Kent’s face burned at the fact such gossip about himself had reached even the likes of these people. “Said the lad had nothin’ interestin’ about him other than a pretty face and a lean body. Oh, and he was missin’ an eye.”

Did Diana really say that about me? He supposed the truth likely got twisted the further the gossip spread, but he didn’t doubt her animosity toward him. But that was the least of his worries as Young took a step closer toward him. Merely a foot away, he could feel the pirate’s heavy breath on him as he was scrutinized up and down, silver eyes baring into him like a dagger ripping through cloth.

“Well, you are quite pretty, like they say.” Young’s yellow teeth glinted in a terrifying grin. “Exceptionally pretty. Look at you. Finer than any harlot I’ve been with lately. And you are blind in one eye from what I can see. Brothers, I think he’s telling the truth.”

“Of course I am.” Kent furrowed his brows. He attempted to step backwards, but his back hit the railing. “I wouldn’t wish to board your ship unless I had a proper reason to.” Especially not with a captain who talks to me like that.

Young laughed at that, throwing his head back. “But what if your father doesn’t pay? How can I trust that you are worth ten thousand pounds to him, especially after a scandal such as that?”

“He will pay! He will! I’m sure of it!” He resisted the urge to stamp his foot in protest. “My father still puts incredible value in me. He—he didn’t want me leaving England in the first place. I left on my own will. You’ll be doing him a favor bringing me back to him and he’ll thank you generously with the ransom money.”

“But still. There’s always a chance something unexpected happens. What. If. He. Doesn’t. Pay?”

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