THE SAILS OF THE HIGH SEAS

- Chapter 36 -

The way Marianna caught her breath told her one thing. That her heart was not mistaken. That her eyes were not misleading her. That the man she was looking at, the man speaking with her uncle, the man puffing out smoke and holding quite an expensive cigar, was Yanez himself. Yanez de Gomera. Sandokan's brother in everything but blood.

The way Marianna stopped at half step and brought her hand to her heart also told her cousin Ada that whatever was happening was most likely linked to... Sandokan. And, most importantly, it was definitely something that the scorned Lord Guillonk would not approve of. Which, in turn, was something that she definitely wanted to be a part of.

"Mind telling me what's wrong? You look like You saw a ghost?" Ada nudged her cousin with her elbow.

"I may as well have," Marianna replied without so much as a blink of an eye.

"Well, the man that uncle is talking to is definitely not Sandokan, so he's not a ghost," Ada narrowed her eyes to hopefully get a better look at the man speaking with Lord Guillonk.

"If uncle finds out who he's talking to, I am afraid the man will become one," Marianna replied, more and more certain of who she was looking at.

"Not that I want to make that happen, but who exactly is that awfully dressed man?" Ada raised her eyebrow, intrigued to say the least. Whoever the man was, his clothes neither did him justice nor did they make him look one bit presentable - in her unmistaken opinion.

"That man is Yanez de Gomera," Marianna leaned in closer to Ada and whispered, making sure no one else heard them.

"All it tells me is that his name does not match his outfit," Ada grinned sarcastically. "So, who is Yanez de Gomera?"

"Sandokan's best friend," Marianna whispered again but this time she made sure to cover her lips to make her words even more secret.

"What?!?" Ada shouted so loud that it caused Marianna to straighten up, and it caused both men to look their way.

"Thank You for that discrete response," Marianna narrowed her eyes at her cousin.

"My apologies. It was not my intention," Ada all but kicked herself.

"Believe me, it is one I contemplated when I saw him," Marianna smiled at Ada and patted her hand in understanding. "What could he possibly be doing here? Does he not realize he just put his life in danger?"

"Judging by his outfit, that man is perfectly aware where he came. And I would venture to say that he knows exactly what he is doing," Ada whispered. "The main question is why?"

"Do You think...?" Marianna covered her mouth with her hand again. She dared not to think, and dared not to say what her heart yearned to believe as it leaped in faith within her chest.

"Well, I think that man is here to either poke fun of Our uncle, or he is here to steal You away," Ada smiled. "And I would love for it to be both."

"Ada Corishant, You are undeniably unashamed and straightforward," Marianna grinned at her cousin.

"At Your service," Ada curtsied as she flashed her pearly whites.

"Rebel," Marianna laughed lightly.

"Always," Ada replied as they noticed that Lord Guillonk and his new guest began to walk their way.

"Ada, how will I be able to stay calm if Yanez speaks to me?" Marianna turned to her cousin, suddenly aware of how fast her heart continued to beat.

"Easily. You will just have to," Ada nodded. "And we will have to do everything in Our power to keep his true identity safe."

"Ladies," Lord Guillonk called out to his nieces from afar. "I am glad to have come across the two of You. There is someone I would like You to meet."