A Hidden Queen

Chapter 18

Burnt leans out from around the stern of the ship. Charlie Austin, a young landsman they picked up about a year back, crowds him a little as he tries to spot Josephine. Burnt growls, shouldering him away a little. He focuses his eyes back up onto the deck of The Governor. Josephine frantically looks every which way up and down the docks before allowing the commodore to escort her away. Burnt sighs in relief, straightening himself back up. Charlie gazes down at Burnt with piercing ice blue almost silver eyes.

"That her?" He gestures towards the deck.

"Yeah." Burnt breathes out. "I would recognize that brat anywhere. It is definitely Josephine."

"Who is she anyways? And more important why does the captain want her so?"

"It will all be."

"Be explained in due time." Charlie cuts Burnt off, earning an angry scowl. "Burnt you have spat that at me for the past two days. This port is crawling with naval soldiers. We are out here risking our necks on orders that make no sense."

"Look Charlie." Burnt says, lowering his voice so as not to draw attention. "I know it's difficult right now, but you need to trust the captain and you need to trust me. This is not some whim of an adventure. Things will be told."

"But when Burnt. The crew."

"The crew can go stuff it. Most know and understand what we are doing here, the rest, well the rest can put a cock in it. Things will be told and made clear we are just not doing them here."

Charlie sighs aggregately, "Fine, but are we to do. Captain had orders to take her the first chance we got and she's now leaving with the commodore."

"An attack on land is no longer an option. We'll have to do it at sea."

"And hopefully don't get killed in the process." Charlie gruff out.

Burnt's amber eyes continually scan the crowds. Charlie was right on one thing; the naval presence was heavy, and it called for a constant alertness to the dangers. Burnt zeros in on a group of soldiers standing just beyond the workers. Many that moved about were boarding The Governor and paid very little attention. But this small group, this small group has given extra attention to Charlie and himself. They were starting to whisper and murmur to one another while gesturing towards the pair. Burnt light smacks Charlie in the chest, turning his head away as if he was causally watching the crowds.

"Soldiers two o'clock. Don't stare at them!" Burnt reprimands as Charlie stares directly at them.

"They're starting to notice us." Charlie points out.

"Yes. I think it's time we make our leave and inform the captain of our new predicament."

Charlie nods his head in agreement. Burnt gazes back up at the empty deck where Josephine had stood only moments before. Raiding the ship was going to be difficult with all the soldiers present aboard, but that was a job for the captain and himself to figure out. And it was not to be done right now in this spot. Burnt slithers past Charlie, the younger man coming into step right behind him. The pair make their way through the crowds with a hurried pace but not so much so that it would draw attention or cause alarm. They step off onto the beach, moving their way over to where they had stashed their boat. Charlie glances over at the massive first-rate ship.

"Tis girl better be worth it." He mumbles, grabbing a hold of the lines and dragging the boat towards the water.

Burnt turns to glance in the direction as well,"She is Austin. Trust me she is."