"For you, Commodore." A messenger hands a small, sealed envelope to Kinsley. He leaves quickly to return to his deliveries, not wanting to take up any more of Kinsley's time than absolutely necessary.
"From Admiral Roderick?" Normond takes a cursory step closer to Kinsley, looking at the envelope curiously.
"So it would seem." Kinsley says with a neutral tone, not wanting to commit to either satisfaction or irritation until he's had the chance to read the contents of the envelope. He fetches a small, portable letter opener from his jacket pocket and slits the top of the envelope open, retrieving the single sheet of paper kept within. He unfolds the document and reads it quickly but succinctly.
Normond stands by patiently while Kinsley reads. He knows better than to pester Kinsley while he is reading, or to commit the even greater offense of reading over his shoulder.
"Excellent." Kinsley says with a plain smile.
"Pleasant tidings?" Normond asks optimistically, relieved to see it was good news contained within the letter.
"Admiral Roderick has received our orders to mobilize. He'll have the south fleet on the water in two day's time." Kinsley returns the letter opener to his jacket, along with the folded letter.
Kinsley and Normond look out across the port, which they are standing an elevated distance above. It is teeming with activity, as naval officers and deckhands mill about busily, loading supplies onto dozens of large warships.
"If all goes according to plan, we should be able to close in on him from both sides, effectively cutting off any opportunities for escape."
"A brilliant choice of tactics, as always." Normond nods in accord. Though he agrees with Kinsley's every word, there is a nagging feeling in the back of his mind which can't grasp how all this was orchestrated.
"I was surprised to find that Sir Wilcox agreed to all this. How did you manage to convince him?" Normond asks in as much of a non-threatening manner as he can.
Kinsley pauses, remaining utterly silent for several seconds before responding.
"I made a compelling case."
~
"What about this one?" Eira traces a finger across one of the ancient lesions on Adrulac's chest. She is lying in bed with him, a thin blanket pulled up to their waists, leaving their upper bodies bare.
She would normally find being naked and only partly covered much too cold, but Adrulac's body provided more than enough warmth for the two of them. His skin was always chilling to the touch for an initial moment, but after a couple minutes of contact with her, the profound heat which resided beneath soon came to the surface.
"An axe, if I remember correctly. Or maybe it was a hatchet." Adrulac looks down over his chest, using the faint light of the oil lamp to survey the many scars.
Eira rests her head in the space between his shoulder and neck, laying on top of his solid body in an affectionate snuggle. She lifts a hand delicately to his face, perusing the few marks located around his cheeks, jaw, and nose.
"And these ones?"
"All knife wounds, I believe." Adrulac points to one scar running down the side of his temple. "This one might've been a sword, actually."
"How about that one?" Eira slides a hand down to a large trail of scar tissue, which runs diagonally across his abdomen. It is without a doubt the largest one he has.
"Gardening mishap." Adrulac says with a reminiscent smirk.
"You're joking." Eira giggles, looking back and forth between Adrulac's face and abdomen.
YOU ARE READING
The Archman
RomanceWhile departing for London to meet with her fiancé, Eira Pryce finds herself taken captive by a living legend, the fabled pirate known only as the Archman. As it turns out, the fables may not have been so accurate in their portrayal of this mythic f...
