Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤27. Rumours

The dim light in the dungeon cast long shadows across the walls as Declan descended the creaky wooden steps, balancing a stale loaf of bread on a tin plate. Alvares and Calderon, the two prisoners taken in the raid, looked up at him with wary eyes, tracking his every movement. Declan, lost in thought, muttered to himself, "Time travelers... Bloody nonsense."

Alvares narrowed his eyes, a glint of curiosity sparking within. "Time travelers?" he whispered to Calderon in Spanish, his voice filled with intrigue. They exchanged a glance, silently resolving to keep an ear out for more.

Declan, oblivious, deposited the bread roughly between them and turned to leave, still mumbling. As he made his way back up, Alvares leaned in close to Calderon. "If what he says is true, there may be more to this ship than we thought. We might have more opportunities than we realize."

✺

Up on deck, the late afternoon sun bathed the ship in a warm, amber glow as Stephen manned the wheel, eyes trained on the horizon. Maria stood beside him, the wind tousling her hair as she looked thoughtfully out over the water. They spoke in low voices, ensuring their conversation remained private.

Stephen's voice was gruff, touched with a rare note of vulnerability. "I worry, Maria. If Justin's story spreads... if the men get wind of it, and of how I've listened to him... the crew may start questioning me. They might see Justin as a demon or something worse."

Maria glanced over, her brow furrowing. "Then perhaps we should help him find his way back. Guide him to the stones, if that's even possible. It would quiet the crew's fears and keep Justin safe."

Stephen's jaw tensed. "And if it isn't possible? It'd be a fool's errand, wasting precious time and resources. I say we leave him in London. He'll be out of our hair soon enough."

Maria studied him, an edge of frustration in her voice. "After he saved my life? That's rather heartless, Stephen."

He paused, taken aback by her words. "You seem to like him well enough. Should I be worried?" His gaze held a spark of something dark, jealousy simmering just beneath his playful expression.

Maria laughed, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his cheek, leaving him slightly off guard. "You know there's no one else for me," she murmured with a smile before strolling away, leaving Stephen standing there, half-smiling, half-brooding, unsure whether to break his tough demeanor or let the hint of doubt linger.

✺

In the dimly lit dungeon, Justin knelt down, scrubbing the worn wooden planks of the floor with his mind drifting between memories and recent events. The damp chill settled into his bones, but he kept working, hoping to avoid drawing any attention from the two men in the nearby cell.

Alvares, his face shadowed but his eyes sharp, glanced over at Justin, nudging Calderon. "That one... He's different, don't you think? Not quite like the others on this ship." He leaned back, feigning disinterest but speaking just loud enough to be heard. "I even heard Declan muttering something about... time travelers," he added, carefully baiting his words.

Calderon tilted his head, his interest piqued. "Time travelers, hm?" He looked at Justin with a newfound glint in his eyes. "That would explain a lot." Then, his expression turned calculating as he spoke softly to Alvares, "You think of... spreading that rumor around?"

Alvares's lip curled in a sly smile. "Chaos could serve us well. If the crew begins to doubt their own, we might find a way out of this wretched place."

Justin kept his head down, the wooden scrubber rough against his hands, but he was listening intently. He glanced up only briefly, catching Alvares staring at him.