In Search of Spice, page 21
“Good lads,” cried the Bosun, “keep it going now. Backs into it.”
The men on their spars had turned, the spar across their shoulders and were low down to the deck, walking backwards, putting the strength of their legs into it. Hinatea copied them, shortly followed by the other girls, though Rerata was unceremoniously dragged out by the Bosun when she tried to get over Billy and push. Her indignant squeals caused everyone to laugh, and the Bosun noticed they used the laugh to give an extra push each time.
Slowly the ship eased backwards, faster as they came free and she floated away. The Bosun kept them going till they were over deeper water, dropped another hook and tightened the hawser till the ship was firm and going nowhere.
Rob, a big burly Bosun’s mate, was sent off to check the hull for damage. He stripped naked in the bows before diving over, to the delight of the island girls who flocked forward to help him. Pat found himself alone at last. Husk, easily the biggest of the soldiers, sidled up to him.
“Listen sonny, and listen well. Upset our Princess and you won’t be a pretty boy much longer. Understand?”
Pat gaped at him. “Not really. I’m not upsetting her. I’m being respectful and doing what she says.”
Abruptly, Husk’s fist flew forward, totally unexpected, from a few inches away, leaving Pat with no chance to evade as it cannoned into his face, knocking him to the deck. Pain slammed through his head and his vision blurred.
Husk’s huge hand reached down and lifted Pat effortlessly up. “I saw her slap you. You don’t upset her. Understand?”
“For fucks sake, leave me alone! I’m a royalist too. But I’m not royalty, or a fucking courtier. She should be with an officer, or a duke, not a bloody commoner like me. It’s like she just wants to have me do whatever she wants.”
Husk’s other hand slammed into his stomach and Pat bent over and retched. It was like being kicked by a horse. As the gasping stopped, Husk lifted him up to look into his face. “So do whatever she wants. Understand?”
“Bastard,” gasped Pat, “goat fucker!” He twisted in Husk’s hand, brought up both feet and lashed out, catching Husk in the stomach and face. Husk didn’t flinch, but released his shoulder and caught a foot as he fell. He bounced Pat twice on his head, then abruptly dropped him and left. As Pat groggily tried to get up, the Bosun came round the side of the cabins to check the anchor cables. She stopped short at the sight of Pat and came over, looking at him critically.
“No secrets on a ship, Pat. I’ve a damn good idea what’s just happened and why. Can’t tell you what to do, but make sure you don’t disrupt my ship.”
“Why is it my fault, Bosun? I only just found out she is the Princess. So if I do something to upset her, she slaps me and the bloody soldiers beat the shit out of me? She’s always getting upset with me. I’m just a pet to her.” He looked at the deck mournfully and kicked it.
“What do you think I am, a bloody priest? It just is your fault, because she’s the princess and you’re not. Live with it. Either you’re her pet or the soldiers will beat shit out of you. Your choice laddie.” With these happy words she left him and he wandered morosely down to put out the washing raft and clean his face.
On the poop deck Suzanne was feeling tired. She had the ship working again and slowly the crew were coming together, but they were lethargic and prone to staring into space, the soldiers as well. She and Sara had an unpleasant scene when they retrieved Rereau from the Captain’s cabin, causing the Captain to weep uncontrollably. Hinatea was despatched to retrieve a canoe and take Rereau ashore. She was delighted to do this as it was Mactravis who asked her, but she delegated the paddling duty to another girl.
Suzanne decided she would try and get some sleep, and give Sara the watch. She was in the process of handing over when they heard Hinatea squawk in outrage from the lower deck, and looking down they saw she had caught Pat trying to go into the fo’c’sle, and had gripped him by the ears while she tried to study his face. Pat was trying to break her grip and cover his face at the same time. Hinatea was shouting at him in her own language, and appeared to be cursing him. Now she shouted at one of her other girls without releasing his ears. The other girl shot off and came back shortly with the remains of one of the fruits the girls had brought on board earlier.
While Hinatea held a struggling Pat’s face, the other girl rubbed the skin of the fruit into his eye.
Suzanne and Sara looked at each other, and with mutual purpose headed down the stairs. As they got closer, they saw others coming to see what was going on and Pat was scarlet with embarrassment, still struggling to escape.
“What is going on?” Suzanne asked in Belada.
Hinatea looked up. “We fix eye. Hurting.”
Now they could see Pat’s eye, black and swollen. Sara took a sharp intake of breath, and Suzanne asked, “How did that happen?”
“Slipped,” Pat muttered, whereupon Hinatea smacked him on the head.
“Not true. Fat man hit him. Trieste see him do it.”
“Pat! Have you been fighting? With the ship in this condition? What about?” Sara was infuriated, not sure whether to be angrier with Pat for fighting or for letting Hinatea treat him, when she wanted to bathe his eye herself.
“Please,” begged a mortified Pat, “just let me go to bed and sleep it off. Alone.” He glared at a persistent Hinatea, remembering to use Belada.
Sara started to speak, but Suzanne cut her off. “Of course you can Pat. Off you go. Hinatea, leave him alone. Come, Sara.” She turned, her hand gripping Sara’s elbow tightly. Pat escaped into the fo’c’sle. She could feel Sara fuming in her grip, but said nothing till they were back on the poop and no chance of being overheard.
“You realise why Pat is injured?”
“NO! Why did you not let me go with him?”
“Because he needs to be alone to sort out his thoughts. Who do you think the fat man was, and why do you think he hit him?”
“I don’t care. I am worried about Pat.”
“The fat man will be one of the soldiers. There are a couple who fit the description, though it is muscle not fat. Those soldiers are loyal to you to the death. Did you do anything to Pat earlier?”
“Well, yes, I slapped him when he was being an idiot.”
“I guess one of the soldiers saw you.”
“You’re kidding.” Sara looked stricken as she made the connection. “Surely nobody would do something like that. What do they think I am? Do they think I would want somebody who was forced to be with me?”
“Men do strange things. They are the most illogical of creatures and can be relied upon to do something ridiculous at every opportunity. It’s a typical male reaction.”
“Oh God. What can I do?”
“Be happy. Don’t brood. Make sure nobody can think you are upset by his actions. I know it is difficult, sweetling, but it’s part of being a woman. Now, I want to hold a council of war. Round up any officers who are capable, including the Bosun.”
Sara and the Bosun were there, with Perryn and Lieutenant Mactravis. Captain Larroche and Brian were unable to make it. Taufik was there but not much use. The Second Mate was dead and the Third in bed with his wife.
“Right, first things first,” opened Suzanne. “We need to get the crew back into shape. Perryn, what’s wrong with them.”
“In essence, they have had their libido overwhelmed and brought up to a peak. All they can think about is sex. It’s particularly hard on the Captain, because it is not a subject that has been important to him, and the same for Brian. Bishop Walters is also in deep shock because he always thought he was celibate.”
“Celibate? What the fuck does that mean?” The Bosun asked.
“Ah,” stammered Perryn nervously and uneasily.
“He never had sex,” stated Suzanne calmly. “Carry on Perryn.”
“There’s a major difference between men and women. Men are just interested in sex, and the spell keeps them going far longer than normal, and able to come back for more again and again. For the women, it cements the bonds if they are already there.”
“What are you talking about?” The Bosun asked suspiciously.
“Um, the married women and those in a relationship are much more in love than previously.”
“Are you telling me I’m in love with Jim because I let him shag me? Fat bloody chance.”
“No, no, there has to have been feelings already.”
“But Maisie was with Bill instead of her hubby.”
“And who is she with now?” The Bosun subsided. “I do think that the older you are, the harder it is to recover. Umm, I want to talk with the priestess who cast the spell to find out more about it, I’ve never heard of anything like this. Exercise seems to help, though and the younger are definitely less affected.”
“Well, that’s a start. Mactravis, your department. Starting tomorrow, I want all the crew on an exercise regime.”
He nodded. “What about the women? Not sure they need it.”
“Use any you need to help, I’ll use the rest to run the ship. Sara, you’ve laid the basics out for them, you carry on the negotiations with the islanders. You are released from other duties.”
Sara nodded, thinking.
“Bosun, I want the crew checked and re-organise the watches. How are the craftsmen getting on?”
“Dwarves, no problem, the masters are pretty much recovered, as they are younger than the captain and they all have their wives along. We got them off girls and onto their wives.” She grinned. “Nancy hasn’t had such a good seeing to in years. Now they’ve screwed it out of their systems, they are getting back to themselves, but I think some exercise will be good for them!”
“Right, well get them sorted and I want reports on each of their departments, and staffing levels. Sara, how are the Spakka doing?”
“It’s hard to tell. They have withdrawn into themselves, spending all their time in their wardroom. They seem to be able to work, not well, but they can do it. They are clearly under a lot of shock at having something like this overcome their discipline. You know they were screwing each other? Their blasted honour doesn’t cover this.”
“Well, make sure they join Mactravis’ exercise regime. She looked round at them. “One last thing. Perryn, I want Taufik and Walters working on a chart soon. Anything else?”
“We need to survey the land,” said Sara. “I want to know what is available here, whether there is any metals.”
“Do we have anyone who can?”
“I don’t know.”
The Bosun heaved herself to her feet. “I’ll go and ask the dwarf.” She went down the ladder and was back shortly.
“Well, that was simple. He just said ‘Pat.’ He could do that instead of exercise, take Grey Fox with him.”
Suzanne spoke low to the Bosun. “Bosun, get somebody up to clear Lieutenant Stevens old cabin. We’ll give it to the Princess now she is an officer. And get her kit up from the fo’c’sle. I don’t want her to go down there to get it herself.”
“Good idea, Cap’n. Will sort it out. You got the watch, Sara? Your cabin will be ready tomorrow. Want me to take the dogwatch Cap’n?”
“It’s alright, Bos’n, I”ll take it.”
“Beggin’ yer pardon, ma’am, but you shouldn’t. Officers stand watch, Captain doesn’t. He turns up when he feels like it and keeps us on our toes. You leave it with me, ma’am, and I’ll set up a roster with the Princess, Lieutenant Mactravis, Master Taufik and myself. We’ll teach that bloody soldier how to sail, sure we will.” The Bosun smiled widely and slipped away before Suzanne could come up with an objection.
“I’d feel a damn sight more like the Captain if I had his cabin! Now, I will make off to my little cubby hole and get some much needed sleep. You take care, Asmara.” With a squeeze of her arm, Suzanne left her there and went to her room.
It was dreadfully hot and stuffy in there, she opened the tiny window to get some breeze and stripped off her clothes, reviewing the day’s events. She felt quite pleased with herself at the way she had managed, especially at getting the Princess in control, ruling, where she should be. She had a pail of water in the cabin, and now she washed, dipping a cloth into it and rubbing it over her body, getting rid of the sweat. It felt glorious and cool. She took a while longer than usual enjoying the simple pleasure.
She was aware of the magic in her blood, and it thrummed as she washed herself, particularly when the cloth went between her legs. But she stamped down on it firmly, stroking her amulet where it stuck out of her shirt. Must get some exercise tomorrow. Wouldn’t do for the captain to do anything naughty with the crew, would it? She felt quite pleased with herself - all this way and she’d only been to bed with one man, Mactravis, and that just twice. She laughed quietly to herself, thinking she was acting like a nun.
Her hair was a mess, but she untied it and a quick brush through had it crackling and shiny, though it was very hot in her little cabin. She climbed onto her cot, pushed her hair up and away from her body and face and pulled a sheet over her nakedness. She took off the amulet and put it on her shirt nearby, letting the magic strum through and relax her as she prepared to drift off to sleep, still feeling very pleased with herself.
Just as she began to drift off, something aroused her. A gentle tap on the door. Irritated, she dragged herself out of bed, clasped the sheet to her breast and went to the door.
“Who is it?”
“Pat.”
“What the hell do you want, Pat? I am trying to sleep.”
“I’m sorry, Suzanne, I’m having trouble with the magic, and wondered if I could borrow the amulet. I don’t really want to ask the soldiers.”
She sighed and opened the door. A woebegone Pat was standing there in his shorts, looking utterly delicious. She started slightly and slapped the thought down. “Come in, I’ll get it for you,” she said without thinking and turned to get it from by the bed.
Pat felt like he had been hit by both Husk’s fists at once. He staggered into the room. Suzanne had opened the door half asleep, her hair up in a magnificent mane behind her and trailing down to her shoulders, her big blue eyes wide and sleepy as they blinked innocently at him. Clutching just a sheet to herself, exposing disquieting bits of flesh, her breasts pushing out past her hand and one side exposed. He’d always thought she was taller than he was, but now he realised she barely came up to his eyes.
Now she turned away from him, forgetting she was naked and he was treated to the sight of her bottom swaying in mesmeric fashion as she went over to the bed, bending over exposing a tuft of hair, which caused his knees to tremble.
She came back, one hand clasping the sheet to her chin, and one hand wasn’t nearly enough, the other holding up her shirt. “It’s in here somewhere,” she said, waving it vaguely.
The door closed behind Pat as she waved the shirt at him. He reached for it, not looking at it with the distraction she was giving him, biting his lip to try and keep control. Suzanne let go of the shirt, Pat missed it and it dropped. Suzanne grabbed for it with both hands, missed and the sheet fell away. She stooped and picked up the shirt, forgetting about the sheet, and her breasts swung forward, swelling magnificently in Pat’s entranced eyes.
Suzanne picked up the shirt and proffered it to Pat again, smiling triumphantly at this little accomplishment, and admiring Pat’s bare chest. To her astonishment, Pat knocked the shirt and the amulet from her hand, sending it skidding across the floor. She looked at him, wide-eyed. Pat took a step forward and she felt her nipples touch his chest. Something ignited inside her, and she lifted up her mouth to him as he crushed her to his chest, and pushed her back on the bed urgently, desperately seeking for him with her hips. Scrabbling with her hands to drag down his shorts. Sighing with pleasure as he sank into her and the magic took her, raising her up to a constant rush of sensation.
A couple of hours later, she awoke, Pat underneath and still inside her. She smiled, and worked her internal muscles, feeling him become rigid again. Gently she leaned forward and woke him, watching his eyes as he looked up and found his world bounded by her face, circled by her hair and breasts, resting on his chest. Delighted by his reaction, she resolved to somehow acquire this spell; it put such strength into men it would make her very, very wealthy on return to Harrhein.
Sitting up, she put her hands behind her head, brushing out her hair, knowing full well the effect it would have on Pat, and smiled as she rode his immediate frantic lunges. Rolling her hips with the motion, she cast her thoughts outside, oh, yes she was the Captain and would need to go on deck soon to make sure all was well. No hurry, the Captain could go when she wanted. She thought she would see how many times the magic could raise him before burn out, biting her lip with anticipation, then having to reach down and arrest his progress as she felt him tense. Didn’t want him going too early. Now who had the watch, ah, yes, Sara, that was fine, she was capable...
Sara! Oh no, this was Pat under her! In her confusion, she lost control and Pat pulled her down, kissing along her jaw and stroking her back. He started to whisper in her ears, telling her his feelings and how she looked and felt. The magic thrummed hard and she forgot all about Sara for a few hours.
She next awoke to find a smiling Pat kissing her gently. He was dressed, and whispered in her ear. “My watch will be called soon. I must go. Thank you. Till tonight.” He kissed her again, gently with closed mouth, and slipped out the door. Suzanne smiled with pleasure, her heart swelled with love and she slowly writhed in the bed, savouring the smell of him. Damn, that had been good. Now, how to explain to Sara? She felt guilty for a moment, but then thought she hadn’t chased him, Pat had come to her, Pat had chosen her. Damn, if it hadn’t been for the magic, it would never have happened, but now it had, well, she might as well enjoy herself.
