Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Ruiz stood at the wheel of the Homicide, watching the various chosen members of the team gathering on the deck of the ship. His eyes were drawn to the one who had caught his attention earlier.

Tiffany Reyes. Mapmaker. Star Watcher. Born of the East. As a man of the sea he had come to expect to know each and every man or woman that spent time above and below the decks of his charge. Surprises were for fools who believed in the goodness of the heart.

Ruiz allowed bitter memories of the treachery of once good hearts to build in the bile at the back of his throat. A “harrumph” and he spat with force to the deck, the moment of reflection gone.

Reyes looked up and met the one eye of Ruiz, for a moment sensing something behind the rough and tough skin that permeated the sea dogs amongst them. Her sword at her side and slim hat atop her head she found her way to stand beside him, sensing there was something to say here.

That or he would sucker punch her like Long Ear. She had attended to the beast man below decks and nursed him back to something resembling health. Whatever Ruiz had done to him she would never know. Or understand.

She didn’t want to know what otherworldly things the dark skinned deck lord had come to know in his term on the oceans steaming waves. “What do you want?” The gruff voice of the boatswain broke through and brought her attention to him once more. Leaning against the wheel, he seemed to appraise her. Or was it judge? “You carry a fine sword lass. I admire the man that created such a blade.” A smile crossed his lips.

Tiffany stared him down for a moment before allowing herself to speak. She wasn’t sure what the rough and trouble filled man wished from her but whatever it was she trusted him less and less each moment he stood there eyeing her from a distance. “A man did create it, although inspired by a woman.” The working eyebrow went up and he pushed off the wheel, slowly closing the distance between them.

“I don’t suppose there was something about love in this lovely story.” Gesturing to the clouds Luis clicked his tongue. “Nothing good can come from love. Never has. Never will.” Reyes furrowed her own brows and looked Ruiz over once more. Just who the hell was this creature? The words that came from her mouth sprouted without thinking, “What do you know of love anyway old man? Do you know of hope? Of dreams? Has the sea destroyed your very heart? This world can suck a man into the depths of despair and the sea is known for it.” She couldn’t stop herself and feared she would be seeing flashes of steel at any moment. For his part Ruiz had not moved as she spoke. “I have loved and still love. There is good in love. There is.” She repeated it several times, in hopes of making it sound truer with each breath.

This man had the ability to have her doubt the very love she had held true to for so long. What was his mission? Why did he seem to delight in destroying her?

Ruiz listened to her entire speech, watching her eyes alight with the fire of a sprite whose spark had been lit with the fuel of a thousand suns. Perhaps there was some hope for her love. Holding her gaze a moment longer he clucked the tongue. “If you say it enough, perhaps more than just your heart will believe mapmaker. You’re a woman of the books. You know what I say is true. I wish to the gods of this world I would be wrong, just once.” His hands accepted two pistols from Smeeg and the rhythm of weapons care quickly took over, mesmerizing Reyes. “But fate and law are not on your side.” A click and snap later the guns were holstered at his side. “Now, we must be off. Dead men may wait but they can still have a temper. Captain! Assemble the short party. Follow me! Smeeg! Lead up the rear with three. Let’s gooooooo!” The party of twenty began to walk off the ship, marching onwards to the home of the legend.

Deep beneath the decks Long Ears prayed harder as each moment passed. He had failed his master terribly. He had not been strong; he had not been the man his father had been. Why had he been sent in place of the stronger men? Why had his master refused his pleas?

And what of his fate? Failure always had equaled death in the court of the master.

As the sound of the marching crew faded away, sobs began in the depths of the brig.