‘Y-you don’t like it?’
‘Well, I … You’re sure there’s nothing else?’
‘That’s what we all drink, but I suppose you could have just rainwater as long as we don’t run out.’
‘Thank you, I’d like that. I could use it to make
o-cha
– green tea. Although I suppose I ought to become accustomed to your beverages.’ Midori sighed. ‘Is this what you would drink in your country?’
Jochem nodded, still looking uncertain, and shifted from one foot to another.
‘Then I shall have to learn.’ She gave him a wide smile to put him at ease again, and he blinked. ‘For now, however, I’d be very grateful for some plain water.’
‘Yes, mistress. I’ll fetch it now.’
She didn’t see anyone apart from Jochem for several days and the monotony seemed endless. Even talking to Jochem, who wasn’t the brightest boy she’d ever met, became a highlight, and she almost started to contemplate venturing up on deck to alleviate the tedium of life on board ship. The captain’s warnings about his unruly crew, however, still rang in her ears and she managed to restrain herself. Instead, she tried to occupy her time by writing poems, as well as keeping herself and her little cabin meticulously clean and tidy.
In order to stay fit and healthy she also exercised as best she could in the tiny space, honing her skills with the swords. It wasn’t easy, and once when she missed and the sword became lodged in the side of her bunk with a thud, the captain came to investigate.
‘Is everything all right?’ he asked irritably, when she opened the door to his furious knocking.
‘Yes, I’m just practising.’ She swished the blade around in a series of movements which had the sword whining through the air within inches of his nose. He took a step backwards and frowned at her.
‘In here? Are you out of your mind? There’s no room!’
‘Nevertheless, I have to try. How else am I to keep my skills? You did say you weren’t sure you could defend me, so I must be on my guard.’
He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it again with a snap and walked away without a word. Midori frowned after him.
‘I’m very well, thank you for asking,’ she grumbled at his retreating back.
‘Sword practice? Whatever next?’ Nico muttered, although why he felt so aggrieved, he had no idea.
He ought to be pleased she wasn’t completely helpless or defenceless, but the thought of a woman wielding a sword as sharp as that made his insides tighten. What if she hurt herself? Or someone else, like the cabin boy, by mistake?
Admittedly, he’d seen her defending herself the first time they had met and it did look as though she knew what she was doing. Still, it didn’t seem right, and he couldn’t stop the worries from niggling at him.
Damn, but she was magnificent, fighting like a fury, her beautiful hair flying out behind her like rippling silk.
He’d like to spar with her himself, learn a few of her techniques and then show her that not all foreigners were as easily beaten as Barker and his cronies.
But I can’t spend time with her and she’s better off staying in her cabin.
‘A pox on it!’
He had to stop thinking about her at all or he’d never get this ship home safely to Amsterdam. Let her play with her swords, what did he care?
I’m going to stay the hell away from her.
Chapter Nine
Nico’s resolve not to talk to Midori or even go near her lasted two days, then something occurred which made him forget all about it. On the third day he paused for a moment by the ship’s railing, leaning his elbows on it to gaze out to sea. Some people found the vastness of the ocean intimidating, but to him the endless horizon represented freedom, and he never tired of looking at it. At the moment the surface of the water was fairly calm, the north-easterly breeze blowing in exactly the right direction to take them towards Java. Nico drew in a deep breath of salt-tinged air, then frowned. He could smell smoke.
Bending
‘Well, I … You’re sure there’s nothing else?’
‘That’s what we all drink, but I suppose you could have just rainwater as long as we don’t run out.’
‘Thank you, I’d like that. I could use it to make
o-cha
– green tea. Although I suppose I ought to become accustomed to your beverages.’ Midori sighed. ‘Is this what you would drink in your country?’
Jochem nodded, still looking uncertain, and shifted from one foot to another.
‘Then I shall have to learn.’ She gave him a wide smile to put him at ease again, and he blinked. ‘For now, however, I’d be very grateful for some plain water.’
‘Yes, mistress. I’ll fetch it now.’
She didn’t see anyone apart from Jochem for several days and the monotony seemed endless. Even talking to Jochem, who wasn’t the brightest boy she’d ever met, became a highlight, and she almost started to contemplate venturing up on deck to alleviate the tedium of life on board ship. The captain’s warnings about his unruly crew, however, still rang in her ears and she managed to restrain herself. Instead, she tried to occupy her time by writing poems, as well as keeping herself and her little cabin meticulously clean and tidy.
In order to stay fit and healthy she also exercised as best she could in the tiny space, honing her skills with the swords. It wasn’t easy, and once when she missed and the sword became lodged in the side of her bunk with a thud, the captain came to investigate.
‘Is everything all right?’ he asked irritably, when she opened the door to his furious knocking.
‘Yes, I’m just practising.’ She swished the blade around in a series of movements which had the sword whining through the air within inches of his nose. He took a step backwards and frowned at her.
‘In here? Are you out of your mind? There’s no room!’
‘Nevertheless, I have to try. How else am I to keep my skills? You did say you weren’t sure you could defend me, so I must be on my guard.’
He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it again with a snap and walked away without a word. Midori frowned after him.
‘I’m very well, thank you for asking,’ she grumbled at his retreating back.
‘Sword practice? Whatever next?’ Nico muttered, although why he felt so aggrieved, he had no idea.
He ought to be pleased she wasn’t completely helpless or defenceless, but the thought of a woman wielding a sword as sharp as that made his insides tighten. What if she hurt herself? Or someone else, like the cabin boy, by mistake?
Admittedly, he’d seen her defending herself the first time they had met and it did look as though she knew what she was doing. Still, it didn’t seem right, and he couldn’t stop the worries from niggling at him.
Damn, but she was magnificent, fighting like a fury, her beautiful hair flying out behind her like rippling silk.
He’d like to spar with her himself, learn a few of her techniques and then show her that not all foreigners were as easily beaten as Barker and his cronies.
But I can’t spend time with her and she’s better off staying in her cabin.
‘A pox on it!’
He had to stop thinking about her at all or he’d never get this ship home safely to Amsterdam. Let her play with her swords, what did he care?
I’m going to stay the hell away from her.
Chapter Nine
Nico’s resolve not to talk to Midori or even go near her lasted two days, then something occurred which made him forget all about it. On the third day he paused for a moment by the ship’s railing, leaning his elbows on it to gaze out to sea. Some people found the vastness of the ocean intimidating, but to him the endless horizon represented freedom, and he never tired of looking at it. At the moment the surface of the water was fairly calm, the north-easterly breeze blowing in exactly the right direction to take them towards Java. Nico drew in a deep breath of salt-tinged air, then frowned. He could smell smoke.
Bending
Similar Books
