Rating: PG13 (Violence and adult theme)

Events described occur several months after the events in the QoS-VS2 stories Thanks to Robin Hood and Devil Moon; thanks to Maril, Jim, Terry, and Paula.

Prologue

The smell burned its way through Tessa's unconsciousness. She gagged and coughed at the stench, regaining consciousness. Her head ached. She was on her side. She felt water run by her leg and thigh. She felt it eddy around her shoulder. She gagged! The stench hit her again as the water moved by her head. Her hair was wet. She tried to sit up in a reflex movement but could not. There was enough light from somewhere to see she was in a semi-dark room. There was a sudden jar to the floor.

She realized her hands were tied behind her back. The stench was back as the water came by her again. Reflex made her lift her head off the floor. She felt the water move by her shoulder again, then her hips and feet. There was another bump to the floor. A ship!" her mind screamed. "I am on a ship!

Act One

The thought galvanized her to move. She pulled her knees up and tried to roll onto them. She succeeded, swaying drunkenly, dizzy from the blow to her head, the stench and the roll of the ship. Her stomach heaved, leaving its burning taste in her mouth and adding to the stench of the water now swirling around her knees. She turned her head to wipe the dribble off on her shoulder and froze. Her blouse was gone! Her dress gone too! She looked down in the dim light, shaking her head to move her damp hair out of her eyes. Her blouse was gone and her chemise had been untied or torn. Her pantalets were wet and stained by dirty water. There was a mud-colored handprint in the fabric on her thigh. Her boots were gone too.

Another bout of dizziness swept her and she bent her head down on her knees until it passed. The throbbing in her head was steady. She realized she was breathing in short, savage breaths through her teeth. A snort came, unbidden, when she noticed her pantalet drawstring was untouched, still tied tightly in her neat butterfly knot at her waist. She strained her arms against her bonds but they did not give. She spit to clear her mouth. She twisted on her knees as the water came by her again. She pushed out her right leg behind her till it touched the wall. She moved her left leg forward.

Pushing and balancing, she rose slowly to a crouch, maintaining her balance as the ship heeled and the water ran over her stocking feet. She grit her teeth and strained harder against the ropes tying her hands behind her back, making them dig deeply into her wrists. No luck, and anger flared suddenly. She swung her head to get her damp hair out of her eyes so she could see her prison more clearly, the pounding in her temple peaking momentarily. . . .

Montoya watched her awaken, curious more than anything. The sting, dull in his back from the rough handling and beatings, the other pains deep and constant, fought for his attention. He heard her cough. Saw her move to her knees and retch. He watched in the dim light as she rose shakily to her feet. Absently noting her torn chemise and her damp hair hanging in front of her face, he continued to quietly rub the ropes binding him against a barb on the door hinge at this back. He stopped though, when her shoulders and chest strained as she tested her bonds. She flipped her wet hair out of her face and he could see the fury in her eyes. Like a wounded lioness, he thought, knowing she was his only chance to getting out alive. . ..

Tessa took in the four barrels, half as tall as she was, that were propped on their sides. The single candle lamp that hung from gimbals in the low ceiling gave off a weak light through its smoked glass. There were some crates and what could be sails. She froze as her glance came to the man on the floor with his back to the door. Only four feet from her! His eyes were on hers. Blood in his beard, torn shirt, blood on the pants of his outstretched legs. She took all this in and spat his name, Montoya! And watched him grin at her.

She twisted away from him, conscious of her appearance. When she looked back over her shoulder at him, he was just bringing his arms out from behind his back, a wider grin momentarily on his face.

He started to get to his feet and step toward her. She stepped away just as the ship gave a lurch and fell on her side against the end barrel, Montoya bumping into her almost immediately. He picked himself up and pulled her upright by her shoulders. He turned her to face him. She tried to pull away but he gave her a hard shake then let go of her shoulders and grabbed the tops of her torn chemise. He gave them a quick pull and started to tie the ends across her chest.

Tessa's wits returned. "Untie my arms and I will do that," she gasped. He did not answer but fumbled for one of the other ties that had not been torn. She noticed his wrists were cut were he had been tied.

She watched him take a half step back and put his left hand on her shoulder and his right hand on the barrel to steady himself as the ship rolled again. She shook her shoulder.

He lifted his hand off it. "Would you deny the last pleasure of a condemned man?"

"What?" she said, unsure of what she just heard along with the pounding still in her head.

Montoya explained quickly. "We were captured by the pirates. They came back. You were knocked off your horse. I was pulled off of mine and knocked out. When I came to, we were at the beach. They had thrown you into the boat and were putting me in. They dumped another man on the beach. It was Orvantes. He had been beaten badly."

Tessa saw him grin as he said that.

"They pushed the boat in and rowed for a long time. They began to take liberties with your clothes. Your virtue remains intact, though I protested too much I think," Montoya said, rubbing his head. "Soon a ship came in sight and picked up the boat. It was Voler's ship. We were tied up and thrown in here. I think they have not been back because of the storm from last night. But they will be here soon. You must be ready for anything!" he finished with a warning.

She leaned against the barrel to steady herself. "Surely they will ask a ransom for us," she ventured, her head still pounding.

"You are not thinking where we are, who we are dealing with. There are no restraints of civilization to stop these men. I was told to prepare for death when they threw me in here. You, I am afraid, are in for worse," he said with a look at her from head to toe.

Tessa blinked, realizing what he meant. "Colonel, they would not dare."

His quick reaction surprised her. He reached up quickly with his left hand and grabbed a handful of her hair at the back of her head. He pulled, twisted and pushed her with his other arm across her chest so she half fell on her back over the barrel. Her arms were pinioned underneath her as he fell across her. She tried to kick him but he covered her legs and pulled hard on her hair. Tears came to her eyes.

A tug on her hair had her looking at him through her tears. His eyes were bright and hard. "Maria Teresa," he said quietly. "Maria Teresa," he said again.

"What?" she said through gritted teeth.

"You must be ready to do anything, do you hear me, anything, if you are to survive this. Do you understand me," he said with another small tug of her hair for emphasis.

"I understand, let me up!"

She felt him relax his hold on her hair and push himself up off her with his other arm across her chest. She watched him look from her face down to his arm. His eyes changed their focus. She watched him bend his head back down to her chest. Tessa strained and lifted her head up against his hand holding her hair. She could see his arm across her chest had made the top of her breast push out against her chemise. She felt his breath against her skin and tensed. Then the breath was gone and his face was next to hers. "You must be ready for anything, Maria Teresa, this will not be like that coach ride," he said, breathing quickly.

He let go of her hair and pushed himself off her. Tessa lay still for a moment, collecting her thoughts. As she sat up, Montoya reached over abruptly and grabbed her shoulder. "Are you the Queen, Maria Teresa?" he asked.

Tessa shrugged her shoulder quickly, still stung by what just happened. Her head still pounding, looking through tears at her enemy, she said forcibly, enough to back him up, "I wish I were the Queen right now, Colonel."

Montoya's reply was cutoff by the noise of someone opening the door. She saw him reach quickly for the discarded rope he had cut from his wrists and put his hands behind his back.

The door opened and three pirates came in. They pushed Montoya through the doorway and she felt rough, callused hands grab her and pull her out behind them.

They pushed and pulled her up two sets of ladders until she was on deck. She noted they were near the bow of the ship. The fresh air was overwhelming. She took deep breaths. She saw Montoya doing the same. They were pushed aft, toward the wheel.

Suddenly, she was grabbed and thrown to the deck! There was much yelling. As she sat up, Montoya pushed a shoulder into the pirate who had grabbed her, knocking him down. The other pirates pushed Montoya back and forth between them. She noticed he had not pulled his hands from behind his back yet. The pirate who had been knocked down came up with a cat in his hand, yelling. Two pirates quickly pinioned Montoya. She watched the pirate with the cat step toward Montoya. Then the pirate stopped and looked right down at her. He took a step toward her as the yelling increased. Tessa rolled over, bracing for the sting of the leather tails. Something fell on her. She heard the smacks of the cat and felt the person on top of her start with each hit. A strand got through and hit her leg with a sting, making her cry out!

Another voice was yelling and the whipping stopped. The body on top of her was pulled off and she rolled over, knowing it was Montoya. The pirates pulled him roughly to his feet by his arms. She could see his eyes were bright with pain.

One of the pirates cut her wrists free and pulled her up. She saw the voice that had stopped the whipping was Captain Voler. He advanced toward Montoya after a glance at her. She shook off the hands of the pirates and stepped toward Montoya. Another pirate grabbed her by her shoulders and held her tight.

She watched Voler walk over to Montoya. He waved away the two pirates holding him. They let him go and Montoya swayed for a moment.

"Colonel Montoya, there was no reason for you to attack my men like that. That is the second time you have felt the cat in protecting this woman," Tessa heard Voler say in his passable Spanish.

Tessa watched Voler look at her again and then back at Montoya. "She must clean up very nicely for you to try and protect her so," Voler said with a laugh and several other pirates joined in.

Tessa watched Montoya look around then start to tuck his shirt back into his pants. "On the contrary, Captain Voler, it was not the woman I was protecting, but you," was his surprise comment.

Captain Voler threw his head back and laughed. "Me, you were protecting me? From what?" he asked, still laughing.

Tessa was glad her hair was hiding half her face, and her surprise, when Montoya spoke again. "Why Captain Voler, that woman is my wife. Your men interrupted an argument between us back on the beach, so I know that by now, both you and I are in mortal danger!"

Tessa felt her face turning red as all around who understood Spanish enough, broke into laughter, including Captain Voler. All except Montoya, she noted. He was looking at the man with the cat.

She stamped down hard on the instep of the pirate holding her, making him yell and let go. The laughter of the pirates redoubled. She jumped and grabbed the cat from the pirate who held it, cutting off his laughter, but not that of his companions. She waved the whip around her head and the pirates, though still laughing, backed away from her.

She started walking. Not toward Voler, but toward Montoya. That elicited more howls from the crew. She swung at him and missed, allowing Montoya to grab her about the shoulders. She struggled for the pirates, throwing the cat away.

A yell from Voler stopped Tessa struggling. He walked up to them. Looking over her shoulder at Montoya he said, "Colonel, I think you and your wife should come to my cabin for some refreshments."

He turned and led the way aft. Montoya held her shoulders and appeared to roughly push her after the Captain. A low voiced, "Well done, Maria Teresa," came to her ears.

Tessa entered the main cabin ahead of Montoya. She moved toward the far corner and picked up a damp cape lying on a chair. She wrapped the cape around her shoulders and sat on the padded bench by the stern windows. The pain in her head had lessened to a dull pounding. She watched Montoya remain standing by the table. Voler and Traduct pulled chairs out.

"Sit, Colonel, sit," Voler told Montoya.

Montoya took his seat. Traduct filled a glass of wine and handed it toward him. Tessa saw Montoya hold his hand up and point to her. Traduct smiled and walked across the deck to hold the glass out to her. She took it, not speaking. Traduct went back, filled a glass and passed it to Montoya. He took a sip.

Voler sat at the head of the table. "What do you think we are going to do with you, Colonel?" he asked.

Montoya took another sip. Tessa took a sip of hers, and continued to watch. Montoya put his glass down.

"I assume we will be held for ransom," Montoya replied.

"A good assumption, Colonel. And a correct one, but for one circumstance," Voler said.

"You mean turning you away from sacking Santa Helena," said Montoya.

"Yes, a good guess, Colonel. You were warned of our coming, of course."

"Yes, we were fortunate that a merchant was able to leave just as you attacked Monterey. He rode all night and warned us. Though I am not sure why you wanted to attack our small pueblo in the first place. We were bypassed the last time," Montoya said conversationally.

"Yes, in hindsight it seems to have been a bad decision, but at the time, Colonel Orvantes and the Viceroy were very confident that you would have enough money on hand to pay their ransom," Voler replied.

"They were the ones who told you about Santa Helena?" Tessa spoke up.

Captain Voler looked at her and smiled. "Yes, that is correct, Seņora, they were very unhappy that the ransom was not arranged in Monterey."

"What else did they tell you, Captain? If you do not mind me asking," said Montoya.

"They did not have to tell us too much. We had captured many of their papers and knew from the record keeping that your pueblo was normally late with its taxes."

"Yes, we seem to have had a run of bad luck with bandits," replied Montoya.

"Ha! That is what the Viceroy said. Orvantes, on the other hand, during the long talks I had with him after we left your pueblo in such a hurry, indicated that it was his belief that you, Colonel, were the one behind the bandit attacks and kept all the stolen money for yourself."

Montoya had half risen out of his chair at this accusation, but sank back down with a smile. He reached for his glass and took a sip. Tessa wondered what he would say.

Montoya put his glass down and pushed it in Traduct's direction. Traduct reached to refill it. Montoya smiled his thanks and took another sip. As he put down the glass, he said, "Captain Voler, if not for our circumstances I would take offense at that remark, but considering that it originates with Orvantes I am not surprised. He has tried to have me removed twice from my position in Santa Helena. It would seem we are rivals for some reason. I just want to be let alone to take care of my pueblo while Orvantes seems to think that it is he who should be Viceroy. I would not stoop to take the hard won reales of our pueblo's land owners and workers that are sent as taxes to Monterey."

Tessa would have laughed at Montoya's remarks, only his inflection and the way he said it indicated to Voler that the opposite was true! That it was indeed Montoya who had arranged all the robberies! She took a quick sip of her wine to stop her from making any noise that would distract them from Montoya. He is up to something already, was her thought.

Both Voler and Traduct had burst out laughing when they understood the inference of Montoya's remarks. Montoya kept a straight face. He took another sip of wine. "Can I look at these papers you said you took from Monterey?" he asked them.

Voler, who stopped laughing, turned to Traduct. "Get them," he said.

Tessa watched Traduct get up and leave the cabin. He returned in a moment with a sheaf of papers in his hand. Montoya stood and took them from him. He sat back down and began to go through them one at a time. He piled the ones he finished with in front of him on the table. Montoya suddenly said, "Ha!" and looked up at Voler.

"What is it Colonel?" asked Voler.

"Orvantes has been cheating me!" Montoya said with obvious false indignation. "Here it shows Santa Helena taxes submitted as six hundred reales, when I know for a fact that eight hundred reales were sent. Orvantes is a thief!" he finished indignantly.

Again, Tessa saw, Montoya being indignant was so patently false that the two pirates broke into laughter again.

"Gentlemen, you will be paid well if you ransom us back to Santa Helena," she heard Montoya say.

So this is his plan, thought Tessa. He has made them believe he has stolen the taxes that were taken by 'bandits' and that they will get a bigger ransom for the two of us.

"I am sorry to say, Colonel, that we cannot make an arrangement at this time," Voler said when he stopped laughing.

"Why not, Captain? I can guarantee you will receive your ransom," replied Montoya.

"Your fate is up to my fellow Captain. We will meet his ship tomorrow. He and his crew bore the brunt of your defense and he was one of the prisoners. In fact, it was your Doctor who sewed a wound up for him."

"I am sure I will be able to convince him," said Montoya.

"I think it will be difficult, Colonel. He lost many of his crew. Several of my men have to help serve his ship," Voler replied.

"I am sure he will see reason." Montoya stood and looked over at her. "Are you going to keep us in that hole we were in before? Because if not, I think my wife and I need to wash and change clothes."

"Yes, you are right, Colonel. We can at least show you some hospitality now, because I am not sure of what Captain Hipplewaite has in store for you."

Continue to Part Eight

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