Somehow—Vetta was never really sure how—she staggered out onto the beach with her newborn babe safe in her arms, then collapsed onto the cold, wet sand, coughing and spluttering.
A moment later, Seltie emerged from the surf only a few yards east of Vetta’s landing spot. Seltie took off her backpack, then dropped to her knees next to Vetta and helped her remove her backpack and extricate the infant from her safe cocoon inside Vetta’s clothing. Soon, the baby was nursing happily, apparently oblivious to the harrowing experience she had just survived.
Seltie stared at the night sky. “We made good time, Vett. We surely did. We fairly flew across the water. Good time.” She watched the scudding clouds for a few moments. “Vett? Did you happen to see if the boat made it to the beach anywhere? Maybe over in those rocks. I’m going to go over and have a look before we decide what to do next.” She got up, brushed the sand off herself, and headed for a cluster of rocks eastward down the beach.
Vetta dozed a bit, her head resting on her backpack.
“Hey! You there! Torph woman!”
Vetta was jolted awake by the harsh male voice. She peered into the darkness, but couldn’t see more than a large, dark silhouette.
“What do you want?” she asked. “I… I was shipwrecked coming from Lone Island. There was a storm, and the boat capsized, and… and… I don’t remember much after that. Somehow I made it to the beach, and here I am.”
“We know who you are,” the dark shape said. “We were expecting you.”
“Expecting me? How can that be?”
“A few days ago a cranky-mean Sevro fellow came through here, asked if we’d seen you, then hired Brannek to ferry him over to Lone Island. He said to keep on the lookout for you, and if you came this way to lock you up until he got back. He paid us a fair bit of gold, too, and a deal’s a deal. I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me.”
“Oh, no, thank you, but I can’t. I have to be on my way. I was just having a little nap and nursing my infant.”
“I’m sorry, Missus, but I wasn’t asking. The cranky Sevro didn’t say anything about a baby, but I suppose you’d better bring it along, too.”
“Again, thank you for your hospitality, but I have other plans.”
The man seized Vetta’s arm and wrenched her painfully to her feet. “No more talk! You’re coming with me, right now. Move!”
Klonk! came the sound of wood on skull bone, and the man dropped to the sand like a sack of potatoes.
Seltie said, “I didn’t find the boat. I reckon it’s all busted up on the floor of the ocean. I did find one of our oars, though.” She hefted the oar, grinning. “Came in handy, if I do say so myself.”
“I’ll say,” Vetta agreed. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
“Yep, I heard. That Noddak fellow was here, and paid to have you… what’s the word? ‘Detained,’ that’s it. Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. He was disagreeable, but he wasn’t stupid.” She considered the situation briefly. “I suppose that means we should be on our way, the sooner the better.”
“I suppose,” Vetta said reluctantly. “I’m just so tired. If I could only sleep for a while, even one hour, I’m sure I could rally.”
“Better not, Vett. All of Southport is likely in on the deal and looking for you right now. The sooner we get off this beach, the better. Come on, Vett, you can do it! I know a place not too far from here where we can make a camp and build us a nice warm fire, and these Southport folks will never find us. Then you can rest as much as you want.” She cupped an ear in the direction of the town. “We’d best get going quickly—I can hear some sort of commotion brewing in the town over yonder. And it’s heading this way!”