A Pirate Princess Read Online Free Page B

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    Leala had a sixteen year old daughter, Miette, who had the same course, black hair that Karoly did. Leala never denied that Miette was Karoly’s daughter and Karoly had eagerly taken on his role as a father. He begged Leala for years to marry him, making them a united family. She denied him over and over, claiming to hate him for prancing around with an uncountable number of other women when he was supposed to be marrying her! Miette helped her mother clean the ship and assisted her father as needed.
    Lucky for Burke, Karoly handled all the ship’s carpentry work when free of his Boatswain duties. It was a strange hobby of Karoly’s but it worked out well for The Heart of Calais to use one person for two jobs. Karoly spent much time with Miette, teaching her the trade. Acel Belcourt, Burke’s cousin and best friend, was always full of helpful ideas, making him the perfect First Mate.
    The Heart of Calais had an expert Gunner, named Garner, who had been thrown out of the French Navy years before due to his overzealous killing efforts. Quain, the vessel’s Surgeon was smart and continuously happy, despite any circumstance. The last member of Burke’s crew was the cook. Davet could not boil a pot of water without messing it up; much less fix a suitable meal for the crew to eat. However, his love of sailing and admiration for Burke kept him around to practice.
    Leala, Miette, and Davet took turns tending to Odelia’s constant requirements and demands. Karoly and Acel could not stand the curly haired witch, Quain seemed afraid of her, and Garner avoided her as much as possible. Leala tried to protect Miette from the difficult-to-please girl but sometimes even the head-strong maid could not stand her ground.
    Standing on the main deck at the helm, steering the magnificent vessel, Burke looked out across the deep blue ocean. Dismissing Karoly to his duties, the thoughtful captain picked up his binoculars to look across the beautiful water in hopes of seeing land. Although the experienced man knew he was getting close to his destination nothing was seen yet. After being on board The Heart of Calais for one long month, Burke’s crew was ready to be off the ship. Even more ready to be on land again was Odelia.
    Instead of traveling to the Caribbean just to locate The Beloved Loss and bring the pirate prisoners back to France, the career-oriented French captain decided to make it a business trip as well. “We have never traded with the Caribbean Islands before,” Acel said to his older cousin when Burke stocked the ship. “Are you sure the King will not mind you working for yourself before you work for him?”
    Smiling ruefully, Burke replied, “Dear Cousin, King Lou knows how much I hate Odelia! He knows how much worse I hate the idea of marrying her. He surely expects me to prolong this trip as much as possible. Believe me, if I could extend this trip permanently I would! Nothing shall stop Lord Orson from demanding a wedding the second I return to France so let me enjoy my last couple months of freedom!”
    Now, four weeks later, Burke had every trade worthy item he could find loaded aboard his ship and ready to unload once they reached an island. Like pirates, Burke was in the shipping and trading industry. But unlike pirates, everything Burke did was completely legal and ethically upstanding. He did not steal, kill, or attack. He bought items from one land and sold it to another, charging a carrying fee in order to make a proper income for himself and his crew. Also unlike buccaneers, Burke worked for no country or King. He owned his own ship, he paid his own crew, and he made his own rules. That was the way Burke Landis Belcourt liked to live, free and in charge !
    It was an easy trip thus far. One buccaneer vessel passed and two smaller pirate ships as well. All stared at The Heart of Calais as if contemplating an attack, but Burke’s strong reputation proceeded him and the enemy ships wisely decided to let