Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

husband and we may find she is up to the challenge.” I knew just how much anger could drive a person to do what must be done. Even kill. I’d done it before and was still haunted by the sight of a man with a missing eye being sucked down into hell.

“Knife skills or not, I think hiding is exactly what Jeremiah expects of you.” Valdez lightly touched my arm so I would look up at him. “Do you want to be a distraction to him? This Lord Ralph was right. Women in a fight serve only to make a man worry. Where is she? What can I do to protect her instead of myself? A glance here, a move there, and a man can end up with a sword through his heart. They say the worthy Lord Ralph died keeping the pirates away from the castle where he knew his lady waited.”

“Should I have stayed in Edinburgh? Is that what you’re saying?” I shook my head. “Jeremiah likes my company. He wanted me with him.”

“You have bewitched him, mistress. Campbell’s men whisper of it.” Valdez ignored my gasp. “There’s nothing to be done now, so we might as well make the best of it.” He waited for me at the bottom of the stairs. “What will you do this night? You have successfully passed the running of the castle off to Lady Anne so now what is your pleasure?”

I was tired of his displeasure. Valdez was handsome, too handsome, and could shift into any kind of beast he chose. Jeremiah had hired him to shadow me at all times, unless my lover was with me. I had been in danger before but we had vanquished that one-eyed enemy. Was a bodyguard still necessary? I would like to dismiss the Spaniard. But with pirates only a short voyage away, I knew Jeremiah wouldn’t allow it. I stayed silent as I walked through the castle and outside, Valdez trailing me.

The men were having a shooting contest. Colin seemed to have organized it and had set up targets against some bales of hay with the men taking turns with bows and arrows. There was much shouting and casual betting. Apparently the best archers would join Colin for hunting on the morrow. I stopped and watched, wishing I had some skill with a bow.

“Mistress Gloriana, come join us. Have you ever held a bow, done any shooting?” Colin was grinning, loving his new position as Master of the Hunt. He was a handsome lad, but young, and barely able to grow what passed for a short beard.

“You’ll see. Hand me a bow.” I had no idea if I had ever shot an arrow or not. There were so many holes in my memory. Did I have this skill? When Colin plucked a small bow from a rack behind him and handed it to me, I instinctively held it properly. It felt familiar in my hands.

“Let me see if I can hit your target.” I notched an arrow then swung the bow around. Several men shouted and threw up their hands to cover their heads, pretending fear that I would shoot them. With lots of laughter and much scurrying about from my audience, I set the bow and pulled the string back to nestle it against my cheek. My excellent vampire vision made eyeing the target easy. I aimed then loosed the arrow. To my shock and the delight of the men, I hit the painted circle dead center. It seemed I had played this game before and did it well.

“Do I have a new archer in my ranks?” The deep voice behind me made me spin around and drop the bow to my side.

Captain Burnett nodded approvingly. “I had no idea, Mistress Gloriana, that you had such skill.”

“It was a lucky shot.” I gave him a quick curtsy. The man was usually very serious. I was surprised to see him here, away from his men, and smiling.

“Why not try again?” He pulled an arrow from the quiver next to the rack and handed it to me. “I admit I am intrigued. It is not often a beautiful woman has such a talent for archery.”

Woman, not lady. I certainly noticed that difference in address as I notched the arrow. I didn’t want to encourage what I was afraid was a flirtation. Yes, I was Jeremiah’s mistress. This wouldn’t be the first time I had been treated as less than a wife. Was I taking the captain’s sudden friendliness for something more because I was sensitive to not being wed? Perhaps. Still, I was a little angry as I eyed the target, aimed, then sent the arrow on its way.

“Another good shot!” Captain Burnett exclaimed as the men cheered. “When we’re attacked by those dreaded pirates, we must put you on the battlements, Mistress Gloriana.”

“Tell Lord Campbell that, Captain, I beg you. I am not content to hide or tend to my needlework while there is fighting to be done.” I handed the bow to Colin. “While I am delighted to see you, I am surprised. May I ask the purpose of your visit?”

“I came to pay my respects to Lady Anne. Do you think she will receive me? I knew her father. He was a fine man.” The captain gazed up at the castle walls. “I met her once. Before she was married to Lord Ralph.”

This was unexpected and good news. I knew the captain was a widower. His wife had died several years before in childbirth. The stern captain was handsome and from a good family. He was in the king’s favor or he would not have the command of the troop here. Would Lady Anne consider him if he pressed his suit? She had certainly been in mourning long enough to satisfy any notion of propriety.

“Come with me and we’ll see if she is receiving visitors.” I led the way inside. I was happy to find Anne out of her rooms and