Free Legends of the Vengeance : The First Adventure (9781310742866) by Chautona Havig

listening? What
should I listen to?”
    “I am sorry, Nicolo. I know my place, but
sometimes I forget.”
    “And this time I want you to tell me.”
    “I am not much older than Sebastian myself.
What can I know?”
    So he would resist. As usual, Nicolo would
have to press, but this time he had no patience for it. “Let’s not
waste time, Jaime. You know something you think I need to know. I
want to hear it. I may ignore it, but as we both know, when you do
speak, you usually speak sense.”
    “I am not his father. I see with the eyes of
a friend, not a parent.”
    “But,” Nicolo had a new thought—one that
actually explained something he had always wondered. “Most boys
have two parents, do they not? They have a father who is not swayed
by sympathy because they will do what is hard, to do what is best.
Then they have a mother who understands and feels her child’s pain.
They are sympathetic and temper the father so that he does not
become too harsh and unyielding.”
    “Yes…”
    “Sebastian has no mother. You, as a friend,
give a little of that understanding that I as a father don’t allow
myself. I need that balanced picture. Over the years, you have, at
times, helped stop me from serious mistakes—ones that might have
hardened him to me. We both know I cannot do that. He must be
willing to yield to me when it is necessary.”
    The work of the ship continued around them.
Sails pulled them, mile by mile, closer to their destination. The
carpenter still worked to smooth the side of the boat that no
longer showed evidence of battle. Eduardo kept watch for other
ships and other dangers. Men climbed the lines to tighten rigging,
but still the young man said nothing.
    “Jaime…” Suddenly, Nicolo grew concerned.
“Sebastian is well, is he not? He is in his cabin and safe?”
    “He is well, but he is going to be reticent
to tell you anything if you go in and demand and react without
listening.”
    “Do I do that?” It sounded like him, but
Nicolo hoped that perhaps it might be an exaggeration.
    “You do.” Jaime shrugged. “I am sorry, but
it is true. Listen to him, Nicolo. He’s a smart boy. He wants you
to be proud of him, but he is not like you. He does not have the
rage and the need for vengeance driving him as you do.” Jaime spoke
again before he could reply. “You would not want him to. When this
is over, when we leave this boat for good, you will be glad that he
is not a pirate at heart.”
    The truth of Jaime’s words bored into his
heart. Sebastian was not a coward, but he did not have the heart
for fighting. He tried to hide it, but it showed in his face. As
Nicolo pondered Jaime’s words, the young man went back to his work.
This time, his boatswain hurried down into the hold for reasons
that no one would think of or understand but would ensure their
safety or comfort. He was a good one—better than any other they’d
ever had.
    With the ship running smoothly, Nicolo went
down to Sebastian’s cabin. His hand reached for the knob, but he
stopped himself, dropping his hand to his side. Staring at the knob
he remembered his childhood—his life back when he was part of a
family. He had been away from family for so long he’d forgotten
what it was like.
    His hand rose again and knocked.

Chapter
Ten
    Tempests
    Sebastian’s head whipped around to stare at
the door. Only Jaime bothered to knock on his door, and even then,
he usually called out. Maybe his father had sent Hector to fetch
him.
    “Yes?”
    “Sebastian…”
    The rest of his father’s words were lost to
him as shock and dismay flooded his heart. Why did his father
knock? What would he say when he pushed on the door and it did not
open? How—
    Impatience laced his father’s second call.
“Sebastian!”
    Frantically, he scrubbed at the floor with
the rag until it looked like a dirty mess rather than an artistic
one. He tossed the rag and the stick into the corner and jerked the
short pole from the door. “Yes? You need