Free Raven Quest by Jo Ann Ferguson Page A

with uncertainty. Who had written this? One of them? The Blindman? Her fingers quivered as she unfolded the yellowed sheets cautiously, for they were crisp with age. She read aloud as fast as she could decipher the faint scrawl.
    Dear Aurora Raven or Apollo Raven,
    If you are reading this letter, my child, it means we have never met. Let me tell you there has never been a child whose coming is anticipated with as much joy as yours. I am sure your mother has told you that I loved her from the moment we met. I love you even now, my child.
    I saw my beloved Kassy the first time in the marketplace on High Street. When I learned she was indentured and could not leave her master for four years, I bought her term to free her. Not once have I regretted that decision. As you know, our Kassy is saucy and wise and knew how to win this seaman’s heart. She is the love of my life, and since I have known her, my voyages on the Raven have lost their excitement.
    I am writing you this letter, for I may not survive this return voyage to Port Royal. There is a man here who has been envious of the Raven’s success as a privateer. He will never get my treasure or my ship. All I have garnered is for you, my child. My enemy is not a wise man. I know where and when he will strike, for, fortunately for the brave crew of the Raven, there is only one place. I will make you a map to show you our route, but it will not pinpoint the spot where I will beach the Raven if it is necessary. That information I dare not leave in such an accessible place. You will have the answer if you look with the coral key. Kassy will explain when the time is right.
    Good luck, my child. Remember that your father loved you.
    â€œIt’s signed ‘Stuart Powell, Captain of HMS Raven ,’” Rory whispered as tears blinded her.
    â€œAre you all right?” Nathan asked, stroking her arm. He smiled. “Maybe you’ll believe me now.”
    â€œI was told he abandoned my mother. No one ever told me that he loved us.” Wiping her wet cheeks, she stared down at the page. Her father had taken the time to seek her out in the future.
    â€œIf your mother was anything like you, Powell couldn’t have helped loving her. No man could.”
    â€œHe loved us, ” she repeated.
    His lips twitched in an irreverent grin. “Be thankful you were born female, Rory. ‘Apollo Raven!’”
    â€œEither way they planned that I would be the ‘blackbird of the dawn.’” She held out the page to Nathan. “This should help you find your king’s ransom.”
    Unable to restrain his curiosity, Ernest asked, “Cap’n, is it a map?”
    Nathan smiled. “Looks that way. Careful. It’s as brittle as a sundried piece of canvas.”
    Ernest smoothed it on the table. His finger traced the map. “The Raven planned to go north around Cuba. There are several names of ships on it, as if they expected to try to capture specific galleons. Here is La Madre Maria and El Caballo del Oceano. There’s another, but I can’t make out the name. The writing is smudged and faded.”
    â€œIf the Raven captured just one of those ships, she’d have been heavy with booty by the time she got here.” Nathan pointed to where the Bahama Channel ran parallel with the north coast of Cuba. “Anywhere between there and Port Royal, she could have been ambushed and taken down.”
    â€œBut my father wrote he planned to beach the ship if there was trouble,” Rory said, squeezing between the table and the two men so she could see.
    â€œThere are hundreds of little cays along here.” Ernest rubbed his bald head. “Privateers keep some of their booty hidden from customs officials. Any of the cays between Cuba and Jamaica could have been Powell’s choice.”
    Nathan frowned. “‘Seek the coral key if treasure you yearn to gain.’ Could it mean a coral island? Key. Cay. The