The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) Read Online Free Page A

scrambled up the stairs in a panic. She heard the captain's shout behind her, but there was no hesitation as she gained the deck and ran for the stern of the ship.
    Like a wild animal on the run, Shani rounded the wheelhouse, leaping over riggings, barrels, ropes, and other obstacles that stood in the way of her home. Even as she ran, her eyes caught glimpses of the shoreline on the horizon. It was shrinking at a rapid rate, but Shani had no doubt she could swim the distance.
    The ship was in pandemonium in her wake. Brandon had come topside, shouting orders as he charged after the young girl. He'd finally got her in his sight, but wasn't close enough to stop the inevitable. He watched her dive without a moment's hesitation, reaching the railing in time to see her land in the water with perfect form. He tore his boots off, watched her surface, and then joined her in the sea.
    The water, although not cold, was still something of a shock to Shani. She came up gasping for air and struggling to pull up the pants she was losing under the water. She realized she was going to have to let them go if she was going to swim the distance. After
    32

    31
    wrapping them around the back of her neck, Shani started toward shore with strong, sure strokes.
    She hadn't gone 40 feet when Brandon laid hands on her. She'd still been removing the pants when his body hit the surface, and since the waters of the Arabian Sea were choppy, she had no warning of his presence.
    Brandon thought he had a full-grown shark on his hands when Shani realized who held her captive. She fought him with every ounce of strength. Later Brandon wondered how long he could have held her if one of the longboats had not reached them so swiftly.
    He passed Shani up to the waiting arms of a crewman, and then hoisted himself in behind her. She was still fighting, so as soon as he was aboard, he took her back into his arms. The men knew what to do and rowed immediately for the ship. Shani took no notice of them.
    Brandon tried to subdue her without hurting her, but because she was bent on escape, this was no small task. At one point he secured her flailing arms and legs, only to have her bite him on the forearm. They were still struggling furiously when the boat pulled alongside the ladder.
    Without ceremony Brandon slung her across his shoulder. He mounted the ladder so swiftly that Shani had scarcely taken a breath before she was back aboard the ship. Although she heard the orders he spoke as they moved across the deck, she didn't understand them. Shani was still over his shoulder when they entered his cabin. He shut the door and placed her on her feet.
    A piece of toweling flew in her direction, and Shani grabbed it automatically. She didn't dry herself, but held it to her chest and looked at the tall man across from her. Why had she not noticed his size before? Shani shrank back, sure she was about to receive the beating of her life, but all Brandon did was look at her, the expression in his dark eyes unreadable.
    Shani would have said something, but the door opened after a brief knock and a wiry, gray-haired man entered carrying two steaming buckets. He disappeared behind the screened-off corner of the room Shani had noticed earlier. Another man entered, more buckets in hand, and by the time the two had finished behind the screen and exited the room, Shani was shivering uncontrollably.
    Brandon pointed to the partition. "Get behind that screen and into the tub."
    Shani nodded, and even though Brandon hated the fear he saw in her eyes, he was too spent to reassure her. His only objective at the moment was to move swiftly out of these waters and take his young charge as far from these shores as he could possibly get her.
    33

    As soon as brandon was certain Shani was well ensconced behind the screen, he stripped out of his own wet attire and slipped into dry pants and a robe. A crewman entered bearing two steaming mugs, and Brandon accepted his with a grateful word.
    Once