Hugh: Pirates of Britannia Connected World (Sons of Sagamore Book 1) Read online

  Hugh

  Sons of Sagamore

  Ruth A. Casie

  Copyright © 2020 Ruth Seitelman

  Kindle Edition

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Pirates of Britannia Connected World publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by DragonMedia Publishing, Inc. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Pirates of Britannia connected series by Kathryn Le Veque and Eliza Knight remain exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Kathryn Le Veque and/or Eliza Knight, or their affiliates or licensors. All characters created by the author of this novel remain the copyrighted property of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.

  Published by DragonMedia, Inc.

  The Pirates of Britannia World

  Seduced by the Pirate

  by Maggi Andersen

  Captured by the Mercenary

  by Brenna Ash

  God of the Seas

  by Alex Aston

  Lord Corsair

  by Sydney Jane Baily

  Stolen by Starlight

  Red Cutlass

  by Avril Borthiry

  The Pirate’s Bluestocking

  by Chasity Bowlin

  The Righteous Side of Wicked

  by Jennifer Bray-Weber

  The de Wolfe of Wharf Street

  by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

  The Pirate’s Jewel

  The Pirate’s Redemption

  Hugh

  by Ruth A. Casie

  The Blood Reaver

  by Barbara Devlin

  The Pirate’s Temptation

  by Tara Kingston

  Savage of the Sea

  The Sea Devil

  by Eliza Knight

  Leader of Titans

  Sea Wolfe

  by Kathryn Le Veque

  The Marauder

  by Anna Markland

  The Sea Lyon

  The Sea Lord: Devils of the Deep

  by Hildie McQueen

  Pearls of Fire

  by Meara Platt

  Plunder by Knight

  Beast of the Bay

  by Mia Pride

  The Seafaring Rogue

  The Sea Hellion

  by Sky Purington

  Laird of the Deep

  by B.J. Scott

  No Rest for the Wicked

  by Lauren Smith

  Raider of the Deep

  by Jennae Vale

  The Ravishing Rees

  The Savage Sabre

  The Beast of Blades

  The Rebellious Red

  by Rosamund Winchester

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  The Pirates of Britannia World

  The Legend of the Pirates of Britannia

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  About the Author

  The Legend of the Pirates of Britannia

  In the year of our Lord 854, a wee lad by the name of Arthur MacAlpin set out on an adventure that would turn the tides of his fortune, for what could be more exciting than being feared and showered with gold?

  Arthur wanted to be king. A sovereign as great as King Arthur, who came hundreds of years before him. The legendary knight who was able to pull a magical sword from stone, met ladies in lakes, and vanquished evil with a vast following who worshipped him. But while that King Arthur brought to mind dreamlike images of a roundtable surrounded by chivalrous knights and the ladies they romanced, MacAlpin wanted to summon night terrors from every babe, woman and man.

  Aye, MacAlpin, king of the pirates of Britannia would be a name most feared. A name that crossed children’s lips when the candles were blown out at night. When a shadow passed over a wall, was it the pirate king? When a ship sailed into port in the dark hours of night, was it him?

  As the fourth son of the conquering Pictish King Cináed, Arthur wanted to prove himself to his father. He wanted to make his father proud, and show him that he, too, could be a conqueror. King Cináed was praised widely for having run off the Vikings, for saving his people, for amassing a vast and strong army. No one would dare encroach on his conquered lands when they would have to face the end of his blade.

  Arthur wanted that, too. He wanted to be feared. Awed. To hold his sword up and have devils come flying from the tip.

  So, it was on a fateful summer night in 854 that, at the age of ten and nine, Arthur amassed a crew of young and roguish Picts and stealthily commandeered one of his father’s ships. They blackened the sails to hide them from those on watch and began an adventure that would last a lifetime and beyond.

  The lads trolled the seas, boarding ships and sacking small coastal villages. In fact, they even sailed so far north as to raid a Viking village in the name of his father. By the time they returned to Oban, and the seat of King Cináed, all of Scotland was raging about Arthur’s atrocities. Confused, he tried to explain, but his father would not listen, and would not allow him back into the castle.

  King Cináed banished his youngest son from the land, condemned his acts as evil, and told him he never wanted to see him again.

  Enraged and experiencing an underlying layer of mortification, Arthur took to the seas, gathering men as he went, and building a family he could trust that would not shun him. They ravaged the sea as well as the land—using his clan’s name as a lasting insult to his father for turning him out.

  The legendary Pirate King was rumored to be merciless, the type of vengeful pirate who would drown a babe in his mother’s own milk if she didn’t give him the pearls at her neck. But with most rumors, they were mostly steeped in falsehoods meant to intimidate. In fact, there may have been a wee boy or two he saved from an untimely fate. Whenever they came across a lad or lass in need, as Arthur himself had once been, they took them into the fold.

  One ship became two. And then three, four, five, until a score of ships with blackened sails roamed the seas.

  These were his warriors. A legion of men who adored him, respected him, followed him, and, together, they wreaked havoc on the blood ties that had sent him away. And generations upon generations, country upon country, they spread far and wide until people feared them from horizon to horizon. Every pirate king to follow would be named MacAlpin, so his father’s banishment would never be forgotten.

  Forever lords of the sea. A daring brotherhood, where honor among thieves reigns supreme, and crushing their enemies is a thrilling pastime.

  These are the pirates of Britannia, and here are their stories…

  Chapter One

  London

  July 1288

  Charlotte Eden, daughter of Lord Miles Eden, Earl of Sagamore, and Hugh Talbot, son of Gareth Talbot, Constable to Lord Wesley Reynolds, Duke of Northumberland, were at the end of their budding romance.

  “The heat in here is unbearable.” Lady Charlotte fanned herself and looked over Jane’s shoulder.

  “The heat doesn’t appear to be disturbing Hugh and he has that beard.” Jane flapped her hand in
his direction. “Isn’t it uncomfortable in this heat?”

  “Not at all,” he said.

  “Why don’t you and Charlotte go for a turn in the garden? A cool breeze will do you both good.” Lady Jane Parker, the hostess of the small dinner party, stared at the backgammon board. “Did you win, again?” Jane accused her opponent John Huestis, Hugh’s close friend.

  Charlotte leaned over Jane for a better view. “He certainly did.”

  “I thought you were taking fresh air,” said her hostess, who glared at the gameboard and waved a dismissive gesture.

  “What kind of apple is short-tempered?” Charlotte laughed.

  “You and your silly riddles. You use them as a distraction.” Jane straightened her back and smoothed out her skirt.

  “Hmmm. The Copstard? The Queene? No.” John’s face broke into a broad grin. “A sour apple.”

  “No, you fool.” Jane turned an icy stare at Charlotte. “A crab apple. To think I supported you at the archery tournament. I cheered the loudest when you beat Hugh. I expect the same support from you. After all, I did hold your shoes while you competed.”

  “Bare feet are my secret weapon,” said Charlotte.

  “Your secret… talk about distraction. Distract your competitor with a view of your dainty toes is more like it.” The warm laughter in Jane’s voice melted her angry tone.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Grasping the ground with my toes helps me keep my balance.”

  “I thought you were vain. That you didn’t want to get your shoes muddy. I did notice that Martha Falin had difficulty at the line. Like a child having a temper tantrum, stamping around. I suppose she also wanted to dig her feet into the ground. Too bad it didn’t help. I don’t know why I tolerate that pushy woman. She inserts herself everywhere.” Jane mopped her forehead with a piece of fine linen she took out of her sleeve.

  Contrary to Jane’s need to win all the time, Charlotte’s competed against herself. It proved to be a winning strategy. She succeeded in beating her opponents most of the time.

  “Martha preferred to console Hugh when he lost.”

  “Please, Jane. Don’t remind me. Charlotte wounded my manly pride,” Hugh said. He placed his hand over his heart. His melodramatics made everyone chuckle. “Martha wanted an invitation to the tournament at Glen Kirk Castle. The woman refuses to understand the decision is not mine. I directed her to the Duke of Northumberland’s steward. She may be eager for the tournament, but I’m anxious for Charlotte to participate this year.”

  “You want her to best you on your home ground?” Jane asked, her eyebrow raised.

  “Oh, no. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not competing. I want to watch my brother’s face when Charlotte wins,” Hugh said.

  That sent everyone laughing.

  Hugh faced Charlotte. “How do you manage to beat everyone?”

  “Grand-père taught me the lessons he learned serving in the Crusades. He told me stories about his friends in Demietta, Egypt. Each lesson came with its own story demonstrating its importance. All his teachings came down to one thing. Like goal setting, archery is about focus and concentration developing skill, keeping your sight on your target, and discipline.

  “Stories about distant places and people, his successes, and even his failures all held lessons.” Charlotte paused. His thick white mane of shoulder length hair, his sparkling dark eyes, and his rumbling, rich voice were clear in her mind.

  “He was a man of many talents. He was proud of his winery, Labatrrelle, and enjoyed the art and statuary he brought back from the Holy Land. Each piece held a memory, but his legacy is much more than objects.”

  “Don’t leave out his riddles,” Jane said studying the board.

  “Ah, your riddles,” John said.

  “You’re much better with your bow and arrows than with your grand-père’s puzzles,” Jane said.

  “With your help,” Hugh said. “At the Parkers’ event, Charlotte’s last arrow struck the target at the edge of the mark and yet you called her the winner.”

  “Where did your arrow land? Outside the target. Do not complain to me or my guest about how I judged the contest.”

  “I picked up the bow to discourage Martha. I had no intention of shooting. If I had.” His words were left hanging.

  Charlotte glanced at him, waiting for him to finish.

  “You still would have won. I had no intention of taking off my shoes.”

  Hugh stepped in front of her at the line, picked up a bow, nocked his arrow, and let it loose. Ready to shoot, his inconsiderate behavior astonished her. “Annoyed” was a better description.

  Jane had introduced them months before. Charlotte thought him a bit arrogant and hadn’t seen him again until the competition. He handed her the bow without looking to see where his arrow landed.

  “No thank you. I have my own.” Charlotte stepped in front of him and took aim.

  “You’re in the wrong area. The women’s competition is further down the line.”

  She knew where the women were placed on the line and had no intention to shoot in the shorter distance competitions. Charlotte drew her bow, then let her arrow loose.

  She glanced at his face as he watched her arrow, and smiled as his jaw gaped open when it hit the center of the target.

  “I’m in the correct area; it looks like you are the one in the wrong place.” She put her bow and quiver on her back, picked up her shoes, and left the line.

  Hugh walked beside her. “How long have you known Jane?”

  “About three years. Why do you ask?” Was Hugh interested in Jane? First he used her as a decoy against Martha, and now as a resource of information about Jane, who was her good friend? His interest in Jane would be wonderful, but disappointing.

  “I’ve known her a bit longer and never heard her mention you.” His casual attitude was unaffected, and the conversation flowed naturally.

  “You and I met months ago. At Jane’s home.”

  His eyes and mouth were frozen open in a moment of stunned surprise.

  “I didn’t think you’d remember,” he said.

  “You remember?” She smiled at his attempt to redeem himself.

  “At the archery tournament I stumbled on your shoes. In the evening you wore a deep blue bliaut with a purple chemise. Pearls were sewn along the neckline and hem. Shall I go on?”

  “Touché.”

  Hugh took her hand and placed it on his arm and never said another word about their first encounter.

  “I thought we’d walk and discourage Martha Falin.” He nodded to Lord DeGraw, who stood with his wife.

  “She does have a way of attaching herself.” Charlotte followed his gaze, relieved that the DeGraws didn’t have a daughter.

  They walked the large lawn, stopped for some watered ale and conversation with people she’d met, but hadn’t really conversed with. She found Hugh comfortable in his own skin, easy to be with, and knowledgeable about a variety of subjects.

  “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.” Hugh maneuvered her past a group of mothers with withering looks.

  “You sound surprised.” She had to admit she enjoyed their time together as well.

  “I’ve been invited—”

  “Let me guess, a hostess with an eligible daughter.”

  “No. I’ve been invited to an archery exhibition. I thought you would enjoy attending it with me. If you like, we can ask Jane to come as well.”

  That was six months ago. Leaving France had turned out better than she anticipated. She and Jane were close friends, and now there was Hugh.

  “Jane, another round? You could use the practice.” John winked at Charlotte before she stepped away, her hand on Hugh’s arm.

  “Why don’t we play chess instead of this, this backgammon? Chess is a game I can win.” Jane began to reset the game. Charlotte knew, as did the others, Jane had no intention of playing chess.

  John shook his head, rolled one of the dice, and handed her the other.

 
“No? I thought not,” Jane said as the ivory cube tumbled onto the board. “I go first. And Charlotte, leave the door open. I would like some fresh air. It will help me think clearly so I can beat your friend.”

  “I thought you liked me,” John smiled. “Roll the dice, please.”

  Charlotte went with Hugh into the garden. She removed her hand from his arm and stood by the stone balustrade. The clear night and small gathering of close friends would make a comfortable evening, except she was anything but at ease.

  Breathe deep. Yes, another breath. She glanced at Hugh. How did the man remain so calm? Without a care in the world.

  Hugh’s earlier words echoed in her head. Her heart pounded like stampeding horses.

  “Are you sure?” her words were a whisper.

  Hugh took a step closer. “Yes. I am sure. I want to marry you.”

  Heat race up her neck and spread across her cheeks. Surely, her heart would burst. She hadn’t realized how much she craved to have his arm around her until he slid them both around her. There was a maddening hint of arrogance about him, but it added to his attraction. His caring touch sent her spirits soaring.

  “And I want to marry you,” she whispered against his cheek.

  How could Jane call this a budding romance? Their relationship was in full bloom.

  Hugh gathered her into his arms and breathed deeply, inhaling lavender and rose, her scent. The fragrance was as delicate as the beauty in his arms.

  Over and over, Jane told them their strong fondness was a common situation, and that if left alone, it would run its course.

  This tenderness for each other was not temporary, that was certain. It would last a lifetime.

  Hugh met Charlotte six months ago at the Parker estate. For him, the evening event was a social one. However, Lord DeGraw insisted on speaking to him about a business venture. At times, his reputation as a successful investor who made his clients wealthy was a hardship. He had to develop ways to avoid talking about business without insulting his clients. The terms DeGraw wanted did not suit him. Rather than tell the man no, again – and to avoid Martha Falin, who was always underfoot – Hugh busied himself at the archery tournament.