Her Wicked Proposal novel Chapter 75

Cedric leaned against a large wooden barrel bound by copper hoops. His nose picked up the fine acrid aroma of black powder-sulfur, saltpeter and finely ground charcoal. A deadly combination when stuffed into a ship's cannon.

"Jonathan, I have an idea."

"What?"

"This barrel is full of black powder." Cedric rapped his knuckles on the wood.

"Is this plan of yours going to get us killed?"

Cedric hesitated before answering. "There's always a chance."

Jonathan snorted. "Let us try to find the route off this ship that leaves us all breathing. Now, what's your plan?"

"There should be a light room close by. We prepare a charge, set it alight at the right moment and escape." Cedric knew the plan was risky, but escape was not enough. They had to destroy this ship. But first they needed to find Anne.

"Let us be clear, you want to set fire to the powder room?" Jonathan moved closer, his booted steps echoing on the floor. Above them the sailors were scrambling to their battle stations.

"Yes. We wouldn't have much time after we set fire to the room. We need to find Anne and a way off this ship, but it's all for naught if this ship is still afloat."

Jonathan laughed, but it bore a nervous, edgy sound. "Are all your plans this insane?"

Cedric rolled his eyes. "Do you have a better one?"

"Very well." Jonathan sighed. "Stay here whilst I find the light room."

Cedric stumbled about, searching for a tool to open the barrel of powder. His hands came across a tool, something that felt a bit like a poker. He returned to the powder barrel and pried open the lid. The wood creaked in protest, but finally gave in.

Footsteps were Cedric's only warning that he'd been found out. He dodged to the right as something slashed his chest. It stung like the devil, but didn't feel deep.

"Cheating again?" Samir hissed. "You simply cannot accept when you are beaten." Cedric dodged again, Samir's words proving to be an invaluable warning to his actions. But he couldn't dodge the man forever. He needed to get hold of Samir's hands. Then he would stand a fighting chance.

"You need a sword to take me down? What, you don't have enough faith in your fighting skills to take on a blind man?" It was a small chance the man would be manipulated to do that, but it was worth it.

Samir snarled. "You don't think I can kill you with my bare hands?"

"You're the one in a hurry to run me through with a blade, Al Zahrani. Don't you want the satisfaction of strangling the life out of me? What sense of justice will you get with a sword?" Cedric held up his hands, fists loosely clenched in case he needed to grab his opponent rather than throw a punch.

Samir snorted. "You're right. I want to choke you slowly, make you feel every agonizing minute of your death. A slow death for a man who cheats," Samir replied smugly. The sound of a blade clattering to the ground echoed a few feet away.

The moment the blade was abandoned, Samir tackled him. They hit the open barrel behind him. Cedric hissed out in pain as Samir punched his lower stomach repeatedly.

Roaring, Cedric pulled his head back and thrust it forward. The crack of his skull against Samir's momentarily stunned them both, but Samir recovered quickly enough to stagger to his feet. Cedric got up and slammed into Samir, knocking them both to the ground. Pain shot through his head and for a second he thought he saw the hazy shadow of the man lying close to him.

Cedric didn't hesitate and hit Samir square in the jaw. A lucky blow if there ever was one. It was the advantage he needed. Scrambling off, he searched for the sword. When the blade nicked his hand, he cursed before he was able to grab the grip.

He heard scraping noises behind him as Samir struggled to get up.

"You English pig!" Samir shouted.

Cedric fell flat on his back, sword raised just as Samir landed on top of him. The blade met some resistance as it plunged into Samir's ribs. The man grunted and sagged on top of Cedric.

"You...cheated..." Samir panted angrily.