Raised in an orphanage after being found abandoned on the London docks as a newborn baby, without a known last name nor date of birth, Theodore has but one friend, Seth, a fellow orphan. Destiny takes Theodore away from Seth and back to the sea when he comes of age and is found an apprenticeship on a vessel in the English merchant navy. Thor, as he becomes known aboard ship, soon falls for Miguel, the handsome boatswain. However, his life is turned upside down when their ship is raided. Miguel is torn from his life and Thor is taken hostage and forced into the life of a pirate aboardThe Dragon. Both attracted to and repulsed by the evil Captain Wyvern, Thor finds the large dragon tattoo -- the symbol of the rank of the ship's captain -- taking hold of him and binding him to the man. Fate intervenes once more and Thor is elected captain ofThe Dragonwhen Wyvern is killed during a raid. Dismayed by Wyvern's ruthlessness, Thor is determined to show humanity to those vessels his crew plunders now that he is in charge. But despite his growing wealth, power, and reputation, Thor is restless and unfulfilled. He feels his life is not yet complete and somehow reaches beyond the decks of the pirate ship he now captains. A raid on a Dutch merchant ship brings yet another twist to Thor's life when someone from his past is found on board. Thor now has to face hard choices, the most difficult of which involves deciding if he can leave the sea and make a new life on land with his rediscovered love. But with a price on his head and a large tattoo of a dragon on his body, can Thor escape his past life of a pirate?

The Dragon

Thor knew it would be fruitless to ask Miguel once more for an explanation of the mysterious happenings of their time in port. So, he merely turned to the boatswain and asked, “Are you ready?”


As the three started down the brow, a brusque voice rang out. “Ho, Edgar! The captain has sent for you,” Adams called.


Edgar sighed and turned back. Thor watched him as he retreated back up the gangplank.


“He was hoping to find Denisha again, I think,” Thor said with a laugh. “Instead he gets to attend to Captain Allison.”


“At least the captain did not send for you,” Miguel added.


The two men continued their descent to the wharf and made their way to the tavern. This time the establishment was more crowded. Another ship had docked that morning and sailors from that vessel had been given shore leave. Making their way through the dark interior they found a table. The same barmaid who had served Thor the day before came over. She seemed to devour Miguel with a hungry look.


Chapter 13