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

Iakob responded to Edgar’s question. “It all depends on the captain’s wishes. It is best for us if we submit to him. Our fate is in his hands. We must pray that he is a fair-minded man.”


Fair-minded? Thor thought bitterly. Do those words have any connection to the man who killed Brewster, set Captain Allison, Miguel, and Adams adrift and sank The Alexandria with the crew lashed to the rails!


After a time, which in the darkness Thor had no way of calculating, the hatch opened. The quartermaster appeared, carrying a lantern.


“The captain has sent for you!” he said with a sneer as he hung the lantern, untied Thor, and pulled him to his feet.


“Remember what I said,” Iakob admonished.


“Stow it!” the pirate snarled and issued a swift kick to Iakob’s ribs. The old seaman grunted in pain.


As Thor was led away, he could hear Iakob comforting Edgar.


Chapter 18