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

Addressing Rodenberg again, Thor said politely, “Thank you. As you know, the purpose of our visit is to relieve you of your cargo. It would be appreciated if you would be so kind as to allow us to go about our business with as little interference as possible.”


Rodenberg pointed to his crew and started to say something but Thor waved him off.


“No need to offer assistance. My men are well versed in the procedure. Please, if you and your crew will remain where you are we will carry out our mission and be on our way.”


Thor signaled his men and they scurried down into the hold where they returned shortly with crates containing fine linens and textiles, as well as a chest of gold coins.


During the time his men were searching the ship, Thor had walked to the rail and gazed out over the open water. The taking of the Dutch ship had gone without incident, but nothing had yet transpired to confirm his feeling that something life changing was about to happen.


Chapter 30