Captured Possessions

By Christine Frost

A young noblewoman dreams of accompanying her beloved into battle and becoming a legendary heroine. The year is 1588, and King Philip II of Spain sends his armada on a holy war against Queen Elizabeth I. Despite her lover’s warnings, she schemes to join him on the Nuestra Señora del Rosario, flagship of the Andalusian Squadron. She wasn’t prepared for the harsh conditions, fierce storms, and ultimately, crossing paths with the queen’s most formidable privateer, Sir Francis Drake—a man who carries her fate in his pocket. Through an enchanted mirror, a mysterious force from the New World is summoned, and Consuela waits, held captive on a foreign shore, in hope of rescue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christine Frost
• Release date: Apr 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311227263

Christine Frost

Before finding her calling as a digital strategist, Christine Frost's nomadic career spanned beer and mead brewing, marketing for a record label, and book editing at a university. She received a master's in literature and creative writing from Harvard Extension School, and has written four novels, with several short stories appearing in journals and anthologies. An avid cook who has collected more recipes than she can cook in a lifetime, Christine blogs about how food is portrayed in fiction at SavoredWords.com. She loves to scout out the best coffee shops in Boston.

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Captured Possessions

Christine Frost

Editor: Rebecca Burruss (Rebecca’s Red Pen)

Cover Design: Christine Frost

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Christine Frost

Her Raven Domain Productions

http://www.herravendomain.com/

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

This is a work of historical fiction. Apart from the historical figures and events that figure into the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to current events, locales, or to living persons, is entirely coincidental.

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Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

For my husband, Joseph Garcia

Yo te amo.

They agreed to meet after dinner in the arched corridor leading to the courtyard. The palace had belonged to an emir who was exiled with the rest of the Moors many years ago. Consuela now reigned as a tempestuous princess, rivaling those in the stories of the palace’s original inhabitants. She swept along the shadows in the corridor, imagining being immortalized in Spanish history as the courageous woman who fought beside her betrothed in the legendary war against England. Diego will teach me to wield a halberd, she grinned as she swung around in a circle with her arms straight out. They will be so stunned by a woman fighter that they will succumb easily. Her imagined attack was graceful, reminiscent of her dance lessons. Yet when Diego stepped out of a darkened corner to pull her to him, she lost her footing and stumbled, squealing as she flailed. Imperiously drawing herself up, she flattened her hand to slap him. The blow never fell as he reminded her that silence was imperative to their mission. She was not supposed to be with him alone.

As the sky deepened from lavender to violet, the shrill calls of birds rang out and helped conceal their clandestine voices hidden in the shadows of the corridor. Water from the fountain in the center of the courtyard trickled softly. The flames of the torches placed around the courtyard snapped as pitch periodically ignited. Reflections of the flames played on the trees and walls. The statues seemed to come alive at night, waking from their daytime slumber.

Consuela startled as she mistook the crackling torch fires for the sound of people approaching and the flickering shadows on the statues as people hiding in the courtyard. She kept an eye out for patrolling guards as she engaged in a heated yet whispered debate with her beloved.

She had trouble breathing in the humid weather. If it would just cool down a little bit...

Her breath caught as the excitement squeezed her heart. Diego stared her down, trying to impart the gravity of the situation. "This isn’t some story you were told as a child. We are going to war. Life at sea is not glorious. At best, it’s boring. At worst, it’s dangerous. The diseases, the attacks by other ships—what will you do if we are struck by cannonfire? What do you think will happen to you if we are captured? And what if you get discovered by our own men? I assure you, the priests and commanders will not take kindly to your presence. Women are not supposed to be on ships, especially in wartime. You’ll wind up in the brig, or worse, they’ll