“Oh, there is hope.” Though to some, it wouldn’t be that much of a cost. At least, not for him, but he’d already determined that it would be for Miranda.
Worry marred her brow as she took the documents from him and settled onto the settee and read. He watched her for a reaction but was denied such because she had to bring the documents too close to her face.
She blew out a breath and let them drop to her lap. “Why don’t you just tell me what they say? The writing is too hard to read without my spectacles.”
“In essence they say that as long as a marriage links the two communities, peace will prevail. Peace did remain and was only broken by your great-uncle, but honored after the new treaty, even though he died.”
“Yes, we know that already.”
“What you don’t know is that marriage has been the requirement since the first treaty in 1573.”
Her eyes widened. “Why?”
“As long as there was a link between the two communities, they would protect and defend the other.”
“Why was it necessary to begin with?”
“Because of the Cilgrim family.”
Miranda frowned again. “Cilgrim? Why do I know that name?” Then her eyes widened. “Yes, the Cilgrim family, notorious for seizing ships and taking cargo, and they didn’t hesitate to murder. Martha Cilgrim was the daughter of a pirate, and was rumored to be ruthless, and eventually hung from the gallows for her crimes.” Miranda warmed to a topic she once knew well because it had fascinated her—a lady pirate. “Back then, several ships sailed out of Bocka Morrow and Laswell, merchant ships. That was before both communities turned to smuggling.”
“The very Cilgrims,” Wesley agreed. “After Martha Cilgrim took a Bocka Morrow ship and then a Laswell ship, the merchants and captains gathered to discuss how to best avoid or protect themselves from the pirates.”
“That is when they signed the treaty?” Miranda asked.
“Yes,” Wesley answered. “But there is more.”
She leaned forward; grey eyes wide with anticipation.
“Though they feared the Cilgrims, and needed each other, there was a lack of trust also. At one time, both had trusted the Cilgrims to protect them, which did not happen, so they were careful as to how much they trusted anyone else.”
“It would be difficult to trust again,” Miranda mused. “But, neither community harbored pirates, cutthroats, or thieves either, did they?”
“No.” Wesley chuckled at her description. “Pirates weren’t their only concern, however. Apparently, the seas had been rough for a number of years as well. The more superstitious of those at the gathering blamed Endellion, the Sea God of Cornwall.” Wesley tried not to smirk because he didn’t wish to get into another argument with Miranda. “They believed he was angry at the violence caused by the Cilgrim family and believed a pact of peace between the two communities, separated by miles of sea, would bring calm, and if they promised no violence, he would protect their ships while in his waters. They also hoped that Endellion would bring about the end of the Cilgrim family. To show their loyalty, ships sailed to the center of the Celtic sea and a bride from Bocka Morrow, married a groom from Laswell. And, before the next treaty was signed, the Cilgrim family had lost all of their ships that had once sailed the waters.
At one time, he’d shared that same fascination with Endellion and the hidden kingdom of Atargatis. He’d also been a child and outgrew believing in fairy tales. Wesley watched her carefully. Since Miranda believed in ghosts, would she believe that a mythical god had a hand in the peace and that Endellion had destroyed Cigrim ships?
Not a flicker in her eyes. Instead, she waited anxiously, like being told a fascinating story.
In a way, it was fascinating, but gods had nothing to do with the plight of ships. Only pirates and storms.
“King Merrik decreed, through his father, Endellion of course, that as long as the communities were bound together through marriage, peace would prevail for Bocka Morrow and Laswell, and the ships would be protected from pirates and all dangers of the seas. If peace was broken by anyone in Laswell or Bocka Morrow, protection would no longer be provided, the violator punished and a price would be paid.” It sounded all very dramatic, not that Wesley put any stock in the superstition, especially one involving the Sea God of Cornwall.