by Simon Archer
Tabitha laughed. “Aye, ‘tis what ye think from that. She beaned the bastard with a chair while he was still flappin’ his tongue. Caught everyone by surprise.”
“I do not like to be threatened, and his speech was annoying,” Ligeia explained. “I had no interest in hearing it all.”
“Nor did we,” Mary added. “I hexed the guns to misfire, then Ember caused them to explode in the men's hands.”
“Aye,” Tabitha chortled. “‘Twas brilliant and sent every bloody thing into chaos. About half the bastards were down an’ out before the fight even started. I shot a couple before the bladework started. Then Mary, Ligeia, an’ Ember finished the job.”
“Ligeia really took them by surprise,” Ember said with a grin.
“Good job,” I told them, then dropped the captive on a table. “Can ye wake this one up?”
“I can.” Mary pushed off the doorframe and made her way over to me. She studied the unconscious man for a long moment, then went to stretch out a hand and put it on her head.
“Someone comes,” Ember reported, interrupting whatever my witch planned to do.
I held up a hand to stay Mary from continuing. “Hold up, lass. Let us see who be tryin’ to join the party.”
Ember backed away from the open doorway. “Two people,” she added. “A… gods below, ‘tis--”
A shadow darkened the doorway, and a familiar voice rang out. “Gods damn it! Bardak-fucking-Skullbreaker! What in the hell have ye done to my place, ye cursed green-skin bastard?”
Damn.
Bloody Bill Markland had returned to the Archipelago.
7
William Markland, known far and wide as Bloody Bill, the self-proclaimed Pirate King, stalked into the ruined common room of the Touch o’ Gold like he owned the place, and chances were, he did. Behind him came his witch, Cerridwen Ash, who gazed over the situation with a cool expression on her sharp-featured face.
Bill himself was dressed rather simply in a loose black tunic and a pair of pantaloons, with folded, knee-high boots. He wore two braces of pistols, a pair of cutlasses, and a stern scowl. His witch, on the other hand, wore a simple tunic dress of green and laced sandals beneath a hooded, green cloak. She bore long knives on her belt that could have been twins to those used by my own witch, Mary.
“An’ a right pleasure to see ye, as well, Cap’n Markland,” I said snidely. “Seems the folk ye left in charge o’ yer place here didn’t take to vettin’ the clientele an’ allowed some blackheart robbers an’ their bullyboys in to rough up the paying customers. ‘Twas a good thing my crew was here to put a stop to it, else ye might be sufferin’ more of a loss.”
“Bah,” the man spat as he paused and looked around, hands never straying far from his weapons.
Bill didn’t trust me, and that was a mutual feeling. Last time we’d been face-to-face, I’d barely managed to beat the man in a one-on-one scrap that had resulted in him losing a significant trove of booty. Finally, he just shook his head and met my gaze.
“You’re a busy man, Bardak Skullsplitter. Word of you even reached into Milnest, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Emperor Blackburn gets a daily report on his desk about your antics.”
“What have ye been up to then, Pirate King?” I asked, bristling a little. If Bill wanted a fight, then he’d get one.
Instead of answering, he looked past me to focus on Ligeia. “You are looking lovely as ever, dear siren. I trust that you have found happiness?”
We all were taken aback at Bill’s question, but Ligeia answered smoothly. “I am, William Markland. Hast thou?” She drew herself up proudly and focused on him, her dark eyes shining.
“A bit of contentment,” he replied, “and some modicum of happiness, once my head cleared from the ringing Cap’n Bardak inflicted on me.” A sly grin crept over his bearded face, and once again, he focused his attention on me.
“Why do ye sail with only the one ship, again, Cap’n?” the pirate king asked, slipping back into patois. “An’ where be the black cat’s little sloop? I expected ye to be goin’ full-force an’ gatherin’ all behind ye to face the Admiralty at last. Especially since ye hold Insmere, now.”
“Ye be incredible well-informed for a man that’s been away a while,” I observed. “Have Adra’s missives been reaching ye?”
Bill stiffened a moment and laughed. “Shoulda figured the minx would twist my intent to her own advantage. She told ye all, did she?”
“Aye,” I replied smugly. “That an’ more. Ye had no idea how to deal with shamans, did ye?”
His eyes slide sideways to Cerridwyn, and a sour expression crept over his rugged features. “Apparently not,” Bill growled, then he sighed and lifted his hands. “Truce, Bardak.”
For everything Bloody Bill Markland was, a codebreaker he was not. If he offered truce, it was honest.
I nodded and shouldered my axe. “Where do ye wish to palaver?”
“I will deal with the gawkers,” Cerridwyn said to him.
“Back room, then,” he answered me, then pushed past us to disappear into the room where we’d had our first discussion before we set off to ambush Commodore Arde and The Indomitable in the Aigon Straits.
Bemused, I followed, and the four women joined me. We took seats in the back room, arranged before a large desk that Bill settled in behind. He sighed and rested both of his hands on the cluttered desktop.
“I must admit, Bardak, that I really had no desire to face you again.”
“That feelin’ be mutual, William Markland,” I said. “I be a touch displeased to find ye back in the Archipelago, especially since, once again, we find ourselves in this gamblin’ hall an’ in this office in particular.”
“Discussing,” he continued my thought, “how best our continued peaceable relationship might best serve us in the future.”
“Actually,” I countered, “I was considerin’ more how I might knock yer bloody head from its restin’ place atop yer neck an’ walk out o’ here with a major bit o’ trouble avoided. Truth be told, Bill, I’ve bigger fish to fry than even you.”
“The Admiral and his hell-ship,” Bloody Bill said, unperturbed by my not-so-veiled threat. “Ye ain’t the only sod interested in seein’ an end to that damned thing an’ its skull-faced master.”
“Fair enough.” I leaned back in my chair, the heavy wood creaking under my weight as I glanced to either side at my girls. Ligeia was stock still and wore a flat, hungry expression on her face, while Tabitha and Ember leaned forward, intent on Bill Markland’s every word. Mary, though, returned my glance with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll hear ye out.”
“Bloody generous of you.” Bill slipped easily in and out of pirate cant almost at random, ranging from that to the cultured accent of mainland Erdrath. The capital of Jardoon, to be exact. “I have no idea how you plan to take down this menace to the isles, Bardak, but I know that’s what you intend to do. What impresses me more is the fact that I firmly believe you can do it.”
“What does this mean to me?” I asked, tired of the words and flowery talk.
“It means, ye big arse, that I want to throw me lot in with ye, an’ more besides,” Bill scowled. “You've got a flotilla of seven ships, aye? Well, I can add a hundred to that. Every damned pirate that sails these seas knows my name, an’ many of ‘em owe me a favor. Ye want a fleet to challenge the Admiralty? I can deliver.”
That was a complete bolt out of the blue.
I leaned forward. “Ye serious?”
“As a bullet to the head,” Bill answered.
What in the hell was Bloody Bill’s angle on this? I was at a complete loss to understand his motivations. “What do ye get out of this?”
Bill waved a hand around. “Do ye think ye be the only cove what wants the Archipelago to be free o’ that shit-eatin’ sod an’ his madness, that ye be the only one what cares about the free towns?”
“Cap’n Bardak ain’t the one who fucked off to Milnest after gettin’ his arse kicked,” Tabitha sai
d suddenly, breaking the spell that held the rest of us.
I tensed. If a fight was about to start, this was it.
Instead, Bloody Bill Markland threw back his head and started laughing.
Would wonders never cease? I looked around at the others, who seemed to be struck silent by the pirate king’s reaction. I leaned forward again.
“She about has the right of it,” I growled. “An’ where be yer witch, Bill?”
He started coughing and held up a hand while the other fumbled around in his desk for a bottle. The cork came out, and he choked down a few long swallows and got himself under control.
“Aye, aye,” Bill rasped. “She be keepin’ the rabble out, Bardak, not anythin’ underhanded. I just wanted our conversation to be private and thought yer ladies might be happier if they were in on it.”
“Damn right,” Mary said and leaned back with her arms folded beneath her breasts.
“Peace,” I said and glared across the desk at Bill Markland. “Say I take ye at face value. How do I know that ye won’t try to pull somethin’ like ye did back at the Straits, Bill Markland?”
His eyes met mine, and he grinned. “Ye don’t, Bardak. I’d give ye my word, but it ain’t like ye’ll take it, will ye?” Then the expression on his face flattened, and he leaned forward. “But can ye tell me, Cap’n, did I actually break my word there in the Aigon Straits?”
He hadn’t, really, just my expectations. Before he sailed off for our eventual showdown, Bill Markland had returned Ligeia’s comb, paid Shrike his missing shares, and tried to plant a spy in my crew.
I let out a low growl and shook my head. “No…”
“Then will ye trust me now?” Bill asked. “Ye beat me once, Bardak Skullsplitter, and in that, ye won my respect, especially since ye left me alive. That, I appreciate. So, I’m askin’ again, Pirate King… Do ye want my help or not?”
Jaws really did drop at that. Bloody Bill Markland just called me the Pirate King. That was the last thing I needed. I closed my mouth and met Bill’s eyes.
“Did ye just say what I think ye said?”
“Aye.” Bill leaned back and steepled his fingers as he regarded me. “I am ready to retire, orc. Someone needs to inherit the mantle, and ye be the best choice I’ve seen in years. I’ll stand behind ye, get ye a force to be reckoned with in yer battle against The Pale Horse, and then disappear. None o’ ye will ever see ol’ Bloody Bill again, once this be done.”
“So, I take yer word for it?” I asked.
“Have yer witches question me,” he replied. “Ask the spirits. Trust yer feelings or whatever. I built a reputation for keepin’ my word, good or ill.” With that, a faint smirk crept over his face. “Maybe I just stick to the letter of it, but I do keep it.”
I scratched my beard and gave sidelong looks to the girls. Ligeia sat still and expressionless. Mary gazed intently at Bill across the table, her brow clenched and a muscle in her jaw jumping. Tabitha leaned back in her chair, head cocked, ears perked as her tail twitched, but I could see that she kept one hand close to her double-barreled flintlock. Ember just sat on her chair, hands between her knees, but keeping a weather eye on Tabitha.
“What say ye, Bardak?” Bill asked after a moment.
Bill didn’t lie. Sure, the bastard hadn’t held up what I’d consider the honorable end of our bargain, but he had fulfilled the letter of it. I’d caught up with him, fought him, and won probably the hardest fought victory of my career. If he was back, then he had a reason, and if Bloody Bill Markland were on my side, then I’d be a fool to turn him down.
“All right, William Markland,” I said. “I’ll happily accept yer help. Let there be peace between us, an’ let’s see about takin’ down that bastard Layne.”
He let out a laugh and rose to his feet as I did. We both spat in our hands and clasped to seal the deal. Almost immediately, most of the tension went out of the air.
Aside from Ligeia, that was. She looked from Bill to me with unreadable eyes. If the old pirate caught the exchange, he didn’t let on.
“It was a dubious pleasure doing business with you,” Captain Markland said with a crooked grin. “When do we do this thing?”
“We've got a quest to deal with first,” I replied. “Mary’ll send word to Cerridwyn when we be on our way back, and we’ll meet on the way to Avion, aye?”
Bill’s eyes narrowed as he looked up at me. “I reckon that will give me time to pull together all the fighting ships we’ll need to carry on through the cordon and take the fight to the Admiral.” He started towards the door. “Don’t ye be takin’ too long, Cap’n Bardak Skullsplitter,” Bill threw back over his shoulder, “or one o’ us may start without ye.”
“I ain’t so sure that’d be a good choice to make,” Tabitha drawled as she rose smoothly to her feet. The other girls stood and faced Markland’s back along with me.
I crossed my arms and grunted. “If ye think ye can sink The Pale Horse, Bill Markland, ye be more’n welcome to try. Unless ye have some kind o’ secret in yer pocket, though, I’d suggest ye wait for us.”
He paused in the doorway as the door swung open. “I ain’t sayin’ it’d be me,” Bill said without turning. “I ain’t sayin’ it’d be me.”
8
I led the way back through the streets of Tarrant in brooding silence. The four women flanked me. Once again, I was allies of convenience with Bloody Bill Markland. His help was a shortcut to the fleet I needed to finally take the fight to the Admiralty… if the bastard could actually deliver.
“What do ye think o’ this?” Tabitha broke the silence. “Bloody Bill retirin’ and all, I mean.”
“Perhaps a boon,” Mary answered hopefully.
“To him,” I snorted. “Bloody bastard’s got us right where he wants us.”
“He might be dealing straight,” Ember suggested.
“He is,” Ligeia said softly.
I paused and looked over at the siren. “How do ye know, lass?”
“I know his lies,” she replied with a shrug. “He spoke of retiring when we were together, though he was not yet the pirate king.”
“Hrm,” I growled and started walking again. I wasn’t one to discount any thoughts at this point. “Mary, ye did settle things with Cerridwyn, aye?”
“Oh, aye,” my witch replied. “I’d not really call us friends again, but at least we are at peace with each other.”
I nodded slowly. Bill’s witch and mine had been friends once, but there’d come some bad blood between them. When we’d sailed with Cerridwyn as a hostage against Markland’s good behavior, she and Mary had buried the proverbial axe. Hopefully, that hadn’t changed too much.
“There they are!” someone shouted, and suddenly, we were beset by a rush of bruisers from the nearby alleys and tenements.
This was already growing tiresome,
We barely had time to make ready before they were upon us. I was in no mood to play, and the girls sensed it. They all had weapons out quick as a flash, and we quickly formed up, more or less back to back.
My new axe felt good in my hands as I kept it swinging in a tight figure-eight before me, daring my opponents to get too close. To my right, Mary froze two men with her evil eye before they got close, and Tabitha, to my left, drew her pistol and cutlass, covering the men closing in on her.
Ligeia drew herself up to her full height and bared her talons and shark-like teeth in a fearsome display, while Ember hexed up a double handful of flames.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t the time to don my new helmet, but the armor fit well, and the weight wasn’t enough to slow me. I swept a quick glance over the men and women surrounding us, street toughs, all. They had the bravery of numbers, but as quickly as we’d cinched up and readied ourselves, we’d given them pause. For the moment, they just circled and tested us for an opening. Each feint and probing attack cost them, though. Mary paralyzed a couple more.
“Just kill them all!” screeched a familiar voice. It was the woman from my e
arlier fight. So, she’d gathered another troop of warm bodies and attacked me again. This time, though, she had made a bigger error than just jumping me.
“Mary, Ligeia,” I said. “Take the woman in the cloak, alive if ye can. Tabitha an’ Ember, let’s clear the bloody street.”
The girls gave no other response than a quick jump into action. Tabitha emptied her flintlock as I let out a roar and charged the men before me. Ember, though, began hurling handfuls of fire at the massed attackers, setting alight clothes, hair, and flesh with equal abandon.
Mary and Ligeia charged. The pair of them were frighteningly deadly in hand-to-hand combat but very different in their styles, save for the need to be up close. Thugs froze in their tracks under my witch’s evil eye, then dropped with throats cut or bellies opened. My siren, though, danced and darted among our foes like a barracuda, tearing open frightening wounds with her talons as she did.
For my part, I struck down every foe that got within my reach. This axe was weighted differently than my old one and had a different head with a larger cutting edge. It didn’t have the end-heavy mass to drive through armor, but in this case, that wasn’t something I needed.
“Shit! Get away from me!” were the cries that rang out as Mary and Ligeia suddenly appeared next to the leader of this motley horde. “Help!”
I took the opportunity to cut down a couple more toughs, and the rest wavered. “Not fuckin’ worth it!” someone yelled.
“Shoulda known!”
“I’m out!”
More exclamations to that effect rang out across the field of better, and as quickly as they’d appeared, the survivors beat their retreat. There was no need to give chase, as Ligeia and Mary held the leader captive, pinned helplessly between knives and talons.
I shouldered my new axe, satisfied with its performance, and strode over to where my girls held the captive. She didn’t even struggle against them, and Mary pulled the woman’s hood back as I approached. She had short, dirty blonde hair, brown eyes, and a pale, lined face. She sneered up at me as I loomed over her.
