by David Talon
We climbed the stairs between the two cabins and stepped onto the captain’s deck where the others were waiting. Captain Hawkins was dressed as usual, his blue captain’s coat looking cleaner than it had. Selene, wearing a blue dress with her shoulders bare, stood beside him, while Samuel wore the good shirt and long black coat of a prosperous doctor and Mr. Smith had on a fine pair of trousers, ruffled shirt and boots, the long, puffy sleeves covering the tattoos on his arms and shoulders. Master Khan just wore a pair of leather trousers and the painted vest over his bare chest, his feet bare as Ezekiel’s, who wore only a pair of stained trousers but kept a firm hand on the tiller as we sailed between the two fortresses.
He flashed us a grin as Captain Hawkins said, “All is arranged. We’re to sail across Tortuga bay to Holystone beach, where the shares of plunder will be assessed and divided up amongst the crew.”
I gave him a puzzled look. “Sir, why do they call it Holystone?”
“Because,” Redbeard answered, “there be a small quarry of soft rock called Holystone there, which those not lucky enough to be having a goblin on board use to careen their ships.”
“I wouldn’t call having Hob aboard being lucky,” Captain Hawkins growled.
“That’s because you be the captain,” Redbeard retorted. “Of course, if you be having the gold to spend, Captain Black be having a dry-dock where his carpenters both careen and repair your ship while you be carousing among Tortuga’s wine shops.”
“Cholula certainly has gold to spend now, thanks to us,” Captain Hawkins said with a sour look. “What’s more, Arabella’s evidently friendly with Captain Black, who no doubt pays her well for the information she brings him, and he told her Cholula’s negotiating to join his fleet as a privateer, separate but associated with Captain Black, and answerable only to him.”
“Like she was when she belonged to Draco Dominus,” I said.
“Well, brace up, Harry,” Mr. Smith said in his deep rumble. “At least she’s out of our hair.” We passed the twin fortresses and Ezekiel pushed the tiller so the Davy moved starboard while the Sea-witch continued straight towards the white, stone buildings of Tortuga town, dead ahead of her.
“True,” Captain Hawkins agreed as he gave me a sharp look, “but we aren’t out of rough waters yet. Jade tells me Captain Black’s heard about Tomas, and wants to see for himself. So once his business with Cholula’s finished he’s going to join us at Holystone.”
Captain Black had been the subject of several seamen’s tales, saying he’d been a pirate for the Ming dynasty in China, among other places, and none of the stories had made him seem the least bit good. “Sir, what do you think he’s going to want?”
“At a guess, to make you one of his Dragons...though to be honest, with Captain Black you can never be sure.”
Jeremiah gave the captain a sharp look. “Sir, we can’t let that happen.”
Captain Hawkins’s expression turned sardonic. “I’m only acting captain until the shares are divided: after that, control of the Davy goes to Tomas... so the lot of you better put your heads together and figure something out.”
Jeremiah and I shared an incredulous look before he turned back towards the captain. “But you’ve fought to remain captain of the Davy almost seventeen years! Why give up now?”
“Because now he can finally be free of her,” Pepper said in a quiet voice. Captain Hawkins’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her, but she matched his gaze without flinching. “You’ve been trapped as her captain for a long time, and now Long-Mu is ready to let you go.”
“And why shouldn’t I go?” Captain Hawkins snapped. “You and Jeremiah have ties to Tomas now, Maccabee has reasons of his own for being at war with Olde Roger, as does Khan, and Dava just likes killing Shadowmen.”
“They be more of a challenge than the Spanish,” Redbeard said.
“On the other hand,” Captain Hawkins went on, “I don’t have a dog in this fight. When the shares are divided and I’ve seen Pepper betrothed, I’m going to take ship back to England and pray I die a peaceful death there before ships full of Shadowmen begin to arrive.”
Master Khan raised an eyebrow devoid of hair. “You will die of boredom, yes?”
“Better boredom than spending the rest of my life as Olde Roger’s hound.” Captain Hawkins looked back the way we’d come. “My war with Olde Roger died with Sir Francis.”
Selene put her hand on his arm. “I will return to London with you, should you still desire my company.”
Captain Hawkins turned away from staring back at things past and took her hand. “I would keep you with me save for one thing: Draco Dominus knows where you are.”
Selene gasped. “How could they...wait, the monk who informed them of Tomas knew of me as well.”
Captain Hawkins gave her a regretful look as he kissed her hand and let it go. “They’d take you before you even got off the docks in London, and I’d be powerless to stop them. Better you stay here and land on your feet than chance it back in the Olde world.”
Selene took a deep breath as she regained her composure. “I thank you for your honesty, sir, as well as your courtesy. No doubt I shall, as you say, land on my feet, but Tomas now stands alone against Olde Roger. If you abandon him, will the others stand with Tomas or will they abandon him as well?”
“I won’t abandon him,” Pepper and Jeremiah said in unison.
They glared at each other as Mr. Smith chuckled. “Neither will I.” The relief I felt must’ve showed on my face, for he chuckled again. “Harry’s right: I do have reasons of my own for wanting Olde Roger dead, and someday I’ll tell you my story. But for now, know that I’m with you.”
“I am as well,” Master Khan said.
“Aye, count me in,” Redbeard said, scratching his thick beard as he added, “I also be thinking you should have everyone swear a Dragon-oath, like Drake did in the old days.”
“How many would swear it?” I shook my head, trying to keep the despair I was feeling out of my voice as I added, “I mean, I don’t know what I’m doing and they know it.”
Captain Hawkins whirled on me. “Never admit you don’t know what to do,” he snapped, stabbing his finger at my face. “Always make a decision, even if it’s a bad one. Ask for advice if you wish, but remember you are the captain...and the captain always knows what he’s doing.”
“Even when he hasn’t the slightest idea?”
“Especially then,” he growled back,
“Harry,” Mr. Smith said in his deep rumble, “the lad needs your help if all of us are to have any chance at all.”
The harsh expression left Captain Hawkins’s face. “I told you I’ve no dog in this fight,” he said, looking weary to the bone and I realized, weary to the soul as he turned back looking over the stern.
“Well, I have a big, ugly dog in this fight,” Mr. Smith said, and I turned my full attention on him as he folded his massive arms over his chest. “I’ve served under several captains, including Sir Francis, who always answered my questions at length so I’d understand the reasons why he did what he did.” Mr. Smith held my gaze for a moment. “The most important thing he ever said was ‘always know your men’. Most of them won’t swear such an oath for a while, not while they’ve got a nice sum of gold to spend in Tortuga, but once they start spinning tales about you and they realize they’ll never have another opportunity for buccaneer glory like this, when the call goes out they’ll ask to swear.” He uncrossed his arms and held up a finger, as if in warning. “There are three types of men in this world who will swear a Dragon-oath to a captain: those who are like brothers to you, those who are like children to you, and those who are a danger to you. The last should never be asked to swear at all.”
I slowly nodded as the wisdom of his words sunk in. “But the hard part is knowing which group a man falls into...unless you know him well.” I smiled at those around me. “At least I know who my brothers are.”
“You may be having more brothers than you realize,” Redbeard said. We began speaking of various members of the crew, the others except Selene making comments as Captain Hawkins was drawn in despite himself. As we spoke, the ship approached a strip of white beach separate from the fortified walls of Tortuga town, the rocky area inland from both possessing very little vegetation, even though the hills beyond were covered in forest. When we broke apart as we prepared to make landfall, I pointed it out to Redbeard, who chuckled. “They be keeping goats beyond the walls, and the hairy little buggers eat everything green.”
Mr. Smith, who’d taken over as ship’s master, directed the Davy onto shore, the sand making a soft hiss underneath the bow as the ship came to rest and the sails were furled. After some discussion I had Jade inhabit the dragon-golem and sent her down into the hold to hand up crates and boxes, the crew forming a line to the cargo net attached to a pulley, which Mr. Smith used to lower the plunder to Redbeard, who stood waist deep in saltwater passing each one on to the men who’d formed a line stretching to the beach. They set it in an established ring of white stones painted red, encompassing a wide circle, with the French sharpshooters keeping guard as Master Le’Vass gave orders.
As the men began moving wooden crates and chests down the line, Redbeard began a chantey, and I noticed the pace picked up as the men sang the refrain after each line.
“Once Queen Bess’s pirate, while docked in the bay, met up with Olde Roger, at the Isle of Three-day, (Hoy Robin, good Robin, to you now we say, Hoy Robin, good Robin, tell more now we pray).
“See here my good Dragon, I’ve come now for Meg, since I’ve need of a wife that can show a good leg, (Hoy Robin, good Robin, to you now we say, Hoy Robin, good Robin, tell more now we pray).
So Roger he lifted Meg up on his ship, and though Drake did follow, was given the slip, (Hoy Robin, good Robin, to you we now say, Hoy Robin, good Robin, tell more now we pray).
Then up came the First Mate, who started to gloat, so Meg took her red-hand and ripped out his throat, (Hoy Robin, good Robin, to you we now say, Hoy Robin, good Robin, tell more now we pray).
So up came the Bo ‘sun with ball and with chain, Meg lifted her boot and just kicked out his brain, (Hoy Robin, good Robin, to you we now say, Hoy Robin, good Robin, tell more now we pray).
Then six little Shadowmen jumped on the wall, screaming ‘take her back, Roger, she’ll kill us all!’(Hoy Robin, good Robin, to you we now say, Hoy Robin, good Robin, tell more now we pray).
So Roger dipped colors and gave her to Drake, saying ‘There’s only so much even Roger can take’,(Hoy Robin, good Robin, this truth we defend, Hoy Robin, good Robin, your tale’s at an end).
There was laughter and catcalls before someone else broke into a different chantey as the boxes continued down the line of men, hand over hand. Selene, who’d been listening with us, suddenly turned towards Pepper. “Have you given thought to your betrothal ceremony?”
Pepper gave her a blank stare. “I just thought we’d stand in front of the captain, get it over with and go off by ourselves.”
I thought it a fine idea, but evidently Selene was of a different mind. “I will speak to Harry and to your little friend, the Bo. From what she told me, Sally would love to see you all dressed up.” Pepper got a stubborn look on her face as she crossed her arms, and Selene said in exasperation, “I owe Tomas my life, and the least I can do is make this a memorable day for him.” She put her hands on her hips as she traded Pepper glare for glare. “That means he is going to see you dressed as a lady and not as a pirate.”
Pepper opened her mouth to argue as an unknown woman’s voice spoke from the air in front of us. “I crave your pardon for interrupting, but my Dragon wishes to have an audience with Mistress Selene.”
Pepper closed her mouth with a click of her teeth as Selene’s opened in shock. “I know your voice...Snow-dancer?”
“None other,” the dragon-ghost said in a satisfied tone. “Jarl has sworn fealty to Captain Black and is acting as his official emissary until the captain arrives.”
Looking across the water I saw several men dressed in Artifact coat-of-plate armor and bearing muskets, which were grounded, standing a respectable distance away from the crew placing the boxes and crates on the sand. Towering over the soldiers was a pale, blond-haired man dressed like they were, with the hilt of a two-handed Artifact sword sticking out over his wide shoulders. Selene whispered, “No, this cannot be...Jarl died.”
“It was a near thing,” Snow-Dancer said, “but he pulled through as we travelled here. Now, he desires to speak with you.”
“I wish the same,” Selene eagerly replied. There was a rush of air and a pop as an air-golem of a woman with wings appeared in the air before us. Snow-dancer held out her arms and Selene’s face became alarmed. “I am sure there is a boat to take me across. I do not need to fly...Aiee!”
The winged woman lifted Selene into the air and began carrying her towards shore. Selene shrieked and Pepper began to snicker. Feeling bad for Selene I gave Pepper a cross look and she subsided, but then Selene shrieked again and I couldn’t help it: Pepper and I traded a look and we both began snickering as Selene shrieked a third time.
No sooner had the air-golem got Selene to the other side and set down beside the blond-headed warrior but he picked her up and spun her around, both of them laughing as he set her back down and they embraced. Watching them, Pepper gave a firm nod. “Good; she’ll be so caught up in her old friend she’ll forget about this nonsense.” Pepper looked at me, her face troubled. “You don’t care about the betrothal ceremony...do you?”
I shook my head. “I just want the captain to say we’re betrothed and go off alone somewhere.” A thought struck me and I grinned. “If we can get the captain to say the words now, we can stay aboard while everyone else divides up the plunder.” I lowered my voice. “We don’t have to tell the captain we decided to use his cabin, unless he thinks to ask.” Pepper gave me a wicked smile back and I looked to see where the captain had gone.
But Fate was in a jesting mood. The winged woman air-golem flew back over the waves towards us as Sally came bursting out of her cabin and ran up to Pepper. “Sally talk to dragon-ghost named Storm, say his Dragon want party like Bo has.”
“The Bo have a type of betrothal ceremony,” Pepper said to my perplexed look, “and Captain Black evidently seems to know about it... most likely from Arabella” The wind went out of her sails as she sighed. “I suppose this is going to happen whether I will it or not,” smiling at Sally who gave her a broad grin back, before turning back towards me. “Looks like we’re waiting after all.”
Frustrated, I grumped, “I suppose.”
For some reason Pepper smiled. “I promised you lively nights and you’ll get them.” We shared a long kiss, and then she and Sally were scooped up in the arms of the winged woman air-golem and carried across the water.
As I watched them land next to Jarl and Selene, Captain Hawkins suddenly spoke from behind me. “What’s going on here?”
He walked up beside me as I explained what had just happened, leaving out the part about taking over his cabin, of course, and the captain’s face grew thoughtful. “I’m pleased Selene’s going to land on her feet after all, though,” his eyes narrowing as we watched Jarl dispatch one of his men to lead Pepper, Selene, and Sally back towards Tortuga town, “I’m wondering why Captain Black’s taken such an interest in your affairs.”
Before he could say more, Mr. Smith called out, “Harry, that’s the last of it.”
“Then we need to get down to the beach before Jean begins handing out the best pieces to his cronies.” Captain Hawkins gave me a sharp look. “You will remain aboard the Davy until I send for you...am I clear?”
“Aye, sir,” I replied, “but...what should I do?”
His expression turned sardonic. “Your betrothal night with Pepper approaches, so I�
��d recommend sleep.”
Mr. Smith herded all the remaining men aboard down the rope net and into the water before climbing down himself, Captain Hawkins following a moment later. For a time I watched as the captain and Master Le’Vass met with Jarl, while chests and crates began being opened in front of the men. Jeremiah and Claude inventoried each one together, calling out sums to Samuel, who wrote them down on a sheet of parchment. Suddenly Jade spoke in my ear. “They are going to be at this all day. The Admiral left some porridge in the cook pot if you are hungry.”
I looked wistfully towards the beach where Andre was carrying a goat he must’ve shot over his shoulder, while several of the Buccan began digging a roasting pit in the ground just beyond the beach. “Sure, porridge sounds fine.”
Jade’s voice chuckled as I went to the stairs and walked down into the crew’s hold. It was unnaturally quiet below deck, the familiar odor of too many men crammed together not nearly as sharp as I padded towards the galley, the ship creaking as she settled into the sand, taking her rest in a safe harbor, or so I hoped. Looking in the pot I found the Admiral had left me enough porridge for two bowls, along with a small pile of chopped salt pork and a handful of raisons on his back cutting board. I smiled. “He knew I’d be stuck here.”
“Very little passes the Admiral’s notice, even though it may seem to. He will swear you a Dragon-oath when the time comes.”
I shivered as a thought struck me. “What if I lead him to his death? What if I lead them all to their deaths?” I looked at the spot her voice was coming from. “How can I live with that?”
“You will make mistakes or they will make mistakes on their own, and some of them may die. But if you do nothing they will all die just the same.” Jade’s voice became gentle. “Tomas, I understand some of what you are going through, for Long-Mu went through a similar time after the attack that destroyed the city men now call Atlantis. I remember neither the city nor the battle, but I found your mother during her escape and became Long-Mu’s first dragon-spirit. She carried the burden of moving her people forward and surviving after their civilization had been almost eliminated, and at times it would become too much for her. Late at night I would sometimes find her crying. ‘I cannot do this’, she would tell me, ‘I am going to fail them’. I was a young spirit in those days, and very frightened myself, but I would console her as best I could and listen as she cried herself to sleep. But in the morning when the others would come to her with their problems, they would find her calm and resolute, her courage giving them the courage to live on and struggle through another day.”
