“Whatever he’s planning, we’re ready. The Valkyries are working well together. Andy has the gunners drilled to perfection and we’re more than a match for him now.”
“I know that, but I still don’t like it. He’s been at this game a long time and I don’t trust him; he’ll turn up when we least expect it and when we’re not ready. We should search out Freyja, and take him by surprise.”
I looked at her. I knew her well enough now not to disregard her advice out of hand, but where would we start? The Carib Sea was big and he had friends—many more than we had.
“What do you suggest?” I asked.
Her eyes narrowed and she squinted to windward. “Sail,” she said, then shouted up to Annika in the tops. “Sail to windward! What do you see?”
“Twinmaster, topsail on the fore. Main gaff-rigged!” Annika shouted back. “Hull down!”
I looked at Carmen with new respect. She had good eyes.
“You don’t think,” I said. “Freyja?”
She shrugged. “Hard to say, we’ll know soon enough. Andy?” She raised her voice. “Ready your guns!” Then, quieter, to me. “It won’t hurt us to be prepared.” She knocked the contents of her pipe overboard and I nodded. In these waters it was more likely a slaver or merchantman, but Carmen was right, we’d find out soon enough.
“Break out the Cross of Saint George,” I ordered. If it was Freyja, we may as well pretend to be friendly and give ourselves some time.
“Annika!” I called up the mast. “Steady reports please! Identify her as soon as you can!” I didn’t want to shout Freyja’s name across the decks yet, just in case it was a false alarm.
Butler hoisted the white flag with its vertical red cross and pulled on the line to free the silk. If the other vessel was English, she may well decide to intercept us for gossip or trade.
“She’s changing course!” Annika shouted down. “And she’s flying a George Cross of her own!” Whoever she was, pirate or prize, she was coming. “It’s Freyja! I’m sure of it!”
I moved to the ratlins to go up and have a look for myself, but stopped before I started to climb and smiled ruefully at Klara’s worried look at my belly. I couldn’t risk my child’s life. Leo’s child. I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders.
“Out of the way, Captain.” Carmen laughed, took the glass from my hand, and reached the tops in record time. “Ja, that’s Freyja!” She slid down the shroud and landed next to me, still laughing. “Great! A fight with the skraelings!” She rubbed her hands together. “Time to show him exactly what we think of him.”
“Let’s just concentrate on surviving this,” I tempered, not quite as excited at the prospect. Our usual targets were merchants, not warriors. This would be different. “They’re still over a league off, any ideas?”
*
We knew Freyja was fast downwind—she carried a lot of canvas for her size, just like Valkyrie—but she wouldn’t maneuver quite as well, and needed more hands to work those square sails on her foremast. For the moment, we needed to get her off the wind. Not only was she running on her fastest point of sailing, she was to windward of us, giving her too much of an advantage and, if I could get her working her sails, we might get a better idea of the size of her crew and even pull some of them away from her guns.
“Let him come to us,” was Carmen’s advice. “He thinks he’s stronger than we are and we ran last time we met, he’ll remember that.”
I agreed and shouted, “Get in the tops’l! Stow the forecourse!” I turned back to her as the quiet deck erupted into action and thumping feet. “Just in case he hasn’t recognized us, we don’t have to make it obvious who we are. What would a merchantman trying to get away do?”
Carmen smiled. “Harden up and try to sneak past.”
“You heard the lady,” I said to Carrie on the helm. “Harden up as soon as the square sails are in.”
“You know she won’t let us get to windward,” Carmen added.
“Of course she won’t, but with the gaff sails on both masts we’ll have the advantage over her, and force her to act. Will you let Andy know the plan?”
“Already done,” said a voice behind me, and Carmen laughed.
“She has a sixth sense about upcoming battle, you should know that by now!”
“Get me in range and we’ll take her,” Andy said, a rare smile on her face. “We’re ready, we’ve been waiting for a proper fight.”
“Well, you might get one,” I said, the familiar nerves jumping in my belly. I rubbed my hands over it. I didn’t relish the fight quite as much these days. “Launch the longboat, fill it with gold and put two oarsmen in it, but don’t let Freyja see. We may need it today.”
Chapter 82
“Fire bow cannon!”
As we expected, Freyja hardened up to keep the advantage of the weather gage and we fired at her larboard side from two hundred yards. I realized we were re-enacting our last meeting, only we’d swapped places. And Valkyrie had a six-pounder mounted in her bows with a longer range than the two-pound swivel chasers Freyja had attacked us with at St Vincent.
“Yes, hit!” Andy screamed from the bows. “Got her amidships.”
“Stand by to jibe,” I shouted, and helped Carrie push the tiller over to windward.
“Let go the sheets.
“Break out the true colors.”
Valkyrie circled away from Freyja in the breeze—fresh enough to give us speed, yet not too strong to swamp us as we spun away. Valkyrie lay over as the main- and foresails slammed across and refilled with wind at the same time as my flag cracked open in celebration. Once again, Andy’s firesense triumphed. Freyja was holed. She was still to windward of us, but she couldn’t tack or jibe without taking on water. She had to keep her damaged board to leeward and that meant we now had the advantage. We’d need it—though it was unlikely to be enough.
Cannonball hit the water around us as we kept turning. The gunners were all at their pieces, which made it hard work for Carmen and the other three sailors who were working the sheets, but that couldn’t be helped. The sails needed hauling in as we hardened up and we had to do it as quickly as possible. I wanted to keep Hornigold guessing and reacting to us. I knew I couldn’t let him take the lead—Valkyrie had to be the aggressor if we were going to live through this.
“Ready about!”
We came up behind Freyja and into the wind. We had to tack, and tack quickly so our bow cannon could fire on her stern. She was already firing her stern chasers (more two-pounders) at us, and there was nothing I could do about that yet. I noticed her own colors were flying now—blood red, la jolie rouge. No quarter.
“Haul in! Haul in!”
We needed to be quicker, the sails were taking too long to come in; we needed to be faster!
Freyja fired again and my outer jib shredded; he was using swan shot—canisters of musket balls—and had targeted our sails. We still had the inner jib, which was essential to maneuvering quickly, but we’d be in big trouble if we lost that one too.
“Bow—fire!”
Butler and Andy both hit Freyja’s stern, but not her rudder.
“Reload, fire again!”
I heard Klara echo my shouts forward and hoped both gunners could hear, but they knew what to do and fired again within two minutes.
A scream chilled me and I looked up to see Annika crashing down off the maintop and into the sea, she had fallen on Valkyrie’s roll to leeward, and missed the deck. Freyja had targeted our sails and my sharpshooters. I realized I didn’t know if she could swim. I doubted it.
“Klara, no! Stay where you are!” She’d run toward the larboard rail, but Jayde was already there with a line to throw. Freyja’s next shot sounded across the deck and knocked Klara off her feet.
“Klara!” I screamed again, but could do nothing for her. I had to leave her where she lay. I pushed the tiller to leeward to try and get to windward of Freyja, but the other vessel wasn’t having any of it and luffed up herself. I reached
for the ship’s bell and clanged it six times. The gunners fired a broadside, then everyone held onto shroud, mast or stay.
“Ready?” I asked Carrie. She nodded, we had to time this just right, we wouldn’t get a second chance. “Now!” We heaved the tiller to starboard.
Chapter 83
Cannonball bullied their way through the air around us as Freyja fired a broadside, but we were soon bow-on again and most splashed either side of us. The ones that did find us missed our rig and inflicted only nominal damage to our woodwork.
Butler and Andy worked hard at the bow cannon, and Bess and Greenwoode fired a medley of musket balls and sharp shards of metal through their sails from the swivels, then quickly sheltered behind the bulwarks. I prayed we had enough speed to ram them before they got in a lucky shot. It was a risky maneuver, and one Leo had cautioned me never to take, but he wasn’t here, and I thought it was our only chance of besting Hornigold. Freyja was bigger, more heavily armed, and had a larger and more experienced crew; we had to risk it all for this slim chance to come out on top.
“Brace yourselves!” I shouted to my crew as Valkyrie’s figurehead made contact with Freyja midway between fore- and mainmasts. The way the bow had been carved, with the unicorn in a solid beam of wood, gave the structure a great deal of strength.
As the boats collided, the bowsprit shattered and the remaining jib blew free. The larger sails were left to flog and the Valkyries charged—running full pelt and unimpeded as Freyja’s crew were still trying to work out what was happening.
We’d hit them amidships where Freyja’s mainmast was secured and it had fallen, bringing down a tangle of rigging and sail across her decks and crew, who were scattered and down, having to disentangle themselves and get into better positions before they could fight back. A few had gone overboard at the moment of impact and more were dispatched as they tried to struggle free.
My eyes met Obi’s. We both wanted to go to Klara, but neither of us could leave our posts. The best thing we could do for her now was win this fight, but I could tell his attention was split. I hoped it wouldn’t kill him. Or me.
We’d gathered and loaded all our pistols and muskets, storing some at the bow with Butler and Andy, and the others on the foretop platform with Annika and Baba, ready to pick off as many of our rivals as we could. I took Butler’s place at the bow, freeing him to join the rest of the Valkyries aboard Freyja. It would be up to me and Baba to make sure the fight did not stray to Valkyrie’s decks, and up to Carmen and the rest of the Valkyries to claim Freyja for our own.
Frustrated that I had to stay behind, I watched the two crews fight until I couldn’t make out who was who. I heard only howls of excitement and pain, the clashing of metal blades coming together with full force, the odd pistol shot and the noise of my small cannon as I targeted with grape shot—a canister of small ball—any man who tried to mount the unicorn. This fight had to stay aboard Freyja. If I allowed even one buccaneer aboard Valkyrie, we were done for.
At last, I saw Freyja’s crew pushed back into the tangle of their own dismantled rigging, and suddenly Hornigold was there, right in front me, pulling himself up the hooves of my unicorn. I grabbed a pistol, aimed and fired, hitting him in the face. He fell, and I thought gleefully of telling Leo I’d hit the man I was aiming for, smiling until I remembered he was dead. At least I’d killed one of the men who had taken his life.
I fired another, but not quickly enough. The man who had gone for Butler cut him before he fell. I watched in horror as Butler slowly sank to his knees, his bloodied hand grasping at his belly. I got a glimpse of something gray and slimy, which he caught and pushed back inside. He looked up at me with a look of surprise on his face, then crumpled to the deck.
“Butler!” I jumped up to go to him, but realized we had to finish the fight first, and fired again to send a hail of ball and shot over the heads of the writhing mass below me.
The Freyjamen backed up in a huddled group surrounded by Valkyries, with nowhere to go and no captain to lead them. Almost as one, they dropped their weapons in surrender, with Andy the only one left still trying to fight.
*
We’d done it, it had been no easy contest, but we’d bested the bigger, better armed boat and more experienced crew against the odds. Yet it seemed a hollow victory—we’d taken heavy losses and didn’t have Freedom to celebrate with. I shook those thoughts off, time enough for that later—there was much to do before we counted the cost of this battle.
I rushed to where Klara lay in a pool of blood, and stroked her face. “Klara?” I whispered.
She moaned, but didn’t open her eyes. I sat back on my heels and let the tears fall. She was still alive. I looked up and shouted for Bess. I only left Klara’s side once Bess had taken my place and I could be sure she would be cared for. Walking away from her when she was so badly hurt was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I knew I had to check on the rest of the crew.
I carefully lowered myself down to Freyja’s deck to walk my latest conquest. Andy was herding the men that were left to the foredeck, and Carmen and Greenwoode checked our wounded and made stretchers from Freyja’s downed canvas to get them back to Valkyrie. Obi looked at me, but I couldn’t meet his eyes. He rushed back to Valkyrie.
I moved to join them, wanting to find out how badly my crew was hurt and if anyone else had died, but a shout rose up.
“Sail oh!”
I was torn, I wanted to go to Klara and the others, but the whole crew was my responsibility, and I needed to find out what was happening, prepare for what came next. Were they friendly, or more pirates?
They turned out to be both.
“It’s Sound of Freedom!” Baba cried.
Chapter 84
My heart stopped—Freedom? She still sails? And Leo? What of Leo? I looked at the sails in dread. I desperately wanted to find out if he lived, but what if he didn’t? I could live without that knowledge. It was bad enough as a mere fear. At least at the moment I had hope. Is that hope about to die?
I had to pull myself together, and quickly. My heart pounded from all the excitement and concern for Klara and the others, never mind the possibility of having Leo’s death confirmed. I also needed to check on the rest of my crew, find out who else was hurt, who we’d lost, and assess the damage to Valkyrie. I had no idea how badly my ship was damaged.
I looked again at the still distant sails, made my decision and went to have a look at the damage.
The whole of Valkyrie’s bow below the unicorn was cracked and we were taking on water. Luckily, Freyja held us in such a way that we weren’t sinking, but I couldn’t see how we were going to separate them and get Valkyrie to land for repair, without sinking both vessels on the way.
The good news was that the worst of Freyja’s damage was above her waterline, so we had time to figure it out. I looked up again and gasped. Freedom would be alongside in a few minutes. I’d soon know. Alive or dead? I put my arms around my belly, trying to hug the child inside.
“Let’s give them the welcome they deserve,” I said, just in case he was on that quarterdeck. I couldn’t act as if he wasn’t there. I wouldn’t.
My crew lined up on Freyja’s larboard side, blades in hand, jeering and laughing, whilst I stood on the remains of the bowsprit above the unicorn’s back, where I’d previously sat as she leapt over the waves, tears running down my face, hair flying, trying to ease the pain in my heart with the thrill of the ride. Now, though, it gave me a good vantage point above the chaos on deck, and I waited to see if the cause of that pain was drawing closer. I aimed for dramatic effect: standing above the wreckage, firm, in control and victorious over my prize.
He was there. He lived! I recognized the familiar walk on the quarterdeck as he took over the tiller. He lived—the gossips had been wrong. My whole body sagged in relief, yet my emotions were so confused I was fighting tears.
I wanted to fling a grapnel into their rigging and quickly swing aboard, take him into my arms and neve
r let go. Yet I was furious. Because of his recklessness I’d believed him dead. Even though I hadn’t wanted to, a large part of me had believed him dead, and I’d grieved. For nothing. And all because he’d taken exception to me behaving as the pirate captain I was!
But I’d proved myself beyond any doubt now, however much I wanted him, I knew I didn’t need him as a sailor or a pirate, and I’d managed perfectly well without him as a lover—or so I told myself. It only remained to be seen whether I needed, or wanted, him as the father of my child.
He drew closer and the two crews shouted good-natured insults at each other across the water.
I watched Leo bring Freedom in; a tricky maneuver needing perfect timing if he wasn’t going to add to the carnage. The wind was off his larboard bow and, as he grew close, he thrust the tiller over and brought his bows round to luff up into wind. The momentum he’d built up brought him sideways the final few yards to bump gently alongside Freyja’s larboard rail. Perfect.
Mr. Frazer supervised making Freedom fast and Leo moved quickly to board. My Valkyries parted to let him through, quiet now, and waited to see my reaction.
I watched him coming and couldn’t understand the expression on his face. He looked relieved, even pleased to see me, as if nothing had happened and I’d welcome him with open arms. Well, that wasn’t going to happen, but I resolved to give myself time to decide what I wanted and not put on a show for the reuniting crews. He climbed up the wreckage to the unicorn and looked around at the two ships joined together.
“¡Hola, querida! You don’t do things by halves do you?”
I don’t believe it, after all that’s happened, that’s what he chooses to say? Laughing at me, mocking me? I saw my fist connecting with his jaw before I was even aware my arm was moving. He wasn’t well balanced and he crashed down to Freyja’s deck below. I watched him fall, furious. It all seemed unreal, too much to cope with.
The Valkyrie Series: The First Fleet - (Books 1-3) Look Sharpe!, Ill Wind & Dead Reckoning: Caribbean Pirate Adventure Page 51
