“I keep thinking of Klara and Obi. How their time together ended too quickly, and kept thinking, what if it had been you? I missed you so much, Gabriella, I couldn’t stand it if I lost you. We have to make the most of all the time we have. Marry me.”
My smile shrank and I stared at him in horror.
“What?”
“Marry me.”
“I’m still married to Erik,” I pointed out, staring at the deckhead. I wasn’t ready for this. I couldn’t answer this. What is he doing?
“I hadn’t forgotten,” he said. “Nor have I forgotten Klara’s request. We can honor her, free you and rid the Carib Sea of one of its devils—two if we get Blake as well.”
“I’m not sure I want to be legally tied to a man again; any man, even you,” I carried on. “I don’t want to be viewed as property, or servant, or slave.”
“¡El infierno! I will never view you as property, woman,” he retorted. “Or servant or slave! I love you. I want you by my side, I’ve tried living without you and it’s no life. I live for freedom, and have shown you how to be free.
“Marrying me won’t be a shackle but a declaration. A declaration to each other, to the world, the sea, and to everyone on it. As my wife, you’ll have the protection of my name. As your husband, I’ll have the protection of yours, as well as the promise of many adventures to come. I want us to be together, forever. I want us to live together, sail together and fight together. Even die together—eventually. I want to tell the world we belong together. I want a place in history as the richest husband and wife pirate team on the seas. I want to be with you in every way I can.
“We’ve already lived as husband and wife, let us seal it, on board. A pirate wedding, at sea, aboard Freedom, let’s start a new life together—now.”
I thought back to all my doubts, all the reasoning I’d done in the dark, to my last conversation with Klara, and held my hands to my belly. I’d recently sworn I wasn’t going to run again, and I’d faced Hornigold and won. I looked up at Leo’s worried frown and hesitated again. Can I really do this?
“Isn’t it only the captain who can perform a wedding?”
“Yes, so? There are two of us you know, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“But if we’re doing the marrying, how can we perform the service?”
He laughed. “We’re captains of pirate ships, querida. We can do what we like. If the ceremony doesn’t work for us, we change it until it does! We’ll even do it before we head to Sayba, it doesn’t really matter to me whether Erik dies before our wedding or after. What do you say?”
I relaxed. That was more like it. A marriage where we set the rules, that was tailor-made for us. No interference from anybody else. No judgments, no arbitrary rules pushed onto us. This would be a marriage I could live with, be proud of and feel loved and safe in. A marriage I could bring our child into.
I reached for him again, pushing away the doubts. I didn’t have the strength to fight him anymore. I didn’t have to do everything on my own anymore. I wasn’t sure I could do this, but I’d try. For Klara, for Raphaella, even for myself. I’d try.
“Yes.”
Chapter 91
LEO
21st May 1687
Forty Two Leagues East of the Grenadine Islands
“Do you take me for your lawful wedded husband?”
“Aye. Do you take me for your lawful wedded wife?”
“Sí. As Captain of Sound of Freedom, I pronounce us husband and wife.”
“As Captain of Valkyrie, I pronounce us husband and wife!”
Our crews cheered and I kissed my wife and held her. We’d done it. Against the odds and in spite of everything, I’d done it. I’d won her back.
It had been a simple service and Gabriella had looked more pirate than bride. I didn’t know if she had any gowns aboard Valkyrie, but she certainly didn’t have one to fit her that day. I realized I’d never seen her in a gown, but even if she had worn one, it wouldn’t have suited her new tattoo. She wore her usual breeches, shirt and colorful sash—but they were clean and her hair was dressed with jewels and pearls. My beautiful pirate bride. Nobody mentioned that her first husband still lived. Nobody cared—they knew it wouldn’t be for long.
“Now things had better bloody well get back to normal,” a Scottish voice grumbled behind us. I turned to berate Frazer, but stopped when I realized he was grinning. Gabriella looked shocked. I think it was the first time she’d seen him smile. He shook both our hands. “Congratulations and felicitations to the pair of you,” he added.
“Thank you, Mr. Frazer.”
“Wind!”
I looked up at Juaquim perched in Freedom’s maintop and who pointed northeast. Typical! We’d been becalmed a week and now we were about to celebrate our marrying, we all had to go to work. Gabriella smiled up at me.
“We’ve been waiting for wind for long enough, we can’t waste it. I need to get Valkyrie ashore.”
I nodded. Every day we spent out here increased the risk of storm, and whilst I quite liked the idea of Gabriella returning to Freedom, I knew she wouldn’t be able to bear another loss.
We had gathered on Freedom in the end, simply because her decks were bigger, and now men and women ran about them. All Freedom’s sails needed setting, Freykarie had to be cast off and towing warps rigged to her instead. Neither Freyja nor Valkyrie would set any sail—Freedom would do all the work.
“Valkyries to the starboard rail!” Gabriella roared, and the shout was carried forward until her crew had assembled to windward. I looked around Freedom’s decks and rigging—the yards were littered with men and I couldn’t spot a single idle hand. I walked over to the Valkyries to hear what Gabriella had in mind.
“Starboard Watch aboard Freyja, Carmen in command. I want hands on the pumps, watch and watch about, and Jayde? You’ll need to keep her patched and prevent her from making water as best you can. Andy, I want you aboard Freyja too, the Freyjamen are bound below decks and shouldn’t be any trouble—they’ll be under your charge. Any questions?” There were none.
“Larboard watch, you’re with me and Valkyrie. Keep her dry and afloat. Make haste!” she added, getting everyone moving. She looked at me, brow raised in question and I nodded. Freedom would be safe enough in Frazer’s hands, I’d join Gabriella on Valkyrie, but I’d have a longboat on hand to ferry me between the vessels as I needed.
*
Aboard Valkyrie, I lifted my chin to windward. It was only faint, but the slight movement of air felt wonderful. We’d drifted long enough, the water around us was littered with the flotsam and jetsam of near a hundred men and women, and stank of rotten meat and shit in the hot sun; it was good to have the promise of movement again. The breeze strengthened slowly, and although Freedom’s sails were full and the towing warps taut, we had no way on yet. All the crew, except those on the pumps, craned over the side, looking for the tell-tale ripples that would attest to our passage, all of us eager to find a safe harbor for our crippled fleet.
Gabriella had her glass trained to windward and a gust ruffled her hair, still garnished with jewels. I felt the timbers move beneath my feet. We were off. Finally. Now we’d see how Freykarie moved through the water.
I went forward, Gabriella close behind, to get a better look. All was well, so far at least. Gabriella waved to her quartermaster and bo’sun who both hung over Freyja’s rail with the same intent, but there didn’t appear to be any problems—Gaunt and Jayde had made Valkyrie fast with plenty of line to prevent the timbers working loose. Freykarie was towing well enough. Slowly, true, very slowly, but well enough.
Chapter 92
We limped along behind Freedom at maybe one knot. Slow progress, but steady, and we should get there without much risk to Valkyrie and her prize—assuming we kept a fair wind. I carried a beaker of ale to Gabriella, who leaned on the larboard rail and stared out to sea. She’d been very quiet since we’d got underway.
Despite the light breeze it was hot, and most o
f the crew sprawled on the maindeck under the awning. With no sails set and no duty at the tiller, there was nothing to do but man the pumps in short, regular tricks and keep a sharp lookout for squalls and other pirates. We sounded below regularly, and the pumps were keeping on top of the water in the bilges. All was well, for the moment at least. Just hot, humid and uncomfortable.
When I reached Gabriella she didn’t turn, but kept staring at the same spot to leeward. I realized we’d drawn level with what was left of the boat grave—just a few charred strakes of wood.
“What kind of world are we bringing a child into? What kind of life are we offering her, Leo?”
“The only kind of life either of us wish to live,” I replied. “Yes, there are dangers, but we’ll do everything in our power to keep him safe, and there’s danger enough ashore, don’t forget.”
She shuddered. “I couldn’t consider living ashore again,” she said. “Babe-in-arms or no.”
“Don’t worry overmuch.” I put my arm around her shoulders. “We’ll teach our son to swim as soon as he can walk, despite the superstition of the sea. We’ll tie a safety line to him on deck and keep him out of harm’s way during raids. Look around you, look how big a family he’ll have; he’ll be safe aboard our ships.”
“And our daughter?”
“Our daughter?”
“If our son is a daughter as Klara foretold, do you promise the same?” She looked up at me. “Erik always told me if I bore him a girl, he’d throw her from the cliff top so she couldn’t grow to be like me.”
I pulled her close and held her as tightly as I dared. “Van Ecken will be dead soon,” I growled. “I promise you, I will keep our child safe no matter whether son or daughter. It makes no difference to me whether I sire a pirate prince or princess. And I couldn’t be happier with a daughter just like her mother—the fear of the Carib Sea!”
A cry from above interrupted us, and Gabriella quickly wiped her eyes and ran to windward as best she could, glass already in hand, although she didn’t need it to see the black clouds gathering to the northeast.
“Squall!”
Everyone jumped to their feet, but there was nothing to do—no sails to trim, no course to adjust—so we lined the rails.
“Mr. Gaunt, stand by below with your tools and plenty of oakum. Take Carrie and Obi to help. This will be Valkyrie’s biggest test yet.”
“Aye, aye, lass.”
I smiled at her glare. Gaunt found it difficult to call her Captain when I was aboard.
“Slip the towing warp!” Gabriella shouted, waddling forward to shout down to Freyja, knowing Carmen probably wouldn’t have heard her. I approved, both wind and sea would get up quickly, and I didn’t want to be tied to Freedom. If anything happened to the crippled boats, I wanted Freedom free and clear to come to our aid. Carmen clearly did too, the towing warp splashed into the sea before Gabriella reached the foredeck, and we were on our own.
“Leo, I want Freyja’s starboard anchor dropped and her jibs hoisted. Tell Carmen to protect Valkyrie and Freyja’s damage as much as she can.”
“Aye, aye, lass,” I joked, and Gabriella glared at me in turn. I was sure she hated not being able to run forward and take care of it herself. Seconds later, I was up on the remains of Valkyrie’s bowsprit bellowing Gabriella’s orders to Freyja’s decks below, which were already a frenzy of activity. A large splash announced that the starboard anchor had been let go to spin Freykarie around into wind, and half a dozen Valkyries ran aft along the deck with a jib halyard. The small sails at the bow would help to push Freyja’s bow around further and keep Valkyrie in her lee, protected from the sea.
All we could do now was sit it out.
*
“Where’s Freedom going?” Gabriella had caught up and stood in the bows at the foot of the bowsprit—there’d be no more climbing for her until our child was born, and I could see the frustration on her face. I looked downwind to see my ship bearing away, and immediately realized what Frazer was up to.
“He’s wearing round. He’ll sail around us and back up to windward—he’ll put himself between us and the weather, and use Freedom to shelter us from the worst of it.”
A cheer rang out from the Valkyries at this. Being adrift at sea in a crippled vessel was one of a sailor’s worst nightmares. Not as bad as adrift afire, but not far off. Seeing another vessel prepared to put themselves into our service wouldn’t be forgotten. Frazer had just won himself, and Freedom, a great deal of goodwill.
I couldn’t help but admire my ship as she sailed to larboard. We were still on the edge of the squall, but the sea had whipped up whitecaps, and Freedom wallowed for a moment before her yards swung around and caught the wind on the other board, then she was under full sail with a bone in her teeth—that white water at her bow one of my favorite sights. The other—white sails bellied with wind and laying the ship over—filled my heart with pride at my ship and crew. With two triangular jibs spanning bowsprit to mast, two square sails lending power to her foremast, three to her main and the triangular spanker to her mizzen, she looked heaven-sent—her crew of angels harnessing the clouds and skipping effortlessly through the seas.
I waved my greeting to my quartermaster and crew as they prepared to shorten sail and heave-to to windward of us. The square sails were loosed, the jibs backed to work against the spanker, and her bows swung obediently to the northeast. Freykarie settled in the calm water of the windshadow cast by her towering hull. Frazer had judged it perfectly, and Freedom now protected us from the worst of the wind and waves.
*
Lightning flashed above us, and I clambered back down onto deck to stand with my wife. “You should go below, shelter in the cabin,” I told her as the heavens opened.
“Why? I’m already drenched,” she retorted. “I’m not about to cower below while my boat and crew are in danger. My place is on deck, child or no child—you know that as well as I do.”
I laughed, not having expected anything less—at least she hadn’t cursed me. Then she softened and took my face in her hands. “I’ll head down to the cabin once the danger has passed, and you can join me, but not before.” She kissed me and turned away with a smile.
I stood behind her, wrapped my arms around her and tried to protect her from the worst of the weather whilst the heavens flashed and thundered, but she shook me off to put more crew on the capstan working the pumps. The message was clear—Valkyrie came first. Despite all our precautions, some of this water would undoubtedly be finding its way below; and she was right, as captain her place was on deck. I shook my head in resignation and turned to windward to watch the progress of the squall, and I remembered the one I’d encountered when I tangled with Freyja just over a year ago. I knew waterspouts were rare enough and wasn’t too worried, but I was also aware that if we were unlucky enough to encounter one in our current condition, it would sink us for certain.
Chapter 93
LEO
4th June 1687
The Grenadine Islands
The squall blew for an hour and proved our greatest peril, but we didn’t have to contend with a waterspout. Once the worst of it had passed, we slipped Freyja’s anchor, re-rigged the towing warp and recommenced our slow, clumsy progress west until the sun dawned this morning with a cry of, “Land oh!”
I was back aboard Freedom, my honeymoon over, but I still counted my blessings, although part of me wondered if I would be married now if Klara hadn’t died or Valkyrie been crippled. I shook the thoughts off—the answers didn’t matter. I was married to Gabriella, back in command of my ship and soon to be a father. That was all that mattered, and if Gabriella had changed—hardened—that was my fault and I’d have to bear it. Hopefully it wouldn’t last long.
I looked again at our options through the glass. My father’s Spanish forebears had slaughtered most of the Arawak and Carib Indians here long ago, and now these islands were mainly used by pirates for watering, wooding and careening. But they weren’t the greatest da
nger; the waters teemed with sharks thanks to the large number of turtles who bred here, and whose young provided many an easy meal. Nobody liked to linger here. We should be safe.
Of the three closest islands, the middle one was the smallest and so less likely to be visited by other pirates, who tended to take the easier option as a rule. There looked to be a clear sizable passage through the reef, the island itself was well-wooded—which boded well for water and meat—and there was no obvious sign of permanent human habitation.
*
We had only one chance of beaching the boats in their condition without making our situation worse, and no choice but to go at high tide, which gave us little time to make our preparations.
I stood at the bow and stared at the horizon and the lumpy island that rose out of the early morning gray water into an even grayer sky. Surrounded by thin cloud, I felt a sense of foreboding that only grew the closer we got, and which wasn’t helped by the knowledge of all those sharks between us and the distant land.
I gave the order to Frazer to bear away, and we headed for the channel between two large mounds of rock rising from the sea, keeping guard. I half imagined them moving toward us as we passed. The sun was stronger now, and the gray of the sea became a vibrant and beautiful blue, the greenery of the island the color of malachite, and what had earlier looked a place of doom now seemed a paradise.
Leaving the safety of the ship for the vulnerability of the pinnace, I remembered again the tales I’d heard of these waters. How one unwary sailor sat with his feet overboard to cool them, instead losing them in a flash of a gaping mouth filled with blades of teeth; of a wager where the loser was to swim ashore and only lost his already wooden leg; and others I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, believe.
The Valkyrie Series: The First Fleet - (Books 1-3) Look Sharpe!, Ill Wind & Dead Reckoning: Caribbean Pirate Adventure Page 54
