John watched her approach in silence. There were so many things he wanted to say, so many wrongs he needed to right. But words failed him. Something in her eyes told him she didn’t come for words. Her hands clasped his and guided the watch closed. She looked fervently into John’s eyes and shook her head. John took her meaning and nodded. He would keep Nora’s watch always—a reminder of his mother’s love, which had carried him through the darkness of long years and given him the strength to survive. Dominique guided the watch back into his pocket.
The two of them turned toward the taffrail and stood side by side. There wasn’t a sliver of land anywhere to be seen. The sight of the open ocean in every direction was a breath of life. He heard a sniffle, and he was surprised to see tears running down Dominique’s face. He lay his hand over hers, his fingers curling under her palm. For a moment, he worried she might snatch it away. Instead, her grip snapped closed, as if to let go would be to fall from a cliff. Slowly, he guided her grip away from the rail. She turned to face him, eyes downcast toward her borrowed shoes. She joined her other hand with his. They stood like that for a moment, like shy partners wanting to dance, but not knowing how to begin.
There was something spiritual in their touch. He could sense the aches in her body, her heart, her soul. How could it be that only a matter of hours ago, they’d been locked in a five-day struggle of life, death, and freedom? How could it be that out here, on this tranquil sea, it was finally over? And with that realization, every wall within him came down. His heart raced in his chest. Dominique’s dark blue eyes met his, her face a storm of emotions. In that single look, they shared all their burdens.
John pressed his lips to Dominique’s. The kiss took on a life of its own, rising and falling like crashing waves. His arms encircled her waist. The wind swept her hair across his cheek. She reached up to his face, her fingers tracing near blood-soaked stitches. If any sailors saw, the two lovers didn’t notice. They kissed with abandon. With lust and instinct. With need.
The American flag snapped and strained in the wind above their heads. Sailors in the rigging called out their reports. The officer on watch rang the bell. Melisande’s laughter fluttered up from the aft hatch. A few notes from Ethan’s fiddle carried across the water. One lonely albatross dove for a fish beneath the stern and soared into the sky.
A flock of gulls wheeled to the east. A sliver of moon rose in the south. Polaris ignited in the north. A young sailor and his sweetheart kissed at the taffrail.
The Independence sailed west by a fair wind.
John Sullivan and Company will return in
Blood & Oak:
The Tyrant’s Gift
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Glossary of Naval Terms
Aft
Towards the stern.
Aftercastle
The stern structure behind the mizzenmast and above the transom on large sailing ships, such as carracks, caravels, galleons and, galleasses.
Amidships
The middle section of a vessel.
Ballast
Heavy material (such as gravel or stones) that is placed in the hold of a vessel to provide stability.
Bar Shot
Cannon balls linked with a solid bar used to damage rigging and masts.
Belfry
The ship’s bell and the wooden frame the holds it, usually located forward of the main mast and aft of the foremast. Used to keep time.
Bow
The front of a vessel.
Bow Chaser
A cannon mounted in the bow of a ship and aimed directly forward.
Bowsprit
A spar projecting forward from the bow used as an anchor for the forestay and other rigging.
Brig (Prison Aboard a Ship)
An interior area of the ship used to detain prisoners.
Brig (Type of Ship)
A vessel with two square-rigged masts.
Bulwark
The extension of the ship’s side above the level of the weather deck (or spar deck).
Carronade/Smasher Gun
A short, smoothbore, cast iron naval cannon, used as a powerful, short-range anti-ship and anti-crew weapon.
Chain Shot
Cannon balls linked with chain used to damage rigging and masts.
Clew
The lower corners of square sails or the corner of a triangular sail at the end of the boom (sometimes shorthand term for “clew-line”).
Clew-line
Used to truss up the clews, the lower corners of square sails.
Crew Deck
The deck located below the gun deck and above the orlop deck. The crew’s hammocks and dunnage, the sick berth, the officers’ quarters, and the wardroom are all located on this deck.
Crosstrees
Two horizontal struts at the upper ends of the topmasts of sailboats, used to anchor the shrouds from the topgallant mast.
Cutter
A small to medium-sized boat on a warship. Propelled by oars or sail.
Footrope
Ropes fastened along a ship’s yards for sailors to stand on while setting or stowing the sails.
Forward
Towards the bow.
Frigate
Generally, a sailing warship with a single continuous gun deck, typically used for patrolling, blockading, etc., but not in a major line of battle.
Furl
To roll or gather a sail against its mast or spar.
Gangway
An opening in the bulwark of the ship to allow passengers to board or leave the ship.
Grapeshot
Small balls of lead fired from a cannon, analogous to shotgun shot but on a larger scale. Similar to canister shot but with larger individual shot. Used to injure personnel and damage rigging more than to cause structural damage.
Gun Deck
The deck located below the spar deck and above the crew deck. The main complement of cannons, the galley stove, the livestock manger, the head, and the captain’s cabin are all located on this deck.
Gunwale
The top edge of the side of a boat.
Halyard
Ropes used for hoisting a spar with a sail attached.
Jolly Boat
A smaller ship’s boat used mainly to ferry personnel to and from the ship, or for other small-scale activities. Often the smallest of a ship’s boats.
Kedge
A technique for moving or turning a ship by using a relatively light anchor known as a kedge. The kedge anchor may be dropped while in motion to create a pivot and thus perform a sharp turn. The kedge anchor may also be carried away from the ship in a smaller boat, dropped, and then weighed, pulling the ship forward.
Ladle (Gunner’s Tool)
A cylindrical scoop, often made of copper, attached to a long handle and matching the caliber of its corresponding cannon. Used for measuring and inserting powder into the bore of the gun.
Lateen Sail
A triangular sail mounted fore-and-aft on a long yard and at a steep angle to the mast. Common to ships in the Mediterranean.
Launch
The largest boat carried by a warship. Propelled by oars or sails.
Linstock
A long pole used for holding a slow-burning match cord. Generally used for firing artillery or lighting fuses.
Long Boat
A large boat carried by a warship, with fine lines for steep waves. Typically propelled by two banks of oars, but sometimes rigged to sail.
Long Gun
A cannon with a lower caliber and longer barrel than carronades, best for hitting targets at long range.
When a ship is steered so far to windward that the airflow over the surface of a sail is disrupted and causes it to flap.
Mast
A tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat carrying a sail or sails. The foremast is the mast farthest forward, the mainmast is the tallest mast and is aft of the foremast, and the mizzenmast is the mast farthest aft.
Oakum
A material made of tarred fiber used for caulking and waterproofing the seams in wooden vessels.
Orlop Deck
The lowest deck on the ship. The surgeon’s cockpit, the brig, the spirits room, powder room, cable tier, and various other cargo compartments are located here. Beneath the individual compartments is the hold, the very bottom of the ship, filled with ballast.
Piling
Heavy posts throughout a ship, which serve as support columns.
Pinnace
A medium-sized boat on a warship. Propelled by oars or sail.
Port
Towards the left-hand side of a vessel when facing forward.
Prow
The forwardmost part of a ship’s bow.
Ratlines
Small ropes fastened across a ship’s shrouds like the rungs of a ladder, used for climbing the rigging.
Reef (Reefing)
To temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind, usually to guard against adverse effects of strong wind or to slow the vessel.
Sheet
A rope, attached to the clew, used to control the setting of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind. The sheet is often passed through a tackle before being attach to fixed points on the deck.
Shrouds
Standing rigging running from a mast to the sides of a ship to support the mast sideways. The shrouds work with the stays, which run forward and aft, to support the mast’s weight. They also form the ladder which allows sailors to climb into the rigging.
Skiff
Generally, a small boat, sometimes equipped with a sail, manageable by a small number of crew.
Sloop
A small to mid-sized sailboat larger than a dinghy, with one mast bearing a main sail and head sail and located farther forward than the mast of a cutter.
Sloop-of-War
Generally, any sailing warship bearing fewer than 20 guns (sometimes referred to as a “sloop”).
Spar
A wooden pole used to support various pieces of rigging and sails.
Spar Deck
A ship’s uppermost deck, exposed to the sky. Also known as the weather deck.
Starboard
Towards the right-hand side of a vessel when facing forward.
Stay
A strong rope supporting a mast and leading from the head of one mast down to some other mast or other part of the vessel; rigging running fore (forestay) and aft (backstay) from a mast to the hull. The stays support a mast’s weight forward and aft, while the shrouds support its weight from side to side.
Stern
The rear part of a vessel.
Stern Chaser
A cannon mounted in the stern of a ship and aimed directly backwards.
Swivel Gun
A small cannon, mounted on a swiveling stand or fork which allows a very wide arc of movement, and loaded with small caliber shot or grapeshot. Primarily used as an antipersonnel weapon.
Tack
A leg of the route of a sailing vessel when tacking.
Tacking
Zig-zagging so as to sail directly towards the wind.
Taffrail
A rail at the stern of a boat or ship.
Thwart
A bench seat across the width of an open boat.
Wear (“Wearing Ship” or “Wearing Around”)
Tacking away from the wind in a square-rigged vessel.
Weather Deck
A ship’s uppermost deck, exposed to the sky. Also known as the spar deck.
Weather Gauge
The tactically superior position over another sailing vessel with respect to the wind.
Wormer (Gunner’s Tool)
A corkscrew-shaped implement attached to a long handle. Used for clearing the barrel of a gun of remaining cartridge materials or to help with sponging.
Yard
The horizontal spar from which a square sail is suspended.
Yardarm
The very end of a yard.
Yaw
Of a ship, rotate about a vertical axis. Changes the direction a ship is pointing.
Xebec
A Mediterranean sailing ship with a long overhanging bowsprit and aft-set mizzen mast, with lateen sails and oars for propulsion.
Glossary of Foreign Terms
These are non-English words or phrases used in the novel and their meanings.
Bagno
A colloquial term on the Barbary Coast for the building where slaves are held.
Bastedan
A colloquial term on the Barbary Coast for the square where slaves are auctioned, bought, and sold.
Bostanci-basi
A title in the Ottoman Imperial Court. Literally translates as “Head Gardener.” He was the sultan’s chief executioner and was responsible for “pruning” the court of traitors and bad apples.
Haoudenosanee
The native language name for the Iroquois Native American nations, which means “People of the Longhouse.”
Haseki Sultan
In the Ottoman Court, the sultan’s chief consort and lawfully wedded wife. The most important and powerful woman in the palace and the imperial harem.
Janissary
Infantry units that formed the standing army for much of the history of the Ottoman Empire. Originally created from enslaved conscripts, the Janissaries eventually grew in independence and influence, until eventually they were unable to be controlled.
Nisanci
A high post in the Ottoman bureaucracy literally meaning “court calligrapher” or “sealer.” It was his duty to seal royal precepts. He was also responsible for supervising the divan’s archives and records of certain land grants.
Nizam-I Djedid Army
The New Order Troops were a new army founded by Sultan Selim III in the 1790’s which followed the fashion of European militaries. They were intended to be an elite army with superior training, tactics, weapons, and officers. Although very effective in battle, they were largely opposed by the Janissaries and were disbanded in 1807.
Re’is
A colloquial term on the Barbary Coast for “captain.” A re’is was responsible for commanding a Barbary corsair ship in battle, with the objective of taking loot and prisoners, either for ransom or as slaves.
Acknowledgements
To bestselling author Rebecca Forster, you have been a true friend and mentor, and I’m forever in your debt.
To friend and fellow writer Tamara: Thank you for helping me through the doldrums and the dogwatches! You’re an amazing friend.
To my friend, Nick: You’ve been a source of amazing support. Thank you for putting up with my…ahem…“process.”
To my family: Thank you for always believing in me and nurturing my love of adventure.
To my friends: Thank you for your steadfast encouragement, feedback, and moral support.
I would also like to thank the Maritime Museum of San Diego, California and the Flagship Niagara League of Erie, Pennsylvania. Your commitment to preserving the Age of Sail provided an amazing source of research and inspiration. I’m also deeply grateful to the Redondo Beach Writer’s Group and the Scottsdale Desert Scribes. Your feedback, friendship, and discourse became the best part of my week.
The following professionals lent their exceptional talents to the production of this book:
Jenny Jensen: Editing for Style and Narrative.
jennyjenseneditor.com
Pablo Fernandez: Cover Artwork. pablofdzart.com
Kerem Beyit: “Blood & Oak” Title and Logo Artwork.
&nb
sp; artstation.com/kerembeyit.
Elisabeth Alba: Castle Map Artwork. albaillustration.com.
Jeff Mathison: Sail Plan and Map of Tunis Artwork.
mapsbymathison.com.
H.O. Charles: Cover Design. hadleighdesign.com
Formatting and interior design by WriteIntoPrint.com
Your Face is Rad Photo Studio: Author Photography.
yourfaceisrad.com
Elizabeth M. March: Line edits. Cleverpen.co.uk
Finally, my admiration and gratitude to our republic, the United States of America, founded on the principle that freedom is the birthright of all humanity; and to her defenders, our sailors, Marines, soldiers, airmen, law enforcement officers, and first responders, whose legacy is a storied one.
About the Author
Garrett Bettencourt always loved telling stories, from the illustrated travels of a shipwrecked boy when he was eight, to a novel of pirate adventures when he reached high school. His love of adventure and the unexplored gave him a passion for space, science, history, high fantasy, and the ocean. His penchant for all things nautical led him to spend two and a half years researching the early U.S. Navy. The result is Blood and Oak: Wolves Will Eat, book 2 of an epic series of swashbuckling high seas adventures.
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