The Fifth Empire of Man

“Aye,” Drake said in a whisper amidst the sea of noise. “Can’t do this without those ships of yours. Soon as this fight is over, you and me sit our arses on the throne together.”

Elaina laughed. “Louder, Morrass.”

Drake ground his teeth and stared at the woman. Elaina didn’t flinch one drop.

“Listen!” Drake roared, the command in his voice forcing the tavern to quiet. “There’s a fight coming. The big one. The last one. The one we’ve been gathering for. And it’s coming soon.

“Sarth and the Five Kingdoms have sent a fleet fifty ships strong. We got them pretty equal on numbers there, but they’ll have bigger ships, more men. We win this battle and there won’t be another. The bastards will have no choice but to recognise us as a kingdom, right and true.

“You’ve all put your trust in me to gather you together and lead you to victory. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Can’t do it alone though.” Drake sent a long, poignant look at Elaina. “So the moment this is all over and I sit down as king, I’ll be sitting down with Captain Elaina Black as queen.”

“You’ll marry her now,” Tanner’s voice was loud and clear over the pirates clamouring at Drake’s announcement. “Don’t want ya slipping your way out of it once the hard work is done.”

Drake clenched his jaw so tightly it hurt.

“I’ll even perform the ceremony myself,” Tanner continued. “Elaina – daughter. Do you take our king, Drake Morrass, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Drake at least had the pleasure of seeing a look of panic flash over Elaina’s face, but the woman recovered quickly enough.

“Aye, guess I have to.”

“And Drake.” Tanner grinned across the room. “Do you take Elaina Black, my daughter, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Some situations there was simply no escape from. Drake nodded. “Aye, I do.”

“Then by my power as a captain of my own vessel and by the witness of all these good men an’ women…” Tanner paused, a victorious smile spreading across his lips. “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

A cheer rolled around the tavern, so loud that Drake had to wonder if the woman was really that popular or if the pirates were simply jumping upon any opportunity for celebration. There certainly hadn’t been too much cause for it of late. Drake let the cheer do a few rounds before holding up his hands for quiet, desperate to get the situation back under his control.

“News worthy of celebration, no doubt, but right now we got more important things to talk about.” Drake waited a few moments for the crowd to calm down. “The fleet is coming. It’s on its way already and could be here any day. Truth of it is, we’re not ready.”

“We’ll kill ’em!” shouted a swarthy old captain by the name of Twotone Elric, and a few of the others cheered their assent.

“Aye, we will,” Drake said loudly. “But we ain’t got no more time to dawdle and piss about. I don’t want them getting here to New Sev’relain. A fight on land is a fight we don’t want, and the good folk here have been through enough. They ain’t fighters, and they don’t deserve to be beaten into the role.

“I want us to meet these fuckers in open water with decks under our feet and Rin’s blessing in our sails. So load up ya ships with supplies and get your crews back on board and as sober as you dare. In three days, we sail out of New Sev’relain to claim ourselves an empire.”

The crowd cheered.

“To claim ourselves a legacy!”

The roar grew even louder and the thumping of feet on the floor was a thunderous accompaniment. Elaina smiled at Drake and drew close.

“To claim ourselves a crown,” the woman all but whispered in his ear before turning and walking to the door. Drake watched her go, admiring her presence. Elaina was as strong and skilled as any pirate, the perfect queen for the tough life of the Pirate Isles. Drake was already wondering how easy she would be to manipulate.

Chapter 53 - Starry Dawn

Elaina sat in the sand, staring out at the bay and all the ships that crowded it. There were so many masts it reminded her of Chade, or Larkos. Her spirits were high, and with good reason. Drake had set himself up as king and now she was his wife. Elaina would be queen, even if it did mean the occasional sharing of a bed with Morrass. The very thought of his hands on her skin sent shivers coursing through her body. Drake was pretty enough, that was true, and if even half the rumours about him weren’t shit, he knew his way around a woman’s body. But Elaina couldn’t shake her distaste for the man. He was slimy as a sea serpent and dangerous as a shark, and Elaina wanted nothing to do with him. But sacrifices sometimes had to be made, and Drake was hers. The thought of carrying Drake’s child inside her sent a new set of shivers down Elaina’s spine, and she decided to think about something else.

She had yet to choose a ship to take as her own. She had twenty-four vessels under her command, more than anyone else, but none of them were hers. The thought of Starry Dawn, and of those who had taken her from Elaina, made for a sour state of mind. She needed to pick a new ship and quickly, not dwell on the past. It would take some time to appraise the crew and familiarise herself with the quirks of a new boat, and time was something none of them had. She briefly considered strolling back aboard The Phoenix, if for no other reason than to piss off that pregnant waif, Aimi. It wasn’t a real option though. Elaina was to be queen of the pirates and, as such, she should damned well have her own ship.

“Hi, Cap,” Surge said, sitting down just out of striking distance.

Elaina did a good job of holding her surprise at the treasonous pirate’s appearance. Instead of rounding on the bastard and stabbing him to death for taking part in the theft of her ship, Elaina simply offered him a cold, dead-eyed glare. Surge quickly took a particular interest in the sand.

“Look, Cap, about the whole…”

“Where’s my ship?” Elaina growled.

“Out in the bay,” Surge said quickly, his hands up in the air.

“I don’t see her.”

“There.” Surge pointed to the bay. “Well, she’s a little hidden behind Ocean Deep, I suppose, but she’s there alright. Tanner, uh, Captain Black has her again.”

Elaina made knuckles in the sand.

“I’m sorry, Cap,” Surge offered. “We all are.”

Elaina launched to her feet and strode away from the apologetic pirate. Tanner had taken up residence just a short way down the beach, setting up a large tent where he could hold his court apart from the residence of New Sev’relain, and Elaina was eager to have words with him.

Tanner was dozing in the afternoon sun just outside his tent with his feet up on a barrel. Blu sat near him, pretending to read a logbook, and a number of Tanner’s crew were close by, guarding their captains.

“Da,” Elaina all but shouted.

Tanner let out a startled snort and his eyes snapped open, dark fury burning behind his crystal blues. Blu was quicker to respond, throwing the logbook into the sand and jumping up to stand in his sister’s way.

“Don’t remember anyone requesting…” Blu started.

“Blu,” Tanner said.

“Sit the fuck back down, brother,” Elaina snapped. “Ya say one more fucking word to me, and I’ll have that ship of yours taken away and given to a Riverlander.”

Blu opened his mouth to reply, but there was fear in his eyes. He’d witnessed the marriage. He knew what it meant. Elaina had all but been declared queen, and he knew his sister would happily take away his toys. Blu turned to look at their father. Tanner shrugged, his eyes now glinting with amusement.

“Better obey the girl, lad,” Tanner rumbled. “She’s royalty these days.”

“You got my ship over there, Da.” Elaina had decided to forgo formalities and jump right in.

“Seem to remember we’ve had this conversation before,” Tanner said. “It’s my ship. They’re all my ships.”

Elaina drew in a sharp breath. “No. They’re all my ships.”

“Ah, I see the way of it now.” Tanner stood, towering over his daughter. “I send ya away ta find me some allies, and ya go and recruit them all for yaself instead, aye? What a grand daughter you turned out ta be.”

“You sent me away to be out of the way,” Elaina growled. “Ya never expected me to find any help, and when I get back, I find ya working for the very bastard you were supposed to kill. Thanks to you, Da, I’m now married to Drake fucking Morrass.”

For a moment Tanner looked as though he might strike her, and Elaina was ready for it, but he just growled and walked back to his seat. “It was the right thing ta do, lass. Ya mate, Stillwater, convinced me of that.”

Blu looked set to burst with whatever it was he wanted to say. Elaina shook her head at him, and he kept silent.

“I want my ship back, Da,” she pressed.

“Aye. Take it then. Ya crew are all still there. Well, all but that treacherous weird of a first mate. Bastard tried telling me ya had run afoul of a bad take. Said ya got stuck and thrown overboard.”

“You didn’t believe him?”

Tanner laughed. “Ya might be ungrateful, but ya still my daughter. Didn’t take much for ya crew ta turn on the fool. Had him strung up in front of all of the town. Dumb bastard didn’t think he’d run into me here, eh?”

“You let the rest of the crew live?”

“Aye. Can’t go wasting the bodies, no matter how serious the crime. Killed the ring leader and be done with it. The rest can fight and die for your throne, Ya Majesty.”

Elaina stood there for a few moments longer, unsure of what to say. “Well, uh. Thanks then, Da.”

Tanner laughed. “A thank ya from a queen. Treasure that one forever, eh?”

Elaina nodded and turned away, thoroughly confused as to whether she’d just earned her father’s respect or lost it.

Walking up the gangplank to Starry Dawn, Elaina felt a fluttering in her stomach. Despite Alfer, Pollick, and Pavel being right behind her, she was nervous. This was the crew she’d hired, built up, helped train, and led to riches a hundred times over. It was also the crew who had mutinied and sailed her ship away from port, leaving her stranded in a strange city with nothing but the clothes on her back. Elaina wondered what had happened to the rest of her clothes, and her other possessions. Had Rovel thrown them overboard, sold them on, or just left them where they were? It didn’t matter, really – they were only things, and she could always get more. What did matter was that the ship was hers again, and this time she’d never let Starry Dawn go. She stepped up onto the main deck and felt the weight of many eyes turn her way. It was possible the crew hadn’t yet heard of her return, let alone her marriage to Morrass. A few of them started to slink away while others just stared in shock. Surge was on deck, wearing a stupid grin, and he was standing next to a man Elaina recognised all too well – her father’s raping son-of-a-shit first mate, Mace.

“Get the fuck off my ship,” Elaina hissed. Her cheeks felt as though they were on fire, but she didn’t care.

Mace looked her up and down, cautiously. Elaina felt her skin crawl.

“Ain’t your ship,” he said slowly. “It’s ya da’s.”

Elaina stalked over to him, fighting to retain control of herself. Just being close to the rapist made her want to both vomit and claw his beady eyes from his skull. Her skin itched, and the shame and anger she’d been suppressing for so long raged inside her.

“Off!” she screamed.

Mace didn’t move, or at least he didn’t move fast enough for Elaina’s liking, and she saw all manner of red. Lashing out with a wild fury, Elaina punched the bastard square in the face. Mace stumbled and grunted. Elaina wasn’t finished. She followed up with another punch, and another, and another, and another. Each time she swung at him, Mace tried to get his hands up to block, but he was off balance and reeling, and Elaina knew full well how to throw a punch.

By the time Mace finally went down, collapsing onto the deck in a heap, Elaina was shaking and her fist was dripping blood. Judging by the stinging, she guessed not all of the blood was his, but she blocked out the pain.

“Rope,” Elaina ordered, her voice breaking a little with her fury. A moment later Ed the Navigator appeared with a short length. It wasn’t fit for rigging, but it was long enough and sturdy enough for the job at hand.

“Tie it off,” Elaina said as she quickly knotted a noose in one end.

Mace was starting to come around, trying to get his hands beneath him to stand, so Elaina hit him again, a solid punch followed by an even more solid boot that left him spitting teeth and blood on the deck of her ship. Elaina knelt down and forced the noose over his head.

With a grunt that was all raw power, she pulled Mace over to the railing and lifted him up against it, then pushed him over the side and jumped backwards out of the way of the rope as it pulled taught.

Elaina breathed heavily, still shaking, her emotions a whirl that she was struggling to decipher. Mace was kicking against the hull of Starry Dawn, the rope choking the life from his filthy body.

“I’m back,” she announced to the crew. “Ship is mine again.”

Nobody argued.

“Good.” Elaina looked over the railing. Mace was still struggling to stay alive. “Make sure this fucker is good and dead, then cut him free. I’ll be in my cabin.” The crew stayed silent, so Elaina nodded, more to herself than to anyone else, and made quickly for the captain’s cabin. She hoped she’d get there before the tears hit.

Chapter 54 - The Phoenix

“We’re not having this conversation,” Keelin said.

“Why not?” Aimi said. “Seems we haven’t had a conversation in months. Might as well start up again with this one.”

“We’re not having it because you are getting off my boat, now.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Damnit, woman.” Keelin threw his hands up in the air and stalked over to the window. “Why won’t you just listen to me for once?”

“Why won’t you stop trying to protect me? I don’t need protecting. I managed just fine on my own before I met you, and I’d manage just fine on my own now.”

Keelin opened his mouth to argue and quickly shut it again, taking a moment to calm down a little. “But you’re not on your own, Aimi. You’re pregnant. I’m moving you off the ship because I… we are about to sail into a battle, and I don’t want you involved in it.”

“Stop trying to protect me.”

“No.”

Aimi let out a growl that was all frustration and collapsed onto the bed with a sigh. “This isn’t working, Keelin.”

“It hasn’t been for a while,” he admitted.

“That why you fucked Captain Bitch back in HwoyonDo?”

Keelin sighed. Months at sea and months of the same arguments over and over again. Since HwoyonDo, Aimi had gone from cold to downright abrasive and nothing Keelin did seemed to make a damned difference. He couldn’t blame her for being angry. Keelin had fucked Elaina, and they all knew it. Aimi had every right to be angry, but she also refused to listen to reason. Keelin only wanted what was best for her, and for their child, and what was best was not being on the ship in the middle of a war.

Aimi let out a single sob, and Keelin turned. Her head was buried in her hands and her shoulders were trembling. He left his spot at the window and went over to the bed, sitting down next to her and putting an arm around her. She shrugged it away. Keelin persisted, and the second time Aimi didn’t resist.

“I shouldn’t be crying,” she said. “I’m angry with you.”

“I know.”

“This ship is my home.”

“I know.”

“This crew are my family. I don’t want to leave.”

“I know.” Keelin wished he had something else to say, but he’d already made his decision and there was nothing she could say to change his mind.

They were both silent for a long time. Aimi stopped crying and seemed content to rest her head against Keelin’s chest. It was nice, and far more comfortable than they’d been for a long time.

“Don’t die,” she said quietly.

“I don’t intend to.”

She pulled away from him then and gave him a strange look. He had no idea what she was thinking, but there was sadness in her eyes. Eventually, she stood and started to gather her things.

Chapter 55 - King’s Justice

Daimen woke to a hammering at his door. It was a small cabin, little more than a hammock and some space to stand. He’d tried his best to make it his own, but it wasn’t an easy task given that he currently owned nothing. The door wasn’t locked; Admiral Wulfden had had the lock removed, so Daimen had set up a chair that provided him some measure of privacy – or at least some warning should they come for him.

“Poole,” shouted someone from the other side. “Open this door now or I will break it down and nail you to the mizzenmast.”

Daimen sighed. Everything was threats these days, either blatant or implied. He knew they didn’t trust him, but it grated that they felt the need to remind him of it at every possible opportunity. He missed the days of being a captain. Being respected and trusted. Drake might be a lying, murderous bastard willing to slaughter women and children to further his own desires, but at least Daimen hadn’t been living with a noose around his neck while sailing for him.

“I’m comin’, ya ungrateful sods,” he growled.

“Now, Poole.”

“In a hurry ta see my cock, are ya? As ya want, mate.” Daimen swung his legs onto the deck and pulled the chair away from the door, which slammed open a moment later. He made a show of stretching and scratching at his stones.

“Urgh,” grunted the square-jawed officer on the other side of the door, looking away in obvious distaste. “Get some clothes on, Poole. Quickly. The admiral is eager for your advice.”

“Aye?” Daimen said with a laugh. “First time for everything, I guess.”

He would have liked to take his time getting dressed, if for no other reason than to annoy the admiral. Unfortunately Officer Square-Jaw was having none of it, and the man’s sword looked a little loose in its scabbard. Something had got the whole ship riled up, and it wasn’t until Daimen joined Admiral Wulfden on the forecastle that he saw just what it was.

“Fuck me,” Daimen breathed as he looked out across the sea.

“You lied to us, Poole,” Wulfden said.

“I didn’t fucking lie.” Daimen winced as the admiral’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t lie.” He was very aware of the host of armed soldiers at his back.

“You said we could expect a maximum of thirty ships. You said you suspected there would, in fact, be far fewer than that.”

“How many ships are there?”

“Over fifty,” the admiral growled. “It’s hard to form an exact count. We suspect they are dangerously close to equalling our numbers.”

“Huh. I wonder where they got all those boats.” Wulfden turned an angry glare on Daimen, who quickly stepped backwards, hands held up before him. “I swear, Admiral, on my dear old ma’s grave, I did not see this coming.”

There were ships everywhere. They were stretched out across the horizon, with equal numbers on either side of King’s Justice. More masts than Daimen could count, and all were floating amidst the endless blue, as though none of them wanted to be the first to attack.

“Is that Storm Herald?” said one of the officers.

“Yes,” said the admiral. “That explains why she never returned. How could the pirates manage to capture her?”

“Resourceful and resilient bastards, eh?” Daimen said with a laugh cut short when the admiral sent another glare his way.

One of the officers shoved a monoscope into Daimen’s hands.

“Identify the most prominent targets please, Poole.”

“Aye aye, Admiral.” Daimen raised the monoscope to his eyes and scanned the horizon. “That one there is The Black Death, captained by Tanner Black himself. There’s The Phoenix, captained by Drake’s right hand, Keelin Stillwater. And right next to her is the Fortune. Ya take out those three and you’ll break the back of the entire isles.”

“Send the signal to attack, Commander,” Admiral Wulfden said. “Raise sails and prepare the ballistae. I want as many ships sunk as possible in the first salvo. Let's hope our other turncoat is more useful than you, Poole.”

Chapter 56 - Fortune

“Looks like they’re coming, Cap’n,” Princess said, sounding maudlin. “I reckon this’d be our last chance to turn tail and chase the horizon.”

Drake plucked the monoscope from his first mate’s grasp and stared at the fleet arrayed against them. They were all starting to pile on sail and the lead ships were gathering speed. Princess wasn’t wrong – this was their last chance to run.

“Get us moving, Princess,” he said coldly. “Right at them.”

“Reckon I’m gonna die here in this nameless stretch of water,” Princess mumbled.

Drake laughed. “Oracle has seen my future, and it’s not today.”

“Wonderful,” Princess said as he stepped backwards. “Didn’t happen to ask about my future, did ya? Thought not.” He let out a sigh before raising his voice to a practised shout. “Sails up, lads. We’re shoving it right down their throats.”

A cheer went up, and before long Drake could hear it passing down the line of ships, thousands of pirates taking up the shout as they readied themselves for the bloodiest battle any of them had ever known.

“Can we expect any help from your god?” Beck said. Her voice was trembling. It didn’t seem right for the Arbiter to get so scared about a bit of a fight, but then Drake had long ago learned that you just couldn’t predict how folk would react when the time came. People died in wars, and no matter how strong or important you were, you had just as much chance of dying as the next poor sod.

“No more than we’ll get off yours,” he said with a glance backwards and a grin. “It ain’t really her way.”

“Sure would be nice to have one of those leviathans pop up and do the work for us.” The Arbiter looked pale, almost sick. Drake pitied her for that. The fear of the fight sure explained her ferocity in bed of late though. Drake grinned as he remembered their latest encounter and how sore it had left him.

“Aye, that’d be a fine sight,” he said. “Ain’t likely to happen though. We’re gonna have to win this one ourselves.”

Next to the Fortune, Stillwater’s boat was starting to pick up speed, straining to take the lead and meet with the enemy. It was some fine work to slow the ship down just a little to keep it in line with all the others. Drake’s plan was simple. North Storm would lead the attack – the ship was a monster with a metal ram that would make driftwood out of any that got in her way. With Captain Khan’s ship in the centre of the attack, the others would form into a wedge formation and sail right into the enemy lines. Their orders were to prioritise helping out their neighbours, two ships against one as much as possible, to keep the numbers on their side. Once the battle started, though, it was likely that any sort of tactics would go right out of the window. Ship to ship and man to man, the pirates would win. They had to win. They had so much more to lose than their enemy.

Drake looked towards the main mast and the little jar of black liquid that sat nearby, securely nestled within a padded wool cocoon. Everfire was one part alchemy, one part magic. Beck had managed to make just twelve small jars of the stuff in the three days before they left New Sev’relain, and one of those had been used to test it. Drake had never seen water set on fire before; it was a terrifying sight to behold.

They were all up to a good speed now, with North Storm leading the pack, breaking away to bear down on their enemies like a charging boar. Drake stared through his monoscope towards the enemy fleet. They were in a far less ordered formation, with some ships straggling behind while others surged ahead. He felt a grin stretch across his face.

“I’m sorry,” Beck said.

“Eh?” Drake grunted, turning to face her.

Bang!

The first shot hit Drake in the midsection. The force knocked him against the railing, where he collapsed onto the deck, a look of utter confusion on his face. Beck wasn’t sure whom she hated more – Inquisitor Vance for giving the order or herself for carrying it out.

Shouts came from nearby, and they would soon be followed by the sounds of boots on the deck. Beck needed to finish the job before the crew reached them.

Drawing a second pistol, she realised her right hand was still shaking. It was the injury she’d taken in the battle of New Sev’relain. It had to be. Her eyes started to blur a little, and she blinked away the tears.

“Why?” Drake managed to ask. He was still slumped against the railing, dark red blood leaking from his mouth and dripping from his chin. More red was soaking into his shirt. He wouldn’t survive – Beck was sure of it – but Inquisitor Vance had ordered her to be certain.

“Sorry,” she whispered again as she pulled the trigger on the second pistol.

Drake’s body shook with the force of the impact and keeled over sideways, blood spreading out over the deck. Beck took a deep breath and sighed it out even as the first of the Fortune’s crew reached her.

Stepping to the side of the wild slash, Beck whispered a blessing of strength and punched the pirate in the chest. The poor man’s ribs snapped loudly and he collapsed.

Beck drew another pistol, and a moment later another pirate dropped to the deck to bleed out his last. She walked towards the main mast. Inquisitor Vance had been adamant that neither Drake nor the Fortune could be allowed to survive to make it into the battle.

Another two pirates came for her, this time one to each side. Beck whispered the words of a sorcery and stamped a foot onto the deck. The wood warped and twisted as it rippled outwards. The pirates didn’t even have time to move away as the decking rose around their feet and locked them in place. Beck moved on without so much as a glance at the two helpless men.

Just before she reached the main mast, something heavy dropped onto Beck from above, knocking her flat onto the deck and darkening her vision for a moment. It didn’t take long to realise she was lying there entangled with a pirate who was struggling to remain conscious after his landing. Beck kicked the fool away and struggled to get back to her feet, shaking her head to clear away the dizziness that threatened her.

Something tugged on the bottom of her coat, and Beck turned to see the pirate who had dropped onto her clinging to a loose seam. She pulled a pistol from her jerkin, aimed, and pulled the trigger. The pirate’s grip loosened in death.

There was shouting all over now as some pirates rushed to the aid of their fallen captain while others closed in on Beck. They were all too late.

She plucked her fallen hat from the deck and placed the tricorn back on her head, then picked up the jar of Everfire.

Chapter 57 - The Phoenix

“Cap’n,” Smithe shouted, hysterical.

“What is it, Smithe?”

“The Fortune.” Smithe pointed.

Drake’s ship was aflame. Black fire danced over the deck, twisting in the breeze and whipping at the sails, leaving orange flames in its wake. Keelin hadn’t seen the Everfire when they tested it out near New Sev’relain. He’d heard folk say it had a life of its own that not even water could extinguish; now he could see for himself that it was true. The black flames went where they would, neither growing nor diminishing, and everything they touched was set ablaze.

Keelin looked back at their own jar of Everfire and felt his stomach twist. There would be no saving a ship besieged by the black flame. There was no saving Drake’s ship. The Everfire would burn until there was nothing left but ash floating on the water. Keelin turned back to the Fortune just as a pirate enveloped in flames careened over the side of the ship.

“What should we do, Captan?” Morley said.

Keelin watched the Fortune slow and drop behind; its sails were all alight now, and its crew’s screams could be heard drifting across the water.

“Nothing,” he said quietly, turning to look at the approaching fleet. “Keep on.”

“But Drake…”

Keelin silenced his first mate with a glare then turned to Smithe. “Get that thing covered.” He pointed to the jar of Everfire. “I don’t want a stray arrow turning my ship into a pyre.”

As they left Drake’s ship behind, burning black and orange amidst the blue, Keelin realised how quickly they were coming up on their enemy. North Storm was out in front as planned, but not by a lot. The giant figure of T’ruck Khan was visible at the bow of his ship. The man feared nothing, and that was something Keelin wished to emulate.

“Hands on deck,” he roared. “Weapons at the ready. Archers fire at will.”

Closer and closer now. The enemy ships started to grow large, and the scale of the battle facing them humbled Keelin. Boats spread out across the horizon on both sides as far as he could see. He had little time to contemplate the matter.

The enemy ship facing North Storm started to turn, but it was too late and all it accomplished was presenting its port side to the larger vessel. A crack and crash echoed out across the water as the steel ram on the bow of North Storm connected with the smaller ship, splitting it in half. Keelin didn’t have time to appreciate the destruction; a Five Kingdoms boat was sailing alongside them, blocking the view.

Arrows flew from the navy vessel. Some thudded into the deck while others sailed clean over to land in the deep blue beyond. At least one of the arrows found a mark, the pirate’s scream loud and clear. The Five Kingdoms vessel, a galleon roughly the same size as The Phoenix, was too close, and their hulls crashed together, scraping across each other. Keelin almost lost his footing, grabbing a nearby railing to stay upright. The noise of the two ships colliding was a terrible groan, and Keelin could only hope it hadn’t put a hole in the The Phoenix.

The first few Five Kingdoms men hopped aboard, and the sounds of battle quickly followed them. One brave sailor jumped from the navy yard, swinging across on a loose rope and coming to a rolling stop just a few feet away. He drew two swords and charged.

Drawing his new cutlasses, Keelin met the man steel on steel, blocking and parrying every blow. Then the soldier went rigid and started shaking, his swords dropping from his hands and his body dropping to the deck a moment later. Smithe stood above the fallen soldier, his wicked dagger bloody and a snarl on his face.

“Cut the ropes,” Keelin roared as loudly as he could. “Push us away. Keep the sails up.” Keelin and Smithe rushed to the aid of the crew members attempting to defend their ship from invaders. They turned the tide of one small skirmish, outnumbering the soldiers and bringing them down with well-aimed stabs and slashes that left the poor bastards bleeding out their last.

Keelin slashed at a man’s leg and the soldier went down screaming, only to be stabbed in the face by Jojo’s spear. Keelin kicked the corpse away and stepped past it to reach the railing. He raised his sword and brought it down hard, severing one of the ropes that held the two ships together.

“Shove off,” he screamed, sheathing his swords for a moment and pushing as hard as he could against the navy ship’s railing. The two vessels started to part, slowly at first, steadily moving further and further. As long as they could keep any more grapples from locking hold, they would soon be far enough away to begin gathering some speed.

Keelin opened his mouth to give his crew some encouragement and looked up just in time to see an archer on the other ship loose an arrow.

Chapter 58 - North Storm

T’ruck laughed like a man possessed as his foes drowned around his ship. The first of the enemy fleet had cracked and fallen apart like stale bread when North Storm hit it, and now they were free of the wreckage and on the hunt for more prey.

His ship was fast, and it suffered from a poor turning circle due to its size. They didn’t want to get too far away from the fight, so T’ruck ordered the ship slowed as it turned to port. Their job was far from simple, and much of the outcome of the battle hinged on their success. They were, perhaps, the only hope now that the Fortune was sunk.

Everywhere boats were locked together with vicious fighting underway aboard them. T’ruck hungered to join in, to feel the thrill of combat, but he would follow the plan for now. North Storm was a ship like no other, with machines of war capable of tearing smaller vessels apart, and that was what they would do.

“Bring us in as close as you can,” T’ruck said to his navigators, Kanon and Serar. The ship was too large for a single wheel; it had two, and they needed to be turned in tandem. Serar was just a few minutes older than her brother, and the twins worked together as one on the wheels of North Storm. T’ruck couldn’t have asked for a better pair of navigators.

“We can cut those bastards’ tails off if you want, Captain,” Serar called as she turned the wheel.

“That is not your job,” T’ruck said. “Just get us close and let the bastards’ own war machines tear their fleet apart.”

North Storm levelled off, and they were close enough to the enemy’s arse that T’ruck could see the panic on the faces of some of the crew. They were engaged with Freedom, and the ships were locked together fast with Sienen Zhou’s crew holding the deck, under strict orders not to cross onto the other vessel.

“First three scorpions, fire,” T’ruck roared, and a moment later the weapons made an odd cracking sound as they released. Of the three bolts, only one hit its intended target, while one splashed harmlessly into the water and the third lodged itself into Freedom’s hull. T’ruck’s crew were quick to cut the ropes of the two bolts that had missed.

“Brace the wheel,” T’ruck called to his navigators, and then, “Second three scorpions ready for the next ship.”

The crew of the navy vessel realised what was happening too late. The bolt was lodged deep into the ship’s hull, and down so low it was dipping into the water. A perfect shot. As North Wind sailed on, the rope pulled taught and strained against the huge main mast. T’ruck heard his navigators grunt with the effort of keeping the ship sailing straight. The enemy vessel gave a visible lurch sideways just before a large section of its hull around the scorpion bolt ripped free of the surrounding wood. Water started gushing into the hole.

“Cut it free,” T’ruck shouted with a wild laugh, but the order wasn’t needed. His crew knew their jobs, and they were already busy setting up the next set of bolts.

They would gut as many of the enemy as possible. If they could sink them, they would; otherwise, their goal was to cripple the boats. Drake had claimed mobility would win the war as much as numbers or any magical fire, and T’ruck wagered he had the right of it. A ship without a rudder could do nothing but sit and wait for the pirates to pick them off.

Chapter 59 - King’s Justice

“Uh, Admiral,” Daimen said. “That big fucker is behind us and doing its very best to fuck us all in the arse.”

“Poole, if you cannot keep that tongue of yours civil, I will have it cut out,” Admiral Wulfden said through gritted teeth.

“In the middle of the battle? Seems like a right waste of man power, that.”

The admiral sighed and signalled one of his officers. “Turn the ship starboard, Commander. Have the ballistae ready to fire. Torches lit.”

“Aye aye, Admiral.”

They were one of the few ships not engaged in battle with the pirates; they were sailing in close formation with two other Man of Wars, and those two seemed more than capable of dealing with the pirates that had come alongside them. Wulfden had made sure to bring the ship to a stop, though, so as not to leave the protection of its escort.

“Whatever this plan of yours is,” Daimen said, “I hope it’s a good one, ’cos that ship is big and…”

“Poole,” Wulfden barked. “Shut up.”

Daimen held up his hands and watched as the behemoth with North Storm written on its side sailed along behind the navy vessels. It had already ripped the arses off two ships, and any moment it would be ripping the side from King’s Justice. Poole was fairly certain none of the crew would survive the swim back to Land’s End.

“Ready,” shouted the commander. “Take aim.”

The bigger ship was coming into full view behind them now, and Daimen spotted a giant near its wheel. Only one pirate he knew was so large, and that meant T’ruck Khan was aboard the other vessel. Daimen imagined the big captain tearing his arms off for turning traitor and quickly slunk back behind Admiral Wulfden.

“Fire,” Wulfden shouted, and torches were touched to the bolts loaded in the ballistae, making them sizzle. “Loose!”

The ship rocked with the force of the ballistae all releasing at once, and Daimen steadied himself on the admiral’s shoulder, the fatter man’s lower centre of gravity keeping them both upright. Four of the bolts hit home, lodging themselves in the side of the monster ship, and one splashed harmlessly into the water. Wulfden shrugged Daimen’s hand away from his shoulder.

“That it?” Daimen said. “Ah, we’re fucked for sure.” His jaw dropped as four successive explosions ripped a massive hole in the North Storm.

Chapter 60 - The Phoenix

Keelin tasted blood, felt it leaking down the side of his face and dripping from his chin. The arrow had grazed his temple. It occurred to him then that if the arrow had been just a couple of fingers to the right, he would have lost an eye. Worse than that, he would probably be dead. It was a sobering thought.

Arrows were still being traded back and forth between the two ships, and many of The Phoenix’s crew were up and pushing against the other vessel. Keelin felt as though he were in a daze, watching the scene unfold without taking part in it.

“Get down, Cap’n,” Jolan hissed, grabbing hold of Keelin’s arm and pulling him down below the railing.

Keelin blinked the daze away and reached up to touch the cut on his temple. It stung like a nest of bees, but it didn’t feel too serious.

“Are we free?” he shouted.

“Rigging is caught,” someone shouted back.

“Cut it loose,” Keelin roared, and he gave Jolan a pat on the shoulder by way of thanks for pulling him to safety.

Keelin waited for what seemed like forever. Arrows still flitted back and forth between the two ships. One enterprising soldier tried to leap across and was quickly stabbed by the pirates hiding beneath the safety of the railing.

“We’re free and clear!” The shout brought a smile to Keelin’s face.

“Get us some speed,” he called, breaking from the cover and striding towards the main mast. An arrow flew past him and embedded itself in the wood. “Someone kill that fucking archer.”

The shield that covered the Everfire had an arrow sticking out of it. Keelin pulled it away and carefully picked up the jar of death. They were moving now, gaining speed and starting to slip away from the other ship. He broke into a sprint, holding the jar securely against his chest and hoping it wouldn’t spontaneously burst into flame. He mounted the stairs to the quarterdeck two at a time and slid to a stop, throwing the jar towards the other ship.

The Everfire sailed through the air, but they were simply too far away from the Five Kingdoms vessel. The jar dropped and struck the hull at the waterline, bursting into black flame only to be submerged in water the next moment.

Keelin watched as the dark fire defied the sea and began to climb the side of the ship, leaving an orange blaze in its wake. The Everfire reached the railing and climbed over. It almost looked like it was alive. The screaming started, but it was lost amidst the chorus of battle elsewhere.

Keelin glanced to starboard, then across to the port side. Everywhere he looked, ships were locked with other ships, the crashes and shouts of fighting drifting out across the water. At least five boats were already on fire, and even as he was counting them a pirate ship and a navy vessel sank down into the waves together, locked in a flame-kissed embrace.

North Storm was free from the fight, as planned, and was sailing behind the enemy, attempting to gut as many of them as possible. T’ruck would want to take the ship hunting as soon as possible, but Keelin could only hope the giant’s patience won out.

“Where to, Cap’n?” said Fremen.

“Bring us about,” Keelin said, crossing the deck to stand next to his navigator.

As The Phoenix started to turn to starboard, Keelin scanned the line and spotted Rheel Toa fighting an impossible battle with a Man of War. Deun Burn and his crew would be sorely outnumbered and in need of relief.

“There.” Keelin pointed. “Get us in on the opposite side to Captain Burn.”

Fremen nodded and barked out a laugh. “Aye aye, Cap’n. I hope the Riverlanders appreciate this.”

Keelin hoped the Riverlanders were still alive.

An explosion echoed out across the water, followed by another, and then two more. North Storm was listing to port with smoke pouring out of her belly. So much of the battle rested on T’ruck, his ship, and his crew. So many of their best warriors were aboard the gigantic boat.

“Captan?” Morley said. “Should we help?”

“No,” Keelin growled. “Stick to the plan.”

“North Storm is the plan.”

“She’s not sunk yet, Morley. T’ruck will keep her afloat.”

Chapter 61 - Starry Dawn

Elaina hacked at the shield in front of her again and again and again. Her sword did little damage to the wooden barrier, but it kept the soldier’s guard up high. One of her crew thrust a spear past her leg and up into the man’s groin. He screamed in pain and finally let his guard down. Elaina’s next swipe rent a gash through his screaming face, and he went down bleeding and mewling. Elaina moved on to the next fight, letting the man die in agony.

All the soldiers were carrying shields. Elaina hated shields. Only cowards hid from a fight, and that was what they all were – nothing but cowards trying to keep her from her throne. A small group of soldiers were crowded near the bow of the ship, hiding behind their shields while her crew darted forwards, trying to land a blow on the snivelling grots. Elaina ran at the shields, screaming with murderous intent, and launched herself at the closest soldier. They both went down to the deck and Elaina found herself lying on top of the shield with the man beneath it. She dropped her sword and dragged a knife from her boot. She stabbed around the shield, feeling the blade pierce flesh again and again as she screamed into the dying man’s face. Hot blood spilled out over her hand.

The other soldiers had fallen back and Elaina’s crew were busy pressuring them, pushing them towards the railing. She picked up the dead soldier’s shield and heaved it through the air; it banged against the hull of the other ship. She screamed a wordless cry of fury and plucked her sword from the deck, advancing towards the few soldiers who remained.

One of the men broke and ran, trying to leap back to his own ship. He failed the jump and dropped into the sea below. The other soldiers panicked, but it was too late; Elaina’s crew surged forwards, kicking and stabbing, and sent the remaining three Five Kingdoms men over the side and into the blue.

“We’re free,” cried one of Starry Dawn’s pirates.

“Then get us moving,” Elaina shouted. “And someone throw the bloody fire at them.”

Elaina didn’t wait to see her orders carried out. Wiping slick blood from her hands onto her trousers, she stalked aft towards the wheel, intending to pick a new target and get them close. She felt the need to prove her worth again, and that meant she needed to take more ships than Keelin, more than Morrass, and more than her father.

“Why isn’t Blu getting into the fight?” she said, the question directed at no one.

“Looks like he’s patrolling, Cap,” Gurn said. “Catching any that get through, maybe?”

“Trying his best to stay out of the fight, more like,” Elaina said, and spat on the deck. “Useless, cowardly rat cock.”

The ship shuddered beneath their feet and Elaina looked up. Their rigging was tangled with the navy ship’s, holding the two boats together. New grapples were thrown over the side and hooked onto Starry Dawn just as one of Elaina’s crew tossed the jar of Everfire.

Elaina watched in horror as the jar flipped through the air, bounced off the navy vessel’s sails, and dropped to its deck, exploding into living black flame.

“Cut us free!” she screamed as loudly as she could.

The soldiers and sailors on the navy vessel immediately set about trying to put the fire out, throwing buckets of water over the black blaze to no avail. The fire would consume everything in its path until there was nothing left, and even then it would live on for a while, scorching the sea. If Starry Dawn was still attached, she would go down with the other ship, if she didn’t burn to ash first.

Elaina leapt over the railing onto the main deck and ran to the first grapple she saw. She chopped at it with her sword, cutting the rope clean and taking a fair chunk out of the railing as well.

The fire was spreading fast on the other vessel, black flames dancing and spinning, trailing orange and yellow in their wake. The fire grew and grew, popping and crackling, and Elaina could smell burning wood and seared flesh.

Navy soldiers and sailors alike gave up the idea of putting the blaze out and started abandoning ship, many making the jump over to Starry Dawn, but Elaina had no time to fight them. She needed to save her boat.

“Cut us free!” she screamed again, hacking at another grapple as a soldier landed on the deck behind her.

The hulls of the two ships bumped together, and Elaina was close enough to feel the heat of the fire. She hacked away another grapple, then put her hands against the navy ship’s railing and pushed.

“Push!” she cried, closing her eyes tight and shoving with every bit of strength she could muster.

The heat was intense, uncomfortably hot on Elaina’s hands and face. She opened her eyes; the orange blaze was close, far too close for comfort. The black flame, having already set most of the deck on fire, was spinning and turning as it hunted for something fresh to consume.

There were folk all over the railing now, pushing with everything they were worth, and slowly – far too slowly for Elaina’s liking – the two ships started to drift apart.

The black flame shifted course and began to twist towards Starry Dawn, snaking its way across the blazing deck. The heat became oppressive as the other ship was turned into an inferno. The dark fire reached the railing just a few feet away and Elaina backed up a step, her eyes wide and pinned to the monster. The flame held there for a moment, and Elaina wondered if it was watching her somehow. Then it spun away to hunt for easier prey.

A scrap of burning sail floated down into the chasm between the two ships as they drifted apart, the last stretch of fire mercilessly cut away from Starry Dawn. Elaina took a deep breath and coughed from the smoke she inhaled.

“Good job,” she managed to wheeze out. Her heart was racing and her hands were shaking a little from the excitement. She clapped the nearest man on the shoulder and gave him a wild grin. The Five Kingdoms soldier grinned back.

Chapter 62 - North Storm

T’ruck opened his eyes to deep blue smudged with black. The sky was cloudless and beautiful, marred only by scant wisps of smoke. His head rang like a bell struck too many times, and he felt sick to his stomach. He was floating, soaked through, and he tasted salt on his lips. The hulking mass of North Storm drifted into view on T’ruck’s right. It was impossible to mistake the behemoth for anything else.

Slowly the ringing started to get quieter. There was something else, another sound, something above the lapping of waves against the creaking hull of his ship. Screaming. The screams of the dying, awash in pain, were a peculiar noise. Nothing else in the world sounded quite like a man who didn’t want to die.

T’ruck breathed in deep and brought his legs down to start treading water. For a sailor and a pirate, T’ruck wasn’t a good swimmer, and it took him longer than he would have liked to paddle over to North Storm’s hull. The ship was riding low in the water and listing over towards him, but even so there was nothing to grab hold of, no way to pull himself up out of the water.

With a growl of frustration, T’ruck dug his fingernails into the hull, trying to hook them into the little seams between the planks of wood that made up his ship. Once he deemed his fingers secure, he pulled himself upwards, scrabbling against the hull with his boots. Hand over hand, with his nails tearing and screaming in pain, T’ruck began his climb, anger fuelling every inch.

With bloody hands and fingernails ripped from their beds, T’ruck clung to the side of his ship like a determined spider. But even he had limits, and this was one of them. He screamed, raw frustration lending volume to his voice.

A face appeared over the railing, looking down. His first mate, Pocket, spotted with blood and grinning like a serpent’s maw.

“Thank fuck, Captain. I ain’t ready to lead this ship.”

“Rope,” was the only reply T’ruck could manage.

“Aye aye, Captain.”

T’ruck felt another fingernail begin to rip free from its bed and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the searing pain. Something slapped against his back and he opened his eyes. A rope was dangling from above, Pocket staring down at him once more.

T’ruck pulled his remaining nails from the side of his boat and pushed off with his feet, grabbing hold of the rope as he did so. His back bumped against the hull and he started to pull, dragging himself up hand over hand.

Reaching the railing, T’ruck swung a leg over and rolled onto the deck of his ship, wasting no time in regaining his feet and taking in the damage. North Storm was in chaos. Whatever trickery the Five Kingdoms dung slugs had used on them had caused damage and carnage on a grand scale.

“We’re fucked, Captain,” Pocket said. “Boat’s barely moving and we lost a lot of people, still not sure how many. Below decks is even worse.” He paused. “And the cat is dead.”

T’ruck glared at his first mate. Pocket backed up a step and held up his hands.

The main mast was down, the deck around it splintered and broken. The mast itself lay half across the ship and half in the water. Nearby there was a hole in the main deck, scorched wood and bits of men and women dotted all around. Injured pirates were clustered here and there, some tending to their own wounds, some in the lengthy process of dying and letting everyone nearby know about it.

“We’re drifting,” T’ruck rumbled. Beyond the chaos of his ship, the battle was still waging. Ships entangled with ships. Boats on fire, both black and orange. Wreckage floating on the waves. An explosion thundered across the water and one of the other pirate vessels started sinking, a section of its hull bursting outwards and upwards and smoke billowing forth. He knew that kind of explosion well; black powder was the cause, and lots of it.

One of the navy ships, a Man of War yet untouched by the battle raging around it, detached from its neighbours and turned towards North Storm. T’ruck judged they had very little time before they would be wading through blood, both Five Kingdoms’ and their own.

“Get the mast cut away,” he said to Pocket, and scanned the deck of his ship.

Lady Nerine Tsokei was standing aft, near the wheel. Her dark brown skirt was ripped in places and her green blouse could be seen through similar rents in her jerkin. The witch’s hair was tousled, and her dark eyes looked like a predator’s, searching for prey.

“You’re alive,” T’ruck said with a smile. He’d feared the witch might have been caught in one of the explosions, and not just because he needed her help.

“Alchemy is nothing but a pale mockery of magic,” Lady Tsokei said through gritted teeth. “I wish to strike back, Captain.” Blood was dripping from the fingers of the witch’s left hand. She was wounded, but her pride would never let her admit it. T’ruck respected that stubbornness.

“There.” He pointed at the approaching Man of War. “We need time to recover from the attack, time to get my ship in order. They’re all yours – if you can take them.”

Lady Tsokei shot a dark glance towards T’ruck, and he felt the fear she projected so intensely that he took an involuntary step backwards. The witch looked away, and T’ruck felt his courage return.

“You and you,” he said, pointing to two nearby pirates, “grab a shield and protect the lady at all costs.”

“I do not need protecting, Captain,” the witch said.

T’ruck stepped close and looked down at the smaller woman. “You are aboard my ship, and I’ll damned well protect you if I want to. No matter the magic you possess, I doubt you are immune to a well-aimed arrow.”

Lady Tsokei nodded.

T’ruck grinned and turned away. “Kill them all.”

Chapter 63 - Starry Dawn

The soldier went for his sword. Elaina reached down and put her hand over his, stopping him drawing the blade, her other hand going for his neck. They wrestled for a moment until the soldier grabbed hold of Elaina’s tunic and pulled her close, throwing his head forwards so it connected with her chin.

Ignoring the pain, Elaina struggled to keep the man close, one hand pinning his own to his body while she pushed against his head with her other, forcing him to stare at the sky.

They growled and snarled at each other as they wrestled, each one aware that one wrong move could spell the end. The soldier was bigger than Elaina, and probably a little stronger too, but she was no weakling and had been raised fighting men larger than herself. Even so, Elaina found herself pushed backwards and felt the railing bump against her arse. The soldier managed to slip his chin beneath her hand and bit down on the flesh between her fingers. Elaina cried out in pain and threw herself backwards, over the edge of the ship, taking the soldier with her into the blue below. She let go of him as they fell. He wasn’t so quick, and they both hit the water awkwardly, the impact driving the air from her lungs. Gasping in saltwater, Elaina kicked to get her head above the surface, coughing and drawing in beautiful air, but the soldier was still holding on to her tunic.

Elaina kicked and punched and managed to free herself from his grasp. She paddled away a little, giving herself some distance to face him as she began treading water. The soldier’s head broke the surface and Elaina pushed herself up out of the water and towards him, landing a heavy punch across his face as he tried to blink away the water from his eyes. He reeled from the blow and kicked towards Elaina, catching her in the stomach with a steel-plated boot. Coughing and spluttering, Elaina paddled away. By the time she’d recovered, he was facing her, treading water and paddling with one hand while the other was hidden below the surface. A thin shimmer of silver betrayed the sword he was holding.

Spitting salty water out of her mouth, Elaina drew her own steel and held it in front of her. She’d never tried a sword fight underwater before, but there was a first time for everything and she’d be damned if she was going to lose to some old pig from the Five Kingdoms.

It was a strange sort of dance the two performed as they both worked at treading water while forcing the other into an opening. The battle waged on around them; Elaina could both hear and smell it, but she didn’t dare take her eyes from her opponent for even a moment, despite the lumbering hulks sailing past them.

The soldier lunged, a strangely slow and exaggerated motion in the water, and Elaina parried with her own sword, then whipped the blade upwards and out of the water with a splash. It had just the desired effect, and the soldier started and thrashed, attempting to back away while still holding on to his sword.

Elaina pressed forwards and felt a sting across her belly. The soldier grinned. His wild thrashing had been a trap; he was more devious than she’d given him credit for.

Something bumped against Elaina’s foot and she dared a glance into the water. Large, dark shapes were moving in the murky blue below. They were far out in the deep ocean, and the battle was making plenty of waves; anything could be coming up from the depths for a snack, and whatever the creatures were, they were likely to find plenty of morsels.

Then it dawned on Elaina that she was bleeding. Elaina dropped her sword into the depths and turned towards her ship, kicking into the fastest swim of her life. She didn’t bother looking behind to see what the soldier might be doing. She didn’t care.

“Cap,” someone shouted down from the deck of Starry Dawn. Elaina could happily have kissed every one of her crew for realising she’d gone overboard and pulling the ship to a halt.

A rope ladder dropped over the side of the hull and Elaina changed her course a little, still kicking and pulling herself through the water as fast as she could. A scream echoed out from somewhere behind her, and a glance upwards revealed the look of fear on Pollick’s face as he watched over the railing.

“Better hurry, Cap,” the lookout yelled.

Elaina’s fingers touched wood and she stopped kicking, her own momentum slamming her into the boat. She grabbed hold of the ladder and wasted no time hauling herself out of the blue, rushing upwards as quickly as her limbs would carry her. Something bumped against the hull below her, and Elaina glanced down to see grey scales and a fin disappearing under the surface. The waters were clear enough to give her an idea of the size of the beasty, and it would have been enough to strike plenty of fear into even the most courageous pirate.

Rough hands grabbed hold of hers and helped her up and over the railing. Pollick and Surge were nearby, and some of the rest of the crew were busy throwing the bodies of Five Kingdoms sailors and soldiers overboard.

“Thought we’d lost ya for a moment there, Cap,” Pollick said with a wide grin.

“I need a new sword,” Elaina growled, running wet, shaking hands through her hair. “Are we fit to sail?”

“Aye, Cap,” said Surge.

“Then get us moving, quartermaster.”

Chapter 64 - The Phoenix

Even as the first grapples were thrown, Keelin hurled himself across the watery expanse towards the Man of War. He landed heavily against the hull, fingers gripping the railing, and started to pull himself up and over. Keelin’s crew were quick to follow, some leaping across after their captain’s example while others swung over on ropes. Before long there were a great many pirates on board the Man of War, and the Sarth crew found themselves fighting a battle on two fronts.

Keelin couldn’t see onto the Riverlanders’ ship. Judging by the number of soldiers still aboard the navy vessel, Deun Burn and his crew were holding their own. Riverlanders had many a foul reputation, and some of them were well deserved – one being their renowned ferocity in a fight.

A number of the soldiers on board the Man of War turned to face the new threat. Keelin decided to give them something other than the crew of Rheel Toa to worry about. Drawing his cutlasses, he gave a battle cry and charged, knowing his crew would follow him in.

Keelin was the first to reach the enemy lines and he ducked under a wild swing, cutting the soldier near in half as he stood inside the man’s guard. Not bothering to finish the dying man off, Keelin stepped up to his next opponent as the rest of his crew caught up, crashing into the soldiers. Chaos erupted on the deck, with steel clashing against steel and the smell of blood and fire in the air.

A block followed by a hilt to the face sent a hook-nosed soldier reeling, and Keelin followed with a powerful slash that opened him up from shoulder to hip. He kicked the man’s body into his comrades behind and stabbed left, hobbling a soldier long enough for one of his pirates to deal the killing blow.

For what seemed like forever, Keelin’s world became the ebb and flow of combat. Blocks and parries, slashes and stabs. Always moving, always keeping his opponents guessing. The lessons of his childhood served him well. He might never be as naturally gifted as his brother, but he wasn’t known as the best swordsman in the isles for nothing.

After a while Keelin had to drop back, his arms aching from swinging his cutlasses and his hands stinging from all the impacts. The crew of the Man of War were faltering hard now that Captain Burn’s Riverlanders had started to cross onto the bigger ship. Trapped between two blood-thirsty crews, the soldiers from Sarth were collapsing in upon themselves, and it was only a matter of time before the ship belonged to the pirates.

“Are you injured, Captain?” said Jojo. The man wasn’t much of a fighter these days, so he tended to stay towards the back of any scrap they encountered, but he was still one hell of a sailor.

“No, just tired. Best to take a breather before jumping back in.” Keelin had already killed eight men aboard the Man of War, and he’d injured a few more. Such brutal combat took its toll on both body and mind. He suspected he would need some dark rum to go with his dark thoughts once all was said and done.

“Don’t think you’ll need to,” Jojo said with a grin. “Looks like they’re surrendering.”

The sailor was right. As the soldiers fell further and further back and their numbers dwindled, the two pirate crews merged together and the numbers made the victory clear. The soldiers were already starting to lay down their arms and beg for mercy. Keelin was happy to give it to them. The day was far from done, and he’d already seen too much killing. He’d already been the cause of too many deaths.

“That’s enough,” he roared as he strode forwards, leaving Jojo behind. “Let the bastards live.”

“And why should we do that?” Captain Burn said. He had a nasty, jagged-bladed axe in his hand and a grimace on his skull face.

“Because I say so,” Keelin said, grabbing hold of the Riverlander’s shoulder and pulling him around. “No sense in any more killing than is needed. The cowards have surrendered, and we ain’t without mercy.”

“And just leave them behind to sail on and attack us again.” Burn punctuated the statement with a growl. “I think not.”

“We disable the ship. Cut the rudder. They’ll be stuck here for hours. Far too long to be of any help with the rest of the battle.”

“Safer to kill them.”

“Ain’t about what’s safe this time, Deun,” Keelin said, hoping his voice held as much steel as he knew his eyes did. “It’s about what’s right. Let’s show them we’re not savages. That we can be reasonable and merciful.”

Deun held Keelin’s gaze for a few moments before nodding. He turned to the cowering soldiers. “If it were up to me, I’d eat you all.”

Keelin clapped his fellow captain on the shoulder before turning to the soldiers. “He’s not joking. He really would eat you. We’re disabling your ship, leaving you alive. Once the battle is over you will be free to return home. Just sit quiet ’til then and you’ll all survive this yet. Where’s your captain?”

A few of the soldiers gave each other a look and then quickly dropped their heads. A bad feeling began to creep its way through Keelin’s gut.

“Where is your captain?” he said again, putting as much command into his voice as he could.

The Man of War erupted in smoke, flame, noise, and death.

Chapter 65 - North Storm

Nerine knelt upon the starboard side of the poop deck and dipped her hands into a bucket of seawater. The two pirates tasked with guarding her were nearby, fidgeting nervously and watching the approaching Man of War.

“Rin,” she said, staring into the bucket. “I invoke your name and demand your attention.” The water began to ripple. Nerine hated invoking gods; demons were so much more amiable.

“What’s she doing?” said one of the pirates. “What are you doing?”

“This sacrifice I give to you.” Nerine tore her eyes away from the bucket of water and fixed them on the pirate who had questioned her. “Grant me permission to give you more.”

The pirate’s face went slack and his arms dropped to his sides. His body swayed a little as Nerine dominated his will. The pirate was still inside somewhere, watching as if from very far away, but he no longer had any control of his actions. He was now her minion to do with as she pleased.

“Burton?” said the other pirate. “Burton, you alright?”

“Give yourself to Rin,” Nerine said to Burton, and the man walked calmly towards the starboard railing and flung himself overboard.

“Burton!” The other pirate ran to the railing and looked down. “Man over board. Man over…” His voice trailed away and he staggered back from the railing, waving a hand in the air in a foolish attempt at a protective sign. Nerine pitied the ignorant.

“M-m-merfolk,” he stuttered, his eyes wide with fear.

Nerine drew her hands from the bucket and wiped them on her trousers, then walked over to the railing and looked down. Burton was gone. Lithe shapes darted about beneath the surface, waiting for the rest of the sacrifices they’d been promised.

The Man of War flying Sarth colours was drawing close now, close enough that Nerine could make out the sailors rushing to and fro. Soldiers crowded the deck, armed with all manner of weaponry. Bows were a problem. Those with swords and axes would never get close enough to be a threat to Nerine, but those with arrows needn’t get close.

“Protect me,” she said to the cowering pirate. “Or join your friend in Rin’s court.” He inched forwards, shield and sword held in front of him.

“You won’t need the weapon,” Nerine said with a lopsided grin. “Just the shield. I will be the weapon.”

The first of the arrows from the Man of War started to fly over as the ship sailed up from behind, attempting to run parallel to North Storm, where it would be easiest to board the crippled vessel. Captain Khan’s crew were too busy to fight, either getting the ship back in order or tending to the dead and wounded.

Nerine began to chant and opened herself up, requesting power. Her request never reached the Void. No sooner had she made herself ready than she felt Rin rush into her, the sea goddess’ power filling her.

Bits of Nerine’s shadow began to peel away from the deck, slithering towards the railing and disappearing over the side. It was Rin’s power inside her, and the goddess had dominion over the water and many of its more terrifying aspects, but Nerine shaped that power. She was the Keeper of Shadows, a title earned and jealously guarded.

An arrow hit the deck close by, and the pirate with the shield stepped a little closer to Nerine, his circle of wood held high. More and more shadows were detaching themselves from her now as she directed all of the power gifted to her by Rin into one sorcery. With the sun on the ship’s port side, North Storm’s shadow became hers, a vast weapon to be used against their enemies.

“Captain,” shouted one of the pirates. “Uh… the… uh… Captain!”

Nerine looked sideways to see Captain Khan rush to the railing and look down. The bronzed northerner blanched visibly; he’d seen Nerine’s monster.

“Are you doing this?” Khan shouted at Nerine over the noise. She smiled back at him, still chanting the words of her sorcery, still directing the power of the sea goddess.

The captain on the Man of War saw it too, a mass of shadow bubbling and writhing at the base of North Storm, thrashing the water to foamy white. A few more arrows flitted across the divide; one headed straight towards Nerine but was caught in her guard’s shield. The Man of War started to turn away, trying to flee the shadows. Nerine couldn’t allow it; she’d promised Rin further sacrifice, and the sea goddess would have her payment one way or another.

A dark tentacle shot out from the writhing mass beneath the boat. It darted in and out of the water, as thick as a main mast and as strong as steel. Panic hit the deck of the Man of War, but it was too late for them to get out of the way and the shadowy tendril punched through the hull and started to drag the huge ship down.

With the sorcery finished, Nerine closed herself off from the power of the sea goddess. Her limbs grew heavy, exhaustion flooding her body. She wanted to rest, to close her eyes and sleep, but the battle was far from over and she had to see what her shadow monster could do. It was almost as large as the shadow she’d once defeated in order to gain its power.

Another dark tentacle shot out from North Storm and ripped its way into the other ship’s hull, followed quickly by another. Screams floated over the water along with a final few arrows. Then the bulk of the monster detached itself from the North Storm and rushed across the waves. It slammed into the Man of War, sending it rocking and reeling.

The creature was far from pretty – a bloated mass, much like a tick, with dark, flailing arms that ripped at its prey. Soldiers and sailors were crushed or sent sailing through the air to land in the waves, where they were quickly plucked from the surface to be dragged below by darting figures Nerine couldn’t quite see. Wood was torn free from the rest of the ship to be tossed away and forgotten. One mast was chopped down with a casual flick and another soon followed as the beast pulled its shadowy body up onto the Man of War’s deck. Some of the soldiers attempted to attack the creature, but their weapons had no effect. Steel could do nothing against a shadow. They would be better served by fire, but it would have to be an inferno to scare away such a monster.

The crew of North Storm had all but stopped their work to get the ship under way again. They stood staring at the carnage Nerine’s creation was causing. Awe had a way of distracting men.

“A kraken,”said one of the crew. A misinformed opinion, but one Nerine was happy to allow if it meant she retained some anonymity. “Never thought I’d see one.”

“Aye,” Captain Khan shouted. “A kraken. Guess Rin really must be looking out for us. Now get the fuck back to fixing my ship.”

Chapter 66 - The Phoenix

The world was noise and bright light.

Keelin was lying on a deck, staring up at a mast as it slowly toppled away from him. The blue sky was marred by dirty clouds of rising black smoke. The air itself tasted acrid and his chest hurt when he breathed.

Rolling onto his side, Keelin started coughing. The ringing was fading a little now, and he could hear shouts and screams, and the creaking and groaning of a ship in poor health.

Strong arms grabbed hold of him and started to pull him up. With a sigh, Keelin relented and got his feet underneath him. Another coughing fit hit, and he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. Every bit of him seemed to hurt, and none more so than the feeling of his brain trying to drill its way out of his skull.

It took a lot of effort to open his eyes again, but when he did Keelin found Smithe staring at him, waving a hand in front of his face and mumbling something under the sounds of death and fire.

“What is it, Smithe?” Keelin said as he looked around. His voice was quiet, distant.

There was a hole in the Man of War – a rather large hole – and blood and bits of people all around. Somewhere below decks a fire seemed to be raging, and smoke was rising up out of the hole. The deck shifted a little beneath Keelin’s feet, a movement he knew well. The boat was taking on water fast and would be sunk in mere minutes.

Smithe shook Keelin by the shoulders, and he looked back to find a concerned expression on his quartermaster’s face. Keelin had to concentrate to decipher the man’s words over the din that was hammering inside his own head.

“Morley,” Smithe shouted.

“What about him?” Keelin said.

Smithe pointed at the hole in the Man of War. “Don’t reckon he made it, Cap’n.”

“Fuck.” Keelin launched into another coughing fit. The smoke was starting to get thick and his lungs were burning. “Get everyone back on board The Phoenix. And congratulations on making first mate.”

He expected Smithe to smile or gloat. Instead, the burly pirate looked sad and tired. A moment later Smithe was storming off, shouting orders.

Nearby, Deun Burn was staring down into the hole. The ship was noticeably lower in the water. It gave an unsteady lurch; they had very little time left.

“Deun,” Keelin shouted as he approached. Even with his voiced raised, he still sounded quiet to his own ears.

The Riverlander turned to look at him. His skull face was smudged with ash and he had a haunted look about him.

The Man of War gave an awkward creaking sound followed by the unmistakeable snapping of planks. Keelin glanced down at the deck, hoping he had enough time.

“Deun,” Keelin repeated, stopping close to the Riverlander. “How many have you lost?”

“Too many,” Burn said. “Too many lost to this war. To Morrass’ war.”

“Bring your crew aboard The Phoenix,” Keelin said quickly. “We’ve both lost too many. Apart we will be beaten by the next boat we try to board, but together we’re stronger than we were before.”

“Rheel Toa…” Deun said.

“Will float here safe and abandoned. We’ll drop you back on your ship once this fight is over.” There was another creaking crack beneath them. A second mast snapped and fell, toppling over the aft railing.

“Quickly, Deun.”

The Riverlander nodded slowly and turned away, barking orders to his crew in their own language. Keelin let out a deep sigh and ran towards his ship. The Riverlanders joined him, swelling the numbers of his crew.

As the Man of War finally collapsed in on itself and sank beneath the waves, leaving bits of flotsam and bad memories as the only proof it had ever existed, Keelin scanned the sea. Everywhere he looked, ships were locked together, ships were on fire, ships were stopping near wreckage to pull their comrades out of the deep blue. The sun was shining and the world somehow seemed dark.

“We’ve got incoming,” Deun Burn said, and Keelin turned. The Riverlander was growling as he stared out to sea. Keelin followed his gaze; another ship was approaching, flying the colours of Sarth and wearing the scars of a recent battle and victory.

“Ready to repel boarders,” Keelin shouted.

Chapter 67 - Starry Dawn

Elaina scrambled up the rigging as fast her hands and feet would carry her, climbing in a way that would have made her mother’s monkeys proud. Reaching the yard, she grabbed hold with both hands and let go with her feet, dangling high above the deck. She turned and swung her legs up to grip around the yard and started to scurry along, upside down. By the time she reached the flaming section of sail it was long past salvageable. Elaina wrapped her legs tight and let go with her hands, pulling a dagger from her belt and cutting away at the sail with wild abandon. Before long the flaming canvas was floating harmlessly down to the deck, and Elaina had only a few minor burns to show for it. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“Cap,” Alfer shouted up from the deck. Everyone down below looked so small.

“Aye?”

“Ocean Deep is moving up on our stern.”

Elaina barked out a laugh and swung her body upwards, catching hold of the yard and turning around again, then headed back towards the mast. It was just like Blu to wait until the the fighting had thinned down a bit before joining in. No doubt the coward was looking to claim some glory. Some of Elaina’s glory.

Heading upwards instead of down, Elaina raced towards the nest. She climbed in quickly, giving Four-Eyed Pollick a quick shove. Pollick screamed, turning on Elaina with a small knife. “Oh, fuck. Sorry, Cap. Thought it was… um… I dunno, really. Not you.”

“We’re all a little on edge, Pol…” Elaina trailed off as she took in the sight from up high. As far as she could see, ships dotted the blue water, some locked together, others sailing or sinking. One pirate ship was running – or rather limping, given the condition of its sails – back towards home. The thickest of the fighting was to the north. Man of Wars and galleons from both sides were crashing into each other, tiny specks leaping from one ship to another. Captain Khan’s behemoth was over that way too. The ship was moving, but it looked in bad shape. Even from such a distance Elaina could see the holes in her side and the smoke still trailing out of her hold. North Storm wasn’t done though. She was turning towards the fight and picking up speed.

Close to Khan’s ship was an enemy Man of War swamped beneath some sort of dark mass that was tearing at the ship. At first Elaina thought it was Everfire, but it didn’t appear to be burning, just ripping the ship to pieces.

The Black Death was free of enemies and sailing fast towards the fighting to the north. Elaina knew her father well enough to know the man would be itching to get into every fight he could find and sow as much chaos as possible, furthering his own dark reputation. Elaina wished she could be beside him, but she wished to be queen even more.

Ocean Deep was slowing beside them, and from up high Elaina could see Blu’s crew on deck and armed, many of them looking like they were about to board an enemy. A nasty feeling started crawling its way through her gut.

Half swinging, half falling, Elaina raced down ropes and rigging to the deck of her ship. She arrived just as Blu’s men starting to board. Her brother’s crew were armed and fresh and ready for a fight. Elaina’s crew were weary from battle and not expecting an ambush from those they considered allies.

Ocean Deep’s pirates started moving forwards, overwhelming Starry Dawn’s crew with sheer numbers. None of Elaina’s pirates fought back; they knew when they were well and truly fucked, and this was most definitely one of those times. Swords were taken, knives confiscated, and any who fought back were given an efficient beating.

As soon as Elaina’s crew had not a weapon to share among them, Blu appeared. He leapt down from his bigger vessel with a cruel grin.

“What’s the meaning of this, Blu?” Elaina shouted up to her brother. She was itching to get her hands on a sword. Unfortunately the traitorous pirates had taken hers, and it didn’t look like they were considering giving it back.

“Ho, little sister,” Blu said with a smug grin. He was wearing his finest clothing. There was a battle raging around them, and here was her brother, dressed up like a peacock, staying far clear of the fighting.

“Get off my ship, Blu,” Elaina hissed.

“Um… no,” Blu said, following up with a dramatic laugh that many of his crew picked up and carried on.

“Cap?” Surge said. “What do we do?”

“You do nothing,” Blu shouted. “What can you do? This ship is mine now, taken in battle, and all you on board are my prisoners. I expect them back at Land’s End will want a few pirates to hang once all this is over.”

“You’re siding with them?” Elaina said.

Blu looked at his sister and laughed. “Da said you were as good as queen already. Reckoned the only thing that’d keep ya from it is death. Time to test that.”

Chapter 68 - King’s Justice

“That one seems to be coming right for us,” Daimen said. “Looks like Tanner ta me.”

Admiral Wulfden shouldered Daimen out of the way and stared at the approaching ship. Their escorts had been forced to peel away, and now there was nothing between them and the angry pirates bearing down upon them.

“How can you be sure it’s that black-hearted wretch?” Wulfden said.

“Well, mate, the first thing to give it away would be that it’s his ship.”

Wulfden growled and shoved past Daimen again. It appeared that no matter where he stood, it was always in the man’s way. The admiral ran a hand through his perfectly groomed hair, messing it out of place, and sent a worried glance towards one of his officers, who looked nervously at one of the other officers.

They were in trouble, and no mistake. Two other Man of Wars had been assigned to escort the admiral and his ship. One of them was busy suffering at the hands of North Storm, and the other had been sunk by what looked like a kraken. The wind had gone right out of the admiral’s sails when the beasty rose up from the water and ripped the ship to pieces.

“His ship is smaller,” Wulfden said. “We will outnumber his forces.”

“Aye,” Daimen said. “Reckon ya will. Of course, Tanner Black ain’t exactly a stranger to taking on shitty odds, mate. His men are rabid blood drinkers. Half of them ain’t even rightly people. Least, not like you and me. Civilised folk, ya know. Word is he uses some dark magics too.”

The admiral glared at Daimen, who almost laughed. The wind was already turning, and he was about to find himself on the wrong side of it again. He needed a way out, and it was unlikely Tanner would provide one for him. He needed to convince Wulfden to turn tail and flee.

“I’ve heard…” Daimen started.

“Shut up, Poole,” Admiral Wulfden hissed. “Turn us into them. I want all hands armed and ready. Tanner Black in chains will be a fitting prize to present to the king.”

The officers jumped to their admiral’s orders while Daimen stood nearby, trying to figure out a way to get the man to change his mind.

“Battle don’t look to be going too well,” he ventured.

“It could still go either way,” Wulfden growled. “See there.” He pointed towards North Storm and the Man of War locked together. “We have weakened the vessel. She falls apart as my soldiers cut down her crew.”

“Ya ships are burning, Admiral.”

“So are yours.” Wulfden glared scathingly at Daimen. “Do you really think yourself so subtle, pirate? Your loyalties are finally made clear. Don’t worry, I assure you you will live to see your people die.”

“My loyalties are to myself, mate. And I’m not responsible for this shit storm you think you’re winning. You are.”

The admiral turned and drew his sabre from its sheath.

“Ah, fuck me.” Daimen backed away. “What happened to keeping me alive to witness the downfall of me people?”

“I find myself no longer able to abide your presence, Poole.” Wulfden took a wild swing in Daimen’s direction.

“Admiral?” shouted one of the officers.

“Just ridding myself of this pest.” Wulfden took another swing.

Daimen again dodged backwards out of his reach, well aware that he would soon run out of places to run. The man led forwards with a lazy thrust and Daimen turned away from the attack, again moving out of his range. Wulfden was already starting to redden in the cheeks.

“Stand still and die,” he said with another swipe.

“Aye, fuck that.” Daimen stepped into the next thrust. The blade missed him by a breath and he punched the admiral hard in the face, and then again because he really wanted to.

Stunned and reeling, Wulfden was in no condition to stop Daimen as he plucked the sabre from his fat hand and spun him around. He held him tight, sword to chubby neck.

The soldiers and sailors who had rushed to their commander’s aid quickly slowed when they saw shining steel threatening to murder the man in charge.

“Aye, I reckon ya all got the right of it now. Any of you fuckers take another step my way and I’ll bleed this bastard like the fat fucking pig he is.”

The admiral groaned.

“Ah, fuck you too. I’ll curse all I fucking want.”

Wulfden was starting to recover from the punches, no doubt realising exactly what was happening and how much shit he was in. “You’ll hang for this, Poole.”

Daimen pulled the sabre a little closer to the man’s throat, pressing it tight against his skin. “Well, seeing as you were about to kill me anyway, I reckon I’ll take my bloody chances. ’Sides, all I’m trying to do is save all our lives. You, ya fat fuck, should be shitting grateful, not trying to skewer me.”

“Uh, Admiral…” said one of the officers, the one with the shifty eyes.

“Turn us around,” Daimen shouted. “Back ta the Five Kingdoms, I reckon. Haste and all that.”

“They’ll broadside us.”

Daimen risked a glanced behind. The Black Death was closer than he’d have liked and bearing down on them with speed. For a brief moment he thought he could even see Tanner Black standing on the bow, grinning with mad abandon as he came on.

“Fuck!” Daimen turned back to the crew. Wulfden was sweating and his skin was slick. The bastard was fidgeting, but was far too scared to move with a blade so close to his throat.

Daimen grabbed hold of the admiral’s left arm and twisted it behind his back so that he hissed in pain. Confident that his prisoner had no chance of escape, Daimen raised his voice to a shout. “Pull in the sails and bring us to a stop. All weapons down. Any one of you fucks thinks to fight and I’ll bleed this bastard.”

A few of the sailors glanced at each other; the officers looked far from convinced. “If we surrender they’ll kill us.”

Daimen laughed. “Of course not. Tanner Black is many things, it’s true, but the man’s honourable as an ordained priest.” Daimen had to wonder if he’d ever told a bigger lie. “We surrender the ship and he’ll let ya all live. Better chance than trying to fight him. Not to mention having to explain to ya king why your admiral is missing his throat.”

“Do it!” Wulfden sputtered.

Daimen had to respect the crew for their loyalty. They quickly set about taking in the canvas and all weapons were dropped to the deck. A crew of pirates would have stormed Daimen whether he held their captain or not.

The Black Death sailed up beside them in quick order, and Daimen could see Tanner and his murderous crew waiting aboard. Grapples were quickly tossed over, and a moment later pirates swarmed onto the deck of the Man of War, Tanner first among them. They paused when they saw the sailors and soldiers of the Five Kingdoms huddled at the far end of the deck, unarmed and expecting quarter. Tanner stepped forward and eyed the cowering men, then swept his gaze up to where Daimen was standing, his sword still at the admiral’s neck.

“Uh…” Tanner started.

“We surrender,” Wulfden said as Daimen pressed the blade a little tighter.

“Wonderful,” said Tanner. “We don’t.”

“Prisoners, Tanner,” Daimen shouted.

“Ah, you know me, Poole – I don’t take any.”

There was some nervous shifting on the deck where the Five Kingdoms soldiers and sailors were cowering. They had only a few weapons close by, whereas Tanner’s crew were far forwards, weapons ready and menacing.

“You do now.”

“You don’t dictate terms to me, ya damned traitor. Especially not when I’ve taken your ship.”

“Ya only took the fucking ship because I made them surrender.”

“And we of the isles thank ya from the bottom of our hearts.” Tanner mounted the steps to the forecastle. “Still going to kill you all though.”

“Fuck me, Tanner. Would ya just take ya head out of ya arse for a drop and look at what I’m giving you? This fat bastard is Admiral Wulfden, commander of this here entire fleet. He’s the key to winning this war right now. He can give the signal to surrender. For all of them to surrender.”

“I would never…” Wulfden sputtered.

“No?” Tanner said. “I think you will.”

With a wave, Tanner summoned a couple of his crew forwards to take custody of the admiral. Tanner remained behind, his sword drawn and a dark look in his eyes as he stared at Daimen.

“Don’t see why we need you, mate,” he said with a grin.

Daimen threw Wulfden’s sabre to the deck. “I’m not the traitor, Tanner. I just did what I had to to survive. Fucking Morrass is the traitor.”

“What?”

“Bastard set this entire thing up. Organised it right from the burning of Black Sands. He’s the reason all this is happening. He sacrificed hundreds, thousands, just to sit his arse on a throne and have you lick his boots.”

“That so?” Tanner said, advancing on Daimen. “Tell me, Poole. Have ya got any proof?”

Chapter 69 - North Storm

The clash of steel on steel rang out loud as T’ruck landed a heavy blow on the gaunt soldier. Before the man could recover, T’ruck sent another overhead swipe crashing into the bastard’s sword. They weren’t even from the Five Kingdoms – these men were wearing the blue-black colours of Sarth – but T’ruck didn’t care. His blood was up and pumping rage-fuelled strength through his veins.

The man beside him, a charming veteran of the seas, went down with a sword in his gut, and T’ruck roared. He shoved his huge shield forwards, pushing the gaunt soldier backwards, and then swung at the soldier who had skewered the pirate. T’ruck couldn’t remember the pirate’s name, but it didn’t matter; the man was part of his crew, and T’ruck counted his crew as family.

A woman almost as tanned as T’ruck himself stepped forward over the groaning veteran as he died, and T’ruck treated her to a toothy grin before charging into the enemy lines.

A lucky strike opened a wound on T’ruck’s right leg, but it wasn’t serious enough to bring him down. He swung his sword first to his left, over the top of his shield, and then to his right, causing as much chaos as he could in the enemy lines while his own crew pushed forwards. Spinning around, T’ruck brought his sword upwards in a foolish slash that left him wide open. The blow caught a Sarth soldier in the face and snapped his head backwards. It was impossible to tell which killed the soldier – the gaping, bloody gash that had once been his face, or the broken neck. It didn’t really matter.

Parrying a spear thrust, T’ruck tripped over a body and stumbled. He caught himself on North Storm’s railing and realised for the first time just how close the two ships were. Loosely lashed together by some rope and grapples, the boats were only a man’s height from each other and North Storm was riding low in the water. More soldiers were waiting aboard the Man of War, and T’ruck had to admit that he was once again outnumbered.

His own crew were pushing hard against the Sarth soldiers now, trying to reclaim the deck of their ship, and T’ruck loosed a battle roar to inspire them.

A soldier crashed into T’ruck’s shield. The man was big and heavy and almost knocked him to the deck, but he steadied himself on one knee. His sword was gone, slipped from his grasp, so T’ruck reached forwards, grabbed hold of the soldier’s head, and slammed it against his shield. After three solid blows, the soldier was bloody and stunned. T’ruck pulled him around by his head and tossed the bastard overboard between the two ships. A hand locked onto T’ruck’s arm with an iron grip and tugged him half over the railing.

Dropping his shield and holding on to the railing, T’ruck struggled against the big soldier’s weight. The man’s face was bloody, and his snarling lips showed at least one broken tooth, but there was fear in his eyes.

The two ships were drifting closer, their hulls coming together. T’ruck tried to pull his arm back, but even his strength had limits.

“Let go!” he screamed at the soldier still gripping his arm.

T’ruck squeezed his eyes shut and pulled with every bit of strength he had as the two ships met. There was a brief scream and then he was free, stumbling backwards from the railing and colliding with someone, sending them both crashing to the deck.

When T’ruck opened his eyes he found himself lying atop a half-stunned soldier with a crooked nose and a dazed look in his eyes. T’ruck rolled off the man and back to his feet. He realised something was still attached to his wrist – an arm, severed at the shoulder, its fingers still locked in a death grip.

The soldier regained his knees and let out a shout as he thrust with his sword. T’ruck parried the blade with the severed arm then took the limb in both hands and swung hard. The bloody end crashed across the soldier’s face and sent him back to the deck, but T’ruck didn’t stop there. He swung again and again and again until the soldier stopped moving and the bloody limb lost its rictus grip on his wrist.

“Captain,” shouted one of his crew, and T’ruck looked up to see Pocket alive and well. It brought him much joy.

“Cut the ropes and get us clear,” T’ruck growled to his first mate, already looking around for his sword and shield. The two ships were close together now, and his crew had all but cleared the deck of North Storm. The soldiers from the Man of War were crowding their railing, still trying to stab across at the pirates.

“Captain, we can’t keep her afloat much longer,” Pocket said frantically. “Water’s coming in faster than we can bail. She’s going down.”

T’ruck looked across his ship and then back to the Man of War. Pocket was right. They were sinking, and quickly.

“All hands,” T’ruck roared. “Abandon ship! Let’s fucking take theirs!”

T’ruck scooped up his shield and a nearby axe and ran towards the railing. He leapt across to the Man of War, leading the charge and crashing a hole through the defenders.

T’ruck laid about, swinging left and right, blocking and barrelling through his enemies. He took wounds, feeling them all and ignoring them all. The pain only helped him feel more alive, and he had to live. He was no longer just living for himself, not since taking North Storm. Now he was living for Yu’truda as well. Now he was living for his clan as its sole survivor.

T’ruck lost track of time. Lost track of the number of men he maimed or killed. One moment he was fighting alone amidst a sea of hostile blades, and the next he was surrounded by his crew, their ferocity bolstering him when he began to tire.

Somewhere, far away, a horn blew loudly, its cry echoing across the waters. T’ruck planted his axe in a man’s skull and kicked the body away, wrenching the dinted blade from the corpse as it fell. He turned, looking for another fool to die by his hand, but the remaining crew of the Sarth Man of War were backing away and laying down arms. They were surrendering.

T’ruck stalked towards a soldier who was leaning against the main mast. The man winced and dropped to a knee, one hand held up as if to defend himself.

“Get up,” T’ruck screamed. “Fight me.”

“We surrender,” the man cried, his eyes full of fear.

“All of you?” he roared. “There must be one among you not a coward. Come at me.” He threw his shield away. “Come at me!”

None of the soldiers made a move other than to cower and look away.

With a roar, T’ruck flung his axe as hard as he could out to sea. He looked out at the battle. Ships were on fire. Ships were sunk or sinking. Ships were locked together. The sky was just beginning to darken, and not from the smoke, though there was plenty of that.

North Storm was sinking on the other side of the Man of War. T’ruck could no longer see his ship’s deck, only the masts and the men and women still scrambling aboard the new boat.

The witch, Lady Tsokei, glided past him. The woman was as graceful as she was dangerous, even surrounded by armed pirates on a deck slick with blood. She looked out across the battle and then glanced back, motioning to T’ruck.

“What is it?” he growled as he joined her at the railing. He had no stomach for accepting the soldiers’ surrender, instead trusting Pocket to secure the prisoners.

“Do you see the flags?” Lady Tsokei said.

The blast of a horn floated across the sea again, and T’ruck squinted against the low sun. Ships were fleeing the carnage – not pirate ships, but his enemies’. White flags were rising on those that remained.

Chapter 70 - Starry Dawn

“You mean to kill me then, brother?” Elaina said, her head held high despite the shitty situation. If she was about to die then she would bloody well go out fighting and do her best to take Blu with her, not cowering in fear and pleading for her life.

“Yes,” Blu replied with a grin.

“Thought we was taking prisoners?” said one of Blu’s crew, a large man with long hair tied into a braid. “To hang. A, uh… What you call it? A gift. Ain’t much of a better one than the queen.”

“Aye, we’re taking tributes back to King Veritean. Not her though.” Blu’s lip curled upwards into an ugly smile, the same one their father wore when he got violent. “Too dangerous. Gotta kill her.”

“What about Da?” Elaina said. “Ya think he’ll just let this go?”

“No. But then, not even Tanner Black can rise from a watery grave. Old bastard ain’t dead yet, then he will be soon. Doubt he’ll be taken alive for hanging though, probably just gutted on his own ship.”

“Nice and neat, eh? Everyone but you dead.” Elaina knew she had to buy time. Blu loved the sound of his own voice, and she hoped to keep him good and talking. With any luck another ship would stop by to even the odds. “You were the traitor all along, weren’t you?” A horn echoed across the water. It was far away, but some sounds carried for miles on the open ocean.

Blu laughed. “Aye. Ya nearly had me a while back, little sister. Remember that Acanthian fluyt? Captain was a Guild man through and through, spotted my ship docked up in Land’s End. Luckily for me, you killed him long before he could talk.”

Elaina swept her gaze over Blu’s crew. They were vicious bastards one and all, and they looked like they were just waiting for an excuse for a bit of violence. They were also pirates, and pirates didn’t like working for free.

“Just what are you getting out of this, Blu?”

“A pardon for my crimes. Land and a title in the Five Kingdoms. Legitimacy. No more of this risking my life to make other folk rich. Starting myself up as a merchant in a world without pirates. Seems fairly lucrative to me.”

Elaina laughed. “What about them?” she said. “What’s your crew get out of this?”

“Pardons and a place on my first merchant ship. Good pay and no risk.”

“And they’re content with that?” Elaina was looking not at Blu, but at his crew. “Content with giving up their freedom to live off whatever scraps you throw them?”

A few of the crew started to whisper among themselves.

“They’ll live, and they’ll live well. Better than dying here, nothing but food for the sharks and worse. Now, if you’re quite done talking, little sister, I’ve been wanting rid of you for a very long time.”

Elaina readied herself to leap at him; she doubted the bastard would kill her himself, but if he did she’d tear out his eyes before he was done.

A second horn blasted out across the water.

Blu paused, his head cocked to the side as if he expected more, but after a moment he shrugged and turned his attention back to Elaina. He advanced upon her with two of his crew at his side.

“Cap!” Four-Eyed Pollick called down from the nest. “The bastards are turning tail.”

“What?” shouted Blu, his eyes darting upwards.

Elaina grinned and punched Blu hard in the face. The bastard went down in a stunned, bleeding mess. Elaina shook the pain out of her hand. She was still faced by Blu’s crew, and they were still armed.

“Navy ships are fleeing,” Pollick shouted. “Those that can. White flags are rising on others.”

Blu shoved away the hands that were trying to help him up. “Kill ’em all!” he sputtered, pointing with his sword in Elaina’s direction.

Ocean Deep’s crew hesitated. It was all the delay Elaina needed.

“Fight is done,” she shouted. “Navy lost. We won. Ain’t no reward waiting for you now, Blu.”

“They know too much,” Blu said as he struggled back to his feet, addressing his crew. “Kill ’em or we’re all…”

“Pardons,” Elaina said, pitching her voice louder than her brother’s. “I offer you all pardons. Amnesty for your recent traitorous transgressions.”

“You…” Blu’s voice cracked a little.

“Are the queen of the isles. In charge.” Elaina grinned and took a step forward. Blu backed up and bumped against one of his crew. The pirate was looking from his captain to his queen, his expression intense.

“Attack us now and they’ll know. The whole of the isles will know,” Elaina said. “You’ll be hunted everywhere you run. No safe port in the known world will harbour you. Or you can stand down, take your traitorous captain into custody, and live in the kingdom we’ve just created. No repercussions for your crimes.”

“On your word?” said the big, long-haired pirate. She was negotiating with him now, Blu all but forgotten.

Elaina nodded. “As queen.”

“Wait,” Blu squealed. He lunged forwards with his sword, only to be dragged back by the man behind him.

The big pirate kicked Blu in the back of his knee, sending the bastard to the deck, and tore the sword from his hand. “This here is a mutiny,” he growled. “Don’t reckon you’re fit to lead no more, Cap’n.”

Blu screamed in fury and frustration, thrashing about, but more of his own crew moved forwards to restrain him. Elaina’s crew had started to pick up their weapons. There was still a nervous tension aboard the ship.

“I’ll fucking kill you for this, El,” Blu shouted.

“Shut it, Captain,” said the pirate holding Blu’s sword. He raised his arm to strike.

“Don’t kill him,” Elaina said quickly, rushing forwards and getting in the way before the pirate could swing.

“Fuck you, bitch,” Blu snapped. He tried to surge back to his feet, but his crew held him fast.

Elaina carefully reached up and took the sword from the big pirate’s hand. “Don’t kill him,” she repeated. “You kill him, and there ain’t nothing that will save you from our da. We hand him over to Tanner.”

The pirate looked far from convinced, but he nodded.

Blu laughed. “You do that, El. Hand me over to Da. I’ll be back on my ship in a day, and I’ll string the fucking lot of ya.”

Elaina’s brother thrashed about some more, but he was being held down by three of his own men and they held him fast. Eventually he stopped struggling and contented himself with spitting in Elaina’s direction.

“Alfer, show them to the brig,” Elaina said. “Throw the whore-faced dung pile in and bring me the key. Make sure he’s guarded too.”

As Alfer led the crew holding Blu below decks, Elaina faced the big pirate.

“You the first mate?” she said. There were a lot of Ocean Deep’s crew still aboard Starry Dawn, and even with her own crew armed once again, a fight would end badly for them. He nodded slowly, staring down at her.

“You can read?” Elaina said. “Letters and charts?”

“Aye.”

“What’s your name?”

“Mobep.” Judging by his skin colour and accent, he was from deep in the southern Wilds.

Elaina grinned and held out a hand. “Congratulations, mate. You just made captain. Ocean Deep is yours.”

Chapter 71 - The Phoenix

Keelin hung from the rigging of his ship as she sailed up next to the King’s Justice. Though, he had to admit, The Phoenix wasn’t so much sailing as she was limping. She was taking on water, missing both rigging and sail in places, and the wheel kept getting stuck. There would be nothing for it but to beach her for a while once they were safely back at New Sev’relain.

As soon as they were close enough Keelin wrapped a rope around his hand and swung across onto the deck of the King’s Justice. He needed to know why the navy forces had surrendered, and Tanner Black was sitting aboard the answer. A few moments later, Deun Burn landed nearby. The skull-faced Riverlander had been a pain in the arse ever since he’d come aboard Keelin’s ship, demanding to share in the command of The Phoenix and shouting orders to his men in the harsh language only the Riverlanders knew. Unfortunately, Deun and his crew were also the only reason Keelin and his own were still alive. They’d fought side by side and back to back against superior numbers, and while Keelin doubted he would ever like the Riverlander, he was starting to respect him.

“Stillwater.” Tanner Black’s voice rang out deep and loud. “Just the man I was looking for.”

Tanner was sitting on the poopdeck railing overlooking the quarterdeck, with a pipe in hand and the most unlikely company Keelin had expected to see.

“Socialising with traitors now, are we?” Keelin said as he drew close.

Tanner laughed. “Still better company than Riverlanders.”

Deun Burn hissed a couple of words and drew his sword. Keelin held up a hand to stop him. “Let it go,” he said quietly, and Deun sighed deeply. They were all exhausted.

“Good to see ya again, mate,” Daimen Poole said with a grin around a pipe of his own. “Fast friends, me and Tanner these days. Plenty in common.”

Tanner growled, and Daimen stopped short of patting the man’s arm.

“Such as?” Keelin joined the two at the railing and looked down over the quarterdeck.

There was a fat man tied to the mast, sagging against his ropes, and a large number of sailors and soldiers wearing the colours of the Five Kingdoms being menaced by Tanner’s crew. There were more soldiers being lowered to the water in a dinghy with no oars.

“A mutual disdain for Drake Morrass,” Tanner said, with a dark glance in Keelin’s direction.

“I’m still wondering why he’s even alive,” Keelin said, thumbing towards Daimen. “Shouldn’t he at least be down there, tied to the mast?”

“What? With the admiral?” Poole laughed.

“Wasn’t talking to you,” Keelin said.

“See how quickly my good friends turn on me?”

“You turned on us.” Keelin was a bare drop away from gutting the man.

“No, mate. I sacrificed myself, my ship, and my crew for you. Then I find out it was all for a lie. Drake started this war. Made a deal with that young pup of a king from the Five Kingdoms. He gave them Black Sands and was supposed to give them the rest of us too. Looks like he changed his mind though, figured he could use the war to unite us. Worked too. The bastard.”

Keelin looked to Tanner, who was staring back at him. He read the question in Keelin’s eyes and nodded once.

“Fuck,” Keelin said, climbing over the railing and sitting down next to Tanner. “Played us all like strings on a harp.”

“And what a melody he played,” Tanner said.

“Anyone find themselves in the least bit surprised, though?” Daimen said.

Keelin shook his head. He’d been suspicious of Drake from the start, but the man had a charisma about him and it had sucked Keelin in and muddled him up until he found himself believing all of Morrass’ shit. Worse than just believing it, he’d convinced others to believe it.

“Do we have proof?” he said.

“Do we need it?” Deun Burn hissed.

Tanner shrugged his big shoulders. “Got charts. Should match up with Drake’s.”

Keelin shook his head. “Fortune went down.”

“Eh?” Tanner said. “When?”

“Before the battle even started. Black flames. Reckon someone smashed the jar of Everfire.”

“With any luck the greasy rope-licker went down with his ship,” Daimen said with a laugh.

“If not, we’ve got him.” Tanner pointed with his pipe to the man tied to the mast. “Admiral of this here navy fleet. Confirmed everything Poole says.”

“That’s how you got them to surrender.” Keelin laughed. “I’d thought the fight could still have gone either way. Seemed odd they’d just turn tail and run.”

Tanner nodded. “Poole convinced the man to lay down arms.”

“At the point of a sword?”

Poole shrugged. “Best way to negotiate, I’ve always found.”

Tanner swung his legs over the railing and hopped down onto the poopdeck. “A word, Stillwater.”

Keelin suppressed a sigh and followed Tanner, marvelling at how much his limbs protested at the idea of moving again. They walked towards the stern and looked out at the calm waters that had just recently been a battlefield.

Ships were everywhere, some sailing, some limping, some doing their very best not to sink. At a rough count Keelin guessed they’d lost a full half of their vessels, including North Storm and Fortune. He didn’t even want to imagine how many people they’d lost.

“If Drake survived…” Keelin started.

“We’ll hang him,” Tanner finished.

Keelin nodded.

“It’s my daughter I want to talk about. Elaina will be queen, no doubt about that now.” Tanner smiled. “Without Drake around there’ll be plenty of people looking to sit beside her.”

“I’ve got…”

“I reckon it should be you, Stillwater.”

Keelin laughed. “I don’t think she needs anyone…”

“Don’t be dense, lad. Ain’t about needing a king over a queen, though Rin knows we’ll need one at some point to continue the line. It’s about my daughter needing someone to temper her… temper.”

Tanner grimaced. “Back on Ash, Stillwater, I agreed to join you and Drake because your argument was sound. I knew the folk of the isles would never follow me, nor would half of the captains. Also knew they’d follow Drake, at least to a point. Always knew the bastard would show his true colours eventually. It’s my temper, you see…”

“It’s your reputation, Tanner.”

“Aye, that too. A lot of that comes from my temper though. Short fuse, they call it. It’s a curse of my family. Elaina has the same damned temper.”

“I know.”

“Aye, and I know you know. So stop fucking interrupting me. She likes you. Always has. And she’s better around you. Calmer, happier. Less prone to fits of murderous rage.”

“Tanner, I’ve got a child on the way with…”

“Aye, that little squinty bitch you let swab ya deck. I know. What of it? You really think to pick her over my daughter? Over the chance to be king?”

Keelin sighed. He really had no idea what to do. Aimi was pregnant, it was true, but they hadn’t been getting along for a long time. There was friction there that went deeper than a simple misunderstanding, and it went deeper than Keelin cheating on Aimi. He also had to admit that Elaina was Elaina, and he’d loved her for as long as he’d been a pirate.

“Don’t mistake me, Stillwater,” Tanner continued. “I ain’t promising you to my daughter. Elaina will choose herself who she wants beside her. I’m saying you should ask, and I think she’ll take ya. Reckon you’ll both be better off with each other than without.”

Keelin stared out at the setting sun and wished he had a bottle of rum to help him drown his thoughts.

“Just remember, lad,” Tanner said. “I damn near raised you. Don’t ever expect me to bend a knee.”

Chapter 72 - Starry Dawn

The dead were given a sea burial en masse. Every ship still floating collected the bodies, both pirate and navy, and they were identified as best was possible. Names were noted, and the families of those that had them would be informed and paid for the sacrifice. Normally the bodies would have been wrapped in canvas and weighted, the best way to ensure they reached Rin’s court, but there were just too many. So many that Elaina was certain the dead outnumbered the living.

Starry Dawn’s ceremony was brief. The bodies were lined up on the deck and she spoke a few words about what their sacrifice meant to the isles and how Rin was sure to take them. Then they were thrown overboard. No one stopped to watch the denizens of the deep come up to feed on the dead. Everyone heard it though.

Once the ceremony was done, they broke out the rum and everyone drank more than a few measures. Elaina left her crew singing mournful shanties as she rowed Blu over to The Black Death. He was sullen and spiteful and might have tried to kill Elaina, but his hands were tied and the new captain of Ocean Deep accompanied them. Elaina left her brother with their father, and she wagered it was the last time she would ever see Tanner’s eldest son.

When the sun rose on the next morning, the real work began. The sea had gone from calm to choppy, which made the job at hand that much harder. Sailors and soldiers alike were given a choice. They could join the Pirate Isles, join the crews of those they’d fought against, or they could return to their kingdoms.

Many chose to join the pirates. They had before them a real opportunity for a new life, unfettered by their low status. In the Pirate Isles there was plenty of land and plenty of jobs, and Elaina felt her spirits soar as their ranks swelled.

Officers were taken as prisoners, to be returned to their own people upon agreement to the cessation of hostilities. Everyone else returning to their own homes was packed aboard the worst and most rickety of the vessels still floating and told to be on their way.

Elaina counted forty-four ships in her fleet by the time those wanting to return had been sent off. It was now official – the Pirate Isles had the largest and best-armed fleet of ships in the known world. There was simply nobody left to challenge them. But it wasn’t over, she knew that. Her people might crown her as queen, but there would be peace talks and negotiations before Sarth and the Five Kingdoms accepted the pirates as a nation of their own. They would, though, Elaina knew. She held all the cards now. She could form blockades around ports, lock down the shipping lanes. Her enemies had no option but to agree to her demands.

Word had got around about the Fortune burning before the battle, and only a few of her crew had turned up. Elaina dared to hope that Drake was dead.

The trip back to New Sev’relain was long and tedious despite the fair weather. Sharks and serpents and worse trailed them for a few days, hoping they would throw some more bodies overboard. Eventually even the most persistent of scavengers lost interest. Elaina took to imagining herself on a throne, maybe even with a crown.

When their home port rose up from the horizon, it was clear they weren’t the first to arrive. Some of the ships crowding the bay were new, while others were pirates who had fled the battle or left before the main force. Starry Dawn had kept pace with both The Phoenix and The Black Death, but the other two slowed as they approached to let Elaina make land first. It was a small sign of respect, one that put a smile on her face as her ship docked in the seat of her new empire.

Folk crowded the docks, from the piers to the sand and all the way back to the town proper. They came out in droves to see their new king and queen and hear of the battle that had finally secured their safety and freedom.

Elaina dressed for the occasion, wearing her best and smartest breeches and blouse and a long, grand coat over the top, all black. Her hair was getting long, almost down to her shoulders, so she tied it back with a bandana and applied just a touch of dark powder to make her blue eyes stand out. Feeling she looked every bit the conquering pirate queen, she strolled down the gangplank to the waiting masses.

Elaina had experienced notoriety before. This was different. The folk here didn’t just know her – they cheered for her, they celebrated her return. The noise was near deafening, and some folk even tried to touch her, almost as though by the mere act some of her good fortune might rub off on them. Through it all Elaina grinned and nodded and desperately tried not to reach for a weapon.

“Where’s Drake?” an older lady, plump and red-faced, said in a booming voice.

The crowd quietened to hear Elaina’s answer. “We don’t know,” she shouted. “The Fortune went down in the fight. He might have drowned.”

The noise started up again; this time it seemed far less happy. Folk were muttering to each other, some sending furtive glances Elaina’s way. The atmosphere was changing, and she wasn’t the only one to feel it. Some of her crew followed her down the gangplank and stood at her back.

Elaina took a deep breath and shouted over the crowd’s rumblings. “You all have likely heard that I married Drake. Queen of you and the isles. Well, that agreement went further than just looking pretty by Morrass’ side. I agreed to take on his dream should he fall in battle.”

It was a bold-faced lie. Elaina had never made such an agreement with Drake, and the marriage had clearly been under some duress on both sides, but she’d see his dream through all the same, because it was the right thing to do. Besides, the good folk of the Pirate Isles wanted to hear it. They needed to hear it.

“Drake might be gone, but I remain. We’ve won the battle, aye, and the rest of the war needs fighting with words, not swords. As queen, I’ll be visiting Sarth and the Five Kingdoms. I’ll make certain they realise they’re beaten and that if they ever bother us again, we’ll destroy them. I’ll make peace. A peace we can all prosper from.”

Some of the crowd turned and walked away, looking anything but happy, but more stayed; some even began cheering again. The plump older lady stepped forward, a sceptical look on her face.

“Do you really think you can do this in his stead?”

Elaina smiled. “I’ve already made an alliance with the free cities, and it was my fleet, more than his, that won us our freedom. Aye, I can do it. I’ll do a better damned job than he ever could.”

The woman chewed her lip for a moment before nodding and holding out her hand. “Name’s Breta. I sit on the council here. Brought folks’ problems to Drake when it was needed. I’d happily do the same for you.”

Elaina took Breta’s hand and shook it. It seemed to be all the confirmation many of the crowd needed, although a few more people still slunk away. It didn’t matter – it was the support of the many Elaina needed, and she’d convince the others through her actions.

Chapter 73 - The Phoenix

Keelin watched Elaina stroll up the beach towards the town, surrounded by people wanting her opinion or her orders. It wasn’t too long ago that he’d been in that position, with all the folk of New Sev’relain looking to him to solve their problems. He’d hated it then. It had seemed a real imposition when all he really wanted to do was sail the seas and find a way to exact his vengeance.

It all seemed a bit foolish now. Keelin had devoted so much of his life to hunting down the Arbiter only to find he’d been dead for Rin knew how long. So much of his life wasted. Now he needed to decide what he wanted to do with however much remained. On the one hand he could pursue Elaina and the throne she now came with; on the other he could try to make things right with Aimi.

Keelin sighed and leaned on the railing. “What do you think I should do?” he asked the figurehead. She was a glorious bird with wings of flame, hatching from naught but ashes. Rebirth from fire. Seemed a fitting name when he took the ship; after all, he’d set fire to his family home and then run away to become a pirate. It had seemed a romantic notion back then. The boy he’d been would never have expected to see so much blood, so much death.

A man departing one of the nearby ships caught his eye. A man with long, lanky hair and a milky white eye. Keelin turned and ran for the gangplank.

“I’m going ashore, Smithe,” he said as he ran past his new first mate, not waiting to hear a response.

Keelin launched himself down the gangplank and hit the pier running, holding onto his cutlasses so they wouldn’t swing around too much and injure anyone nearby. He spotted his quarry making his way up to the town proper.

Keelin caught up to the man under the shade of a lonely palm tree that dared to call the beach its home. “Prin…” he started, doubling over as he tried to catch his breath. “Princess.”

“Aye?” Princess said mournfully. He turned to Keelin with a heavy sigh. “Thought that were you, Stillwater. Nice jog?”

“Drake?” Keelin said, still breathing heavily in the close air.

Princess’ shoulders slumped. He looked old and worn through. “Dead,” he said.

“You’re sure?”

“Bitch of an Arbiter put two shots in his chest then set fire to the ship. Most of the crew burned up. Me and Anders got a boat lowered before that damned Everfire… No idea what happened to her. Everything got a bit hectic.” Princess let out a loud sigh. “I hope she drowned. Or burned. I think I’d prefer burned, actually.”

“Dead,” Keelin mused.

“Aye,” Princess said. “Now if ya don’t mind, I’m gonna go drink myself unconscious in the tavern. Got picked up by the Freedom, and Captain Zhou don’t let a drop of booze onto his ship. Bastard.”

Princess trudged away towards the town, leaving Keelin beneath the palm tree. After a few moments he realised someone was watching him, and he turned to find Aimi nearby. The bump of their child was starting to show beneath her blouse.

“Hi,” Keelin said, and cursed himself for how foolish he sounded.

“I wondered if you were gonna come see me,” Aimi said. “After a while I just thought, ‘Fuck it, I’ll take the first step.’”

“How are you?” Keelin smiled weakly. “How’s the, um…”

“I’m fine. Our child is fine. At least, as far as I can tell. It wriggles and kicks occasionally, makes it uncomfortable to do anything – and nothing.”

Keelin nodded. “Good. I mean, not about the discomfort, but… good.”

Aimi sighed. “So I hear we have a queen now. She doesn’t like me.”

“It’s not you she doesn’t like.”

“Yes, it is.” Aimi shook her head. She joined Keelin underneath the palm tree and sat down on the sand.

She smelled of wood smoke and hard work. It was strange. Before, Aimi had always smelled of the sea.

“Feel free to join me,” she said, a hard edge to her voice.

Keelin laughed and did as he was bid. He struggled to think of something to say. Only a few months ago they’d spent hours at a time sitting in his cabin and talking of everything and nothing, and now he couldn’t think of a damned thing to say to her. He looked down at her midsection, at the bump. At his child. It was strange to think there was something living in there. Even stranger that he’d never even thought of it until now.

“Oh, for the love of Rin,” Aimi said with a sigh. She reached over, grabbed hold of Keelin’s hand, and placed it on her belly.

Keelin went rigid, and he wasn’t even sure why. He felt nothing. Only tight skin stretched over a rounded bump where once her stomach had been flat.

“Um…”

“It’s not moving at the moment,” Aimi said. She took her hand away and Keelin quickly withdrew his own. “I’ll let you know if it starts again.”

“Good,” Keelin said, and they both fell silent. “You said her name over land.”

Aimi sighed and sent him a withering stare over her shoulder. “I’m carrying a child conceived at sea, Keelin. She’s not about to smite me down for saying her name.”

“That’s true, I suppose.” He was still trying to decide what to do, which course to take. Sometimes it was best to jump in with both feet, set your course and stick to it.

“I think you should move back onto the ship,” he said, finally making a decision.

“I think that’s a bad idea.”

“Huh?”

“I was born at sea, Keelin, you know that. I want our child to be born at sea as well. Just not aboard The Phoenix. I…” Aimi paused, frowning. “I don’t think we work together. If we did you wouldn’t have run off and fucked Queen Bitch. I wouldn’t have spent the last few months hating you.”

Keelin stared towards the port, desperately trying to think of something to say. The problem was that Aimi was right, and he knew it. Both of them knew it.

“You hate me?” he said.

“No. Yes. Not any more. Maybe a bit, still. I certainly don’t love you, though.” She gave him a tired smile. “I like you well enough, Keelin – most of the time. I just think we should have left it at that.”

Aimi laughed bitterly. “You know what I realised recently? When you fucked the queen, I wasn’t angry at her for trying to steal you. I was just angry at her for trying to steal something that was mine.”

“So you were angry at her?” Keelin felt lost and confused.

“I was angry at you too, Keelin.”

He let out a quick laugh and decided to change the subject. “Where will you go?”

“Point is, I was never really in it for you,” Aimi continued. “Was just using you, I guess. Looks like we’re both getting something out of it, at least.” She placed a hand on her belly.

“I ain’t leaving the isles,” she said after a few moments. “Got something like a home here. Friends, at least. There’s plenty of ships that take on women. Might even start seeing a few more of us as captains now, eh?”

Keelin nodded, and they were both silent for a while. “I’m sorry, Aimi,” he said eventually.

“What for? If it’s for fucking the queen back in HwoyonDo, then apology accepted. Anything else… Well, we both knew what we were doing, Cap’n. Nothing else to apologise for.”

Keelin laughed, and a moment later Aimi joined in. For a while it was just like things were the way they used to be. Only they weren’t.

“Just don’t think this lets you off the hook,” she said, glaring at him. “Just ’cos you and me aren’t together don’t mean you don’t have some responsibility here. You put this child inside of me, and you’re fucking well gonna help raise it.”

Chapter 74 - New Sev’relain

“Drink to the fallen,” Princess shouted, and not for the first time that night.

“We’ll be joining them soon.” A number of others took up the toast.

Daimen didn’t join in the toast. It wasn’t that he thought that the folk who had died didn’t deserve remembering, didn’t deserve being toasted. It was that he knew Princess and Zothus and all the others over on that side of the tavern were toasting to one man in particular.

“Someone should tell them bastards just why the fucker don’t need toasting,” he said sullenly.

He was angry, and he had every right to be. Drake was being touted as a hero, a martyr to the pirates and their cause. Morrass would forever be known as the first king of the Pirate Isles despite never having sat a throne or worn a crown. To make matters worse, those same folk who thought Drake so mighty also looked at Daimen as though he were a traitor. As though he hadn’t saved them all by getting Admiral Wulfden to surrender.

“Leave it be, Poole,” Tanner Black rumbled from his side of the table.

Tanner had eschewed his normal court of sycophants and not-so-subtle guards, and Daimen had chosen to sit with him. They were far from friends, but Tanner was one of the few people who knew the secrets Daimen knew. They’d all agreed to keep the truth about Drake to themselves.

“Folk deserve to know,” Daimen grumbled.

“No, mate, they don’t,” Tanner said around a tankard of weak ale. “Bastard is dead. Something good came out of him, at least. Telling all of them now only serves to weaken the unity. Might even be enough to break us all apart again.”

“When did you get so damned fucking reasonable?”

Tanner turned a dark gaze on Daimen. “The moment my daughter claimed her rightful place. She’ll be queen, and I’d bet me ship that Stillwater’ll be king.” Tanner chuckled, and Daimen had the feeling the man was a little drunk. “I raised both of ’em myself. Taught ’em all they know.”

Tanner gripped his mug of ale hard. “Drake is dead, and the kingdom he helped to build will be ruled by my descendants. Reckon that means I won, mate. And all I have to do is hold my peace. Reckon I can do that.”

“Ah… fair enough.” Daimen knew better than to argue with Tanner Black over his family. No one knew what had happened to Blu. Elaina had delivered her brother to their father and named him a traitor. Since then the fate of Tanner’s eldest son was uncertain. Somehow Daimen doubted the man was dead. Tanner was a cruel bastard and no mistake, but even he might quibble at the act of killing his own children.

Daimen drained his tankard and slammed it down onto the table. “Reckon I might go take a piss, mate.”

“Feel free to not come back,” Tanner said, a dark look in his eyes that had Daimen agreeing it might be best to leave the pirate alone. Tanner might be acting civil now, but it clearly didn’t sit well in his gut.

Daimen gave the man a mocking smile as he stood and started shoving his way through the dancing and cavorting pirates towards the tavern door.

“Drink to the fallen,” Princess shouted.

Daimen slammed the door behind him before the others could complete their toast.

“We'll be joining them soon!” the muffled words travelled easily through the door.

It was a dark night, and a dark mood settled in upon Daimen. He’d drunk enough that he felt a little tipsy, and not even the rare cool breeze blowing through the town could lift his spirits. He felt cheated and used and angry.

Turning towards the ocean, Daimen started walking. He needed a piss, it was true, and the sound of the waves lapping against the sand had always helped him get things started, but it was more than that. Daimen needed his spirits lifting, and the sight of the sea and the boats floating in the bay might just help him with that.

The Merry Fuck, New Sev’relain’s largest whore house, was just across the way from the Righteous Indignation, and it was alive with light and sound spilling out of every door and window. No doubt the whores would be making something close to a killing on a night like this, filled with the coins of the victorious. Daimen had grown up in an establishment just like it, and though he’d long ago put his past behind him, he never visited brothels.

The streets of New Sev’relain were as full of hustle and bustle as its taverns and whore houses. Daimen had rarely seen a town so drunk on its own celebration. Just a year ago he’d have been given nods of respect, maybe even the odd kind word. Now all he received were hostile stares or the quick aversion of eyes. Only Admiral Tatters stared up at him without animosity. Daimen approached the terminal drunk and flipped a bronze bit into the dirt next to him.

“Thank you, kind sir,” Tatters slurred, pawing around in the dust to find the coin.

“Reckon ya might be able to go home now, Tatters,” Daimen said with a smile he didn’t feel.

“Home,” Tatters mumbled. “I am home.”

“Nah, mate. I mean ya real home. Sarth or some such, aye? Ain’t you got family there, maybe waiting for ya? Parents? Wife? Kids?”

Tatters frowned and raised a mostly empty bottle to his lips. “No. Sarth not home. Nothing there. I live here. Always have. Always will.”

Daimen groaned, and walked away with a shake of his head. Tatters was one more victim of Drake Morrass. The man had once been a proud admiral of Sarth. Now he lay on the streets of New Sev’relain, broken and drunk and trying desperately to forget his past.

Daimen stopped and turned back to Tatters. “That Arbiter. The one that followed Drake around. She killed him. Now, I don’t know what that means exactly as it pertains to her faith and yours – what’s left of it, anyways – but she killed him.”

Admiral Tatters frowned, and Daimen thought he saw a tear roll down the man’s face. Maybe he would sober up and return to Sarth, maybe not. Daimen hoped he could find some redemption though, if only to gain one small victory over Morrass.

Just a short way down towards the beach, Daimen spotted Elaina Black through a window. The woman was gesticulating wildly and her mouth was moving, saying something Daimen couldn’t hear. Whatever it was, she seemed animated. Then he saw Breta, the council woman, standing opposite Elaina, her arms crossed and a resolute look on her face.

Daimen almost laughed. He’d dealt with Breta and the rest of the council a few times, and he didn’t envy Elaina’s new position. Only Drake had ever been able to manipulate the formidable woman into anything, and even then she’d soon swung back to her own way of thinking. Breta was more responsible for the success of New Sev’relain than anyone else alive, and Elaina would need to realise that quickly if she was to survive her new crown.

The sandy beach of New Sev’relain’s port was busy with drunkenness, and musical notes drifted around the sound of bonfires crackle-popping. Daimen gave them all a wide berth; he had no wish to find himself confronted by a group of hostile pirates when there was a handy fire nearby for flaming acts of punishment.

Moving a fair way into the darkness, Daimen took in a deep breath, pulled out his cock, and started to piss, staring out towards the bay. It dawned on him that he’d need a new ship. Mary’s Virtue was long gone, another set of bones littering the waters around the island of Ash. There were plenty of available boats captured from their enemies now, though, and not nearly enough able captains for them. With Stillwater’s recommendation, Daimen would be sure to secure himself a vessel. The harder job would be finding a crew who didn’t know him, or finding the folk that didn’t believe him a traitor. Once he’d found himself the pirates to sail the boat, he could finally get back out on the water, under his own command again.

Of course, they wouldn’t be able to pirate any more, at least not like they used to. No. They would be tax collectors now; the only pirating to be done was to the ships who refused to pay to sail their waters. Daimen laughed bitterly.

“I guess the golden age of piracy is good and done now,” he muttered as he tucked his cock back into his breeches.

Debilitating pain blossomed in Daimen’s back, and in the same moment someone whispered “Traitor” in his ear. He staggered for a moment, and then his knees buckled, the sand rushing up to meet him. It dawned on him that he’d been stabbed, and the assassin had done a damned good job of it.

Daimen could feel the wetness spreading across his back, and the light was starting to fade. He couldn’t breathe, let alone shout for help. It took all the effort he could muster to roll over, and the last thing he saw was a slim man in a faded green suit stalking away in the darkness.

Chapter 75 - North Squall

T’ruck stared out towards the bay beyond New Sev’relain, at the ships that floated there. Some were bigger than others, but North Storm was gone. The biggest ship ever to sail the waters of the Pirate Isles, his ship, was nothing but wreckage lying at the bottom of a nameless stretch of deep blue.

He was sitting on a bench set out on the beach, a wooden table before him with two mugs of ale atop it. One was for him, and the other was for Yu’truda. She was gone, but not really. He felt her inside somehow – not quite her presence, nor even her memories, but there was something of her inside him. It was comforting in a strange way.

Lady Tsokei seemed to glide across the sand as she approached, and she lowered herself onto the bench across the table, her dark eyes boring into T’ruck’s own. He was just glad the witch was suppressing her aura of fear. He wasn’t in the mood to shit his britches.

“I have spoken to your queen,” Lady Tsokei said, a wry smile on her lips.

“Our queen,” T’ruck rumbled. “You helped. One of us now as much as any other.”

Lady Tsokei gave a short nod. “She seems to agree that given the king’s death, and his murderer, the Inquisition should be looked upon unfavourably here in the isles.”

“Safe harbour, is it?”

“As safe as one can be for people like me.” The witch smiled. “I have decided to stay with you for a while, Captain. I quite enjoy the sea.”

T’ruck shook his head. “I don’t even have a boat.”

“What about the Man of War we took towards the end of the battle?”

Again T’ruck shook his head. “Smaller than my last. They’re all smaller than my last.”

“I see.” Lady Tsokei looked past T’ruck and nodded. A few moments later Pocket flopped down onto the bench next to him, dumping a small ball of mottled brown fur on the table.

T’ruck glanced first at the witch, and then at his first mate, before turning his attention back to the ball of fur. It slowly uncurled into the shape of a kitten, with paws and ears too large for its body and innocent black eyes. It stared up at T’ruck and meowed quietly.

“What’s this?”

“New ship needs a cat, Captain,” Pocket said with a grin.

“She is smaller than the last one,” Lady Tsokei said. “But I am told the cat will be almost as large as me when fully grown.”

T’ruck snorted and poked a big finger at the kitten, knocking it onto its back. The little creature rolled onto its paws and leapt at T’ruck’s finger, savaging the digit with claws and teeth too small to do any damage.

“Crew is behind you, Captain,” Pocket continued. “Whichever ship you choose.”

T’ruck laughed as the kitten continued to attack his finger. The Five Kingdoms had beaten him and taken his entire clan away, killed them all. T’ruck Khan was the last of them. But he’d beaten the Five Kingdoms right back, and now he had a new clan. It was, now he thought about it, a far bigger clan than his last one.

Chapter 76 - Starry Dawn

Ten ships were preparing to leave, Starry Dawn among them. One ship was headed back to Chade, one of only two that had survived the battle. Rose might not be happy about the loss of so many of her vessels, but Elaina was sending reassurances that their agreement, and their friendship, still held. Elaina needed the alliance with Chade, and she suspected Chade needed the Pirate Isles too.

“I’ll be certain to send the Black Thorn your kindest regards,” a man slurred behind her. Elaina turned to see Drake Morrass’ spy grinning at her.

“You work for them too?” she said.

“My loyalties are many,” Anders confirmed with a deep bow. “I prefer to think I work with the Black Thorn. Though some of his people don’t like me very much.”

“Can’t think why.”

“Indeed. I’m a wonderfully amiable sort. Loved and feared by all.”

“Uh huh. One less loyalty now, though, eh?”

“What’s that?”

“Now Drake is gone.”

“Oh, that. Of course. Gone but not forgotten. I suspect you’ll build a statue of him or something.”

“Aye, or something.”

“Well, good luck, Your Majesty.” Anders dipped into a deep, sweeping bow, before rising unsteadily and staggering off towards the gangplank. He greeted a woman waiting for him there with a drunken hug. Elaina watched him go and then looked to the ship’s captain. The woman simply shrugged and followed the spy up to her ship.

Two of the ships leaving were from Larkos. A total of five vessels from the free city had survived the battle, and three of those had already gone, though with much reduced crews. Elaina had already sent a message of thanks to the Council of Thirteen, and another to the Queen of Blades.

Seven of the ships making preparations were her escort to Land’s End. It was a military force, and a substantial one. They’d already sent word to the Five Kingdoms that Elaina wanted to talk peace, but there was no way to know if they would be well received or hanged for the courtesy. Elaina intended to take enough of a naval presence that they could blockade the port if need be.

The docks were beyond busy, with supplies being loaded onto ships and pirates being roused from the town and marched onto their boats. Keelin was helping to load barrels of salted beef onto The Phoenix; he’d volunteered to accompany Elaina, and she’d been happy to accept.

Spotting her watching, Keelin wiped sweat from his forehead and dodged around a pirate carrying a hefty crate, launching himself down the gangplank and strolling her way. Elaina watched him with an amused grin, barely listening to Surge’s report on the status of Starry Dawn’s own loading.

“I was hoping we could have a word before we leave,” Keelin said, straightening the lapels on his jacket. Elaina liked that he was starting to take care of his appearance again; he’d even shaved recently.

“Standing right here, aren’t I?” Elaina only half turned towards him, as if she were actually listening to Surge.

“Right, it’s just…” Keelin drew in a deep breath, then sighed, as if he couldn’t find the words.

Elaina glanced at her fellow captain. “Go on. I’m listening.” She turned back towards Surge, who by now had stopped his report and was struggling not to laugh.

“Back in HwoyonDo, in the Observatory. What you said…”

“What did I say?”

“About preferring to sit beside me on the throne, instead of Morrass.”

“Oh.” Elaina glanced at Keelin and shrugged. “I might have. Long time ago. What of it?”

Keelin laughed. “Damnit, Elaina, you know what I mean.”

“Aye,” Elaina said, “I do. Still wanna hear you say it though.”

“Drake’s gone. I’d like it to be me who… sits beside you on the throne.”

Elaina grinned at Keelin, stepped close, and kissed him. She grabbed hold of his ass, and he gripped her waist, pulling her closer. It lasted only a moment before Elaina pushed away and stepped clear of him, a grin still fixed on her face. She felt her blood racing and her heart pounding. She wanted nothing so much as to drag Keelin to her cabin and see how much punishment her little cot could take. From the bulge in his trousers, she suspected Keelin had much the same urge.

“Maybe,” she said. “I have to focus on the peace talks for now. Ask me again afterwards.” With that she turned and started towards Starry Dawn, unable to wipe away her grin.

Chapter 77 - Starry Dawn

“It itches,” Keelin said, fidgeting and pulling at his collar.

“I reckon it’s supposed to,” Elaina said. “Something about keeping us off guard, maybe.”

Keelin snorted. “No. I grew up around here, remember. This is standard formal attire for these people.”

Elaina raised an eyebrow at him and turned her attention back to the dress. It was long and sleek, made from silk so it would cling to her curves and ripple as she moved. As black as her hair and name, it was cut modestly to hide her cleavage. The dress was beautiful, and Elaina had never before had a chance to wear its like. She’d rarely had a chance to wear any dress in her life. She wondered how she’d look in it, and wagered she’d be beautiful.

“I’m not wearing it,” she stated firmly.

“I think you’d look good in it,” Keelin said.

“I’d look fucking stunning in it.” Elaina grinned for just a moment. “Still not wearing it. And take off that suit – get back into ya normal clothes.”

“Gladly,” Keelin said, already unbuttoning the shirt. “You know how I like my fancy jackets, but this is just stifling. I honestly don’t know how folk can wear it. Damn near cuts off the airway. And these cuffs…”

“They’re trying to fit us into their world,” Elaina said. “Dress us up like them to… I dunno, civilise us, or something. Make us fit in with the rest of them.” She sighed deeply. “But we don’t fit in. That’s kind of the point, ain’t it.”

Keelin was still stripping, throwing the uncomfortable clothes onto a nearby chair. Elaina watched him undress. She decided she’d keep the dress. She would never wear it in front of any Five Kingdoms bastards, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t find another time to slip into it.

“Take your time,” she said playfully as Keelin pulled his old trousers up around his waist. He glanced at her over his shoulder and winked. Elaina just stared back.

Once he was dressed in his worn old suit of royal blue with gold trim, Elaina nodded at his cutlasses, discarded on a nearby couch.

Keelin laughed. “You think we’re gonna need weapons?”

“I think we won the war,” Elaina said. “And we’ve come to the seat of our enemy to demand they acquiesce to our demands. To demand peace. And I think that as we’re the only two here, we should be carrying as many weapons as we can.” She patted her own sword, buckled at her hip, for effect.

Once Keelin was armed again, they opened the door and signalled for the waiting attendant to lead them to his king. It wasn’t a long walk, but then Land’s End wasn’t the capital of the Five Kingdoms, and its palace wasn’t the greatest. The attendant talked as they went, and he assured Elaina that each of the six royal palaces in the capital city, Goldseat, were far grander. The man described gilded pillars of stone that took five men holding hands to circle, and a throne made entirely of gold. Elaina made sure to seem unimpressed. The truth was that she couldn’t not be impressed, given the sheer extravagance of such a waste of good gold.

Eventually they arrived at a set of grand oak doors with four guards standing outside, two wearing the blue-black of Sarth and the others in the white-gold of the Five Kingdoms.

“Perhaps we should have brought T’ruck to wait outside,” Keelin joked, and Elaina snorted out a laugh.

The doors were opened in short order, and Elaina and Keelin went through side by side.

“Queen Elaina Black and Captain Keelin Stillwater,” their attendant announced to the room, as though everyone there didn’t already know their names.

The first thing Elaina noticed was the guards. Two men and a woman dressed in plated metal armour stood near their king, and all three were well armed. One of the men was a giant, with a metal spear even taller than he was. Elaina was determined not to appear intimidated by their opposition bringing muscle to a negotiation.

“Welcome,” said King Jackt Veritean. He was wearing the exact same fake smile he’d worn when they first met just two days ago. The man was young and pretty and was dressed impeccably in a white suit and a golden crown that sat lightly upon his dark hair. He beckoned to two empty seats around the circular table.

Sitting next to the king was an older man with rosy cheeks. He looked like he was related. The size of the Veritean family was almost legendary, understandable given that its kings were required to take multiple wives.

The other man at the table was tall and thin with the golden hair that was so ubiquitous in the people of Sarth. He had piercing blue eyes and a thick blond moustache. He was, if anything, even younger than the Five Kingdoms king.

“Hable Brecker,” the Sarth man said, standing and giving a slight bow. “Ambassador to the God Emperor of Sarth.”

“Kick his arse and burn his ships and all he sends is a boy to treat with us.” Elaina grinned.

“I have full authority to make binding agreements on behalf of the God Emperor,” Ambassador Brecker assured them.

Elaina nodded and looked at Keelin, who simply shrugged back. After a moment she approached the nearest chair and pulled it out, sitting her arse down and crossing her arms. Keelin pulled out the second chair and joined her.

Elaina waited for someone else to start. She’d learned a lot from her father over the years, and putting folk on edge was a lesson she’d taken to heart. For a long time everyone just stared at each other.

“Would you like…”

“Reckon we’ve got you over a barrel,” Elaina said, interrupting the king’s advisor. It was another of her father’s ploys – let your opponent make the first move, but don’t let them finish it.

“I was going to suggest refreshments,” the advisor continued.

“You’ve had plenty of time to drink,” Elaina snapped. “We’re here to talk peace.”

“We are,” King Jackt said. “But talking can make one thirsty. I’ll have some wine brought in.”

Elaina shrugged and leaned back in her chair, her arms still crossed. “We still got you over a barrel.”

The king and the ambassador shared a look.

“You defeated our latest force, it’s true,” King Jackt said with a forced smile. “But do not think that constitutes our entire naval presence.”

“Yeah?” Elaina said. “You got anything left that can match our entire naval presence?”

Both the king and the ambassador remained silent. They could bluff and posture, but the threat the Pirate Isles now posed was too great to risk another confrontation. Elaina could now lock down trade between all the other great empires of man.

She shook her head and sighed. “I didn’t come here to threaten. Nor try to take everything you got. We came here to talk peace. To figure out a way we can all live together. I ain’t saying we don’t want some reparations for your slaughtering of our people and burning of our towns.” Elaina paused and let her words sink in. “But we’re not unreasonable.”

Keelin leaned forwards and took over, just as they’d planned. “We have this morning released fifty-four officers from our custody. Mostly nobles and such. Their families will be pleased to see them alive and well, I reckon. It’s an act of good faith on our part. We have another fifty-five aboard our ships, including one Admiral Wulfden. Our wish is to release them all upon agreeing terms here. We don’t want any more needless killing.”

“Do you have any of our soldiers held captive also?” said the king’s advisor.

“No,” said Keelin. “Those who survived were given the choice to stay in the Pirate Isles or return home. Those who chose the latter were sent on their way. Some have likely reached you already; any that haven’t aren’t likely to now.”

“These sound like hostages,” the ambassador said, sipping at the newly arrived wine.

“Aye, they are,” Keelin said. “Hostages against our safe conduct here, not bargaining chips. Whether or not we reach an agreement, the remaining hostages will be returned once we return to our ships.”

“Maybe we ain’t as vicious as you like to think, eh?” Elaina grinned savagely.

“Peace,” King Jackt said with a smile. “And how would you propose we attain such a thing? You rob and murder our citizens for your own personal gain. It is how you exist as you do. We may have brought a war to your islands, but in truth it was started by your own hands, by your people’s actions. You have been at war with us since your birth; we just finally decided to fight back.”

Elaina leaned forwards, smiling at the Five Kingdoms king. “Fought back and lost.”

Silence held for a good long while.

“Your numbers are too great,” the king’s advisor said eventually. “You take too many ships. Our merchants can no longer continue to operate at such a loss.”

“We propose a different way,” Keelin said. They’d discussed at length which of them should make the proposal, and Elaina had decided that it should be Keelin. They were following Drake’s plan, after all, and Keelin had been with him since the beginning. No one knew Morrass’ plan better.

“The truth is, the Pirate Isles are perfectly situated in the best shipping lanes between your two kingdoms, not to mention trade coming from or going to the Dragon Empire. What we propose is a tax for any and all ships wanting to sail our waters, wanting to use our islands for fresh water.”

“Robbery by a different name,” the Sarth ambassador exclaimed.

“Aye,” Elaina said. “But it’s robbery you’re going to agree to. Robbery you’re going to make legal.”

“At the moment we take maybe one in every fourth ship that sails through our waters,” Keelin said. “Far too high a number to continue, especially when we not only take the choicest goods, but we also take the ship’s supplies. Often those ships don’t make it to their destination because of that.”

“Not to mention the ships you steal, the crews you murder,” the advisor said bitterly.

“Casualties of war,” Elaina said with a wink.

“You’re making our point for us,” Keelin said quickly. “Instead of us taking one in every four ships, we tax every ship, the same way any port does. All of the ships reach their destination. All intact. All with their entire crew alive.”

“We offer protection, at a price, for sailing our waters,” Elaina said.

“Protection from yourselves,” said the king’s advisor.

“Aye. And from any others. We’ll be pretty harsh on folk who think to pirate our waters without consent.”

“And anyone who doesn’t pay your tax?” the ambassador said.

“Gets pirated to fuck.” Elaina chuckled. “Our ships will still be sailing our waters, and they’ll still stop folk and inspect them. Anyone who hasn’t paid for the privilege of passing through will have their cargo taken, their ship commandeered, and their crew killed. Pretty good incentive for folk to pay, aye?”

“This is…”

“I agree to the terms,” King Jackt said, interrupting his advisor. “In principle.”

All eyes turned to the Sarth ambassador. The boy suddenly looked very young, chewing on his lip. Elaina fixed her mouth to a smile and watched.

“Sarth concurs,” he said eventually. “In principle.”

Elaina laughed. “Excellent. Seems all that’s left is to talk figures. Where’s that wine?”

Epilogue

Beck mounted the stairs in a rush, her new coat, a replacement for the one lost at sea, billowing behind her. She was sweating by the time she reached the top of the tower, and she took off her hat to wipe at her brow. It wasn’t the first time she’d climbed the Inquisition’s tower of light, but it was the first time she’d raced up the steps. She was eager to meet with Inquisitor Vance, because she needed answers.

There were no guards at the door. With the ill health of Grand Inquisitor Artur Vance, his son was now the most powerful agent the Inquisition had at its disposal. Hironous needed no one to ensure his safety.

Beck paused before knocking to straighten her coat, take a deep breath, and attempt to reign in her emotions. Getting angry wouldn’t help her; the Inquisitor would likely respond better to calm. She knocked three times, and the call to enter was almost immediate. Beck opened the door and stepped inside. The room was much as she remembered. Books and scrolls lined the walls, each meticulously filed away in its own spot. A low fire crackled away in the far corner, a heavy iron grate in place to stop any stray embers escaping. A desk lay to the left of the room, and behind it sat the white-robed figure of Inquisitor Hironous Vance, eagerly scribbling away in the tome that he carried with him everywhere he went. Like his father, the only weapon Hironous ever carried was his personal book of sorceries.

“Arbiter Beck,” Inquisitor Vance said without looking up. “I have heard of your success. I would like to both congratulate you on and thank you for your service. Now, what can I do for you?” Finally he glanced up from his book, and his piercing yellow eyes seemed to look straight through Beck.

“You sent me to the Pirate Isles and told me to protect Drake Morrass. I assumed it was because you had seen he would be the target of some heretic, and I suppose he was.” Beck paused and let out a sigh. She’d intended to ease into the question, but now she was here all attempts at patience fled. “But once the Drurr were dead, you ordered me to kill him and burn his ship just before he led the pirates to war. Why, Inquisitor? Why did I have to kill Drake?”

Inquisitor Vance smiled sadly. “There are two answers to that question, Arbiter. First, you have heard of my gift, no doubt. Do you believe in it?”

Beck nodded. Everyone knew Hironous Vance had inherited the witch sight from his mother, the ability to see into the future.

“And did Captain Morrass ever speak to you of an oracle he visited?”

“Yes,” Beck said. “It was you?”

“It was me. Captain Morrass asked me to look into the future for him. He wanted my help in building an empire out of nothing but water and criminals. I told him half of the truth. He could bring the pirates together, unite them, and win the throne he desired. What I didn’t tell him was that if he ever sat upon that throne, it would all crumble around him. A good leader in times of war does not necessarily make a good leader in times of peace.”

“Why not tell him the whole truth?”

“Do you believe he would have heeded my advice had I told him he would have to step down at the very moment that he acquired the throne?” Inquisitor Vance shook his head.

He was right. Beck had known Drake well by the end, and she knew there was nothing anyone could have said that would have convinced him to abdicate the throne. That knowledge didn’t make her betrayal hurt any less though. Months drifting about the Pirate Isles after the battle had tempered her anger, but they’d done nothing for the guilt she felt over carrying out her orders.

“What’s the second answer?” she said bitterly.

Inquisitor Vance snapped his tome shut and fixed the clasp that held it before standing and hanging the heavy book from his belt. He shuffled around the edge of his desk and approached the window that looked out over the City of Sun.

“I have seen the future of our people, Arbiter Beck. Not just our people, but all people. There is a darkness rising that has not been seen since before the Inquisition existed, and we are not prepared to face it.

“But I believe I have also seen a way for us to survive it. I need the Pirate Isles to be united, and I need them willing to fight on our side when the time comes. I am playing a long game, and Drake was but a pawn to be sacrificed for the greater good.”

“What about me?” Beck wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer. “Was I a pawn too?”

Hironous Vance glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Yes. But I knew you would survive and return to me, Arbiter Beck. Your part is not yet done.”

Books by Rob J. Hayes

The Ties that Bind

The Heresy Within

The Colour of Vengeance

The Price of Faith

Best Laid Plans

Where Loyalties Lie

The Fifth Empire of Man

It Takes a Thief...

It Takes a Thief to Catch a Sunrise

It Takes a Thief to Start a Fire

Table of Contents

Part 1 – Batten Down the Hatches

Chapter 1 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 2 - North Gale

Chapter 3 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 4 - North Gale

Chapter 5 - North Gale

Chapter 6 - North Gale

Chapter 7 - North Gale

Chapter 8 - The Phoenix

Chapter 9 - Fortune

Chapter 10 - The Phoenix

Chapter 11 - Fortune

Chapter 12 - The Phoenix

Chapter 13 - Fortune

Chapter 14 - The Phoenix

Chapter 15 - The Phoenix

Chapter 16 - Fortune

Chapter 17 - The Phoenix

Chapter 18 - Fortune

Chapter 19 - North Storm

Part 2 – All Hands on Deck

Chapter 20 – Land's End

Chapter 21 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 22 - Fortune

Chapter 23 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 24 - The Phoenix

Chapter 25 - The Phoenix

Chapter 26 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 27 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 28 - The Phoenix

Chapter 29 - Starry Dawn

Part 3 – X Marks the Spot

Chapter 30 - Fortune

Chapter 31 - The Phoenix

Chapter 32 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 33 - The Phoenix

Chapter 34 - King’s Justice

Chapter 35 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 36 - The Phoenix

Chapter 37 - The Phoenix

Chapter 38 - The Phoenix

Chapter 39 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 40 - The Phoenix

Chapter 41 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 42 - The Phoenix

Chapter 43 - The Phoenix

Chapter 44 - The Phoenix

Chapter 45 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 46 - The Phoenix

Chapter 47 - The Phoenix

Chapter 48 - The Phoenix

Chapter 49 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 50 - The Phoenix

Part 4 – Dead Men Tell No Tales

Chapter 51 – Fortune

Chapter 52 - Fortune

Chapter 53 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 54 - The Phoenix

Chapter 55 - King’s Justice

Chapter 56 - Fortune

Chapter 57 - The Phoenix

Chapter 58 - North Storm

Chapter 59 - King’s Justice

Chapter 60 - The Phoenix

Chapter 61 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 62 - North Storm

Chapter 63 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 64 - The Phoenix

Chapter 65 - North Storm

Chapter 66 - The Phoenix

Chapter 67 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 68 - King’s Justice

Chapter 69 - North Storm

Chapter 70 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 71 - The Phoenix

Chapter 72 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 73 - The Phoenix

Chapter 74 - New Sev’relain

Chapter 75 - North Squall

Chapter 76 - Starry Dawn

Chapter 77 - Starry Dawn

Epilogue