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Cadan had no time to forcibly lock the women below as a barrage of musket shot from theNightbloodpeppered the deck.At least they had the good sense to duck behind the bulwarks as shots zipped and whined about them.Whipping his cutlass from his baldric, he shouted.“To battle, men!”and led the way over the railing.His pirates, blades and muskets drawn, followed like a flood of rats, swarming in the waist and under the booms amidships.
The air filled with flying cutlasses, hissing and clanking, and the occasional pop of a pistol or scream of the injured.Cadan had but one enemy in mind—Damien.But where was he?Pirates attacked him from right and left, but he would not be deterred.Swinging his blade about him, he cleaved it down upon one assailant, then snapped it up to strike another.One man leveled a pistol at him, a toothless grin beckoning him on.Before the man could shoot, Cadan plucked his boarding ax and knocked it from his hand, then struck the man’s head.He toppled to the deck.
To Cadan’s right, Pell engaged with another pirate, knocking him across the jaw with the hilt of his cutlass before firing his pistol at another.On the foredeck, Moses made quick work of two pirates attacking him, while Soot crammed his barrel-like body into another, sending the pirate over the railing into the sea.The rest of his men, blades whirling aloft and pistols smoking, held their own.Nay, more than held their own.They were winning.In truth, only Damien’s injured men littered the deck.
Fiery rays from the sun beat down on Cadan’s back as the stench of blood and death filled his lungs.Another pirate charged him, grimacing and growling like a dog.Their blades clashed in the air with a mighty clank, but with a quick snap to the left, he tore the sword from the man’s hand and thrust it to the deck.Eyes wide, the coward scampered away.In truth, as Cadan scanned the ship, most of Damien’s men had been bested, some had even tossed their weapons down and raised their hands, preferring surrender to death.
One glance at the quarterdeck revealed Damien, unaware of his impending defeat, engaged with one of Cadan’s men.He made a quick move to the right, bringing his blade about so fast, Cadan’s man had no defense.The rapier pierced his side and with a groan, he fell to his knees.
Chest heaving, sweat gleaming on his brow, Damien scanned his ship, his look of bloodlust quickly transforming to panic when he saw that he had lost.
Now was the moment Cadan had longed for, had dreamt of for so long.Taking the quarterdeck ladder in two leaps, he charged Damien.
A flash of green fabric caught his eye, spirals of golden hair, a bundle in her arms… and before he could warn her, protect her… do anything!Damien grabbed Gabrielle and held a knife to her throat.
Fury like he’d never known fired through every cell in Cadan’s body.
“Back off or I’ll kill her!”Damien seethed.
Matthew began to wail.Terror flashed from Gabrielle’s eyes as Damien shoved her against him, blade tight on her neck.
Foolish woman!Why had she not stayed on board theResolute?
Halting, Cadan tightened the grip on his cutlass, breath coming hard and fast.
“Tell your men to stand down!”Damien raged, eyes wide with fear and hate.
“Hiding behind a woman again?”Cadan said.“Why not fight me like a man?”
A few chortles followed by grunts of approval emanated from the pirates on both sides.
Cadan waved his blade over the mob.“’Tis obvious we have won fair and square.By the pirates’ code, you must grant me the victor’s rewards.”
“And what, pray tell, are those?”
Cadan glanced over the crew.“I could, by rights, kill your men and steal your ship.However, all I want is you, the woman and her child, and the treasure.”
Damien chuckled, inching backward with Gabrielle.“You’re mad.”The knife drew a trickle of blood down her neck, and ’twas all Cadan could do not to rush the man and knock him to the deck.
He turned to face Damien’s crew.“What say you?Your lives and the ship or Davy Jones Locker for the lot of you?”
The pirates seemed to be pondering the choice as whispers filtered among them.Finally, one man emerged, a more polished man than the rest, standing tall, wearing somewhat clean attire and his black hair slicked back.
“According to the pirate code you speak of, we offer a resolution.A duel to the death between you and Captain Allard.Winner takes all.”
Chapter 36
Everything within Gabrielle wanted to screamNo!to the pirate’s offer.A duel to the death?She could not bear it.She could not bear to lose Cadan, not when it was her fault.In truth, not ever!Oh, why had she been so foolish?If she had only waited, prayed, sought the Lord, Cadan and his men would have won, and she’d have Matthew back safe.
Pressing fingers over the blood on her neck, she glanced at the burly pirate who now held Matthew.He was not supporting his head as he should, and Matthew was wailing so loudly she feared the beast would toss him overboard.But every time she approached to help, the man whose head resembled a cannon ball growled at her.
On the main deck below, Cadan and Damien prepared to do battle, as pirates on both sides retreated toward the railing or clambered up on the fore or quarterdeck for a better view.
The stench of sweat, gun smoke and blood tainted the salty breeze.Across on theResolute, Omphile stood, hands clasped together in prayer.She’d tried to talk Gabrielle out of her foolish quest, but Gabrielle would have none of it.Now, look what a muck she had made of things.
I should have prayed, asked you what to do, Lord.I’m sorry.Please, help Cadan win.Please save Matthew.
