Cadan leveled his blade at Damien, narrowing his eyes upon his nemesis, the one man who had hurt him more than any other, the one man who had ripped everything from him—his wife, his honor, his freedom.
Now his time had come.Cadan would get his revenge, and Damien would go to the bottom of the sea where he belonged.
But first Cadan would wipe that insolent sneer off his lips.
They lunged for each other, blades clanging.Pirates shouted curses and obscenities from all around them, flinging insults at their enemy and encouragements to their foreseen victor.
With a quick step to his left, Cadan spun around and slashed Damien’s waist, slicing his purple doublet.
Growling, Damien leapt back, prancing back and forth, eyeing Cadan with disdain.
“Had enough?”Cadan asked.
“I’ve only just begun,mon ami.Prepare to die!”Damien rushed Cadan, spinning his rapier back and forth so fast, ’twas hard to see.
Cadan stumbled backward, diving and ducking as fast as he could.
Gabrielle gasped.The pirates cheered, clearly entertained by the expert swordsmanship.
Backed against the railing, Cadan fended off each blow, the hiss of their blades filling the air.He would not let the man defeat him.He could not!Gathering up his remaining strength, he let out a mighty growl and met Damien’s final blow with a clang that would wake the dead.
It woke young Matthew, for he began to howl.
Hilt to hilt, they pummeled each other, Cadan now driving Damien back.Sweat stung Cadan’s eyes and he blinked it away.
Damien leapt to the side, spun around, and cleaved his rapier downward onto Cadan.Pain seared his arm as the blade sliced through his skin.The metallic smell of his blood joined the scents of salt and sweat.
Gabrielle shrieked.The pirates shouted with glee.
Grinning, Damien plunged his blade toward Cadan’s heart.
Cadan leapt to the right.Agony wrenched his side as the rapier slashed through him once again.
Gabrielle screamed.
He gripped the wound, blood trickling between his fingers.The sky spun.The deck lured him downward.Stumbling backward, he blinked, forcing himself to focus, to not allow the terror rampaging through him to win.
Damien cast a supercilious grin of victory over his crew.
Just enough time for Cadan to swing to his right and bring his cutlass from behind him in a move that sent Damien reeling backward.
He lumbered, rapier spinning, and Cadan quickly slammed the hilt of his blade onto Damien’s hand.
His blade fell to the deck.
Moans and groans, along with huzzahs blared from the crowd.Matthew continued to whimper.
Shock screeched from Damien’s face as he struggled to retrieve his blade, but Cadan kicked him in the gut, knocking him to the deck.
Helpless, he stared up at Cadan like a lost puppy.
Cadan pointed the tip of his cutlass at Damien’s heart.“You stole my wife, you branded me a traitor, had me tortured and imprisoned for five years.Now, you will pay with your life.Down to the depths with you, you odious cur!”
Clearly trembling, Damien said naught, just stared at Cadan with pleading eyes.His pirates cursed and spit in his direction.
“To the devil wit’ ye, ye foppish frog!”
“Toss the yellow-dogged maggot overboard!”
