What?Gabrielle glanced around.No one was guarding them.None save the one pirate she always saw.Confusion spun a cyclone in her mind.Why was he not fighting alongside his captain?Or at least, why was he not helping her and Omphile escape?
Gabrielle drew a deep breath, glancing once more at Cadan as he slashed his cutlass over Damien’s arm, drawing blood.
To the right, one of Cadan’s men tumbled to the ground, clutching his bloody side.Having dispatched his own opponent, Pell rushed to his aid.
There was no guarantee Cadan and his men would win.Omphile was right.
Bundling Matthew close, she nodded.“Let us go.”
Grabbing her hand, Omphile led the way along the back of the church, keeping to the shadows.They had just turned the corner, just made their way onto the pathway that led to town…and freedom…when Lazy-eyed Smity appeared out of the mist.
“Now, where d’ye two think yer goin’?”
???
With a snap of his blade, Cadan thrust Damien’s rapier out of the way and sliced the snake’s right arm.Red etched a trail over his white shirt.Smiling, Cadan took the chance to glance at the women.They stood in the shadows of the church, safe for now.
Gripping his wound, Damien’s face wrinkled in pain.Anger took its place, and hefting his rapier with a mighty growl, he swooped it down upon Cadan.
Cadan quickly leapt out of the way and thrust his cutlass low toward Damien’s leg.If he could prevent the man from standing, he’d have him.
Damien jerked to the left, nearly tripping over a tombstone, but then spun around, and brought his rapier toward Cadan’s neck.Matching his blade hilt for hilt, Cadan pushed him back, then released his blade and shoved him.
Stumbling backward, Damien’s hot breath filled the air as his chest rose and fell like angry waves at sea.
To Cadan’s left, Pell, with a flick of his cutlass, sent his opponent’s blade flying into the brush, then leveled his own at the pirate’s throat.The man raised his hands in defeat.
Durwin and Cadan’s remaining men fought with the skill and ferocity he’d taught them, blades clanging, grunts and groans filling the air.Though outnumbered, ’twould not be long before they’d defeat these miscreants.Where was Smity?He scanned the graveyard.
Cadan faced Damien again.He’d allowed him to regain his strength, a foolish thing, that.Yet he could see from the slight twitch of his jaw that he, too, realized he’d soon be overcome.
Pointing his cutlass at the man’s chest, Cadan huffed.“You are done for, Allard.Admit defeat like a man and come meet your fate.”
Allard pursed his lips, shifting his eyes over the scene.
Cadan licked his own.’Twas the moment he’d dreamt about for so long.
But then an odd grin contorted Damien’s face.Cadan knew that grin.’Twas a grin of victory.But how could that be?
Only then did movement catch his eye, and he turned to see one of Allard’s men dragging Gabrielle forward.Omphile tugged upon the burly pirate, screaming, “Let her go!”but he paid her no mind.
“Lower your cutlass or I’ll order him to snap her neck.”Allard sneered.
Catching his breath, Cadan shifted his gaze between Allard and the lady.He knew the man was more than capable of fulfilling his threat.Hence, he lowered his blade.
Sheathing his rapier, Allard took Gabrielle’s arm and tugged her and Matthew close while the other pirate grabbed Omphile.Before Cadan could move, Allard plucked a knife from his belt and held it to the lady’s neck.
“I can see this wench has wormed her way into your weak heart, Cadan.Your eyes betray you.”
Rage threatened to strangle Cadan.“Let her go, Allard!Would you keep a woman who despises you?A child born from naught but your violent lust?”
“Ah, that’s where we differ,mon ami.That makes it all the sweeter.”
Cadan knew the man was evil.What he hadn’t known was that he was also mad.He glanced behind him at Pell, Durwin, and his other men, all standing with blades drawn, their opponents cowering before them.
Gabrielle wrenched from the man’s grasp, eyes flashing terror.
Allard gripped her all the tighter.“Let us go peacefully, or I will kill her here and now.”
