“I’s goin’ wit’ you,” Moses repeated, eyes like flint, meaty arms crossed over his chest.
Omphile.How could Cadan have forgot his carpenter’s attachment to the woman?“I will allow it, Moses, but only you.”
“And your job,” he nodded toward Pell.“Keep the men happy and watch over this little one.”The babe had settled and reached a hand to touch Cadan’s chin.
Pell snorted.“I’m suited for neither task.”
“Soot will help you with Matthew.And as far as the crew is concerned, you’re a preacher.Use your exquisite oratory skill to convince them that going against me would not be to their advantage.”
Pell laughed.“You trust a man whoseoratory skill, as you put it, garnered him not a single convert?”
“I trustyou,my friend.”
Unable to sleep yet again, Cadan held the lantern above his head and scanned the hold of theResolute.Crates filled with flour sacks, barrels full of salted meat, and other foodstuffs lined the bulkheads.Extra sailcloth, along with ropes, were stored neatly to the side.A copper-plated shot locker held gunpowder, cannon balls, and coal.Water sloshed in the well hole, competing with the mad rush of water against the hull.The scent of sodden wood, moldy food, and human excrement curled his nose.
He rarely came down here.With a crew to do the dirty work, there was no need.But tonight, no man could take his place.Tonight, he needed to settle the confusion doing flips in his mind.He needed to hear Smity’s own words, for his pride could not fathom how wrong he’d been about the man.
Weaving around several crates, the pitter-patter of rats echoed in the dank air, running from the light like the vermin they were.The ship canted over a wave.Water sloshed over his boots.Cadan gripped a nearby stack of barrels tied with ropes for balance until the ship righted itself again.
The bars came into view, then Smity, lying on a cot.Cadan hooked the lantern above him and approached the cage.
“Come t’ gloat, Cap’n.”Smity sat and faced Cadan, running fingers through his beard.
“Nay.Just to ask why.”
“Why what?”He spat to the side and stood, staring at Cadan with pinpoint eyes full of hatred.
“Why risk everything because of a mere accident?”
Huffing, Smity ran a thumb down the rippled skin on his face.“As I said, ’twere yer incompetence, yer bad decision that left me lookin’ like a monster.”
Cadan drew a deep breath, fisting hands at his waist.“It could have happened to anyone.A risk we all take as pirates.”
“Yet I’m the only one whats got burned that day.”
Like a rabid animal, seething hatred fumed off the man as he bared his teeth and uttered a savage growl.If there were no bars between them, Cadan had no doubt Smity would be more than happy to maul him to death.
“For a year now, you’ve been my bosun.Acted like all was well.”
“Bidin’ me time, that’s all.Bidin’ me time t’ get revenge on ye.”He huffed, grimacing.“Ye got yer pretty face, Cap’n.Women fallin’ all over ye.What would ye know of how I feel?”
He was right.Cadan wouldn’t know.In truth, he hadn’t even tried to understand.“You sought revenge on me from the moment it happened?I’ll grant you, you are as good a liar as any.”
Smity made no reply.Instead, he gripped the iron bars and shook them with all his might.The rattle and squeak of iron carved a trail of remorse through Cadan.
And suddenly, the hatred, the loathing, the mad drive for revenge appeared evil, dark, as if a force outside of Smity had taken him over and blackened his heart into charred soot.
“Your revenge got you nowhere, Smity, save in this hold.”The ship bucked, and Cadan balanced his boots over the deck.
Releasing the bars, Smity turned aside.“How long ye goin’ t’ keep me ’ere?”
“As long as necessary.”Cadan would have to make an example of the traitor or chaos would rule his ship.Yet deep inside, he understood the man’s hatred and need for revenge.Turning, he grabbed the lantern and started away.
“I’ll get me revenge, Cap’n.One way or another!”
A shipload of foul curses and insulting names followed Cadan all the way to his cabin, where he made a straight line for his rum.Though the encounter with Smity had cleared up his confusion, it had replaced it with a new perspective on the evils of revenge, how it consumed a man, stole what’s left of any light in his heart.
He needed a drink.
