The fact that there were over a hundred souls on the two connected ships didn’t occur to me. It was only Captain George Seward and me now. By the time I came back around him, his face was leached of color. His chest rose and fell faster than it had before.
Good. We were getting somewhere.
I returned and knelt before him, placing the tip of my sword over his right thigh.
“I need you to take a message back for me,” I said.
He nodded almost imperceptibly, his blood slowly dripping from the shallow cut I’d made.
I applied slight pressure to my sword, and he winced in answer.
“Eyes on me, Captain,” I said. “Good. You are going to return to London and tell Captain Edmonds that if he hangsmycaptain, I will ask my friend out there to sink every ship bearing that flag,” I said, pointing up, so we were nothing but clear.
For emphasis, Koinu released a loud bellow that reverberated throughout the still morning air. I didn’t have the slightest idea how he knew to do it at that moment, but I learned months ago not to question anything that aided in leaving a lasting impression.
“When you are through with that, you will tell your boss that as long as he insists on sending out ships, whether it be trade or tour, I will continue to sink them.” I rotated my sword, pushing into his flesh. “Do you understand?”
He nodded, sweat pouring down his round face.
“Remind me what you are going to do again?” I said, tilting my ear to him.
His mouth worked, closing and opening. That wouldn’t do at all.
I pressed my sword harder, feeling the moment hard skin gave way with a sickening squelch, a dark stain gathering over his black pants.
“I confess I am not very patient. If you are struggling, I am sure one of your friends down below could deliver my messages.”
His eyes widened, and he spoke. “I’m to tell Captain Edmonds that if he hangs Sebastian Flynn, you will sink every ship under the British flag.”
I pushed harder, and tears welled up.
“And I am to tell Lord Allan that if he continues his business, you will sink them!”
His chest was heaving with the effort it took to speak through the pain. Weak.
I stood, dragging out my sword so it would hurt just a little bit more.
Surveying the coward of a man before me, I sheathed my sword.
“Loyalty counts for something, Captain Seward,” I said, turning my back to him.
“Who are you?” he whispered.
I turned and let him see my wolf’s smile.
“Hellcat Smith, of course. Do make sure to spread the name.”
I didn’t wait to see his reaction. It wasn’t worth it.
“Put them in the rowboats and sink the ship,” I said to Val.
She dipped her head.
“Aye, aye, Captain.” she winked.
Too much fun.
And so the battleships would continue to sink until I retrieved what belonged to me. Every message I sent, a little closer to him. The sounds of protests and screams were white noise in my ears.After all, I warned them what would happen if they boarded a North Line ship.
