I turned my head to glare at her, but she raised her hands in self-defence and grinned widely.
“Every day you remind me a little bit more of him. Damn rats all look the same.” She chuckled at her own joke as she went to bark my orders.
The minute the ladder was lowered, I was the first down. Similar to when we landed in Brazil, and the ground and the sea were all I could think of. Now I didn’t even mind being trappedon the Wraith for long periods of time. Everything felt like it was happening around me until I got them back.
It was all just noise.
This port was well and filled with fellow pirates. The wine from this isle was famous for its singularity. If all went well, it would be home for a week or two. As long as the British Navy didn’t catch up before then.
I found a questionable crew of filth-covered pirates and drank in the sea air that was both salty and reminiscent of something earthy I couldn’t quite name.
“Who is the captain of this ship?” I asked.
Truth be told, it could barely be called a ship. It was at least four times smaller than the Wraith and could easily be crewed by ten to fifteen sailors. It was perfect.
“Aye, who be asking?” said a man with one tooth.
A pang of loss gripped my heart. I missed Billy. The world was a better place with him in it; now, it's just one short promise away from hellfire.
I reached into my pocket and withdrew three letters.
“I need you to deliver these. I’ll pay you now and upon delivery. Do we have a deal?”
I fished out gold coins from my coat and held them out, knowing the gleam in his eyes well enough.
“If you leave now, I’ll double this, both now and upon arrival,” I said.
He practically drooled as he took the letters and money, snatching them like I might change my mind.
“Must be pretty important–”
“Don’t ask questions that would require your death for the answer,” I snapped.
His throat bobbed as he nodded once and turned to issue orders to his crew.
The first layer laid.
Chapter four
An Unexpected Visitor
Bash
The law of England calls them thieves, the sea calls them sons. Yet when the gallows take them, both sky and tide fall silent.
-Unknown Author
“Captain Edmonds, if you don’t mind,” Oliver Bailey said to his escort.
Edmonds straightened his jacket and eyed Oscar and me like we were vipers ready to strike. Truth be told, I probably didn’t have enough energy to throw a decent punch.
“Ten minutes,” said Edmonds before he turned on his heel, and the echoes of his boots declared his exit.
Prisoners hollered at him, demanding anything from water to sexual favors. No doubt he would go home and have his uniform washed several times to wipe away the stink of Newgate. Someone should have told him that it stays with you long after you’ve gone. At least that’s what Billy used to say.
“Have you come to rescue me?” Oscar asked, reaching through the bar and wrapping his brother in a hug.
To his credit, Oliver didn’t pull away even though his nose wrinkled in disgust. Her nose. Memory lodged itself in what remained of my heart, and if there had been anything in my stomach, I would have emptied it right there. There were rules.
