Ill Wind and Dead Reckoning: Caribbean Pirate Adventure (Valkyrie) (34 page)

‘Calm yourself, lass,’ Gaunt encouraged me. ‘Thee’s with friends here, just talk to ‘em like thee does every day. If thee’s managed to talk Cap round, thee’ll talk the rest of ‘em round an’all.’

I smiled at him and looked at the beach. A large fire had been built and the crew had ferried the few more valuable contents of the prize ashore in the remaining boats (what was left of her original crew had been set adrift in one of them, as usual). The light was almost gone and the last of the sun shone on the ships anchored in the natural bay. I admired what I hoped was my new ship off
Freedom’s
starboard beam and my belly flipped again with nerves. I’d spoken to everyone together before, but this was different. I wanted this desperately and I had no idea how the men would react.

I jumped when I felt pressure on my shoulders, then relaxed against Leo’s chest.

‘It’s time, querida
.
’

He squeezed my uninjured shoulder, and I turned and headed to the boat where Thomas waited to take us ashore and begin the night’s celebrations.

I had one chance at this. Only one chance to convince these men to trust me, and some of them to sail under me. Some would be relieved to get me off
Freedom’s
decks and away from their captain, others would be insulted, but, hopefully, most would be supportive. I stood in front of the fire on the beach and took a moment to look each man in the eye.

‘Klara and I owe you our lives. You saved us when you brought us aboard
Freedom
from that slaver. You’ve taught us a new way to live: a way of life neither of us dreamed possible. Our lives have never been so good since we came aboard
Sound of Freedom;
until we made friends, fell in love and were loved back.’ I smiled at Klara and Obi. ‘You’ve become our family and I hope we’ve both earned your respect just as each one of you has earned ours.’

‘Shut up, Newton,’ someone said at the back, but I had missed the comment. I gulped, wondering what he had said, and turned to Leo.

‘You all gave me my freedom but, ironically, my love for your captain is stopping me being free.’ I smiled to try and soften Leo’s scowl. ‘You know I don’t mean that I want to be free of you, but you are the captain of this ship. Your decision is final and mine doesn’t count. I’ve lived that way all my life, controlled first by my father then my husband. I’ve never stood on my own. I’ve never been allowed to
choose
how my life unfolds.

‘I’ve spent the past year getting to know all of you and the way you live your lives. I’m asking you for the same choices. I want to stand on my own.’ I turned back to Leo. ‘I don’t want to leave you, yet I don’t want to be so completely tied to you either,
Freedom’s
articles notwithstanding. I want to be with you and
will
be with you, not because I’m aboard your ship on an empty sea, but because I can go where I want to, at my own helm, yet choosing to sail and fight alongside you.’

I tore my eyes from Leo and looked around at the men again. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking, so pressed on.

‘I understand you all have to agree and vote on this, and you know the tactical advantages better than I, but I hope you will see how important this is to me, and will help me prove myself to you – and that some of you will sail with me, of course.’ I looked at Gaunt, trying to smile.
Oh God, what if they said no?
Was I making a fool of myself? I flexed my left shoulder, my hand going to the wound I’d suffered in the fight.

‘I know some of you will be angered by my presumption in asking for a command, although I’m sure most of you will be relieved to have
Freedom
free of women again.’ I smiled. ‘I’m not trying to put myself above you. I’m not trying to claim I’m a better sailor or even as good a sailor as you. I know I’m not, I’m just asking you for the chance to be.’ I did not know what else to say, and had a sense I was losing them. Leo came to my rescue and took my place.

‘I’m not sure I’m happy about this either, but I’ve thought it over and I think it’s a good idea to replace the
Magdalena
. As far as Gabriella as captain goes, I’m aware that I’ve been neglecting you and
Sound of Freedom,
and that can’t go on. Neither will I go on without her. This does seem a satisfactory solution.’

‘It’s all right, Cap, we’ve managed well enough without you!’

He laughed, then carried on. ‘I can also see that Gabriella needs to do this, and although she does lack experience, she will have experienced hands sailing with her, and my backing. If it helps, Gabriella has agreed that she will not take a share of the plunder out of this prize.’

‘So what? There wasn’t any decent plunder in her, just cloth and sugar!’

‘There’s value in cloth and sugar, as you know well.’

‘One share, even with battle honours, doesn’t pay for a boat like that.’

‘No, but I hadn’t finished. I’ll forego the captain’s share too, and we’ve agreed that future plunder will be split as it is now. Gabriella will not be taking a captain’s share of your profits. No one will lose, and we’ll have more chance of taking bigger, richer prizes, just as we did with the
Magdalena.
We’ve seen the prize is good in light airs – and she’ll be even better once we’ve made a few alterations. She’s fast and handy and will complement
Freedom’s
size and firepower well. With the right tactics, not many will escape us. Do not fear, if you allow Gabriella this chance to prove herself, she’ll be earning her place on the quarterdeck, and together we’ll be unbeatable.’

I looked at him,
is he referring to the ships or to us?

‘We’re not asking you for a decision now. Think about it, celebrate our latest victory and we’ll take the vote at noon tomorrow. Gabriella will abide by your decision, as will I.’

He looked at me and I nodded my agreement, albeit reluctantly. It was out of my hands now.

*

The next morning, I could barely look at anyone, terrified of how they would vote. My face ached from smiling, and I jumped at Leo’s suggestion to go for a walk.

‘Don’t get upset if they say no, that’d just mean they want to keep you aboard
Freedom.
But whatever their decision, you know you’ll have to abide by it, as I will.’

‘They won’t say no. Well, yes, some will. Newton and his mates will. But most won’t.’ I do not know who I was trying to convince, Leo or myself. It was what I had been telling myself all night.

‘Even if they do agree, you’ll need to find volunteers to sail with you and that won’t be easy. No man wants to sail under a woman’s command, it’s bad enough being at the command of the seas and winds, and enough of these men came to sea to escape their women, just as you escaped a man.’

‘Really? The way I’ve seen some of those men eye that boat, I don’t think it’ll take much to get them working her decks.’

‘Maybe you have a point there, querida
.
We’ll soon see.’ He looked up at the sun. Noon. It was time to go aboard the prize and learn our future.

*

‘There’s no more for us to say, but what say you? Do you vote Gabriella as captain of this vessel?’

‘Aye. Nay. Aye.’ It was close.

‘Show of hands!’ A pause, I had won, I think. I had won.

‘The ayes have it.’

I closed my eyes in relief, I hardly dared believe it. I was a pirate captain!
Watch out Erik, I’m one step closer.

‘Thank you. You won’t regret this. I won’t let you down, and I won’t forget the chance you’ve given me. Thank you.’

‘Very well, that’s that then.’ Leo did not sound quite so pleased. ‘Bear in mind that if this doesn’t work, you can be voted back to the foredeck just as easily as you were voted to the quarter. I suppose you’ll need a crew. Frazer, will you sail in her?’

‘Devil’s bones, I will not! I’ll not play nursemaid to a woman, even one of yours. I’ve put up with her aboard
Freedom
, but I’ll not sail under her command. Dinnae ask me again.’

I don’t know who was more taken aback, me or Leo. I knew Mr Frazer didn’t like me, but I had thought we were starting to understand each other. I was as shocked at his abrupt refusal as Leo.

‘I’d be proud to sail with thee, lass,’ Gaunt called in the silence.

‘Aye, me an’all.’

Bless them. I soon had my crew: Klara and Obi, of course, Gaunt, Davys, Cartwright, Babawande, Butler and Greenwoode. To my surprise, even Ime volunteered, but I hadn’t forgotten his early threat and didn’t want him on my crew.

‘Very well, we’d better get to work. I want the gundeck cleared, topmasts stepped and yards made ready.’ Leo said. ‘Gaunt, would you look to see what strengthening her lower decks will need to carry the extra canvas, and George, we’ll need a couple of square topsails. Frazer, can I at least rely on you to get the work started?’

Am I not supposed to be saying all this?

‘Yes! That was easy! I thought it would be a hell of a lot harder to get her and that other bitch off our decks! Now all we need to do is wait for hurricane season to sink her landlubbing arse! Who’s for a drink?’

I whirled round at Newton’s words, shocked, and stared at him and his mates in dismay. I knew he hated me, but I’d thought the others had voted in support of me – not to get rid of me.
Do the rest of the crew feel the same as Newton?

‘Gabriella, can I have a word in the cabin? In your cabin?’ Leo corrected himself. He glanced at Newton with a frown, but said nothing.

My cabin.
I smiled and led the way. Newton didn’t matter. I was away from him.

‘I don’t know whether to be pleased or angry with them. Despite what I said, you know I’m torn over this. However, the decision has been made for me. But I want some promises from you. They are still my crew, and I make the ultimate decisions. However, you decide how you carry them out and are responsible for the men on your decks. Just keep them and yourself safe, that’s all I ask. Stay close by, take the advice of your crew, and heed mine. Do not make me watch you die, I can’t lose you too.’

I lay back on the blankets and stretched, then sat up, passed one rumpot to Leo and drank from the other. The rest of the crew were on the beach and we didn’t expect to see any of them again until long after the sun had come up. My new ship was careened so the necessary work could be carried out, and Leo and I had volunteered to keep ship – stay aboard
Freedom
– in case of problem or attack. We’d brought blankets, cushions and other comforts out on to the quarterdeck where we could see most of the deck, were away from prying eyes and more comfortable than in the stuffy cabin, and had been making the most of this rare time alone aboard an otherwise empty ship.

Leo kissed me and I lay back in his arms. I couldn’t have been happier.

‘Salud!’ He raised the rumpot in a toast. ‘To the most beautiful pirate in the Carib Sea!’

‘Only the Carib Sea?’

‘In all the seas of the world!’ he amended, laughing. We’d made rather a lot of toasts throughout the evening.

I laughed with him, and touched my rumpot to his. ‘And the most handsome pirate captain!’ I drank. ‘You know, I was almost born to be at sea,’ I said, not sure why I’d decided to tell him about my childhood.

‘What do you mean?’

‘My mother carried me in her belly when she sailed from England. She’d been brought to trouble by the bastard she worked for as a housemaid, and he arranged for her passage to the Americas to avoid embarrassment.’

‘But you’ve mentioned your father, I thought he lived with you in the Massachusetts Bay Colony?’ He sounded confused.

‘She met the man I call my father aboard the ship. He was young, fell in love and took pity on her situation. They were married by the captain and started a home in Massachusetts as a family.’

‘He sounds like a good man.’

‘Yes, he does.’ I paused. ‘But there was no stopping the gossip, especially in a puritan colony. There were others aboard who knew the truth and disapproved, and it was soon known I was a bastard child, despite Father’s efforts.’ I paused as the memories flooded back. I could almost see my father’s face, bright red and spitting in his rage. Furious at I don’t know what, the slightest thing could spark his match, a look or a simple question would be enough. He delighted in telling me that he wished I’d never been born, that his life would have been so much better if I’d never existed. On these occasions I never found out what I’d done to deserve his anger. I didn’t know why he’d pinned me to the wall, all I could do was wonder how often he’d strike me this time as he screamed a torrent of hatred. When would he stop? Would he keep going until he killed me with his fists? Or would he kill my mother first?

‘That can’t have been easy,’ Leo said, and I was sorry the mood had turned sombre, yet relieved to be telling him about my childhood at last.

‘No,’ I said, then took a deep breath. ‘His ambitions were curtailed by the scandal and he was an ambitious man, but could not rise in business or join the congregation he coveted. It made him bitter. My parents’ marriage had already dulled by the time I was born, and I’m sure Mam named me Gabriella purely to annoy my father. It was her last rebellion, and I’m grateful to her for it. Can you imagine if she’d called me by a puritan name such as Prudence or Charity or Temperance?’

He laughed and filled the rumpots again.

‘He became a customs officer, having recognized that shipping was set to become a major industry, and the position gave him at least a semblance of importance and respect. But it wasn’t what he’d wanted when he’d set out to the New World, and he took his frustration out on Mam and me.’ I took a long drink and was grateful that he stayed silent to wait for me to continue.

‘He made private business arrangements with a number of merchants including Jan van Ecken, Erik’s father. Their trade was – and is – much more than slaves. Sugar, indigo, cacao, spices, you name it, they trade it, and they need a lot of friendly customs men around the world to do it profitably. I don’t know why they singled out my family, but Jan was looking for a bride for Erik and Father was happy to rid himself of me. I’m certain he benefitted in a mercantile manner from the betrothal. Maybe Jan simply wanted more control over him and thought he could get it through his daughter. If so, I doubt he succeeded.’

I emptied my beaker again and Leo refilled it. ‘So there I was, married and banished to the Caribbees at fourteen, full of hope for my new life. But of course my husband turned out to be Erik and the rest is history.’

‘How bad was it, your new life?’

‘Bad enough.’ I got up and wrapped a length of cloth around myself, then crossed to the rail and stared at the water. I didn’t want to talk about my life with Erik to Leo. Ever. He pulled on his breeches and joined me.

‘When you came aboard, you jumped at every creak of the timbers and every squeak of a rat. You don’t have to tell me about your life with him, I think I have a pretty good idea, and I’ll tell you one thing, I want to kill him for what he did to you.’

‘But if he hadn’t have been such a monster, I would not have been on that slaveship, and we would not be here today.’ I turned to him and smiled. I had talked enough; he wanted to kill Erik.

‘That’s very true, maybe we have one thing to thank him for.’ He bent his head to meet my lips and I shivered when he ran his hands over my skin, but pulled away.

‘I can’t stand being married to him, Leo. We’ve harassed his shipping, had run in after run in with Blake and Hornigold, but they won’t die! We even heard that Blake survived Isla Magdalena’s reef – built a new boat from the wreckage of
Edelweiss
!’ According to the rumours, he’d sailed back to Sayba six months after we had left him and taken command of a new ship – the
Dutch Pride.
‘It’s time to put an end to this vendetta once and for all, and we should be the aggressors. We need to best them all.’

‘Kill them, you mean.’

I paused. ‘Yes, and we need to do it soon so we can get on with our lives.’

In answer, he pulled me away from the rail and any prying eyes, then pinned me against the mainmast. He kissed me and fumbled with the cloth wrapped around me, and his breeches, discarding them on the deck. He kissed me again, harder this time, and pressed up against me as I leaned against the timber and cordage of the mast. I held him tight, enjoying the feel of him and lost myself in his touch, and I forgot about the past. I was filled with now, with Leo, his touch and the sensations coursing through my body; first a gentle swell, then crashing surf.