Cutlass (Cutlass Series)

by Ashley Nixon

“Yer from the government…Arcarum, is it?”

  “We do not want any trouble,” said Cove evenly—it was a warning that the man should leave.

  “If yer walking around with Barren Reed, you do.”

  Cove’s quickness surprised everyone. One moment, he was perfectly still, hands clasped behind his back, the next he had the man pushed against the wall, a knife at his throat. “You have two options: you tell no one you saw us, or you die. Which is it? And don’t think I won’t find out. I have spies everywhere. You speak, you die. Maybe not today, but keep in mind, I make no empty threats.”

  The man seemed to consider Cove’s warning, but when the pressure increased around his neck, he wheezed, “I-I’ll tell no one.”

  Cove relaxed his grip slightly and stood back. The old man glared at the Ambassador, rubbing his neck. “But make no mistake—pirates and politicians don’t mix. You’re either one or the other.”

  This time Cove wasn’t giving him a chance. He lunged at the man, stabbing him through the stomach. “You sealed your fate.” He said through clenched teeth before pulling the blade out with a jerk.

  Barren glanced at Larkin, wondering what she was thinking. She looked bewildered, as if what Cove had just done hadn’t quite sunk in yet. Barren had to admit, he was a little surprised himself. Cove could usually keep calm, but when it came to a threat against him or his crew, he wasn’t so patient. The Ambassador turned, pulled a white cloth out of his pocket, and cleaned the blood from his blade.

  “He would have spoken up the moment we were out of sight,” he said, not looking at anyone as he worked.

  “How do you know?” Larkin’s voice shook a little as she spoke.

  “He voiced his opinion on pirates a moment before he fell,” said Cove. “He would have met his end sooner or later.”

  “Why do you hide in that uniform if you’re going to act like them?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Barren demanded.

  She ignored him and continued to stare at Cove. He, however, was completely calm and collected. “What would you have done, Larkin? Turned him over to the authorities here? Let him run and tell whomever may be within distance that Barren is in Conn and he is with the Ambassador of Arcarum? In this business, we have to choose whose life is worth saving and whose life is worth ending.”

  Larkin looked horrified, so Barren stepped in quickly. “We should leave soon. There is nothing for us here. It would be beneficial if we could figure out whose soldiers took Devon.”

  The company made their way out of the building and back into the streets. They decided to split up and head for the ship, just in case anyone had noticed them in a pack. Cove and Hollow went one direction, Alex and Leaf disappeared down an alleyway and Barren and Larkin continued toward the markets, hoping to blend in with the sea of people who would be unfamiliar to this territory. The two pushed through the square easily, and with the ships in sight, they thought they were home free.

  Larkin pulled on Barren’s arm and pushed him behind a tent. Peering out into the market from the shelter, she whispered, “It’s William. Looks like he just arrived.”

  “What?” Barren stared in the direction she was looking and saw his brother in the crowd. He walked casually before carts of fruit—picking up an orange or an apple here and there, judging its quality. He seemed tense as he tried to maintain his composure, as if he were attempting to slow himself down, as if he didn’t want to appear suspicious.

  Barren set his jaw, and he felt his eyes darken. He pulled off his jacket hurriedly, intending to fight.

  “Barren, you cannot fight him,” Larkin snapped. “You’re injured. What if you can’t kill him?”

  Barren glared at her. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Barren, please don’t fight him!”

  He studied her for a moment, repressing the anger he felt boiling in his stomach at seeing her plead for William’s life.

  “Larkin, the one thing I won’t do for you is keep him alive.”

  Her eyes grew dark. “This isn’t about him, it’s about you,” she snapped.

  “I know what I’m capable of,” he hissed. “So let me by.”

  She didn’t say anything, but stepped aside so Barren could move past her. This is where Jess’s life had ended—why not end William’s life here, too? Barren held his sword in his left hand, but it felt awkward and uncomfortable. He had used knives before, but this was different—a sword was heavier, harder to maneuver, but that didn’t stop him from calling out to his brother.

  “William!”

  As his brother whirled around, caught off-guard by the familiar voice, Barren suddenly felt insecure. At any other point in his life, he was the most confident swordsman in the Orient, but seeing his brother’s hatred flare at the mere sound of his voice made him wonder how easy it would be to win this fight.

  “Brother! I did not expect to see you here. It seems my privateers did a decent job—you still look pale from the bullets.”

  “It has always been your cowardly way—to send others to face me.”

  “I am facing you now, brother,” William drew his sword, and the zing of the blade sounded against the silence in the market. Until now, Barren hadn’t realized how many people were here or how many eyes were on him. He was vulnerable. Any one of these people could step in and take him down, just to gain William’s favor. He couldn’t worry about them, however—his target was before him. “Do we end this here?”

  “Better now than giving you a chance to be king later.”

  William struck, Barren jumped back, deflecting his brother’s attack. Barren’s arm already ached from the strength of William’s blow. Up until this moment, he had sworn to fight William on his own terms—at sea. So why had he made the exception? Perhaps he felt if he could win this fight, it would end the need for the bloodstone. Then he wouldn’t have to go searching through his past, digging up things that might only hurt him more.

  “So, how did kidnapping my fiancée work out for you?” he mocked.

  “I didn’t know I was helping you,” said Barren through his teeth. “But she is too good for you.”

  William laughed. “I suppose you think you’re better?”

  Barren’s arm was growing weaker. The harder he tried to the hold the hilt of his sword, the more his hand shook. He knew William had the advantage. Every strike he made was filled with power and hate.

  “No,” he growled. “You used her!”

  “And you didn’t?” William parried Barren’s blade and the pirate stumbled forward, catching himself. He glared at his brother. Yes, he supposed he had used Larkin to lure William to him, but she had known that from the beginning. Larkin was Barren’s prisoner, what else was expected? Barren forced guilt from his thoughts. He couldn’t be concerned with Larkin at this moment.

  “I only wanted to fight you.”

  “And you got your wish.” William nicked Barren’s fingers and the pirate dropped his sword. He ducked as William’s blade flew over his head, throwing out his leg, tripping his brother. Barren reached for his blade, but William was already on his feet, kicking Barren in the stomach. He landed on his side, grunting from the pain. He had no time to recover before William’s sword was at his neck, the tip cut into his skin. His arm felt as if hundreds of daggers were stabbing him, and he knew there was blood, but he glared at William, not taking his eyes off his brother, daring him to strike.

  “How does this feel?” he yelled. “You have failed brother!”

  He raised his blade, intent on cutting off Barren’s head.

  “No!” Larkin ran out of hiding, pushing back her hood and drawing her sword. Gasps broke from the crowd surrounding them.

  “Larkin!” William moved his sword from Barren’s neck and held out his arms for her, but she did not embrace him. Her gaze was dead. She moved between the two, standing with her sword aloft. When William saw she was not going to touch him, his gaze burned. “I thought you were dead,” he said, sounding disappointed.


  “You knew I wasn’t dead, bastard!”

  William laughed. “I see my brother’s language has rubbed off on you. But it is no matter, now that you are safe, you will come home with me, and I will break that habit.”

  Larkin’s eyes blazed as William reached for her. “No! I will not come with you!”

  William snarled. “Move! Let me finish him!”

  “I won’t let you hurt him,” she did not yell, but there was promise in her voice.

  Barren watched her raise the sword he had given her. William laughed. “You realize you are admitting to all these people that you are a traitor.”

  “I am no traitor. You’re the traitor! You are guilty of slander! You will never be my king!”

  William eyes flared, and he charged at her with all his strength—their battle began. There was no pause in the clang of the two swords, no break. They would clash and recede, like the ocean, each intent on destroying the other. Larkin had fought Barren, but not with this much intensity, not with this much hatred. Larkin parried two attacks and then spun, her sword met something, and then startling silence followed.

  Larkin stood, eyes wide with shock as she watched him. William hugged his abdomen, but blood quickly seeped through his crossed arms, staining his skin and the ground before him. Barren got to his feet at some point during their brawl, and now he was pulling her away from the display.

  “Let’s go! Run!” he said as he pulled her along, grabbing his sword as he went.

  “Get them! Make sure they don’t escape!” William commanded.

  Barren and Larkin ran. They were already close to the ports and Barren could see his crew working feverishly to get the ship away from the docks as men were running toward it, weapons drawn. Leaf stood on the railing of the ship, bow out, arrows strung, shooting at any who made an attempt to reach them. Barren’s sword was still drawn, and despite the weakness in his left arm, he managed to cut down anyone who came after them. When Barren noticed Larkin lagging, he pushed her before him, keeping his hand on her back, and making her hurry toward the ship.

  “Go!” he shoved Larkin up the boarding plank as Datherious pulled it away.

  Barren braced himself for another fight—a fight he wasn’t sure he could win. His left hand and arm were bloody, and he held up his sword shakily. Four men inched toward him, laughing, and a lust for blood glinted in their eyes.

  “You don’t want to fight me,” Barren said.

  “You couldn’t fight your brother; you cannot fight the four of us.”

  “My brother has my skill—none of you are my equal.”

  “We’ll see about that!” One of the men ran forward, but Barren parried, and the man fell into the ocean, a wound through his stomach. The other three attacked at once, thinking they would be stronger in numbers, but Barren guessed their plan. He turned, skewering one man through the stomach; he jerked the blade from him and sliced another man’s neck, finishing with his blade in the last man’s face.

  “Retreat,” he said, and the man ran away.

  The ship was a little way from the dock, and Barren knew he could make the distance with his injuries, but Natherious tossed a rope in his direction. He grasped it and, holding on tightly, the twins pulled him toward the ship. He landed against the water with a splash, and he could feel the resistance build against his body until he surfaced, scratching the wooden sides of the ship as they pulled him on deck.

  Looking back at Conn, a crowd gathered to watch them. William was lost somewhere behind them. They were in trouble now—not only did William know they were all after the bloodstone, it seemed there was now an additional party in search of the gem.

  Barren sat on the steps of the ship while Leaf bandaged his fingers and stitched the cut on his arm. Behind them, Conn was fading into the background. Cove paced before them, and Alex was nearby. He kept looking back at Conn, a troubled expression marring his wrinkled brow. Natherious and Datherious stood with their arms crossed, waiting to hear their next move. Larkin had hurried to the hatch once they were all onboard, and had not yet returned.

  “Just for once, couldn’t you have considered the importance of this mission over your own wish for revenge?” asked Leaf.

  “Part of this was about stopping William,” Barren argued. “And I’m not some lap dog for the king. I’m a pirate. I’m free to do as I please.”

  “The fact that you are free to do as you please has nothing to do with what is best for our situation. William knows you’re after the bloodstone now. We will have to move fast.”

  “His injuries will delay him,” Barren argued. “And the knowledge of Larkin’s survival may work against him.”

  “At this point, Larkin’s survival will only work against her. She saved your life. There’s little explanation on her part for that,” said Cove. “The public will see it as her siding with you.”

  “Her father can buy back her reputation, just as he bought William’s position in government,” Barren replied. “I’m not worried about her.”

  Leaf’s hand met the back of Barren’s head with a smack. “Ouch! Why’d you do that?” Now Barren had an aching arm, shoulder, and head. He was never going to feel better.

  “She sacrificed her reputation to save your life, the least you could do is have some care about her well-being.”

  That was the hard part. Larkin was his prisoner, the only care he needed to have about her well-being was designated by the guidelines of the code, which only included harm to her physical person.

  “Be a little more compassionate, Barren,” Cove urged. “She’s not as horrible as you make her seem.”

  “In case you hadn’t noticed, Larkin Lee can’t stand to see anyone hurt. She didn’t save my life out of loyalty to me.”

  “Well, just in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s about morality, not loyalty, for Larkin.”

  Barren rolled his eyes. “Can we focus on the more pressing issue at hand? If William was not the one who took Devon Kennings from Conn, who did?”

  “Well, either ‘is past is comin’ back ta ‘aunt ‘em,” said Alex. “Or someone else is after tha stone.”

  “If Devon wouldn’t give those soldiers information when they came for him, then they probably felt they could torture it out of him,” said Leaf. “That’s what they do in Estrellas.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “There’re no others we can turn to for ‘elp now,” said Alex. “The others are dead.”

  “We’ll have to go to Estrellas then,” said Barren.

  “Estrellas is a dangerous place, Barren,” said Leaf. “You’d do well to stay away from there.”

  Suddenly, the Elf looked his age—his eyes seemed heavy as he knitted his brows together, and the corners of his mouth turned downward deeply. Leaf was a much more pleasant person when he wasn’t trying to be serious.

  “We’re at a dead end without him,” Barren argued.

  “Devon is a good friend of mine. I won’t let ‘em rot in Estrellas.”

  “So you would rather we all died saving him?” asked Leaf, his sea-green eyes narrowed.

  “Not everyone must go; I’ll go alone if I must,” Alex maintained, but the look on Leaf’s face suggested he didn’t think the old man would get out alive.

  “Then I will go with you,” said Barren.

  Leaf punched Barren in his wounded arm, and he yelped in pain. “You are both ignorant! How will you get into Estrellas? It’s guarded by a ten foot wall and the only way in is on a ship.”

  “We have one,” said Barren. “And it’s from Arcarum.”

  All eyes were on Cove in that moment and the Ambassador looked surprised. “What? I’m not going to be the one to settle this feud.”

  “Can you retrieve prisoners from Estrellas as Ambassador?”

  “Only if they are from my island, and Devon Kennings is not.”

  “But you’ve taken fugitives to Estrellas before?”

  “Yes, what is your point?” Cove crossed his arms and stood stiffly
.

  “Only that you can get us into Estrellas...as fugitives.”

  “That is the most ridiculous idea you’ve ever had.” Leaf stood. “Think about it Barren—you are a pirate, wanted all over the Orient. Wanted, not only because you’re a murderer, but also because you kidnapped Larkin. They’ll torture you to death if they catch you. You are walking into a trap!”

  “Then I’ll just have to avoid capture.”

  “It’s not that simple!” Leaf cried, and motioned as if he wanted to pull all his hair out. “You’ve never been there, you don’t know!”

  “Have you?” Barren countered.

  Leaf’s gaze was bright with anger. He folded his hands over his chest—he was about to challenge Barren. “As quartermaster, by the code, I have the right to veto any decision you make, Barren Reed. If you decide to go to Estrellas, I will veto.”

  “Then I’ll give it to the crew to vote on,” Barren countered. “Need I remind you of your words to me? Consider the importance of this quest. Devon is potentially the only one who can lead us to the bloodstone. If we do not at least attempt to go after him, we leave William an open target.”

  Leaf’s face hardened. “Why is it that this quest is only about the bloodstone when it’s convenient for you?”

  Barren ignored the Elf and turned to Cove. “Can you get us in?”

  “I can,” he said with a nod. “But I can’t promise you’ll be safe when I leave, or that they won’t separate you.”

  “All I need is to get inside those walls, what happens after is not important.”

  The Ambassador’s brows rose as if he knew differently. “I’m going to encourage you to think about what the Elf has said. You really don’t know what Estrellas is like. It is a very, very terrible place, and with your track record, they would take much pleasure in seeing that you don’t walk out of there alive.”

  Larkin’s humorless laugh suddenly sounded, and all heads turned toward her. At some point during their argument, she’d returned to deck. Parts of her hair were wet around her face, and her eyes looked a little red—perhaps she’d been crying.

  “Barren thinks he’s invincible, in case you hadn’t noticed.”