by David Talon
Redbeard’s face softened. “Lass, you be sweet...”
“I’ve seen too much.” Sally had placed her bowl on the table and now came up behind Pepper to put her hands on Pepper’s slender shoulders. “Dava, I’ve hardly asked for anything since I came aboard, but I’m asking for him.”
Remembering the captain’s words and my own actions, I piped up, “I’ll make her happy if I can.”
Redbeard’s face hardened as his gaze came back to me. “You’d best do so,” a gleam entering his eye as he grinned. “Or Pepper be having her dragon-ghostie brand her name on your arse, too.”
Pepper made an exasperated sound as I looked at Jeremiah, who made an exaggerated gesture of wiping sweat off his brow, which I took to mean I’d just survived a close call. Then Hob spoke in his reedy voice. “You do know Tomas is the lad in Pepper’s vision, do you not?” Everyone around the table went still as death as Hob continued. “Jade gave me the images she pulled from Pepper’s head, and there is no question that he is the one.” Hob gave me a broad smile of sharp teeth. “The hourglass of Pepper’s life has begun to run out.”
Faster than a striking snake, Redbeard’s hand grabbed the front of my shirt and hauled me across the table. I yelped, wooden bowls and blackjacks flying as my flailing legs knocked them away. Pepper screamed my name as Jeremiah and Sally both yelled, while the crewmen closest to us began calling out in surprise.
But I paid them only the slightest bit of attention as Redbeard drew a knife as long as my forearm, and pressed it to my throat. “It be a pity, lad,” he said in a mild voice, although his eyes remained cold as the deeps of the sea. “I was beginning to like you.”
Jade’s voice suddenly spoke from a spot beside his ear. “If you kill him, Pepper will be dead on the morrow.”
“You can nae be knowing that,” Redbeard snarled as blood trickled down my neck.
“I will,” Pepper yelled at him. She tapped her forehead with her first finger. “Smoke’s already up here, and if you kill Tomas then I’ll give myself to Smoke and we’ll become one person. Then I’ll take Tomas’s body and ignite us both. If we can’t live together, then at least we’ll die together.”
I kept my head perfectly still so all I could see was Redbeard’s hairy face looming over me, who looked as horrified as I felt. “Lass, why do you be acting this way?”
Pepper leaned over the table so her face was close to Redbeard’s. “Because the vision was true, and Tomas is my last love. There’s nothing anyone can do to change that.” She gazed down at me, flat on my back with a knife pressed to my throat, and her face softened. “Even if I’d never had the vision, everything I said to you about him is the truth. I don’t feel the intense love Smoke does for him, but I will soon enough.” Her gaze returned to Redbeard and her eyes narrowed. “For that matter, why are you acting this way? I know you loved my mother, and you’re fond of me, but this isn’t like you.”
Redbeard took the knife away from my throat and stabbed downward. I shut my eyes tight as he drove his dagger into the wood table so close to my cheek I felt the vibration of the blade as he let go, the metallic tang of steel sharp in my nose as I cautiously opened my eyes. Redbeard put his face close to Pepper’s, who didn’t move an inch as he glared at her. “I made your mam a promise to be taking care of you if ever I be finding you again. Meg be giving me the last breath in her body after I promised, which be making it a sacred trust, and nae Wallace ever be breaking his sworn word.” He glared down at me. “I be thinking if I kill this pup then the bad things nae be happening to you.”
“You cannot stop what has been set in motion,” Jade said in her calm, cultured voice. “The future is set along the path it will take, like threads in a loom. However, all of you have the power to change the weave from a dark future to a much brighter one...if you have the courage.”
Thankfully, Redbeard turned his glare on the spot Jade’s voice was coming from. “I nae be wanting ghostly riddles, so speak plain.”
“As you wish. Pepper is going to merge with one of my sisters; that thread is set, and cannot be altered. However, Pepper has the choice to merge with a sister of her choosing, or wait until the Dark Sisters find her. By choosing Smoke, she binds herself more closely to Tomas, the one person who can keep her alive the longest, until her body finally gives out under the strain.”
Redbeard’s fist hammered on the table, making it jump. “I nae want her to die!”
“Neither do I,” I blurted out. Redbeard looked down at me with a surprised look as I continued. “I don’t want her to cut her life short because of me...and I know something that may help,” I added, remembering what Dancing Bear had told me. “There is supposed to be an herb called goblin-heart that makes someone permanently merged with a dragon-ghost need less strength, like a thirsty man with a skin of water only needing a sip to quench his thirst. It’s supposed to help prolong that person’s life.”
“Tomas speaks the truth,” Jade said. “Master Khan also knows of other herbs that, in turn, strengthen the goblin-heart, along with how they can be compounded into a mixture. He can pass this knowledge on to Tomas.”
Redbeard gave me a questioning look and I nodded. “I can make mixtures as well as my foster-grandfather could.”
“Better,” Jeremiah said. I looked at my friend in surprise and he smiled. “It was common knowledge your mixtures were always better than his.”
“Khan tell Sally what herbs to find,” the Bo said, “and Sally bring them back. Next year, before Tomas in heat, Sally guide ship to Bo Island and we gather many herbs, keep Pepper well.”
“But you told me if we travelled there I’d never be allowed to leave,” Pepper said in surprise.
Sally’s dark eyes met mine. “When Tomas in heat, give Bo Dragon children, fulfill promise made long, long time ago.”
I sat up, Redbeard straightening to let me do so, although I noticed he remained within striking distance. “Sally, I’ve never laid eyes on a Bo before today, so how could I be fulfilling a promise?”
“Besides,” Jeremiah added, “if men could mate with the Bo, there’d be at least one half-breed running around the Davy with a mane of red hair.” Redbeard grinned and much of the crew, who were gathering around us, laughed. But Sally only shook her head, the braided golden hair swinging behind her. “Tomas not human.” Everyone’s laughter died as she made a guttural sound with several clicks at the end. “That Bo word for Tomas, not word Man know.” I heard muttering from the crew and Sally rounded on them. “Is good word. Tomas come Bo Island, all welcome.” She gave them a grin of broad, white teeth. “Sally’s tribe many, many female, have big party, last for days.”
One of the crew exclaimed, “A tribe of them? Dear God, they’ll kill us!”
“A better death than hanging,” another remarked.
There was more laughter as Sally reached out her hand to stroke Pepper’s red hair. “Jade say five seasons pass before we go Bo Island, so Sally look for herbs where Jade tell her. Sally not want lose Pepper, but all die in time. Pepper die, Sally lose sister, sad long time.”
Master Le’Vass, dressed in dark trousers and a blue, ruffled shirt, stepped out from the assembled crew and walked towards us, his boots clicking on the grey-wood deck. “We do not want our dear Sally to be sad... for surely much of ze crew would be sad as well.” He stopped and leaned against a square post near the table. “But at ze same time, ze crew expects to be treated with fairness. Ze Articles clearly state petite Pepper’s person must remain inviolate by all.”
“All members of the crew,” Pepper shot back. “Tomas swore Dragon-oath to Captain Hawkins, and you yourself said an apprentice isn’t part of the crew.”
“I was speaking of ze division of the spoils.”
Standing behind him, a tall, blond man with short hair and a moustache, wearing gentlemen’s clothes and a white, ruffled shirt, chuckled. “You cannot have it both ways, Jean,” he said in cult
ured French. “I told you the idea was a two-edged sword.”
Master Le’Vass gave him a sour look. “So kind of you to mention it, Claude; I never would have thought of that.” The other Frenchman only smiled as Master Le’Vass returned to English. “I admit you have a point, mademoiselle, but there is still ze matter of fairness to ze crew.” He glanced at me before looking back at Pepper. “Ze lad will lie with you, but also with Sally, ze whores of Tortuga, and all because of ze captain’s lack of respect...”
“I will not,” I shouted, interrupting him as I rose to my knees on the table. “If Pepper will be true to me then I’ll do the same.”
“Words are wind,” bald-headed Curly called out. “Redbeard should know: he passes plenty of that through his mouth and his arse.” The crew laughed, but Curly’s mirth died as Redbeard scowled at him.
“Then I’ll ask Redbeard to let me betroth her,” I blurted out without thinking.
Laughter died as everyone stopped to stare at me. “You don’t mean that,” Jeremiah said, moving to the end of the table so he could look me in the eyes.
“Yes I do,” I said to him. I felt the King of Fools...yet, it was as if I could feel Belle-M’ere smiling at me, as if I’d just done something right in her eyes. Jeremiah looked at me as if I’d scattered my wits and I gave him my most determined expression.
Jeremiah wasn’t impressed. “I know that stubborn look. Bloody bones, Tomas, I don’t want you to make a choice you’ll later regret.”
“He won’t regret it,” Pepper told him as she sat down on the table next to me. “I’ll be true to him whether he’s true to me or not.” Putting her mouth next to my ear, she lowered her voice. “You don’t have to do this. We can work things out and keep it from the crew, if you wish.”
I was already shaking my head. “I have to. I know it’s impulsive,” Jeremiah snorted but I ignored him, “but if your vision is true then this is the right way. Besides,” the memory of the first time I saw her on the ratlines of the Davy flashing through my mind, “you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known...” Pepper gave me a wicked grin and I realized what I’d said. “I mean, I’ve ever become acquainted with.” Pepper began to giggle, and my wits ran away like cats from a broom. “Bloody bones, I’m making a dog’s dinner of this.”
I struggled to think of something else to say and Pepper put a finger to my lips, closing my mouth as Jeremiah made an exasperated sound. “Tomas, you’re a sweet fool but you’re an apprentice now. Captain Hawkins has to give his permission before you enter into any sort of an agreement.”
“I think it’s an excellent idea.” Captain Hawkins stepped from the shadows beside the galley into the strong light of the dragon-globe we were under, his boots clicking on the grey-wood planks beneath our feet. Looking beyond him, I noticed Mr. Smith remained where he was with his arms folded over his chest. The captain came to a halt next to the table. “Pepper will be rewarded for her faithful service and celibacy, while my apprentice will be kept from being led too far astray.”
I expected him to give Jeremiah a warning look, but instead he turned it on Master Le’Vass, who merely sneered. “Ze lad is the one being led astray by you, Mon captain, who has less concern for his welfare than you have for ze crew.”
“I’m not finished.” Captain Hawkins folded his arms over his chest. “In keeping with the spirit of the Articles, they will not consummate their new relationship until we reach Tortuga, where the company will divide up the plunder and dissolve, with a new company formed under new Articles for the next voyage.”
“Not consummate...that isn’t fair!” Pepper banged her fist on the table much like Redbeard had, though with much less effect. “Captain Hawkins, I object. I’ve waited too long already.”
The captain merely gave her a tough smile. “I know better than to order Tomas not to enjoy your favors, so instead I plan to keep him so exhausted he shall not be able to...rise to the occasion, shall we say, until we reach Tortuga.” He lost the smile as he turned to Master Le’Vass. “Does this give satisfaction, Jean?”
The look Master Le’Vass gave the captain would’ve curdled cheese. “Ze Scotsman has not given his consent.”
Redbeard had been watching us silently, and as all eyes turned to him it was almost as if I could hear Alfonzo say, you started this, Tomas, so now carry it through. Still kneeling on the table, I turned towards him and put myself in the traditional position of formality: one knee on the table with the other raised and both hands upon it. I desperately racked my brains to remember how a betrothal went. “Sir...I, Tomas Rios of St. Augustine, am requesting the hand of your daughter...of Pepper,” catching myself, “in betrothal, for seven years or until we decide to either separate or marry.” There was more, about children and property, but I couldn’t remember another single thing and so just stopped.
The crew thought this better than a mummer’s farce, judging from the catcalls and laughter, while Redbeard’s stone-like gaze got a gleam in it. “Just her hand?”
I blurted out, “I want the rest of her too.”
Pepper gave a nervous giggle as most of the crew laughed. But the gleam left Redbeard’s eyes as he stared at me for a long moment, the crew shushing themselves so they could hear what came next as he continued to stare. Finally, he gave me a slow nod. “Long ago there be a lad named Dava of the clan Wallace, impulsive and wild, mind you, but a good lad nae the less. I be seeing something of that lad in front of me, more than you yourself might be believing. Pepper, come here lass.” Pepper was up on the table and kneeling beside me before I could even turn my head. “Tell me true: do you want to be betrothed to this lad?”
“I want to marry him,” which made my eyes widen in shock, “but I’ll settle for this until I’m wearing his ring.”
Redbeard shook his head. “You’re daft as a March hare...but if you be wanting this lad, I can see you’ll do nae better than him.” Suddenly, he grabbed me by the front of my shirt and pulled me forward until his hairy face was only inches from mine. “But if I ever be hearing that you be treating me Pepper badly,” his breath smelling of fish, “I’ll be thrashing you within an inch of your life...and don’t be thinking I won’t.”
Exasperation dripping from her voice, Pepper said, “He’s going to treat me exactly the way I want to be treated.”
My face still a finger’s length from Redbeard’s, I glanced at her. “And how is that?”
Pepper smiled at me. “You’ll figure it out.”
Redbeard laughed and let go of my shirt, clapping me on the shoulder with enough force to almost knock me off my knees. “Your life with her will nae ever be dull, I be promising you that.”
An African, older than most of the crew with short, kinky hair gone to grey, and dressed in a gentleman’s coat and trousers, with a ruffled shirt, stepped out from the crew. A pair of square-rimmed spectacles was perched on his nose as he glared at us. “If you’re all quite finished, get off my operating table!” He stabbed a finger at the long dagger still stuck in the wood. “And take that pig-sticker with you!”
Pepper and I immediately hopped off the table while Redbeard pulled the knife out of the table and put it back in its sheath. He looked down at the gash he’d made in the wood. “It not be that bad.”
The African gave him a disgusted look. “I’m going to have to seal it up or else it’ll become a haven for foul humors. Why I tolerate...”
“Samuel,” Pepper said, interrupting him, “this is Tomas.”
“Well met,” he said curtly. Then he gave me a second look. “Jeremiah said you’re good at apothecary. If Pepper is going to go through with this madness then we need to have Sally find these herbs Jade knows of, and have you compound them at once, so we can begin the treatment.”
“I need to know more about them,” I replied. “If they’re not mixed in the right proportions and in the proper way, I could do Pepper more harm than good.”
Samuel
stopped and seemed to really look at me. “When Khan’s got a dragon-ghost lodged in his skull, he understands more about the natural world than any man I’ve ever known. Come with me and we’ll hunt him up...”
“Pray, forgive him, doctor,” Captain Hawkins said, “but Tomas needs to attend me on the quarter-deck. However, you are welcome to join us there.”
“Let me get my Journal, so I may take notes, and my spectacles, and I will join you.” Captain Hawkins tapped the tip of his own nose; Samuel gave the captain a quizzical look, peered down his nose, and gave a start. “Ah, of course. I shall join you presently.” He hurried off and the captain motioned for me to follow him towards the stairs.
But before I could take a step, the Buccan called Lucky Luc stepped out from the knot of Buccan standing in a group and called out, “Stand fast. If ze Bo is right and you’re not a child of man then you must be a daemon...and we will not allow such creatures to live.”
Muttering began coming from the crew while the Buccan remained ominously silent, all of them staring at me like I was a fiend from hell. Jeremiah was beside me in an instant. “I’ve known Tomas all my life, and he’s a man like any other.” We traded a look and Jeremiah said, “Perhaps not like any other, but he’s no more a daemon than I am.” He placed his hand on the knife hilt hanging at his belt. “I’ll gut the first one of you who tries to take his life.”
The Africans and some of the crew called out encouragement to Jeremiah and catcalls to the Buccan, who erupted in a torrent of insults in French I was glad my friend didn’t understand, as Redbeard roared, “Draw a weapon and I be spilling your guts all over the deck.” Hands went to knife hilts as the insults turned ugly, and I clenched my fists as I took my position beside Jeremiah, ready to fight alongside him as we had in St. Augustine.