If it was foolish to let her try, then he was about to be a fool. A big one.
“I suppose we all do things we regret,” he finally said. “God knows, I’ve had my share. There is much I regret in life, but you are not one of them. Do not make me change my mind, Gregg. Please.”
Gregoria could hardly believe it. Was he actually forgiving her? Tears filled her eyes as she gazed at him.
“I will not, I swear it,” she murmured. “I am so very sorry for all of this, Constantine.”
“I believe you.”
“Will you forgive me?”
She was begging him. Unable to stand her remorseful expression, he went over to her and cupped her face in his two big hands, looking her in the eye.
“Aye, I will,” he said. “But do not make me regret any of this. No more lies, ever. No matter what.”
She nodded, blinking, and her tears spattered on his wrist. “I swear upon my mother’s grave, no more anything,” she whispered. “But you must go now. I must go to Three Crosses and face my brother and Lord Wembury and the Earl of March.”
He shook his head. “You are not going anywhere,” he said. “You are returning to the Gaia with me. You promised, you know. I will hold you to it.”
“Are… are you certain?”
“Of course I am,” he said. “Now, let us go find Augustin and the men and tell them we are turning back. There is no point in telling them any of this, so you will let me make excuses. They are probably not too far ahead. In fact, I want to…”
He was cut off by the sounds of thundering hooves, heading in his direction from the north. Concerned, he helped Gregoria to mount his fat steed just as his men came up and over a rise, heading in his direction at top speed. That pounding cadence of men rushing at him had Constantine leaping onto his horse in front of Gregoria, gathering the reins tightly to control the animal, who began to dance about as his men approached.
“What is it?” he called.
Augustin was in the lead. He heard the question. “Go!” he boomed. “There is an army behind us!”
Startled, Constantine turned to see a horde of armored men on horseback pursuing. They were less than a quarter-mile away, at the bottom of the rise that Augustin had just crested, and they were coming fast. Therefore, he didn’t ask any questions; he dug his heels into his horse and sped off after his men.
But it was a harried flight. The road was muddy and slippery, and rocks and dirt flew up, pelting the riders and covering them with mud. Constantine could feel Gregoria holding on to him tightly as he maneuvered his horse up in front, up near Augustin.
“What happened?” he yelled over the wind.
Augustin turned his head slightly and it was then that Constantine realized the man had a bloody scratch on his face. “They were in the trees about a half-mile north,” he shouted. “Dozens of them, crawling all over the area. They fired a crossbow at me and it barely missed.”
That explained the scratch on his cheek, but it also underscored what Gregoria had said; they may be scouring the road for you. Evidently, they were. They were probably watching every road between the coast and Three Crosses because as far as Constantine knew, there weren’t very many roads leading to Three Crosses and if the Earl of March had brought hundreds of men with him, then he could easily cover all of the roads. More than likely bored of just sitting and waiting for their quarry to come to them, they’d fanned out to make sure that quarry was trapped, any way he came.
It had very nearly worked.
“Did you see who they were?” Constantine shouted.
Augustin sat forward on his horse, trying to get more speed out of the animal. “Nay,” he called back. “But they were well-armed and well-protected. Whoever they are, it is an important army!”
The Earl of March would have such an army. Constantine hoped his horse could hold out all the way back to Eynon Bay, carrying two people as it was. So far, the steed was strong and keeping pace, but they were still a few miles away. That kind of pace would take its toll, eventually.
All he could do was pray.
Over another rise, down into a dale, and up again, they kept pace in front of the pursuing horses. It was possible that the army in pursuit had no idea who they really were, simply wanting to stop them and interrogate them, but with all of these men and one lone woman, the odds that the prey had come to the Earl of March were good.
The road became a little windy at one point and the horses struggled with their footing on the wet ground. Just as they crested another rise, the road leveled out in front of them and it was nearly a straight line all the way into Eynon Bay, which they could see clearly now. Constantine could see the distant speck of the Gaia out in the bay, the sunlight of late afternoon reflecting off of the water. He thought he saw a second vessel as well, but he couldn’t be sure the way the water and sun were playing tricks on his vision. He urged his grunting horse faster, eager to make the sand, eager to reach his ship.
Then, the arrows started to fly.
There were many of them, too many to count, all of them singing as they hit the earth around them. Gregoria shrieked, ducking her head low and trying to cover it with a hand and not fall off, but there wasn’t much she could do. She was exposed sitting where she was, covering Constantine’s back, and he struggled not to feel panic because of it. An arrow aimed for him would hit her instead. He tried to lay lower on the horse, forcing her to assume a lower profile as well.
God, please… just let us make it to the ship unharmed!
More arrows. One of Constantine’s men was hit in the leg. He could hear the man grunt in pain and he turned to see the man ripping the arrow from his thigh and tossing it away. This was a tough crew of men and they proved it every day. He was glad they were with him.
But it would be a bounty for the Earl of March if he captured all of them.
At this point, they could be seen from the sea, probably tiny dots being chased by more tiny dots, but he hoped that the man in command of the Gaia, Aeolis – or even Lucifer – could see them from the spyglass and realize they were being chased. He began to pray for it, praying that his men on duty would see that they were in distress. The spyglass would be able to easily single them out and then they could move the ship in closer. They would have to leave the horses behind more than likely, but it couldn’t be helped. All the Earl of March would have of Constantine le Brecque was his horse, but that was a small price to pay, considering.
And then, the sounds of distant thunder…
Only it wasn’t thunder. It was nine-pounders being launched from cannons. Constantine knew the sound of that concussion well. As he watched with astonishment, both ships in the bay – now, for certain, he saw a second one – were firing their cannons. At first, Constantine thought that the Gaia was under fire because he couldn’t clearly see the second ship but, soon enough, the cannonballs were flying over their heads, hitting the land behind them and exploding in a hail of shrapnel.
Help had, indeed, arrived.
The Gaia and the second ship were firing at the land, not at each other, and cannonballs were sailing overhead. The first burst of cannons was devastating for the men in pursuit; Constantine glanced behind to see men and horses being seriously damaged. It was enough to slow the group down but not stop them entirely. And as Constantine and his men neared the town, another volley of cannon fire ripped through the end of town, just as they passed through it, and tore through the lines of men who were still pursuing them.
It was enough to turn the rest of the pursuers around. They couldn’t compete with volleys of cannon fire from the ships in the bay and those who hadn’t been injured by the exploding nine-pounders turned tail and raced back the way they’d come. Men were picking up pieces of each other, trying to herd everyone back from where they’d come, but the cannonballs had been shattering. Wounded men and horses were on the ground, drying or crying for help, as Constantine and his men made it through the town and onto the sandy beach where four skiffs were
being rowed in, full of heavily-armed men coming to help them.
“It’s Shaw!” Augustin said, pointing to the dark and mighty Savage of the Sea as she sat in the glittering bay near the Gaia. “He’s come!”
Constantine had been more concerned with the men pursuing them, but he quickly came to see that what was left of them had turned back. It took him a moment to realize he and his men were no longer being chased, no longer in immediate danger. Emitting a heavy sigh, one of utter relief, he dismounted his frothing horse, pulling Gregoria off with him as he turned his attention to the second dark-sailed ship in the bay.
“Bloody Beard,” he muttered with mock disgust. “It is Shaw, indeed. Now, I shall have to listen to the man tell me how he saved my hide. There will be no living with him.”
Augustin grinned as the men moved nearer to the water’s edge, watching the skiffs moving in. He started to laugh when he saw that Shaw himself was on one of the skiffs, a broadsword in one hand and a dagger in the other, preparing to fight to the death for his fellow pirate brethren.
“Shaw!” Augustin cried, lifting his hand. “Ahoy! Thank God you came when you did!”
Shaw was armed to the teeth for a fight. He was fairly close to the shoreline now, enough so that he could see Constantine and the woman in his arms. It occurred to him that Constantine was holding the woman quite possessively, something he’d never seen Constantine do. It was a great curiosity, but something to question at a later time. At the moment, he had to make sure Constantine understood that he’d just saved his hide.
“What’s that ye say?” he said, turning his head and cupping a hand to his ear. “That I’m the greatest man ye know? That there is none more daring or smarter than I?”
Constantine rolled his eyes as the skiffs came in close and the Gaia began to move in closer to shore so the horses could be loaded. But he made sure to fix Shaw in the eye as the man leapt off the skiff and waded through the ankle-deep water to where Constantine and Gregoria were standing.
“Aye, you dirty sea dog, you are the greatest man I know,” Constantine said. “And the most daring. But I am more handsome and far more intelligent than you are.”
Shaw grinned broadly as he came up on Constantine, pulling the man into a brotherly embrace before kissing him loudly on the cheek.
“I’ve heard ye had some trouble, lad,” he said, pulling back to pat the man on the head. “I came tae help.”
There was a seriousness now to the conversation as they faced each other with the realization that the danger, for the moment, was over for Constantine. The moment between them was warm and deep, a bonding moment between men who had saved one another time and time again and had lived to tell the tale.
“I was wondering when you would arrive,” Constantine said. “I thought I was going to have to fight off those bastards by myself.”
Shaw cocked a dark eyebrow. “So ye knew I was coming, did ye?”
“I know everything.”
Shaw grinned. “Ye know that I have a special sense that tells me ye’re in trouble.”
Constantine laughed softly. “Aye, I know it. It’s a special sense called Lucifer. He told me he sent you word.”
Shaw shrugged. “’Tis a good thing he did.”
Constantine nodded. “It is, indeed,” he said. The, he sobered dramatically. “I knew you would come. You always do. You always know when I am in need of you, my brother.”
Shaw’s dark eyes twinkled. “That storm we had last night made it so I almost dinna make it in time,” he said. “It blew us into Parrog Bay where an old man told me he’d seen a Sassenach army near Three Crosses. Knowing ye were heading there, I came tae warn ye. I am sorry I was too late.”
Constantine shook his head. “You made up for it by chasing them off my tail,” he said. “If you and the Gaia hadn’t fired cannons to chase them off, it is quite possible they could have caught us. In that respect, you have my deepest gratitude.”
“There is no gratitude between us, Con. Only brotherhood.”
“Agreed.”
“And I would never let my brother down.”
“Nor I.”
Shaw’s smile was back. “As ye’ve proven tae me, many times,” he said. “Our brotherhood runs deeper than blood, laddie. I’ll love ye ’til I die. And speaking of love, will ye introduce me tae the lady?”
Constantine pulled Gregoria to him, making sure she was well away from Shaw, a truly handsome devil. “Mayhap someday I will,” he said. “But for now, I am keeping her all to myself.”
Shaw began to follow the pair as they headed to one of the skiffs. “I saved yer hides and ye willna at least introduce me tae the woman I risked my life for?”
“Nay.”
“Not even a name?”
“Not even a name.”
The men around them began to chuckle, sensing the game between them. There was so much adoration and camaraderie between Constantine and Shaw that it was moments like these where that bond was felt the most deeply.
A daring brotherhood, where honor among thieves reigns supreme, and crushing their enemies was a thrilling pastime. Today, it was Shaw crushing those who would see his brother’s life ended. Tomorrow, it could very well be Constantine risking all to save Shaw. But that was how it went with them.
Brothers above all, until the very end.
Epilogue
A few days later
It was a day made of diamonds, the sunlight glittering off the waters of the sea near the outlet of the River Camel, the inlet where Constantine had been keeping the Leucosia for refit. But today was the day of her unveiling, and unveil she did.
Like a great, dark beast, the Leucosia emerged from the inlet and out into open waters. There was an entire fleet of ships to greet her as she raised her darkened sails and tread forth into the dark blue waters of the Cornwall coast, ships from both Constantine’s fleet and Shaw’s fleet.
The Gaia was there, as was the Persephone, the Melinoe, and the Orpheus, all four of those bigger vessels while the smaller ones like the Ligeia shadowed the larger ships. Shaw’s vessel, Savage of the Sea, was also present along with three other ships in his fleet, making it a huge show of force for the Pirates of Britannia.
But they were here for a reason.
The Leucosia was a much-coveted vessel and simply to prevent the French or even the Spanish from sneaking up and taking aim on her, Constantine wanted a big show of force to keep the enemies at bay. He wanted the ship in the channel with no hassle, no fighting. He simply wanted to see the beauty of the sea-going ship in all her glory.
She was quite a sight.
“So that’s her, is it?”
It was Shaw’s question, spoken in a tone that suggested awe. On the deck of the Gaia, standing next to Constantine, they watched the Leucosia emerge from the mouth of the river. She was a massive vessel, at least three times the size of the smaller pirate vessels, and she was built for war. Constantine grinned at the appreciation he heard in Shaw’s voice.
“That’s why I asked you to come back to Cornwall with me,” he said. “I wanted you to see her. It was a hard fight to get that lady.”
Shaw snorted at the understatement. He knew what Constantine had gone through to get her. “Ballocks, she’s a big bitch,” he said. “I dunna blame ye for being so proud of her.”
Over on Constantine’s right stood Gregoria, watching the big ship emerge into the channel. Dressed in a pale blue silk embroidered with tiny roses, a gift from Constantine, she looked absolutely exquisite. The big silver cross he’d purchased for her hung around her neck, as well as strands of pearls and some other jewels she’d selected from Constantine’s horde of jewelry, and she looked every inch the consort of a pirate. Except for the fact that she had no sea legs. Ever since her first trip on the Gaia in that terrible storm, any movement on sea made her ill. But she held herself together for this momentous occasion.
Constantine had asked it of her.
“I know nothing of ships, my lord, but
she does seem quite beautiful to me,” she said to Shaw.
The man leaned forward to look at her on the other side of Constantine. “I’ve spent three days eating meals with ye, lass, and Con has yet tae introduce us,” he said. “Do ye think he ever will? If he does, ye can stop calling me ‘m’lord’ and address me by my name.”
As Gregoria giggled, Constantine pursed his lips wryly. “I suppose I should, lest I be accused of having bad manners,” he said. “I did not want to introduce the two of you until I was sure you were not going to seduce her. You’re a handsome devil, you know. They call you ‘Savage’ for a reason.”
As Gregoria snickered, Shaw lifted his eyebrows. “If I thought she would have left ye, I would have tried my hardest tae make it so, but she has eyes only for ye, Con,” he teased, a twinkle in his eye. “Gregg has no interest in me.”
“So you know her name, do you?”
“I’ve heard.”
Constantine fought off a grin. “Admit it. You asked someone.”
Shaw sighed. “I did. Are ye angry?”
Constantine simply shook his head. “I am not,” he said. “But she belongs to me. You would do well to remember that.”
Shaw grinned. “Ye know I have a lass of my own now, Con,” he said. “What would I do with two?”
“Knowing you, you would find a way.”
Shaw laughed softly, looking at Gregoria, who was also grinning. “Nay, Con,” he said after a moment. “I have my Jane now and I couldna be happier. Speaking of Jane, I’m anxious tae return tae her, but it was worth the delay tae see the Leucosia put tae sea. She’s a fine vessel.”
Constantine glanced at Lucifer and Augustin, standing on the opposite side of Gregoria. He gave the men a vague nod, and especially to Lucifer, who nodded in return. It was as if they all shared a secret, something that was now going to be brought to the forefront. Lucifer turned to Remy, who was up on the poop deck, and lifted his hand at the man. Remy, in turn, issued a command to Kerk, who happened to be standing next to him with a bow and arrow in hand. Quickly, Kerk lit the arrow tip and fired it into the air, flaming and smoking and all. As the arrow began to arc its way back to earth, something happened over on the Leucosia.
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