Cassandra's Pirate (The Atlantis Series)

by Candace Smith

  Cass nodded. “I didn’t know that’s what it was called, but I think that’s how Addie and I arrived here.”

  The blonde looked up at the pirates. They were standing by the rail watching the sky. “Let me guess. You fell for mister macho there.”

  Cass laughed. “Oh yeah, big time.”

  The woman shook her head. “Something about off planet guys.”

  “Cass, do you know where the stream is?” the other woman asked.

  “I think Vincent can find it. Actually, the sandbar it was on sank after he saved us, but it’s above water again now.”

  Vincent looked down at them. “Can you keep the Makers away for good?”

  “That’s the plan,” the spikey haired woman replied.

  “And ye’ think this stream is how they got here?”

  The third, quiet woman nodded. “We know that it is.”

  “We’ll be taking you there, but I’ll be warning you: if you think they’re gone and you’ll be chasing them, we’ll be sealing it off after you’re through.” On this, Vincent planned to stand firm.

  None of the women wanted to ask what had happened on this strange world. They rose and stood with the pirates as they sailed towards the horizon. More sandbars were emerging from the depths. Some joined together, creating larger dry spaces. Vincent ignored them. He was establishing his stronghold on the other side, as far from Espedene as he could manage.

  At sunset, they reached the spot, and the women stared at a clump of rocks on the end of a sandbar. Cass said, “When we came through, the water spilled into the sea.”

  Now, it was sucking down the surrounding waters. The pixie turned to Cass. “It won’t take you back. That’s not where it’s leading.”

  Cass shrugged. “I didn’t think so.” She took Vincent’s hand. “I don’t want to go back, anyway. Neither does Addie, but it will help to be able to tell her it isn’t a possibility.”

  None of the women asked where Addie was, and Cass was relieved she did not have to discuss it. Explaining she was in the prison possibly awaiting execution after all this, made her want to cry.

  The women lowered into the water and swam the short distance to the sandbar. One of them called back, “Give us ten minutes inside, and then blow the hell out of the entrance.”

  “Good luck to you, sky witches,” Vincent answered.

  The women stood by the rushing water. “Looks like quite an undertow.” They cinched their belts together with the line the pirates gave them. The first woman took a step forward. “Shit,” she screamed as the water pulled her forward off her feet, dragging the other women behind her by the rope.

  Ten minutes later, Vincent slammed the cave with his cannons. All that mattered was that the Makers were gone. He believed the three strange young women. Anyone who flew down from the sky had more magic than the sorcerers, he figured.

  There was a clang from a bell in the distance, and Vincent turned to see Harry’s schooner returning with all the other pirate ships. They were filled with crew and men from Fivertown. Sandra’s husband stood on the bow, with Lorena and her husband standing beside him.

  “Lady Astier,” Vincent called, “tired of our little side of the world all ready?”

  “No, pirate.” She lowered her nose from its pinched, haughty position. “I’m pleased to see my schooner is still seaworthy, Vincent.”

  “Aye, she’s a fine vessel, Lorena. I wouldn’t have stolen her if she wasn’t.”

  “And you returned father’s frigate.” She shook her head in mock sadness. “It is a far bigger vessel and built for battle. The Makers could always build him a new one.”

  “The Makers are gone.”

  Harry gasped, and then scowled. “Truly? Damn, we came to fight them.”

  “You’ll have to satisfy your battling urge helping me free Pascal and his Lady.”

  “What’s been going on, Vincent?”

  He smiled at Sandra. She was still the prettiest Fiver, other than Cass-lass. He filled them in on the strange young women who flew from the sky, and doubted many believed him. Still, there were plenty of thumbs touching foreheads.

  “Well, for all your seaworthy scheming, you pirates don’t know a thing about Royalty.” Lorena waved her arm over the sea. “By now, all the ships are launched and blowing the hell out of each other. Without Makers they can’t be rebuilt, and without labor from Fifth Realm they can’t be repaired.”

  Uneasy blank faces stared back at her, until Vincent slowly smiled. “We go around Espedene and dock, avoiding the battle in the sea. Most of the guards will be manning the ships.”

  “Very good, Vincent. Perhaps you are worthy of pirating my ship, after all.”

  “We still have to get to the palace prison,” Cass said.

  “Ashton is more paranoid about losing his kingdom than protecting a few prisoners.” Lorena looked at Cass, and whispered to Sandra, “She isn’t much.”

  Sandra smiled. “He seems to like her.”

  Lorena shrugged. “You’re a sorceress,” she called over. “By now Ashton is going insane with the knowledge his precious Makers have left him. Tell him you’ll destroy his palace if he doesn’t release them.”

  Cass frowned. “He’ll believe that?”

  “None of this trouble started before you came, and now that even his wizards are afraid of you, of course he will.”

  With pirates waving cutlasses, the remaining palace guards scarpered. They were only Fourth Realm, and the never received the luxuries to command much loyalty to the Royals. Lorena stormed into the throne room. “Stop hiding like a coward, Ashton. Your people are going to need someone to put this mess in order.”

  Cass’s eyes widened when a short, thin man climbed out from behind the throne. His pale blonde hair was thinned to balding on top, and he was shaking like a leaf. “That’s the King?”

  Vincent whispered, “The Royal bloodline seems to dilute the size further up the Realms.”

  “But Pascal, isn’t he First Realm?”

  “Not his father. His father is Benny Lipman. You know, Lucy and Franny’s dad.”

  “Shit, does he know that?”

  Vincent shrugged. “Never much saw the need to tell him, before. He’ll be pleased as hell to know he really does have Fiver blood in him.”

  Lorena held out her hand and snapped her fingers. “Ashton, I need the key to the prison.”

  “The sorceress is there,” he whined.

  Cass stepped forward. “And I am the sorceress who lit the sky.” She looked around the throne room. “How attached are you to your palace? I assure you, the Makers will not be returning. They know their power can’t compare to ours. That’s why they had you lock her up.” Cass felt utterly ridiculous, but it was obvious the King was taking her seriously.

  The small man paled even more, and his voice shook. “If I free her, you will leave Espedene in peace?”

  “Pieces, more like it,” Cass whispered to Vincent. She faced the terrified man and narrowed her green eyes on him. “We will leave Espedene, but we want the man who brought her into this trap as well.”

  “Pascal Dupree? Of course. He is a traitor to everyone, seeking to keep the sorceress’ power to himself.” The man held the key out for Lorena.

  “Boo,” Cass yelled, and the King screamed and bolted behind the throne again, thumbing his forehead continuously.

  “She has cursed me,” he cried. “The sorceress has cursed me.”

  “Good luck getting him to put anything back in order,” Cass laughed.

  They made their way to the prison and freed Pascal and Addie. They were sitting together drinking brandy on a plush sofa.

  “Geeze, Addie. I figured you were in a stone cell and chains.”

  Addie glared at her. “And leaving me there for almost two months seemed like a good idea? Honestly, Cassandra. You never could get your priorities straight.” Addie straightened her silk skirts and held her arm up for Pascal. “Is the King dead?”

  “No. He thinks you�
��re a sorceress and he’s hiding in the throne room.”

  “Of course he thinks I’m a sorceress. How do you think I managed these dresses and jewels, and to get myself moved to Pascal’s chamber?” She stepped out of the luxurious compartment, and asked over her shoulder, “Does everyone think I’m a sorceress?”

  Cass frowned. “You and me. The Makers are gone, and the Royals think we scared them off.”

  “I see.”

  “Oh shit, that’s ‘work mode’ again,” Cass whispered.

  “And you are returning to Rogamis?” Addie pasted on a smile and turned to face her. She studied the tunic, worn breeches, and boots. Even in this new world where they could be treated like Royalty, Cass insisted on dressing the part of the working class. “It suits you better, and I think you would be far more comfortable.”

  Cass’s mouth dropped open. “How do you know? You’ve never been there. It’s a filthy fishing settlement.”

  “Well, I don’t see you fitting in here,” Cassandra replied. She glared at Vincent. “And definitely not you.” She turned to Lorena and narrowed her eyes. “You can stay.” She whispered to Pascal, “Obviously from good stock.”

  “Wait a sec. You want to stay in Espedene?”

  “Hear her out, Cass-lass. I’m not too keen on bringing her over the end,” Vincent whispered.

  “But we risked our lives to save her.”

  “Save me from what? Pascal and I have had a most enjoyable time getting to know each other. Don’t be so dramatic, Cassandra.”

  “Oh, for god sakes, Addie.”

  “Queen Adelaide, I think. It has a nice sound to it.” She looked up at Pascal. “Take me to my throne room, dear. Ashton is about to be demoted.”

  Cass watched them walk passed, and Pascal rolled his eyes at Vincent. “Guess I was just doomed to marry First Realm.”

  When they were out of sight, Lorena said, “I take it we are not going to tell her the grass is greener on the other side, and that all her working subjects have evacuated Espedene?”

  “Definitely not,” Cass muttered. “Vincent, let’s go home.”

  They walked onto the dock, and Vincent said, “Harry, you’ll be taking my Cass-lass with you. I’ll be taking the short ways home. There’s something I need to finish.”

  “Oh no, you don’t.” Cass jumped onto the Floralinda Sunset and kicked off her boots. Before Vincent realized her intention and could stop her, she scrambled up to the crow’s nest.

  Harry laughed. “I’d say your Lady would rather ride with you, Captain LeSeure.”

  “Damien might actually sink it this time,” Vincent whispered.

  “And you think it’s best to leave me to console your Lady?” Harry looked up at the pretty girl clinging to the rigging and winked. “Not that I mind the task.”

  Vincent clenched his jaw and strode onto his ship glaring up at her. “You’ll be staying below decks when the fighting starts. No arguing on this one.”

  Cass watched him angrily pacing the deck and smiled. “We’ll see.”

  Far off shore, Mudeye took her place up top. Cass watched the men ready the cannons. “How does it fire?”

  “You’ll not be needing to know about that,” Vincent snapped.

  “Well, I can hand you more of these balls then.” Cass picked one up. It was barely the size of an orange. “They’re hollow?”

  “What?” Vincent snatched it.

  Cass walked over to the railing, gripped her hand around it and pulled. A whole section freed and almost broke off in her fist. Vincent grasped her arm. “You’ll not be destroying my ship to keep me from battle.”

  “Vincent, everything’s made out of cardboard.” She could see through his anger he did not understand. “I mean, not really cardboard, but nothing is solid.”

  “Of course my ship is solid. We’re standing on her deck, aren’t we?”

  “And I bet if I stomped down, I’d fall through to the cabin below.” She lifted her foot and he grabbed her leg.

  “What are you doing?” He guided her towards the passage below and walked her to his cabin. “Are you trying to disable my ship to keep me from the fight?”

  “No. More than ever, I want to watch now. I just didn’t realize how badly the Makers had fooled you.”

  “How?”

  “Vincent, they made things that you couldn’t use to really hurt each other. You could bang into each other all day long, but I bet your ships can’t sink.”

  “You’ve seen for yourself the hulls caught in the reefs.”

  “Only after they were ripped apart and caught on the rocks. When was the last time a ship was sunk during a battle?” His eyes deepened in thought. “Vincent, they couldn’t let you destroy each other. They needed you to build for. I think they also didn’t want you to have weapons that could break through to Espedene and go after them.”

  “I’ve downed men myself with my cutlass.”

  “On Rogamis, Vincent. The Makers knew you couldn’t get passed the guards on Espedene to get near them.” Cass reached out and ran her fingers down the blade held in his sash. “This looks old.”

  “Aye, it is. My father gave it to me the day I left. The cutlass has been passed down for many generations.”

  “Which is probably why it actually works.” Cass put her arms around his neck. “You’ve got a distinct advantage here, Vincent. They don’t know the Makers are gone and they’ll be stuck with their damaged ships. And you’re the only one that knows they can’t sink you.”

  Vincent stroked his beard, his dark eyes finally taking on a look of amusement. “Could make the fight a bit less threatening.”

  “Only for us,” Cass smiled. “You are so going to have to let me watch this.”

  “You’re sure they can’t sink us?”

  “Positive.” Cass squeezed the back of the chair, and her thumb broke through.

  “You’ll be staying by the wheel next to Johnny. Stuff still flies around deck.”

  “Okay.” She kissed him and dashed up on deck.

  Vincent informed the rest of the crew, and after initial disbelief, they laughed. “They’ll think we’re crazy for sailing into the thick of it,” Bison said.

  “Not that crazy. We’ll be going after the Admiral and cut from behind,” Vincent decided.

  They sailed until they heard the booming cannons. Mudeye called down, “Captain, there’s a trawler hanging to this edge of the fight. Beyond it, the rest of the frigates and trawlers are having themselves a party.”

  Vincent took the spyglass, and in a few minutes he smiled. “It’s Schindler, still hanging a limp sail from one mast.”

  They sailed towards the small vessel. Schindler turned white at the sight of Vincent’s schooner. “Why ain’t he firing, Captain?” Harlan asked.

  “My guess is he’s out of shot. He never put up a proper sail. I think he gave up fishing a long time ago, and has been counting on the Admiral’s bribes.” Vincent called over, “Staying out of the battle, Schindler?”

  “I’ve got no fight with you, Vincent.” Schindler scanned his deck for a single cannon ball. He knew he had none. “Why the hell did you have the rogues break the truce? Now you got nowhere to dock. Rogamis withdrew the truce with the pirates as soon as they fired on Espedene.”

  “Detaching yourselves from the rogues doesn’t appear to have helped your cause with the Realm.”

  “Why’d you talk them into it, Vincent? Did you blackmail them with the sea witch?”

  “No blackmail about it, Schindler. You’ve been cheating them with your bootlegged supplies up Mallory’s passage. They had enough.”

  Vincent noted he had only two crewmen onboard. “I’m doing you a favor, Schindler. Go back to Rogamis. The Makers are gone, so the Admiral won’t have bribes for you. Learn to fish.”

  “Don’t you be telling me how to run my business. You trying to talk me into believing you got the Makers?” Schindler spat over the side. “All you got is the pirates kicked off the only stretch of dry lan
d they could tie up at. They’ll be sending you and your cursed crew to the bottom once your fortress sinks.” Schindler turned to the two old men. “Back to Rogamis. Hurry with you, before the bastard son of the sea changes his mind.”

  “You promised us salvage, Captain. How you expecting to pay us?” The old man trusted Schindler’s connection with the Admiral when they realized the deplorable condition of the vessel and no ammunition.

  Schindler hissed, “You won’t be getting a thing if the pirate aims his guns on us.”