Blacksouls

by Nicole Castroman

  “At least a league, if not more.”

  Teach nodded. “Have the men who are awake prepare their weapons. We’ll rouse the second watch as soon as the others are finished.”

  “You should rest as well,” John said. “How much sleep have you had in the last twelve hours?”

  “There will be plenty of time for sleep when this is over. I’ll take the second watch ashore. Once we land, we can set out and observe Easton from a distance. You remain with the boat. Before sundown, bring the Triumph in closer to the head of the cay. You’ll cut off any plans they might have for escape.”

  John nodded and exited the room.

  “And what am I supposed to do?” Anne asked, regretting the brandy. Her speech was slurred and her limbs felt heavy.

  “Stay here. I’ll send Benjamin to keep you company. Don’t open the door for anyone.”

  Mindful of her back, she caught Teach by the front of his shirt and tugged gently. He went willingly, his gaze locked with hers. Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him. “Be careful,” she whispered against his lips.

  Brushing his knuckle down her cheek, he nodded. This time he didn’t say “always.” It was understood.

  • • •

  To pass the time, Benjamin straightened the clothes in the armoire, while Anne organized the papers and maps from the floor. To Anne’s surprise, she found extra clothing in the crate. John had told her how Teach and Alastair had helped her escape, and Anne ran the material through her fingers, wondering how her friends were doing. They’d risked a lot to get Anne out of the fort. If Webb had done anything to hurt them . . . Her chest tightened at the thought and she closed her eyes. Webb would pay.

  “Are you all right?” Benjamin asked, his kind brown eyes watchful. In the brief time they’d known each other, he’d become like an older brother to her. He wasn’t loud or blustering, and his quiet strength was comforting.

  Anne nodded, drawing a deep breath. She attempted a smile, grateful for his company.

  “You’re tired of being in here.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I am.”

  Outside the cabin, heavy footsteps traipsed up and down the stairs leading to the deck. The men were preparing to go ashore and they called out to one another.

  Benjamin was quiet for a moment. “Would you like me to bring you some water? To bathe?”

  “I would like that very much.”

  With a nod, Benjamin slid out the door. Anne could hear one of the longboats being lowered over the side. She longed to leave the confines of the ship as well, but she was stuck. What a horrid world in which women were born. Subject to the whims and fancies of men, dependent on them for everything.

  Benjamin returned, a bucket of fresh water in his hands. “I’ll go and get you some food as well.”

  “Thank you for this.”

  Smiling, Benjamin left. While he was gone, Anne cleaned herself the best she could. Hoping to protect her wounds, she ripped Teach’s shirt into strips and wound them carefully around her chest and back. When she was done, she donned one of the smaller shirts that Cara had made.

  All the while, the men of the Triumph marched up to the deck and down to the belly of the ship. Another longboat splashed into the water, punctuated by shouts. Once Teach departed with the shore-going party, the men left on board would rest.

  A light tap on the door alerted Anne to Benjamin’s presence. Assuming his hands were full, she opened the door, only to slam it shut when she saw the leering face on the other side.

  “What’s the matter, love? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

  She shivered, the voice giving her chills. She had a clear image of his face now. His bulbous nose looked as if it had been broken numerous times. His neck was thick and his shoulders wide. He pushed against the wood, his hand snaking in, and Anne’s feet nearly slid out from under her.

  With her heart in her throat, she realized she’d left both pistols in the hammock. Rage at her helplessness leant her strength and she smashed her back into the panel, forgetting about her stitches. The man howled and Anne grinned with grim satisfaction as he withdrew.

  “You’ll be sorry for that. Once I take care of him, I’m coming back for you!”

  The door buckled beneath the weight of his fist before his steps faded down the hall. Not trusting that he truly left, Anne waited, holding her breath. She needed to warn Teach. Now that she’d seen the man’s face, she could easily identify him.

  Except what would she accuse him of  ? Searching the captain’s cabin? If she came out of hiding, then everyone would know she was on board.

  But it was clear from the man’s comment that Teach was in danger.

  The door behind her opened and Anne practically dragged Benjamin inside, his face startled.

  “Teach is in trouble and I’m going to need your help.”

  CHAPTER 30

  Teach

  Teach was quiet as the blades of the oars rose and fell in precise sequence, cutting through the water and leaving bright whorls upon the blue-green surface. The water darkened, but only briefly, as they passed over rocks lurking beneath the surface. It wasn’t long before the turquoise shallows welcomed them into the shelter of the cay.

  Looking ahead, his eyes scoured the lush green tree line of mangroves, bougainvilleas, and coniferous pines. Although it would take them a few hours to hike through the vegetation to get to the neighboring cay, there would be plenty of cover for them to observe Easton and his men.

  John had been left in charge of the Triumph while Teach had taken Kitts and his men in the two skiffs, armed with guns and swords.

  He hated leaving Anne behind, but he’d had little choice. It was safer for her to remain on board with Benjamin and John than to accompany him. Despite what she claimed, Teach knew her wounds were still too fresh. Closing her stitches the second time had been difficult. The sight of those crude gashes marring her beautiful skin had caused him more anguish than his own lashing. The brandy had helped to ease her pain, and for that he was glad, but it hadn’t helped him at all. The memory of Anne’s hands on his scars went straight to his gut.

  Sand grabbed the bow of the longboat and they jarred to a stop. Teach leapt ashore, his boots splashing in the water. After days at sea, the land felt hard beneath his feet as the surf rushed up to greet him. His hands were clammy and he wiped them down the legs of his breeches, aware of the oppressive heat. Shading his eyes, he looked at their surroundings.

  Anne would love it here. The sand glowed a bright pink, and the sky overhead matched Anne’s blue eyes. The dense tangle of prop roots made some of the trees look as if they stood on stilts. Coconuts littered the ground and there were sufficient fish in the water to provide an endless supply of food. Teach could imagine the two of them living in a place like this, with a small hut and a boat anchored in the sparkling waters.

  Truly, this was paradise.

  Anne had always wanted to find a place where she could belong. Maybe this was it. With no one around, Teach’s greatest wish was to spend time with Anne here. Instead of trying to fit their lives into someone else’s mold, they could make their own place in the world.

  With that thought in mind, Teach marched across the sand dunes and into the mangrove forest, leaving the ocean and the Triumph behind. Kitts kept pace with Teach while the rest of the crew followed in their wake. The soldiers no longer wore their uniforms, and Kitts’s men blended in with the others. There were thirty in all.

  Teach watched the sergeant out of the corner of his eye, wondering if he was the one who’d searched the captain’s cabin and discovered Anne. Teach didn’t think so, otherwise Kitts would have confronted him before now.

  Then again, Teach didn’t know Kitts that well. Perhaps he was adept at playacting. Trying to think of some way to trick a confession out of him, Teach was quiet as they entered the foliage.

  “Have you always wanted to captain a ship?”

  They’d walked for several minutes, and Teach was caught off-gu
ard by the question.

  “Aye,” Teach answered truthfully. This was a good enough start. Heaven knew they had plenty of time before they reached the cay where Easton was moored. “Have you always wanted to be a soldier?”

  “My father and grandfather were soldiers before me.”

  “But is that what you wanted?”

  “I want to make my father proud.”

  Teach could understand that desire all too well. However, in Teach’s case, it had come with too high of a price, one he hadn’t been willing to pay. “What would you be if you weren’t a soldier?”

  Kitts gave him a blank look. “What kind of question is that? I’m a soldier. I’ve chosen my course.”

  Teach had to give Kitts credit. He was single-minded and dedicated. From what Teach had seen of the man’s actions on the deck of the Triumph, and his interactions with the rest of the crew, Teach couldn’t imagine Kitts doing anything half-heartedly or against the rules.

  They walked in uncomfortable silence for several minutes, broken occasionally by the shrill cry of a tropical bird. As they passed under a tall tree, something dropped from an overhanging branch and Teach pushed Kitts to the side. The thick corded length of a boa constrictor hung suspended between them, its forked tongue snaking out. Kitts eyes were wide and he gave Teach a small nod. “Thank you.”

  With a slight shrug, Teach moved on. The rest of the men made a wide arc around the snake.

  “I suppose if I weren’t a soldier, I might be a farmer,” Kitts said unexpectedly, sweat beading on his forehead.

  Teach gave him a curious look. “Truly?” Kitts’s response surprised him. As did the fact that Kitts had given Teach’s question more thought.

  “Yes. I would have five acres. Nothing large, but enough to support myself. I’d also have cattle, chickens, and an ox.”

  He’d clearly given it some serious thought. “And would livestock be your sole source of companionship?” Teach couldn’t help himself. Kitts was so easily annoyed.

  Sure enough, Kitts stiffened, his mouth turned down at the corners. He reminded Teach of a raccoon with his two black eyes. His nose was still swollen after his run-in with John. “It might surprise you to know this, but at one time, I cared deeply for someone.”

  Teach couldn’t imagine the rigid Kitts doing anything as “impractical” as falling in love. “What happened?”

  There was a pregnant pause, as if Kitts debated telling Teach the truth. A lizard underfoot skidded away, rustling amongst the fallen leaves of a nearby bougainvillea bush.

  “Her father did not support the match.”

  “Why not?”

  “An earl’s daughter doesn’t marry a soldier.”

  “Ah,” Teach said, feeling contrite. Although Teach’s circumstances had been somewhat different, he could understand Kitts’s frustration. “Is she already wed?”

  “Not to my knowledge, no.”

  “When you return to England, perhaps you could search her out again. After you’ve sacrificed your time and freedom for country and Crown, of course,” Teach said, ducking beneath an overhanging branch.

  “Society would frown upon it.”

  Teach gave an incredulous laugh. “Hang society. If you truly loved her, you wouldn’t let her go so easily.”

  “There are rules—”

  “Bugger the rules! I wouldn’t listen to anyone who told me to stay away. Only an act of God would be able to keep me from the woman I loved.”

  Kitts’s lips twisted. “If there weren’t rules and administrations, the world would be in absolute chaos.”

  “But sometimes the rules are made by unjust men.”

  “If everyone rebelled, the result would be disastrous.”

  “Do you realize how close you are now to overstepping the boundary between the law and lawlessness?”

  “What do you mean?” Kitts snapped, stumbling on a mangrove root.

  “For all intents and purposes, you’re a privateer. In my opinion, that’s only one step away from piracy.”

  Kitts stopped, drawing himself up to his full height. “I am a soldier following the command of the sovereign governor of Nassau. I am not a privateer.”

  A few of the men stopped behind them, their expressions curious as they watched the exchange.

  Teach almost felt sorry for Kitts. He clearly lacked imagination and the ability to think for himself. “We’ve been sent to capture Easton. A letter of marque is the only thing separating us from them.”

  “Except that we won’t be keeping any of the plunder. Webb is expecting us to return everything, and I am here to ensure that happens.”

  “Do you honestly believe Webb is going to pay you?”

  Kitts shifted from one foot to the other. The sunlight filtered down through the green canopy overhead. “He informed me we would be paid for our time and trouble.”

  “How much?”

  “That’s between the governor and my—”

  Some of the men came forward. “How much?” one of them asked.

  Scowling, Kitts shot Teach a murderous glare. “That information is confidential.”

  “Tsk, tsk,” Teach said, enjoying the look of frustration on the other man’s face. “Is that any way to earn your men’s trust? Is that any way to lead them?”

  “He takes his orders from Webb. He doesn’t lead anyone,” someone called out.

  Kitts’s head whipped around as he searched for the source of the comment. Nobody moved. Turning back to Teach, he leaned forward and poked Teach’s chest. “Since you know so much, Captain,” Kitts said, his jaw clenched. “Why don’t you tell us what Webb said to you.”

  Teach shrugged. “He told me he would pay me five hundred pounds if I bring Easton back alive.” A rumble rose through the men as they muttered amongst themselves. “And I pledge to share it with the crew equally. But I don’t truly believe Webb will pay us when we return.”

  “Are you saying the governor is a liar?” Kitts asked.

  “I’m saying I don’t believe everything that comes out of his mouth.” Teach turned to address the crew. “How many of you have ever seen Easton’s ship? Or how many of you know anyone who claims they’ve seen Easton’s ship?”

  Two hands went up. In a group of thirty. Admittedly, only eighteen of them were Kitts’s men, but they’d been stationed in Nassau. Surely more people would have witnessed Easton’s ship if the pirate plagued the shores as much as Webb had led Teach to believe.

  While Teach had cared for Anne in the captain’s cabin, he’d been giving their situation serious thought. Webb had told Teach he’d sent people after Easton before. But Alastair had said that wasn’t the case, and that Webb had had a hard time gathering a crew. Teach was more prone to believe Alastair than Webb. Which made Teach wonder who, exactly, George Easton was. And what was he to Webb?

  “Our job is not to question the orders we’ve been given. The letter of marque Webb gave you proves we are innocent of any criminal act. I trust—”

  “I have no letter of marque,” Teach said.

  Kitts’s frown deepened as his face reddened. “What do you mean?”

  “Webb didn’t give me one. I assumed you would have it, since he sent you as well.”

  “No. He told me he’d given it to you.”

  The crew grumbled, their voices caught in the sticky air, their frustration palpable.

  “Do you still believe you’ll be paid for your time and trouble?” Teach asked, leaning in close.

  The look of doubt on Kitts’s face was answer enough.

  Teach turned to the crew, raising his hand to get them to quiet down. “In light of the situation, I propose a small change. We won’t be giving Webb one half of the net proceeds. Whatever spoils we find, we keep. All of it. But we will bring Easton back alive. Are we all agreed?”

  Not even Kitts voiced his dissent.

  “Excellent. And I would like to add something else to that agreement. Consider it our code, if you will. If any person steals or is caught ste
aling any part of the prize or prizes, or he’s found pilfering any money or goods, he shall forfeit his share to the rest of the crew. Is that understood?”

  The men nodded in agreement.

  Teach drew a deep breath, giving them a hard look. “Furthermore, if any person be found a ringleader of mutiny, or causing a disturbance on board, he shall forfeit his share, to be divided amongst the ship’s company. And if any person refuses to obey my command or behaves with cowardice, he shall be punished according to law. Do you have any questions?”

  Other than a few headshakes, there was no response.

  “Good,” Teach said. “Now let’s go catch ourselves a pirate.”

  CHAPTER 31

  Anne

  “You’re not leaving the ship,” John said, running his hands through his hair. “Teach would kill me.”

  “Someone will kill Teach if I don’t,” Anne snapped. Her hands shook as she loaded both pistols. Benjamin had told John that Anne wished to see him. She could not wait to leave the confines of the ship.

  “Maybe he’s still here. If he is, it’s too dangerous for you to leave the cabin.”

  Anne placed the pistols in the baldric slung across her chest. “I have no intention of staying here and waiting for him to come back. Where is Kitts?” When she’d first described the man to Benjamin, he’d said it fit Kitts’s description. Except at the moment, Kitts sported two black eyes. Although she’d only seen the man briefly, Anne couldn’t be sure if he’d had two black eyes.

  “With Teach,” John muttered.

  Benjamin entered the cabin, his expression grave. “Most of the men are resting now. I did not see the man she described on board,” Benjamin said. “She’s right. He went with the others.”

  “Teach said you should stay here.”

  Anne threw her hands in the air. “He didn’t know someone would try to kill him. If you won’t take us, Benjamin and I will take the longboat ourselves.”

  “You can’t. There’s only one left,” John said. “We’ll need it to go after Easton when we reach the cay.”