The Curse of Blackbane - Chapter 13

Escape

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Chapter 13

“My friend is too silent. You should be happy, as a new adventure waits for you.” Leiras paused from his whistling. Since sunrise, the monk tried to mimic the early morning birds. Most of the time, his whistles were nowhere close to sounding like the bird’s song.

“Are you upset that you didn’t kill the woman?”

Marshall remained silent, barely glancing over at the question.

The cloudy sky brought in a mist that dampened the ground and his spirits. Marshall tried to sleep on the uncomfortable saddle during the journey, but his mind kept returning to his troubles.

“We go by horseback to a city, and I have no means to get back to the ocean,” the captain finally explained. “My crew and I sought the Swedish king to receive a letter of marque and reprisal. As a privateer, I could retire to find my way out of…” He paused, then glanced at his companion. “I’m a man of the sea, yet land-bound without a means to escape.”

“Turning into a privateer, eh? A legitimate pirate with the backing of a king. You have brains, for sure. Your idea has merit,” Leiras agreed. “What happened to your ship?”

“Lost off of Alderney when the anchor gave way, my crew went over the side and drowned,” the pirate lied. “Jacotte and her crew found the ship with me aboard the next day. She could have just taken the cargo and dropped me off at the dock. But the woman stole from me and let me hang while she counted her gold.”

The monk suddenly laughed.

“She’d make a fine pirate, perhaps as good as Blackbane.” His chubby face grew somber when he noticed Marshall’s dark expression. “Ah, you don’t see the irony as I do.”

He sighed and pulled a leather bladder from his saddle. After taking a drink of the wine inside, Leiras handed it to his companion.

“Let us not beat around the bush. I know a lot about you. I’ve seen you sleep, man. You thrash about like a banshee, and I overheard the name you wish to hide,” he told him. “If the stories I’ve heard about Blackbane are true, then you’re as wicked as the devil himself. Many know of your evil ways.”

Marshall nodded.

“Aye, that’s the name I carried since the Americas. It is a name that I must lose in these lands. I wondered why you escaped and returned,” he confessed. “I’m still not sure of your intentions, but I don’t forget a favor.”

He paused.

“Beyond what you overheard, I carry a heavy burden. A man of the habit…well, a believer such as you would not aid a man with my problems.”

The wicked gleam came to the monk’s eyes again.

“Bah, you have ambition and cunning. No man can survive as a buccaneer without such qualities. I’ve seen how you appraise each man you meet. You trust no one, yet the sound of gold and silver makes your heart race. I believe this is part of your burden.”

The pirate captain went silent, thinking about his encounter with Remiel.

“That is part of my curse,” he corrected Leiras. “But I’m also condemned to a path that wanders to a destination unknown. You seek Amsterdam. I seek Stockholm.”

“Ah, you’re weary like I am. Drink up; I’ve taken this road before. There’s a dry place near here where we can sleep for a few hours ahead. We remain another day away from Amiens. After a rest, we can discuss our paths.” The monk smiled before he began whistling again.

After finding an abandoned farmhouse with half of its roof missing, the two men halted, then pulled off the saddle and blankets from their horses. They put their mounts under a relatively dry section of the tiny house before making their uncomfortable beds next to the one standing wall. A fire in the fireplace gave a partial impression of comfort. Unfortunately, their only food was a bundle of dry cheese Leiras carried in his bag. The monk pulled out a silver flask as well. He saw Marshall eyeing the gleaming metal in his hand.

“I’ve not seen that flask,” Marshall commented.

“Oh, this trinket? Another item that Denisot held for me. It surprised me she hadn’t sold it. She didn’t trust me to finish our agreement about her husband.” His grin looked foul in the firelight. The monk checked for a drink inside, but it was empty. He pulled the wine bladder next to him, then pulled a small knife from his belt. The captain stared at the flames for a moment as the monk got comfortable. Leiras tossed over a section of the cheese to Marshall.

“You dwell upon something. Hunger will come soon enough. Eat and then ask your question.”

Leiras laughed at the scowl Marshall gave him.

“It doesn’t take a wise man to notice your suspicious glances at me. You distrust my thoughts and wish for me to leave you. It’s only natural.”

The captain again considered his riding companion’s motives.

“Distrust is something that comes from a lack of knowledge. You’ve shown me your ability to kill those you condemn as sinners. However, you do not know why I’m here. Neither do I.” Marshall pointed out, then took a bite of the cheese.

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