The Curse of Blackbane - Chapter 7
Between Islands
Chapter 7
A cold fog descended across the Diano Marina as it moored between two small islands near Alderney. Damaged enroute through a series of battering storms, the sailing vessel limped into a temporary shelter. In their anchorage along the French coast and out of sight from the primary route through the English Channel, the ship’s under-manned crew repaired their ship.
As Blackbane stood on the quarterdeck, he did not hear the grumbling from the tired men while they worked on the foresails. His attention focused on the sea. He kept careful watch for signs of enemy ships. His ship held less than a third of the normal crew. Those loyal to him stayed when they left Tunis. While taking over the ship wasn’t his original plan, Blackbane took advantage of the nearly empty vessel that night. When the crew came back just before dawn, he gave them their choice; to stay with him or remain in Tunis. He promised them his crew would live like the Beyik while plundering the northern seas. To his disappointment, many of his crew left the ship.
Months later, Blackbane recognized his loyal men grew anxious about the journey. For two months, the captain steered away from potential enemies. His caution left them with few opportunities for plunder and they encountered only one vessel, which they captured. Unfortunately, the Dutch ship carried little cargo. Even more disastrous news came when the pirates learned that the captured ship’s crew suffered from an outbreak of smallpox. Only through the courage shown by Blackbane did they find a small chest of silver carried from the Dutch captain’s quarters. Still, the captain heard the mutters of men about their foul luck. Then came the rumors amid the storms.
Bingham told him that some of the crew worried about dark shadows on the ship at night. The first mate stated the men believed ghosts were haunting them. Both he and Blackbane immediately thought of Naamah. The captain still pictured her remaining at the dock while the ship pulled away just as the sun was about to rise. The woman’s last words to him that day remained drilled into his memory.
“I’ll find you again, Blackbane. I never forgive a debt.”
He took it as a reminder, not a threat. However, as he thought more about her dark shadow disappearing on the dock, he wondered why she had never come aboard the vessel that morning. Yet, he had to consider that the demon might come aboard at night to monitor him.
Still, the situation remained complicated. The captain needed to achieve results soon. As a precaution, he and Bingham carried two flintlocks in their sword belts just in case they misread the crew’s temper. After hugging the Spanish and French coasts, Blackbane needed to remain lucky to the Baltic Sea. He recognized that his current reputation made him and his men dead men should an English or Spanish ship capture them inside the English Channel.
But it was a risk they had to take. Blackbane and his first mate came up with a daring plan to hide their piracy in plain sight. They decided to use the war between Sweden and Russia for their benefit. Blackbane intended to get a Letter of Marque from either king in conflict. It would permit his crew to pirate the waters of the Baltic legally for their gold and silver. He was even willing to become William Marshall again and change the name of their ship to get the backing of a king to make them wealthy.
Noticing a shift in the wind, Blackbane turned to the helmsman, who suddenly came to attention.
“Go find Bingham,” he ordered the pirate. “And tell the men there’s a barrel of wine for them if they finish that sail before nightfall.”
The pirate enthusiastically nodded before he sped away. A few minutes later, the first mate arrived. He was holding a jewel-encrusted dagger.
“What have you got?” Blackbane asked.
“It was in a box that harem girl stole from Hamidu the night you killed him. She had it hidden under your bed,” Bingham replied with a smile. “I retrieved it this morning. Pretty smart to hide it in the last place anyone would look.”
Blackbane stared at the weapon as the first mate pulled the knife from its finely detailed gold scabbard. He’d nearly forgotten about the girl. The slave begged to return to her home. Blackbane agreed and allowed her to stay on board. Then he gave her to the crew as their reward for staying with him.
“Something’s not right here. Why did she tell you about it?” The captain glanced at his friend, who appeared uncomfortable. “It’s worth many times her value as a slave. The wench could have slipped away from our ship several times using this when we’ve pulled into a port. Yet, she remains aboard. Does she enjoy her time with the crew so much? What aren’t you telling me?”
Blackbane noticed the flicker of fear on the first mate’s face.
“Well, I should have told you before. I took the woman away from the crew. She’s been in my cabin for most of the journey. Druda can’t be a whore for the crew,” Bingham explained as he stumbled. He never betrayed an order before.
“You see, I gave the men my share of the gold we took from Hamidu. It was something I had to do for a noblewoman.”
The first mate grappled with his thoughts. He noticed the man waiting with a growing scowl on his face.
“Captain Blackbane, I want this woman to remain with me alone,” he burst out forcefully.
Blackbane lifted an eyebrow in surprise at the news. Bingham had shown no interest in a wife.
“Why? Whores are in every port when a man has gold.”
“Druda carries noble blood.” His first mate’s reaction caused the captain to glare. At times, Bingham was nearly as ruthless as Blackbane. Yet, he took the captain’s gift from the crew and paid them off in gold.
“You know that taking my gift whore away from the crew presents me with a problem?” Blackbane groused while he stared at the expensive weapon.
“They took my share without hesitation,” Bingham told him. “However, I should have come to you first with an explanation. For that error, I deserve the whip.”
Blackbane absently nodded. His first mate’s change of heart caused the captain to reflect on the situation with concern. Wives traveling with pirates were unusual, but not unheard of. But a wife could change a man’s loyalty.
“Is this dagger a way to buy her from me?” His eyes narrowed with sudden suspicion.
The first mate shook his head, his long red hair flowing over his broad shoulders.
“Captain, you know me better than that. There is no disloyalty to my heart. What I’m giving you is not a bribe. Druda told me it’s a holy relic.” Bingham frowned, despite expecting the reaction.
“Remember, I witnessed what happened during our escape. You will need the weapon against the things which come to you. The pummel contains the blood of Saint Gennaro. The Muslims stole it from her church when Hamidu captured her and the rest of the slaves. As you can see, it’s marked so in Latin on the blade.”
The first mate handed him the weapon. Blackbane instantly felt the pain from the symbol on his neck, and he nearly dropped it. He grimaced, holding his hand on his neck. Then he skimmed the inscription on the small blade. He promptly took the scabbard and sheathed the knife. The pain went away. Blackbane scanned the deck to ensure that none of the crewmen were close enough to overhear the conversation.
“The blade is too small and thin for battle,” Blackbane observed. His face showed his doubt in the weapon’s ability.
“I don’t see how it will hurt a demon.”
After a moment, the captain slid the sheath into his belt.
“Still, any defense against my opponents is welcome. Bingham, you cur, you’ve surprised me.” The man turned away and looked over the water.
“I’ll accept your gift with no reservations,” he promised the first mate. “As long as the woman remains loyal as you are, then she’s welcome to sail with us, provided that you can find work for her.”
“I’ve already told her she can work in the galley.” The first mate grinned. “I told the cook that you’ll soon boil him if he can’t do better than serving that rancid leather he calls meat.”
The captain gave the man a knowing look, but remained quiet.
“She’ll impress you. Druda is a survivor!” His second insisted.
Blackbane stared at the water as he grunted.
“We’ll see. Go forward and keep the men on their task. I promised that last barrel of Portuguese wine. That’ll keep them happy for another night, and then we’ll raise anchor in the morning. If we keep good weather and a fair wind, I expect we will be in Stockholm before our stores run out.”
“I hope you’re right.” Bingham glanced back at the crew.
“We lack men needed should we come upon a ship.” The first mate walked to the ladder leading down to the next deck, then he stopped.
“Marshall, thank you.”
Blackbane nodded, covertly watching the first mate until he was among the crew. When he entered his cabin, the captain looked down at his new weapon.
I wish this trinket would send away my nightmares!
Next Chapter
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