Chapter 10
Copyright J.B. Norman
Meanwhile, Dunstana sits perched atop a barrel on the deck, watching as the two pirate crews crash together like waves on a rock.
“All right, guys. Good hustle,” she says, applauding the efforts of the Porthaven Raiders. “Hey, Beasley, you should hear the mean things the one in the green hat is saying about your Mom!”
“Oh, really?” Beasley growls, running on the thoroughly bemused enemy pirate Dunstana is pointing at. “Come here, you!”
“You should hit some guys with him!” Dunstana urges.
As the other pirates engage in their climactic showdown, Williams seeks out his counterpart among Goblinbeard’s crew.
“We’ll need to exchange these forms,” Williams tells the other notary, reaching into his coat pocket. “The Brotherhood will want to know that everything is above board and we’ve been following the rules of Salvage Thursday.”
“Duly noted,” Goblinbeard’s notary answers, reaching into his own coat pocket. “I do believe you’ll find everything is in order.”
“Always a pleasure.” Williams accepts the form and stamps it. He points proudly at Beasley. “That’s my girlfriend, by the way.”
“The one beating up three guys with another guy?”
“Yeah,” Williams says dreamily. “Isn’t she great?”
“Romantic liaison with another crew member?” the other notary asks. “Did you fill out all the proper forms for that?”
Williams gasps. “Are you suggesting that I’ve failed to live up to my notarial obligations?” He reaches for his sword. “Have at you, Sir!”
“Hey, Beasley!” Dunstana calls, pointing towards the two warring notaries. “That guy’s going after your boyfriend!”
Beasley glances over from where she’s beaten several pirates into submission with other pirates and charges with a roar.
As she continues to duel with Jimena, Billie has a sudden idea. Mainly, she’s thinking ropes. And knots.
And…
She never thought this situation would ever come up in her life. As she blocks Jimena’s sword, she realises she doesn’t really have time to dwell on it.
Billie sidesteps Jimena’s next strike and hacks at the line tied to the mast. She tugs the rope free and holds on to one end as she dodges and weaves around Jimena, running around her in smaller and smaller circles. By the time Jimena realises what’s happening, she’s hopelessly entangled and tied to the mast.
“I do really like your boots,” Billie says apologetically, hastily tying the loose ends of the rope into a tight knot – the very sort she never would have known how to do before Captain Goblinbeard’s mentoring.
As Jimena struggles to free herself, Billie rushes to help Captain Goblinbeard. “I won’t let anyone hurt my mentor!”
“I won’t let anyone hurt my mentor!” Dunstana cries, leaping down from her barrel. “Myra! Look out!” She whips out her cork gun.
Locking swords with Myra, Captain Goblinbeard risks a look over his shoulder to see Dunstana taking aim at Billie. He leaps back, disentangles himself from Myra, and flings himself into the air as Dunstana pulls the trigger.
“Nooooooooo!”
A hush falls over the deck as the feuding pirates as one and all watch the spectacle unfolding. Goblinbeard seems to hang suspended in the air for a heart, then promptly tumbles to the deck and lies still.
“Yaargh,” Captain Goblinbeard groans from the deck. “Me hat! Where’s me hat? Oh, here it is.”
“Captain,” Billie says, cradling her mentor and promptly realising that, really, he isn’t very hurt. “You took, well, a cork for me.”
“Aye,” Captain Goblinbeard says. “The lass could’ve put yer eye out with that cork, Miss Hawkins – and don’t say it’d ne’er happen. Such was the sorry fate as what befell a friend o’ a friend’s uncle’s nephew’s sister’s brother’s catsitter I once knew. And what manner o’ sorry excuse for a mentor would I be to let ye be wounded in such a wise? Yarr, I’d ne’er be able to show me face to the Brotherhood’s Mentorship Program again.”
Dunstana lowers her cork gun and sniffles. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” She wipes away a tear.
After cutting herself free from the rigging with the knife in her boot, Jimena approaches and puts a comforting hand on her captain’s shoulder.
“Are you hurt, Captain?” Billie asks, though the question feels largely unnecessary.
This is yet another situation she never expected to find herself in, so she isn’t really sure what she’s supposed to say in a moment like this.
But a little empathy doesn’t seem like a bad choice.
“Narr, Miss Hawkins,” Captain Goblinbeard answers. “’Twere but a glancing blow. As I matter o’ fact, I do believe me leap was doin’ me more damage than the cork.” He winces. “Argh, me ribs. Yarr. That’ll be sore in the mornin’. I be gettin’ too far on in years for such chicanery as this.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Billie says. “You saved me. From a minor injury.”
“Ye can let me up now, Miss Hawkins.” He stands up, brushes off his coat and straightens out his hat.
“Truce?” Dunstana offers.
“Aye,” Captain Goblinbeard answers. “Truce.”
“I, uh,” Dunstana mutters. “I’m sorry I said that you smell.”
Captain Goblinbeard nods. “Aye, lass. And I be sorry I called ye and yer crew sorry excuses for pirates.”
“And I’m sorry I kicked you,” Dunstana says. “And I’m sorry it was so cool you did a flip.”
“Thank ye, lass,” Goblinbeard says.
“Oh,” Dunstana continues. “And I’m sorry—”
Goblinbeard puts a hand on her shoulder. “That’ll do, lass. I forgive ye.”
“I think we should get ice cream,” Dunstana says.
“Aye. That we should,” Goblinbeard agrees.
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
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