Cutlass (18 page)

There was a lull in conversation. Larkin pressed the palms of her hands to her cheeks as the redness drained from her face. She’d never been so embarrassed and so appalled in all her life.

“I hope my young captain has been good to you tonight,” Leaf said, pulling at the skin around his nails. Larkin smiled at the statement—it was like Leaf was checking up on Barren.

“Your captain does not always like me,” she replied. “But he will tolerate me.”

“Barren tolerates no one. In case you didn’t realize that during his encounter with Jonathan. So he must like you. A little.”

Larkin shuddered. She would rather not think about what would have happened had Jonathan not spoken up about his purpose. That was the closest she had actually come to seeing Barren kill anyone, and she honestly hoped she never had to witness him commit murder. She wasn’t sure what she would think. Being told stories of his deeds was one thing, but actually seeing it—that was another matter entirely.

“How do you do it?” asked Larkin after a moment.

“What?”

“Follow him. He’s so much younger than you, and here you are, letting him make rash decisions that lead you into situations you would never have gotten yourself into without him.”

Leaf smirked. He studied her for a moment, and then let his gaze fall to his feet. “I know you’d like to forget we have rules because it’s so much easier to think we’re evil, but,” he leaned in before finishing his sentence, “
it’s part of the code
. Barren
created
this crew, and we agreed to follow. That made him our captain, but it is more than that. He believes in us, cares for us. He’s passionate about Saoirse and upholds the code with loyalty. The second thing you must understand is that we do not follow him unwillingly. We swore our loyalty to him, and we protect him, just like he protects us. Now, you won’t ever see it the same way—you see Barren and you think he is a monster. You think he is…rash and childish, but Barren has never played a child’s game, unfortunately. Not since he was twelve. He watched his father die and he lost everything in mere moments. Now, who do you know that walks around with such a burden?”

“Only him,” she whispered, and was silent for a moment. “But he will let no one share that burden.”

Leaf shook his head. “No, and that is why he pursues it so diligently, so obsessively. He has nothing else to turn his attention to, nothing else he wants.”

Larkin frowned. She wanted to help Barren in some way, though she wasn’t sure why or how. Maybe it was because Barren had actually shown her compassion—he had saved her, even if it was because of some stupid code…but that code kept Barren loyal, and if he was such a bad person, would he really follow it?

Leaf chuckled and Larkin snapped her head in his direction. He had a look on his face and a smirk on his lips that suggested he was reading her mind.

“What?” she asked defensively.

Leaf stood. “Stick around, Lady. Just stick around.”

Larkin watched the Elf as he disappeared behind a crowd of pirates. She’d have to remember to ask Barren later if he could read minds.

***

The events of the night were waning; some pirates had broken away from the crowd and gone home, others still sat in chairs from the Bloodshed, talking in low, sleepy voices, or snoring. Most of the lanterns had burned into nothing but fine smoke, and the only light was from the perfectly round moon. Barren appeared and took a seat next to her. He leaned back against the steps, supporting himself with his elbows so the drink in his hand would not spill.

“Do you like stars?” Barren asked, staring up at the vast sky.

Larkin looked at him. “I haven’t thought much about them in a long time. I wasn’t allowed outside after dark.”

“That is a shame.”

“When I was younger, I had a governess who told me I could navigate using the stars. She said that’s how pirates found their way at sea.” Larkin paused for a moment. “She wasn’t my governess for very long after that.”

Barren chuckled. “You told your father she mentioned pirates?”

“Not on purpose. I just told my father what I learned that day. I remember being excited about it. After that, I wasn’t allowed to learn about the stars.”

“That is an unfortunate thing.”

Larkin glanced at Barren. “So it is true? Can you navigate using the stars?”

Barren looked at her and laughed again.

“Yes, I can. When I was young, my father and I would lie on the beach and watch the stars. That’s how I learned about constellations.”

“Show me,” she said.

Barren smirked, and then peered up at the sky. “By our location, you automatically know that you will only be able to see certain constellations. We’ll look for Navis.” Barren was quiet as he gazed up at the stars. After a moment he stuck his arm out, pointing at one of the brighter stars in the sky. “See it? Follow that bigger star downward a little way, and then see how it follows a curve upward?”

Larkin stared at where he was pointing. For a moment, she didn’t see anything.

“It’s a sail,” he added, and as if her vision reacted to the word, she could suddenly make out the sail of a ship. It was strangely connected to a hull that was composed of six points in the sky.

“It’s a bit of a stretch, but I see it,” commented Larkin.

Barren chuckled. “Well, if you can see it, you should be able to see the bow sticking out from the right?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

“It’s pointing south,” said Barren. “So from Silver Crest, you could reach Arcarum if you could find Navis in the sky.”

“Do you use constellations often?”

“No,” said Barren. “I don’t really need to, but it’s nice to know if you are a beginner. Sometimes the Orient likes to teach you a thing or two. Before I was an experienced sailor, she sent me far into the Octent, south of the Orient. I’d never been there before, never had a map, only what my father taught me about the stars. I used Circinus to find my way home. Depending on how you look at it, it points east or west—meaning you can also find north and south if you spot it.”

“Circinus?”

“The drafting compass,” said Barren.

Larkin returned her gaze to the sky. Barren laughed a little. “You probably think this is silly,” she heard Barren say. “But my father always told me that stars ensure all that is lost is found.”

“No, your father taught you survival,” she replied. “My father didn’t even teach me how to swim.”

“Your father did not raise you to be a pirate, either,” Barren pointed out.

“Do you think your father raised you to be the man you are today?”

For a moment, Barren thought that was an easy question, and he almost said yes, but he hesitated, and thought of all the ways he would be different had his father not died. Everything he was today—the murderer, the angry hunter, was a result of what his brother William had made him, not his father.

“Not the man I am at this moment,” he said. “The man my father created is buried deep—but if he were ever to surface, he would be wise, understanding, and happy.”

“Why can’t you be that man?”

“Who is there to bring those traits out in me?” asked Barren. “My father is dead.”

“You do not believe your crew can do the same?”

“They make me better,” he agreed. “But they have not changed me.”

There were times when Barren did want to change. Times when he wanted to be more like his father. Jess had been a man who fought for Saoirse. He fought for everything it meant to be a pirate and sail the seas. While Barren felt it was important to avenge his death, he sometimes wondered if his father was disappointed in the path he took.

The commotion started suddenly—one moment, Larkin was sleeping deeply, and the next she was jolted awake by Barren, who had stood suddenly from their place on the porch swing. Several pirates who had fallen asleep at the table and chairs taken from the Bloodshed were also on their feet. A bell was ringing steadily from somewhere on the island.

Larkin rose to her feet immediately, her heart pounding. Whatever was happening, she knew it wasn’t good. “What’s going on?”

“Someone’s threatening our shores,” said Barren. He turned to head inside, but was met by Leaf, who threw open the door to the McCloud house. The Elf handed Barren his sword. Leaf’s quiver was already on his back, and his bow in hand.

“Privateers,” he said.

Behind him, the remainder of Barren and Cove’s crew filled the door. Barren took his sword. It seemed the bell had grown louder and the ring more consistent.

“Stay here,” Barren warned Larkin.

“Do not tell me what to do!”

“You’ll want to listen to him this time,” said Cove.

“Why?”

“Because they’re here for you,” Barren said.

Larkin’s eyes widened.

She watched as the pirates hurried from the McCloud house. Before Barren ran too far, he turned, and it was as if the look he gave Larkin was supposed to weld her to the spot. Instead, she set her teeth and threw off her blanket. She took off running for the shore. The bell hadn’t ceased, and a crowd of pirates hurried from their homes, weapons drawn. They ran for the beach.

Amid the ringing and the shouts from the pirates, several explosions sounded, rocking the entire island. As Larkin came to the edge of the shore, she saw the damage. The beautiful, magnificent ships that had once crowded the coastline of Silver Crest, were now reduced to ash and fire. Smoke rose and filled the air, and it was suddenly the perfect backdrop for battle.

Though it was chaotic, and their precious ships destroyed, the pirates stood in ranks by weapon, ready to attack an enemy Larkin had never beheld before. Her eyes shifted to the dark dots that spotted the water. The privateers were grizzly, with tangled hair, unwashed skin, and lustful gazes. They were what she’d imagined Barren to be before she had met him. Behind them, sitting on the Orient’s waters, were two massive galleons, which had brought these men to Silver Crest’s shores.

Why were these men here? Barren had said they wanted her, but how could he be sure? If the privateers had found Silver Crest, surely they were here to battle with the pirates. Perhaps this was her father’s way of rescuing her. But why would he send these men? Why would he not come himself?

“You do not listen,” Barren’s voice came from behind her. She whirled around and faced him.

“What if my father sent these men for me?” Larkin asked. “You could prevent bloodshed if you handed me over.”

“Your father might have sent privateers for you,” said Barren. “But that will not prevent bloodshed. Besides, do you think these men intend to return you to Maris? Didn’t you hear what Tetherion said?”

Larkin narrowed her eyes. “Do you want proof?” Barren asked with a raised brow. She hesitated, glancing at the privateers, and Barren seemed to take that as a yes. “Let’s go ask them, then.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her along with him. He walked fast, so it was hard for Larkin to keep up at first. They were walking toward a man who looked ten times bigger than Barren. Larkin could only assume he was the captain of the privateers who now littered the sandy shore. He had frizzy hair and a black beard. His body was weighed down by excess clothing and holsters which supported various weapons. Larkin wondered if he really could use all of those in a fight.

“Well! It is Barren Reed!” he exclaimed, and laughed deeply. He clearly thought he already had this victory in hand. “And Larkin Lee, too! Come to hand her over, have you?”

“Not exactly,” Barren replied, glancing at her. “Just to be clear—you have invaded my shores for the purpose of reclaiming Lady Larkin, correct?”

“What’s with the diplomacy?” The man was still amused. “Tryin’ to impress the lady?”

“More like…proving a point,” Barren clarified. “Who instructed you to come here?”

“We’ve orders to reclaim her for her father—wants her taken some place safe.”

“That doesn’t sound too promising,” said Barren. “Let me guess—some place safe doesn’t mean her home in Maris, does it?”

The privateer laughed and looked at his mates on either side of him.

“Doin’ that would ruin some very important plans, don’t ya think, boys? I think we’ll take her for a little cruise across the Orient. There’s places she’s not yet seen, things she’s not experienced.”

Larkin cringed hearing that. She didn’t think her father would approve of their language, and suddenly felt she’d be better off with the pirates than these privateers.

Barren raised a brow and looked at Larkin. “You might want to take this.” He handed her a knife from his belt, and then charged the burly privateer. He was unprepared and stumbled back to miss Barren’s blow. The men who stood on either side of their leader, drew their weapons, but were distracted by the twins, who had drawn their double blades.

Suddenly, the pirates and privateers converged in a fierce rage that sounded of clashing metal and cries of hatred. Larkin stumbled back with her knife in hand. Perhaps this would have been a great time to listen to Barren, but she had expected these men to take her home. Instead, she’d discovered her father’s plans fell in line with William’s, and going home to Maris wasn’t going to happen as long as they needed the people of Maris to believe her to be dead. That meant Tetherion’s assumption that her father was a traitor rang true.