Demons of the Ocean (15 page)

"I am deputy captain of The Diablo," Cheng Li said icily. "Of course, I will honor my duty."

"Tickety-boo," Captain Wrathe said, "tickety-boo. And now let's have a word or two on strategy from my esteemed colleague Miss Catherine Morgan, known more commonly in these parts as Cutlass Cate."Captain Wrathe stepped back and Cate came forward.

Two other pirates sprung from the crowd to wheel forward the blackboard."Okay, guys," said Cate, as businesslike as ever, a stick of blue chalk in her hand. "Today we'll be working as three teams in a 4-8-8 formation. You know the ropes..."She turned to the blackboard and made crosses with the blue chalk over her initial drawing, which Connor now saw resembled a deck, seen from above."Our intelligence tells us the target ship is a standard galleon. After we send out the cannon fire, forward teams will enter here, here, and here. Joshua, Lukas, Bartholomew... you'll lead with the other broadsworders. Do your stuff. I want to see the rigging cut to pieces when the rapier bearers make the deck."Her chalk swept over the board, circling over the crosses she'd made earlier."Rapier teams, you know who you are. We'll follow in tightly. Watch your forwards and keep pace with them. I don't want an inch between you, you understand. As they open up the space, you seize it. I want that crew defeated before they even realize what's going on. That's the key to bringing back the treasure. Now..."Cate turned away from the blackboard to face the crew square on. Her expression was grave."I want minimal bloodshed. This is about booty, not body count. Some of us have been getting a little overeager out there. Javier? De Cloux? Rein it in, boys, you understand? There's more skill in a sword that doesn't return with blood on its tip."Connor was relieved, and a little surprised. After Cate's words during his sword-fighting lesson, he'd come away with the impression that blood and guts were all in a day's work for her and the rest of the crew."Wise words, Cate," said Captain Wrathe, stepping back into the fray. "And I hope you all listened well. It's up to you experienced pirates to set a good example for the new recruits."The men fell silent, thinking on Cate and the captain's words."And now," said Captain Wrathe, smiling again, "make sure your swords are oiled and ready. Set the sails to the west and prepare yourselves for battle! Prepare for sweet riches. If you do well--and I know you shall--I can promise you a night of delight, over yonder at Ma Kettle's Tavern."At these words, a vast whoop arose from the crowd. The pirates began dispersing as quickly as they'd arrived.Bart stepped forward to talk to Cate. Cheng Li stormed off, saying nothing. Connor found himself facing Captain Wrathe."This boy needs a sword, Cate," said the captain.He winked at Connor again, slapped Bart on the back, and strode off to ready the ship for attack.Cate and Bart turned to Connor.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Cate asked. Connor shrugged."He's ready," Bart said.On his way back to his cabin, Connor came across Cheng Li, staring out to sea, looking the very picture of dejection. He hesitated. He was nervous to approach her but he felt he owed her some support. Captain Wrathe had rather cruelly humiliated her in front of the pirates, further weakening her already dwindling authority over them. Cheng Li could be arrogant and imperious but it was she, after all, who had saved Connor from death. And, although she often had a strange way of showing it, he knew that she cared about him."Hello," he said.She looked up at him. In her face, he usually saw the taut mask of the warrior. Now she looked more like a young girl. Captain Wrathe had stripped her not only of her authority but of her fight--her fire."Well, did you enjoy the show?" she asked bitterly. "Not really," he said, shaking his head. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," she said, looking at him curiously. "Of course I am. I'm used to Molucco Wrathe's antics, even if that was a bit more extreme than usual. It's flattering, really."

"Flattering?" Connor didn't understand."He must be very threatened by me, don't you think, to attempt to put me down like that. You see, my young friend, he knows that while he may have the morons among this crew cheering his every syllable, I have real power behind me."

"What do you mean?" Connor asked her."The world of piracy is changing, boy, and men like Molucco Wrathe are going to be left behind. Being a pirate is a jolly romp for them. People like me--people who get things done, people with connections--we're the future."Connor was surprised to hear her talk in quite such terms, but he supposed that after Captain Wrathe's behavior, Cheng Li's allegiance had been sorely tested. Perhaps he was the only one she felt she could vent to like this."There's a much bigger world of piracy than what you see on this ship, boy. The Diablo is--forgive the expression--merely a drop in the ocean. There will come a time, and it is not so very far away, when the Molucco Wrathes of this world will be sidelined. Then you'll see some excitement. Then you'll see a brave new dawn of piracy."Cheng Li appeared to have roused herself back to something of her customary feistiness. Connor was flattered that she had included him in her vision of the future. But his feelings of warmth did not last long."Well, I can't stand here talking to you all afternoon, boy. These katanas need oiling for the raid."

With that, she turned and strode across the deck. Cheng Li certainly had guts. Even the humiliation she'd been subjected

 to had not removed her drive. If anything, it had made her even stronger and more fearsome. Connor watched the twin blades jostling on her back. He remembered Cate imploring the pirates not to inflict wounds for the sake of it. Somehow, he rather doubted that Mistress Li would be paying much attention to that. Woe betide the man or woman who came into conflict with her today.

CHAPTER 24

THE NIGHTFALL BELL

"Jamie, where ARE you? Jamie!"Grace had been woken by more pleasant alarms in her time, but there was no doubting the effectiveness of the cook's shrill cries. She opened her eyes and was instantly propelled back into the steam and heat and ceaseless clatter of the galley. She was lying on the floor in the corner, a starchy tablecloth covering her as a makeshift sheet.The cook was noisily checking pans, lifting lids and slamming them down like a drummer with a confident but erratic sense of rhythm. Jamie appeared to have disappeared again."Where are you, my boy? I've only got the one pair of hands, haven't I? Oh, it's just too much for a woman of my age!"

"Can I help you?" Grace asked, clambering to her feet and folding up the linen tablecloth along its deep creases."You?" The cook stopped dead in her tracks. "That's a little irregular. I could do with the help, but no, you need to rest and build up your strength."Grace shook her head. "I feel great, thanks. I don't know what was in that soup, but I'm full of energy."The cook smiled at her. "Thank you, missy, I'm glad to hear it. Very well, I shan't look a gift horse in the mouth. Just don't expect me to reveal any of my secret ingredients, eh?" She waved a spatula at Grace in a far from threatening manner."Absolutely," Grace said. "Now, where shall I start?"

"Well, these carrots need slicing and dicing, for starters."Grace looked at the mountain of carrots, more than she had ever seen even at the harbor market. Undeterred, she grabbed a handful and set them down on a chopping board."That's very good," the cook said, watching Grace start work. "Just the right size, too. You are an unexpected blessing, aren't you?"As the cook rushed over to tend to the rest of her dishes, Grace busied herself with the carrots. She'd always enjoyed the repetitive aspects of cooking--finding that it gave her a sense of calm and control, especially when such feelings were in short supply elsewhere. She was reminded of suppertime back at the lighthouse when her dad used to prepare feasts for the three of them, and she and Connor would help out with the chopping and stirring and, best of all, tasting."How you doing there?"A beaming face appeared on the other side of the counter. It was not the cook but the elusive Jamie. "I'm fine," Grace said."You're a quick worker," he said, throwing a slice of carrot into his mouth.Grace shrugged. "The last thing I expected to find on this ship was a kitchen."

"Folks gotta eat, miss," said Jamie."Yes, people do, but not ..." She lowered her voice. "But not vampires."Her eyes met Jamie's."Oh, this grub isn't for them," he said, slipping another couple of carrot pieces into his mouth."Then who?" Grace asked."Jamie! Jamie, will you stop distracting the girl and makeyourself useful. Fetch that steak out from the icebox."

"Duty calls," Jamie said, slipping away before Gracehad a chance to press him for an answer to her question. The cook came over and patted Grace's shoulder. "That's fast work, my girl," she said. "I might have to have a word with the captain about you. Seems an awful waste when I could make use of you here in the kitchen. Could do with another pair of hands to make up for that good-for-nothing lump of a nephew of mine."An awful waste? What was she talking about? Grace remembered the words the cook had uttered before she'd fallen asleep.The new ones are always the worst, aren't they?What was she talking about? A tide of panic was starting to rise. Beyond her, Jamie hauled a mound of beef out of the ice."What is going on here?" Grace cried, dropping her knife. "Who is all this food for?"

"Careful, missy," the cook said. "Look, you've gone and cut yourself now."Grace looked down. Sure enough, the knife had made a neat incision into her finger and a small drop of blood was budding on her skin.Before she knew it, the cook had grabbed her hand in a tight grip. "Quick, Jamie, move yerself. Move yerself, you lump. Oh, what a waste!"Grace trembled but could not escape the cook's viselike grip. As she looked up, she saw to her horror that the woman's face was changed. Her eyes were glassy and her whole expression was vacant, as if life had departed from the shell of her body and gone elsewhere. Grace thought how Lorcan's features had distorted in her cabin. This was both the same and yet different. Was the cook another vampire? What about Jamie? Grace had thought she'd be safe here, in this warm, bustling part of the ship. How little she really knew.Jamie joined his aunt and reached out toward Grace's hand, wiping her finger clean and wrapping a small bandage neatly around it."That should stem the flow," he said.Numbly, Grace looked down at her bandaged hand."That was close," the cook said. Suddenly all cheery business again, she released Grace's hand. "A kitchen is no place for sloppy hygiene! I'd better get these carrots over to the pan. And you, missy, had better take a break. I'm not so sure you are cut out for kitchen work after all. Bit too highly strung. Maybe the captain's way is best after all."

"What is the captain's way?" Grace asked. "Please stop talking in riddles and just tell me what's going on!"

"I must say, you've woken up from your sleep in a nasty little mood," the cook said, frowning."Just tell me," Grace repeated."Surely you know the score," the cook said, smiling at her with just a hint of malice. "You're the new donor, aren't you? Old Nathaniel's being retired and you're to take his place."Donor? Grace wasn't sure what the cook meant but it didn't sound good. She wanted to ask more but, as she opened her mouth, no words came. She remembered the sight of Old Nathaniel giddily making his way to the kitchen, his skin pale and thin as if thoroughly drained of blood. What was the malevolent cook telling her? That Old Nathaniel wasn't a vampire at all? Then what?You're the new donor.We have other ways to cater to the crew's needs.Things were starting to make sense. Maybe she had been wrong to place her trust in certain people. Grace found herself cold and trembling.Then a bell began to toll."Is that the time? Quick, Jamie, back to work, or we'll never be ready for the Feast."The Feast?The bell tolled again."Is that the Nightfall Bell?" Grace asked Jamie.He nodded, throwing a deep red apple in the air and catching it between his teeth. He had unusually sharp teeth, she thought, as he bit deep through the skin and into the creamy white flesh. But vampires didn't eat food, did they? This was all so confusing."I have to go," she said, feeling nauseous. "I have to get back."

"Ta ta, then."Jamie smiled at her, his mouth opening up as he crunched the last of the apple down--pips, core, stem, and all.

CHAPTER 25

RAID

Connor waited with his team for the cannon to signal the start of the attack. His heart was thudding with anticipation. Only about half of the pirates would take part in the raid. The target galleon, which they were fast gaining on, was smaller than the pirate ship, so sixty men and women were assigned to do the job.There were three teams of twenty--each further divided into three smaller teams of four, eight, and eight. Hence the 4-8-8 formation Cate had talked of before. Connor was experienced enough at team sports to quickly grasp her strategy. It was pretty simple. The "four" was a team of four broadsworders who would go in first to scare the defending crew witless, to wield their hefty swords and do what surface damage they could to the rigging and other parts of the ship. Only surface damage. The ship was not to be significantly wrecked, on the off chance that Captain Wrathe decided to sequester it for his own use.Once the broadsword teams had caused chaos and fear on the deck, they would be followed closely by the first teams of eightsmen. Equipped with the smaller, lethal weaponry of rapiers, epees, and daggers, the first eights-men identified their human targets and closed in for the attack. As Cate reminded her team in her final briefing, the idea was to get the defending crew to submit and yield their cargo, not to kill them for sport.The job of the teams of second eightsmen, to which one Connor Tempest had lately been drafted, was to support the first attack. The first eight had senior status and could order around their support. Each of the first eight was paired with one from the second; Connor was honored to find himself designated Cate's second."It's the safest position in the team," Bart told him. "Cate does enough for three men. But you'll get up close to the action, make no mistake about that. And listen to her. Do everything she asks and we'll all get home safe for the party."Bart slipped on his leather gauntlets and shook Connor by the hand."Best of fortune to ya, Mister Tempest."