Raised By Wolves Volume four- Wolves (4 page)

I smiled grimly. “Aye.”

I smiled grimly. “Aye.”
“You’ll get yourself burned at the stake,” he muttered and turned to the door. “Now, let us allgo and exchange the rest of our news. I assume you do not wish any others to know of

this.” “Nay,”Gastonand I said.

 

Agnes’ slimshoulders sagged inrelief.

“All will be well,” Gaston assured her as he helped her stand.
As she followed Theodore from the room, I put a hand on Gaston’s shoulder. He nodded for Agnes to go on without him, and turned to me.
“How are we?”I breathed.
“Well enough for the moment,” he sighed tiredly. “If I dwelluponit, it willconsume me.”
“ThenI amsorryto distract you,”I said lightly.
He smiled sadly, and hooked an armaround my neck to pull my mouth to his and kiss me with desperate fervor. I returned it, and held hima brieftime after our lips parted, wishing I could embrace and soothe his racingheart.
“We willendure,”I whispered.
“And conquer,”he sighed and released me.
We joined the others in the atrium. Mistress Rachel Theodore came to embrace us warmly. The Theodores’ negress, Hannah, was climbing the stairs with their daughter Elizabeth. Henrietta swooped in and offered to take Jamaica from Vivian and up to join the other children in the nursery. I spied the everincongruous couple of calm, educated, maroon, Julio, and his argumentative and stupid English matelot, Davey. I shared an argumentative and stupid English matelot, Davey. I shared an embrace with the former and a handshake with the latter. Then we all gathered around the tables, where Sarah was seated and wine had been set out. Gaston sat next to Vivian, and I went to stand behind Agnes and wrap my arms about her slimform. She stiffened at first with surprise, and then quickly sighed and relaxed against me.
“Well, it appears we have all survived. Shall we exchange tales ofwoe?”I said lightlyto all.
“I have beenhearingthe tales already,”Sarahsaid witha smile and sad glance at her husband’s missing arm. “But other than wounds, there is little we here have not learned on our own.”
“How did youlose your arm?”Theodore asked Striker.
“Aye,”Liamadded.
“Spanish ambush on Hispaniola,” Striker said quickly witha dismissingwave. “I willtellyouallofit once we sail.”
“We’re all ready ta leave,” Liam said. “Where be the
Queen
?”
“Out beyond the Passage, so that she can run if there is trouble,” Striker said. “Were you expecting us?” he asked with surprise.
“Aye and nay,” Sarah said. “We have been arranging passage onthe
Belle Mer
.”
“The
Belle Mer
? Savant?” Striker asked. “Why is he

here?”I sighed as I remembered Captain Savant, the square

 

headed man who had hated Gaston so when last we sailed with the French. We had won him over somewhat, but I still did not the French. We had won him over somewhat, but I still did not like him.“They took an ugly ship off Cuba and came to sell her

quickly,” Julio said. His matelot chuckled, and Striker eyed them curiously until Julio added, “A truly ugly and un-seaworthy vessel: if she had not been filled with dye wood she would have

sunk.”“Savant has agreed to take us to Tortuga,” Theodore

said. “We were goingto leave a note.”
“Oh, thank you,”I teased.
“Aye, we were goin’ ta leave it with Belfrey or Massey,

an’ then write another note on the walls in paint ta let ya know where the real one be,” Liamsaid. “We were goin’ ta be clever an’ all and not say their names, but let ya know in some other way. What with bastards burnin’ our warehouse and Theodore havin’ ta take down ’is shingle, we didna’ want ta bring trouble downuponthem, but it’s likelythese houses would be sacked as soon as there weren’t a loaded piece behind the doors. The damn bastards would na’ leave a note ’ere even iffn they couldna’ read it. Probably ’ave orders to take it all ta the

gov’na’.”I was surprised, and I looked to Theodore and Sarahfor

confirmationand found sad and resigned nods.
“It has been made clear that we are no longer welcome
inPort Royal, or allowed to conduct business here,”Sarahsaid. “We heard as muchfromMorgan,”I said.
“It be a damn good thing ya asked us lot ta stay,” Liam

said. “Aye,” Theodore said bitterly. “I do not cut a figure so

 

imposing that I can prevent my wife from being harassed in the

 

market.”Striker sighed and took his wife’s hand. “We should not

 

have left you.”

Pete grimaced and scratched his head before releasing a lengthy sigh of his own. “AyeAn’Nay. AllThatBeBehindUsNow. WhenCanYa’BeReady?”

“On which ship?” Sarah asked with a teasing smile. “We were almost prepared to sail a week ago, but then Morgan and another ship arrived, and Julio learned that if you survived the storm you should be along soon. So we agreed to wait another week, and paid Savant good coin to do so. He has already been approached by several captains and told not to take on any passengers. Thankfully, he gives not a damn for what our fellow Englishmen think. He is quite impressed with Gaston’s title, and Agnes has done much to charm him as Lady Montren—even convincinghimto take the dogs.”

“I’mnot leavingwithout the dogs,”Agnes said. Gastonsmiled at her withgreat regard, and I chuckled. “Aye, we could o’ all left on the flyboat we got stashed

up the Palisadoes a month ago if na’ fer the dawgs,” Liam said witha teasingsmile.

“Nay!” Rachel said quickly. “Even without those beasts, we could not allfit uponthat little boat.”
“You have a boat hidden away?” Striker asked Liam and Sarah.
“Aye,” Sarah said, “we developed battle and escape plans for everyscenario. Pete should be proud.”
“We drilled,”Rucker said. “And practiced witharms.” Pete was grinning. “IBeRightProudO’AllO’YaThen.”
“I have even trained the dogs to behave and follow me instead ofrunningamuck,”Agnes said.
“Aye my lady, but they’ll still be shittin’ on Savant’s decks,”Daveysaid.
“Nay, now they will be shitting on the Bard’s decks,” I

said. “Maybe you all should sail with Savant,” Striker said as

 

if giving the matter serious thought until Sarah smacked him

 

playfully.“OneO’UsShouldGoAn’Tell TheBardSomethin’,” Pete

 

said seriously. “ShouldGoTonight Iffn’ItBeAsBadAsYaSay. PeopleBeKnowin’ WeBeAbout ByMornin’.”

“Aye,” I agreed. “If they have approached Savant and told him not to take you on, then they do not wish for you to leave.” I was chilled anew with our reason for wishing to sneak ashore. “We have thought it likely they could be waiting on our return.”

“They most assuredly have been,” Theodore said. “They could have done whatever they wished to do months ago; but instead, they ruined our businesses and then prevented us from leaving, but took no further actionagainst us.”

“Thenlet us slip awayinthe night,”I said.

As if the Gods mocked us, the dogs began to bark viciously in the back yard, until a shot rang out and one of the animals yelped piteously.

Eighty-Four Wherein We Are Cast Into Hell

“Women an’ babes to the boat!” Liam hissed as all erupted into motion.
Agnes twisted fromme and beganto whistle shrilly.
I did not have a pistol; nor did Gaston, Pete, or Striker. I wanted to ask for a piece, but everyone was already racing about inpursuit ofhis or her assigned task. We four new arrivals, who had not been given a role in their well-conceived and drilled battle plans, began to scramble about looking for

weapons.There was pounding at the front door: not the knock of

someone demanding entry, but the widely spaced booms of a battering ram. Pete went upstairs, and passed Henrietta and Hannah scurrying down with the children. Gaston slapped my shoulder, and I turned in time to see him running for the stairs leading up to what had once been our room. I followed, only to dive back as men fired upon him from the yard. Gaston threw himself flat. Davey and Julio were using the stable and cookhouse for cover in order to fire on these attackers. Sarah and Striker emerged from her office with braces of pistols, just as the bar to the front door cracked, spraying splinters and then men into the foyer. I snatched two pistols fromSarah and tossed

themto my matelot. Then I snatched two more fromStriker and

 

themto my matelot. Then I snatched two more fromStriker and beganfiringat the menpouringinto the atrium.

Striker and Sarah retreated toward the roomnext to her office. Gaston and I stood back to back and began to hack about with blades. There had been no time to reload, and no ammunition. I could see no one else we knew in the press of men, and they were not buccaneers: not an earring among them. They were dressed like good common Englishmen, in boots, coats, and hats. Myfather had sent anarmyto take us. I was not sure if I was pleased they were not attempting to kill us. Dozens surrounded Gastonand me.

It is actually easier to fight men who wish you dead under such circumstances. Then, each man will assume he can strike the killing blow and attack as he feels able: making himself an easy target and thus removing him from the battle. When capture is the objective, they ring around and fight as a unit. We were like baited bulls.

I finally stood with three men bleeding at my feet, the reassuring presence of Gaston’s back behind mine, and ten leeringand barkingfaces before me.

“Lord Marsdale,” a voice boomed from my right. “It is done. Drop your weapons and surrender.”
I felt Gaston move behind me and heard the
gack
of a weapon hitting home. I turned my head and saw the speaker begin to topple fromthe table he had stood upon, with Gaston’s blade in his chest. Then the wall of men surged forward and we went down.
There was little for it. They bound us and dragged us to

the center ofthe atrium, where a tallmanstood.

 

the center ofthe atrium, where a tallmanstood.

 

He was not my father—or Shane. I thanked the Gods

 

for that.He was a handsome fellow, withfine attire and weapons.

We were thrown on the paving stones before him. Gaston was lost to his Horse, and I yearned to follow him, especially as the tall man planting one booted foot upon my snarling matelot’s chest to keep him from rolling around. Gaston grunted and lay still. Then our captor stood there and surveyed the atrium as if this were merelythe end to a day’s hunt.

I had to keep hold of my reins. My Horse wanted to run withterror inHis heart.
I rolled over and looked about. I was immediately dismayed. Sarah and Striker were being brought to join us. At least they did not throw my sister to the pavement, but forced her roughly into a chair. Striker was not so lucky, and his head alreadysported a deep gash.
As the wall of legs about us retreated somewhat, I saw other bleeding figures: Theodore and Rachel, Julio and Davey, Vivian, and an unconscious Bones. Not all were trussed as we were—the women were not restrained at all—but there was nothing they could do against trained and orderly men. I did not see Pete, Agnes, the dogs, Rucker, or Liamand the servants and children. My heart was gladdened by this, though they could all be dead or captured elsewhere.
Then I saw Nickel, standing apart from the other prisoners, unbound. He was not looking at us: his troubled gaze was firmly on the stones. A rage to swamp my fear roared

through me, and at least gave me clarity, though it could do little

 

through me, and at least gave me clarity, though it could do little else. We had beenbetrayed.

I rolled onto my back to gaze up at our tall captor. “My father’s foolishness never ceases to amaze me,” I growled. “To send an army to wage war on women and children and his own

kin.” The tall man snorted, and one side of his lips curled in

amusement. “He did not feel you would accept his invitation, my lord.”His voice was as blandlyhandsome as his face. “I renounced mytitle, and I renounce him,”I snarled.
The man regarded me as if I were a foolish child. “Nobility grants many privileges, my lord, but that is not one of them. Youwillaccept the consequences ofyour birthas anyman must.”
“Fine, I will see this through with my father. Take me to him. And Sarahifyoumust, but let the others go. Myfather does not need them.”
“Aye,” Sarah said fiercely. “Leave thembe. He does not want them.”
Our captor made a humming sound of consideration as he surveyed his prisoners. “Nay, he does not.”
His meaning chilled my heart and burned my bolstering anger away. Only years of lying at cards kept it frommy face:or so I hoped.
“Mister Jeffries, who is missing?” our captor asked. “I do not see Striker’s
matelot
.” He pronounced the word properly, but with great disdain and mockery. “Nor do I see any

children.”A stocky but well-liveried man stepped from the crowd

A stocky but well-liveried man stepped from the crowd of mercenaries and regarded a list. “Striker’s paramour, the Frenchman’s girl, the old tutor, the Scotsman, and the three babes and the servants allbe missing, sir.”

“We can assume, can we not, Mister Nickel, that they have gone to that boat youmentioned?”our captor said.
Nickel recoiled as if struck, and his gaze darted frantically to the friends he had betrayed. “I…I’m…I’m not… that was not part of our bargain! I was to tell you when they returned. Yousaid youwould take Willand Mistress Striker and theywould not be hurt. Yousaid nothingof…”
“Oh, hush,” our captor said disparagingly. “They will all hate youanyway. It is too late to defend yourself.”
“Nickey,”Viviansaid plaintively. “Youdid this?”
“It was for us,”he protested frantically. “Will’s father will make himdivorce youand…”
“He was going to do it because I asked him to,” Vivian wailed. “I told you he would if I asked him. I told you… I told you… But you. Damnyou!”
She dove at him, a flurry of flailing fists. He stepped back and another man stepped forward and backhanded her to the ground. We all roared in protest, and Rachel struggled to go to her, but her captors did not release her.
My wife sat where she fell and fingered her split lip. There was horror and a distant thing not quite herself in her eyes as she regarded the blood on her fingers. Her gaze cast about untilshe found me. She was a scared little girl: the child who had turned to a bottle to hide fromcynicismand cruelty.
“It will be well, Vivian,” I tried to assure her, though
“It will be well, Vivian,” I tried to assure her, though anyone hearingmyvoice knew I lied.
She shook her head. “I cannot go back,” she wailed. “I willnot.”
Our captor scoffed. “I was not employed to secure your return, youlittle trollop.”
She gasped and collapsed to sob inher skirts.
“There is no need to be cruel!”I yelled.
“Is there not?”The manseemed to seriouslyconsider the question. “Well, perhaps no need, but I have found I derive a certain enjoyment from it.” He turned back to his men. “Speaking of needs, any who wish can do what they will with her. She is not necessary.”
I roared such that I could not hear the protests of the others. I saw Nickel’s mouth open as he stepped forward and drew his pistols and began to aim at the tall man. I could not count the retorts that took himdown; and he crumpled, wounds blossomingeverywhere.
A muffled pistol retort broke the following silence, and everyone, including our suave captor, started and cast about for the source.
One of the mercenaries stepped forward and pulled on Vivian’s shoulder. She flopped over, lifeless, blood running from under her chin. The smallpistolshe clutched fellfromher fingers.
A ragged cry was torn from our throats yet again, and eventhe mercenaries seemed surprised she had takenher life.
Guilt covered me like a pall. We should not have gone. We should not have left them. So much could have been averted if we had stayed. We could have sailed for Tortuga before my father ever sent instructionto Modyford—or these men.
The tall man went to gaze upon the bodies. Rachel clung to Theodore and her sobs resounded off the walls. Striker was swearingina steady, breathystreambeside me.
I looked to Gaston and found more scared man than ragingHorse inhis gaze.
“I love you,”I mouthed.
He took a ragged breathand mouthed the same.
Knowing I would die loved did not ease my heart, though: I knew I would see Gaston die first: either quickly and callously as Nickel had, or with slow agony for my father’s or Shane’s amusement. My Horse screamed in my heart. It sounded as I imagined the screams of my great black charger Goliath must have. I never heard them; I only saw the animal wheezing with suffering in the aftermath of Shane’s torture. I had not hesitated to pull a blade and release the great beast fromhis pain. I envied my poor wife: the need to release Gaston and myself from the cruelty that was surely our only future gripped me, and I wanted very much to plunge a blade in the both of us. The sure knowledge of the evil incarnated in the men we faced eclipsed any possible glimmer of hope and faith in our friends who were not captured.
“Well, that is troublesome,” the tall man said of Nickel. “Now who will tell us where the children are?” He moved to stand before Sarah. “Miss Sarah, do you not wish to be reunited withyour son?”
“I amMistress Striker to you,”she spat.
He smirked and shrugged. “Your father does not recognize your marriage.”
“My father is not God, Whose eyes I was married under,”she snarled.
“That remains to be seen.” He paused and smirked anew. “Not the God part: the sanctification of your marriage. I do not believe the churchhere has anyrecord ofit.”
“Is nothingsacred?’ Theodore asked withvehemence.
This amused the tall man greatly. “And that from a barrister.” He closed on Theodore and Rachel. “You know where that boat is, do you not? Would your Jewess not like to see her darlingdaughter again?”
“Go to Hell,”Rachelspat.
Sarah stood and yelled. “Why do you want the children?”
The tall man turned to her again. “Your father wishes to see your son.”
“If he does not recognize my marriage, why would he wishto see a bastard?”she asked.
“I do not ask my employers such questions.” He shrugged. “I will say he was very particular that you and your child not be harmed. I would sayhe favors youyet.”
Sarah snorted. “I would say I am an embarrassment to him, and that he wishes to use my son to control me. And as for not harming me: I lose my value as a marriageable pawn if I am