The Buccaneers' Code (5 page)

“We're right here,” Charlie said.

“And we're willing to fight to the death!” Alice added.

“Or very nearly,” said Jasper.

Blacktooth smiled. “That's quite noble of you, Mr. Fletcher,” he said, “but I'm afraid your support isn't of much use at the moment. The rules specifically state that each candidate must be vouched for by a current member of the League, and I'm certain you don't qualify. In fact,” he said, letting his eyes wander over Hilary's mates, “I'm not sure any of these unusual scallywags are League members. Without a qualified supporter, your challenge is—how shall I put it?” Captain Blacktooth smiled. “Dead in the water.”

The pirates in the square chortled.

“Oh, honestly,” said Hilary, “you needn't be so pleased with yourselves. I'm well acquainted with the rules, and I've brought a League member with me. Mr. Twigget, will you please step forward?”

Blacktooth narrowed his eyes. “Did you say
Twigget
?”

Mr. Twigget had not stepped forward—in fact, he seemed to be trying to hide behind Mr. Flintlock—but Hilary took him by the hand and pulled him in front of Blacktooth. “I'm sure I don't need to introduce you,” she
said, “since Twigget was your first mate.”

Twigget cleared his throat. “I'm here to support the Terror,” he said—rather shakily, Hilary thought, but it couldn't be helped.

Blacktooth took one look at Twigget and shook his head. “I expelled this traitor from the League myself. Why are you wasting my time, Mr. Twigget?”

Twigget swayed back and forth until Hilary thought he would swoon like a High Society lady right there on the cobblestones. “It's a funny thing, sir,” he said, mostly to his boots. “When you expelled me, you did a lot of blusterin', but you never filled out the paperwork.”

“Nonsense.” Captain Blacktooth waved his hand, and a short, balding pirate hurried to his side, dragging a long scroll of parchment behind him. Hilary had met this pirate once before; he was Blacktooth's private secretary. “Mr. Gull,” said Blacktooth, “please review the membership roll and show Mr. Twigget that his name has been crossed off the list.”

Mr. Gull made his way down the parchment, which flapped in the breeze and tangled around his legs. Miss Greyson murmured something about parchment scrolls being entirely impractical in the modern era, and Captain Blacktooth gave her a very dark look indeed.

“Here we are,” said Mr. Gull at last, pointing a finger halfway down the list of names. “Eustace Twigget. Expulsion forms have not been filed with the League.”
He swallowed. “I believe they're in a jumble on your desk, Captain.”

Blacktooth scowled at the membership roll. “The Terror's challenge stands,” he said at last, though he sounded as if he regretted it. “Extract yourself from that ridiculous scroll, Mr. Gull.”

Mr. Gull did as he was told, and Hilary's crewmates cheered. Captain Blacktooth leaned closer to Hilary. “By the way, Terror,” he murmured, “you might remind your mates that gloating is an unappealing quality, particularly in pirates. It tends to attract swords to one's neck.”

“Perhaps it does,” said Hilary, “but you might remind your own mates that they're not allowed to lay a hand on my crew before our battle.”

“Unfortunate, but true.” Captain Blacktooth shrugged and stepped forward to address the crowd of pirates in front of him. “I have accepted the Terror's challenge,” he announced. “Our fleets shall meet in battle in exactly three months' time, on the High Seas just south of Queensport Harbor. The champion will take charge of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates, and the defeated scallywag will be banished from the kingdom.”

All the pirates in the square roared and waved their cutlasses. Claire, who did not have a cutlass to wave, tossed her hat in the air instead. Miss Pimm clapped politely, and Admiral Westfield raised a flagon of grog high in the air, but Philomena drew her woolen cape around her shoulders
and looked even more cross than usual.

“Now, Terror,” said Blacktooth, “you'd be wise to leave Gunpowder Island at once. I suspect you'll need every moment of those three months to find two hundred pirates willing to support you.”

“Two hundred?” The gargoyle nearly leaped out of his bag. “I thought we only had to find twenty! Isn't that right, Hilary?”

“That's what it says in the guidebook.” Hilary held up her battered copy of
Leading the League.
“Twenty crew members, and not a scallywag more. As I told you, Captain Blacktooth, I'm quite familiar with the rules.”

“May I see that?” Mr. Gull reached for Hilary's book and inspected its spine. He sniffed the pages. He held the book to his ear. Finally, he ran his finger across the cover and touched it to the tip of his tongue. “Just as I thought,” he said. “This is a fifth edition. We're up to the seventeenth by now.”

Hilary's stomach looped itself into a bowline and pulled itself tight. “And what does it say in the seventeenth edition?”

Mr. Gull looked rather apologetic. “I'm afraid the estimates have been revised due to inflation.”

“What does
that
mean?” the gargoyle cried.

“It means you'll need to find two hundred supporters,” said Captain Blacktooth. “Two hundred at the very least, or you'll have to forfeit. Isn't that right, Gull?”

Mr. Gull nodded. “That's right, sir.”

Captain Blacktooth gestured to the pirates in the square. “As you can see, I've already assembled my crew. I suggest you gather your own at once.”

The gargoyle stared at him. “But that's impossible!”

Hilary knew the gargoyle was right. She wasn't even acquainted with two hundred pirates, and most of the ones she had met were sure to be loyal to Captain Blacktooth. If she could barely find one League member willing to vouch for her in Gunpowder Square, however was she supposed to find two hundred who would follow her into battle?

“If you'd prefer,” said Captain Blacktooth, “my mates can chase you into the sea right now, and we'll be done with this nonsense once and for all.”

Hilary retrieved her book from Mr. Gull and snapped it shut. “That won't be necessary,” she said. “There have got to be at least two hundred pirates who dislike the Mutineers as much as I do, and I promise you I'll find them.”

Captain Blacktooth raised an eyebrow. “If you and I were still on good terms,” he said, “I would wish you luck, for I suspect you'll need it.” Then he nodded to Philomena, who hurried to his side. “My dear, could you see that we are transported back to Tilbury Park? We have affairs to arrange with your mother.”

“Of course.” Philomena reached into the folds of her cloak and pulled out a golden goblet large enough to hold grog for half a dozen pirates. The gargoyle's ears twitched,
as they always did when a magical item drew near. “Magic,” said Philomena, holding the goblet firmly in both hands, “we five Mutineers would like to leave this uncivilized island before we all catch a chill. Please send us to Tilbury Park as quickly as you can.”

One moment Philomena was there, and the next she simply wasn't. In her place was nothing but empty air and cobblestones. The other Mutineers had vanished as well; even Blacktooth's extravagant hat had been whisked away. From the far corners of the square, a few of his mates applauded.

Miss Pimm put her hands on her hips and frowned at the space where Philomena had stood. “Impressive,” she said.

The gargoyle rolled his eyes. “Those Mutineers are nothing but show-offs.”

Truthfully, Hilary was relieved to see them go, though she wished she hadn't missed her chance to acquaint Oliver with her cutlass. “Show-offs or not,” she said, “I'm afraid Captain Blacktooth was right about one thing. If we want to find two hundred pirates who'll lend us their support, we'll have to start searching at once.”

A L
ETTER FROM
R
OYALTY
!

H
ER
R
OYAL
H
IGHNESS

Queen Adelaide of Augusta

Pirate Hilary Westfield, Terror of the Southlands

The Pigeon

The High Seas

Dear Pirate Westfield:

As I read the
Queensport Gazette
this morning over my royal breakfast, I learned that you will be facing Captain Rupert Blacktooth in battle in three months' time. I do not typically involve myself in the affairs of pirates, for I understand they prefer to operate ever so slightly outside the law. I believe, however, that every contest should be judged by a wise and fair observer, and your battle with Captain Blacktooth is no exception.

The leadership of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates happens to be a matter of particular interest to me. Therefore, I shall attend the battle to ensure that all is “shipshape” and “aboveboard,” as I am told you pirates are so fond of saying. I shall be returning from my annual goodwill
tour of the southern kingdoms on the morning of the battle, but I trust you will not begin to fire your cannons until I have arrived. Needless to say, I would appreciate it if you and your colleagues would keep your cutlasses at a safe distance from my royal person during the skirmish. I have requested this courtesy from Captain Blacktooth as well.

I look forward to seeing you on the High Seas this spring!

Regally yours,

The Queen

Dear Hilary,

I am writing this from our carriage as we speed south along the road to Pemberton. I hear the Southlands Hills are quite beautiful at this time of year, but I've barely been able to glimpse them through the window, for Miss Pimm has been keeping me occupied with lessons and exercises ever since we left Gunpowder Island. I'm afraid I've been making quite a hash of even the simplest enchantments: instead of lifting Miss Pimm's hat off her head, I somehow managed to lift the entire top of the carriage. The coachman seemed awfully displeased. Miss Pimm says I must learn to control myself, and I am trying my best, but I don't know how much use I shall be to you in your battle against Captain Blacktooth. Until then, I shall devote myself to my studies. (Actually,
I shall start devoting myself as soon as Miss Pimm wakes up from her nap. While she is sleeping, she cannot point out all the things I am doing wrong, and I believe she would be sorry to miss the opportunity.)

You know perfectly well how I feel about Philomena, but I believe I dislike her more than ever after the magical display she put on in Gunpowder Square. I have never managed anything like it-not intentionally, at least. Do you think she has gotten more powerful since the last time she dangled me in the air? Miss Pimm claims she isn't concerned, but I can tell she is not being entirely truthful, for she has rarely looked so impressed during our lessons. (I have, however, managed to make her look both alarmed and terrified on a number of occasions.) If Philomena is truly the better magic user, perhaps all the horrid High Society folks are right and I don't have any business trying to be the next Enchantress. It's a frightfully glum thought, but I shall attempt to cheer myself by imagining you and your fleet of pirates chasing Captain Blacktooth's ship all the way to the edge of the kingdom.

I wish I could join you as you gather the rest of your crew, but Miss Pimm assures me that I will
be of more use to you in three months' time if I can learn to make things explode on purpose, not just accidentally. I am sure you are having all sorts of thrilling adventures on the High Seas, and I am sorry to miss them. Please hug the others for me, even Charlie, though I am sure he will squirm and declare that he wants nothing to do with hugs from a finishing-school girl. Tell him it is for his own good.

Your fiercest supporter,

Claire

an extract
From

Leading the League
:

THE OFFICIAL VNHLP GUIDE (FIFTH EDITION)

ON CREATING
RULES OF CONDUCT:

P
irates, by nature, are not fond of rules, but the VNHLP is not a lawless organization. Upon election to the presidency, each League president must create new rules of conduct for his fellow scallywags to follow. These rules allow the president to set forth his expectations for the VNHLP and declare what a true pirate must and must not do. Once written, they will be distributed to every League member, from pirate apprentices and deckhands to ships' captains.

The forward-thinking pirate should begin writing his rules of conduct as soon as he announces his intention to seek the presidency, for coming up with a thorough list of instructions can be a surprisingly difficult process. There are no guidelines: the longest list in VNHLP history contained nearly nine thousand items (including “Pirates must learn to perform a full repertoire of country dances” and “Pirates must write to their mothers once weekly”), while the shortest contained just one (“Pirates must not eat marmalade”). Remember: the rules you create will determine the future of piracy throughout the kingdom, so this task should not be taken lightly.