The Pirate's Truth: Blood Sea Tales, #2

Blood Sea Tales

Book Two

The Pirate's Truth

Chris A. Jackson

Dedication

This novel is dedicated to my mother, Shirley Louise Jackson, who infused me with her love of books.

December 14, 1930 - October 14, 2018

Acknowledgements

As always, thanks to my wife, Anne, for her help, patience, and passion for the sea.

The Pirate’s Truth

Blood Sea Tales

Book 2

Chris A. Jackson

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Nothing is more seductive than knowledge.

Preel has more than she ever hoped for: the love of pirate captain Kevril Longbright, a home aboard the corsair Scourge, devoted friends, and freedom from slavery. Her mystical truthsayer talent – once a curse exploited by cruel masters – is now a boon to aid the pirates’ missions. The future is bright...as long as her nature remains a secret.

But keeping a secret in the city of Haven is nigh impossible.

Jhavika Keshmir has spies everywhere, and her attention is fixed on Kevril Longbright. Possessed of an enchanted scourge and the avarice of a dragon, Jhavika intends to rule the Blood Sea someday. For that, she requires a navy, and who better to recruit a privateer armada than a pirate? But her alliance with Kevril is contentious; she resents his escape from her magical control and vows to learn how he did it.

Now, Preel is caught between the man she loves and the woman who would be queen, between love and hate, truth and lies.

Imprisoned by doubt, her reality shattered, only the truth will set her free...

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Copyright Notice

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are coincidental.

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Copyright © 2019 by Chris A. Jackson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

Published July 2019 by Jaxbooks Publishing

Cover design by Fiona Jayde

Interior images from Pixabay have been altered for use

ISBN 978-1-939837-22-6 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-939837-23-3 (ePub)

ISBN 978-1-939837-24-0 (Mobi)

jaxbooks.com

Map

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Copyright Notice

Map

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty Two

Chapter Thirty Three

Chapter Thirty Four

Chapter Thirty Five

Chapter Thirty Six

Chapter Thirty Seven

Thanks for reading!

About the Author

Novels by Chris A. Jackson

Chapter One

A Pirate True

Nothing is more seductive than knowledge.

The Lessons of Quen Lau Ush

From the diary of Kevril Longbright –

There is a danger in having all of your most pressing questions answered. I can understand how wielding this strange power could drive one mad, but there is one thing that keeps me sane. This truthsayer, this dove who lays diamond eggs, means so much more to me than her preternatural gift. Seeing her experiencing freedom for the first time changed me. I feel reborn. But I'm still a pirate at heart.

––––––––

They're dumping cargo, sir!

Boxley's shrill call from the foretop brought my spyglass up to my eye. With a deft twist, my view focused on Honor Bound, a big four-masted junk flying the black and red crescents of the Mati flag from her mizzen. Her full-battened lugsails were flying to their fullest, dangerous in these conditions, but not surprising, considering they were being chased by pirates, namely us. Then something heavy splashed over the leeward rail. A barrel.

Bugger! I snapped my spyglass closed and tucked it away. They're lightening ship.

They must be delusional, Miko scoffed. "They couldn't outrun Scourge sailing with an empty hold and using sweeps!"

True enough. I bit a nail and cursed under my breath. So why dump cargo?

A hand touched my arm, and I turned to Preel. She held out her notebook, the page scrawled with her elegant hand. She couldn't speak because she wore her enchanted gag; an incautious question now, like my careless inquiry regarding Honor Bound's tactics, would put her out cold for a day and ruin our secret advantage on this mission. Employing her truthsayer's talent to the best effect was one of our most difficult challenges.

I read the note aloud for Miko's benefit. Perhaps to lessen their value as a prize, to make our pursuit less profitable?

Could be, Miko nodded. "Or maybe they know what we're really after, and the ambassador commanded them to take every measure to escape."

That could be, too. But they're cutting into our profit margin with every barrel they pitch over the side. I gritted my teeth. We've got to close on them quickly and convince them that they can't get away.

Topgallants? Miko cocked an eyebrow at me.

I looked aloft, gauged the wind, our heading, the strain on the shrouds, and the feel of the ship. I'd served in and captained Scourge for thirty years, and knew her better than I knew any living soul on the planet. We were already pushing hard, spray flying from our bow, though not quite dipping our leeward rail. The swell wasn't bad for the open sea north of the isle of Twin Capes, barely ten feet, but the wind was freshening. Honor Bound was still a mile off our bow, her greater size and full hold stiffening her rig against the wind. We were closing, but not fast enough, and every minute cost us money.

But so would a shattered topmast.

Decisions like this were my job, but that didn't make them any easier. Yes, topgallants, but with one reef. We can't afford to carry away a spar.

Aye, sir! Miko shouted orders, Wix relayed them with his usual sprinkling of epithets, and my topcrew scrambled aloft.

I watched with some trepidation as Boxley clambered down to the foretopsail crosstrees to get out of the way. One slip at that height was a death sentence. Thankfully, no one fell, and the small square sails billowed, snapping taut as the sheets were drawn tight. Two squares barely the size of bedsheets, but so high that their force on the ship was greatly amplified.

Scourge responded, surging and heeling hard, pounding into the foaming seas. Immediately, the helmsman called for help, and my sailing master, Rauley, lent a deft hand at the wheel.

She's griping like a bitch, sir! he shouted. Permission to ease the mizzentop a trifle?

Aye, do that! As the orders were passed, I added a few of my own. "Run the log! Mister Kivan, go forward and ready that contraption of yours. I want to convince Honor Bound's captain that it would be in his best interest to heave to."

Aye, sir! She dashed forward with a grin.

You just made her day, sir, Miko chided.

True enough. Kivan used to be my laziest midshipman, but she'd found a comrade in Boxley, and the two energized one another in a way that all the cajoling, ranting, and outright threats from a higher officer never could have.

Seemingly from nowhere, Kivan had demonstrated a passion for machinery that I hadn't even known she'd possessed. She'd bought plans for a small siege engine—a ballista—with her own money, and begged me to allow her to build it. I'd given her free rein, and she'd surprised me once again. Not only did the ballista work, but it scared the shit out of merchantmen and, when the bolts were tipped with tar-soaked rags and ignited, dissuaded other pirates from considering Scourge an easy target.

Twelve knots, sir! Quiff, my third midshipman, shouted from the middeck. We're cracking on!

Aye, that we are! Scourge capped a swell and fairly flew down the back side, the foredeck awash.

On the bow, Kivan swore a blue streak, her voice barely audible over the wind as she fought with the canvas covering her contraption.

A hand gripped my arm, and I turned to find Preel looking worried. She held up her notebook, and I read the smeared ink, Permission to go below?

Of course, love. Sorry. I couldn't suppress my grin. Preel might be a pirate's lady, but she'd never developed a liking for rough seas and wet decks. Morelie, there! Give the lady a hand down the steps. It's a bit trouncy for her.

Preel squeezed my arm in thanks and took the sailor's arm, sure-footed as a cat, but white-knuckled as the two crossed the quarterdeck. Hemp passed her on the way, wearing a weather cloak and hunched over a bundle. He made a face as we capped another swell and spray lashed aft.

Sir! Bert's compliments and ain't you comin' down fer lunch? Hemp cradled the cloth bundle like a newborn babe.

No! Tell her I'm sorry, but we're on the chase! I pointed to Honor Bound now barely half a mile off. We should be on them in half a glass or less. Tell her to feed Preel if she's hungry and put mine aside.

Aye, sir, I thought that'd be the case, so I brung you up a spot of blackbrew and a biscuit. He unwrapped a pot and held it out. A bit rough fer cups, sir. You'll have to drink out the spout.

Odea bless you, Hemp! I took the pot, downed a mouthful of the blistering-hot brew, and handed it off to Miko. Pass it around!

Hemp looked like I'd docked his pay. "But that was fer you, sir!"

I know, and it hit the spot! I accepted two rock-hard biscuits and gnawed off a bite. Bring up my cutlass and a brace of daggers, would you?

Hemp muttered an oath, snatched back the now-empty pot, and shuffled off, ducking the spray that came aft.

A ship's brat dashed up the steps and slid to a stop before me, pressing a knuckle to his forehead. Mister Kivan reports all ready, sir, and begs permission to fire when they're in range.

Permission granted, Twik. I tossed him my second biscuit, and he caught it like a bat picking off a fat moth.

Thank you, sir! He dashed off, nibbling happily.

You old softie, Miko muttered at my shoulder.

I glared at her. What did I tell you about that?

That you're a right bastard, and don't forget it, sir! Her grin remained undaunted.

Damn right. I produced a dagger and pared a nail. "But it was the old part that I took exception to."

Miko's grin faded. Oh, um...right, sir. You don't look...—she tried not to break into a smirk—...a day over...um...

I hear that the bilges need scrubbing...

"Thirty! Not a day over thirty! Her attempt to hide her smirk failed. Maybe thirty-five."

Considering that that was a solid decade below my real age, I let it go and sheathed my dagger. Miko knew I wouldn't stab her for calling me old. Well, not lethally. She was my only senior officer, though both Kivan and Quiff were close to passing for lieutenant. If they did, I'd have to repopulate the midshipman's berth, either from the lower decks or by bringing on a stranger. With the secret of our own truthsayer still tightly kept, I didn't like the idea of bringing on new people, though I knew I'd have to eventually.

But not today, Kevril...

A sharp crack snapped my attention to the foredeck. Either we'd parted a stay or Kivan had fired a ranging shot. We were still a good quarter mile from our target, and I opened my mouth to tell her not to waste ammunition. Then I saw the arm-thick shaft of iron-tipped hardwood slam into Honor Bound's high transom.

A cheer rang out from the foredeck, the ballista crew pounding my young midshipman on the back.

Bugger me, but she's good with that thing, Miko commented.

"That she is. I just hope she doesn't kill the captain, or worse, the ambassador."

"That would be bad," Miko agreed.

Jhavika's directive had been explicit; we were to abduct Ambassador Fawahah and deliver him to her. She hadn't told me why, but it didn't take a truthsayer to figure it out. The king of Mati was sending Fawahah to the god-emperor of Toki to negotiate a cooperative effort to control piracy in the Blood Sea. How Jhavika learned this, I have no idea, but abducting the ambassador meant she wanted a spy. She'd lash him with the same enchanted scourge that had enslaved me, and he would thereafter follow her every command. Through him, she'd drive a wedge between Toki and Mati, our two most powerful neighbors to the north and south, thereby increasing her value to Haven's Council of Lords, and putting her one step closer to her goal of ruling Haven.

Despite my hatred for that scourge of hers, I approved of her tactics. Haven was my home port. If Toki and Mati united to subdue the city states of the Blood Sea and Obsidian Isles, we would be beaten into submission like a piece of hot iron between anvil and hammer.

Messenger! I barked, and Twik dashed up. Tell Mister Kivan to aim for her sails. We don't want to kill anyone important.

Aye, sir! He dashed off, and I watched him deliver the message.

Kivan waved to me and increased the angle of her contraption, her crew fitting another bolt into the mechanism. We were still closing fast, but veering a bit to leeward. Honor Bound's sails were no longer in a line, which would reduce the impact of Kivan's shot. Also, our leeward slide would relinquish the weather-gauge advantage to the junk. Not that it would do them much good, other than to delay the inevitable, but I'd learned long ago never to surrender an advantage.

Master Rauley, bring her up a point. We're making leeway. Line us up right on her transom.

Aye, sir! Right up her ass! He hauled on the wheel with his mates, and Scourge fought her way to windward.

Kivan and her crew hauled on the blocks that moved the ballista to the windward side of the foredeck, thus avoiding putting her shot right through our own jib. I watched her line up the shot, my interest not only tactical, but technical. I knew little of siege weaponry and, as I said, a pirate never surrenders an advantage. If the political situation went bad, I'd need every advantage I could get.

My midshipman bent down to aim along the ballista bolt, called for adjustment, waited for Scourge to crest a swell, and pulled the release. The siege engine's carriage jumped back against its restraints as the long shaft flew. Another cheer went up as the missile holed all four of the junk's sails, though it did little real damage. With all the reinforcing battens in the junk-rigged sails, there was far less stress on the canvas, so nothing tore or gave way. The shot fractured one batten in the mizzen, which might diminish its efficiency slightly, but not enough to make a difference. The winner of this race had been decided the moment we sighted our quarry. The only question was how long it would take us to overtake Honor Bound, and how much cargo she'd toss before we reached her.

Then Boxley's shrill call cut through the howling wind. She's veering to leeward, sir!

Finally! It was the maneuver I'd been anticipating.

Rauley, cut her off! Wix, rig for a port-side broad reach! Topcrew, shake the reefs on those t'gallants! This was where my well-honed crew shone. A junk is easier to handle than a square-rigged ship, but my people leapt to their duties, and Scourge veered to cut off the larger ship, quickly closing the gap.

Rauley called for preventers to be rigged on the mizzen boom in case we jibed unintentionally, a wise precaution and a testament to his seamanship, despite his youth. Making him my sailing master had been one of my best decisions. Miko bellowed for Quiff to take a boarding party forward, and for Wix to ready grapples.

Straight downwind was the one point of sail where a junk might give Scourge a run for her money, but we had a few minutes before the much larger ship built up speed. We had to close and board quickly. The only danger to that tactic was if they tried to ram us. Honor Bound massed four times our tonnage, and a collision could leave us foundering with cracked ribs and sprung seams or worse.

Sharp eye on their helm, Miko! If they veer toward us, don't wait for my order.

Damn straight, sir! Miko raised her spyglass and took up station on the forward corner of the quarterdeck.

Fenders out on the starboard side, Mister Quiff. Archers to the tops! Hemp, where's my bloody cutlass?

Comin' right up, sir, and I brung your patched jacket, too. No sense in havin' the good one cut to ribbons. Hemp held out a baldric, two daggers, and my patched jacket, as always, far more concerned about the damage to my clothes than my skin.

About damned time! I doffed my good jacket, clipped on the baldric and daggers, though I already wore two in my boots, and accepted the patched jacket. Now arm yourself and—

Captain! They've got—

I missed the rest of Boxley's warning cry as something jerked the tricorne from my head. I ducked reflexively at the distinctive hiss of arrows buzzing through the air. Hemp swore a blue streak at the damage to my hat, though I was grateful it hadn't pierced my skull. A cry from aloft and the thud of a body hitting the deck told me that at least one arrow had found its mark. I muttered a prayer to Odea under my breath that it hadn't been Boxley.

Wix's voice boomed across the deck. Return fire, you fookers!

Crossbows cracked from aloft as our archers raked Honor Bound in response. Risking a quick look, I confirmed that we were still a good hundred yards away, so a hit would be sheer luck. So how the hell did they hit one of my topmen and nearly kill me on the first salvo?

I reached for my spyglass, but another flight of arrows flew from Honor Bound before I could raise it to my eye. Cries rang out as this volley found multiple marks. One of those marks was my first mate.

Miko! I dashed for her as she fell, her chest transfixed by a long black arrow. My knees hit the deck beside her, and I steadied her before she could roll onto the arrow. Can you breathe?

Breathe? She grimaced as I helped her sit up. Yeah, but I'll never play the flute again!

I laughed. If she could joke, she could breathe. With luck, her lung wasn't flayed. Then I took note of the arrow and realized why the archers had such uncanny accuracy.

The arrow, a bamboo shaft fully four feet long, sported hawk-feather fletching and a notch carved of ivory and banded with silver. It was a ya, used exclusively by one class of Toki warrior, the komei, the god-emperor's finest. This one had a peculiar Y-shaped head, generally used for unarmored foes. Wearing armor at sea was a quick way to drown if you fell overboard, so the komei had assumed correctly that we wouldn't be. They, of course, would be; legend stated that the komei slept, bathed, and fucked in their armor, though I had my doubts about the bathing.

I drew a dagger and cut open Miko's shirt. The shaft pierced her just below her left breast, exiting on the same side. Hold still, I've got to cut this short.

"Mind the ship, Captain," she growled.

Shut up. I cut the shaft protruding from her back close to her skin, and helped her to sit up against the bulwarks. The butt of the arrow I also cut, but left a couple of inches still protruding, which would give Bert something to grasp when she pulled it out. I knew better than to do that now. You're not coughing blood, so you'll probably live, but stay down until I can get Bert to have a look at you.

Miko grimaced, but nodded. Aye, sir.

I stood just in time to duck again as another flight of arrows zipped past. The komei were renowned for their archery skill, often shooting geese in flight for practice. They were using pirates for practice today, and four of the six arrows hit their marks. Our return volley, more accurate now that we were closer, bristled from their armor, but they stood firm, holding their tight formation. Our light crossbows couldn't punch through their laminated bamboo plates or gilded full-mask helms.

We had one thing, however, that would.

Kivan! Fire amidships!

I'm on it, sir!

As her crew repositioned the ballista, I watched the six komei draw their asymmetrical bows and take aim. Come on, Kivan...

Cover! I bellowed just as they loosed. My warning might have saved some lives, for only two arrows found flesh on that salvo.

Then Kivan fired her ballista.

The bolt tore through the rank of komei, felling two and momentarily breaking the poise of the others. The komei recovered quickly, however, and reached for arrows, now aiming at our foredeck and the ballista crew. We had only a moment's advantage, and I intended to make the most of it.

Kivan, take cover! Rauley, put us alongside! Wix, grapples! Quiff, board her bow!

Even as the last command left my mouth, the komei fired. Fortunately, the ballista framework offered cover, and only one of the four arrows struck home. A young man named Penrick had been peering over the framework, and he took an arrow squarely in the forehead.

I gritted my teeth and drew my cutlass; this mission was costing far more than I'd bargained for. Unfortunately, when we left Haven I asked Preel only where to find our quarry, not whether Honor Bound had any special defenses against piracy, or if the god-emperor had sent bodyguards to protect the ambassador. My lack of foresight was costing lives.

Rauley steered us in at a steep angle, then veered sharply at the last moment. Our bowsprit swept over the junk's lower foredeck, our bobstay chain raking splinters from their cap rail, and sending Honor Bound's armed sailors scrambling for cover. My sailing master was cutting it very close indeed. Thirty iron grapples flew in unison, pirates hauling and cleating off the lines. The ropes snapped taut with a horrendous jerk, more than one parting. Sailors aboard Honor Bound fought to cut the grapples free, but our archers were making them pay for their efforts.

Slack sheets! Scourges, with me! I jumped to our starboard rail just as the komei fired another volley. A black arrow creased my ribs, but, at that moment, nothing short of a killing shot would have stopped me. The ships smashed together, and I leapt, fifty screaming pirates at my side.

I kicked a sailor in the teeth as he raised a boarding axe, and deflected a pike-thrust with my cutlass before my feet touched the deck. I rolled low and cut the pikeman across his legs. Pirates surged aboard, knocking the Mati sailors away from the rail and securing the grappling lines. Our front line—myself, Wix, and nearly a dozen of our best fighters—faced the remaining four komei. Like a deadly wall they stood: bows discarded in favor of fine katanas, armor bristling with our crossbow bolts, dark eyes glinting from the eyeholes of their hideous masks.

One would think that three-to-one odds would secure a quick victory, but no. Two of my pirates went down before I even crossed swords with my opponent. Despite their armor, the komei wielded their katanas with a speed and grace that I'd never seen. I parried the cut that would have cleaved my skull, but the impact numbed my hand, and the fine blade sliced the epaulet off my right shoulder. I stabbed low with my dagger and nearly lost a finger to my foe's lightning parry. Tansy, to my right, exploited the opening my attack had provided, and her cutlass cut a deep furrow in the komei's breastplate. His backstroke creased her brow in turn. That strike, however, gave me the opening I needed, and my cutlass bisected his left arm at the elbow.

I made the mistake of thinking that my cut had ended the fight—I mean, who in their right mind keeps fighting after their arm is cut off?—and nearly missed parrying the komei's next strike. I deflected two more lightning blows before his severed arm hit the deck, then spun under the third strike, parrying high with my dagger and sweeping a foot at his ankles. He leapt like a dancer over my kick, using all of his momentum for a downward slash. Though I deflected the blow, my sword snapped an inch from the hilt.

Fuck!

I dropped the hilt, parrying again with my dagger and rolling with the force of the blow. Snatching my boot dagger, I threw it at his face. The blade merely clanged against his mask, but the distraction gave Tansy an opening. She feinted high and drove her dagger into the komei's groin.

This, too, should have dropped him, but didn't. My blood chilled as I considered that this foe might not be alive at all, but some necromantic animation. As Tansy parried yet another slash, I stepped in and sheathed my last dagger in the eye hole of his mask. The komei stiffened and fell twitching to the deck.

Finally!

I scooped up his katana—not my best weapon, but I needed a sword—and whirled to find another opponent. Thankfully, the fight was over. Six pirates were down, but so were all the komei. Wix, missing a patch of scalp and his left ear, grinned horribly down at his fallen opponent. The komei's mask was crumpled in, sporting four bloody holes from the spikes of Wix's dagger guard. The rest of Honor Bound's sailors had dropped their weapons, her captain and officers standing unarmed around the helm, surrounded by pirates.

Quiff, cut their sheets, take a detail forward, and find the ambassador! I'll search from aft. Wix, secure the deck and find your ear. Maybe Bert can stitch it back on.

"Bah! It's just a fookin' ear, sir."

That's why the gods give you two, I suppose. Tansy, bind up your head and see about our wounded. I glanced back at Scourge's quarterdeck. Miko stood at the rail, leaning heavily on Boxley's shoulder. Mister Boxley, secure my first mate and take her below! I want Bert to have a look at her. Sit on her if you have to.

Aye, sir! Boxley and Bert would take care of Miko better than I could.

Master Rauley, heave us to.

He snapped a salute. Aye, Captain!

Kivan, the deck is yours!

Aye, sir!

I climbed to the helm station and saluted Honor Bound's captain, a tall, dark-skinned man wearing the red robe of a lesser Mati noble. That didn't surprise me. There were as many lesser nobles in Mati as there were common folk, with more begat every day. The king alone has two dozen wives, over a hundred grand-children, and thousands of cousins. I wondered how anyone managed more than one spouse.

Captain, I'm Captain Longbright, a privateer for the city-state of Haven. A bald-faced lie, but a reasonable one. Jhavika was due to rise to the Council of Lords soon, and as Haven's only governing body, the Council could hand out letters of marque. They hadn't yet, but they could if they wanted to. "I understand you were only following orders to protect your charge, but I truly wish you hadn't resisted. It only accomplished unwanted deaths and injury for both your crew and mine. My orders were only to secure Ambassador Fawahah. Now, however, I'll be relieving you of the best of your cargo to compensate for our losses. That wasn't exactly true either—I would have pillaged his ship regardless—but it seemed a fair argument. Now, please bring me the ambassador."

He glared at me without a twitch. Who?

I knew he was lying. Come now, Captain. Mati merchantmen don't have komei aboard unless they're sent by the god-emperor to protect something. Cough him up and there won't be any need for further unpleasantness.

I assure you, Captain Longbright, there is no ambassador aboard this ship. The captain folded his arms over his chest, his features expressionless.

I sighed and gritted my teeth. Bugger off, then. We'll find him ourselves. I ordered my pirates to secure the captain and his officers, and we started searching.

An hour later, we'd found nothing.

Swearing a blue streak under my breath, I stepped back aboard Scourge and went aft. I had only one more option.