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Authors: Michael Wallace
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got to hand over the last of my money as soon as we’re in the Albion system. All the money I’ve legitimately got, that is. If we get there, and I pay out twenty-six to the pirates and six to my crew, then I literally have nothing. I can’t pay another eight to Aguilar, and when I don’t come up with the money, the rest will see I was bluffing about the final payoff. The bonus. They’ll know.”
Of course, Isabel Vargus and the rest would be mad as hell once they’d risked their lives to run the forts, attack York Town, and rescue Drake’s parents. If they all turned on him, he’d be dead. But he was pretty sure Catarina wouldn’t attack him, and maybe they’d take loot from York Tower, look at the damage they’d suffered in the assault, and count themselves good. Why risk another brawl with Blackbeard that would get more of them killed?
“Is it just Aguilar’s eight thousand holding you back?” Tolvern asked.
“Well, that and the fact that he’s already proven himself a treacherous snake before he’s even joined the fleet. A true pirate.”
“Good, then he fits right in.”
Drake smiled. “Yes, it’s just the eight thousand.”
Tolvern reached below her vest and pulled out a key on a chain. She set it on the table. “This opens my strongbox in the hold. My cut of the tyrillium haul was four thousand one hundred pounds. I’ve spent less than a hundred, and the rest is in the safe. It’s yours.”
“You can’t do that.”
“No, really. What would I do with all of that money? When I think that my father is the chief steward of Baron Drake’s estate and is only paid four hundred and fifty a year, that kind of money seems unreal to me.”
“Piracy pays well,” Drake said. “Until they hang you.”
“Malthorne attacked my home, too,” she said. “The Tolverns have been treated well by the Drakes for five generations, and you can bet my father wants Malthorne punished and his old master back on the estate.”
Drake picked up the key and rubbed it thoughtfully. “Thank you, Jess.”
She blushed at the use of her given name, but Drake knew she enjoyed the familiarity, the friendship beyond commanding officer and subordinate. This was friendship she was offering him, not mere loyalty. He’d find a way to pay her back somehow.
“That’s half of it,” he said. “What about the other four thousand?”
“Ask Vargus. The other sister, I mean. Offer Catarina eight instead of twelve. It’s what her sister is getting.”
“For a weaker ship. Orient Tiger is worth more than Outlaw and deserves more. And Catarina has more crew to pay. Plus, the Vargus clan doesn’t seem to always get along, if you haven’t noticed. What makes you think she’d agree to it?”
“Because you’ve worked together already. Catarina knows you and trusts you in a way Isabel doesn’t.”
“All the more reason not to cheat her. Can you imagine me talking her into accepting eight thousand, then cheating her out of the bonus on the other side, as well?”
“James,” she said, using his given name this time. “Let’s be frank with each other.”
“What do you mean?” he asked warily.
“I know—about you and Catarina, I mean. Please, you don’t need to deny it. I know, just trust me, I know. You were lovers, and you parted on good terms. You have every reason to expect she would take a lower cut in return for being reunited with you.”
Drake licked his lips. A twinge of guilt worked at his gut. Did the rest of the crew know, too? Did they think him a hypocrite for all the times he’d warned about fraternization or frowned at Capp and Carvalho for being lovers, even as he let himself get involved with Catarina Vargus?
“I feel like I should apologize,” he said.
“We don’t have time for that, Captain. Aguilar is expecting an answer. If you don’t have one, we need to warn the gunnery there will be a fight.”
Her words weren’t condemning, but there was no hiding the frown in
Of course, Isabel Vargus and the rest would be mad as hell once they’d risked their lives to run the forts, attack York Town, and rescue Drake’s parents. If they all turned on him, he’d be dead. But he was pretty sure Catarina wouldn’t attack him, and maybe they’d take loot from York Tower, look at the damage they’d suffered in the assault, and count themselves good. Why risk another brawl with Blackbeard that would get more of them killed?
“Is it just Aguilar’s eight thousand holding you back?” Tolvern asked.
“Well, that and the fact that he’s already proven himself a treacherous snake before he’s even joined the fleet. A true pirate.”
“Good, then he fits right in.”
Drake smiled. “Yes, it’s just the eight thousand.”
Tolvern reached below her vest and pulled out a key on a chain. She set it on the table. “This opens my strongbox in the hold. My cut of the tyrillium haul was four thousand one hundred pounds. I’ve spent less than a hundred, and the rest is in the safe. It’s yours.”
“You can’t do that.”
“No, really. What would I do with all of that money? When I think that my father is the chief steward of Baron Drake’s estate and is only paid four hundred and fifty a year, that kind of money seems unreal to me.”
“Piracy pays well,” Drake said. “Until they hang you.”
“Malthorne attacked my home, too,” she said. “The Tolverns have been treated well by the Drakes for five generations, and you can bet my father wants Malthorne punished and his old master back on the estate.”
Drake picked up the key and rubbed it thoughtfully. “Thank you, Jess.”
She blushed at the use of her given name, but Drake knew she enjoyed the familiarity, the friendship beyond commanding officer and subordinate. This was friendship she was offering him, not mere loyalty. He’d find a way to pay her back somehow.
“That’s half of it,” he said. “What about the other four thousand?”
“Ask Vargus. The other sister, I mean. Offer Catarina eight instead of twelve. It’s what her sister is getting.”
“For a weaker ship. Orient Tiger is worth more than Outlaw and deserves more. And Catarina has more crew to pay. Plus, the Vargus clan doesn’t seem to always get along, if you haven’t noticed. What makes you think she’d agree to it?”
“Because you’ve worked together already. Catarina knows you and trusts you in a way Isabel doesn’t.”
“All the more reason not to cheat her. Can you imagine me talking her into accepting eight thousand, then cheating her out of the bonus on the other side, as well?”
“James,” she said, using his given name this time. “Let’s be frank with each other.”
“What do you mean?” he asked warily.
“I know—about you and Catarina, I mean. Please, you don’t need to deny it. I know, just trust me, I know. You were lovers, and you parted on good terms. You have every reason to expect she would take a lower cut in return for being reunited with you.”
Drake licked his lips. A twinge of guilt worked at his gut. Did the rest of the crew know, too? Did they think him a hypocrite for all the times he’d warned about fraternization or frowned at Capp and Carvalho for being lovers, even as he let himself get involved with Catarina Vargus?
“I feel like I should apologize,” he said.
“We don’t have time for that, Captain. Aguilar is expecting an answer. If you don’t have one, we need to warn the gunnery there will be a fight.”
Her words weren’t condemning, but there was no hiding the frown in
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