Read Online Owned by the Ocean by Christine Steendam - Free Book Online

was the
end. The men were calling for blood. They’d lost faith in their
captain and had elected a new leader. To lose control, like LaFleur
was doing, was basically signing his own death warrant.
    The chant for
overboard had been dropped and instead calls for a duel filled the
ship deck. Though they were not calling for blood in as many words,
they might as well have been. There was only one way a duel would
end; in death, and Brant wasn’t confident LaFleur would win.
    Jacob drew his
cutlass and turned to face the crowd of men that stood behind him.
“A duel you say?”
    “ Yeah!” came the uproarious shout from the men.
    “ Winner be captain? No contest from no one else.”
    “ Aye!”
    Jacob turned
to LaFleur. “What say you? Sounds fair to me. The men ain’t happy
with you, but they’re willin’ to give you a chance if you can best
me.”
    LaFleur
nodded. “Aye, tis fair.”
    Brant could no longer stand aside and watch. He pushed his
way through the crowd. “Let me fight for you, act as champion,” he
called. He knew he could beat Jacob and secure LaFleur’s
captaincy.
    But LaFleur
and Karl shook their heads. “Nay, boy. You fighting for me won’t
help. I fight for my own place, or I hand it over.”
    LaFleur
holstered his pistol and slowly drew his cutlass. “Clear some
room!” he shouted.
    Roars of
approval erupted throughout the crew and Brant thought he might get
sick. Karl grabbed his arm though and dragged him to the outer edge
of the large circle that was forming around the deck, leaving only
Jacob and LaFleur standing, their blades glinting in the light of
the flickering lanterns.
    The fight
began quickly, with clashing steel and the stomping boots of men as
they picked up the beat of the fighting men.
    Brant watched,
fists clenched tightly at his side. He could see right from the
start that LaFleur was outmatched, if not in skill, then age. He
moved sluggishly compared to Jacob’s robust youth as he deftly
matched every step the captain made.
    LaFleur was
good with the blade. It moved like an extension of his arm,
blocking Jacob’s thrusts and slashes effortlessly, at first. But he
was growing tired, slowing, while Jacob only pushed harder.
    The fight
seemed to have only just begun, when LaFleur stumbled. Brant
reached for his sword, ready to leap to his aid, but Karl laid his
hand on his arm to hold him back.
    It happened
quickly, but to Brant it seemed to move in slow motion as Jacob
lunged forward and his cutlass bit into LaFleur’s stomach and
protruded out his back. A dark stain slowly spread across his tunic
and he fell to his knees. His face paled and lips turned an
unnatural blue.
    Brant tried to
lunge forward but Karl held his arm firmly. “No, boy. You ain’t
gonna do any good.”
    Slowly, Jacob
pulled his blade from the fallen captain’s stomach and turned his
back to him, crimson betrayal dripping off the shining metal and
onto the deck. He said nothing, walking away from the mess he had
created and entering LaFleur’s cabin. He’d made his point.
    Once the cabin
door shut Karl let go of Brant’s arm and he leapt forward, at
LaFleur’s side. He was lying on the deck, a pool of blood quickly
surrounding him, but Brant didn’t notice as he knelt in the warm
liquid and held the dying man’s hand.
    “ You don’t do anything dumb now, you hear?” said LaFleur
through sputters and chokes.
    Brant shook
his head. “This is wrong. They just turn on you, for what?”
    “ I got soft. You and Karl tried to warn me but I was a
fool.”
    Karl had
joined Brant at LaFleur’s side, but he stood, stalwart and calm. He
was no stranger to death.
    LaFleur’s
breath grew shallow and his eyes fluttered and Brant thought he had
passed on when LaFleur squeezed his hand and his eyes opened again.
“You keep my girl safe and well, you hear me? You keep her sailing
strong.”
    A ragged
breath ripped through his body, gurgling in his lungs as his soul
clawed its way to freedom. Brant had