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Conall broke off with an oath. He took her arm again, but this
time, dragged her away from the hatch. He pushed her toward the
stern of the boat. Get up there! I need you on the wheel. Steer us
broadside past these sons of bitches and I ll show them the true
meaning of firepower.
The wheel? Addy stumbled as the deck lurched beneath their
feet again. But I can t
Now, Addy, he rumbled, and then he was off, dashing across
the deck, a darker shadow against the night.
Addy squared her shoulders, picked up her skirts, and ran up to
the stern deck to take the wheel.
The position gave her a clear view over the main deck below,
and the chaos that had overtaken it. Even so, she could hardly
make out what was happening in the darkness. Shapes ran across
the deck, and while it was easy to make out Conall from the flash
of the sword as he fought his way to their guns, the rest were a
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mystery.
The number of them, though, was frightening. There had only
been the five of them aboard since they d left port, but now many
times that number seemed to be swarming the deck, clashing and
fighting one another with grunts and groans.
Addy thought of the two smaller boats that had sailed with
them like shadows for the past weeks, filled to the brim with the
Rannan guards Luke and Conall had brought back with them. She
took some measure of reassurance in the thought that some of the
men below were fighting on their behalf, and in their defense.
The small shape off the port bow must have been the guards
ship. A larger shadow lurked on their starboard, nearly as big as
they were, and it was from there that the cannon fire had come.
Addy pulled the wheel hard to the left, and the boat began its
painfully slow tack to the right, curving around the enemy ship to
cut across its bow.
Just as they were passing the other ship, Conall gave a shout.
The night seemed to tear apart around Addy as their own guns
roared, shooting long gouts of bright fire and releasing a volley of
cannons at the other boat.
Conall shouted again, this time full of victory and satisfaction.
He turned and seemed to look up at her, though it was nearly
impossible to tell for sure in the night.
Don t let her get alongside us! he bellowed up at her. If she
hits us broadside, we re done for.
Addy shouted down an acknowledgment, and glanced back to
see that the other ship was slowly turning as well, chasing after
them on a parallel heading. If they caught up&
She wrenched the wheel around to the right, as far as it would
go. The boat listed perilously as it swung around
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She held it in the turn long past when it had angled away from
the other boat, until they had turned all the way around and were
headed back the way they d just come. Still she held on to the
wheel, her fingers aching as the rudder fought her, and they
continued until they had come around behind the other boat,
sweeping past the stern as they just had the bow.
Their cannons roared through the night again, and the fight
raged on the deck below. Addy turned her mind from it, and
focused only on the wheel and the boats and the orders Conall
shouted up to her. The wind blew fiercely, and with Conall too
preoccupied with the fight to be able to work the sails, she had to
fight the ship for every move.
It seemed an eternity had passed before the fight finally waned
and the enemy s boat broke away, limping back to shore with
tattered lines and a broken hull. Conall and the Rannan guards put
up a victorious cry, and Addy abandoned the wheel to come down
to the main deck on unsteady legs.
Is everyone all right? she asked Conall, practically drooping
with exhaustion.
Seems to be, no small thanks to you. He bolstered her up,
setting her on her feet, then nearly knocked her off of them when
he clapped her on the shoulder. You ve the makings of a decent
seaman, mark my words. You ve done us all proud. He moved off
toward the hatch, called down, Luke! All s well. Best get up
here.
I have been, for a fair while. Luke s dry voice came from
behind them both.
Conall spun, and Addy turned. Conall scowled, his expression
turning as dark as the night around them. Damned fool, he
grumbled. You can t even walk properly.
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I am not hiding while you and your men fight on my behalf.
Luke said it smoothly, easily, and seemed to ignore the way it
made Conall s expression set into even harsher lines. Let s get
some lamps up here, shall we? Then we can take proper stock of
the situation.
Addy dropped down to sit on the hatch while the guards
scattered to obey Luke s command. Now that the excitement had
waned, she could scarcely keep her eyes open. Just as soon as she
had seen for herself that no one had taken any grievous injury, she
would excuse herself and crawl back to bed to sleep for a year.
* * *
In short order, the deck blazed with light, lanterns hung from
ever yard and ratline. Luke gathered everyone before the mast and
they checked one another for injuries, which were few and mostly
minor. One guard brought a man forward and threw him to his
knees before Luke. The swaying lanterns threw strange patterns of
light and shadow across the boat, but even so, Luke didn t
recognize him.
Who are you? he demanded of the man, drawing himself up
to his full height.
The other man spat upon the deck. One of the guardsmen
snarled, Whoreson, and kicked him in the ribs, then dragged his
head back by the hair. You will show respect to your liege.
Luke crouched and looked the man in the eye. Who are you?
he asked again, each word slow and deliberate.
A soldier in your guard, he snarled, glaring up at Luke with
pure hatred.
Luke shut his eyes and straightened. Beside him, he felt Conall
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move forward, heard the man grunt as Conall seized him.
Who do you work for? Conall s demand was a low growl.
Luke opened his eyes as the silence stretched. Conall had half-
dragged the man up off his knees by the hair, but his defiance
didn t waver.
Darrin.
Luke exhaled sharply. My cousin hasn t the sense to try to
stage an attack like this. Who sent you?
The man s gaze shuttered, just for an instant. Leyburn, he
murmured.
Luke drew a swift breath. Conall s gaze slid sideways to him,
blank with incomprehension. Who s that?
The Captain of the Guard.
Conall s hands fisted at his sides. He and Luke regarded one
another over the kneeling soldier s head. The prisoner who
escaped. Damn it, we spoke to him.
Luke ran his thumb over his knuckles. Yes.
He d have set men to oversee the preparations for the hunt. To
ensure your safety. He spat the word with a snarl.
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