H.M.S Valor Read online

  “My eyes aren’t what they once were. Just tell me.” Tim was apprehensive at the sailor’s joy.

  “The Endurance. She’s the only vessel that large in these waters and she is lost to the flame. I imagine we will hear her magazine go at some point soon. Pike must have run across someone far better suited to naval combat.” Cobb jeered. “And it looks like my problem has been solved for me.”

  “And mine? Where does this development leave our arrangement?” Tim asked somberly.

  “Oh, Mr. Sladen. Your problems have only started.” Cobb said with a broad grin.

  Tim bit his lip, trying to contain the furious torrent of cursed insults that sat at the front of his mind for this sailor. He was clever, though not quite as clever as Tim. With any luck, the seeds of doubt and deceit he had sown with the crew earlier would be coming into play.

  Chapter 13

  Drowned Maiden

  27 Sept 1808

  17 Degrees 34 minutes N, 76 Degrees 14’ W

  The plume of smoke from the burning warship trailed along the surface of the sea, hanging heavy in the air. Its acrid odor clung inside of Lilith’s nose fouling her smell and stinging her eyes. Everyone aboard the Maiden was exhausted and precious few had escaped without some form of injury. Chibs lay on deck, resting after having been wrapped in bandages by the doctor. With dawn’s first fingers stretching high into the starry skies the crew aboard the Maiden hoisted a longboat filled with battle weary faces, including one very familiar to them.

  “You look a beautiful sight Lilith!” Trina called up as Lilith stood at the rail above to greet her.

  “You look a mess Captain!” Lilith called back down. The men occupying the longboat with Trina seemed taken aback. Several of them exchanged glances among each other and the man in the prow with an officer’s coat slunk his head down, rubbing his eyes.

  “Who have you brought along Captain? Prisoners?” Lilith called down. She held a cutlass in one hand, its point dug into the wooden rail as she leaned against it.

  “These men saved me Lil, they plucked me from the wreckage after the Shepherd went down. The one in front was their commander. They mutinied when he refused to throw me overboard for the fishes.” Trina called back up, Lilith saw her exchange a glance with the officer in the prow and the man looked up at her afterward.

  “Hold the capstan,” Lilith ordered over her shoulder and then called back down, “And who would you be navy man? A pirate hunter?”

  “My name is Lieutenant William Pike; I am the commissioned first Lieutenant aboard the H.M.S Valor. No, our tasking was not to hunt pirates, although any navy ship is duty bound to do so on sighting them.” Will answered.

  “And so why would I hoist a crew of men, duty bound to kill pirates, aboard my vessel? I thank you for rescuing my friend, but I won’t be meeting a sword point to my back once you’re up here, will I?” Lilith demanded. She held up a hand as several of the African crew gathered at the rail with muskets in hand.

  “No miss. I have no reason to commit treacheries aboard your ship. Enough has been done to me in the last few weeks.” Will replied, his glances swapping back and forth between Lilith above and Trina in the back of the longboat.

  “No. That’s not good enough. You’re not setting foot aboard unless I have your word, on your honor, that you will be loyal to the Maiden and her Captain. Anything less buys you a volley of shot and a grave in the deep.” Lilith called down.

  “Lilith, they saved my life! Hoist us up and we’ll discuss terms.” Trina shouted up, growing irritated with her stubborn protege.

  “He saved you from what? He saved you after they blew the Shepherd to pieces? And I’m supposed to thank him for it? You said it yourself, this crew won’t have freeloaders aboard. If they mean to come aboard, they’ll do so as part of the crew or not at all.” Lilith yelled back down, her voice beginning to betray the anger she tried to keep veiled.

  “What? Where is James? Or Chibs? Have them come to the rail and speak Lilith, I want aboard.” Trina replied.

  “James is dead. He fell at the hands of the crew of that warship and Chibs is wounded Trina.” Lilith called back with a cracked voice, her eyes welling up uncontrollably as she spoke.

  “Oh, love. Dear, hoist us up. These men will do you no harm, you have my word. If they put a finger out of line, I will gut every one of them.” Trina called back up; her voice softened with her temperament when she saw the tears streaming down the girl’s face. Lilith turned to the crew at the capstan, “Hoist away, bring them up. But all the rest of you, arm yourselves.”

  The growing dawn brought into stark reality just how much damage the crew had sustained in the battle. Though the ship had faired remarkably well from its impact, Lilith could only count fourteen aboard that had returned from the fight. Most of those were wounded as well. Chibs had ordered a group of the Africans, mostly the women and children, to stay aboard the Maiden and that made the total number still less than thirty souls. As the longboat edged its way up to level with the deck an uneasy crew gathered around, weapons in hand.

  Trina was first to step onto the Maiden’s rail, leaving the men aboard the longboat to exchange hesitant glances and wonder for their collective fate. Lilith met her and the two friends embraced.

  “I am so sorry Lil, about James.” Trina whispered.

  “He died the way he would have it. Too soon and with a sword in each hand.” Lilith whispered back through tears.

  “Where is Chibs? I’ll want to see him.” Trina said as they released each other, still holding onto each other’s hands.

  “We’ve made him as comfortable as we can by the helm, he insisted.” Lilith replied as Trina dried her face with a rough hand.

  “Sounds like the old sea dog hasn’t changed.” Trina said, drawing a laugh from them both.

  “Not in the slightest.” Lilith replied with a smile returning.

  “These men, Lil. They saved my life, that has to count for something. What do you intend to do with them?” Trina’s tone lowered.

  “I’d like to hang them all, for the Shepherd, Trina. But I have something else in mind.” Lilith answered, looking over to the men still anxiously waiting in the longboat. “Go, see Chibs. He’s not well. I’ll have a word with them.” Trina left with a reluctant parting glance to each of them, lastly lingering on the strapping Lieutenant Pike. She shot a smile his way and then walked off to see Chibs.

  Lilith looked over the Maiden’s crew and then to the men in the longboat. They were all a sore and sorry sight, no one would win from another fight today. In a step she was up to the rail, leaning her weight back onto the hilt of her sword while the tip scratched into the grain of the wood.

  “I meant what I’ve told you. If you mean to board this vessel it will be as members of the crew or not at all. I’ll have no turncoats stabbing my crew in the back and taking this ship for their own.” Lilith laid it out flat for the men to consider.

  “I can assure you miss; we are in no position to incite a mutiny aboard your ship. These men are free to do as they would. But, for myself, I will not swear any oath to a pirate banner. I am honor bound to King and Country. If that means my life, so be it.” Will cut back with an unflinching determination.

  “Oh, what a fool you are man! Do you think us a bunch of savages? That I would rather cut you down than add you to the fold?” Lilith looked across the faces of the men in the longboat, squeezing her grip on the sword. “I don’t want to kill you, William. But I won’t have any of you roam the decks freely,” she said clinching her jaw and turning to the crew behind her. “Bind their hands and stow them all below with the other prisoners. If any resist, kill them.” The Lieutenant sitting just behind Will had a pleading look in his eyes that met with Lilith’s for a passing moment, she dismissed it as her crew boarded the longboat to restrain them.

  Lilith paced toward the helm, putting the forlorn looks of her new prisoners out of her mind. They aren’t slavers, she thought, but they land on their side if
they won’t join us. Ahead of her, Trina was sitting on the deck next to Chibs. The two were both facing her as she approached, Chibs looked ghastly pale but he was awake and overjoyed it seemed to be with Trina.

  “And what of this one?” Trina said loud enough that Lilith could hear, “She’s come a spell since you fished her out of the drink Chib. Perhaps she’ll make for a Captain.”

  “She has my vote Trin.” Chibs chimed beaming a proud glare at Lilith.

  “That’s not funny. Trina, you will Captain.” Lilith replied feeling a pang of shock and confusion.

  “No love. I am a Captain, of the Unholy Shepherd. She lay at the bottom, very much full of holes. James is gone dear and a good many of the crew with him, as Chibs just explained. You, though, sweet Lilith. You don’t even realize it. The crew was rallying behind you when Chibs called you back to the Maiden. When James fell, it was you they followed.” Trina said while digging a dagger into the wooden deck. “Be it because you are one of us? Or because you didn’t shy away when the battle was grim. Whatever the cause, unless there is dissent, you command the Maiden dear.”

  Lilith felt a flush come to her face, her mouth dried and in an instant the wind dancing against her skin seemed to bring a chill. Trying to formulate a response only yielded her to looking at Chibs. She swallowed hard, her tongue feeling as if it were double its size.

  “Chibs? Why not you?” Lilith said, fearing the answer more than any sword swing or cannon shot.

  “I’m in no condition to command anything girl. Besides, that’s not my way. I’d dither about and second guess my every move. No. You will Captain, Lil, and you’ll have me and Trin here at your side. You’ll be sick of us soon enough.” Chibs announced, grimacing at his final words and grabbing at a wineskin in Trina’s grasp for a big long drink. “But you don’t fret over me, it’s going to take more than a sword stick and a few scratches to kill me. I’m rigged to fight.”

  “Sail Ho! Southern horizon!” a voice shouted down from aloft.

  Lilith ran to the stern, Trina springing up to follow. The sun had crested into the eastern sky, bringing with it a brilliantly painted morning of pinks and oranges beating back the starry darkness of the night. Along the southern edge of light Lilith could make out a rig of sails. Broad mains and top sails below with smaller gallants and royals above trimmed out on their edges by auxiliary sails. Her commander was plowing ahead toward them and flying every stitch he could to get there. Lilith scrambled back to Chibs.

  “Chibs, I need your sight glass,” she said while scrambling by to the weather hatch.

  “Check your cabin dear, there’s one in a chest right by the door,” he gruffed, sitting up a bit with a wince. Lilith froze in her tracks for a second.

  “My cabin?” she asked with a confused squint.

  “The Captain’s cabin girl! James kept a sight glass in the chest right by the door. In YOUR cabin,” he answered with a booze fueled smile.

  “Right!” her answer floated back as she disappeared below.

  Lilith raced below and into the cabin, throwing open the chest right where Chibs had promised it would be. It was filled with James’ few personal effects and for a moment, Lilith had to pause, she grabbed the sight glass and exited quickly to ward off a wave of emotions that threatened to crash down on her if she lingered too long. On her way back up the ladder well, she found herself face to face with William, being led to their new home in the hold and an idea struck her.

  “This one is coming with me,” she said to the escorting crew as she grabbed Will’s coat. “You are going to be of some use to us, Lieutenant, or you will learn to swim with your hands bound.”

  Lilith drug the officer along, though he wasn’t resisting he just could not quite match her hurry, above deck and up onto the aft castle. With sight glass in hand she extended it and looked through to the incoming vessel. It was a frigate, comparable in class to the Maiden herself, but still too far off to count gun ports. Lilith handed the glass over to Trina and turned to William.

  “Do you know that vessel?” she asked, giving him a side eyed glance.

  “I could. It is hard to tell with a naked view at such a distance.” Will replied with stone expression. Trina handed him the glass.

  “Have a look for yourself, I can see no colors. But she sails with a purpose towards the smoke plume. Could that be the last of your fleet Lieutenant?” Trina posed while giving the officer a stern look.

  Will focused on the vessel, giving nothing but a long silence back to his captors. He studied her bow through the foggy distortion of the glass until his eye began to ache with strain. Then he handed the instrument over to Lilith and looked down at the wood grain in the rail to his front.

  “I believe it to be the H.M.S Valor, manned by a crew of mutineers. They surely saw the fire in the night and are no doubt investigating.” Will’s eyes lifted back to the sails on the horizon as he spoke.

  “And how do you know this?” Lilith pressed, squeezing her hand on the wood of the rail at her hip.

  “The damage she, we, sustained in our engagement with you. Her forward larboard rail, it’s barely visible in the sight glass, but the damage matches what I know the Valor to have sustained. Also, I believe she would be making such a maneuver to come about on the Endurance at some point, with the wind at her back.” Will answered. His tone was flat, monotonous while conveying information with no ill feeling toward the pirates or to the crew that had mutinied against their commander.

  “How many guns?” Trina pressed in closer to Will.

  “She’s rigged for twenty-eight, fourteen guns per side. When you landed your broadsides eight guns were destroyed on the larboard battery, leaving six on that side. My guess is they will have moved guns over from the starboard battery by now to even trim and firepower. That will mean she has ten-gun batteries on both sides, eighteen pounders with two long nines on her bow. She’s a force to be reckoned with, even short crew.” Will rambled, staring out over the seas with a glossed overlook.

  “How short is her crew?” Lilith asked.

  “You killed near twenty immediately with your broadsides. Wounded another dozen, of those four survived. We were short crew when we put to sea though.” Will began.

  “How many?” Lilith raised her voice, gripping her cutlass and causing Will to take a step back.

  “Fifty-five able bodies, at the most. I don’t know if any were lost to the mutiny, it could be less,” he stammered out, flustered by the young woman’s sudden anger.

  Lilith took a step back, feeling the blood drain from her face. She looked at Trina while a helpless feeling washed over her soul, sucking her into depths of a sudden despair she could not express.

  “Trin, we don’t have that many. And what we do have, we can’t sail and man the guns, we can’t outrun her…” Lilith’s voice trailed off as her eyes locked on to Trina’s.

  “We will find a way girl. Now is when you need to be brave. Not for you, “She paused, pointing out to the crew on deck, “For them.”

  All three of them looked out to the horizon, those little white sails were already growing larger.

  “Trina.” Lilith said, again squeezing the grip of her sword.

  “Yes girl.” Trina replied, breaking her stare to look at Lilith.

  “Fly the colors.” Lilith said, her eyes still locked onto their approaching enemy.

  “Aye Captain!”

  Drowned Maiden

  27 Sept 1808

  18 Degrees 20 minutes N, 76 Degrees 12’ W

  Will looked aloft, standing next to the beautiful young pirate captain while her banner unfurled into the wind felt surreal, a dream which he did not remember falling asleep for. The rising sunlight danced across the white of that devilish horned skull and trident, the image up close seemed even more imposing than the day he had watched a pair of them sail away from his crippled ship. He could still hear the screams of the wounded sailors in the recesses of his memory, for a moment he felt his throat tighten, his face
flushed. At one point, he thought, not long ago I vowed to lay this ship along the bottom, now they are my salvation. His stomach knotted and his temples throbbed, the slight motion of the deck he was so accustomed to suddenly seemed exaggerated, intolerable. He was not sick, so much as he was thoroughly unsettled. The black fabric mocked him, snapping in the breeze as it reached its perch above the stern. Will’s eyes began to gloss, the wind in his face felt hollow, lacking the sense of freedom and adventure he longed over when he was ashore. “Take him below, with the others.” Lilith told Trina when she returned from raising the harbinger of death and chaos over his head.

  Will gave no resistance to being led below, he felt as if he were a ship with slack lines and no rudder, dangerously adrift. The warmth below deck closed in around him as they proceeded up the passageway, invading his nostrils with the smell of cramped quarters, wood and tobacco smoke, the brine of the sea meeting the musk of timbers. It was a familiar smell, usually comforting, but today he took no solace in it. As the iron hinges squealed on the first of two heavy doors, Will peered in. A rotund man dressed in rags and smelling like death sat alone in a corner. Will looked at Trina for a fleeting moment, finding no mercy in the eyes of a woman he had saved from death. Letting out a sigh of resignation he entered the cell, hearing the squeaking cry of the hinges and then a clunk as Trina closed the door firmly behind him. The patter of sea against hull and voices in the cell next to him brought his situation into stark reality.

  The man in the corner hardly moved, except for the quick rise and fall in his chest and belly, Will would have thought him dead. He opened an eye, staring up at Will for a moment and then closed it dismissively.

  “Have they taken a Royal Navy ship now?” the man asked, through his labored breath.

  “Taken. Never. They’ve sunk the Endurance.” Will answered, trying to quell his stomach from the awful smell of the man.

  “Admiral Sharpe. That is a shame, I held hope he would get me out of this mess.” The reply came as he relieved himself without moving.