Page 23 of Valour

Charlotte rubbed at her face and looked at Arnold askance. “No. I’m worried.”

He smiled knowingly and set a steaming mug in front of her, taking the seat opposite. “Hester has gotten out of many tight spots in her time.”

“Would he truly attack the Valour?” The mention of weapons had been unnerving to say the least.

Arnold shrugged. “Possibly.”

“But why would he chase us all this way?” Charlotte couldn’t fathom it. Fine, Hester had gone against his orders. But to chase her so far? It seemed crazy.

“His Lordship’s ego was obviously damaged when we left against his orders. He has probably come to seek reparation, though it’s a long way to come for it. I suppose we shall find out tomorrow.”

Arnold leant across the table and squeezed Charlotte’s hand, his skin warm and rough against hers. Her stomach fluttered.

“He won’t harm you. This is between him and Hester.”

His words didn’t make her feel any better.

9

IN WHICH THE VALOUR REACHES ARGENTINA

2nd October 1914, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Intrepid arrived an hour after Hester had brought the Valour alongside the quay, the deck conspicuously empty of its Pirate Lord captain.

She turned to Fliss, who leant against the wheel. “Better go see what’s so urgent.”

Fliss’s lips were drawn tight. “Be careful what you say to him, won’t you?”

Hester smirked and swaggered off the ship, down the gangplank with Fliss close behind. Her feet hit the Argentinian soil, and a steady trickle of power fed its way into her, replacing what she had burnt through on the voyage. She breathed a sigh at the familiar buzzing that settled in her ribcage.

The air was balmy, and the trees were in full bloom with purple blossom, the scent of honey on the air, for it was spring in the southern hemisphere. People scurried about like ants, hollering to one another, the day’s catch for sale by the docks, fishy brine wafting to her nose. The noise and the smells were a barrage after weeks at sea.

She had absolutely no idea why Septimus had chased them so far, or what the outcome of this parley would be. The night that he had threatened to sink the Valour played over and over in her mind. He had sworn on his crew, after all.

She rolled her shoulders back and stood on the quay before the Intrepid. The gangplank was lowered, and Septimus’s first mate, Emlyn, strode across.

“I invoke the Right of Parley,” Hester said, her chin held high, her hand resting on the pistol at her belt.

“Hester Orn,” Emlyn snarled, looking slightly more wiry than when she’d last seen him. His eyes flicked to Fliss, and he raked a hand through auburn hair before returning his gaze to Hester. “I’d watch your back. The crew are half-starved and blame you for our swift departure from Havenport. Never mind what Septimus will do to you for disobeying orders.”

Hester snorted. “How can the poor provisioning by His Lordship be my fault?”

“I wouldn’t open your parley with those words, if I were you,” Emlyn said, brown eyes flicking back to Fliss. “She stays here with me.”

“Absolutely not.” There was no way she was leaving Fliss with him, especially with the way he was looking at her, sizing her mate up as if readying for a fight.

Emlyn bristled, lips tight in his freckled face. “Fine. No weapons.”

“You expect me to come on board unarmed?” Absolutely not. He’d have to pry her pistol from her cold, dead fingers.

“Fine. Your mate will hold your gun while you speak with the lord.”

“Fine.” Hester handed her pistol to Fliss, then stalked across the gangplank. They followed Emlyn down the companionway and into the belly of the ship.

The Intrepid was the sister ship of the Valour, and was almost identical, which Hester found slightly disconcerting.

She was shown into the chart room, Emlyn holding the door open for her, while he and Fliss took up positions either side of the door, which snapped shut behind her.