The Pirate's Legacy: New Identities

Chapter 4: Enchanting Moments

Em neared the last shot in the barrel when two duelers from the stern caught her attention. Michael fought the lieutenant at the helm, and the latter appeared to have the upper hand. A cold hand gripped her heart when the lieutenant used the steering wheel to hit Michael in the jaw, sending the latter to the ground. Em pointed the pistol at the lieutenant but he moved behind the wheel toward the fallen first mate. She wouldn't be able to get a clear shot at him until it was too late.

Hastily, Em pocketed Roger's pistol. "Briggen, throw me the rope!" she called. "I said throw me the rope! No, don't ask why, you dimwit, just do it!" She caught the line and wound it tightly around her hands and wrists before leaping off the sail. The lieutenant was nearly upon Michael's prone form. He held his sword with both hands; the blade was pointed down. Her boots slammed into his side. His arms swung wildly; one knocked against the steering wheel, causing it to spin to the right. Em's legs buckled underneath her as The Jolly Roger tilted precariously toward the starboard side. Cries of alarm filled the air. On the main sail, Briggen lay flat on the spar, clinging onto it for dear life. Em lunged for the wheel. She righted the ship again before turning to Michael, whose eyes were fluttering awake.

"Are you alright?" Em shouted above the din.

Michael, realizing he was on the ground, got back to his feet after retrieving his cutlass. "Where did that bilge-rat go?" he asked in confusion. Then his eyes widened as he stared at her. "Why are you down here?" he exclaimed.

Em rolled her eyes. She stepped away from the wheel and unsheathed her cutlass. "Saving your sorry arse," she replied. She nodded toward the maloongna ship. "C'mon. We seem to be winning, so let's go reap the spoils of war!"

Hesitance flitted across Michael's face, but when Em stuck out her lower lip pathetically, he smiled. "I hear you on that," he said finally. Em cheered but when she turned toward the stairs, Michael pulled her back. "Oh no, you're staying with me. If it becomes too dangerous, you will return back here. Got it? I don't want Roger to skin me alive if anything happens to you."

Em pulled to attention like a soldier and saluted him. "Aye aye, sir!" Together, she and Michael gathered up any able men and led them aboard the maloongna's ship. With their captain dead, the fight had left most of the officers. As a result, the raiding party was met with little to no resistance. Michael and Em made their way down to the cargo hold. The door was locked, but Em took care of that triviality by her expertise in picking locks. Inside was a mountain of crates filled with stolen merchandise. Em was first to find a chest of gold, Tarymian gold coins to be exact.

Gleefully, she and Michael hauled the chest back up while the rest took whatever they could carry. When the party emerged from the hatch, it was to see The Jolly Roger flying its true colors up on the main mast. It was a black flag, indicating Dread Pirate Robin wanted no maloongna to be killed upon capture. A blast came from The Jolly Roger. The pirates were forcing surrender. The maloongna's ship rocked violently as a whole round of cannon fire was let loose. Em and Michael were thrown from their feet by the impact. The cannonballs ripped up the ship's woodwork, throwing debris and bodies in the air. The chest of gold coins rolled on the ground, but fortunately it didn't break or open.

Em groaned and cursed Roger's timing. She was struggling to get back on her feet against the ship's undulating motions when a pair of hands hauled her up by the shirt. Em's head snapped backward. A square-jawed officer looked at her with a peculiar expression on his blood-covered face. "I've seen your face," he said. He sounded wary, as if he wasn't sure of his eyes. But Em's eyes widened. She screamed and used all her strength to fight off the enraged maloongna. "Shut up—bitch," he huffed. Em put up a vicious struggle, clawing at his eyes as if she could rip out the image of the bounty poster from his mind. Suddenly, the maloogna's head jerked to the side. Em's jaw dropped open as she watched his eyes roll back into his skull. His hands fell away from her and soon the rest of him. He crumpled at her feet and lay still. She hadn't even heard the gunshot. Em turned slowly to The Jolly Roger. Her eyes fell on Dread Pirate Robin in whose hands was a rifle. His black eyes smoldered with rage. Em felt like her skin was on fire, knowing she would have hell to pay when she returned.