The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 21: A Black Death (Part 1)

The moment the first mate reported that everything and everyone was in place, the captain heaved the steering wheel clockwise. Though fully exposing the starboard side left it wide open to the Black Panther's bow chasers, a concerted round of gunfire took out the two cannon. Stray missiles ripped apart the foremast's main sail. Bodies and pieces of wood flew into the air. Meanwhile, The Jolly Roger continued to turn about until it faced the Black Panther. Dread Robin maneuvered his ship so that the loaded guns on the portside came up beside the Black Panther. Both crews threw at each other jeers that crashed midair, deafening the ears. Up in the crow's nest, Em gave a shout, but her warning came too late when a huge metal claw attached to a thick chain shot out from the center of the enemy's main deck. It sank deeply into the portside's wood, anchoring The Jolly Roger to the Black Panther.

The Pirate King spat curses from the scarred left corner of his mouth as he released the steering wheel, letting it spin as it pleased. He almost didn't hear the first mate say that Draconians mingled among Black Death's Afrikaansian crew.

"His first mate is even Draconian, Captain!"

"Never you mind," snarled Dread Robin. "Assemble the boarding party! Then get that filthy claw off of my portside!" When the first mate disappeared down the staircase, Dread Robin stalked over to the balcony and bellowed, "Fire at will!"

The air became filled with the sounds of booming cannon, iron projectiles shrieking through the air, and echoing screams as men and ship parts were blown apart. Dragus's eye was soon obscured by the thick grey exhaust. The flames shooting from the cannons' mouths provided the only light on the battlefield. Savage battle cries erupted from each ship as nearly fifty grappling hooks soared through the wall of smoke. Dozens of bodies flew across the distance between both pirate ships. More gunfire ensued, this time from pistols and rifles as the crewmembers on both main decks aimed for the boarding enemies so that more corpses than living beings made it over.

Among those men who survived the journey was Black Death Mewbaran. Not satisfied with staying on his ship, he wanted to face the Pirate King. He had swung off his ship's helm to The Jolly Roger's helm where Dread Robin waited for him. Black Death was getting on in his years. He had graying roots at the top of his thrice-braided beard and silver wisps amid the darker hair of his thin mustache. Now in his early fifties, his age was a remarkable achievement for a member of his profession. His eyes had yellowed from his lifetime at sea. Yet his open yellow, orange, and brown robes revealed a naked chest scarred but as toned as any man in the prime of life could boast. Black Death let go of the line that had gotten him across the watery chasm between the ships. Then, he presented both a vicious smile and the end of his long saber at the Pirate King.

"Tonight you die, Dread Robin," he said in a slow, deep voice that Roger could clearly hear despite the din surrounding them. His Universal Language had vastly improved in the last decade. "I claim my right as King of the Pirates."

"King," said Roger, "of the Pirates?" He drew forth his ruby-encrusted silver cutlass as he and Black Death began to circle slowly around each other. The end of his cutlass pointed off to The Jolly Roger's main deck where ringing screams and clanging swords provided the background for periodic bursts of cannon fire. "Your crew is infested with Draconians. You lead a band of putrid renegades. You are not fit to be even a lowly swabbie."

A growl rose from within Black Death's throat. "So speaks one infected with same dragon blood, Malikhail." The Afrikaansian's yellow eyes gleamed, and for a wild moment, Roger was reminded of Salamus's yellow Draconian eye. Misinterpreting the contortion of his jagged scar, Black Death said, "Yes, they told me what you really are. A half-Draconian slave not worthy to lick their boots. You've never been worthy to be Pirate King. That title was meant for me."