The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The Black Beard, Part 16

The remnants of Blackbeard's crew scrambled to abandon ship, fear igniting in their eyes as the HMS Dauntless bore down upon them like an avenging angel. The ship's sails billowed with the strength of the wind, and her cannons thundered once more, sending cannonballs screaming through the air.

"Prepare to engage!" came a booming voice from the Dauntless, that of Captain Armand Blackwood , a legendary figure known for his cunning and ferocity in battle. The Queen's heart surged at the sight of their impending rescue.

"Hold fast!" shouted the Duke, rallying what few defenders remained around him and the Queen. "We shall make our stand here!"

Though battered and bloodied, they prepared tofight to the last should Blackbeard attempt any final desperate act. Thepirates were in disarray, torn between fleeing from their foes or continuingtheir bloody engagement.

The pirates scrambled to escape, some leaping overboard into the churning sea, while others fled below deck to avoid the wrath of the approaching warship. Blackbeard's face twisted with rage and desperation as he barked orders to his remaining crew. "Get the cannons ready! We'll show 'em what real pirates are made of!"

But the Duke stood firm, raising his sword high. "We won't let you take another life!" His voice rang out clear and strong amidst the chaos. The Queen, emboldened by her beloved's bravery, gripped her flintlock tighter, ready to fight for their freedom.

As the first broadside from the HMS Dauntless struck Blackbeard's ship, splintering wood and sending planks flying into the air, a cheer erupted from the Duke and Queen's crew. "They're coming to rescue us!" one of the pirates shouted in disbelief.

The English frigate was larger and more heavily armed than any pirate ship. Its cannons fired again, tearing into the Queen Anne's Revenge with devastating accuracy, forcing Blackbeard to reconsider his assault. "Retreat! Retreat!" he howled. The infamous captain turned on his heel and dove off the ship into the waves, disappearing beneath the surface like a coward.

In moments, swords clashed as the Dauntless's crew swarmed aboard the Sea Wolf, driven by a resolute desire to assist their fellow sailors. Among them was a fierce-looking she-cat wearing a tricorn hat and a cutlass strapped to her side. She rushed toward the Duke and Queen, her expression fierce yet full of determination.

"Your Majesties," she said sharply, "My name is commander  Salina and we've been sent by King Charles himself! He heard reports of an ambush on French nobility at sea!"

The Duke stepped forward, panting heavily but filled with newfound confidence. "We owe you our lives. Blackbeard attempted to capture us for ransom."

"Just as I thought," she replied grimly. "That scoundrel has caused trouble for too long. But worry not; we won't let him lay his filthy paws on you again."

With swift efficiency, the crew began to clear away bodies and secure both ships for safe passage back to England. The Queen turned to her love, her heart swelling with relief. "We are safe now," she whispered, tears of joy glistening in her eyes.

"Yes," he replied softly, pulling her closer against him. "But we mustn't linger here longer than necessary."

As day broke over the horizon, casting golden rays across the water, they watched as Blackbeard's remaining vessels drifted off into the distance—defeated and humiliated.

The captain of the Dauntless approached them with a salute that spoke volumes of respect earned through courage and battle. "Your Majesties," he said with authority while eyeing the surroundings cautiously before lowering his voice. "You'll be taken directly to safety ashore in London."

"We can't go back empty-handed," insisted Calico Sam as he approached alongside them. "What about my crew? I need to find them!"

"We'll send a search party for your men," Captain Blackwood assured him firmly before turning back to the Duke and Queen.