Cover courtesy of @BarryVosloo
An action adventure pirate tale with all the expected elements. The ship carrying the governor's daughter is attacked at sea and she is kidnapped by Tortuga's most notorious pirate, Terrance Hollick. Spirited away to t...
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Governor Francorte paced angrily behind his desk, dark looks shot at his Lieutenant as he raged about the failure of the mission. Twenty-nine marines, several of their officers and almost forty seamen lost. Barlow had returned with seven of his officers and had nervously spent the last hour trying to justify that fact. In the end, Francorte leaned on his knuckles and glared across the desk, issuing a new set of orders that outlined the price of failure in no uncertain terms.
The Hispaniola port was a hive of busy workers. Two of the King's ships were having heavier canons mounted on the decks and a small army of marines loaded enough cargo for a month at sea. Barlow watched from the bridge of the Dark Pride, the ship that he planned on steering back to the pirate haven and with the newly mounted canon, blasting them out of the mountain. Alongside was the sister ship Bold Sea, receiving the same upgrading. Captain Seth Woodcuffe, her master, marked the lading with a stern eye.
His orders were to sail in support of the Dark Pride and ultimately assist in capturing the notorious pirate, Terry Hollick. Woodcuffe didn't have much regard for Barlow, a military officer, commanding a ship in the King's navy and was even less pleased to learn he would be subordinate to Barlow's command. Captain Woodcuffe had plenty of experience dealing with the brigands that plied the Caribbean waters and did not require instruction from a soldier.
His reverie was interrupted by a hail from Barlow, requesting his presence. Woodcuffe turned the supervision of the work over to his first officer and debarked.
"I see you're nearly finished outfitting your ship, Captain."
"We are finished outfitting, sir. We just a few more items of cargo and we'll be ready to sail." It was a petty correction but Woodcuffe couldn't resist and he saw the effect in Barlow's eyes.
"Very good then. One hour. be ready to hoist sail." Barlow tossed a puny salute and turned away.
"One hour, sir." Woodcuffe left the bridge and returned to shore.
******
Hollick nodded and offered a good word to his crew as they disposed of the last of the brig's wreckage. The entrance was clear once more and the huge sail of rock-coloured camouflage was back in place. He went back to the cavern and the area in which the survivors were being held.
"Report, Mister Braggs."
"Fourteen men in all, Skipper. Three with injuries that aren't too bad. Two that seem to think being loyal to their Captain, who by the way was our military friend, Barlow, will somehow get them rescued, and the one that was in irons. His name is Ryan Cafferty."
"Take care of the wounded and feed the lot. The two hold outs keep separate and in irons. let them have a taste of Barlow's medicine. Give me a few minutes then send Cafferty in to see me."
"Aye, Skipper."
Mel came out of his tent just as he arrived and she gave him a grin and giggled, running off without a word. he stepped inside and stopped. Alicia was standing by a cupboard looking at a painting that hung beside it. It was a woman with a small child, posed on an uncomfortable looking chair. He walked over and stood beside her.
