Page 116 of Crossbones
Harrison barks a laugh. “I won’t make you prove that; Blackwell would definitely have something to say about you coming back to him in pieces.”
I go still. “What did you just say?”
“That I would absolutely kick your ass in the state you’re in right now—”
“No, fucker, the other thing…James—” The amount of hope in that single word is pathetic but I can’t help myself. Harrison smirks and hands me an envelope. I look down at the seal.
“Harrison—I know you don’t like me, but this isn’t funny—”
The wax has James’ signet on it.
Harrison sighs and moves towards the balcony doors. “Just fucking read it—Jesus, I knew you’d be a pain in the ass.”
I tear open the envelope and my heart lurches fully to life in my chest as I see the pirate Captain’s familiar scrawl across the page.
He’s alive.
With shaking hands, I start to read.
JAMES
THREE WEEKS AGO
“Blackwell.”
A voice pulls me from my dark thoughts. I can’t see who it is and I don’t recognize the voice, but a moment later, the burlap hood is pulled away and the De’Vero General appears. He’s crouched down in front of me while two men stand behind him at the door. He pulls a key from his pocket but doesn’t make a move to unlock the manacles.
“I need your help,” he says. “TheTempestfled and Aldric sent a ship after her. That gold cannot fall into Aldric’s hands. Your ship has been sighted down the coast, and we need to reach it before the fleet does. Can you do that?”
I tilt my head at him curiously.
“Theoretically—with a fast ship—” I hold up my wrists. “Not in these of course. And not with the shadow of the noose looming at my back.”
Thaddeus shakes his head and unlocks first one, then the other manacle.
“You won’t hang.”
The chains fall to the ground and I get to my feet, rubbing my wrists.
“If I get the gold back for you, what are you going to do with it?”
“Nothing, Captain.”
I look at him incredulously. “Then what’s in this for you?”
Thaddeus gives me a humorless smile and heads towards the door. “Acrown.”
Shock has me silently following behind him, and his men fall into step behind me as we exit the room. He’s not hiding, he’s not even attempting to sneak me out. The power behind this simple action leaves me with a lot of questions.
“Where’s Aldric?”
“Occupied.”
I don’t want to ask, but I have to.
“And Caspian?”
“Locked up.” Thaddeus looks at me briefly. “He’ll be fine.”
