Page 119 of Crossbones
Thaddeus nods once and leans in, his voice cold. “Now, if I hear you’ve gone back to Foxhollow, or anywhere other than Ironhold, I will find you and do much worse than a bullet, understand?”
“Y–yes, sir, General,” Quincy sputters.
Thaddeus removes the gun and squeezes his shoulder, giving him a humorless smile.
“Good—and you lot—” He turns and addresses the crew as a whole. “Anyone have a problem with the orders I just gave your new Captain?”
The deck is so quiet you can hear the water lap against the sidesof the ship.
“On your way then,” Thaddeus says.
I follow him and his crew back over to his ship and look at the General with renewed respect. I also have a lot of questions.
“How do you know John?”
Thaddeus is reloading his pistol over a barrel. “We go way back.”
“He never told me he knew you,” I say.
Thaddeus gives me a quick, ironic smile. “Why would he do that?”
He has a point. “What did that message mean?”
“That? Nothing John doesn’t already know. I just needed them to fuck off and not go back to Foxhollow.” Thaddeus glances up at me briefly. “He speaks highly of you by the way.”
“Is that why I’ve avoided the noose for this long?” I ask dryly.
Thaddeus gives me an equally dry smile before resuming his reload. “One among many.”
He looks over my shoulder. “Your ride is here, Captain.”
I look to see theTempestcruising up alongside us with Harrison and Lan at the rail, and Van at the helm. I turn back to Thaddeus, still with more questions than answers, but he speaks before I can ask anything else.
“I’d offload the gold somewhere before you make port in De’Vero,” Thaddeus shoves his reloaded pistol into his belt. “Use the tunnels to get in.”
“How do you know I’m headed to De’Vero?”
Thaddeus gives me a look that says I need to stop asking stupid questions.
“Will you be behind us?”
“I’m headed back to Foxhollow to keep an eye on our De’Vero brothers. But now that he thinks the business with you is done, Aldric will be eager to get home.”
I hold out my hand and Thaddeus takes it firmly in his. “Thank you,” I say.
“Don’t make me regret this, Captain.”
Once I’m on board theTempest, I turn back to see Thaddeus watching me. He casually salutes me before walking off.
“Captain—”
“Get us underway,” I bark.
“Nice to see you too,” Lan mutters.
“What the fuck happened?” Harrison demands. “Why is the De’VeroGeneralflying your colors?”
“That’s the least of it,” I answer. “Come on, I need a drink.”
