Page 2 of The Lord who Seduced Me
Nathaniel was on his knees, sobbing. Cabe could hear other men’s cries of relief as well. They had survived the Renegade.
Normally he would pick one man, and that person was allowed to live. But only just. This day was rare because of their rescue, and that at least 10 of his men had been spared, and his life had as well.
The Captain was always saved for the second to last. And he would die with the knowledge of his failure. The Renegade had told them many stories about this, and Cabe had dreaded that he would have failed his men.
Already felt guilt that he had gotten them captured in the first place. But none of his men had blamed him. Had told him that it wasn’t his fault. That everything lay squarely on the Renegade’s shoulders.
The officer let them out of the brig, doing his best to help those who needed it and helped them up into the sunlight.
There was shouting and fighting going on between the naval men, and the Renegade’s crew.
Those men were evil and knew exactly how to fight and where to hit a man or a ship to make the most damage. They weren’t holding back on this either.
Cabe saw men fall left and right. Heard their cries of pain, of death. Heard men yelling orders and heard the Renegade as he directed his men.
He knew it was only a matter of time before the Renegade’s crew took over the other ship.
He wasn’t about to let that happen. He didn’t get free from hell only to be placed in another. He also wouldn’t let the Renegade harm another man from his crew or that of the other again.
He grabbed a blade from the closest man that had fallen and fought like a savage.
His crew, those that were able did the same. They grabbed guns, knives, swords, even a piece of wood. Any kind of weapon that could be used, they used.
He could see the naval officers getting their second wind, and before long, the Renegade’s crew had abandoned the fight.
Cabe and the others cheered, thinking they had won the day.
But they were wrong.
The Renegade had only gotten his ship into a better position, and he came up alongside Cabe’s ship.
With a salute, the Renegade yelled for his crew to fire when ready. And their cannons went off, one by one demolishing Cabe’s ship as each cannon hit and exploded.
Wood and shrapnel flew, making men jump and run for their lives. Flames licked along the decimated ship.
The men jumped into the water to save their lives, but a few more died. Cabe was trying to get men off the boat, helping those he could swing to the navy ship on ropes, or to jump into the water when a cannon ball hit the deck next to him and exploded.
He could feel himself being thrown backwards, and off the ship. He hit the water hard, and sunk down deep, before coming up with a gasp.
He was bleeding, the water turning red around him and he knew something was wrong. His foot wasn’t kicking in the water. Not moving. Not really.
He was afraid to look down. Didn’t want to see his leg gone. A rope was thrown to him from the navy ship and he was lifted out of the water and onto the deck.
The rest of the naval men were running around and screaming to get ropes and rescue the survivors.
A man came to check on Cabe, and his clothes were covered in blood. Cabe could not hear what he was screaming, but the next thing he knew, a belt was shoved between his teeth, and around his upper leg, by the groin and some men were holding his arms down.
Then there was nothing but pain. Cabe fought and screamed into the belt as his leg was roughly cut from below the knee.
And then it was over. Cabe slumped into the arms that were holding him, and he passed out.
* * *
When he awoke, he was in a bed in a small cabin. Nathaniel was there, and his arm was in a sling.
When Nathaniel noticed him awake, he rushed over to his side. Cabe’s body was shivering and hot. And he hurt. His leg in particular was on fire.
Shaking, Cabe could barely get the words out, “W-what happened?”
