Page 24 of Pirate's Intent
Truth told, it had always been the best option.
“What second option?” Rose asked.
“Inside, Rose.” He walked her in and gripped her shoulders gently. “It is important you stay here until the fighting is over.”
“What happens if you do not win?” Fear flashed in her eyes. “What part am I to play then?”
“I am leaving a few men with you, including Phillip,” he replied. “They will be right outside the door. If they see the battle not going in our favor, they will get you out of here. You have my word, Rose. They will keep you safe.”
“Just win.” Her eyes searched his, and her voice caught. “Please. For me.”
“Only for you,” he said softly and brushed his lips across hers once, twice, then pulled away before he lost himself. “I have to go.”
“I know.”
He lingered another moment before he strode from the room and closed the door.
“They’re on land, Cap’n,” Charles reported.
Thomas nodded and looked at his men. “I will ask but one more time. Are ye with me? Are ye truly ready to do this?”
“Aye, Cap’n,” each and every man said.
He was grateful for those here. For those who had put their trust in him when so much was uncertain.
Weapons in hand, they made their way through the woodland and shrub thickets, meeting the first man before their opponents reached the sandy bluffs. When one roared at him, blade drawn, Thomas ducked, swirled away, then lunged and drove his blade through the bloke’s midsection. When another rushed him, they circled and crossed swords before Thomas ran his blade across his neck.
Because they could conceivably be outnumbered, the key was to down just the right amount of Big Devil’s rats to make him take notice then do precisely what Thomas did.
“I invoke Blackbeard’s Parlay,” he roared, felling another man before he tossed his blade aside and raised his hands in temporary surrender. “His authority reigns here too, Big Devil!”
“To hell with that,” Big Devil rumbled, storming up the dock, his face beet red, his belly swaying. “I honor no such request.”
“Bloody good then!” Charles crossed blades with a chap, grinned with anticipation of fighting more, and spoke loud enough for Big Devil to hear. “But then I won’t be the one suffering for it!”
“No,” Thomas agreed. He ducked beneath a man’s sword and replied just as loudly to Charles. “That’d be the one who does not honor Blackbeard’s rules, aye?”
“Have ye heard what he did to the one lad for breakin’ his rules?” Charles called out. He tripped his opponent then ran his sword through his gut.
“I have,” Thomas called back. He knocked his opponent’s sword out of his hand and punched him. “Gutted him just enough then made him light fire to his own innards.” He scrunched his nose. “I hear it was a bloody bad smell.”
“What be this parlay ye’re offerin’?” one of Big Devil’s rats yelled, earning him a scathing look from his captain and a dagger in his forehead. It seemed, however, that was merely for the gall of speaking when it was not his place. Because their rival stopped, crossed his meaty arms over his chest, and said nearly the same thing. “What be this offer, then?”
Big Devil made a gesture, and his rats ceased fighting.
“Simple,” Thomas called back. “I will surrender all my holdings and worldly goods from here on south except for my ship. Plus,” he added, sweetening the pot considerably, “a certain brooch.” He held up a finger, gesturing that his nemesis wait and hear him out. “In exchange, that is, for the girl and ye calling off yer rats from this day forward.” He shook his head. “No matter where my men and I are, ye will not harm a hair on our heads nor anyone we call kin.”
Silence stretched. What would he do? Would he buy this?
Big Devil’s brows finally swept up before he tossed back his head and laughed. “Do ye think me a fool, Thomas?” He snorted, not concerned about the second part of his request. “No wench is worth that.” His eyes narrowed. “So, what are ye playin’ at?”
“Just what I said,” he assured. “All my holdings plus the brooch.”
Big Devil chuckled again, but his laughter died off quicker this time when he realized Thomas was serious.
“Where is the brooch?” he grunted, a slight but welcome slur to his voice. After all, his rival having a fuzzy mind during this negotiation could only work in Thomas's favor. So the drunker, the better.
“I have the brooch on me.”
