Drake and Jones were close enough to see the people on their ships. Jones sent a message by flag: “Pretty Bird.” The flags whorled the words over and over again. Jones stood next to the flagman and laughed. He held up a small bird cage and waved it like a lantern in the night.
Drake shouted something to Jones and Jones laughed harder. Drake wasn’t laughing. His stone stare was hard and cold. Death rode with him. Even from the distance it could be seen on his face. A woman in yellow silk stood next to him. A chain from her neck to Drake’s wrist hung slack.
Cousin looked into the eyes of the woman. She could feel the spell form around her and the charm at her neck react. A shimmer raced over the woman’s glazed eyes then was gone. A harsher spell was directed at her to the same result.
The ships attempted to flank Haven. Pirates shouted challenges and taunts.
Cousin joined Kraken on deck. “Permission to board Drake,” she said.
“The boys would kill me if I let you go. No. We’re set up to fight here.”
The enemy closed distance.
“Permission to sink one, Captain.”
“Why so antsy?”
“Just ready to kill someone.”
Kraken laughed long and loud. His crew gave attention. A flaming arrow hit the deck and went out. Kraken raised his voice. “Our Cousin is ready to kill! Shall we join her?”
“Aye,” thundered over the ocean like a shock wave. The enemy stilled a moment, and felt the conviction of the Kraken Pirates in their stomachs. Then the three ships were aligned.
Grappling ropes were flung and hooks set. Cousin bounced on her feet.
“Gabb! Go with Cousin!”
“Aye!”
Cousin launched herself onto Drake’s ship. She carved a path through to the bow. On a distant level she knew Gabb was with her. She didn’t stop until she reached the woman.
Drake faced her with swords drawn. His eyes were black and unseeing. “Nice of you to join me,” a woman’s voice came from Drake’s mouth. “Now we can take you home.”
“I am home.”
Later, Gabb wouldn’t be able to explain what he saw. One moment they faced a Drake Puppet and an Al’Ri Hunter, then Cousin had her hand buried in the Hunter’s chest. Quicksilver flowed over the Al’Ri, and Drake collapsed on the deck. Cousin stood alone, two bodies at her feet.
“Back home,” Cousin said. She and Gabb cut the ropes connecting Drake’s ship to Haven on the way over. They joined the fray with battle cries.
The Sor-von sang with Cousin’s dance. She killed all enemies. She healed wounded family when she found them. And she gloried in battle, fighting hand to hand without using her power. Through the soul of Haven she knew where all her family were, and how they faired in the battle. Cousin lost herself in her dance.
Drake’s ship drifted away, and those of his crew not slain panicked into jumping over.
A loud explosion rocked the ships, and the grappling ropes to Jones’ ship snapped. Jones’ ship broke into two halves, and sank in a fury of boiling ocean.
Kraken stood with his black staff resting on his shoulder. He watched the result of his actions with indifference. “Push them all over board,” he called. “Give no aid. No mercy.”
Jones Bone stood still watching his ship go down. “All that treasure.” Around him the battle was coming to a slow close. The remainder of his men on deck were killed or forced over.
Kraken held his place by the bulwark. He looked for each member of his crew in turn. All were there. Cousin moved around healing the wounded. Several had severe damage. He left her to it. He found Gabb near Jones. Kraken raised his staff, and motioned Gabb to bring the old pirate.
Jones let himself be prodded forward. He unbuckled the small bird cage at his belt. Waving it in front of him, he approached Kraken. “Bad, Pretty Bird, bad. I’ll have to teach you a lesson, Pretty Bird.” Jones swung the cage, and hit Kraken on the arm. The open cage door squeaked with protest. Jones blinked at the empty cage, his mouth open. He swung it again and again hitting Kraken on the arm. Each time he blinked and stared.
Kraken let the mad pirate swing the cage over and over. The charm at his neck gained more power with each hit. He stood stone faced and impassive.
Finally, Jones Bone grasped the cage with both hands and shook it. “Damned thing worked yesterday!” A crazed expression contorted his face.
“Such magic will not work here,” Kraken said.
Jones threw the cage at Kraken, and drew his blade. The wild swing met the black staff, and the sword shattered. Jones stumbled back. He found himself surrounded. He raised his hands and laughed like a loon. “Pretty Bird! Pretty Bird!”
“One chance,” Kraken said. “Tell me all you know about the bounty on me and mine. Who is hunting us?”
Jones Bone sucked in a great breath and screamed: “Now!”
Nothing happened.
Jones looked around. He blinked and started another breath.
Cousin strode up. She held up the heads of five men by the hair. She dropped them at Jones’ feet. “There are three more below. They can do no harm.”
Kraken nodded. “Speak now Jones or swim.”
Jones gathered the heads of his men and the cage. Laughing, he jumped overboard.
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