Page 77 of Found at Sea
Right as we left the tavern, men from my crew approached. Any friendliness I’d shown toward Alek moments ago vanished as I looked at them. By their expressions, I knew they must be the ones Dax warned me about.
There were five of them—I knew two of their names, but wasn’t familiar with the other three. I’d picked them up a few months back before we’d gone to Helmfirth, so they hadn’t been with me nearly as long as the others.
Instinctively, I stepped in front of Alek, putting myself between him and what I expected to be a blood bath.
“Gotta admit, Cap’n,” one named Johnny sneered, stopping a foot or so away from me. He was older than me and had yellowing teeth and a stench to match. “Boys ‘ave been talkin’ as of late, and we thinks you’ve gone soft on us.” He jabbed his finger into my chest. “In fact, we thinks yer not fit to be the cap’n no longer.”
I placed my hand on the pistol at my hip and stared him down. “Is that right?”
Another man whose name failed me stepped forward. “S’right. We been sailin’ for months and for what? So ya can fuck yer little whore?”
Rage boiled in my veins, and I grabbed his shirt, yanking him toward me. I took the dagger from my belt and aimed it at his jugular.
“Watch your tongue or I’ll rip it outta your mouth,” I hissed, face to face with him. “Or maybe I’ll shove this blade so far into your neck it’ll come out the other side.”
His eyes went wide and his chin trembled. “S-s-sorry, Cap’n. I take it back.”
The old me would’ve slashed his neck anyway, but I’d take no pleasure from killing a man who’d just pissed himself.
“Bloody coward,” I shoved him away. Still holding the dagger, I met each of their stares. “Any man who wishes to challenge me, do so now. Otherwise, take your scurvy hides and leave my sight.”
“We ain’t leavin’ until the maggots start eatin’ yer rotting flesh,” Johnny spat.
“Very well,” I said, eyeing them. “Alek, go back to theCrimson.”
“The boy stays,” Johnny growled. “And maybe we’ll have a go at ‘em too.”
Most mutineers chose to jump ship instead of confronting their captain—waiting until their ship was in port before sneaking off in the dead of night. These men, however, had a death wish by going toe to toe with me. Because I was not going down without a fight.
The odds were stacked against me, but it wasn’t the first time I’d had to fight for survival.
I glimpsed at Alek and my heart dropped into my stomach.
Fear radiated off him as his gaze flickered between the five men. He was calculating our chances of making it out alive. Even if the men weren’t the best of fighters, being outnumbered lowered our odds regardless.
All it took was one well-aimed stab to the side or in the back and it’d all be over.
Quickly, I strategized the best plan of action.
Johnny was clearly the leader and the other four appeared to just be spineless followers. Once he was taken down, the rest might flee like the dogs they were. Not that I’d allow any of them to live once it was over. There were some things that couldn’t be forgiven, and if I wanted the rest of the crew to respect me, they couldn’t see me give the mutineers a simple slap on the wrist.
“Get ‘em, boys,” Johnny snarled before a cocky smile touched his lips.
William and the one I’d threatened charged first, each holding two blades, one in each hand. I didn’t have time to draw my pistol before they were on me. When one tried to slash my face, I knocked his arm aside and slashed his instead. He stumbled back as blood caked in his eyes. William took a swing at me, and I ducked. But then the other two joined in.
A small crowd had gathered to bear witness—drunkards and whores. The rest of my crew must’ve still been in the brothel, the tavern, or already back on the ship.
The man whose face I cut lunged forward and I drove the dagger into his chest cavity. It made a wet popping sound as I released it, and he collapsed to the dirt. There was no time to pay him another thought before William and the other three were charging again.
Johnny stood back, crossing his arms and smirking, allowing his men to do his dirty work for him. He was the biggest coward of all.
After I elbowed one man in the face and slashed at another, there was a brief opening for me to grab my pistol. I aimed it just as one man ran forward, and as the sound of the shot pierced the air, he fell to his knees, holding his stomach.
That one second of distraction was all the other two needed.
I hadn’t even noticed one sneak up behind me until I heard Alek shout.
Dashing to the left, I wasn’t fast enough to dodge the man’s blade completely before it sliced my right side. I winced but didn’t slow in momentum before swinging my arm and colliding with his face. William grabbed me from behind, though, pinning my arms back. My dagger and pistol fell from my grip.
