Chapter 18
Rosetta climbed the stairwell and burst onto the main deck.
With how warm and muggy the air was today near shore, she was only wearing black tights, a white tunic, and boots. Her hat and coat were hanging inside her sleeping quarters.
She could hear Alister shouting before she even emerged, and the moment she did, she saw dozens of men running around at top pace. He pointed to the thick iron chain that needed hauling to bring the anchor from the water.
“Weigh the anchor!”
He walked across the main deck, his head turning in every direction. His black doublet swayed with each movement and his brown boots clomped loudly, conveying his quick, decisive steps. He threw his arm forward, his voice a deep bellow.
“Faster! I want those sails hoisted!” His head was raised as he yelled his demands.
The men were busy in the air, running across beams and climbing the shrouds. The sails had already been unfurled and were now being fixed to catch the wind.
“Pierre!” The second-in-command turned to Alister while pulling on a rope, moving it through metal rigs. “Ready the gunmen and the cannons on all sides.”
Rosetta moved out of his way so Pierre could follow orders and head below deck, then she started chasing after Alister, who was climbing the quarterdeck stairs.
Derek was already holding the helm to keep the ship steady. Alister shooed him out of the way and took the wheel in his large hands.
“I want all spare hands on deck!”
He turned the wheel as the ship crept forward for the first time in two days. Rosetta finally made it to the top of the steps and ran over to stand next to him. He never took his eye off the horizon.
“There’s your ship, lass.”
She followed the direction of his gaze to see a speck of white miles in the distance. It was hard to distinguish with just the naked eye.
Rosetta had been helping Mr Darkley clean the kitchen for the morning meals when heavy footsteps began to rattle the ship. Clint came through the doorway, his chest heaving from exertion, panting that the Laughing Siren had been spotted.
Without caring to look back or finish her duties, she’d abandoned Mr Darkley to come to the surface.
She didn’t care if she couldn’t tell what it was in the distance. She knew Alister wouldn’t have started moving the ship if he wasn’t sure.
He’d told her he’d often seen it on the seas and turned the other way when he’d realised what it was. This was the first time he’d ever turned his warship towards it.
The wheel made clanking noises as it spun, the ship turning on a sharp angle to emerge from their hiding spot behind the topmost island. The Howling Death was sailing at an angle to cross courses with the Laughing Siren; any moment now, Alister would turn the ship again to head towards it fully.
The biggest smile Rosetta had ever worn filled her face.
I’m almost there. Today, she would have it; today, it would be hers. Today, I will get what I have longed for.
“You will do as you’re told today, aye?” Alister asked, turning his head to eye her.
Her gaze searched over his eye patch; the light of the bright sky made it look like he held the yellow sun in his good eye.
“I can’t have you in the way. Stick to the plan.”
She knew what he was insinuating: the fleet wouldn’t hesitate to use her as a hostage. A woman alone on a ship was generally coveted by someone important. They wouldn’t have her there if that wasn’t the case. Her life would be considered a priority and, therefore, could be used against them.
He started to turn the Howling Death again, and the three enemy ships became easier to see as they got closer.
“Yes, I’ll follow the plan.”
The plan. Alister’s idea that she must remain on his ship and let the men slaughter their way through the crew of the Laughing Siren.
“Good,” he said with a curt nod, turning his attention to the rest of the ship. “Raise the flag, lads! She’s almost in range of our cannons.”
Their black flag began to rise.
She watched as Alister reached up to grab the locket around his neck and kissed it, not seeming to care that he’d done it in front of her. Does he always do that?
Then there it was, the Laughing Siren in all its beautiful sails, timber, and glory. The vessel’s trims were painted blue, while its timber was a sandy oak.
They couldn’t see it yet, but Rosetta knew there was a carved statue of a mermaid on the bow.
Her arms reached forward with her hands cupped together but open, like she was trying to catch something.
Her tail fins were curled and stretched behind her, and her mouth was open, almost like she was laughing in a ghastly sort of way.
The galleon was larger, stronger in the hull than the Howling Death, but it was slower.
What will the support ships do?
“Warning cannons!” Alister yelled, and men echoed his commands over the main deck and below.
Booms sounded before two cannonballs launched from the bow. They hit the water, nowhere near the oncoming ships.
It was done on purpose.
They were currently next to the Kou Pelin Islands. On the port side of Alister’s ship, and the starboard side of the fleet, were shallow banks of sand and the massive, towering islands.
The Howling Death was heading towards them on a diagonal, trying to force the Laughing Siren into the gap between the islands. Otherwise, they would run aground and beach themselves.
With the way they were heading towards the islands, if they tried to change tack in the direction of the open ocean, their ships would collide.
“Again!”
Another two booms sounded.
One of the fleet ships was forced to back off from the Laughing Siren as she started to turn towards that very gap. The other was running up the side to take them on.
“It’s working,” she gasped.
“I told you they’d go through the middle to get away.”
Turning the wheel again, Alister began leading the ship between a different but far narrower gap.
His frigate was shallower and slimmer in the hull and could sail through it.
They were turning away before the other vessel could even find them.
The Laughing Siren was on a path that could no longer be changed.
The fleet ships would have to go around the Kou Pelin Islands, since they were large ships that would easily run aground or possibly be wrecked. Otherwise, they’d have to wait to follow their lead ship, since the gap wasn’t wide enough to allow them to pass at the same time.
Her heartbeat was a deafening drum in her ears, the thrill and excitement making it pump so hard it resonated throughout her entire body. It pounded through her veins, even making her fingertips throb.
“I’m hoping one of them is stupid enough to follow us,” Alister commented when the Laughing Siren and the Howling Death were out of sight of each other due to a tower of rock. “If they get stuck, we might be able to raid them after we take your ship.”
Rosetta grabbed the arm of his tunic and swung her arms with glee, yanking him around. “I can’t believe it worked!”
He gave a deep, loud laugh. “I may not look smart, lass, but I know how to take down ships.”
“Smart? You’re absolutely bloody brilliant!”
Her stomach clenched at the grin he gave as a reward.
“Alright, here we go!” Alister shouted, just as they started emerging through the gap. Since his ship was faster, they were coming out at the same time as the galleon.
There were dozens of men on the main deck, waiting until they got close enough to swing over. Four cannons sounded, all coming from the Laughing Siren. They missed the Howling Death, but barely.
He turned the wheel once they were clear of the shore and started to creep closer.
“Prepare yourselves!”
Another boom sounded and a cannonball hit the hull of their ship. The impact rattled the entire vessel, nearly making her teeth clack together.
So close. They were almost there.
“Starboard side cannons, fire! Port to the surface!”
His demand echoed down the line. Just when she thought it was too early, his cannons fired, targeting the cannon ports of the Laughing Siren.
“Derek,” he said to the man standing behind him. “Take the helm.”
Derek’s peg leg tapped against the ground as he took over so that Alister could release the wheel.
“Now!”
Men swung across to the Laughing Siren, while others twirled grappling hooks attached to ropes and flung them across to hook onto her railing.
Rosetta followed behind Alister as he went to the railing and grabbed a rope to swing across. He pulled his cutlass from his belt, and without caring to look at her, he swung from the quarterdeck without a word.
A gust of wind pushed her hair over her shoulders as she watched the chaos on the ship Rosetta wanted more than anything. It’s there, right in front of me.
She wanted to reach out, to touch it as though that was the answer to obtaining it. To place her hand on its timber, to feel it beneath her fingertips... just once. Just once, in case it sank to the bottom of the ocean.
It was out of reach as she remained on the Howling Death, watching everything unfold.
The boom of firing cannons rang in her ears, followed by wood splintering and men yelling. Eventually, the clang of swords made everything a roar in her head; its energy resonated as she searched for the Laughing Siren’s captain, knowing Alister was going to head straight for him.
Someone is fighting for me. She knew he was really fighting for himself, for his own selfish gain, but it meant Rosetta might achieve her long-awaited goal, something she had been dreaming of for years.
He brought me here. Without Alister’s help, if he had taken back his own ship and left her to rot in a cell, or on an island, or even to drown in the ocean, Rosetta wouldn’t be here.
She wouldn’t be about to have everything she’d set out to do all those years ago. I want this ship, and its captain and crew, dead.
It was hers. She wanted it. It belonged to her. If she couldn’t have it, she didn’t want anyone to possess it, least of all Queen Mary Anne’s commodore.
The Howling Death was sailing away, getting out of the way of the Laughing Siren’s cannons. Everyone who had needed to cross over had already left. It would circle back when they gave the signal, and she would be able to cross.
There were minimal crewmembers left, barely ten men who would maintain the sails. If Alister failed, the Howling Death wouldn’t have enough men to sail properly. For now, it could gently glide across the ocean for a short while with no problems.
I hope he doesn’t die. Rosetta was rather fond of Alister and desired him like an ache. It would be terrible if he was to be killed because of an act of heroism and greed. Unless he gets in my way.