Chapter 22 #2
“No, I will follow his lead,” Rosetta finally piped up, her men gathered behind her.
Alister realised she’d already spoken to them and gotten their approval.
“Now that I’ve got the Laughing Siren, I don’t care where we go, as long as I can sink ships.
” She turned her gaze to Alister with squinted eyes.
“And as long as my voice is heard. I am a captain as much as he is. Therefore, I rank above everyone but him.”
She turned to Pierre with her trademark bland look.
“If you’re on my ship, you follow my command. If you’re on his, you follow his. If I am on his ship, only he can tell me what to do. No more of this ‘get me a bottle of rum, barmaid’ bullshit you’ve all been pulling.”
A few of his men chortled, most likely the perpetrators.
Alister hiked his thumb at her.
“See, lass agrees that I’m in charge.” He knew that’s all his men really cared about. Then he refolded his arms. “I wouldn’t have made the decision if it didn’t benefit you lads in some way.”
His words seemed to placate them because they voiced their approval, mostly. He could see there were a few who still weren’t sold, but they didn’t care enough to come forward.
The prisoners were all brought to the surface while Alister, Rosetta, Pierre, Naeem, and Mr Smith stood on the quarterdeck to look over them. Unfortunately, Derek couldn’t join them, since he was steering the Howling Death.
“How many are there, Mr Smith?” she asked quietly as they brought their eyes to the confused men being made to stand in neat rows. They were positioned about a foot apart from each other, as directed by Rosetta, who wanted to see them properly.
Just as Alister was doing a rough count, Mr Smith said, “There’s ninety-six.”
She placed her hand over her lips to whisper, “I thought there’d be more.” Then her gaze travelled over Alister standing next to her. “How many do you need?”
“At least thirty.” He was being generous. He wanted more, but if he asked, she’d struggle to sail her ship.
Thirty should bring my numbers to just under eighty. He’d lost men today, more than Rosetta’s crew, who all seemed to be accounted for, barring one or two.
“What would that leave us with?” she quietly asked Mr Smith, showing she really couldn’t work out the simple equation. The way she awkwardly asked revealed she was more embarrassed than she’d originally let on.
Should I teach her? She’d said she knew simple math, but this was very simple. Then again, I’m sure Mr Smith has been teaching her.
He had little interest in getting in the middle of her business if it was already taken care of.
“We would gain sixty-six, bringing our numbers up to one hundred, including ourselves.”
Rosetta ran her fingers through her hair in obvious frustration. “This ship requires at least a hundred and twenty men to function properly.”
Alister eyed the four masts on this fully rigged galleon. It required more men to sail this vessel compared to his medium-sized ship with its three masts.
“Not really,” Alister butted in, bringing their eyes to him.
“You need at least fifty men to hoist the sails in the day and the same at night, but that’s if we are changing course often or have heavy winds.
The rest of the time, it’s just maintaining the rigging, and that doesn’t require as much effort.
You won’t tire your men out much if you bring that number down to forty.
The rest you can have doing the other tasks. ”
“I can also help to man the sails when I’m not taking the helm at night,” Mr Smith offered.
“No you can’t, old salt,” Naeem countered with a chuckle. “You’ll break a hip.”
“Naeem, you’re quicker than everyone else anyway.
” Rosetta sighed. “You’ve got speed in that ridiculously athletic body of yours, though I am loath to admit it.
Regardless, we’ll all have to help. Mr Smith and I will take longer shifts at the helm so you can take a position throughout the day in the sails. ”
“Was going to do that anyway,” Naeem said, his dark eyes falling over the prisoners. “I won’t leave you unprotected with them.”
His comment made Alister’s brows furrow. She’d be left alone with unknown criminals. He hadn’t thought about this obstacle.
Rosetta rolled her eyes with a loud huff of annoyance at them, and they all suddenly looked at her with concern. She stepped forward to take the stage.
“My name is Rosetta Silver, and I am now the captain of this ship. We have killed Queen Mary Anne’s soldiers, those who set sail to have you hung for whatever crimes you have committed.
We are your saviours. You are all to be converted into the fine art of piracy, for that is the price of your freedom.
You will work on our ships, or you will join the soldiers currently sinking to the bottom of the sea. Do I have any naysayers?”
Silence fell over the entire ship. No one said a word, no one even dared to cough, in case it was taken as a rejection.
“Perfect!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together in a single slap. “You will be divvied up between myself and–”
Alister stepped forward and grabbed Rosetta by the shoulder to put her behind him. Very sweet. My turn.
“I am Alister ‘One Eye’ Paine, the Bloody Storm of the Seas, and Captain of the Howling Death.” He leaned his foot against the railing, placing his forearm across his knee. “I’m sure many of you have heard of me.”
A sense of restlessness fell over them. Some shifted in their positions, eyes going wide.
“Aye, lads,” he said. They should be afraid.
He turned his head back to give Rosetta a grin of pride, only to find she was fuming at being pushed out of the way. With a shrug, he turned his head forward again.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. This ship is currently under my protection while it flies next to my sails.
If we so much as hear a single whisper of the possibility of a mutiny or uprising, we will do the queen a favour and hang you ourselves.
I don’t keep prisoners, and I don’t like betrayers.
Some of you will find yourselves on my ship, and if you do, be prepared to not leave my employment unless I find a replacement for you.
You are already dead men, and I have no problem with making you deader. ”
Rosetta came up beside him with her arms folded, tapped the toe of her boot, and glared at him. Alister conceded. He’d done what he wanted, delivered his threat.
He backed away so she could come forward again.
“Those of you who have sailed before, move to the starboard side of the ship.” Alister estimated that forty men moved to the right, and the others shuffled to get out of the way. “Good. You are now under my command.”
“Oi, lass,” Alister said with a bite to his tone as he grabbed her shoulder. “You can’t take all the sailors!”
“I need experienced men who know how to hoist a sail, Alister. Your crew already know how to do that and can teach those who don’t. You can’t expect me to sail with inexperienced men who don’t even know what a rig is.”
Damnit. Unfortunately for him, she was right.
“Fine,” he snapped, before stepping forward. “Those of you who have committed murder, to the port side.” When no one moved, he rolled his eyes. “That’s the left side of the ship!”
If he couldn’t have sailors, he’d at least have men who weren’t afraid to kill. If they were serial murderers, then they would get along splendidly.
Almost thirty uncertain men moved to the left side of the ship.
“You are under my command. My crew will show you how to get to my ship and will instruct you on your duties.” He waved his hand at the blond man next to him.
“I know he looks like a woman, but Pierre is my first mate, and you will listen if he gives you a command. You will find Derek already at the helm – he is the quartermaster. If you don’t listen to them, you will find yourself beaten with the cat-o’-nine-tails. Got it, lads?”
What he’d threatened them all with was a short whip made up of nine tail-like ends, knotted at the tips for maximum damage. It was a severe punishment, and just one lashing would be enough to teach any man a lesson.
A string of ‘ayes’ and ‘yesses’ came from them.
“Take ’em away lads!” His crew started rounding them up and moving them over as he turned to Rosetta. “The rest are yours. You can keep your thieves and beggars.”
But Alister was certain she’d taken all those who had been arrested for piracy. They had been the men he’d originally wanted.
Once more, Rosetta stepped forward.
“Okay, boys. I’m going to make this simple.
I don’t give a shit what you’ve done, if you’re innocent or not, why you did it, or who you did it to.
You are dead men, so feel free to reinvent yourselves.
You can’t go back to your families, or you’ll be arrested.
You have no homes, no friends. You’re all nobodies, just like us.
So, let me make this as monosyllabic as possible. ..”
She paused for effect.
That’s a big word, Alister thought to himself with a shake of his head. Noble people with their vast vocabulary. She was speaking to most likely commoners. They wouldn’t understand.
“That means simple, boys,” Naeem cut in with a laugh before Alister could say anything.
“I may have tits, but I will cut off your hands if you touch me. I will cut out your tongue if you holler at me in any lewd way or call me anything other than captain. Naeem is my first officer.” She gestured her hand to him.
“Comment on the colour of his skin, and I will flay yours.” She gestured to the other man standing with them.
“This is Mr Smith, my quartermaster. Comment on his age, and I will make sure you never get the pleasure of reaching it. Savvy?”
There was unanimous agreeance.
Alister raised his brow. He was impressed by her much-needed threats. Tough woman.
She stood up straight and stared at them. There was a pause where no one said or did anything, waiting for what she would say next. Even Alister was puzzled by it.