Cari awoke the day after leaving Tandon to sounds of increased activity on the deck above. She was about to leave her cabin to see what was going on when Percy knocked on her door.
“What is it?”
“It’s Percy, ma’am,” he called through the closed door. “Miss Doolan requests you on the quarterdeck. A raider ship is sailing up on us from the south. She’s approaching fast, and we’re clearing the decks for action.”
“Thank you, Mr. McShea. Advise the first mate I’ll be on deck in a few minutes.”
“Aye, ma’am.”
Cari got dressed while she tried to puzzle out what to do about the raider ship. While she’d made peace with the council of captains, the raiders formed only a loose partnership or confederation. There were multiple factions at play there rather than what anyone would call a true government.
She arrived on the quarterdeck and walked over to where Helen stood by the stern rail peering through the spyglass at a ship behind them. “What do you see, Miss Doolan?”
Helen handed her the spyglass. “It’s definitely a raider ship, though it’s a fast-rigged racing schooner. They’re flying the raider colors. I can’t tell if they’re friend or foe, though. They’re not a real danger to us. We could easily blow them out of the water.”
Cari saw the red and black checkered flag flying from the mainmast and shook her head. “Beats me. We made amends with most of the captains when we returned their families, but that didn’t account for all of them. There’s also the possibility of Raiders who don’t know the arrangement we made with Captain Wheldon and the other captains. This one would be a fool to attack us though. We’re twice their size and ship’s complement.”
“What do you want us to do?”
“Hold course for now and prepare for action but hold fire until fired upon.”
“That’ll give them the first shot, ma’am.”
“Or it’ll give them the opportunity to start a conversation before we fire at them. Do it. I’ll play the odds and see if they act aggressively first.”
“Aye, ma’am.”
Cari continued to watch the other, smaller ship while the Vengeance and its crew prepared for battle. She didn’t have time for a fight right now. She was itching to get to the fishing villages along the coast and try to find the missing princess.
A puff of smoke from the trailing vessel indicated a chase cannon firing before the sound of the distant cannon fire reached her. Strange that they’d shoot from so far away. There was no way they’d be in range for at least fifteen minutes.
Unless—
Cari squinted and tried to track the direction of the cannonball they fired. She saw none. “Helen, I think I’m right. Bring us about to let them overtake us. They just signaled us they want to talk and not fight.”
“Aye, ma’am. If you say so. Bosun, take in the sail. We’ll wait for our pursuers to catch up.”
Mr. Dawkins headed down to the main deck, calling out orders amidst the hustle and bustle of the cannon crews preparing their guns for firing. Other sailors headed aloft to haul in the sails and tie them off against the spars suspended from each of the masts.
Cari brought the spyglass up to her eye again and stared at the trailing ship. It was closer now, and she could make out more details. The other ship’s captain stood on the quarterdeck, peering forward at the Vengeance through his spyglass. He looked familiar.
The figure on the other ship waved. He must’ve seen her watching his ship. Cari waved back then looked at the man again.
It was Captain Hitchcock, the raider captain who escorted them into the harbor at Cairn Island with the freed hostages.
“Have the crew stand down, Helen. It’s definitely a friend. Have Cookie prepare light refreshments. We’ll be having company soon.”
“Aye, aye, ma’am.”
More orders were passed along. The gun crews began securing their guns, returning their weapons to standby positions secure against the rails on either side of the ship.
The raider ship caught up to them and lowered a boat to come across to the Vengeance as soon as they overhauled Cari’s position. Captain Hitchcock stood at the tiller as the crew rowed him across the gap between the two ships.
Cari waited on the main deck while he climbed up and over the side rail and stood before her.
“Captain Hitchcock, to what do I owe the honor of your presence? I did not realize it was you. That is not your ship.”
“Captain Weldon loaned me his racing sloop, Captain Dix. I have an urgent message for you from him.” He glanced from side to side before continuing. “You’ll want to hear this in private.”
“Very well, come with me down to my cabin. I’ll have some refreshments brought down to us.”
She led the raider captain down to her cabin and sat down at the table, offering her guest a seat across from her. Percy had already set a tray with some fruit, bread, and cheese on the table between them. He poured them each a goblet of wine and left, pulling the door closed behind him.
Captain Hitchcock double checked the door was closed then leaned forward towards her over the table.
“Do you remember Captain Day Ivarson from the council of captains?”
“I do. He was the one who wanted me killed if I remember correctly.”
“He was. Well, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Somehow he heard about the girl you were after. Captain Wheldon isn’t sure where he got that information, though I’m certain he’ll find out. Where he got it doesn’t matter. Captain Ivarson knows who the girl is, and he left right after you did, headed to the mainland. I can only assume he has gone to give the news to the Duke of Charon’s men.”
“That’s not good. Still, he doesn’t know where she is. I do.”
“He’ll turn out all his resources to find her. All he has to do is track you down. You’ll lead him right to her. Do you have the girl with you already?”
“No, but I know where she is,” Cari lied. “She is safe.”
“I was going to offer to take her back to Cairn Island. Jackie and I could take her in and tell folk she’s a niece visiting from her sister on the mainland.”
“No need for that. You could do me a favor, though.”
“Of course.”
“Return to Cairn Island and ask Wheldon to gather the council of captains. The Duke of Charon has control of the Imperial naval commanders in this region. If he decides to hunt the Vengeance down, I’ll likely need assistance. Do you think Crandall can convince them to back me and the future heir to the Imperial throne?”
“I know he’ll try his best. No promises, though.”
“Understood. I have a feeling I’m going to need some help to work my way around this.”
Captain Hitchcock stood and walked around the table to her. She stood and clasped wrists with him.
“I’ll do my best, Captain Dix. If nothing else, I know I can vouch for my ship and crew to return to your aid.”
“I’ll take all the help I can get.”
The two captains returned to the main deck and Cari walked Captain Hitchcock back to the rail and his waiting boat and crew.
“Godspeed, Captain,” the raider captain said as he descended the ladder down to his boat. Cari nodded in reply. He smiled up at her and ordered his crew to row back to his ship.
Cari watched them head back to the other ship for a few seconds then turned to Helen, standing by her side. “We need to get to Jaycee and we need to do it now. How long until we reach the first village?”
“A few hours, maybe more.”
“Put on all the sail we can carry. I want to get there as soon as we are able. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”