Page 50 of A Flash of Golden Fire

“Surrender? Are you certain?” Donatello asked him in a loud voice that would carry over the sounds of destruction and men’s shouts.

“We’re outgunned, and they have the advantage. We can negotiate, perhaps. If they stop their fire, we can ask to board and discuss a fair solution. We have goods to trade.”

Donatello nodded quickly and turned to the men. “Raise the white flag!” he shouted. “We’ll negotiate a truce!”

The men hurried to obey, and soon our flag of surrender went up, flapping in the wind as theArrowrocked beneath her assault. I prayed silently that the attacking ship would acknowledge the signal and give us mercy. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to breathe, wondering if this would be my final sunrise.

And then the cannons stopped. The sound and smell of wood burning became noticeable and some of the men shouted to contain a fire. I opened my eyes to see the crew battling flames and to see that half of the aft rail had been blown away.

We waited with baited breath, but the attack was paused. The captain’s gaze met mine, where I crouched near the barrel, and he nodded with a reassuring smile.

“Donatello,” Captain Martin said, grabbing Donatello’s arm. “You and I. We’ll go in the skiff and bargain with them. Surely, we can come to an arrangement.”

“Aye, Captain. Do you recognize the insignia?” Donatello asked.

“No. They’re rebels like us. We must be prepared for anything.”

“Aye,” Donatello said gravely.

I scrambled out of my sheltered spot, wishing I had some skills in this area and not just a spectacular arse.

“I want to come with you,” I said, breathlessly. Where this courage came from is anyone’s guess, but for a tremendous need to be near to Captain Martin, no matter what.

He turned to me with regret in his gaze.

“No, lad. There ain’t no point.”

His words hurt me, but he smoothed my hair back from my forehead and kissed me there.

“Stay here, and wait for me. I’ll be back.”

“Are you certain?” I gasped.

He only smiled and gave me a salute. “Keep yourself safe, little rooster. Do that for me.”

I nodded. My heart was breaking. Even though our union was only a few weeks old, I felt like a part of me was being ripped away. I was numb as I watched the skiff lowered over the side with Captain Martin and Donatello aboard.

I half expected the cannon fire to resume, and then we’d all be lost. But the slap of the waves on the hull and the murmur of anxious voices near me was the only sound, apart from my frantic heart beating in my ears. My belly roiled with heat and I felt like retching.

Donatello took the oars and rowed toward the other ship. The crew of theArrow, including myself, gathered at the rail to watch. Several had their muskets cocked, ready for anything. Although I did wonder how effective muskets would be over that range.

The captain had handed me his spyglass, and now I raised the tool to my eye.

I locked onto the small skiff with the two important men aboard. It physically hurt to see Captain Martin so vulnerable, and I half expected the skiff to explode with cannon fire. The sun was peeking over the horizon, making a vivid and beautiful display over the sea, but I couldn’t rid myself of foreboding.

A rope ladder came over the side of the other vessel and dropped to the water, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Our captain was an intelligent man and skilled in dialogue. I only hoped he could secure an agreement so that we might leave with our ship and our lives.

“Damn fools. They aren’t going to negotiate,” Martinez muttered, sending a chill up my spine.

I lowered the glass to look at him.

Hillier, who was next in command under Donatello, stood nearby with his musket raised, his expression grim.

“But they’re welcoming them aboard,” I murmured in a voice that aimed to be hopeful.

“Mmm, that may be. But I’ve my doubts as to their intentions,” Martinez said.

I lifted the glass to my eye again, my belly swirling with renewed worry. If what Martinez said was true, the captain and Donatello were in a very vulnerable position.