Page 31 of Escaping Pirates (Legends of Neverland #4)

T his was entertainment?

The makeshift ring was roped off in the middle of the lower deck, and a thick crowd of sailors had gathered around, jostling elbows and passing coins back and forth as bets were laid.

It was the applause and cheering that first attracted my attention, and when coupled with Gil’s incessant begging to attend, I had finally agreed.

I stood near the back, half-shadowed by a post, trying to make myself appear as small as possible. This wasn’t what I’d expected when Tyrone had told me there’d be “entertainment” belowdecks. I had pictured cards or dice, maybe a drinking contest. Something crude, yes, but not brutal. Not this.

Two shirtless men were in the ring, circling each other like sharks.

One was a wiry man with scars mapping his chest like dried riverbeds through a desert.

The other was built like a barrel and already bleeding from a split lip.

Their feet shifted steadily across the boards, boots thudding in rhythm with the shouts of the crowd.

“Go on, Dex! Break his nose!” someone hollered .

“Ten coin says Flint drops him in the next minute!” yelled another.

The impact of a punch, bare fist against jaw, snapped my attention back to the ring. Flint reeled, and blood splattered the floor.

I shut my eyes while the crowd roared with laughter and cheers.

“That was a good hit!” Gil said eagerly, leaning toward the fight. I fought the urge to pull him back by his collar. He was too young for this sort of thing. “Isn’t this the best?” His grin faltered when he turned and saw my face. “You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that,” I replied, though I was pretty sure my expression had. “I’m surprised, I guess.”

Gil shrugged. “It’s just for fun. Most of the time no one gets hurt too bad. They got rules.”

“That man’s lip is split open.”

“Flint always bleeds. It’s like his thing,” Gil said with a chuckle. “He’ll be bragging about it by dinner when it’s all swelled up.”

Another blow landed, this time to the stomach, and the crowd howled again. I saw coins flash hands and heard someone muttering excitedly about what tallies to mark for who won the most matches.

“It’s not just for fun,” Gil added, hopping up onto a crate for a better view. Even with the additional foot, he was barely at eye level with most of the other pirates. “The winner gets the next day off of work and extra food and stuff. It’s a big deal to win.”

“I’m sure,” I murmured.

Flint went down, finally, after a particularly brutal uppercut, and though I half expected silence or concern, the crowd erupted in cheers. Two men hauled Flint up, both clapping him on the back like he’d just won something instead of lost. He was grinning, bloody teeth and all.

“Who’s next?” the announcer shouted.

Cheers erupted around us. A few names were called out, and then I heard it.

“Gil!”

My heart leapt into my throat.

Gil was already pulling off his hat, exposing his shock of mussed blond hair as he pushed up his jacket sleeves over his thin forearms. “My turn!”

“Wait, are you—?” I stepped forward. Hadn’t he seen what had happened to Flint?

“I’m allowed,” he said proudly. “Captain said so, long as no one breaks anything.”

I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it again.

I watched, helpless, as Gil hopped the rope and bounced on the balls of his feet like he’d been born for this. His opponent, a burly man with a beard thick enough to hide half his face, looked down at him with a bemused smile.

“Don’t worry,” the man called to the crowd. “I’ll go easy on the lad.”

Laughter rippled through the sailors, and I found that I could breathe again, just barely. How I hoped he was telling the truth.

The match started, and it was clear from the first jab that the older man wasn’t throwing his weight around like the two in the previous round.

He let Gil get in a few playful hits, danced backwards more often than forwards, and only lightly tapped him in return.

The crowd still roared, but it sounded more amused than bloodthirsty this time.

I watched Gil duck and jab, his grin wide, his fists clumsy but enthusiastic.

He had no technique. He’d never survive a real fight, but that didn’t seem to matter here.

The men were laughing. Even the grizzled older sailors clapped their approval as Gil managed to dodge a swing and thumped a weak punch into his opponent’s chest.

“Come on, Gil!” someone shouted. “Show him your secret weapon!”

Gil dramatically wound up a punch and then promptly tripped over his own feet. The bigger man caught him before he could fall.

My stomach twisted, then loosened again when the man patted Gil on the head and helped him back up.

“All right, all right,” the announcer called. “Let’s hear it for the little shark!”

The crowd cheered wildly as Gil bowed, sweat-soaked and beaming, then hopped back over the rope.

He ran over. “Did you see me? Did you watch?”

“I did.”

“I almost got him that one time. He said I nearly knocked the wind out of him.”

“I think he was being kind.” A kind pirate. If only I could tell Blossom about that oxymoron.

Gil laughed, breathless and proud. “Yeah. But I still get a tally mark. That counts! One day, I’m going to be the one to win that day off!”

I smiled faintly. “I’m sure you will.”

Another match began in the ring, and the mood shifted again. Two full-grown men were going at it with hard fists and red faces. This fight wasn’t gentle. After five minutes, one of them had blood running from a brow, and the other was limping. I couldn’t watch any more.

Yet all around me, the men still cheered and laughed. They loved it.

I looked around at their faces—sweaty, grinning, and shouting. Some of them had bruises already darkening their skin. Others had coin purses clutched in their hands, waiting to collect winnings. They were happy like this.

I couldn’t understand it.

“They aren’t bad,” Gil said quietly beside me, like he’d read my thoughts.

“I didn’t say they were.”

“They just… grew up different. They live different than high society.” He nudged my arm. “It’s not about hurting people. It’s just…how they let things out. Better for fun than for real, right?”

I glanced down at him with his sweaty curls and shining eyes.

“Right. I’m glad they went easy on you,” I said.

Gil grinned. “Me too. But next time, I’ll win for real. When my muscles come in big, I’ll be ready. My mam always said that if I hadn’t been born a human, I would have been a wild stallion! Nobody can tame my spirit!”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed.

“We’ll make port tomorrow,” Tyrone told me over dinner several days later.

My heart leapt. Freedom! I would be able to be done with pirates at last.

“It’s been a week since we fished you out.”

“It has.”

“Have you been harmed or injured while aboard my ship?”

“No,” I admitted, wondering where this was going.

“Did you ever feel mistreated, malnourished, or deprived in any way? ”

I didn’t like the way he worded his question. “Am I still free to leave when we get to port?”

Tyrone stroked his moustache. “In a way.”

I knew it. I knew I wouldn’t have been allowed to just walk away. “What do you mean in a way ?”

“There’s a ball tomorrow evening at Ebora’s palace,” Tyrone told me silkily. “I’d like you to come with me.”

“You said I was free to go once we got to land.”

“And you are. But of course, it would be a shame if anyone found out about Harlan’s little secret because you refused to help me with a tiny little business deal.” His gaze lifted to meet mine. “Just imagine how much someone would pay to find out where the real prince is.”

I froze and my mouth went bone dry. “What are you talking about?”

He leaned forward. “Don’t play coy. It would be such a shame if you walked away and I was forced to reveal where Prince Jameson is located.

Mercenaries would pay a pretty penny for that sort of information, and Ebora is full of the sort of people who would love to ensure a body double stays on the throne. ”

“You must be mistaken. I’ve never met any Prince Jameson, and I don’t know what you mean by a body double.”

He clicked his tongue several times. “Let’s not play games with each other.

I thought we were past that.” From a drawer within his desk, Tyrone pulled out a horribly familiar corked bottle.

The wax seal had been broken, but the majority of the crest was still visible.

“A clever idea, but it isn’t just royalty that recognize his crest, you know.

Where did he hide the ring to seal it? I believe my brother searches all those he takes aboard. ”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I answered. Each word was becoming more and more difficult .

Tyrone ignored my comment. The corner of his mouth curled upward.

“Rather convenient that a common sailor just happens to have extensive knowledge of laws, negotiation, and trade routes, and has skill in combat and dancing, don’t you think?

” He touched his nose where Harlan had broken it. “You can tell me, love.”

I remained silent. I had to protect Harlan, no matter the cost. How could I protect him against someone who already knew his identity?

“What do you want from me?”

“Barely anything at all,” he told me, his smile broadening into a leer.

“Tomorrow night, you and I are going to a ball. If you help me close a few deals I need without any trouble, I will ensure that Harsh doesn’t harm Jameson in any way.

But if you so much as breathe a word to anyone, Jameson dies. Have I made myself quite plain?”

Chills rippled through my body. “Yes,” I whispered.

Tyrone’s smile was all too shrewd. “There will be rules, of course.”

I balled and unballed my fist, hidden in my skirts. “Tell me.”

“You’re to stay at my side to help me close the deals.

It’s just a few trade negotiations. I think you could vouch for my trustworthiness.

Ebora is a pirate’s dream right now,” he went on.

“They claim that they have a new government, but it is run by rebels, mutineers, and pirates just as trustworthy as myself. Their loyalty is bought cheaply.”

“I’ll help you,” I told him. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

It wouldn’t matter what I told Tyrone or any of his business associates.

If I made it to the ball and alerted the guards, they would be able to move on rescuing Harlan immediately.

Tyrone thought he could control me, but once I was on land, I would be able to run.

I would be free. I could help Harlan if I could get away and get the navy out looking immediately.

Their ships had to be quicker than Tyrone’s.

Tyrone continued to watch me with an all-too-knowing smile on his face. “Do you recall how fast my flares burn?”

My dream of escaping faded. “I do.”

“So elegant,” he said. “A quick strike, a trail of smoke, then my accomplices miles and miles away know exactly what needs done. You see, light travels faster than any ship could, and I’ve already informed my brother of the situation, so he is perfectly placed to act.”

Goosebumps crawled up my skin.

“Imagine what would happen if things tomorrow don’t go exactly the way I intend them to.”

I tried to swallow, but my throat had become sticky. Would I be able to alert anyone while on land and have them arrest Tyrone before he could send the flare?

He spun one of his rings around his finger. “If I don’t return from the ball tomorrow,” he said, once again exhibiting his ability to somehow read my mind, “my crew will send up the flare. If you double-cross me in any way”—he snapped—“the flare goes up. You remember what the colors mean?”

“Gold is war, and red is secrets.”

“It’s so much more than that.” His voice was calm. Too calm. “Red meansto act immediately . No questions, no hesitations. The second they see red, they finish the plan. Clean up any loose ends. Dump any bodies so they’re never found.”

My breath caught. “You wouldn’t.”

He stepped closer, his smile pleasant, as if we were discussing nothing more consequential than weather.

“I don’t need to. Unless you give me reason.

Like I said, you are free to run. But you can’t choose the consequences.

How many lives will you risk to save your own?

It’s more than just Harlan’s life at risk. Your parents will pay as well.”

My head snapped up. How did he know my family? I couldn’t recall ever telling him anything about my past.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he asked, running his finger around the rim of his goblet and watching me closely. “I met with your father, and he turned down one of my business propositions, but he introduced you and your mother to me before sitting down to negotiate.”

I was going to be sick. He knew too much about everyone. I didn’t remember him at all. Father had always introduced me in passing to those he met, but I couldn’t keep them straight.

“You’re bluffing,” I said, watching for any flicker of unease in his eyes, but they stayed just as dead as they’d always been.

“I don’t bluff,” he said gently. “I bargain. And I suggest you start holding up your end. You charm those buyers in port. Play nice with the right merchants. You say what I need said and you never, ever , run.”

I could barely make my voice audible. “I won’t.”

“Smart girl.” Tyrone leaned back in his chair. “You may think I wanted you because you’re attractive, but pretty faces are cheap to come by. I care much more for what you can help me with in terms of business credibility, and you will do your part.”

“And if I don’t?” I whispered.

“Then the sky won’t be the only thing bleeding red.”