Page 34 of Escaping Pirates (Legends of Neverland #4)

T yrone’s business meeting was held over dinner at a shady tavern on the dock.

The moment the other man entered, I knew he must be the person we were meeting.

He had to duck under the doorway and must have been a full two heads taller than I was.

Immediately, a few men near the door left their drinks and scurried away, and the tavern’s noise level dropped by half.

He was a large, burly man and wore a heavy fur coat despite the summer heat, with the thick collar turned up to obscure his neck. One of his eyes was clouded over with a scar cutting through his heavy eyebrow and running down his cheek to disappear into his thick beard.

“May I introduce you to my colleague—” Tyrone paused and looked at the other man. “What name are you going by in these parts?”

“Roderick Vane,” the man in the fur coat answered, holding out a large hand to grasp my own.

I felt thick calluses beneath my fingers as I smiled at him.

He raised my hand to brush my knuckles to his lips, but his beard was so bristly that it felt more like being scratched against tree bark.

“You found an enchanting woman, Tyrone. How did you manage it?”

“You don’t think it’s because I’m an equally enchanting man?” Tyrone quipped, draping an arm around my shoulders.

Roderick watched the way I stiffened at Tyrone’s touch then let out a deep, gruff laugh. “If by enchanting you mean slippery and willing to blackmail, then yes.” He sat down heavily. “Let’s talk business. I don’t have much time. You said you would be able to ensure my shipment?”

“I can get Eastline to transport it with an armed escort. I already have the Arkwright approval thanks to my fiancée here. Elena, be a dear and draw up the contract for us.” Tyrone pushed parchment and quill at me before addressing Roderick again. “How many crates?”

“Three.”

“Three hundred, you mean?” Tyrone asked.

“No.”

Tyrone cocked an eyebrow.“Three crates? That’s all?”

Roderick’s smile was a razor-thin line.“Three’s a magic number, Captain. One to draw attention, one to mislead, and one that’s just right.”

“Well-spoken,” Tyrone chortled. “Elena, are you getting this all down?”

“Yes. And what shall I say the shipment contains?” I asked, jotting down notes to the contract.

Roderick’s mouth flickered into a slight smile, and his clouded eye drifted to stare to the side. “Porridge.”

Tyrone snorted in laughter and Roderick continued to watch me levelly. Certain they were having me on but unsure what to do about it, I slowly added it under the part about contents .

“And in return for the armed escort of the…porridge?” I asked. “What shall I put down as the payment?”

“No need to record that,” Tyrone cut in. “It was already taken care of. Roderick and I have worked together a long time. What is a paltry escort among friends? Besides, Roderick here keeps me well-supplied with flares.” He stared at me significantly. “Aren’t we lucky to have such generous friends?”

“Very fortunate,” I whispered.

Finishing the details on the contract didn’t take long, and I got the impression they wanted to keep it vague.

If anything, it seemed as though Roderick simply wanted to meet me and make sure I was indeed part of the Arkwright family.

At least this way, word would reach Father eventually so he and Mother knew I was alive, even if I was involved in business dealings that were far from legal.

“Well done, Elena,” Tyrone said, trailing his hand across my side as he guided me back to my quarters. “The contract was well-written. It’s good I can trust you to not make a scene.”

“I was highly motivated.”

“It’s sweet that you care for Jameson’s safety so deeply.” Tyrone’s smile was much too understanding. I hated that he had the upper hand. I hated that he knew I couldn’t do anything other than beg for Harlan’s safety. I hated everything about the man, and yet I was powerless to stop him.

“Off to bed with you,” Tyrone said. “You need your beauty rest to be ready for tomorrow.”

He escorted me to my cabin, and I saw that a new guard was outside my door. “Where’s Gil?”

Tyrone chuckled. “He and Peter Pan said that they plan to chase adventure tonight. They’ll be back by morning. Gil never goes far. Sleep well. ”

I stepped inside and heard the bolt slide into place with the heavy thunk that I’d come to associate with eternal imprisonment. So much for being in control of my own locks while at port. I could only hope that Gil delivered the letter like he’d promised to.

“Elena, wake up!” Someone was roughly shaking my shoulder. I almost shouted in alarm, but a hand was clapped over my mouth. “Shhhhh.”

It was Gil, whose shock of curly hair was so blond that it nearly appeared gold in the darkness. He uncovered my mouth and pulled me to my feet. “C’mon, let’s get you out of here.”

“The guards,” I whispered. “They?—”

“Never mind them. They’re all asleep. I may have added a little something extra to the wine I passed around when I got back,” Gil said with an impish grin. “But the captain didn’t have any, and he could wake at any time. We have to hurry.”

“But if I leave, then Harlan…”

“Harlan’s already off the other ship. He’s safe. Now we just need to get you out.”

I needed no further coaxing. Gil sprang ahead, nimble as a cat, and leapt over the men sprawled out comatose on the deck.

I stepped carefully over them as well, barely breathing as I listened for any sign of them waking up, but it seemed that Gil had done his job well. All of the pirates were fast asleep.

The ship still gently bobbed up and down in port as I balanced along the gangplank. The moment my feet hit the solid boardwalk, I almost cried in relief. I never wanted to leave land ever again.

“Hurry,” Gil urged me, plucking at my sleeve. “Follow me.”

Just as we reached the edge of the gangplank, there was a shout from a little ways down the shore. “Ho there!”

A guard was emerging from the dock house.

Gil pulled his cap low over his eyes and trotted over to the guard.

“Where are you—” the guard began, but didn’t get any further.

The moment he was close enough, Gil pounced.

For a moment, I thought Gil was trying to tackle him, but it looked more like a cartwheel in mid-air, complete with the flexibility of an acrobat.

Gil’s legs wrapped around the man’s neck, and the force mingled with the surprise of the unexpected attack made the man topple over backwards, and Gil knocked him out with a swift jab to his left temple.

The guard’s tongue lolled out where he lay, sprawled on the damp sand.

My hands had flown up to cover my mouth, and I stared, wide-eyed and shocked, as Gil landed neatly on his feet then stood, brushing sand off his hands and walking over as if he had done nothing more exciting than water a potted plant.

“Stop gawping,” he told me. “You look like a pufferfish.”

I hastened to keep in step with him. “I thought you said you couldn’t fight!”

“I don’t prefer it, but I can if I need to.”

“You’ve been asking Peter Pan to train you.”

“It’s always prudent to pick the brains of your allies as well as your enemies.”

I did a double-take. That sounded much more conniving and philosophical than I was used to from Gil. He must be growing up faster than I realized.

Gil picked his way through Ebora, skillfully winding his way through the narrow backstreets.

We passed several large estates, pristine manor houses nestled within well-manicured gardens and boasting dancing fountains that reminded me of home.

Home…I might get back soon. I didn’t even know how long I’d been captured.

Had it been four months? A year? My parents must think me dead.

My unease grew as Gil left the wealthier part of Ebora behind, finally arriving at a thoroughly shabby and disreputable-looking building. Grime coated the windows, making it impossible to see in, and the wooden planks on the structure had been coated in black tar. It looked like a den of thieves.

“Gil,” I said nervously. “Do you know where we are?”

“Of course!” he answered confidently, then raised his hand and gave a series of knocks, some short and light, others long and heavy.

A small opening slid open at eye level, and a thuggish-looking face appeared, glaring out at the pair of us. “What?” he snarled.

“It’s me, Tobias,” Gil said impatiently. “Stop messing around and open up. I did the code and you know it.”

The man looked down at where Gil was standing confidently, fists on his hips and looking up at the door.

“Fine,” he grumbled, and a series of locks unlatching was heard before the door creaked open. Once we crossed the threshold, he bowed to Gil. “Welcome back, Miss Jillian. I’m glad to see you’ve returned with the target. Shall I bind her for you?”