Cutlass (Cutlass Series)

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Summary: A young pirate seeks revenge for the murder of his father, only to be swept up in a battle to save the Orient.

  ISBN: 978-0-9911323-0-0 (paperback)

  978-0-9911323-1-7 (e-book)

  Copyright © 2014 Ashley Nixon

  Book design by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design

  Chapter Art designed by Ashli Amador

  Edited by Jena O’Connor

  All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author.

  www.ashley-nixon.com

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One – The Engagement

  Chapter Two – Silk & Lace

  Chapter Three – Sail Ho!

  Chapter Four – Setting the Stage

  Chapter Five – Sink Me!

  Chapter Six – Jonathon Kingsley

  Chapter Seven – Lights & Lungs

  Chapter Eight – Old Salt

  Chapter Nine – Changing Tides

  Chapter Ten - Lessons

  Chapter Eleven - Constellations

  Chapter Twelve - Privateers

  Chapter Thirteen - Recovery

  Chapter Fourteen - Conn

  Chapter Fifteen - Promise

  Chapter Sixteen - Thief

  Chapter Seventeen - Estrellas

  Chapter Eighteen – The Assassin

  Chapter Nineteen - Hemlock

  Chapter Twenty - Stranger

  Chapter Twenty-One - Betrayal

  Chapter Twenty-Two – The Lyric

  Chapter Twenty-Three – The Past

  Chapter Twenty-Four – The Cape

  Chapter Twenty-Five - Mutiny

  Chapter Twenty-Six - Storm

  Chapter Twenty-Seven - Graveyard

  Chapter Twenty-Eight - Truce

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  “A ship has dispatched from the harbor,” said Leaf.

  Barren had seen the white sails seconds before the Elf spoke. It had been two weeks since anyone left the coast of Maris. Barren watched the ship carefully from their position among the Cliffs. It was bigger than the Kendrick, but nothing he hadn’t taken on before. The ship entered the Cliffs, and slowly began its tedious navigation toward clearer sea.

  The problem with Maris was the route one had to navigate in order to get to and from the island. A set of giant rocks emerged from the Orient’s waters and cradled the coast. Any ship that passed through them had to maneuver carefully, otherwise the hull might strike something, and the ship would sink.

  “Let’s set out—we’ll intercept them just ahead,” said Barren.

  With his crew already in position, they prepared to attack. Barren wondered what the ship carried—what was so important that they would break their embargo?

  Barren watched as the tall, reddish brown rocks passed. In his location at the head of the ship, he could reach out and brush them with his hand. Barren looked back at his helmsman, Sam Taylor. His eyes were set on their target, and he kept his hands on the spindles of the wheel. One wrong move left or right, and they would be immobile. Barren trusted Sam’s skills—he had expertly steered them through this dangerous area multiple times. In fact, of the twenty-five ships they had targeted for attack, twenty-three of them had successfully been intercepted.

  Because of this, Barren was known as a terror. Mostly, he thrived on humiliating those who sailed out to meet him. Sometimes, the fight would turn bloody and that was when Barren’s reputation as a murderer spread across Mariana. Barren never wanted to be known as having killed anyone, other than his father’s murderer. Indeed, he dreaded when crews did not surrender easily to him because the fight that followed always ended with casualties.

  It was a pity Barren had to resort to this. He would prefer sailing the open waters of the Orient to navigating the claustrophobic Cliffs, but he had a duty to avenge his father’s death. In fact, all of this was for one purpose—to draw his brother, William, the Ambassador of Maris, from the safety of his home and force him to face punishment for his crimes. It would be so much more than a simple duel. Despite the fact that Barren’s attacks ruptured trade in Maris, and made many starve, William refused to meet him. It must be comforting to the people of Maris, Barren thought, that even their Ambassador would not sacrifice his life to help those he’d sworn to protect.

  “Slack the sails,” Barren ordered. “Drop the anchor.”

  The twins, Datherious and Natherious, did as instructed, dropping the white sails from their holds. Barren heard them fill with wind. With Leaf’s help, Seamus dropped anchor. Barren removed his jacket and the guns from their holsters. Last, he pulled his daggers from his boots, then yanked them off one-by-one.

  “Are you sure you want to board first?” asked Leaf. “Remember what happened last time?”

  Barren smirked. The Elf was worried about him. Though he was Barren’s best friend, he often acted like his father, and he could be both encouraging and critical.

  “It was just a flesh wound, Leaf. Nothing you can’t fix.”

  The Elf was also a healer, which was lucky for Barren, as his body seemed to attract all types of wounds from all types of weapons. He had the scars to prove it.

  Leaf rolled his eyes. “You are never one for the easy route.”

  “There’s no fun in firing a cannon at their mast. What’s fun is to see the surprise on their faces when I board their ship.”

  “It’s fun for an eighteen-year-old, but not so entertaining for a one-hundred year old Elf.”

  Barren shrugged. “My ship, my rules.”

  “If you want to keep your ship, you’ll get going—they’ve spotted us.” The Elf’s gaze was narrowed upon their target. Barren turned and climbed up on the rail of the ship. Holding tight to his daggers, and not looking back at his crew, he dove into the Orient. The water felt fresh and clean against his heated skin, and he moved beneath the surface with speed. He knew if he surfaced before reaching the enemy ship, they would spot him and kill him. Growing up around water had given him many skills; perhaps the best of these was his ability to hold his breath for longer than a few minutes.

  Barren surfaced near the hull of the enemy ship. He paused, looking back. He could see his own ship between the tall walls of the Cliffs, its sails standing out against the brightness of the red rock and azure water. The ship itself wasn’t an easy target, but it didn’t need to be. If this cargo ship managed to release its cannons, they would likely bury his vessel beneath rubble and dust.

  Barren dove one last time beneath the water of the Orient, and broke the surface on the opposite side of the ship. The hull was wooden, and though the slats were too close for water to slip through, they were perfect for a knife. Barren raised his dagger, and inserted one knife into the slats, lifting himself out of the water. Placing the other knife higher up, he stabbed the blade through another crack and then began his climb to the deck. Once he was at the top of the railing, he paused to listen.

  “Ready! Aim! Fi—”

  Barren scrambled to pull himself over the rail. The thud of his feet caused the man releasing the command to pause, and Barren’s voice rose in the silence that followed.

  “I would reconsider if I were you.”

  Barren watched as a man dressed in a red coat and black pants turned to face him. H
e was about as tall as Barren, but not as young. He had curly, graying hair, and gray eyes. His features were hard, and a snarl crossed his lips when he saw the young captain of the Kendrick.

  “Tell your men to stand down,” Barren ordered.

  No one moved to listen, and Barren suspected they did not imagine him to be the notorious Barren Reed. He probably didn’t look the part of the murderer he was professed to be—after all, he was only eighteen.

  “You’re one man with two knives, what can you do against all of us?” asked the man standing beside the captain. Barren guessed this was his quartermaster. The other men standing on deck bristled in agreement.

  There was always one man who gave the rest hope. Barren twisted his daggers in his hands and smiled. “How do you know I am alone?”

  In answer, an arrow whizzed past Barren and into the shoulder of the man who had raised the challenge. He screamed and writhed in pain. In response, the rest of the crew scrambled away from him, even the captain, fearing another arrow. All eyes shifted to Barren’s ship, whose great sails now urged it toward their own.

  “When one has the skill of an Elf aboard his vessel, he is never alone,” Barren said, a dangerous smirk upon his lips. He leveled his eyes with the captain’s. “Now, tell your men to stand down.”

  The captain glared at Barren. “Stand down!” he snarled at his crew.

  “Now, have all your men come on deck.” Barren waited while a crewmate hurried to the hatch and called for the men to come out. Slowly they filed onto the hot deck. Barren smiled at them. “Come on out, boys, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

  He could tell by the looks on their faces they weren’t so sure. Some stared at him with wide eyes, others avoided eye contact altogether. They’d all heard the stories. No one sails from Maris without knowing their life might be ended by Barren Reed.

  Luckily, the cries of the quartermaster kept anyone from protesting against Barren’s next command.

  “Now, you can all be cooperative and drop your weapons in a pile at the center of the ship and move toward the helm or die a bit sooner.”

  Without pause, the sound of metal crashing upon metal rang out against the deck as all the men followed Barren’s orders. He turned his attention back to the captain, who had not moved to follow Barren’s command. The pirate approached him and watched as the captain’s eyes grew a shade darker.

  “Do you want me to make an example out of you?” Barren lifted his knife to the captain’s throat.

  In response, the captain unbuckled his holster and removed his weapons.

  “Take off your jacket,” Barren commanded. The pirate watched, amused, as the captain roughly pulled his arms from the coat and threw it on the ground. “Now, on your knees!”

  The captain hesitated, and Barren became impatient. He kicked the back of the captain’s legs, and he landed on his knees hard. “Hands behind your head!” This time, the captain didn’t pause. Barren pulled a piece of rope from his pocket and secured the man’s wrists.

  “Give me your name,” Barren demanded.

  “Captain Jay Nelson,” the man managed to sputter—fear finally present.

  “Jay Nelson,” Barren repeated. “You will forgive me—there can only be one captain aboard this ship.”

  Barren’s lips moved into a thin smile when he saw the man’s jaw tighten. “You are brave to leave Maris. Your task must be of high importance.”

  Jay did not respond to him, and by now the Kendrick rested before Maris’s cargo ship. A plank connected the two, and Barren’s crew filed on board. The twins came first, Natherious and Datherious, the most recognizable of the crew aside from Barren, because of their status as the Princes of the Orient. They were King Tetherion’s sons, and consequently Barren’s cousins. They had joined Barren’s crew only months before. Next, there was Slay the dwarf, unmistakable for his height and frizzy beard. In contrast to the short stature of Slay, Sam Taylor was tall and bulky, a dark man with dark eyes and black hair, twisted into long braids. Then there was Seamus, the oldest of Barren’s crew, marked by his shoulder-length gray hair. Finally, the rebel Prince of Aurum, the Elf, Leaf Tinavin, arrived at Barren’s side with his captain’s sheathed sword.

  “Boys, you know what to do,” Barren’s instructions were simple, and he did not look away from the captain as he spoke. His crew set to work—inspecting barrels, opening wooden crates and confiscating weapons. All around them was the sound of shattering glass, metal weapons piling on metal weapons, and the crash of debris breaking the water.

  “So, what special occasion has brought you to sea? I’ve seen no ships leave Maris for two weeks,” Barren asked the captain again.

  “Spare us and we will tell no one we saw you,” Jay begged, but the words sounded forced.

  “Spare you? Cowardly words, Jay. I don’t care that anyone knows you saw me—in fact, it is better that they know. I care that my brother still lives. A murderer unpunished for his crime. Do you think what my brother did was right, Jay?”

  Barren watched Jay consider his words, and he was right not to answer quickly as so many had before him. The men who met the end of Barren’s blade had all been quick to denounce his father, Jess, proclaiming his death was deserved and that William was a hero.

  “Do you?” demanded Barren.

  “He-he was a pirate—”

  “All pirates deserve death, is that right?”

  It was then Jay set his jaw and met Barren’s gaze directly. “Jess Reed paid for his sins. As will you.”

  Barren raised both his brows, observing Jay’s anger for a moment. Then his eyes went cold, and he drew his sword. Barren pointed the blade at Jay’s neck, handing the sheath to Leaf.

  “You are not my judge,” Barren’s voice was quiet, and he aimed to strike.

  “Barren, look what we found!”

  Interrupted, Barren turned to see a couple of his mates clamber from the hatch at the center of the ship. They threw a leather bag at his feet, stuffed full of white envelopes.

  Barren drove his sword into the deck of the ship, and stooped to pick one up. He studied it—this one was addressed to a woman from Arcarum, and the lettering was a beautiful, flowing script. The seal on the back was a wax circle with an “L” stamped into it—he broke it, and pulled out a white card with the same flowing script:

  “The honorable Ambassador William Reed and Lady Larkin Lee request your presence Friday, 8:00pm at the Castle of Maris to celebrate their engagement.”

  “An engagement party,” Barren muttered to himself. He did his best to smother the surprise and announced much louder, “My brother is getting married! And I wasn’t invited? I am hurt. Looks like I’ll be inviting myself then.”

  Barren heard Jay chuckle. “You are a fool—they will be looking for you. You won’t have a chance!”

  “You underestimate me.” Barren placed the invitation back in its envelope. “As is clear by your current predicament.”

  “The lady is the daughter of Lord Christopher Lee—he’s very wealthy and powerful. You would do well to leave her alone.”

  “I do not care whose daughter she is, nor do I care for her happiness. Besides, what happiness does my brother deserve when he destroyed all of mine?” Barren handed the invitation to Leaf, facing the Captain. “Now, you have two options: I will send you back to Maris, stripped of your clothing, or you can find your dignity at the end of my sword—your choice.”

  This was the ultimatum offered to everyone Barren intercepted. Some chose the former and returned to Maris unscathed, but Barren never knew their fate once they left his hands. Some also chose the latter, believing they could take Barren and his crew easily, for he was young and his crew small.

  Barren would much rather send them stripped of their pride…it was far less messy and more entertaining.

  “Why, you insufferable scoundrel!” Jay said through his teeth. Clearly, he didn’t think either option was favorable.

  “That was not an answer,” Barren chided. “L
et’s see what your crew thinks.”

  As he turned to head for the crew, Jay made his move. Tearing a sword from the hand of one of Barren’s unsuspecting crewmen, he attacked the young captain.

  “Barren!” Leaf warned.

  Barren turned quickly, blocking Jay’s blow. Their swords clashed, and suddenly, Jay’s crewmen found hope, as they charged for their weapons, crying for victory.

  Barren fought fast and hard against the man who had challenged him. As with the others, Barren noted the man fought as if this battle would save his life—he fought with determination, with anger.

  “I gave you a chance to live!” Barren cried. “What more could you have wanted?”

  “Do you think those who return from your clutches live?” Jay scoffed. “If we are given a choice, we are to choose death!”

  Now that was something Barren had not heard, and at those words, Jay fought harder. Barren blocked more blows than he delivered, for Jay did not relent, but Barren knew he would soon grow tired, and when he did, Barren took over. He might be young, but he was strong, and his father had taught him how to fight with a mixture of skill and ruthlessness.

  Barren’s sword clashed with Jay’s and it loosened from his grip. Another blow, and it flew from his hands.

  “You will answer for your sins!” Jay cried, just as Barren twisted and thrust his blade through the man’s stomach.

  “This was your choice,” Barren whispered in his ear, pulling the blade from the captain’s stomach and pushing him away. He fell, blood trickling from his mouth.

  Once the captain fell, the others seemed to lose their momentum, and fearing death themselves, surrendered.

  “What do we do with the others?” Leaf asked.

  “Set the sails ablaze and leave the rest. Let’s go.”

  Barren’s crew set to work quickly, moving supplies to the Kendrick. The sails of the cargo ship were doused in oil and set ablaze. It would be no time before the flames were seen at the castle of Maris. Rescue ships would be sent out and search the area looking for Barren, but he and his crew would already be gone, hiding in the Cliffs, waiting for their next victim.