"You've heard the rumors," he said, turning back to Jane and those crew who had followed. "All manner of strange creatures inhabit this land. Looks like they got the Perinese sailors." He smiled. "But apparently, they lack a taste for gold."
He stood and looked back at the Dawnhawk. It floated golden in the light of the setting sun, dramatic against the backdrop of the Stormwall. Thick clouds roiled out of the unnatural barrier, some of them almost right overhead. In fact, it was growing darker all around them, and not just from the setting sun. Wispy clouds were forming overhead, split off from the fury of the perpetual storm and heading right for them.
"Jane," said Mordecai. "Get back aboard and have Konrad come in close. Get the ship anchored to this wreck and start moving the treasure aboard." He pointed at another pirate. "Kevyn, take a detachment of ten or so and keep watch on this jungle. Don't let anyone go in by themselves, and if you hear or see something strange, raise the Goddess-damned alarm. I don't plan to be taken by surprise the way those last poor bastards were. And all of you, get a move on, I don't like the look of those clouds coming in. Last thing I want to have to do is work in the rain."
The pirates all scurried off to their tasks. Guye Farrel stood, looking stupid, waiting for orders. Mordecai ignored him and returned to his captain.
The Dawnhawk came in closer. Lines were dropped and tied off to the rigging of the Albatross. Exuberant pirates swarmed over the wreck, grabbing everything of value and everything not nailed down. Mordecai worked with Natasha in the hold.
The crew aboard their airship threw down more ropes, along with wide cargo nets. Mordecai arranged a system for packing up the loot and moving it to the ship while Natasha took stock in the hold. Before long a steady stream of treasure was moving from the hold, over the tide pool, and onto the sand to be lifted up. He almost wanted to smile. They had taken some good hauls in their time, but this was ridiculous. Instead, he kept a careful eye out. Natasha's crew was well trained, but they were pirates. Stealing from the take was a known death sentence, but there was always someone who thought they could get away with it.
Aside from the gold and silver, there was still much worth taking. Logbooks, maps, and equipment stores abounded on the Perinese warship. Mordecai left the hold to review it, then ordered it all packed up. None were worth even a fraction of the take in the holds, but the Perinese vessel was a modern one. Everything aboard had value to someone.
The sun sank lower as they worked. Finished overseeing the sack of the officer's cabins, Mordecai returned to the hold and Natasha. There he found Guye Farrel standing near her with a wine bottle. Mordecai yelled at him and sent him scurrying off to move the crates. Natasha raised an eyebrow at him; apparently she had ordered the man to attend her. He shrugged. There were more important things to worry about. Namely, that they had not found the fabled Governor's gemstone anywhere aboard. She spoke first.
"You know," said Natasha. "I almost want to thank Fengel for stealing the Dawnhawk. I've never seen so much loot in my life. We've had to pull down some of the provisions and spare light-air canisters to make room for it all." She wore a silver crown, thirteen golden chain necklaces, and drank the wine Farrel had poured from a tall golden chalice they'd found amongst the treasure.
Mordecai frowned. "We'd have heard about this wreck soon enough. And it isn't as if this trip hasn't cost us."
"Yes," she replied with a snort. "Fengel's a silly bastard. But he always manages to make more trouble for me." Her visage darkened, and the knuckles of her fingers went white around her goblet. "I had to ask my father, Mordecai. I had to ask my father to take that rattletrap garbage scow of his. And he was so proud."
Mordecai rolled his eyes. Oh, here we go.
His captain curled a lip in irritation. She was looking past him now, somewhen distant. "He'll be upset that the Queen is gone, but you know what? Euron will be so damned happy it all worked out that I doubt he'll notice much. He will be able to say that I couldn't have done it without him. And in his eyes it'll be more confirmation that I'm not any better than he was in his heyday." Natasha fell silent, surrounded by a fortune, brooding into her goblet.
Mordecai glowered, irritated by her old complaint. "Well," he said. "That's a problem for later. As for Fengel, he's paid. The man is either drowned in the Sea or is well on his way to starvation."
Natasha frowned abruptly and looked up at him, dismay cutting through her black mood. Mordecai felt a small, petty pleasure at the sight. He knew she still cared for her husband, at least a little. Maybe this would shake her out of it. He turned away to help move another chest of gold.