He threw himself back into the fight, working his way back to the helm where Lucian fought with Natasha. They were evenly matched, the two of them. And just versed enough in dirty trickery enough to counter the other.
Lucian spied Mordecai's approach. He cursed and gave ground, trying to fight his duel and command the crew at the same time. Natasha pressed her attack and Mordecai moved in on her flank. I must have pleased someone. Things seem to be going my way today.
Fengel's first mate put up a valiant effort, but it wasn't enough. Mordecai put his counterpart's blade into a bind and then disarmed him, sending Lucian's sword flying away. He then punched the man with the hilt of his cutlass—Lucian, and satisfyingly, some of his teeth, went sprawling. He recovered quickly and made to stand, but paused when Natasha lowered the tip of her blade to his throat.
"What," asked Mordecai. "No clever escape this time?" He moved closer. "No witty repartee?" He felt pleasure at the dark glower of the other mate. How does it feel now, you little shit?
Lucian said nothing. He peered past his captors at the battle on the deck. Without his guidance, it was going poorly. He looked up at Natasha. "Spare the crew. I ask for quarter."
"Well, you're not going to get it," snarled Mordecai. "You and Fengel have been an irritant long enough—"
Natasha held out her free hand, cutting him off. Mordecai glanced up at her. His captain affected the cool amusement that was her usual attitude. "Mordecai's view has merit," she said. "But there's something I don't understand here. You will answer it for me." She leaned in a little, pressing her blade down to bite at his throat. "Where is Fengel? What happened here?"
Mordecai's curiosity quelled his irritation. If the missing pirates were still on the ship, they would have joined the fray by now.
Lucian licked his lips. "Will you give quarter?" he asked.
"It will be taken into consideration," replied Natasha. Behind her, two Reavers cut down one of Fengel's Men.
The first mate closed his eyes. "They're not on the ship. They're in the city below."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. She shared a questioning glance at Mordecai. "What? Why? Whatever is that fool doing now?"
Lucian grimaced. "We found the Governor's Lantern."
Mordecai blinked in surprise. "It wasn't in the treasure you'd stolen?"
Fengel's first mate shook his head, sandy hair swaying. "No. The ships log hinted that it had been taken from the Albatross before either of us had even gotten to these shores. We tracked it back here, to the city below. Captain's become obsessed with it. We didn't leave because there was trouble on the ground, just as you'd arrived."
Natasha looked bewildered. "But why? Why come here? Why not flee? You had to know we'd be coming after you. Why not make your escape? There's a fortune in the holds below already!"
Lucian looked up, held her gaze. "Because he wanted to make sure that you couldn't get the gem."
Mordecai's captain went very still. She didn't move, didn't speak, only stood there with the tip of her blade against Lucian's throat. Behind and around them came the cries of those still fighting, mixed in with gunshot reports and the groans of the wounded.
When she spoke her voice was low and dangerous. There was something in it that Mordecai couldn't identify. "Tell your crew to lay down arms."
"You'll give us quarter?"
"Tell your crew to lay down arms."
Lucian stared up at her a long moment, then turned his head to the side and called out. "Quarter! We ask for quarter! Stand down, Fengel's Men!"
He repeated the call a few times, and slowly, sporadically, the fighting slowed to a stop. Fengel's Men were quickly disarmed and herded into the middle of the deck.
"Excellent," said Mordecai. "Now we'll cut their throats and dump them over the side, and put this whole sorry mess behind us." He smiled.
Lucian started from the deck. Only the blade at his neck kept him from rising. "You can't! We've called for quarter, you miserable son of a bitch!"
Mordecai smiled down at him. "We never said we'd give it."
Natasha pulled back her blade. "Have no fear, Mister Thorne. You'll have quarter."
Mordecai turned to frown at her. "This is foolish. Haven't you learned? They're all too dangerous to be left alive. Kill them and be done with it."
Natasha sheathed her cutlass. She tapped her chin thoughtfully, staring out past the deck of the ship, back toward the Copper Queen. "I think not." She caught Mordecai's gaze. "Round them up, tie them into a cargo net, and move them back to the Queen."
Mordecai stared. "Again? Again? This is madness! Euron never would have let this go on so long!"