Chasing the Lantern(89)

He knew he'd gone too far. Natasha looked over at him with eyes like ice. She stepped up and slapped him. She wasn't some dockside prostitute or pampered mistress. The blow had the full force of her arm behind it, an arm that was used to wielding a sword. Mordecai reeled back, vision blurring.

"Tie Lucian and his crew up in a cargo net," she snarled. "Secure it tightly to somewhere on the Queen. Dump them over the bow and cut us free. Those are my orders. Will you obey them, or do I have to find someone who will?"

Mordecai flushed. He straightened and met her fierce gaze. "No. Captain."

"Good. Get moving. Once you're finished, come see me in the cabin. We need to go over that logbook, and prepare a shore party."

The first mate raised an eyebrow. "What? Why?"

"Because we are going to find the Lantern first."

She turned on her heel and stalked off. Mordecai stared at her in confusion. One of his nearby crewman coughed. He flushed as he realized that the whole scene had been public. Snarling, Mordecai gave the orders.

He saw Lucian and Fengel's Men bundled over to the Copper Queen. Lucian especially, he treated roughly, taking out his frustrations. The man took it all in good charm, smiling whenever he knew Mordecai was watching. It was infuriating.

It's a game, he realized. A cold shock ran through him at the epiphany. Fengel's Men were tied up in their cargo net, the latter being anchored to a stanchion on the deck of the Queen. A few crew he'd kept to this task. The rest were retaking the Dawnhawk and checking her over.

They hate each other, but never stopped caring, either. Mordecai's anger grew with each passing moment. That was why they danced around each other so, why Natasha refused to kill off her husband. The two played a constant game of one-upmanship, always seeking to come out on top. All other considerations were secondary.

Cold certainty mixed with his anger. He glanced back at the deck of the Dawnhawk. His captain was nowhere to be seen.

Guye Farrel trudged past with a length of rope. Mordecai reached out and caught him by the arm. "Come with me," he ordered. The other pirate winced at his voice, but nodded. The journey had not been kind to Farrel. His face was scarred and swollen and he had a limp.

Mordecai led the way belowdecks. Shortly they found themselves in the magazine. Though half-emptied, there were still enough casks of black powder left to do the job. I'm putting an end to this madness. He pulled down a cask and with Farrel's help breached it.

"There," he said. "Pour a trail back up to the deck. Be very careful that it is unbroken. Tell no one. Understand?"

The man nodded, eyes wide. Mordecai was certain that he'd make a trail. The bigger question was whether or not he could keep his mouth shut. If he didn't, however, he was easily dealt with. That was why Mordecai had chosen him, after all.

Mordecai returned to the deck and walked to the bow. There, his crew were herding Fengel's Men over the edge of the ship. Mordecai called a stop, then moved around to where Lucian stood within the net.

"Hello, Mordie," said Lucian cheerfully. "It appears that you got one over on me, finally. I suppose anything's possible in a world such as ours, yes?"

Mordecai met his smile with one of his own. "Keep thinking that," he said to the rogue. "Keep thinking that, after I send you off to the Realms Below."

Lucian lost his smile. Mordecai turned away. He ordered Fengel's Men pushed overboard. His crew complied, goading with cutlass and long knife. The net went over the edge, Fengel's surviving Men screaming. They fell until the anchor-rope went taut.

Mordecai ordered his crew back aboard the Dawnhawk. Then he waited. In a few minutes, Guye Farrel reappeared, and completed his trail. Mordecai ordered him aboard the other ship, walking over to the thick line of black powder.

He drew a pistol and turned one last time to gaze about the floating wreck. I really hate this ship.

Mordecai knelt and cocked the empty weapon. He placed the pan next to the powder and pulled the trigger. The flintlock snapped close and sparks flew. Some landed on the dark line, instantly catching it. He walked briskly back to the Dawnhawk and boarded. At the snap of his fingers, crewmen cut the last line tethering the old airship to the new.

An order to Konrad and they were moving speedily away.





Chapter Nineteen



Lina hung upside down. She dangled, holding onto the branch with both feet, praying it was strong enough. It was a thin one though, and brittle. Lina didn't dare reach up to grab at it with her hands.

The jungle canopy was a world all its own, even viewed upside down. Long branches covered in thick green leaves surrounded her on every side. Both the dark ground and the blue sky were hidden by dancing foliage that shook with the wind and the passing of the lighter jungle creatures. Should Lina be set adrift to float free, like an airship, she thought she might quickly lose all sense of direction.