“He shoulda’ let himself get some decent shut-eye,” Skinner called across the ship. “Yer fate was in yer own hands these past few days, not mine. I don’t hurt people without a reason. I’m not a monster, you know.”
“Says the man who kidnapped us and threatened us with dismemberment,” Waverly fired back.
Skinner shrugged. “Don’t take it personal, lass. It’s just business.”
“What business is that?” Verrick asked. “What do you want? I demand to know what this is about.”
“Fair enough!” Skinner flipped his spyglass around, offering it to Verrick. “See for yourself, old-timer. It’s right out there.”
Verrick took the spyglass and brought it to his eye. “What am I looking at?”
“An oasis of finery and elegance in this filthy world of ours,” Skinner said. “They call it Aquatica. It’s a palace splendid enough to make a king and queen feel at home, with a treasure vault rich enough ta make an earl look like a pauper.”
“If the stories are true,” Dean said. He had a look next. Through the spyglass, he saw something at the edge of the horizon. It was far away and hard to make out, but it looked like a castle of some kind. Dean couldn’t say for sure if it was Aquatica, but he didn’t care to argue one way or the other. All he cared about was his friends. “Congratulations, you found it. Why don’t you storm the castle and leave us out of it?”
“Would that I could, boy, would that I could.” Skinner leaned in and raised the glass back to Dean’s eye. “Look to the battlements. Cannons upon cannons upon cannons. They’d blow us outta the water before we ever got close enough ta scale the walls. I told you, I need someone to go in and lower their defenses.” He gestured to the band of cutthroats on board his ship. “My men aren’t suited ta that sort of work. I need someone who can get inside and catch ’em unawares. Someone they won’t suspect.”
“This lot ain’t long on subtlety,” Marlon Spyke noted.
“Not at all. As fer me . . . ,” Skinner continued. He raised his chin in the air, putting his ugly mug on display. “Lord knows I got a face that folks don’t trust easy. That’s where you come in, Seaborne.” He pinched one of Dean’s soft cheeks and gave it a hearty shake. “You could play the part I need just fine. I had hoped ya might realize the potential here and sign aboard gladly. At the very least, ya mighta’ done it outta gratitude fer me pullin’ yer hide outta prison, but no. You had ta be thick about it.” Skinner shook his head with a disappointed tsk-tsk-tsk. “No matter, I’m prepared for that. You’ll go along as long as I’ve got yer friends as my guests. The journey here proved that, if nothin’ else.”
With those words, Dean realized that Skinner was no mere thug. The threats he had made before their voyage had done more than keep Dean in line. They had revealed the lengths Dean would go to in order to keep his friends safe. There was a twisted brilliance to Skinner’s actions—impressive and reprehensible all at once.
“Guests,” Dean said. “Is that how you see it?”
“That’s all it has ta be. Same as before, how well everyone gets treated is up ta you. Do the job and I’ll let you all go. Do it well, I might even give ya a share of the loot!”
Skinner turned his head and mugged for his crew, expecting them to balk at his offer. When they did, he made a playful show of reconsidering his generosity. “All right, half a share. Maybe. If I’m in a good mood when all’s said and done. What’ll it be, boy? Do we have a deal or not?”
Dean’s mind was racing. He didn’t trust Skinner to keep his word and let them go, and he didn’t want to think what might become of his friends if he left them here alone.
“I told you, I don’t do this kind of thing anymore. I’m out of practice.”
“Bah! Yer a pirate, born and raised. It’s in yer blood. I’m tired ’a’ this conversation.”
Marlon Spyke flashed his dagger and twirled it in his hand. “If I were you, I’d say yes while the captain’s still askin’ nicely.”
“Maybe that’s the problem,” Long Tom Cannon said. “Could be we need to put it to him differently.”
“Could be, Long Tom,” Skinner agreed. “Let’s see. Who’s up for a swim?”
Long Tom grabbed Waverly. “How ’bout this one?” The big tree of a man picked her up as if she were a twig.
“Take your hands off her!” Verrick cried out. Marlon Spyke knocked the older man to the floor. Dean and Ronan started toward Waverly, but Long Tom threw her overboard before they got within two feet of her.
“Waverly!” Dean shouted. He reached the gunwales and prepared to dive in after her, but Skinner grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back.
“There’s two ways we can do this. The hard way . . .” Skinner pointed to Waverly thrashing about in the ocean. “And the easy way.” He held up a lifeline with a floater tied to the end. “I told you, I don’t like hurtin’ people ’less I have to. She doesn’t have to drown out here. Say the word, and we’ll reel ’er back in. It’s not too late fer the lot of us ta be mates. Be smart about it, why don’t ya?”
Dean stood still. His heart was in his throat as he watched Waverly treading water. He wanted to agree to whatever it took to get her back on deck before she was lost to the current. But Skinner was right—he had to be smart. He had to be every inch as ruthless and clever as his enemy if he wanted to survive. “Leave her.” Dean pushed the line of rope away. “She’s better off down there.”
“What?” Verrick said.
“What?” Ronan echoed.
“What?” Waverly exclaimed. “Dean!”
Skinner studied Dean with a smirk. “Don’t bluff me, boy. You don’t mean that for a second. I can read you like a book.”
“Read my lips,” Dean said. “I’d rather see her drowned than up here with your ship full of rats.”
Dean stood his ground as Skinner’s eyes widened. Waverly’s went even wider. “Dean, you scoundrel! Get me up there!”
Verrick struggled to his feet and sidled up to Dean. “What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?”
Dean said nothing. He was taking a huge risk, but it was all he could think to do. They weren’t going to get anywhere if they kept playing by Skinner’s rules. Dean had to change the game. He waited for everyone to get over their shock. It took forever.
“Blow me down, yer a stubborn one.” Skinner shook his head. “Long Tom! Spyke! Grab the others and bind their hands and feet. We’ll see if watchin’ his friends sink ta the bottom don’t soften his resolve.”
Long Tom and Spyke went for Ronan and Verrick. Dean didn’t budge an inch. “Throw them in too, see if I care,” he called out. “Just know that any chance you have of getting that treasure goes with them.” Skinner put up a hand and his men stood fast. “I need them with me, Skinner. When I went to Zenhala, I wasn’t alone. These three were all there too. I need their help.”
“Help?!” Waverly was aghast. “I’m not going to help you steal anything!”
Skinner cackled. “Don’t worry lassie, no one’s askin’ ya to. I see yer game now, Seaborne. What do take me for, a fool?”
Dean shook his head. “I only wish. You’re a bit too smart for my liking, but even you can’t plan for everything. We don’t know what we’re going to find inside that castle. I’ve got a better chance of getting what you want if I’ve got my friends with me.”
“A better chance of getting what you want, maybe. A better chance ’a’ gettin’ away.” Skinner shook his head. “Sorry, yer friends stay here. Long Tom and Spyke can go with ya.”
Dean snorted out a laugh. “Is that supposed to be a joke? You can clean those two up as much as you like, it won’t matter. They’re pirates to the bone. Everyone who claps eyes on them will know it. You know it too, or I wouldn’t be here. I can do this, but I can’t do it by myself.”
Dean could tell his message had gotten through, but he also knew the wily captain wouldn’t roll over that easy.
“I’m not giving up my hostages,” Skinner said. “One o
f ya has to stay here. That’s all there is to it.”
“I’ll stay,” Verrick said instantly. “I’ll do whatever you ask, just haul her up. Now!”
Skinner raised his eyebrows toward Dean and silently offered the rope once more. Dean nodded, and Skinner threw out the line.
As Long Tom Cannon reeled Waverly back in, Verrick whispered to Dean, “Don’t worry about me. Just get her out of here and don’t look back.”
Dean said nothing. Verrick would have done anything to help free Waverly from Skinner’s clutches. Dean had to find a way to do the same for Verrick. So far, all he had done was buy himself time to figure out his next move.
“It’s settled then?” Skinner said. “We have a deal?”
Dean shook his head again. “Not yet.”
“What now?”
“You need to understand this kind of thing doesn’t happen overnight.”
Skinner snickered at Dean’s nerve. “Yer right about that. You’ve got until sundown to get us into that palace. Any longer than that, and yer man here’s a goner.”
“I need at least a week.”
Skinner sniffed. “We all need things.”
“Three days, then. Give me that long, at least. You misspoke before, Skinner. There’s three ways to do this.” Dean ticked them off on his fingers, one by one. “The easy way, the hard way, and the right way. If the job goes south, it’s your neck on the line too. Don’t you think it’s worth the wait?”
“Two days,” Skinner agreed at last. “And not an hour more.”
Dean shook Skinner’s hand. “Deal.”
He went to help Waverly up onto the ship, but she slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
Skinner laughed as Verrick draped a blanket over Waverly’s shoulders. “Women! There’s just no pleasing ’em, is there?”
Dean glared at Skinner. “Let’s not waste each other’s time. Do you have a plan to get us in, or do I have to do everything?”
“Aye, lad. I like the way your mind works. Let’s get down ta business.”
Chapter 7
The Plan
“No one gets within a league of Aquatica if they don’t look like they belong. You three might not pass for royalty . . .” Skinner paused to flap open a flag. “But I’ll lay odds they let you in the servant’s entrance, easy.”
Dean took the flag and held it out for a look. Its symbol was a large black A set against a light blue field. Three wavy lines made up the A’s crossbar. “What is this?”
“It’s yer ticket in, is what it is. We got it off a trio of circus performers bound fer Aquatica. That’s how we found this place. Was them that had the heading.”
Ronan frowned at the flag. “Circus performers? I don’t understand.”
“They was hired to entertain the guests.” Marlon Spyke spun his dagger as he spoke. “Or, should I say, you three were hired. Savvy?”
Dean locked eyes with Spyke, then turned back to Skinner. He wasn’t impressed with the plan. “What makes you think this will work?”
“It’ll work,” Skinner said. “Aquatica’s chief talent scout, a man called Galen Fishback, caught their act in London and booked ’em ta play at the palace.”
“Won’t he cry foul when he sees we’re not the people he hired?”
“We’re pretty sure he won’t even be there.”
Dean blinked. “Pretty sure?”
“He’ll be off to the next city, looking for the next great performer,” Skinner said. “The way I hear it, people in that castle never know who he’ll send their way next. They count on that flag as proof ya crossed paths with Fishback.”
“How do you know all this?” Ronan asked.
Skinner’s chest puffed up with pride. “The entertainers we raided spilled all. At first, they didn’t want to give up nothin’, but we got ways of askin’ questions when we aren’t tryin’ ta be nice.”
“Where are those men now?” Dean asked.
Skinner shrugged. “Like I said, we weren’t tryin’ ta be nice with them.”
Waverly gasped. “You killed them?”
“You make it sound so unsavory. I told ya, it’s just business. I couldn’t have them catchin’ on with some other ship and gettin’ there ahead of us ta warn everybody. This here’s the kind of job I can retire on. A resort full of nobles on holiday! Think about how those blue bloods pamper themselves at home. They live on vacation, that lot. I can only imagine what it must take ta spoil them out here.”
“You’re horrible,” Waverly said.
“I can be, when things don’t go my way. Somethin’ you oughta know about me, lassie. Skinner ain’t my Christian name. I earned that handle by deed. Just think on that whilst I got yer friend here keepin’ me company these next few days.”
“You don’t have to keep threatening us,” Dean said. “We’ve already agreed to take the job.”
Skinner winked at Dean. “Just makin’ sure.” He nodded toward his ship. Time to go. Long Tom Cannon and Spyke took hold of Verrick. Dean watched helplessly as they marched him onto the deck of the Crimson Tide.
“We can’t let them take Verrick,” Waverly told Dean.
Dean shook his head. “We don’t have a choice.”
“Yes, we do! I won’t let this happen!”
“It’s all right Waverly,” Verrick called back. “This is what I’m here for.”
“No, it’s not! I forbid you to go with them!”
“She forbids it!” Long Tom Cannon exclaimed. “What kind of men let a girl talk to them like this?”
Waverly flushed with anger and stormed up to the gunwales. For a moment, Dean was afraid she might give herself away as a Zenhalan princess. She may not have cared for her royal title, but she didn’t care to be condescended to either. From the deck of Skinner’s ship, Verrick shook his head. The look on his face was urgent, his message crystal clear: Don’t put yourself at risk. Let me do this for you, please!
“Are we going to have a problem here?” Skinner asked.
“No,” Dean said. “There’s no problem. Is there, Waverly?”
Waverly held her tongue but still threw Dean a look to make the devil run and hide.
“That’s more like it,” Skinner said as he took his leave of the Tideturner. “It’s a simple job, this is. Go in pretendin’ ta be the troupe ’a’ performers what we raided. Fly that flag and tell ’em who hired ya. Galen Fishback. Remember that name. You got two days, Seaborne. I’ll look to the east every morning at dawn. Signal me with a looking glass when yer ready. When I signal back, you’ll know I’m coming. I want to be greeted by open gates, you hear? Open gates!”
Skinner’s crew gave the railing of the Tideturner a heavy shove with their boots. That was that. They were off.
Chapter 8
Once a Spy
Dean and his friends sailed in silence until Skinner’s ship was out of earshot. They went on that way a good while afterward as well.
Dean felt lower than the ocean floor. Forced back into the service of pirates. He had thought himself done with that life, but apparently it wasn’t yet done with him.
“Chin up, Seaborne. It’s not all bad,” Ronan said. “For one thing, you’re not in jail anymore. For another, this job at least squares with the Gentleman’s Code.”
Dean’s eyes remained fixed on the deck of the ship.
“What code?” Waverly asked.
“My old captain’s code,” Ronan explained. “Gentleman Jim Harper. He was a good man, nothing like Skinner and his crew. Captain Harper made sure we only stole from people who could afford it, people who deserved it, or both.”
“And where is this gentleman now?” Waverly said gentleman with enough sarcasm to melt a cannonball.
“Lost at sea,” Ronan said mournfully. “But not before he saved me and Seaborne’s life. I couldn’t do the same for him, but I can honor his memory. If anyone can afford to get robbed, Aquatica’s royal guests can.”
Dean shook his head. “We said the same thing on our way
to Zenhala, remember? Legends are tricky, Ronan. We don’t know what we’re going to find once we reach Aquatica.”
Ronan grimaced. “What are we going to do if the legends aren’t true this time?”
“Devil if I know,” Dean said.
“It doesn’t matter if the legends are true or not,” Waverly said. “We have to warn the people in that castle about Skinner. We have to ask them for help. That’s what we’re going to do.”
“It’s not that simple,” Dean said.
“Why not?”
“Because they don’t know us,” Ronan explained. “They don’t have any reason to trust or help us.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t.”
“We can’t take that chance,” Dean said.
“Suddenly you’re so cautious?” Waverly said. “You seemed perfectly happy to risk our lives back there with Skinner.”
“That was different,” Dean said. “It was in his best interest to meet me halfway. You’re talking about relying on the kindness of strangers. That’s a bad bet.”
Waverly scoffed. “If all you ever do is lie to everyone you meet, you don’t give them much chance to show you any kindness, do you? I understand you don’t have much experience with the truth, but you might be surprised where it gets you.”
“I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t get us killed,” Dean said. “Best-case scenario, they’ll throw us in the brig and blast Skinner’s ship to matchwood. That’s what I’d do.”
“That’s what you’d do?” Waverly was appalled. “Verrick is on board that ship.”
“That’s what I’d do if I were them. He’s nothing to them.”
Waverly looked away.
“I didn’t say he was nothing to me,” Dean said. “You’re not really mad I told Skinner to leave you in the ocean, are you? I was bluffing! I had to do something to get us off that ship.”