Free Cutlass by Ashley Nixon Page B

you it was fast, didn’t I?”
    “What happens now?” asked Larkin.
    Barren looked at her, his eyes held a warning. “If you get involved, I swear by Saoirse, you’re going in the ocean and you will either learn to swim or drown.”
    Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest. A glance from Barren to Leaf told the Elf to move next to her, just in case she tried anything.
    Five men from the Elvish ship boarded Barren’s Kendrick . They were quick, swords drawn, ready to fight. The tallest one was a man with dark brown hair that came to his shoulders. Whiskers covered his chin. He was dressed in brown pants and a white airy shirt. He smiled and said, “Barren Reed, I never expected to find you so far from Maris.”
    “I guess it is unfortunate for you.” The pirate sounded bored—as if he already had this situation under control, though he had never expected to be found so far away from Maris while William was still alive.
    “I don’t know about that. It seems as if I have the advantage.”
    “So you think.”
    Barren raised his sword, and as he did, he heard his crew unsheathe their weapons. Leaf withdrew an arrow from his quiver, and fitted it to the string of his bow. The twins had double swords, and they moved them against each other, hungry to fight. Slay had a cutlass, Sam a long knife, and Seamus opted for a long black chain. In response to Barren and his crew, the five men behind their attacker moved into battle stances.
    “What is your purpose?” Barren asked.
    “I came to find you,” the man replied simply.
    “I have no dealings with privateers,” Barren said, accusing him outright.
    “I am not a privateer, but I will fight you if I have too. Will you speak to me otherwise?”
    “If you were a friend, you would not have destroyed my ship so decidedly.”
    And without another word, Barren attacked—their swords clashed and moved against each other in a harsh clank of steel.
    Barren recognized formal training when he saw it—and this man was skilled. He had fluid, but mechanical movements. It didn’t make him an easy target by any means, but it was even more evidence against him. Barren fought hard, the impact of his blows caused his attacker to slow.
    The crews remained behind their respective captain; they would only become involved if one drew blood, and in that instance, a battle would ensue. Despite the common idea that pirates did not play by rules, they respected their own code of conduct.
    The attacker’s sword reverberated against Barren’s, catching between the blade and the hilt. Barren pushed him, and he stumbled and fell, landing on his back. Barren didn’t move to assault, he stayed where he was, waiting for his opponent to get up and begin fighting again. The attacker smiled at Barren, breathing hard.
    “Give up?” Barren questioned with a raised brow. He didn’t expect him to surrender. Privateers never surrendered.
    The attacker shook his head, still trying to catch his breath. Barren swung his sword, and the attacker barely had time to block. He deflected the blow, but Barren was already preparing for another one. The clash of metal was fierce...clank, clank, clank ...and the sword the attacker desperately tried to hold on to flew from his hands, landing across the deck. Barren’s sword was at the man’s neck.
    “Down,” he ordered.
    The man went to his knees. As was his custom, Barren pulled a piece of rope from his pocket and tied the man’s hands. Then he pointed to the rest of the attacker’s crew.
    “Drop your weapons and move over there,” he gestured toward the helm where Sam was standing. The attacker’s crew obeyed and metal clanged to the ground.
    Barren turned his attention back to his prisoner, but as he moved to make a circle around him, he heard the attacker call out to one of his crew—the only one who didn’t actually belong.
    “Lady Larkin?”
    Barren looked up at her questioningly, he could tell by the look on her face that she