Chapter 7: Sailing away from trouble?
I couldn't stop thinking about my uncle. Although my family and I had already taken him to the ocean, I hadn't accepted his death. In fact, I still felt guilty for it. It took a lot of effort from my friends to convince me not to surrender in the morning like the note had requested. We spent almost an hour talking about it until I realized giving myself over to the SHA wouldn't solve our problems. Actually, it could make them worse. As Laurens had said, they'd probably murder me and go after my crew regardless. The SHA proved to be a real pirate killer after what they did to my uncle Ruben. Throwing fruits to make my enemies trip wouldn't solve the problem... Don't judge me! I know you thought of that too. Even Dirk admitted my trick with the fruits was good. That happened when he didn't see me as a nuisance, but it still counts. Anyway, I tried not to think of my issues as I watched the sunset from the main deck. Francis followed me and whined, seemingly feeling my concern.
"Uncle Ruben died, the SHA is still out there, Dirk treats me horribly..." I glanced at the horizon. "Life just gets more fun!"
Francis licked my hand as if he agreed... Don't look at me like that! Dogs can be better than people sometimes. At least they listen and don't twist your words... or make you feel like garbage... Yeah, you know who I'm talking about. Bosch drank a bottle of rum on the forecastle deck. For an instant, I thought he'd come to me and talk, but guess what? He shot me an icy glare, punched the foremast, and went downstairs... Simply adorable!
Would it kill Dirk if he showed me love once in a while?
While Maartje and Laurens held hands on a corner, I pouted like a child who'd lost a toy. God, I missed being touched like that... I huffed and went to the gun deck to avoid freaking out. I smiled while observing the kids playing with Gálvez. Kenneth had built a small room near the cannons for the children to play.
Willem giggled, "Look at my hat!"
I laughed loudly and Francis barked as if he wanted to do the same. Miguel and the kids were wearing straw hats... Yes, you guessed it right! Stolen goods the crew didn't want or hadn't sold yet were the children's toys. Willem's had a blue ribbon, Tess' had a purple one, and Gálvez's had a pink one with a white flower just like Luna's... The things we do for our kids! How could Miguel be so fantastic? Any woman would be lucky to have him.
At least something made me laugh amidst all these problems...
Luna smiled, "Daddy and I have matching sombreros!"
"We're having a hat party," Miguel chuckled. "Would you like to join us?"
Although I had some captain duties pending, I missed playing with the children. I needed to relax after everything that had taken place. Besides, I wouldn't miss the chance to be with a person who always made me happy.
I smiled, "You know what? I'd love to!"
Tess gave me a straw hat with a yellow ribbon. When I was about to put it on, Laurens came running. My eyes bulged as it appeared he'd seen a ghost... Yeah, my fun didn't last long.
My quartermaster bit his lower lip, "Enemies approaching. We must take action."
I raised my brows, "I'm guessing they didn't come to play with the kids."
Can't I have one moment of peace? Damn it!
My quartermaster shook his head in denial and chuckled. I rubbed my forehead while looking at Luna, Tess, and Willem. Although I'd been engaging in naval battles with the kids inside Ocean Storm for years, I still worried about their safety.
"Miguel, take the kids to Tamara. I need you at the gun deck," I took a deep breath. "They'll regret interrupting our hat party!"
"Right away," Gálvez smiled and took off his hat. "They definitely will, Captain Storm."
Although I smiled back, I felt broken inside... Not because of the hat party! I wanted to keep having fun with Miguel and the kids, but my uncle's death was what bothered me the most. I didn't mention anything about avenging him because the children were listening.
Luna grinned and jumped, "Let me fight! Please!"
I chuckled, "I'm sorry, sweetie, but you aren't old enough yet."
My eldest daughter pouted. Luckily, she gave up after Gálvez talked to her in Spanish. I said goodbye to the kids and went to the main deck with Laurens. I bit my lower lip while thinking of my deceased uncle... God, that'd never stop haunting me.
Uncle Ruben won't be forgotten. There will be revenge.
I gawked after looking through my spyglass, "Mother of rum! They must've followed us when we left Havana!"
"I hope they don't destroy our ship," my oldest friend narrowed his eyes at the approaching vessels. "I'll kill each and every one of these bastards if they murder another family member!"
Francis barked as if he agreed. I caressed my dog's head, wishing I could send him to bite all my enemies and end that mess.
"Don't worry, we'll sink them first!" I smiled mischievously. "Find Maartje and tell her to ring the bell."
Laurens nodded, "Aye, Captain!"
The crew quickly showed up on the main deck. I took a deep breath while looking around. Bosch crossed his arms and stared at me. I gulped, hoping my men and women hadn't noticed how my relationship with Dirk had deteriorated. The last thing I needed was people mutinying because they didn't want an undesirable captain... Don't look at me like that! Nothing was impossible.
Countless SHA guys would be dead if Dirk's icy glares could kill.
"Listen up! Three enemy ships are coming. I want forty people on port and forty more on starboard with blunderbusses ready," I increased my tone of voice. "Multiple navies are after us now, but they won't take us down. Let's sink these idiots!"
My crew cheered, seemingly glad about my idea. I gulped while looking through my spyglass. An RNN man-of-war, a Royal Navy one, and an Armada galleon... How entertaining! I'd managed to defeat hundreds of ships in my battle against the British four years ago, but that time was different. My sweating increased as the master gunner came running.
"All the gunners are in position, Capitaine, but Dirk won't come," he frowned. "I already called him three times!"
Are you kidding me?
I rolled my eyes. Yes, sometimes my husband gave me more work than Tess and Luna! Why did he do that? I wanted to hit my head against the mainmast repeatedly for an instant...
I took a deep breath, "I'll deal with him, Jacques. Return to the gun deck."
Jacques nodded and went downstairs. I tripped after the ship swayed. We'd been hit by the cannons of a man-or-war... Simply wonderful! Luckily, my gunners fought back. I shook my head in denial as Bosch pursed his lips. Ocean Storm was being attacked, I had the battle to worry about, and Dirk was acting like a baby... How awesome! That was everything I needed.
"Dirk, you can't mix work and relationship. Our enemies will destroy us if you do that," I glanced at the approaching ships. "I need you in the gun deck!"
Bosch crossed his arms... Unbelievable, wasn't it? I gulped as another blast hit my ship. Perhaps I should've let Luna help me after all! At least she smiled and followed my orders... most of the time.
I scowled, "Stop acting like a child and do your job!"
"I'm sick of doing everything you want!" Dirk narrowed his eyes. "My place isn't below you!"
"You'll be below the ocean if you don't fire some cannons now!" I shot my husband a defiant gaze. "Also, I meant what I said yesterday. You'll get nothing from our next plunder if this behavior continues."
Bosch huffed, "I hate this!"
I smiled sarcastically, "Finally, something we can agree on."
When I thought Dirk would punch me in the face, he bumped into me and ran downstairs. Francis growled, apparently regretful he didn't bite the redhead when he had the chance.
Thank God he's gone!
I went to the starboard side and shot as many British officers as I could. One of the men-or-war was much closer to Ocean Storm than I'd like, so I called more people to the main deck. My sweat increased as the cannon blasts increased.
Laurens eliminated an enemy with his pistol, "I prefer arguing with Maartje than doing this."
I laughed, "You must be really desperate to say that."
I closed my eyes once multiple explosions took place. Ocean Storm heaved as the Armada galleon on our port side blasted us nonstop, damaging our fore-topsail. I sighed in relief as my gunners quickly attacked back. Our cannonballs were enough to break the galleon's hull almost entirely.
I ran to the quarterdeck, "Ashton, steer port!"
My navigator nodded, "Yes, Captain!"
After what those bastards did to my uncle, I was more eager to take them down. I smiled since Maartje shot enemies with more energy than ever. They deserved all our bullets and cannonballs.
"Change our main-topsail, Maartje!" I turned to my cousin. "We must escape that sinking galleon!"
She nodded, climbed the shrouds, and did what I asked. Luckily, Ashton and Maartje were fast enough to save Ocean Storm from being shattered. Francis recoiled until he touched my left foot. If dogs could bark in relief, Francis would've done it.
I won't let these idiots harm more people I love!
I breathed quickly while running to the gun deck. Bosch was firing the cannons slower than everyone else... Couldn't that stubborn redhead be quicker? Yes, but he chose not to!
I bit my lower lip, "You must be faster with the cannons. The RNN man-of-war on starboard won't destroy itself."
My husband huffed, "I'd rather die than hear you speak like a man!"
"Stop talking to Eva like that!" Miguel scowled. "Besides, you're putting everyone in danger, tonto!"
I grinned widely, "I don't know what you called Dirk, but I'm sure he deserved it."
Gálvez and I laughed. Dirk narrowed his eyes intensively. If I punished Bosch, I'd seem like the worst wife ever, but if I didn't, other people could start questioning my orders... I was stuck. Walking to my master gunner, I sighed.
"Ask Trevor to bring more gunpowder to the gunners on starboard," I swallowed hard while recalling the SHA notes. "We have an enemy vessel to sink!"
Jacques nodded and left. My hands trembled as I reached the main deck. Although we'd succeeded in sinking the Armada vessel, it took much more cannon blasts to sink the man-of-war. Damn RNN ships... Why did they have to be so strong? I sighed in relief once the gunners destroyed the man-of-war's hull. Also, my shooters eliminated almost every crewmember of that ship. However, I gulped once I saw the British man-of-war through my spyglass. They approached Ocean Storm fast. My ship rolled once they attacked us.
I rang the bell, "Prepare for enemy boarding! All weapons ready!"
My people got in position and called other crewmembers as the British man-of-war approached. Unfortunately, our cannons weren't enough to sink them, so the Navy men invaded our ship. A British man ran and tried to hurt me on the shoulders and neck. I dodged his blows and our swords clashed.
"You'll die, Captain Storm!" the guy left a minor cut on my left shoulder. "Your reign of crime is over."
I smiled sarcastically, "If you think I'm a queen, maybe you should bow."
I winced as the man went for my neck again. His left side was exposed, so I took the opportunity and struck my blade against his waist. The man winced. He fought quicker than before, almost cutting my sword in two. He attempted to stab my right thigh, but I blocked him. The idiot kept fighting fiercely. I took so many steps back that I almost hit my head on the mainmast. I punched him in the face and sliced the skin on his right shoulder. Francis bit the guy's right calf, making him scream.
I grinned at my dog, "Great job, Francis!"
Although the guy tried to stab me in the chest, I dodged, grabbed him from behind, and slit his throat. Blood flooded the ground once his body crashed against the wood.
I glared at the fallen man, "This one was for my uncle!"
I gulped as two other men came faster than a thunderstorm. Francis bit the legs of one repeatedly, making him wince. The other man injured my left arm and I grimaced. My skin burned, but I wouldn't stop. I sliced the right side of his neck and punched him on the stomach. The man flinched after crashing his head against the wood.
Nobody messes with my family!
The other man grabbed me from behind. My eyes bulged as the other guy reached for his pistol. With barely any air coming in, I kicked the British man between the legs. He immediately dropped the weapon. The second guy pressed my neck even more, but I elbowed him and escaped his grip. Francis bit his legs again, spilling blood.
I panted, "These bastards can't win!"
I fought countless other men while our cannons destroyed the man-of-war. Although my body was full of sweat, I didn't let my opponents hurt me too much. Despite the challenges, my crew and I eliminated the idiots. I sighed in relief as there was no enemy left standing.
Laurens ran to me, "They left this by the body of a crewmember. We're doomed."
Grabbing the note, I frowned. Even though I tried to hide it, my hands trembled as I read the stupid message:
Captain Storm,
You declared war against the Sea Hunters Alliance. We will get what we want. Don't expect us to show mercy.
T.E.M
I crumpled the paper and threw it on the ground. Francis whined, seemingly feeling my anger mixed with fear.
I raised my brows, "At least they didn't ask us to share our booty!"
We laughed. I smiled once the man-of-war disappeared as it slowly got swallowed by the mighty sea... Wasn't this sentence elegant? I know you liked it! Anyway, I returned to the quarterdeck and asked Ashton to steer port again. My navigator followed my orders, preventing the British ship from breaking Ocean Storm into a thousand pieces. I'd never been so thankful for new sails... Wiping away the sweat from my forehead, I went to the gun deck. Francis remained on the main deck with Laurens.
"What a triumph! We neither caught fire nor became shark food," I chuckled while all gunners laughed. "You may have your well-deserved rest."
Everyone left, except for... Guess who? Dirk! I tilted my head to the side once he walked closer. Trying to hide my concern, I straightened up. I was on the verge of tears due to my uncle's recent death, so the last thing I needed was to hear Bosch's harsh words.
Dirk pressed his lips together, "We must talk in private."
Does he finally want to apologize?
I gulped, wondering what the redhead wished to say. Although I wanted to ignore my damaged relationship, I couldn't run away from it anymore. With or without the SHA, that subject would always come back to haunt me. Perhaps Dirk intended to fix our marriage once and for all. Did I really want to solve our problems? I wasn't sure... Somewhere in my heart, I felt insisting on that relationship was a mistake.
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Author's note: Hey! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone is well. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter and follow the "Battles and Secrets" playlist on Spotify. All translations can be found below. Who's running the SHA? What does Dirk want to talk about? Will he try to fix things with Eva? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-)
I dedicate this chapter to my amazing friend debrlynn
Foreign words/expressions in order of appearance:
1. Sombreros means "hats" in Spanish
2. Capitaine means "captain" in French
3. Tonto means "dumbass" in Spanish
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