Chronicles of the Dragon Pirate Read Online Free

insisted they adopt her, even letting Johanna keep her native French language, which she taught to me as well, though we only spoke it at home. Now, Gran-Pere sighed. “I thought everyone had forgotten where she came from.”
    “Old records never forget,” Alfonzo said. Gran-Pere got a white clay pipe already filled with tobacco out of an inner pocket of his apron, and an Artifact striker: a device that struck a small wheel of rough, transmuted wood to a tiny piece of frozen quickfire that Smoke had created, using it to ignite his tobacco. He drew upon the pipe, filling the air with fragrant smoke as Alfonzo continued. “Lord Marcus evidently sent an Inquisitor in disguise to investigate Master Gomez, discovering Tomas and Johanna in the process. He found the adoption records, along with the then governor’s report on Tomas.”
    The knot of fear in my belly had changed to worry for Belle-M’ere’s safety, along with puzzlement as a thought crossed my mind. “Alfonzo, we tried to treat the African girl over six months ago, and according to Smoke she only had another month to live. This means the chief’s son has had the black pox at least five months.”
    Belle-M’ere understood immediately. “All of the pox’s spread through the natives like wildfire. Tomas will not be able to cure him.”
    Alfonzo glared at Gran-Pere. “He will if someone’s been supplying Master Gomez with herbs meant to slow the disease’s progression.”
    Belle-M’ere whirled around. “Papa, you didn’t?”
    Gran-Pere wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Well, what was I to do?”
    “Tell me the truth, perhaps?”
    “And have you go hailing off to Campeche with Tomas, to go live with that upstart Valencia?” He stabbed a finger at her face. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Setting up shop with him while his half-blood children crawl around on the floor.”
    “Had Alfonzo been able to go with us, we would already be there.” Gran-Pere stared at her in shock as she smiled. “When Tomas and I travelled to Campeche to attend Master Valencia’s wedding, he told me there was more than enough work for three apothecaries there, not to mention the order of Draco Magistris. When Lord Tiberius renewed his license, he told Tomas anytime he came to Campeche to live he could enroll in their university there and get the classic education he will never otherwise have.”
    “Tiberius sits like a vulture in that fortified monastery on the Campeche cliffs,” Gran-Pere sneered. “If you ever set foot there, he will snatch Tomas away and you’ll never see him again.”
    “He could’ve done that when he came here,” Belle-M’ere shot back. “He did say if we lived there Tomas would owe him some service. But he also said he would teach Tomas how to use his gift wisely.”
    “Bah,” Gran-Pere said with a dismissive wave of his hand, “the Magistris are little better than the Dominus. They will teach him to fight...”
    “And why not,” I shot back. “I’ve had to fight ever since I was a young boy.” Gran-Pere’s face grew hard, but I made myself look him in the eye. “At least Alfonzo taught me to fight with honor...not that Seth’s bully-boys know a whit about it,” I grumbled.
    Alfonzo gave me the crooked smile I knew Belle-M’ere loved. “Were you my son, I could ask no better.” I forgot my fear as my heart grew warm from his praise, while his face grew troubled as he turned to Belle-M’ere. “Johanna, there is a Dutch Flyte anchored south of St. Augustine, filled with contraband and headed for Campeche with tomorrow’s tide. I can get you passage upon it, you and Tomas both.”
    Belle-M’ere put her hand to his mouth. “I will hear no more talk of this unless you are coming with us.”
    Alfonzo spoke in a voice of exasperation. “Johanna, the governor will never let me go.”
    “He will not be governor forever. Dear heart, how could I go there to live without you?”
    “Fools,” Gran-Pere growled, “all of you. This is