Of Noble Birth Read Online Free Page A

merely
nodded.
    “Let’s go.”
    Nathaniel scaled the rope that dangled to
the water, climbing with the ease and grace that came only from
experience, despite his bad arm. He was the first to stretch his
long legs on deck. Richard and Tiny came behind.
    An older man with iron-gray hair and long
sideburns, evidently the captain of the Nightingale, separated himself from his crew almost
immediately. He wore a new frock coat, but his face and hands were
as crusty and battered as an old sea chest. “What in damnation do
you think you’re doing, firing on this ship?” he asked.
    Nathaniel hesitated before making his reply,
letting silence establish his dominance better than any amount of
talking could ever do.
    Evidently the Nightingale carried passengers. Trunks, stacked in
front of the artillery in great rows several feet deep, rendered
the cannon useless in an emergency, making it little wonder that
the other ship hadn’t returned the Vengeance’s fire.
    “I’ll have an answer.”
    Turning back, Nathaniel focused on the man
who addressed him. “You’re hardly in a position to make demands,”
he said smoothly, motioning toward the plethora of baggage stowed
in front of the cannons and allowing his lips to curl into a
smile.
    The captain’s face reddened. “You’re a fool
if you’re doing what I think you’re doing. There haven’t been
pirates in these waters for nearly thirty years, and for damn good
reason.”
    Nathaniel’s smile turned cold as he let the
hostility that smoldered inside him show in his eyes. “Considering
your vulnerable situation, I’d certainly be careful who I called a
fool, Captain—”
    “Merriweather. Captain Thaddaeus C.
Merriweather, and I’ve likely been sailing since before you were
born.” The old gentleman opened his mouth to say more, then clamped
it shut again, obviously struggling to contain the emotions that
occasioned this unwelcome boarding.
    “I am Dragonslayer,” Nathaniel replied. He
was tempted to chuckle at the name, but he could hardly identify
himself. Sobering, he scanned the faces of the Nightingale’s crew once again. He didn’t want any
surprises. Captain Merriweather behaved like a proud old tar, and
his men, collectively a hodgepodge of whiskers, tattoos, and
handmade clothing, looked almost as tough. Nathaniel wondered how
they would have reacted had passengers and their attendant baggage
not been a consideration.
    “I’m glad you were sensible enough to
surrender before there was any loss of life or limb,” Nathaniel
said. “Especially because I mean no harm to your passengers or your
crew. That is to say, we will harm no one as long as you
cooperate,” he clarified, liking the old man in spite of himself.
Obviously a relic from the old school, Merriweather cared about
duty and honor. Men like him were entirely too rare.
    Captain Merriweather’s chest expanded as if
to draw one last breath before hearing the worst of it. “Providing
your requests are within reason, we’ll cooperate,” he said
reluctantly.
    “Your destination is?”
    “Liverpool.”
    “As I thought. Your men will stand aside and
keep all passengers out of the way. Some of my crew will board and
unload what we can carry of your cargo. When we have what we want,
we will leave. Peacefully.” Nathaniel gave the man a benign smile.
“You will then be free to repair your ship and continue on your
way. And of course, to carry the tale of our visit to your
benefactor, the most fearsome and noble Duke of Greystone.”
    Surprise lighted the old man’s pale blue
eyes. “How did you know who owned—”
    “I make it my business to know,” Nathaniel
interrupted. He turned to Richard. “Send the signal.”
    * * *
    On the deck of the pirate ship, Nathaniel
braced against the roll and pitch of the waves, listening to the
hoots and hollers of his crew as they celebrated their victory. Rum
flowed freely among them as first Richard, then his brother John,
toasted everything from the