The locations, major events and certain characters in these stories are taken from Theah, the setting for the 7th Sea role-playing game (http://www.swashbucklingadv.com/). These particular stories are based on logs from my own role-playing adventures in this exciting world (http://www.btinternet.com/~s.mci/7thsea/7thindex.html).
Theah is (sort of, but not quite) a fantasy version of 17th century Europe. It is filled with daring swordsmen, dashing pirates and dread villains. These stories are set in Montaigne (sort of, but not quite, France) and Avalon (sort of, but not quite, England). A young sailor joins the Sea Dog privateers of Avalon to find a life of adventure.
Please send any comments about this tale to s.mci@btinternet.com
Chapter Four
"Oh, yes, my dear, I can assure you that you will suffer greatly before the morning comes. That young pup should never have defied me back on the ‘Kingfisher´. I´ll have my revenge on O´Brien when he learns of your fate. Consider the torments to come as payback for your part in my downfall.’
Lizbeth tried to squirm away from the unsavoury attentions of Tom Evans, but the filthy pirate had too firm a lock on her hair. She was forced to look into his sinister eyes and endure his tirade of threats. Normally the brave young highwaywoman would have a quick retort, a verbal jab to confound or infuriate her foe, but the substantial gag in her mouth eliminated that option. Two folded cloths had been crammed into her mouth and securely bound in place by a long scarf tied between her lips. Her tongue was trapped, her cheeks distorted and her throat irritated by the combination of muffling rags. Evans had promised that the gag would absorb her screams and she believed him.
The pirate bent his face closer to hers. Lizbeth could smell his unwashed stink and the clear traces of cheap rum on his breath. He gave a lecherous grin, revealing the one golden tooth among a mouthful that were stained black by decay. Dried spittle flecked his lips and greasy hair hung past the dirty band across his forehead. He truly was a foul creature. He bent nearer still and his slobbering tongue licked the side of her face, leaving a glistening trail of saliva from gagged cheek to teary eye.
“Cry for me, my dear,’ he coaxed, “Tears bring such beauty to a woman´s face.’
The captive heroine shook her head and choked back a sob. This man was a true sadist. He spoke of revenge when Sean´s only actions had been to defend her and remain loyal to his captain. Lizbeth´s only reason for boarding their ship had been to help rescue their Avalon captain from prison. She had done nothing to provoke Evans, yet he had bound and threatened her from their first meeting. He was an evil monster and she would never willingly succumb to his desires.
But, in reality, she was helpless to resist his intentions. Her hands were tied painfully behind her back, elbows bent and wrists crossed between her shoulder blades. The rope was tied ferociously tight. Even through leather gloves, it bit into her skin to leave her hands cold and numb. Thank Theus, the choking noose had been loosened from her throat, though it still hung at her neck as a reminder of its earlier terrifying use. The girl´s strength and defiance had been overcome in those frantic struggles for breath.
She fell back onto the hard wooden floor and glanced plaintively at the door from the small office. Evans had carelessly left it open a crack, but that hardly mattered. The single candle wouldn´t attract attention and without her voice she had no means to summon aid. At this hour of the night there would be no chance passers-by anyway. She wondered if Sean had completed the rescue of Captain Reynolds. Would he come back to look for her when she missed their rendezvous?
Seeing the direction of his captive´s gaze, Evans gave a mocking laugh, “Thinking of escape, are we? Planning to slip into the night when my back is turned? We´ll have to see about that.’
His weathered hands seized Lizbeth by the legs and pulled her around until she was lying on her stomach with her booted feet jammed side by side in the crook of his arm. The damsel mewed her objections at being handled so roughly, each jostling movement bringing fresh spasms of pain to her bound arms. Her feeble, struggling kicks were easily quashed. Rope was taken and wrapped in six close turns above her knees. Care was taken so that each successive coil pulled the previous ones tighter and left no slack. A complicated sailor´s knot was tied and the loose ends cleverly threaded through the bands to leave a neat and very secure finish.
Strong hands again manipulated the heroine´s body with careless ease. Evans took more of his apparently endless supply of rope and went about tying her ankles. The tight loops and firm knots mirrored the restraints above her knees. Lizbeth´s legs were now extremely efficiently bound. She instinctively flexed her muscles within the constraining ropes and found absolutely no give at all. Even if she was left unattended, she knew it would take an age to somehow worm her way across the floor.
The pirate´s hands roamed freely up and down his prisoner´s bound limbs, partly to check the effectiveness of his ropes, but mostly just to enjoy the movements of the helpless girl´s body. He cupped his hands on the rounded curves of her bottom and dug his fingers into the soft flesh beneath her trousers. The squeal of indignation brought a grin to his face and he flipped the captive over that he might better watch the reaction on her face.
Evans reached to his belt and drew out his sharp knife with its jagged edge. He raised it to allow the flickering candle light to dance along the blade, making sure that Lizbeth had plenty of time to study the weapon and contemplate its uses. He took perverted glee from the look of sheer terror in her wide brown eyes. She shook her head violently from side to side, trying desperately to beg for mercy through her gag. The thick cloths all but obliterated her choked pleas. Evans was pleased. He hated distractions during his work.
The movements of her head quickly ceased when the pirate set the edge of his knife against the smooth skin of her cheek. Lizbeth´s eyes grew wider still, darting from the blade to her captor´s malicious sneer. Her nostrils flared and her bosom heaved as she fought to swallow the bilious fear rising in her throat. The gleaming tip traced a path down one cheek, along her vulnerable throat and back up the opposite cheek. Now tears did stream down her face. Evans gave a soft sigh of satisfaction as he caught the prized droplets on the knife blade, letting them trickle down its dangerous edge.
The highwaywoman screwed her eyes shut, unable to watch further. She was weeping freely, deep wrenching sobs shaking her slight frame. The knife left her skin and she caught her breath, waiting for the terrible fate which must surely follow.
There was a sound of ripping fabric. Lizbeth´s eyes sprang open and she watched in surprise as Evans continued to slice through her clothing. The pirate caught her expression and laughed, “What´s the matter? I keep telling you we have all night. There´ll be no quick end to your suffering.’
The knife passed between her quivering breasts and down chest and stomach towards her waist. The rich silk of her waistcoat, plain cotton of her blouse and lace lining of her corset were all shredded with equal ease, only the slightest of tugs needed where the material resisted. Evans´ hands moved to her cleavage and gripped the frayed edges of the tear. He gave a grunt and brutally ripped apart the two sides of the sundered garments. Lizbeth gasped into her gag as her breasts sprang free and the creamy skin of her stomach was exposed to the chill night air.
Swift movements of the knife finished the work of stripping the beautiful female form. The blade was positioned at one collar bone, sliced across to the shoulder and down the upper arm. Greater effort was required, but Evans successfully sawed through the damsel´s leather riding coat as well as the more delicate articles below. Similar movements repeated the mistreatment on the opposite side. Once again, strong hands gripped at the tears and tore away the ruined clothing. The remaining strips were pushed down until they bunched at the aching bend of her pinioned arms.
Lizbeth shook, trembling in humiliation. She was naked from head to waist. Nothing concealed the flesh of her upper body from the repulsive pirate´s lustful stare. Her tears had abated, but still she gave choking sobs. Wide eyes watched in dread. Evans might not plan to kill her, but he clearly intended her harm.
The scarred villain´s mouth hung open and his tongue licked at dry lips as he leered down. His hands moved to the mounds of her breasts and squeezed cruelly. Lizbeth cried out, the gag again proving its worth. The hands continued to maul at her tender flesh, fingers pinching her nipples with no purpose other than to stimulate pain. The man´s breath was coming quickly, panting as his excitement and enjoyment grew. This female was completely within his power. He could bind her, strip her and use her soft body however he pleased. He alone controlled the fear and suffering she must endure. The thought of such domination was deeply arousing to a depraved fiend such as Tom Evans.
He persisted in his groping assault, roughly fondling her curves, dragging dirty nails along her pale skin. He bent his head and licked along her ribs and across her stomach. His hand moved to her already bruised throat and exerted a firm pressure, further emphasising his strength and her vulnerability. He pushed down on her chest, forcing even more weight onto her trapped arms and smiling at the muffled scream this produced.
Taking hold of the thin belt of her trousers, he gave a tug and then slipped his hand between her thighs, “I may have to untie some of these ropes later. The position of your legs is somewhat inconvenient for certain pleasures.’
Shaking her head in denial and protest, Lizbeth closed her eyes and tried to blot out thoughts of what was being done to her. Fear and pain combined to amplify her distress. Each time she thought she had reached the limits of her ordeal, new methods of torment were revealed. This plundering of her body was the stuff of nightmares. Consensual games of romantic restraint with Sean had nothing in common with these acts of rape. She sobbed and the tears flowed again. She wished Sean were here now to confront this ogre and put him in his place. But she was alone, with no hope that Sean would come to her rescue.
Rising to his feet, Evans stood across his half naked prisoner. He admired the tears flowing through the lashes of her closed eyes. They ran down her flushed face until absorbed by the scarf tied between her teeth. Quite lovely, but he wanted the helpless girl to see what was coming next.
“Open your eyes,’ he commanded. Lizbeth closed her eyes tighter, shaking her head in refusal and trying to wriggle away despite the secure ropes on her legs. The pirate grew angrier. A heavy boot was planted on the girl´s shoulder and ground her body against the floorboards, “Look at me, you bitch.’
Lizbeth screamed again. It felt like her shoulders would be dislocated. Her bound wrists were pressing into her spin with unbearable pressure. She opened her eyes and blinked through her tears.
“You avoided my cat o´nine tails on the ‘Kingfisher´, but you won´t escape this time.’ Evans was unwinding a long whip from around his waist. He gripped its short handle and let the single, thick thong drape across his captive´s naked chest. Slow motions caressed her gently, letting her feel the texture of the braided leather on her flesh. It was easy to read the increasing terror in his victim´s large eyes. The pirate smiled eagerly, “Now the night´s fun can really begin.’
The bearded sailor from Inismore and his tall Avalon captain finally stopped running when they reached the solitary oak tree standing beside the road about half a mile outside of town. Their path from the prison´s southern gate had been clear, most of the guards had been busy pursuing their daring highwaywoman accomplice through the twisting alleys of the northern docks. A handful of soldiers had given chase, but their reactions had been slow and adrenalin lent greater speed to Sean and his captain. Finally confident that the chasing pack had fallen too far behind, they had aimed for the road out of town which brought them to their current location.
The two men stood gasping for breath. Captain Reynolds gave a wide smile and clapped his younger companion on the shoulder, “I owe you a great debt of thanks, Sean. I confess that I had given up hope of escape. I won´t forget your bravery this night.’
The Inishman grinned back, “You´re welcome, sir. It´s a small repayment for all the kindness you have shown me these past months.’ He grinned wider, “Besides, I only did it to impress a girl.’
Reynolds laughed. He pointed at the blood staining Sean´s shirt, “You still have something to learn about fencing. Let me see your arms.’
Sharp rapiers belonging to the prison´s defenders had sliced the young man´s clothing and cut into his arms. He rolled up his sleeves and allowed the wounds to be examined. They didn´t look too serious, no more than deep grazes really. Provided the bleeding was stopped, there should be no real harm. The tattered sleeves were ripped off and put to use as makeshift bandages.
“There,’ the captain inspected his handiwork,. “You´ll need to wash those cuts and find cleaner bandages later, but you won´t die in the meantime. Now, what have you done with my ship?’
Sean flexed his arm, wincing at the tight dressing, “The ‘Fisher´s fine, sir. She´s at anchor in the cove down the coast - the one hidden by the four rocky spires.’ Reynolds nodded, he knew the landmark. Sean frowned and looked down the road back to Crieux, “Lizbeth and I arranged to meet back here. She should really have arrived first. I hope that nothing has gone wrong.’
A loud crack split the air. The whip struck the floor mere inches from Lizbeth´s face. The impact raised a cloud of dust and a draught of air that blew her tousled curls. Evans laughed aloud when she flinched and screamed around the cloth packing her mouth. Anticipation almost brought as much terror as the eventual pain itself. He raised the whip and snapped it back down again.
“Do you hear that?’ he asked. “Can you imagine what it will feel like when I bring it down on your naked flesh? You´re already screaming and it hasn´t even touched you. What will you do when it stings across your breasts? How loudly will you yell when bloody lines cross your pale skin? Will this blow be the one that lands? No? Maybe this one?’
Lizbeth writhed on the floor, twisting in her bonds and fighting the confining ropes despite the added pain and discomfort of her struggles. She knew he was right. Her current suffering, her frightened imaginings, would be nothing when he eventually brought the instrument of torture in contact with her body. Get it over with, you bastard, she wanted to scream, but her gag and her fear prevented such words. Muffled sounds of weeping distress were all that she could manage.
The pirate raised his arm higher. This time he did intend to strike. This time the whip would taste soft female flesh. He held the whip aloft and savoured the moment, but before he could bring it down there was a crash from the door.
A Montaigne soldier burst into the small room. He held a musket and pointed it at Evans. His expression showed disgust and horror at the scene laid out before him. He glared at the vile pirate in revulsion, “Put down that whip and step away from the girl.’ Keeping his eyes on his target, he half turned and shouted back into the dark alley, “Lieutenant, allez ici!’
Tom Evans complied with the orders, raising his arms and moving beside the wall. Lying on the floor, Lizbeth almost fainted in relief. She may have begun this night firing upon these guards, but right now they were the most wonderful men in the world. A handsome officer with a thin moustache entered with a second soldier. He too revealed distaste at the sight of a half-clothed girl in the clutches of a barbaric assailant.
“Untie that poor maiden,’ he ordered his men, before lifting his pistol towards the pirate, ’My orders are to detain all Avalon sailors. Do you hail from that isle? Answer me!’
No longer in a position of strength, Evans was quick to nod. His accent would quickly reveal the truth had he denied the question. The lieutenant´s lip curled, “Filthy scum. Even if you are not the man we seek, you will still pay dearly for this crime.’
The soldier kneeling beside Lizbeth was having great difficulty fumbling with the complicated knots tying the rope around her ankles. Whatever Evans´ failings as a human being, he was highly skilled at certain sailor´s crafts. The soldier was finally forced to give up and use his sword to cut the ropes loose. He also removed the ropes at the girl´s knees, but when he lifted her body to reach her bound wrists, Evans shouted an interruption.
“Wait! You should know that this woman is not the innocent you assume.’ He indicated the pistols, rifle and sword piled in one corner of the room, “She was behind the attack on your prison tonight. In fact, she was probably involved in the escape of another pirate several days ago and who knows how many other crimes.’
Lizbeth shook her head and protested her innocence, wishing her gag had been removed. The soldier hesitated and looked to his officer. The lieutenant had lifted her weapons and was studying her carefully. Clearly the young girl was the victim of whatever misdeeds had been committed in this room, but her boots and the remains of her other clothes didn´t match the apparel of the local peasant girls. Was she really the infamous highwaywoman who dogged the new authorities in the area?
He shrugged his shoulders, “Keep her tied. We´ll take them both back to the tower.’
The soldiers were more kind than Evans had been, but their hands were just as firm when they pulled Lizbeth to her feet. She struggled and tried to shout past her gag, but their grip held her still. It seemed that her period of captivity must continue a while longer.
The lieutenant stepped before her, “Keep quiet, mademoiselle. Citizen LePrev will soon decide the truth of your involvement in this affair.’
An hour later Michel LePrev was looking at the latest two detainees to occupy Crieux´s prison tower. So far twenty Avalon sailors and pirates had been dragged in from docked ships or the town´s many pubs and brothels. Captain Reynolds and his unknown rescuer were not among their number. LePrev realised that his prey had probably fled the town by now. One more interrogation session and he was certain that Reynolds could have been broken. Having come so near, the agent refused to return to Charouse with nothing to show for his mission.
The male prisoner paced his cell like a caged animal. His hands were held in manacles behind his back. From the lieutenant´s statement and the man´s appearance, he was clearly a criminal of the worst kind. His head would fill a hangman´s noose before too long. The prisoner was no doubt aware of his sentence. His eyes held the fear of a man waiting to be condemned. He alternated between pleading calls for guards to hear his case and shouted abuse blaming his fate on the girl locked in the cell beside him.
The young girl sat quietly with her head bowed. A plain white shift had been found for her to wear. The simple garment had long sleeves, a low square cut neckline and a skirt that fell past her knees. Thin matching slippers covered her feet. The ropes and gag with which she had been tied had been removed. Red burn marks stood out on her wrists and around her neck. However the surgeon who had been called had declared that she bore no lasting injuries. Her hands were also manacled, but they were held before her body and rested in her lap.
LePrev studied her face and hair, trying to imagine what she would look like with a black highwaywoman´s scarf tied about her nose and mouth. She seemed very young, but her graceful build and distinctive hair certainly matched the rough description of the woman who had struck at Muguet and the vague accounts of the gun woman who had fired upon the tower. He glanced at the report in his hands. The pirate released at Muguet had belonged to Reynolds´ crew. It was too much of a coincidence. She must surely be guilty.
Both prisoners looked up when LePrev moved out of the shadows and strode towards their cells. Evans pressed himself against the iron bars and immediately began to beg his innocence.
“You can´t keep me locked up. I´m not a wanted man. Your country´s revolution sounds like a grand idea. I swear I´m innocent - just an honest merchant sailor.’
“Be silent.’ LePrev had no time for such lies from this miscreant. “I have no interest in your past deeds. Your treatment of this woman tonight - as witnessed by my own men - is enough to condemn you to death. There is no reason to waste energy on other arguments.’
Lizbeth looked across with a cold glimmer of satisfaction. Evans´ shoulders sagged and his face collapsed into hopelessness. Good, he deserved to die for all he had put her through.
Her attention turned to the stern figure standing before her cell. From his lack of uniform, she knew that he wasn´t a member of the regular army. That probably meant he was an agent of the new Committee for National Welfare and that made him a very dangerous man indeed. With the paranoia which swept their country in the wake of the revolution, it didn´t take much to prove charges of treason or disloyalty. It was no longer just the heads of nobles which tumbled from the executioner´s block.
“What is your name, mademoiselle?’
“Lizbeth Belle-Fleur du Vraise.’
“Do you have any deeds to which you would like to confess?’
“No.’ Lizbeth almost smiled. He sounded like a priest. Come to think of it, she had never been too keen to share details of her private life with members of the clergy either.
LePrev kept his voice level, “You have heard the accusations made against you: that you freed a convicted pirate en route to the gallows of Muguet, that you have fired upon sworn servants of the state and that you have conspired to release a foreign enemy of our nation. Do you deny any of these accusations?’
Lizbeth remained silent and lowered her head, allowing her chestnut tresses to cascade forward and conceal her face. His tone showed that this man had already decided her guilt. Denial would not help her cause and confession would win no mercy.
“It was her,’ insisted Evans, “Everything I told that soldier was true.’
“I told you to be quiet.’
“But I was there when she came onto our ship. She´s been working with a troublemaker called Sean O´Brien. They tricked us into bringing them here, but I knew she was up to something. That´s why I had captured her - I was bringing her to you all along.’
Somehow LePrev doubted the full honesty of that claim. “Well, Mademoiselle Belle-Fleur, do you have anything to say in your defence? The penalty for such crimes is high indeed. The Committee takes a dim view of those who work against the enlightened principles of our new Republic.’
Lizbeth lifted her head proudly now. If she was to face death then she would do so on the strength of her convictions, “Do the principles of that Republic include intolerance of other opinions, persecution of the innocent and encouragement of acts of hatred? Perhaps the monarchy was unfair and social change was needed, but the methods used in the name of your so called ‘national welfare´ are unjustifiable. I am glad that the Avalon captain has escaped. You will never find him now and, with luck, his heroic deeds will let dozens more escape your grasp.’
The loyal servant of the revolution fumed in displeasure. People like this foolish child never understood the challenges which must be faced to improve their way of life. The rulership of kings and been established for centuries. Of course it would take drastic actions to cement the changes put in place. How could they not see the dangers of undermining those changes.
Evans spoke up again, “I know where to find the captain. O´Brien was to meet up with the girl outside town. I can show you where.’
Lizbeth spun in fury. If her hands had not been chained they would have been reaching into Evans´ cell to claw at his throat. “Shut up, you traitor. You´re betraying your own countrymen! You don´t seriously believe you can negotiate your freedom from this man? He´ll hang you anyway.’
LePrev looked up in interest. For the first time the pirate was saying something to which it was worth listening. The man was clearly desperate to save his own skin, but he would gain nothing by deception. It had to be an opportunity worth taking. He turned to a guard and rapidly issued his orders, “Prepare a small squad. Gag the girl and bring both prisoners. The night may not be lost to us after all.’
“How much longer do you want to wait, Sean?’ Captain Reynolds did not ask the question impatiently. He could see that the young man was worried about his companion and her continued absence. She was over an hour late for the rendezvous. They didn´t dare return to the town to search for her and Reynolds would have been much happier to continue on towards his ship.
Sean anxiously peered down the road, “I don´t know. She saved me from the hangman, sir. I can´t just abandon her.’
The captain nodded his understanding, “I get the impression that the two of you have grown quite close?’
“I … well, I mean …’ Sean stammered and avoided his captain´s gaze before shrugging with a wry smile, “Yes. You know I think I was starting to fall for her.’ He sighed and returned to his vigil, “I was supposed to have the dangerous part of the plan. What can have … wait, is that? … Sir, somebody is coming.’
A group slowly approached under the moonlight. Sean´s spirits soared when he recognised Lizbeth, but as she drew closer it became clear that all was not well. A thin band of black silk was tied between her lips, drawing them back into a slight grimace. Heavy iron cuffs linked with chain were locked about her wrists and held her hands together. Sean´s hand went to his cutlass when a scowling figure in a long coat prodded Lizbeth forwards. Four armed guards moved into a line across the road. One last figure reluctantly followed at the rear, his wrists also locked in irons. Tom Evans? What the hell was he doing here?
The man in the coat stepped forward, “Captain Reynolds, how very good of you to wait for me. As you can see, Monsieur Evans has been kind enough to help me out tonight. Now, might I suggest that your friend drops his weapon before the girl gets hurt.’
“LePrev,’ muttered Reynolds. “I swear that man is really starting to annoy me. It´s up to you, Sean. I´ll back you up whatever you decide.’
Lizbeth watched Sean with sorrow in her eyes. She wished he hadn´t waited for her. He could have been well on the way to safety by now. She tugged nervously at the chains between her wrists. From this distance it was impossible to hear the whispered exchange between her roguish lover and his captain. She chewed on her gag and mewed her concern. Run, she urged. Forget about me, run and save yourselves.
Such hopes were dashed when Sean´s cutlass dropped to his feet. At LePrev´s gesture, two of the guards marched forward with more of the heavy manacles. She sent a look of hatred in the direction of Tom Evans. The traitor was showing no remorse over his betrayal. She hoped his treachery earned the punishment it deserved.
The guards closed on the two sailors. Sean winked across to his captain. Without drawing attention, his boot slid beneath the blade of his fallen cutlass. When the guards were only feet away, he kicked the blade high into the air. The startled soldiers followed its flight with their eyes. A small distraction was all that was needed and a sharp elbow to the face caught one of the guards by surprise. Sean nimbly caught his sword as it started to drop and slashed out at the second guard.
LePrev stood in astonishment for a second then barked to the man on his right, “What are you waiting for? Fire!’
The soldier raised his musket and took aim. Before he could pull the trigger, Lizbeth threw herself forward. She bowled into the man´s side. The shot went wild and the soldier stumbled awkwardly before falling heavily to the ground. His head struck a rock with a sickening crunch. Lizbeth watched in horror as blood began to pool, but she had no time for regret. She knelt and reached for the keys hanging on the dead man´s belt.
LePrev snarled and drew his own sword. He advanced to Sean and Reynolds with the fourth of his guards. Sean moved to intercept LePrev, grinning like a madman and flicking his cutlass in short menacing jabs. Reynolds had taken up a sword and was holding his own against the remaining soldiers. In the confusion, Tom Evans was left unattended. The coward saw his chance and bolted, running with his hands still locked in chains. He headed across a field and was soon lost in the night´s darkness.
Weak fingers fumbled at the locks, but at last Lizbeth freed herself. She ripped the gag from her mouth and looked back to the battle. The captain was keeping his opponents at bay, but Sean was clearly in trouble. The Inishman might fight with strength and enthusiasm, but the Montaigne agent was a trained duellist. He had noted the injuries on Sean´s arms and tested this weakness. The ploy worked well. LePrev easily parried a clumsy blow and knocked the cutlass aside, leaving his enemy with no defence.
“No!’ Lizbeth screamed as LePrev stabbed forward, his rapier driving deep into Sean´s body. The cutlass fell weakly from the young pirate´s grasp. Almost in slow motion, he looked down at the wound and then back at LePrev´s triumphant sneer, before toppling sideways to the ground.
“No!’ Lizbeth cried again. Ignoring her own fatigue, she lifted the dead guard´s sword and charged into the fray. Adrenalin and passion fuelled her rage as she lashed wildly with the blade, “Leave him alone! Leave him alone or I´ll kill you all.’
The sudden assault took LePrev by surprise. He managed to block the first few swings then gasped in shock as her rapier was forced past his defence and bit deeply into the flesh of his shoulder. He staggered backwards, almost slipping on the rutted road.
Lizbeth held her ground, standing protectively over Sean. Her body shook from anger, pain and exhaustion, but she held the sword firmly, “Now get away, you bastard. You´ve lost here.’
A second sword joined Lizbeth´s. Reynolds moved to her shoulder, “She´s right, LePrev. There´s no need for further bloodshed if you leave now.’
LePrev swayed, one hand staunching the flow of blood from his shoulder. He watched his wounded guards stagger away and met Lizbeth´s tear-filled glare with a nod of concession, “Very well, I give you this day. It matters not - you won´t get far, captain. But know this, Lizbeth Belle-Fleur du Vraise, your name will be listed as a traitor to your country. The executioner will await you in every town and village should you be foolish enough to remain in Montaigne. Enjoy your little victory while you can.’
He turned and began the walk back to Crieux. This matter was not over yet. The Committee still had their agent within the Sea Dogs´ own ranks. Even if it meant sailing all the way to Avalon, Michel LePrev swore he would have his revenge over Captain Reynolds.