Knaves on Waves by Jim Parfitt

Author:Jim Parfitt [Parfitt, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“Oh, Gods.”

Trigger glanced at Sheridan, who was covering her mouth with a satin-gloved hand. Her horror was obvious, as was that of the muttering crowd. Apparently, they had been unprepared to witness such brutality, despite their earlier remarks. Trigger could hardly blame them. To watch one man slay another, should never be met without appall.

In this particular venue, however, such empathy could lead to violent results.

“What the fuck!?” Roared Tross, leaping into the ring. “He’d surrendered! The fight was done!”

Jacques regarded the pirate without regret, unsheathing his dagger with deliberate intent.

“He cheated!” Screamed another of Hargrave’s crew. “He murdered the Captain!”

The deck began chiming with the ring of unsheathed blades, Hargrave’s crew preparing to take its revenge.

“Gentleman, please!”

Trigger wasn’t certain what he intended to say, or why he’d leapt atop a barrel. All he’d done was make himself an obvious target.

“Yes, it is true, Beaufort did strike a somewhat…dishonorable blow.”

“You’re fucking right he did!”

“However!” Trigger pressed, as the crew crept closer to Jacques’ waiting form. “His actions were in line with the rules of the contest. Hargrave never completed his concession, nor did any member of his corner. As such, Beaufort was within his rights to strike a killing blow.”

He could hear what he was saying, yet even he didn’t really believe it. What Beaufort had done was a cowardly act, as close to legal murder as a man could ever come. Trigger himself was disgusted, and knew that his opinion of Beaufort would never recover. Still, the swordsman had won the duel in a viable fashion, which did not merit death from an angry mob.

“He cut the Captain off while he was trying to surrender!” Tross snarled, brandishing his cutlass in Beaufort’s direction. Considering the skills the man had so recently presented, Trigger considered this a rather courageous challenge.

“A tactic that the duel in no way forbids.”

“Hargrave spared his arse in the second round!” Whined a nearby crewman, waving his pistol with a concerning lack of control.

“Beaufort was making no effort to concede.” Trigger replied. “And we all know that Hargrave’s leniency had nothing to do with mercy. He’d bet on himself to win during the course of round three, and was trying to ensure he received full pay.”

Many of the crowd gasped at this revelation, their shock taking Trigger completely by surprise. This had been a fight to the death, staged on a pirate ship in the middle of lawless seas. Why had they expected fair play?

“I bet on that bastard to take the first round!” Roared a burly member of some unknown crew. “You mean he was stalling?”

“Fuck your first, I’d bet on the second!”

Trigger glanced to where Sheridan was standing, her muscular arm resting around Barnaby’s shoulder. She motioned with her eyes that it was time to leave. Trigger was inclined to agree.

“Your Captain was a filthy cheat! And a shit one at that!”

“Hargrave was better than a dozen men!”

“Really? Because one man just put him in the ground, and he’s missing half a leg!”

“I’ll

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