Chapter 14
Gareth had been carefully examined for wounds but finding nothing more than exhaustion and starvation, Tobias gave him a carefully prepared thin broth with a few herbs to ensure his sleep. Jerome on being reunited with his friend, also checked Gareth out closely and then settled down to watch over him. Considering Jerome had been whining almost the entire voyage, Tobias had questioned the wisdom of bringing him but was now glad he had.
Crow was unable to identify the dead leader as the pirate captain, saying that only Gareth could identify the man. Barring that, they could bring the body back to the capital for identification but there were so many ways that could go wrong, Crow would rather report his mission a failure. One did not kill a member of the Royal family with impunity, even a rogue one.
Pirates continued to straggle in to shore over the next four hours. Out of a crew exceeding one hundred and fifty, only forty five were being held captive.
Gareth woke up famished on the second day. He was amazed to find himself dry, his time in the hold seemed more like a bad dream. Somebody had left clothing for him in the small tent. After Jerome insisted on checking him out again, he was able to get dressed despite Jerome’s help.
The first person he saw was Martin. On seeing him awake, Martin gave a shout and was quickly joined by Tobias and Crow. Gareth had a feeling of unease on seeing Crow, he wasn’t clear on everything that happened but seemed to remember attacking him. At his side, Jerome sensing the uneasiness, gave a low growl. It took a few assurances from Gareth to get him to stop growling.
Tobias brought Gareth up to date on everything that happened. In return, he quizzed Gareth on what had happened to him and how he had been treated. He stayed quiet while Gareth explained about the cell, the pump and the daily lunch with the Captain. Tobias asked him to carefully describe the Captain’s appearance, his mannerisms and speech patterns. He also asked him for details on the food, the wine and if the Captain had ever eaten while seated with Gareth. No, the Captain had never even touched the food or drink. He felt like a complete failure for not realizing it at the time.
Finally Tobias sighed and said, “I was hoping to spare you but we have a corpse that might be the Captain and you’re the only one that might be able to identify him.
It was with both relief and disappointment that Gareth identified the corpse as the First Mate and not the Captain. He knew he hated the Captain for what he had done to him but couldn’t shake the feeling that the Captain was a good friend.
Tobias explained that his feelings had been manipulated by lack of sleep, drugs and a very carefully planned script. That didn’t make it easier to understand why he wanted to kill the man but also hoped he had gotten away unharmed.
With no other choice, Tobias took Gareth to the pen and had the pirates pass by in single file. Gareth seemed to recognize none of them but something about his reaction to number thirty one caused Jerome to start barking wildly. Tobias immediately had the man brought forward for a closer examination.
Crow, being one of the few to actually see the captain, pointed out that the man’s hair was much shorter than the Captain’s hair and he lacked the elaborate moustache of the Captain. A few of the pirates had managed to conceal daggers so it wasn’t inconceivable to Tobias that the Captain had managed to cut his hair and moustache. Tobias instructed him to say, “Gareth, do come up here and have lunch with me.”
Hearing the words come out of the man’s mouth caused Gareth to give an involuntary start. This was the Captain, he was still alive! Still not knowing if he wanted to kill the Captain himself or help him escape. Gareth tried to stall for time by shaking his head but Jerome was having none of that and started barking violently.
“Never mind, my good friend Gareth, you tried but I’m afraid the jig is up. Yes, I’m the dread pirate captain you seek. I claim immunity by right of birth as you well know. You now have no choice but to accord me proper treatment and take me back to my family for judgment. I wonder what punishment they will deem fit this time.”
Realizing that he had involuntarily pulled his dagger on hearing those words, solidified his feelings on the captain. He wanted the man dead. Tobias brought him back to his senses by grabbing his shoulder and saying, “Not here, not now. He’s Crow’s prisoner now.”
Crow, stepping in now that situation seemed to be under control, carefully pried the dagger from Gareth’s unwilling fingers. “I was the one commissioned to bring him back, anyone else faces the risk of Royal censure.” He carefully placed the dagger at the corner of the table well out of Gareth’s reach.
Tobias realized a little too late that well out of Gareth’s reach was well inside the captive’s reach. In rising dismay he saw the pirate captain’s fingers had barely wrapped around the dagger when Crow’s dagger cut through his throat.
“I always hated killing an unarmed man. Glad you decided to make it easy on me.”
“But, but, I’m Royal. You’ll be hung for this,” came the gurgle.
“They have yet to hang me for the first Royal I killed. When the King commissioned me to capture you, I was already convicted to be hanged for killing that one. The King knew I don’t take prisoners. There’s only one job for me, I’m the Royal executioner,” and with that he plunged the dagger into the Captain’s heart.
