“So, then you want me close to you?” he asked raising his brows with a widening gaze.
“Yes, yes, of course I do.”
“How close Lilith? I wouldn’t want to make you…” He began to reply, until his shirt collar was pulled, and Lilith planted a lingering kiss on his lips. She pulled away and set her gaze forward again to her task.
“Lilith, I, I…” He stammered.
“Shut up, don’t ruin it.” Lilith said cutting him off, again.
The two stood in silence for only a moment as they approached cannon range from the ships.
“Captain!” Chibs called back from the bow, “They’re flying American colors.”
“Just as well. Send a warning shot from the bow and one from larboard battery Chib. Perhaps their courage may waver again.”
“Aye Captain.” He replied and then turned to crewmen around him, “You heard him lads, one off the bow and one from the larboard battery, lead gun. Let’s get to it!”
The first cannon shot from the Drowned Maiden echoed out over the expanse of sea in between the two squadrons of ships, followed shortly by another. Lilith was always struck by adrenaline from cannon fire at sea, it sent adrenaline shivers through her nerves and a chill up her spine even though she had heard it before. The bone rattling thunderous boom caused her to flinch slightly and the acrid smoke that followed seemed to penetrate her nose and eyes making them water. The lead ship of the enemy squadron held a steady course, unwavering through the cannon fire. Lilith adjusted the wheel ever so slightly to keep the sails taut and looked over as the Unholy Shepherd loosed several warning shots of their own. Though the ships were still several miles apart, Lilith began to wonder if both commanders were so stubborn as to let their ships collide before being the first to act one way or the other. Men are such stubborn creatures, she thought, they would let the whole world burn around them before allowing anyone think them weak. At first Lilith was amused by the thought, then the more she thought about it she became anxious and angry. The ships were drawing nearer and still James gave no orders. Lilith looked at the approaching enemies, then at Chibs and James, then over to the Shepherd and back to the enemy again.
“Are we just going to crash into them? James?!” Lilith rose her voice in despair. James walked to the starboard rail without giving Lilith so much as a glance and waved his hat at the Shepherd. She immediately made a hard-larboard turn, two men at her helm to execute, passing so close to the Maiden’s fantail that Lilith worried for a moment if they would collide. As Shepherd crossed just behind Maiden’s wake, James walked back over toward Lilith.
“Hard to starboard miss,” He said gripping the wheel along with her, “Now!”
Together they hauled on the wheel turning the Maiden as sharply as she would go until she sailed almost due east.
“James, if they turn south, won’t they have the weather gauge on us?” Lilith asked with a concerned tone as they reeled the wheel back to centerline.
“I’m setting a trap dear. Watch and learn.” James answered with an unwavering confidence. “As soon as they see the Gazelle follow behind us, they won’t be able to resist. Watch, you’ll see.”
Lilith cut her glances in between the enemy ships and the Gazelle, making her far wider turn to follow behind the Maiden. Just as sure as James had said, moments after the fantail of the Gazelle was visible to the American ships they turned to pursue. Lilith stole a glance back to the Shepherd to see that they had beaten their way to the west and would be able to turn in behind the following Americans.
“Once they close distance we will turn southward. They’ve taken the bait, full well knowing we are sailing under black banners they have altered course at the sight of the Gazelle. They are slaver ships; of that I have no doubts.” James said with a devilish grin beaming across his bearded face.
“You are clever Captain James.” Lilith replied.
“Clever and handsome Lilith, you forgot handsome,” he chided still beaming from the kiss she had stolen earlier.
“So I did, apparently humble isn’t on your list though.” She retorted playfully, rolling her eyes a little.
“Never has been!” he laughed “A humble Captain? On a pirate vessel? Confidence wins the day Lilith; a humble commander begs for a sword in the back and to be left afloat in his ship’s wake.”
“I see, but he’s not too proud to be manhandled by a girl?” Lilith teased. She had embarrassed him a little earlier and she knew it.
“That was not fair miss, I wouldn’t dare resist against you, and you know it,” he replied smiling even broader.
“Well, if it wasn’t fair then I suppose it would be wrong of me to repeat it,” she stated flatly.
“I suppose it would. Best not do it again.” James jested and made off toward the bow. He almost escaped her swinging slap against his shoulder, but not quite, and he continued on towards the bow with his mischievous laugh floating over the deck.
The sun was edging its way below the western horizon and the deadly dance between Captain James’ fleet and the Americans had begun. Just as James had predicted, the ships eagerly turned in pursuit of the Gazelle, all but dismissing the two frigates flanking her at great distance. From her vantage at the helm Lilith was in the thick of the unfolding. She overheard nearly every command, every exchange between James and Chibs and listened intently when both men voiced their thoughts aloud. The moment the lead American ship had turned in pursuit of the Gazelle, she could feel shift aboard the ship like a change in the wind. Commands and answers became excited and hurried, James’ demeanor turned cold as ice, his smile fading into stone faced resolution. Daylight was fading and darkness could be
