Immortal War

“Hunter and Evil Lockwood Sidorio,” Lola replied. “I think it rolls off the tongue just that little bit better, don’t you?”

It hardly seemed worth him considering the matter further. Sidorio knew full well when his wife’s mind was completely made up.

“I think Evil has had enough blood for now,” Lola said, staying Sidorio’s hand above the glass.

“But he’s crying,” Sidorio protested.

“He has to learn when he’s had enough,” Lola said, “or we shall never have any peace. Besides, I’m thirsty myself.” She lifted the glass to her lips and drained the remains of its contents in one gulp.

Sidorio observed Evil watching his mother enviously. Then he saw the baby’s eyes close and the infant drift off into easy slumber like his little brother.

“We were nervous about knocking, in case they were sleeping,” Johnny whispered.

“It’s all right,” Lola said, looking down at the babies in their twin gold cribs. “They were having a nap, but they’ll be excited to meet all of you.” She smiled graciously at Johnny, Stukeley, Holly, and Mimma, who had all come in, followed by Olivier, who lingered near the door.

“Up you get!” Lola said, lifting Hunter into her hands and resting his little head on her shoulder. Holly came over and cooed at him. “He’s gorgeous!” she exclaimed.

“Isn’t he?” Lola nodded, then gestured toward Evil’s crib. “Would you like to rouse this one from his slumbers?” Holly nodded excitedly and reached down into the crib.

Lola carried Hunter over to the chaise and resumed her seat. Holly brought across Evil and offered him to Lola, who had quickly grown adept at balancing one babe in each arm.

“Look at you go, Captain!” Mimma exclaimed. “You’re a natural mother!”

“Why, thank you,” Lola said graciously. “The thing is I know full well they won’t be little for long. I must enjoy being able to hold them both for as long as I can, until it gives me back-strain!” She laughed merrily and the others joined in, too.

Sidorio addressed Olivier brusquely. “Come and pour everyone a glass,” he said.

Olivier hesitated momentarily, looking to Lola. She met his eyes, then glanced down to stroke Hunter’s cheek. Olivier walked over to the table where a decanter full of blood and six glasses were waiting. As he poured the glasses, Sidorio passed them jovially around the room to his comrades.

“Thank you, Olivier,” he said, as his subordinate realized that there was no glass remaining for him. Sidorio breezed on ebulliently, coming to stand beside his wife. “Lola and I are delighted to introduce to you our two dear boys, Hunter and Evil,” he proclaimed. “So now, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the boys and their beautiful mother.” He lifted his glass. “To Hunter, Evil, and Lola!”

“Hunter, Evil, and Lola!” echoed the others, even Olivier, who mimed lifting an invisible glass.

“Who came up with their names?” Stukeley asked, amused.

“I did,” Lola said, meeting his eyes. “Do you like them?”

“Oh, yes,” Stukeley said. “Highly original. Evil, especially.”

“It’s an old family name of Lola’s,” Sidorio informed him.

“Of course it is!” Stukeley said, not daring to meet Johnny’s eyes. Instead, he lifted his glass and drank.

Sidorio cleared his throat once more. “In all the years I have roamed this earth, I cannot remember another night of such happiness,” he said, his eyes jewel-bright as he glanced at each of his comrades. “We already had a family…” he began.

“Meaning Grace and Connor?” Johnny inquired.

He was met by a cold stare from Lola. “Meaning all of you,” she said icily.

“Yes,” Sidorio said. “We think of all of you as family.” His eyes moved from Stukeley to Mimma to Johnny and to Holly. “And now we have these dear boys who, in years to come, will grow to become your friends and allies.”

“And their commanders,” Lola added.

“What’s that, my love?” Sidorio asked.

“Hunter and Evil will be the commanders of our empire,” Lola said, glancing down lovingly at the twins once more. “These dear little boys will one day rise to become Lords of the Seven Oceans.”

“Ah, yes,” Sidorio said. “Quite so.” He saw Stukeley and Johnny exchange a swift glance. “Moments like this fundamentally change the way you feel about things. Lola was saying so herself just before. How did you put it, my sweet? That everything before the twins’ birth was a fog.” His eyes were like stars shooting across the room. “Everything begins anew tonight.”

Lola nodded, her own eyes bright. The others, including Olivier, leaned closer, aware that something major, possibly quite unprecedented, was brewing.

“Lola and I have been talking,” Sidorio continued. “And we have decided that it’s time to end this war.”

The blood caught in Stukeley’s throat and he began to choke.

“You’re surely not thinking of offering a truce?” said Johnny.

“Hardly,” Lola laughed. “What sort of a message would that send out about the state of our camp?”

“That’s a relief,” Mimma admitted. “You had me worried there, Captain. It sounded like the twins’ births had put you both in a sentimental mood!”

“The twins’ births have galvanized us,” Lola said. “But not in the way you all seem to anticipate.” She turned to her husband.

Sidorio nodded. “We haven’t gone soft. Quite the reverse. We need to step up the fight to ensure these boys’ future. We are razor sharp and ready for decisive action. We are charging you now to prepare for the ultimate victory.” He paused. “Our next attack will end this war in the most absolute terms imaginable.”

“What do you have in mind?” It was, to Sidorio’s chagrin, Olivier who posed the question. Nonetheless, Sidorio was not about to be derailed. Instead, he glanced first at his wife, next his twin babes—their black button eyes staring back at him in awe—and then at his four dynamic deputies.

“Our next and final target is The Nocturne,” Sidorio announced.

31

MINOR ADJUSTMENTS

Jasmine and Cheng Li stood at the open hatch on the third belowdeck of The Tiger, gazing out into the morning light. The sky was painted pink and silver, its tones reflected by the unusually placid sea. The early-morning mist imbued everything with a sense of calm and stillness. It was as if they had stepped out of the raging inferno of war into a precious pocket of peace. As they watched, a silvery shadow appeared through the mist and the Federation vessel bearing Jacoby drew up alongside.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier if he’d arrived at night?” Jasmine asked.

“Of course,” Cheng Li said, her eyes trained on the reciprocal hatch on the other ship. “That’s rather the point.” As Jasmine pondered the captain’s words, Cheng Li turned and called out to two pirates behind her. “Extend the plank!” At her words, the pirates got busy. As the thick metal plank reached the Federation vessel, hands reached out to clamp it into place.

“I just don’t see how this is going to work,” Jasmine said.

“It’s going to work just fine,” Cheng Li said, turning to her side once more. “Ready with the awning, boys?”

“Yes, Captain!”