Epilogue
A few days later
It was a day made of diamonds, the sunlight glittering off the waters of the sea near the outlet of the River Camel, the inlet where Constantine had been keeping the Leucosia for refit. But today was the day of her unveiling, and unveil she did.
Like a great, dark beast, the Leucosia emerged from the inlet and out into open waters. There was an entire fleet of ships to greet her as she raised her darkened sails and tread forth into the dark blue waters of the Cornwall coast, ships from both Constantine’s fleet and Shaw’s fleet.
The Gaia was there, as was the Persephone, the Melinoe, and the Orpheus, all four of those bigger vessels while the smaller ones like the Ligeia shadowed the larger ships. Shaw’s vessel, Savage of the Sea, was also present along with three other ships in his fleet, making it a huge show of force for the Pirates of Britannia.
But they were here for a reason.
The Leucosia was a much-coveted vessel and simply to prevent the French or even the Spanish from sneaking up and taking aim on her, Constantine wanted a big show of force to keep the enemies at bay. He wanted the ship in the channel with no hassle, no fighting. He simply wanted to see the beauty of the sea-going ship in all her glory.
She was quite a sight.
“So that’s her, is it?”
It was Shaw’s question, spoken in a tone that suggested awe. On the deck of the Gaia, standing next to Constantine, they watched the Leucosia emerge from the mouth of the river. She was a massive vessel, at least three times the size of the smaller pirate vessels, and she was built for war. Constantine grinned at the appreciation he heard in Shaw’s voice.
“That’s why I asked you to come back to Cornwall with me,” he said. “I wanted you to see her. It was a hard fight to get that lady.”
Shaw snorted at the understatement. He knew what Constantine had gone through to get her. “Ballocks, she’s a big bitch,” he said. “I dunna blame ye for being so proud of her.”
Over on Constantine’s right stood Gregoria, watching the big ship emerge into the channel. Dressed in a pale blue silk embroidered with tiny roses, a gift from Constantine, she looked absolutely exquisite. The big silver cross he’d purchased for her hung around her neck, as well as strands of pearls and some other jewels she’d selected from Constantine’s horde of jewelry, and she looked every inch the consort of a pirate. Except for the fact that she had no sea legs. Ever since her first trip on the Gaia in that terrible storm, any movement on sea made her ill. But she held herself together for this momentous occasion.
Constantine had asked it of her.
“I know nothing of ships, my lord, but she does seem quite beautiful to me,” she said to Shaw.
The man leaned forward to look at her on the other side of Constantine. “I’ve spent three days eating meals with ye, lass, and Con has yet tae introduce us,” he said. “Do ye think he ever will? If he does, ye can stop calling me ‘m’lord’ and address me by my name.”
As Gregoria giggled, Constantine pursed his lips wryly. “I suppose I should, lest I be accused of having bad manners,” he said. “I did not want to introduce the two of you until I was sure you were not going to seduce her. You’re a handsome devil, you know. They call you ‘Savage’ for a reason.”
As Gregoria snickered, Shaw lifted his eyebrows. “If I thought she would have left ye, I would have tried my hardest tae make it so, but she has eyes only for ye, Con,” he teased, a twinkle in his eye. “Gregg has no interest in me.”
“So you know her name, do you?”
“I’ve heard.”
Constantine fought off a grin. “Admit it. You asked someone.”
Shaw sighed. “I did. Are ye angry?”
Constantine simply shook his head. “I am not,” he said. “But she belongs to me. You would do well to remember that.”
Shaw grinned. “Ye know I have a lass of my own now, Con,” he said. “What would I do with two?”
“Knowing you, you would find a way.”
Shaw laughed softly, looking at Gregoria, who was also grinning. “Nay, Con,” he said after a moment. “I have my Jane now and I couldna be happier. Speaking of Jane, I’m anxious tae return tae her, but it was worth the delay tae see the Leucosia put tae sea. She’s a fine vessel.”
Constantine glanced at Lucifer and Augustin, standing on the opposite side of Gregoria. He gave the men a vague nod, and especially to Lucifer, who nodded in return. It was as if they all shared a secret, something that was now going to be brought to the forefront. Lucifer turned to Remy, who was up on the poop deck, and lifted his hand at the man. Remy, in turn, issued a command to Kerk, who happened to be standing next to him with a bow and arrow in hand. Quickly, Kerk lit the arrow tip and fired it into the air, flaming and smoking and all. As the arrow began to arc its way back to earth, something happened over on the Leucosia.
Shaw’s standard was suddenly raised on the mainmast, the ruddy MacDougall devil-head and sword-fisted hand flying high in the wind. It snapped and danced, announcing to all who saw it that the ship belonged to MacDougall. Confused, Shaw turned to Constantine.
“What’s that about?” he asked. “Why do ye fly my banner?”
Constantine smiled faintly. “Because I am giving you the Leucosia,” he said. Reaching over, he took Gregoria’s hand and pulled her against him. “You went above and beyond the call to save both Gregg and me at Eynon Bay, Shaw. You did not have to come to Lucifer’s summons, yet you did. Then you risked your life and the lives of your crew in a terrible storm to save my miserable hide from an ambush, and I shall always be grateful to you. Valor such as that deserves a reward.”
Shaw was looking at the man with great surprise, turning to watch the Leucosia as she sailed towards the Savage of the Sea, ready to take her place beside Shaw’s flagship. Realizing that Constantine was giving him this magnificent vessel very nearly brought a tear to his eye.
“Con…,” he said, then faded off. Clearing his throat, he started again. “I dunna know what tae say, laddie. It is too much.”
Constantine shook his head. “It is not too much,” he said. “It is worthy of you.”
Shaw turned to look at him again, seeing that Gregoria was beaming at him. Something about the woman just caught his eye; she was so… happy. Aye, he knew the story behind the ambush at Three Crosses. Constantine had told him in confidence that Gregoria had been forced into helping her brother and a fool named Lord Wembury, that they had threatened her should she not help them lure Constantine into a trap.
All Constantine’s men knew of the folly was that the cup they’d been taking to Three Crosses had somehow been lost in the flight from the Sassenach army and nothing more. There was no mention of ever going back to Three Crosses, or of betrayal, or of anything else. To them, she was still Miles Tenby’s daughter. Gregoria had confessed her sins before any real damage was done and Constantine didn’t see the need to tell his men the truth. He believed the matter was between him and Gregoria, and it was settled. He was so far gone in love with the woman that he was willing to forgive her everything.
At first, Shaw wasn’t entirely convinced it was the right thing to do, but three days around the pair had changed his mind. It was clear to see how deeply devoted they were with each other, so much so that even Shaw was willing to forgive Gregoria and believe that she’d made a grave mistake for which she was truly sorry. She doted on Constantine, laughed with him, and even argued with him, something that gave her Shaw’s stamp of approval. A terrible scheme might have brought the two together, but that was quickly forgiven and forgotten.
Now, all Shaw saw was a couple that was terribly in love.
Constantine deserved it.
“Then I accept,” he finally said. “I have never received such a proud and mighty gift. I will take great care of her, Con.”
Constantine slapped him on the back, joy in the man’s expression. “Excellent,” he said. “And your first duty as captain of the Leucosia will be to marry Gregg and me. Captains can marry a couple at sea, you know. I would be honored if you would do the duty.”
Shaw was grinning from ear to ear. “It will be my pleasure,” he said. “My good and true pleasure. Now, let me get over to my beautiful new ship and inspect her. I love ye dearly, Con. Ye’ve passed her into capable hands!”
With that, he climbed over the top rail of the Gaia, down the rope ladder to the skiff waiting below to take him over to his vessels. As Gregoria went over to the rail to wave at him as he and his men rowed away, Constantine went to stand next to Lucifer and Augustin.
Lucifer had recovered quickly from the stab wound he’d received in Eynon. It had missed everything vital and the man had been back on his feet within a day. Now, he stood stoically as he watched Shaw row over to what was to have been his command. But he didn’t mind. In truth, he understood the gifting completely.
“Well?” Constantine said. “The ship is Shaw’s now.”
Lucifer nodded his head. “It is.”
“Regrets?”
Lucifer made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. “Nay,” he said. “He’ll find out soon enough that every pirate in the sea is aiming for that ship. It may as well have an enormous target painted on the broadside. Better him than me.”
Constantine struggled not to laugh, watching Gregoria as she continued to wave at Shaw. “We should probably warn him,” he said.
Lucifer looked at him. “Why?” he asked. “Did he warn you when he gave you that beautiful sword last year, the one with the handle that came off when you tried to unsheathe it?”
Constantine well remembered that particular gift. It had been a stunning Spanish broadsword, but it had been a joke – when one tried to use it, the handle came off, revealing a tiny little blade to fight with. Constantine had been caught in a battle with it and it had been most humiliating. He’d drawn forth what he thought was a magnificent broadsword and ended up with a needle, enough of an embarrassment that the Spanish pirates he was fighting burst out in laughter when they saw it.
“I remember,” he growled. “I still have not forgiven him for that.”
Lucifer bit his lip at the memory. “It was rather humorous.”
“It was humiliating.”
“So, you are not going to warn him about the Leucosia?”
Constantine shook his head. “He will find out soon enough.”
Two weeks after the marriage of Constantine and Gregoria on the deck of the Leucosia, Shaw had to fight off the Dureau and Nicolas Van Rompay, twice, as he made his way to a port in Ireland. It wasn’t until Dureau tried to catch him off guard again and shouted to him, across an inlet with a sandbar in between them, that he wanted his ship back that Shaw began to suspect that his dear and true friend Constantine had saddled him with a cursed ship that the French were wild to reclaim. It would have been just like him to do it.
Shaw laughed about it until he could laugh no more.
With friends like that, the enemies of the Pirates of Britannia had better be on their guard.
Pirates, plunder, and brotherhood… forever.
Long live the Lords of the Sea.
THE END