“Who is there?” he calls.

Two men step out, both armed with pistols. Nicolas backs in front of me, arms out, as if to shield me.

The men step closer. They are the two who ambushed Nicolas on Hood’s Lane.

“So it seems the stories are true,” a man’s voice says from behind the other two. A figure steps out. It is a man in his thirties, with a knife-slit of a thin-lipped mouth and a sleek white wig. I recognize him from the boat last night. Lord Norrington.

Norrington continues, “Rats really do flee a sinking ship.”

“As a former admiral, you should know that,” Nicolas says. “Though I have heard you spent more time behind a desk than on a deck.”

“Is that supposed to insult me, boy? Only a fool wants to be aboard a ship, a thousand miles from home, eating salted meat and sea biscuits.”

“Then call me a fool. As for rats, I find them most admirable creatures. I had a pet one for a time. Our cabin boy—Andrés—and I trained it.” Nicolas purses his lips and looks thoughtful. “I have often wondered what happened to the young man. You would not know, would you?”

“Would I know what happened to your cabin boy?” Norrington says. “Oddly, I do not keep track of pirates. That is a matter for the law. I only concern myself with those brigands who interfere with my personal business.”

“Perhaps Andrés interfered with your business. Then you would know what became of him.”

“Do not try to distract me with your nonsense. You like to talk when you ought to be silent, and to be silent when you ought to talk. I have attempted to be fair with you. I have offered you clemency in return for the name of your employer. He is my enemy. Not a boy who plays at pirating.”

“Since the Crown executed my captain, I no longer have an employer.”

The two navy men lift their pistols, but Norrington waves them down.

“You are fortunate that I am a man of patience,” Norrington says. “If I were not, you would be dead.”

I rock forward, but Nicolas subtly puts a hand back to stop me.

“I suppose you are going to claim you did not realize I was on that ship last night?” Nicolas says.

“Of course I knew. I was teaching you a lesson, boy. One you seem incapable of learning. I want Robin Hood of the Bay. Now, step aside and introduce me to him.”

We both go still. Then Nicolas slowly glances back at me.

“Come, come,” Norrington says impatiently. “Do you think we cannot see him right there. He may be short, but he does not quite fit behind you.”

The two lackeys snicker.

I take a slow step out, even as Nicolas makes a noise of warning. The trees cast this spot into shadow, and I can only guess that Norrington and his men cannot see me clearly. Once they do, they will understand their mistake.