As I told Madwulf about Priest’s reaction to oranges, Jade’s location on Harbour Island, and my bait with the island of the birds, I flayed the flesh from his body, strip by despicable strip. I cut and diced until bones glistened in the lantern light. I removed his nose, carved out his eyes, and relieved him of the shriveled rotten meat between his legs.

I gloried in the flow of blood. It wouldn’t bring back my father’s letter, but I felt vindicated for ridding the earth of an evil that would never again threaten a farmer’s daughter or separate a lady pirate from those she loved.

As he expelled his final breath, I felt purged.

“I didn’t rush it, did I?” I wiped the bloody blade on a rag.

“You’ve been at it for nigh two hours.” Reynolds pushed up from his position on the floor and ambled toward the ladder. “I think I’ll go vomit now.”

“In my homeland,” Jobah said, “we lashed our enemies to poles and held them over a fire, just above the lick of the flames, cooking them alive from the inside out for days.” He grinned, all teeth and savage loyalty.

“I believe Jobah just volunteered to clean up the gore.” Priest clapped the helmsman on the shoulder, chuckling.

In the end, we all carried out Madwulf’s remains. The gift, as it was, was fed to the gulls and cold-blooded vertebrates that lived in the bay.

That night, I slept peacefully in the arms of a pirate and pirate hunter. But when I woke, it was still dark, and the arms were gone.

I raised my head, listening to the hushed tones trickling from across the room.

“When?” Priest paced in front of the fireplace.

“Next week.” Ashley sprawled in a nearby armchair, sipping from a dram of amber liqueur.

“You’re not going through with it.” Priest spun, his accent thick and hushed. “I won’t allow it.”

“Take it up with my parents.” Ashley stared at his drink. “It can’t be helped.”

“You’re weak.”

“And you’re naive. You always have been with your goddamned whimsical ideals.” Ashley swilled the rest of his glass. “It’s like you never grew up. Never left this room. We’re not careless boys anymore, Priest. This is life. The strife of being an adult. We always knew what we had…” He straightened. “We knew it would end eventually.”

“Happiness. That’s what you speak of.”

“Yes. We were happy.” Ashley set the empty glass aside and sighed. “That sentiment doesn’t fit into my life.”

My muscles gathered and tensed, my breaths rushing out. But I held still, feigning sleep, waiting.

“So what’s your plan.” Priest whirled toward him, his whisper seething. “Are you going to leave her a letter and slink away like the coward you’ve become?”