“I loathe them and everything they represent.” Reynolds glared at the warship. “All those pompous guns, the uniformed soldiers, the elaborate figurehead with a gaping maw of teeth… Like we’re supposed to tremble in fear of the king’s almighty will.”

“Don’t you?”

“Tremble?” He shrugged. “That depends on you. What’s your plan?”

With a final look at the navy captain, I handed off the glass. “I’m going to make his arsehole clench.”

“It’s about time.” Reynolds tossed me a speaking trumpet.

I jumped up onto the gunwale, balancing on the narrow ledge, and raised the funnel-like instrument to my mouth.

“What business do you have in my waters, Captain?” I shouted across the restive waves.

He strode to the stern and gripped the tafferel. His lieutenants scrambled around him, and a moment later, a trumpet appeared in his hand. He raised it to his mouth.

“I’m Lord Ashley Cutler.” His voice vaulted the distance, strong and deep. “The commodore of HMS Blitz.”

Commodore? Above captain and below admiral. What a smug little lord.

“Good for you.” I propped my elbow on a rigging cable, leaning casually as I shouted, “How many pissers did you suck to rise to that rank?”

“Strike your colors, pirate! You’re under arrest.”

“Pirate?” I laughed mockingly. “Clean your glass, you preening little cockatoo. I am but only a maiden. Pure and virtuous and very afraid of men.”

“Bennett Sharp, daughter of the convicted pirate Edric Sharp, you shall be taken into custody along with your men and the stolen galleon you call Jade.”

My blood turned to ice, and I almost dropped the trumpet.

He recognized me. How? I exchanged a look with Reynolds.

His eyes widened, fraught with disbelief. “He didn’t accidentally stumble upon you. It’s not possible.”

“No.” I shoved my wind-blown hair from my face. “He must have been tracking me. Probably picked up our trail in Jamaica.”

“Stand down your guns and prepare to receive boarders,” Lord Cutler called. “If you resist, I will show no quarter.”

My heart rate went off like a cannon.

Heavier and faster than Jade, HMS Blitz carried twice as many guns and four times as many mariners. I would not win this fight with strength or firepower.

My mind whirled through every stratagem and artifice I’d used in previous battles, picking apart tricks that had worked for me and those that hadn’t. If I had more time, maybe I could think up a ruse to escape this without casualties.

Movement rippled through Lord Cutler’s men. The forty-yard distance made their features indiscernible, but I could make out two lieutenants walking toward the boat that swung from the stern of HMS Blitz.

Lord Cutler motioned to more soldiers, and they vanished down the gangway ladder, dispatched for some other ominous task.

Dread trickled down my spine.