“The puppet Jones yet perseveres, kind Othello. And I suppose I could have one of your codpieces enlarged. At any rate, my thanks, to you and most delicious Desdemona.” I bowed over her hand. “I left another gift at the Citadel for you, lady. Emilia will fetch it for you from our quarters, I hope.”

“And I will have a pretty dress for you when you return, Jessica,” said Desdemona.

“Oh, lady, that is most generous. I would not have my Lorenzo see me thus transformed into a boy.”

“Take comfort, love is blind, and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that they themselves commit. Your Lorenzo would be proud to see you so coifed in courage, coming to the rescue of a friend.”

“Thank you.” Jessica embraced Desdemona in a manner most unlike a pirate.

“Safe journey, black fool,” said Othello. “My most skilled navigator will command your ship as pilot.” The Moor gestured to an officer I hadn’t met, tall, with a ginger beard, who clicked his heels. “Lieutenant Montano.”

“But where is Cassio?” I inquired.

“Sad tidings,” said Desdemona, looking at her shoes.

“Cassio is in the brig,” said Othello. “Still drunk from last evening, where alarm was raised for a drunken brawl and Cassio was found standing over the body of Iago’s second, Rodrigo, who had been beheaded and mutilated.”

“Cassio a murderer?” I asked.

“I think not. His sword was clean and this killing was not the doing of a blade, but he is still too drunk to tell the tale and there is no doubt he was a part of the mayhem.”

“Beheaded? Mutilated? This was by the harbor then?”

“No, just beneath the south wall of the Citadel.”

I did not care to hear more. Of what had happened to Rodrigo, I had little doubt, until I learned it was not near the water. Had my mermaid grown legs? I shuddered at the thought.

“I’m sure, when he sobers up, you’ll find him not guilty and as dull as dirt. We must be off. Come, Jessica. Adieu, my friends.”

I scampered up the ramp and Jessica joined me at the rail as the pilot boarded and called to cast off.

“Why all the gifts and good wishes?” Jessica asked.

“Because they don’t think we are coming back, love.”

“Blast,” said the dread pirate Jess.

“Stay back from the edge for a bit, would you, matey?” I watched the water for the deadly shade.

Seventeen: A Fool’s Ransom

SEVENTEEN

A Fool’s Ransom