The words struck me momentarily speechless. My great grandfather designed The Freedom as a specialty ship when the War of the Sea first started. Many had tried to commandeer her since. It wasn’t surprising King Delphi coveted her. But his “deal-making” would mean succumbing to the crown’s demands and giving up my post as captain. I’d sooner die than hand her over.

No, it was the king’s choice of messenger that surprised me. Captain Rylander’s close relationship with King Delphi was no secret, but I’d never heard of him doing the king’s bidding like a loyal hunting dog. Why hadn’t the crown sent the Royal Navy after us? Why choose Rylander?

“No.”

“No?” The smirk widened. “Don’t you want to hear the details before saying no?”

I glanced to his right, at a lanky young sailor with skin untainted by tattoos, scars, or piercings. He had the promise of muscles but no calluses. A new recruit.

Without much thought, I swiped my leg out, hooking my boot behind his calves. Wrenching myself forward as he toppled to the ground, I unsheathed his sword and held it under his chin.

“I will kill him,” I threatened, pressing more of the blade to his neck. “Leave The Freedom, and you will all have your lives. Stay and try to take us, and I will kill each and every one of you.”

Smitter and Bernard lunged forward, but Rylander slammed his arms across their chests to push them back. “Stop!”

With my free hand, I yanked the terrified boy to his feet, pricking his tender flesh with my weapon. A thin trickle of blood stained the neckline of his shirt. Eyes bulging, he groaned through clenched teeth.

“Don’t tempt me. His life means nothing to me. I will never hand over The Freedom.”

Rylander released his men and held up his palms in surrender, one eyebrow raised. “That’s not what I am proposing. If you’d let me speak, you’d already know that. Do you always react first and ask questions second?”

When I didn’t respond, he stepped forward, sighing dramatically. “I ask that you kindly let go of Lanard. He’s not to blame. If you want to take someone into your arms, take me.” The cocky bastard winked. “I’ll at least enjoy it.”

I scowled. If not for my code, I’d have Lanard’s life already, out of spite. But alas, the boy hadn’t anything to do with the vengeance burning in my heart against his captain.

“If you touch me, it’ll be the last thing you feel,” I spat. “I’ll take your fingers off one by one and feed them to the sharks.”