21.

Katherine sat before, what was once, her husband's desk, signing a stack of forms before her. Most of the room had been cleared of broken clutter and Strouse's wife now used it as an office to clean up the mess Strouse left behind. With both Strouse and, from recent reports, Lord Beckett, defeated, and no one stepping forward assume control of the East India Trading Company, Katherine took over the duties in St. Augustine, and with such assertiveness that no one had challenged her authority.

Archer and Charles entered, dragging Maggie as they held her restraints. They stopped her before the desk, and Maggie spit down at it.

"Whatever happens t' me," Maggie said, "jus' know yer husband already made his choice."

"He made a number of choices," Katherine replied, ignoring the woman's fury. "He also paid dearly for them." She held the stack of forms to Charles. "These are pardons to all those still incarcerated. See that they're enacted as soon as possible."

Confused, Charles took the forms. "But, ma'am, some of those we captured really are pirates."

"If that is so, I'm sure you'll catch them again," she answered. "However, too many were wrongly imprisoned, and we both know that needs to be rectified."

Charles nodded. "Yes, ma'am. And what about her?" He motioned to Maggie, who failed miserably to hide her nervousness.

Katherine watched for panicked woman for what seemed like an eternity before answering. "Let her go. What's done should be left in the past."

Maggie looked down at her. "What now? Expecting my thanks, my friendship?"

"I expect nothing," Katherine replied. "Go on with your life, find some governor or something, I don't care. You no longer have any power here."

She motioned and Charles led her out of the office.

Archer turned to her. "Ma'am, what of the missionary who's taken residence in the church?"

Katherine thought for a moment. "I understand he's donating to those in need following the Company's presence here." Standing, she walked over to a table and pointed to the coins, jewelry, and scattered valuables. "Please see to it that he gets these as well. In fact, donate everything in this office as I have no need for it."

She returned to the desk and picked up a single sack. "I plan to return to Aarus and have already sent word to Phillip that we're returning this port to Spain."

"Yes ma'am." Archer started to leave, then paused. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I forgot to mention that the Blutanz is still afloat just outside the walls, and I've heard her treasure may still be intact."

"I see." Katherine thought about it a moment. "See to it that salvage teams find what they can aboard her."

"Yes ma'am." He turned to leave.

"In two days."

"Two days?" Archer paused and looked back at her.

Katherine shrugged. "If anyone out there finds anything, they can have it."

Archer nodded and left.

Katherine started to leave as well but stopped. Returning to Strouse's desk, she opened a drawer and retrieved a black dagger. She gazed at it for several seconds before, with a smile, placing it in her sack, a memento of this recent adventure.

The Hawking returned to the crippled Blutanz in the middle of the night. Leading a small team, Captain Reed boarded the vessel and returned with numerous treasure, including various coins, gems, and weapons. The next day, she and Jade divided the plunder among the crew, and, to everyone's surprise, keeping only a small portion for herself.

That night as the Hawking sailed into the ocean, the crew drank and danced about the deck. Harold, Foote, Turnbuckle, and a rather-uneasy Benjamin sat against the stern mast, slamming flasks together as Harold led them in song.

"Through th' burn o' the summer and the win'er's blast, we sail as brothers before th' mast. All th' women, they flush and beg, for a flask of jolly an' t' spread their-"

"Spread their what?" Tamy glared at them.

Harold fumbled. "Spread their . . . . lovely lips in a loving smile for their humble husbands."

Tamy smiled back. "A donkey could eat a whole pasture and not be full o' it as ye."

Harold leaped to his feet, which wasn't easy considering the contents of the flask now in his stomach. "Well if I be the donkey, then yer the-"

"The donkey's better half, am I right, husband?" Tamy shot him a threatening look.

"Aye," Harold answered, "the better half." As she walked away, he muttered, "Or the lower half anyway."

Jade watched the festivities and even raised her own flask to Temple, who watched alone from the shadows. He slow, shyly returned the gesture but kept to himself. Jade smile, gazing over the crew, who had become her friends, or even her family. Speaking of family, she thought as one hand fell to the pistol on her belt, it might be right time to reconcile with one of them, someday.

Turning, she noticed Reed, standing at the bow of the ship. Stepping over to her, she saw and heard the captain playing a tune on her flute. Unlike before, this tune seemed quicker and more upbeat. Jade stopped next to her, leaning against the railing, as Reed finished and gazed over the ocean.

"You're not joining in the festivities, captain," Jade said.

"In time," Reed said. "For now, allow them their celebrations. You all deserve it."

"Thanks." Jade took a drink from her flask. She offered it, but Reed shook her head. "If y' don' mind my asking, captain, you've fallen well silent since y' returned from the Blutanz."

"You're quite observant," Reed said.

"As first mate, it's my job," Jade replied.

"Indeed." Reed's eyes rose to the stars. "We found most of Adissa's treasure in a single, large chest." As Jade nodded, the captain continued. "However, we found that it had already been opened."

Looking out over the ocean, Jade shrugged. "So some lub broke into it before y' found it."

"Possibly, except it had been opened with the key. We even found the key still in the chest."

Jade turned to her. "But Adissa's th' only one with the keys, well until-" Her eyes went wide. "Y' don' think?"

"I don't know," Reed said, "but, among the treasure, I did find this." Lowering her flute, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a compass.

Maneuvering through the aisles, Sister Anna entered the atrium of the church and found Crispin handing sacks of coins to people.

"Excuse me, Brother Acardi," she said.

"Please," he said, "just call me Crispin. "I'm afraid I'm not one for titles."

"Yes of course, pardons, Crispin," Anna handed him a large, thick envelope. "This arrived for you. The sender left no return address."

"I see." He looked over it, then motioned her to the chest of coins and sacks nearby. "Would you please continue this for me?"

"Yes, of course." Anna took his place, handing coins to people as Crispin stepped away.

Entering Peck's chambers, which were stripped of most anything valuable to donate, save for a single desk, chair, and some books. Leaning against the desk, he opened the envelope and poured its contents onto the desk. Crispin's eyes drew large as he saw the wads of British pound bills and a note written on a single piece of paper.

Lifting the paper, he read the note:

"This should more than pay for your underwater breather that I borrowed. Thanks for everything and good luck with your church.

Signed,

A Friend

P.S. I still hate you!"

Chuckling, Crispin walked over to the window. Gazing out, he tapped the suit of armor on the shoulder. "Well, Robert, I think we've made a new ally."