Chapter Five: Swords Will Clash

Iggy grabbed ahold of one of the dangling ropes from the main mast. He gripped it. "Prepare to board! Let's show the accursed Spaniards the power of the English Crown!" He used the sharp edge of his sword to quickly cut the rope loose and stepped on top the side rail. I'm coming for you, Carriedo…and this time, you're dead. Sword griped tightly in his right hand and the rope in his left, he leaped using the tension to swing over on board the Trunfante.

Gun shots and screams were constant as the canons on both ships were forced to cease fire. The two ships were together now, and the Dauphin's crew dropped a plank across the rails, beginning to board, meeting resistance from the Spanish sailors.

It was quite easy for Iggy to cut down the sailors in his path amongst the commotion and he stepped over the ones already wounded or dead on the wooden floor.

Antonio saw Iggy approaching and unsheathed his sword. His heart started racing faster. This was a moment long awaited for the both of them. A moment of revenge. Finally, they could settle this here and now. It was no longer about their country's conflicting interests, but rather about the score they had to settle.

The two ran and met blades, gritting their teeth and a look of anger on both of their faces. Antonio's hat blew away with a gust of wind, but it didn't faze him as he continued to slice away with quick, smooth motions that were dangerously accurate. Iggy was on full guard, knowing that one slip up on his part would end in a death blow to him. He somehow managed to smirk, which enraged Antonio even more. Ooo, angry today, aren't you, Carriedo? Iggy thought. Such a great challenge and danger excited the Englishman and he lived for moments like this. He adored a good challenge and Antonio's fencing and sword skills were just a level above his own. But that was the fun of it. The danger.

Antonio's mind was racing, he couldn't focus and started to get a little sloppy because his anger was making him slip. On me, mi persones es dependiente! They put the confidence in me to help them y I let the down mucho times! Kirkland! You scared mi Lovino! You killed mi crew! You steal from me! You es an evil man! I will kill you this day!"

Because Antonio was starting to make errors, Iggy was able to catch his breath a little and was comfortable enough to begin a conversation. Things were at his own pace now and Antonio was falling into his hands. "Temper, temper," He chuckled in a mid-swing, beginning his own advances, no longer having a need to rely on the defensive alone. "So tell me, Carriedo, how have you been since our last entwine with destiny?"

"Gah!" Antonio shouted angrily. "Diablo!" He lunged forward, but Iggy dodged and was able to nick him slightly to the shoulder, stepping to the side and falling back against the rail. His smirk was constant and his breathing was heavy with anticipation.

Antonio was a bit surprised that his lunge missed and stood up, glaring at Iggy in frustration.

"I told you to watch your temper, didn't I?" Iggy pushed himself back off the rail to a straight, standing position, facing Antonio dead-on. "What good is all the skill in the world if you let a spot of anger blur your vision and disable your accuracy? ….Do you really hate me that much?" He pointed to himself with his gloved hand and mocked an innocent, wide-eyed face.

Antonio gripped his sword tightly, his hand trembling from rage. "Si…I hate you muy…muy…I can'te even stand to look at you! Te odio!"

This caused a great of deal of amusement for Iggy and he held his stomach from laughing so hard. Antonio felt his hair stand on end as a great rush of rage flushed through his body. Iggy stopped laughing when he saw the look on his rival's face. "I do believe you are serious," he frowned. "Feh, fine then. Hold nothing back. Have at you!" He dashed forward again.

The momentary pause in their duel was ended and the clinking of metal and the sparks began again, rapidly clashing together in parries and nicks. Neither one of them could land a direct blow, so it was a matter of who grew tired first, or if the ship was taken.

Lovino's eyes fluttered open and the sounds in the air were muffled at first. "Ugh…where am I?" he blinked a few times and sat up in the queen-sized bed. "El Capitain's vivienda?" He blinked a few times. Si, that'sa where I am, he looked around. But mi papa isa…? He remembered everything and the noises came flooding back in his ears and he covered them. "N-no! Papa! Papa! Espana!" He jumped out from the mattress and ran to the giant doors, but he wasn't quite tall enough to reach the handle. He started banging on the door. "Letta me out, you idioto! Screw you!" but there was no answer. He stopped banging and looked around for something he could stack up to reach the handle. Books! There were books everywhere, even though Antonio never read them, he would pretend to. Lovino hurried back and forth, stacking them up. "Thosa stupida bedtime stories finally come in a handy, eh!"

It had only been a few minutes, but for the two enemies it seemed as if they had been sparring for over an hour. They were drenched in sweat, not daring to blink for they might miss something. They were both bleeding through their clothes from the blade's small touches, wondering which one of them would make the first mistake.

"Heh, I just thought of a marvelous idea, Carriedo," Iggy taunted with a parry. "Wasn't there a small little boy always clinging to you…?"

Antonio's heart skipped and his sword almost slipped from his hand momentarily as he hesitated to recover from the parry, giving Iggy enough time to charge in. Still holding Antonio's sword hand away with his own, he grabbed at Antonio's shirt and managed to get a hold, pulling him in too quickly for Antonio to react. Iggy slammed his knee into Antonio's stomach, causing Antonio to drop his sword and spit up blood. As Iggy pulled his knee back, Antonio fell to his own knees, breathless in pain.

Iggy was quite pleased with himself, but his smirk turned into a scowl as he shot his hand forward, grasping Antonio's brown locks and pulling upwards. Antonio's face flashed in pain but he didn't shout. He met Iggy's gaze with eyes of hate. "Lost again have you?" Iggy mused. He brought his sword up to Antonio's neck, pressing in with the blade slightly, just enough to draw a little blood flow. Antonio flinched. Iggy looked down at him snidely, "well, I never had a chance to tell you what I plan on doing with your little Spanish 'nino,' now did I?"

Antonio clinched his teeth as Iggy continued, "I plan on taking him…don't worry, I'll let him live for a few years as a slave. And I am going to beat him every single night as I hear him call out your name…but you won't be there to help him, will you? Know why? Because you'll be dead, and so the hope will eventually fade from his eyes until he stops calling out your name in his pain. He'll start crying out for mercy. For water to quench his thirst and food to ease his hunger. Eventually he will stop responding all together. And then, I will know that I had won, and you have lost. And I will kill him."

Antonio's was furious. He couldn't allow any of that to happen. And he most certainly wouldn't allow himself to die this day! He tried to yank his head away, but was met with rough resistance and the blade dug in further. He whispered in anger, "you have everything wrong…"

"Oh? Do I?" the Englishman was eager to hear more. He found this all laughable.

"Lovino is not a Spaniard," Antonio said angrily. "He's an Italian, you bastard!"

This surprised Iggy for a moment and his expression looked confused. "Italian?...pft! So what's the difference! Do I look like a care of his lineage? The only thing that concerns me is that he is of importance to you. And that's all I care about is making you suffer. I've always hated you! I've always despised you!...heh, I actually changed my mind. I'm going to kill your little 'Italian' before your eyes, then I am going to torture you in his stead. That would bring me more pleasure. You will pay for all the times you mocked me with your riches and elegance! Always showing up my queen in the courts – making her the laughing stock of the world! Others think we're weak, but I'm about to show you how strong I am!" He shook Antonio's head back and forth violently; now it was he losing his mind to anger.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost for the Trunfante, another ship appeared on the horizon

"Cap'n Iggy! A ship!" his first officer came running up.

"What the hell do you want Williams?" he looked over at the man, but he tightened his fingers around Antonio's hair, "can't you see I'm otherwise engaged at the moment?"

"My apologies, sir," the first mate offered, "but the ship is flying the colors of Portugal."

"Portugal, you say?" Iggy asked curiously.

Portugal? Spain thought and grew hopeful. That's Capitain Henrique!

Iggy glared down at Antonio and shook his head more roughly, "What are you thinking about?! Think you'll be safe, huh?!" He threw Antonio to the ground. "Clap 'im in irons."

"Yes, sir," Williams obeyed. Two men grabbed Antonio and pulled him up as he struggled. They put iron chains around his wrists, ankles and his neck.

"I've already claimed this ship," Iggy said lowly. "Raise up 'ol Jack."

"Yes, sir," again William obeyed and gave the order. "Hoist the Union Jack!"

Antonio's fists tightened. There was nothing he could do.

"I haven't seen Portugal in a while…this ought to be fun." Iggy smirked then punched Antonio so hard he nearly fell. "Bitch."

Hi, everyone. Hope you're still hanging in there. Please review my story if you like it or even don't like it. I appreciate any feedback you may have. Thank you so much. ^_^ I've been pretty busy lately, but hopefully I can get the next chapter up soon!

Translations:

Diablo = devil

mi persones es dependiente = my people are dependent

muy = very

Te odio = I hate you

vivienda = living quarters