Pirate Prince

Part 6

Posted: March 2003
Author: Estella Greenleaf

*****

"No, Orli. I will not allow this," said Karl quietly, determined not to let his first-mate risk his life. He would rather turn Viggo over to Kurena's ships; and looking at the general, he knew the Naval Officer felt the same way.

"I am not doubting your abilities, but even you cannot sneak aboard a command ship while the Revenge is being boarded,' reasoned David, as he desperately tried to think of another solution to their dilemma. He could not allow the dark-haired beauty to throw his life away. Karl loved Orli like a brother and would never forgive himself if anything bad happened to his first-mate. Besides, it was because of the young man that Dave now had a chance of being with the one he loved. And of course, there was the fact that Viggo was in love with Orlando. There must be a less risky way of defeating the battleships.

"I am not going to steal on board. They will be taking me," said the young man quietly.

Orli had hoped it would be enough to tell Karl the general idea of his plan without going into details. It was very simple, really - the Revenge would run on minimal crew, while Karl and their best fighters hid in the secret compartment. Sean would pretend to be the 'Dread Pirate Roberts' and surrender, allowing their enemies to board. Orli would get on the command ship and create a 'diversion, drawing the attention of the battleships. The pirates would use this opportunity to retake the Revenge and fire their canons at the steel-plated vessels at point blank range.

Karl immediately misunderstood what his young friend wanted to do and thundered, "I would rather die than let them touch you!"

His statement immediately drew an equally vehement vow from Viggo, who seconded, "Same here. I will surrender to the Kurenans." The thought of anyone touching Orlando was enough to make the general shake with fury. He would not allow the young beauty to surrender himself to the enemy even if he had to die a million deaths in the most painful ways.

Orli laughed bitterly as he touched his bruised face and answered the two older men, "I don't think prostituting is an option this time." Of course, his captain would assume he would try to seduce the Kurenan soldiers. He was not much more than a shameless whore would bed anyone for the right price. He had been doing it for years; and even after what happened tonight, he still thought that being able to help Karl was worth it.

But this time, because of the spreading bruise that marred the 'goods', Orli knew he did not have enough assets to secure a straight bargain. He would need to trick them in a different way. He was hoping to discuss this only with Sean, who would be playing the role of 'captain' when their enemies boarded. But seeing that Karl and Viggo were refusing to move despite the approaching warships, Orli had no choice but to disclose the full details of his scheme.

Letting out a weary sigh, the young man explained, "Sean will tell our enemies that I have fallen in love with Viggo and allowed our prisoners to escape. Since none of the lifeboats is missing, they must still be on board. Searches have been fruitless so far; and it is now apparent that I am the only one who can find them."

"This is too risky. Too much is at stake," commented the young tactical officer. The scheme was meticulously designed, but it was too dangerous, and not just for the first-mate. Any number of things could possibly go wrong; and even the smallest mistake would be fatal to them all. This plan was almost as perilous as fighting the Kurenan ships directly. Though he did not wish to cause further rifts between Karl and his first mate, the cautious tactician felt it necessary to object to this gamble.

"I know how much is at stake. I will not suggest this unless I am sure we can do this. Karl, you have always trusted my judgment before; please, trust me just one more time," pleaded Orlando as he locked gaze at his captain. Deliberately, he let his pain shine from his expressive chocolate eyes. He wanted Karl to know that if he denied this request, it would show his lack of faith in the young man; he would make Orlando's already broken heart bleed again.

As much as Karl wanted to protect the little one, he knew he had no choice but to take Orli's suggestions. He needed to show he trusted the young man with his life and everything he held dear; it was the first step in rebuilding the relationship he unwittingly shattered earlier in the night. "Very well. You have all heard Orli. Those on nightshift, return to your posts. Everyone else follow me."

*****

This was easier than Simon thought. He expected the Revenge to at least put up a small fight. To tell the truth, after all he had heard about the legendary 'Dread Pirate Roberts', he was a little disappointed that he did not get the opportunity to defeat the bandit in battle. But this was just as well - capturing the Commander of the North Sea Fleet would undoubtedly give Simon the promotion he had always wanted. Being a General was never enough for him; he wanted command of a large fleet, not just three vessels. And thanks to Viggo Mortensen, his dreams would soon become a reality.

"Give us your prisoners; and I will allow your ship safe passage," commanded Simon with authority. He had boarded the Revenge with fifty of the best fighters in his unit. Of course, he had no intention of allowing the pirates to leave alive. As soon as they retrieved Viggo, the soldiers would slaughter the nineteen crewmembers like cattle.

"I am afraid that is not possible," answered Sean in a deep baritone with his best, cultured accent.

The sandy-blond man was a wealthy merchant until his partner betrayed him and stole his fortune five years ago. When Sean went to confront his friend, not only was the other man not apologetic, he tried to kill him. And his would-be murderer would have succeeded, if Orli had not saved him. The young pirate happened upon the fight and, seeing that Sean was completely inept with handling a sword, decided to interfere. After killing the older man's treacherous business partner, he brought Sean on board the Revenge. The fair-haired man had long since learnt how to defend himself; and with his intelligence and expertise in business, Sean had become one of the few people that young Orlando trusted. He would play this part to the best of his abilities and not let his first-mate down.

"And why is that?" hissed the Kurenan general, eyes darkening to betray the rage he felt within.

Calmly, the blond man held his opponent's gaze with his penetrating green ones as he answered, "Follow me and I will show you."

Motioning to his soldiers to guard the other pirates, Simon and his five guards followed Sean below deck. They walked in silence through the dark winding corridors until they stopped in what appeared to be the prison compartment of the ship. The room was empty, save for a small figure huddled in the corner of a cell. "I present to you my former first-mate, Orli Bloom," sneered Sean with the appropriate amount of contempt. At the sound of his voice, the young man shuddered as he tried to curl up into an even tighter ball.

"What happened?" asked the general as he eyed the naked figure in the cell with curiosity. He could not see the young man's face, but what he could see was very promising. As women were not allowed on board, Simon had developed a taste for the younger and smaller men among his crew. With his shapely legs and mop of dark curls, this prisoner definitely had potential.

"He betrayed us and hid our prisoners," spat the blond man in a quiet voice laced with spite. When Sean approached the cell to open the door, Orli let out a whimper and attempted to blend into the wall. Roughly, the pirate marched to the first-mate and yanked him to his knees by his hair. "You have a visitor."

The young man was gorgeous, despite the nasty bruise that covered the left quarter of his face. When 'Roberts' raised his hand to hit Orli again, Simon quickly intervened, grabbing the captain's hand before the blow landed. "That's enough. Release him!"

"As you wish," answered Sean as he shoved Orli's head onto the ground roughly before backing off.

The first-mate whimpered and quickly scampered back to his corner of the cell. Simon knew the pirates had done their work in breaking the young man. Beating him more would only make Orli withdraw within himself; it was time for a different tactic. Moving to kneel in front of the young man, Simon lifted the young man's face and whispered, "Don't be scared, little one" as he removed his cloak and wrapped it around the beauty's naked form.

Trembling slightly, Orli looked at the officer with a fearful gaze. His faith in Sean was not misplaced. The Kurenan officer truly believed that the pirates had tortured him and broken his spirit. And when the first-mate saw the thinly disguised lust in his enemy's eyes, he knew his plan was well on the way to success. As expected, the officer breathed softly into his ears, "I want to help you Orli. Just tell me where the Erasian officers are."

"No," sobbed the young pirate, shivering as he shut his eyes as if anticipating a blow. When the hit did not come, Orli remained tense for a moment longer before glancing in question at the officer, exquisite chocolate eyes asking the other man why his insolence was left unpunished.

"Why do you protect them so?" asked the Kurenan general softly, holding Orli's gaze as he gently moved his hand to cup the uninjured side of young man's face, caressing the silken skin.

Once again, Orlando allowed his eyes to do the talking. Sighing softly, lips trembling, he thought of Viggo, of his unrequited love and of his willingness to sacrifice everything for the older man's sake. He opened his heart for his enemy to see - his vulnerability, his pain, the foolish romantic dreams that he harbored in secret; all reflected in his misty eyes and the single tear that rolled down his cheek.

The Kurenan warrior never thought a pirate could be so naïve - it would seem that Orli was truly in love. The young man's innocence was something that could be exploited. Given how vulnerable Orli was in his current state, obtaining his trust should not be difficult. All Simon would need to do was to appear gentle and kind. And once the dark-haired beauty gave him the information he needed, he would be free to bed the pirate the way he wanted, merciless and rough. Smiling tenderly, the Kurenan commander suggested, "Why don't we go somewhere more comfortable and discuss this further?"

Suppressing his instinct to smile, the first-mate frowned at the Kurenan officer as he 'pondered his answer'. Orli's apprehensive gaze darted to Sean, who cleared his throat loudly as if he was about to protest. Whimpering and shifting closer to the commander's larger frame, the young man nodded. He was promptly lifted off the ground in the general's strong arms and carried out of the cell. Ducking his head to hide his face, Orli burrowed deeper into his enemy's embrace. There he remained, a pliant weight in the Kurenan officer's arms until they reached their destination - the general's chambers on the command ship.

*****

To say Viggo was worried was a significant understatement. He wanted to pace in the confines of the hidden compartment, but he feared the sound of his movements would draw attention to their group. As discovery would mean death and torture for all, the older man settled for taking deep breaths as he clenched and unclenched his fists instead. Karl's voice, a barely audible whisper caught his ears, "Orli is the most amazing person I have ever known. He will be all right. Just have faith in him."

Though the general could not see the captain's face in the dark, he recognized the pride in Karl's voice when he spoke of Orlando. The other man seemed to have no doubt at all that his first-mate would return safely; that the young one's plans, no matter how dangerous, would ultimately succeed. As Viggo knew no one understood Orlando's strength as well as the older pirate, his raging emotions began to calm. With a sigh, the officer responded, "Right."

Viggo was grateful that Karl had broken the unbearable silence to ease his worries. Given the animosity between them earlier, he was surprised that the pirate had attempted to comfort him. It would seem that the 'Dread Pirate Roberts' was more compassionate than the rumors portrayed. Seeing the captain in a different light for the first time, Viggo added with a smile, "Thanks."

*****

Standing passively as he endured his enemy's touch, Orli could not help being glad that this time, his heart, body and mind were in agreement of what he must do, allowing him to play his part without being nauseated. Karl, Viggo and everyone on the Revenge were putting their lives in his hands. Even his rebellious heart understood the importance of this mission, stopping its protest over the Kurenan's touch. Knowing how the two men he loved thought of him, sacrificing himself for the ship was the only thing Orli could do for them. Suddenly, a sharp knock of the door interrupted his musing.

"Here are the clothes you requested," reported Simon's aide as he entered the room, greeted by the sight of his commander cleaning their naked prisoner with a wet towel. The boy had an exquisite body -long shapely limbs, a supple well-toned torso and the sweetest, round buttocks, all covered in smooth olive skin. He could not help but wonder how that perfect body would feel underneath his.

Simon noted his aide's lustful evaluation of Orli and replied with a scowl, "Put them on the bed and leave us. Stay outside and await my command. I do not wish to be disturbed today. No one enters until I expressly call for their presence." The young pirate belonged to him; he did not like it when others coveted his possessions, even if it was just in their minds. Besides, he wanted the first-mate to trust him and give him information on Viggo. He needed to act protective of the young pirate.

As the door closed, Orli knew his time had come - the next time the Kurenan general touches him would be the last. As the bigger man approached with a false smile, the pirate tensed, ready to spring to seize the officer's sword. But Simon's next words froze him. "I know you love Viggo, little one. But, as we speak, our ships are waiting for the North Sea Fleet in a trap that will annihilate them in one blow. He goes to his death if he rejoins his Navy. Is that what you want?"

Orlando trembled at the thought of Viggo's fleet being massacred in a trap. Shaking his head firmly, he whispered in denial, "No."

Immediately, the pirate knew he needed to rethink his strategies. His objective was no longer creating a diversion at the price of his life. Things were now more complicated - he needed to gather more information on this trap, create a diversion and return to the Revenge alive to warn Viggo. But he also knew he could not achieve anything by standing here naked with the Kurenan general. He could not trick the other man into giving away more classified information without being overly conspicuous. In other words, it was time to stop playing the helpless victim.

"Then, tell me where he is, beautiful," prompted Simon as his hand drifted to caress his prisoner's neck, forcing the young man to look at him in the eye.

Leaning into the touch, Orli answered with a shaky voice, "I can't." Unobtrusively, the pirate's moved his hand to the officer's left side, where his ceremonial dagger hung around his belt.

"I promise I will not hurt him," cajoled the officer as his hands drifted to touch Orli's shoulders. Simon was completely aroused; and from the way, his prisoner moved towards him, he reckoned that the boy would not mind being taken to bed right now. Perhaps, a little tender sex would help loosen Orli's lips. Once he had the information, he could take the young beauty again the way he wanted to.

Sensing the distraction in his opponent, the first-mate made his move. Shifting to get closer to the officer, Orli stealthily removed the dagger. Grabbing the hand on his shoulder, the pirate yanked the officer towards him as he twisted and kicked the larger man's knee. The Kurenan pitched forward, but was held up by Orli's iron grip on his arm that was being twisted painfully behind his back. Pressing the dagger tight against his captive's throat, Orli purred, "Sure you wouldn't, General. Because I won't let you." To make his point, the pirate slightly increased the pressure on the knife to nick his opponent.

"You will pay for this," gulped Simon as he felt the prick of the knife and the blood that trickled from the wound.

"Perhaps. But, the question is whether you will live to see it, right?" laughed the first-mate softly into Simon's ear. He could hear his enemy moan with lust as Orli's breath caressed his skin. He was slightly sickened by the fact that the other man still desired him in their current situation. But this was something he could use to his advantage. Perhaps he could 'charm' the general into giving him information.

"What do you want?" asked the General, annoyed that he had been tricked by a slip of a pirate. He would make Orli pay very dearly for humiliating him. And he knew he would enjoy every second of it.

"Just a little information," whispered Orli as he licked the shell of his enemy's ear, eliciting another groan.

Simon had always preferred being in control, but there was something extremely erotic about being held at knife-point by a dangerous and gorgeous pirate. "Sorry, beautiful, can't do," replied the general as he shifted to press back into Orli. The heat of the young man's body flushed against him felt like heaven.

"I suppose I will just have to look for it myself then," purred the pirate huskily before moving swiftly to hit his captive on the back of the head with the blunt end of his dagger. He did not have a solid plan on his escape yet; and the general might be useful later. Given the gravity of the situation, he did not wish to take any chances. Swiftly, Orli bound and gagged the unconscious Kurenan commander, leaving the man on the bed before conducting his search in the study.

*****

The pirate realized time was of the essence; and he needed to search through the General's cabinets quickly. That would mean noises, which might arouse suspicions from the aide waiting outside. Orli remembered how the soldier looked at him earlier and decided to give the guard something he wanted to hear - the young man started to moan and cried out very suggestively as he rummaged through Simon's study.

With the commander's logbook safely in his breast pocket, Orli knew it was time to confront the guard. But luckily, the sounds Orli made had worked perfectly at driving the other man to distraction. Ear pressed to the door, mind far off in lewd fantasies, the aide was shocked when the door suddenly opened. The soldier tumbled into the room, where the young man slew him before he even had time to regain his feet.

Because of the General's earlier orders, the first-mate was free to roam the ship, setting up explosives in various inconspicuous storage areas. After a full hour, Orli was finally satisfied with his work. He had timed the fuses such that he would have about five minutes to leave the ship once the last pouch of gunpowder was lit. The only remaining question was how to return to the Revenge in such a short time. He could use the General as a hostage, but it would raise alarm and ruin the element of surprise. He would need Simon to co-operate, to tell the crew they were returning to the Revenge to look for Viggo. Prepared to do what he must to obtain the general's cooperation, the first-mate returned to Simon's rooms.

*****

"Had a good sleep?" asked the pirate as he knelt over the struggling form of his enemy to undo the gag.

Simon was tempted to call for help, but he knew the young man would not hesitate to kill him. Instead, he glared daggers at his prisoner-turned-captor in silence.

"You are angry with me. But I think, I can change your mind," purred Orli as he began to trace his fingertips gently along his captive's chest.

"I am going to make you wish you've never been born," hissed the Kurenan in a mixture of fury and lust. The pirate had this wild, untamed beauty that Simon was dying to taste. Though the commander abhorred his helpless state, he could not help being aroused under Orli's feather-light caresses.

"And how do you know that I won't actually like what you do to me?" asked the first-mate in an intimate whisper as his fingers now moved lower to tease Simon's straining arousal through his breeches.

The Kurenan soldier groaned in pleasure before narrowing his eyes. "You love Viggo. He isn't the twisted type."

Allowing his sadness to show in his voice, Orli whispered, "And what makes you think he loves me back? I am just a lawless rogue. I can assure you he is disgusted with me."

"What game are you playing now, beautiful?" asked Simon, cock twitching at the implication that the pirate actually liked it rough. Being tied up was becoming maddening. He wanted to be buried deep inside the dark-haired beauty right now.

"That will be telling, won't it? All you need to know is that this whole ship is rigged to explode at a time of my choosing. I am offering you a choice - to go down with the ship or to accompany me back to the Revenge," said Orli as he bent to breath the words into his captive's neck. He could feel Simon's manhood jumped under his hand; deliberately, he gave the organ a gentle squeeze, making the Kurenan moaned aloud in pleasure.

"And you guarantee my safety, if I help you?" asked the General huskily, impressed that he could still speak when his body was burning with pleasure. He decided he would pretend to agree, luring Orli out into the open where his men could easily capture him. They would then evacuate immediately to one of the other warships where he would interrogate the willful outlaw above him. He could imagine how good it would feel to have their current positions reversed, with the first-mate bound underneath him.

"Of course. So we have a deal?" asked Orli as he moved off the general and headed towards the door.

"Yes, beautiful," replied Simon, looking at the pirate's retreating form, eyes glued to Orli's shapely backside. He was actually looking forward to the first-mate's return.

*****

Fifteen minutes later, Simon and Orli were marching towards the rope ladder that connected the command ship and the Revenge. The fuses were lit; now, they only have five minutes to return the pirate ship. Things were going according to the first-mate's plan, until they passed a large group of Kurenan soldiers on deck. At that moment, the General twisted out of the pirate's subtle grip and yelled, "Seize him!"

The turn of events did not surprised Orli as he had anticipated the commander's treachery. Calmly, the pirate drew his sword and began to fend off his attackers, all the while retreating towards his destination. The soldiers attacked in a semi-circle, thinking to corner him against the railings. That of course, was what Orli wanted. The young pirate was accustomed to maneuvering on railings; the ladder would only be a jump away once he reached the edge of the ship.

But the general was no fool; he noticed how Orli was allowing the soldiers to push him back towards the edge of the ship. "Don't let him get to the side!"

Simon's command prompted the soldiers to block the pirate's retreat immediately. Now, surrounded on all sides, Orli was faced with the possibility of defeat. But, as fate would have it, a few ropes that dangled from the sails were within Orli's reach. Leaping to grab onto the closest one, the pirate swung away from the group of soldiers and landed on the thin railing of the ship some distance away from the ladder. Running swiftly despite his precarious position, the first-mate headed towards his means of escape.

All of a sudden, explosions rocked the vessel, causing all to loose their footings. Orli was no exception; but his lightning fast reflexes saved him from plummeting to his watery grave. As he fell, he twisted in mid-air and dropped his sword. With his newly freed hand, the pirate was able to grab a hold of the ladder. As Orli swung himself onto the ladder, the command ship shook from several more explosions. Flames raged through the vessel, igniting wood and gunpowder, starting a chain reaction that could not be contained. Slowly, the damaged hull began to take in water. The Kurenan command ship was about to sink.

Now, safely perched on the ladder, the first-mate could see that Simon had abandoned his pursuit, opting to order an evacuation of the damaged ship instead. Orli knew his enemy would not give up until he was captured; the commander desired him too much to do otherwise. Therefore, the fact that the soldiers stopped their chase meant the general still believed that the Revenge was completely under his control. The Kurenan thought his soldiers on the pirate ship would have no trouble capturing the troublemaking 'escapee'. Smiling, the first-mate descended the ladder back onto his ship; things were once again going according to plan.

*****

The explosion on their command ship shocked the soldiers on the Revenge deeply. As they watched the burning vessel, they noticed Orli on the rope ladder. Realizing the pirate was the culprit behind the explosions, the officers ordered two of their men to shoot the outlaw. But no shots came. Those soldiers were the first victims claimed by the armed pirates pouring out of the secret compartment under Karl's leadership. The officers quickly raised the alarm; but the sound of the bell was drowned in the loud explosions on the command ship. The fifty soldiers onboard the Revenge were on their own.

Dividing his men into two groups, Karl led the assault from the back of the ship, while Viggo led the charge from the front. With the element of surprise on their side, the pirates were able to use projectile weapons to take down over five soldiers before the alarm was sounded. Now aware of the attack, all the Kurenans armed their pistols to fire at the pirates. Luckily, most of the pirates were able to take cover in time. When their enemies stopped to reload, they charged into the open, shooting and rushing at the soldiers with their swords. The Kurenans were well trained; but their skill was no match for the ferocity of the outlaws' well-planned onslaught. Soon, dead soldiers littered the deck while the pirates only suffered minor casualties. Soon, the officers realized it was a hopeless battle and surrendered.

Karl was now at the helm, giving commands to prepare the sails. As soon as Orli stepped onboard and cut the rope ladder, the captain steered their ship into a sharp turn away from the Kurenan vessels and gave the order to ready all cannons. But Karl knew that if they opened fire now, their enemies would undoubtedly board them again. The Revenge was still too close to their targets. The captain had already taken a chance when he maneuvered the ship for a quick escape. Luckily, their enemies were still too busy with the evacuation to notice the Revenge's movement.

The winds were high tonight, conducive to a fast getaway. But to have any chance of outrunning their enemies, all four sets of sails needed to go up the moment the pirates started the bombardment. The Revenge usually run on three sets of sails. The fourth was a backup, controlled by a mechanism on the mast separate from the others. It was built in case the lines for the main sets were damaged. Because of the location of the controls, the person in charge of them would not be able to hear Karl's commands. Running a set of sails alone was already a daunting task; to do so in sync with the main ones without guidance required expertise beyond any onboard, save for Karl and Orli. As he wanted his first-mate on deck in charge of the cannons, he was at a lost as to who would be adept enough for the task.

It was at that moment that the answer presented himself. "I will take care of the sails," volunteered Viggo as he ran to the mast and began climbing. When he had noticed how Karl was glancing at a mechanism high above deck, which appeared to control a fourth set of sails; the experienced Naval general knew the captain needed his assistance. The Erasian officer had never thought he would be offering to aid the 'Dread Pirate Roberts'. He supposed this was his redemption for allowing his prejudice and misguided sense of duty to cost him the love of his life. It was all he could for Orlando now, helping the Revenge against their common enemies.

When Viggo was in position, the captain gave the order to prepare to raise sails before shouting, "Orli, the cannons are all yours."

*****

Six cannons, three aimed at each battleship, simultaneously sounded. As the night sky glowed at the sudden flames that engulfed the two Kurenan ships, the Revenge raised all sails for a full forward dash away from their enemies. The captain's trust in Viggo was not misplaced; the fourth set of sails went up in synchrony with the other three, giving the added speed they needed.

Surveying the damage on the enemy vessels, the first-mate was dismayed to find their back aft and starboard cannons still intact. Through his binoculars, Orli could see the enraged Kurenan commander ordering the ships to maneuver into attack formation and ready the functional cannons. Armed troops gathered on the decks, equipped with harpoons and rope ladders, prepared to raid the Revenge. Quickly, the first-mate gave the orders to reload the cannons before crying out in warning to his captain, "Karl, incoming."

"All sails, down!" commanded the captain. He knew this was a dangerous gamble, but he trusted Orli. They had done this once before the time when Karl's original first-mate was killed. This plan, courtesy of his protégé, had saved the ship then; he could only pray that it would do the same again.

The Revenge immediately slowed, allowing their pursuers to gain on them. David was tempted to question his lover as he watched the approaching Kurenan ships in horror. But, the Naval Officer knew it was not his place. Instead, the blond man took a deep breath and loaded his pistol, bracing himself for the inevitable fight ahead. Viggo, too, was surprised at the turn of events, but when he saw the main sails went down, he too lowered the ones under his control. He knew Karl must have a plan in mind.

Orli, on the other hand, knew exactly what his captain wanted of him. He would only have one chance to take out the boarding party amassed on the warships. If he missed, the Revenge would be lost. The faith Karl had in him made Orlando wondered if he had not completely lost his dearest friend to David; that maybe his captain still wanted him around. Turning to glance at the older pirate, Orlando was touched to see the confidence and trust in the other man's ice-blue eyes as Karl nodded and smiled at him. What his captain did tonight had wounded his heart horribly; but now, the young man once again dared to hope that Karl actually cared about him. And for that reason alone, Orlando would not allow himself to fail. Making hand signals to the crew, the first-mate began to guide them to subtly align their cannons at their enemies.

With a cruel smile, Simon gave the order for all hands to be ready for boarding. Blowing the Revenge up with cannons would be too humane a thing to do. He had a score to settle with the young pirate who had humiliated him. He had already given orders to take as many of the outlaws alive as possible. He wanted to make Orli watch as his friends were being tortured to death. It would be fun breaking the little pirate's spirit.

But his chance never came. As their ships pulled alongside their target, cannonballs landed right where the soldiers convened. Many were killed instantly by the blasts; those surviving were leaderless, fleeing in terror instead of mounting a defense. The Revenge raised its sails once more to continue its escape as the pirates bombarded the battleships mercilessly without pause. Within half an hour, all three ships from Kurena's Navy were nothing more than rubble floating in the open seas.

*****

The pirates left their posts in celebration as the bow of the last enemy ship disappeared in the deep blue sea. Little did they realize the group of Kurenans who surrendered had managed to unobtrusively retrieve weapons from their fallen comrades when the pirates fought the warships. As loyal servants of their country, they planned to take over the ship by holding the 'Dread Pirate Roberts' hostage and demanding the crew's surrender. Using the festive mood that permeated the deck, the soldiers crept behind their target who was distracted in a passionate kiss with his lover.

*****

Now that the danger had passed, Orli's eyes once again had developed a mind of their own as they became glued to the sight of Viggo climbing down the ropes to join his captain and David on the helm. From his vantage point, he had an excellent view of his beloved's well-muscled form. Soon, his brain too became usurped by some unknown power; he could not stop himself from admiring Viggo's tight buttocks and strong limbs, muscles rippling with each step. He was so enrapt with his appraisal that he did not notice the danger to the men he loved until it was too late. From the shadows, a team of ten soldiers leapt onto the helm. He felt his heart stopped as they seized the three men there and pointed pistols at their heads. "Put down your weapons, now!"

Orli knew surrendering was not an option. The soldiers wanted to bring the Revenge to Kurena's main forces, which would undoubtedly execute everyone, except Viggo and David. The Erasian officers would probably be tortured for information. As the young man would never allow anyone to harm Viggo or Karl, his only option was to improvise.

"Order your men to put down their weapons now, captain Roberts; unless of course, you want your lover to suffer," said the lead Kurenan soldier as he unsheathed a knife and held it to David's face.

Karl too knew surrendering was not an option. But he could not bear the thought of what the man was about to do to David. As he glanced at his first-mate, he saw the young man giving him a small nod. With a sigh of defeat, the captain gave his orders, "Lower your weapons, men."

As the pirates moved to follow Karl's command, Orli interfered. With his coldest and most menacing voice, he shouted, "Stop."

The crew looked in confusion at their first-mate, not understanding why Orli would object to their captain's orders. The soldiers frowned at the insolent first-mate as their leader punched Karl and threatened, "I suggest you do as your captain ordered, while you still have one."

Orli smiled despite the rage boiling in him. He would tear the man's head off later for touching Karl. But for now, he would act like a heartless scoundrel. "And what makes you think I care?" said the first-mate as he moved towards the soldiers, pistol and sword in hand.

Sean quickly caught onto the young man's act and protested, "Karl's our captain. How can you say something like that?" As the strange scene unfolded, the rest of the crew came to realize this was yet another scheme their first-mate had devised. While some echoed Sean's objections, others rooted for Orli, saying they should kill their intruders and make the young first mate their captain.

"Come on, Sean. You all saw how Karl treated me tonight, after everything I've done for him. We all know that I am the one who saved us tonight. We don't need him," purred Orli as he continued his advance on the intruders.

As support for the young man appeared to grow among the pirates, the soldiers began to look uncomfortably at each other. The lead Kurenan now believed Orli was their major threat, believing that if they killed him, the pirates would once again be under their control. What they did not know was that this was act to make the soldiers considered killing Orli their first priority. With the Kurenans' attention fixed on him, the hostages would have the opportunity to free themselves. As the first-mate noticed the signals between the soldiers, he nodded subtly to his captain. Shots erupted, all aimed at Orli, but he was already on the move, lunging at his closest enemy. The crew too rushed in, creating chaos upon the deck. Karl used the distraction to his advantage, grabbing his captor's arm and twisting to trip the man to send him flying forward. Viggo and David took the captain's lead. The general elbowed his captor and spun out of range of the man's pistol, while the blond tactician stomped hard on the foot of the soldier behind him as he knocked his gun away.

The leader of the soldiers knew it was over. But he would not go alone to his grave. He would take the captain of the ship with him. Seizing a pistol from a pirate he killed, he aimed and fired at Karl. His action, however, had not gone unnoticed by the ever- vigilant first-mate. Without thought to his own safety, the young man flung himself at the older pirate, pushing him onto the floor. Seeing his beloved Orlando fell, Viggo immediately rushed at the soldier, skewering him with a thrust of his sword.

The impact left Karl dazed as he laid on the floor. Vision darkened, the captain asked his first-mate with concern, "You all right?"

When Orli did not answer, Karl moved to bring them both to sitting position. A wave of dizziness assaulted the captain, blurring his vision, as the sensation of warm liquid trickling down his hand upon his friend's shoulder sent shivers of dread down his spine - Orli had been shot.

*****

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