Vampirates: Tide of Terror Read Online Free PDF Page A

“You know I’d never order an attack on another pirate captain’s ship.”
    Drakoulis shook his head. “I know nothing of the sort.”
    Molucco forged ahead, unperturbed by the icy tone of his enemy. “We thought this was a containership. We were misinformed . . .”
    “Yes,” Drakoulis said, smiling again. “You were misinformed.” He paused, as if carefully weighing his words. “It’s curious how these . . . confusions, occur.”
    Connor looked over at Jez now, and found him frowning. “We were tricked,” Jez hissed. “This was a set-up.”
    “It’s time that you paid for your errant ways,” Drakoulis continued, “There’s a Pirate Code, Wrathe, which you seem to have conveniently forgotten — or else think you are somehow above. You have some fanciful notion, perhaps, of the Wrathe name — you and your brothers. You dive in and out of other captains’ sea-lanes — laying siege here, taking plunder there. Oh it’s all sport to you and your . . . playmates, is it not?”
    Connor had heard other pirates rail about Captain Wrathe before. He thought back to his first visit to Ma Kettle’s Tavern, when a dozen other captains had unleashed their anger on Captain Wrathe. That had been frightening, but this was an altogether more dangerous situation. The other pirates had only wanted to vent their fury. Captain Drakoulis had planned and executed a cold-blooded mission to ensnare Captain Wrathe and his crew. Connor sensed that Drakoulis was seeking revenge for some ancient hurt. What had Molucco done to him? Connor looked with new eyes at the captain to whom he had pledged his allegiance.
    “What do you want, Drakoulis?” Captain Wrathe’s question pulled Connor roughly back into the present — dire — situation.
    “I already told you, Wrathe. The time has come to pay for your actions.”
    “Let’s talk terms then, man, and we’ll both be on our way.” Captain Wrathe sounded as cocksure as ever.
    Drakoulis resumed in his cold voice, “There is a price to be paid for your misdemeanors.”
    “Name your price,” answered Molucco. “And remind me, is it gold or silver that tickles your fancy?”
    Drakoulis looked at Molucco in disgust, shaking his head slowly. As he did so, Connor noticed that in contrast to Captain Wrathe — who was dripping in silver and sapphires — Captain Drakoulis wore no jewelry. His uniform was the same as the rest of his company — simple, black and unadorned. When he spoke again, his voice was full of disdain.
    “How typical of you to think that I would wish for the same ephemeral rewards as you, Wrathe. The price of your transgressions will not be paid in metal, Captain. It will be paid in the only currency that matters — blood.”
    At their captain’s words, the crew raised their scimitars once more. It was a perfectly smooth, coordinated movement. How well Drakoulis had rehearsed them. Connor could not begin to think what fresh horror would now be un-leashed. But he knew that Drakoulis’ pirates would be perfectly prepared, while he and his crewmates would be left floundering. He felt a flash of anger at Captain Wrathe for putting him and the others into this position. But the anger soon dissipated. Molucco Wrathe had welcomed him aboard his ship like a father. He had given Connor sanctuary in his darkest hour — given him back hope. Molucco might be an unruly rogue, but he was not an evil man. In stark contrast, it appeared, to Captain Narcisos Drakoulis.
    “A duel,” Drakoulis announced. “The matter will be settled by a duel — to the death.”
    Molucco flinched. It was no secret that his best fighting years were behind him. He was still a force to be reckoned with, but he had long since delegated the key combat to the younger members of his crew. Connor looked from Molucco Wrathe to Narcisos Drakoulis. In the stark white sunlight, the contrast was all too obvious. Captain Wrathe appeared overweight and overindulged while, beneath his tight black