Chapter 28

Rescue Attempt

 “Okay, here is the plan,” Justin started, to all gathered in the Great Cabin, including the three captains, their first mates, Evyn, and Namid. “Myself, Evyn, Tristen, and Conlan will each lead a team ashore. We will attack the island as quietly as possible from four different sides.”

“I’ll take north,” Evyn stated.

“Fine, I have east,” Tristen put in.

“That leaves me with south and you with west, Justin,” Conlan nodded.

“Right,” Justin replied, before continuing. “Evyn and I will lead our teams into the main house, which the scouts say is located here.” Justin pointed to a spot on a roughly drawn map that lay in the middle of his desk. “Conlan and Tristen, you will keep your teams on the outside to cover any problems or reinforcements.”

“As long as I get to fight,” Tristen nodded.

“You will.”

“We need to get the family to safety as soon as possible. So, we will bring them out to Conlan and hand them off. They will go to The Hero’s Choice, since it is the last ship recognizable.”

“They will be well cared for until we can safely transport them to The Guardian Star,” Conlan promised. “We will keep the ship out of range of everything else. So, it will be docked here,” he pointed to a spot on the map, “as far from the action as we can get her. We will set sail as soon as we have them on board.”

“Good. If we can’t get out everyone at once, take the majority. If that happens, and not everyone emerges from the house at the same time, the second two teams will join together to get whoever is left out. We will put family who are still behind on Tristen’s ship and everyone else can get to any ship.”

“The other two ships,” Evyn took over, “will hit The Dandy hard. We can’t risk them using it for escape or help.”

“We need to sink it then,” Yami, Tristen’s first mate, muttered.

“Yes,” Justin answered. “You and Maath will be in charge of the two ships and getting that job done. Once it is sunk, retreat to where we can use you to get everyone off the island.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” Maath replied and Yami nodded his agreement.

“Any questions?” Justin asked, looking around the table.

Only a determined silence answered him. Justin nodded.

“Then let’s do this. We head out as soon as it is dusk.”

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

The night sky had firmly hung itself in place by the time Justin and his crew broke the brush line surrounding the west side of the plantation sized house. The full moon provided the only light for their mission, but it was enough. The outline of the house gave it three levels. Lights were on in most of the downstairs windows and in three of the upstairs windows. The topmost floor had only one light on and it looked to be rather dim. Justin crouched by the bushes and took a moment to ponder the best approach. None of the brightly lit rooms seemed to hold too many people, most looked to be servants going through and doing the end of the night tasks. It would be simpler to wait until all had bedded down for the night. Just then an unnoticed door on the side of the house facing him, opened. A girl slipped out with a basket in her hands. People could be seen inside the doorway moving around and calling out orders. From the activity and sudden smells, it seemed the kitchen was in full swing. The girl closed the door and her outline vanished.

Justin motioned to two of the men with him and then to the girl, indicating to capture her and bring her over. The girl moved swiftly, as if she knew the way quite well, and made her way in the moonlight to one of the dozen trees a slight walk away from the house. She didn’t even get the chance to scream as Justin’s men snuck up behind her and captured her. It didn’t stop her from struggling though. One man earned a kick that sent him straight to the floor. Justin winched, knowing it would be some time before he felt well enough to move again. Meanwhile, the other had received a basket over the head. Somehow, he hung on, as two more leapt to the rescue. The girl was quickly brought before him.

“Let her down gently,” he ordered softly. The men looked at him reluctantly, but obeyed his order. “We are not going to hurt you.”

The girl snorted and glared at him with eyes of someone who knew not to trust.

Justin sighed. “Look, my family is being held captive in there. I just want to get them out of here.”

Her glare turned to surprise, then suspicion. “You are going to rescue them from here?” She spoke a little haltingly and her voice held an accent he didn’t recognize.

“Yes. Do you live here?”

She nodded, but added, “Not by choice.”

“Who are you?” Justin questioned, curious now.

“I was free. Now I am called a slave,” the girl’s voice held all the bitterness she must have felt inside.

“If you help us, we will free you from this place,” Justin promised. The girl started slightly, but said nothing. She obviously didn’t trust him and he didn’t have time for this, but she was his best link into the house. “Look, I’m the captain of a ship. If you help me save my family, I will gladly take you anyplace you wish to go. I know you don’t have a reason to trust me, but you have my word.”

“Are you a pirate?” She questioned.

“Some say so, other’s call me the pirates worst fear. I am the Falconer,” Justin said, not without pride.

“There are others too.” She spoke showing no reaction to his name.

Justin sighed. This was a rescue mission, but not of every slave in the place. If he promised her that, there was a chance he could be dooming his family. Slowly, he spoke, “I cannot promise you everyone. You are here, I can promise you only for yourself. But, I will do what I can do rescue the others. My family must come first.”

She stared at him for a moment, her face bathed in what little light the moon allowed. He knew his was shadowed the same way. “I can get you in. You look for the family Lord Walton brought here, yes?”

“Walton,” Justin breathed. He finally had a name! “Yes! Are they here? Are they alive?”

“Yes. We do not speak to them. But we feed them. They are kept apart, two in different rooms in the basement, one in the attic, and one in the master’s bedchamber.” She spoke steadily naming the locations.

She was in his bedroom. Cold fury and icy fear stole over Justin. It was an instinct that told him the one who was in Walton’s bedchamber was Dabria. What horrors and atrocities had Walton committed to her?

“Are they all healthy?” Justin asked, how he formed the question he wasn’t sure.

“As could be expected. The young girl has not been well since before she was brought here.”

Dabria was sick. Had he treated her so badly even on the ship, her sickness had taken over her body? What condition was she in then? He had to get her out!

“How do we get inside?” He finally asked.

“I can unlock the front door. That section has been cleaned. Most work is in the kitchen,” she replied confidently.

“Please do so. Then come out the door and one of my men will take you to a captain friend of mine. He will get you to the ship safely.”

“You will not?” She asked, suspicious again.

“My family first. I will not be far behind.”

“Do not forget the others. Many of the servants are not here by choice. I will tell those aI can not to fight. You will leave them alone?” She persisted.

“I and my men will. I have others who are here too. I will try to spread the word.”

“Fine.”

“What is your name?” Justin asked impulsively.

“Asha,” she replied, as she turned and accepted her basket back, moved first to pick a few of the fruit she had been sent for, and then opened the kitchen door. Slipping inside, the door closed and the light it had spilled went dark.

As soon as the light was gone, Justin sent two crew members to where Evyn was to approach from with word to move into the basement. The rest of the crew he led towards the door. They stayed low to the ground and followed the side of the house. He hoped he hadn’t made a mistake as the seconds ticked by and they crouched by the locked door. Justin shifted feet twice before he heard the lock turn and the door opened slightly. Asha stepped out, her hand holding onto a very frightened second younger girl. The two said nothing, but moved quickly down the steps and to the side, leaving the door opened slightly. Justin stepped into the moonlight, so he could be seen more clearly and nodded at Asha, who nodded back. He motioned for Inu, who had been at his shoulder. The boy stepped forward and the three moved quickly into the dark night. Justin turned around and motioned again, this time leading the way into the house.

His men stole around him, quickly gliding into rooms and silencing anyone in their way as they moved towards the steps. They met no one on the steps and at the top was a long hallway. Doors lined the both sides of the hall, with the staircase coming into the middle. At one end of the hallway was a window, but at the other end was a door. Only three rooms had light coming from under the doorways. Two of them were at the opposite side of the door at the end of the hall.

Justin motioned to Sheron, who stepped to his side. “Adem,” Justin whispered, pointing to the end door.

Sheron nodded and two of the crew split off to go with him. Silently, they bypassed rooms, only stopping to open the door that had on the light. A scuffle could be heard, and then a shaking woman was led from the room with an escort. Justin nodded as they passed by on their way to Tristen. Knowing now that Dabria wasn’t in the room, Justin turned and made his way down the other hallway with the only other remaining crew member. They paused outside the first door with a light, but could hear nothing. Cautiously, Justin opened the door and the crew member slipped inside first. He returned and shook his head. The room was empty. The only other lit room was at the end of the hall. From the placement of the doors, it looked like it was the master bedroom.

Justin halted outside the door and listened. Inside, he could hear a low male voice talking.

“Darling, give me a smile. Show me you are there.”

This was it. Justin took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The light flooded around him as he stared at the man who had caused so much damage and hurt. Walton was standing over a figure lying on the canopy bed, his hand holding hers. He swung around and glared at Justin for a moment, neither of them speaking. Slowly, he dropped her hand and moved towards the bed post where his sword hung in its scabbard. Justin kept on eye one him, even as he examined the girl in the bed. He could finally identify her as Dabria. She was obviously very sick. Justin’s stomach tightened and he wondered briefly if he might throw up at the sight.

“You’re wasting my time, boy. Guards!” Walton yelled.

Boy? Walton couldn’t have been much older than him. “And you’re wasting your breath. We’ve already dealt with your servants. Your crew is being handled now. It’s just you and me,” Justin replied, confidently.

“So, the little sparrow has come to try and rescue the girl,” Walton mocked.

“I’m the Falconer, not some sparrow. And I will take her from you,” Justin replied, fury coursing through his tightly collided body.

Walton let out a booming laugh. “You? I took out the Black Panther! He’s been my prisoner for months! I’ve humiliated and destroyed him! What can you possibly to do me?” Walton waved his sword in the air between them. “Come, sparrow. You have only been an annoyance, which I shall put out of my misery now.”

The fury inside Justin broke and he charged, sword drawn. The war that had been brewing for years had begun its final battle. The two combatants crossed swords in the middle of the room. Justin’s swings were hard and furious, matching his temper. Walton had to back up quickly in the face of the attack, but it was easy for him to defend as well. His motions were definite and quick, his sword moving with precision. The swords clanged together and met at the hilts, Walton used the moment to grasp Justin’s hand and push. Justin was thrown backward several steps. Quickly, Walton was on him and the dance began again. Back and forwards the two moved with two parries up and then one down. Up and down and back and forth, their footwork as important as their arms, it was quickly obvious they both knew what they were doing.

The dance moved to the area between the bed and dresser. The smaller space required the combatants to tighten their moves slightly. Justin forced himself to concentrate on the fight and not the girl in the bed, who lay so still, but seemed to be watching the movement around her. Walton cut his sword down and it shoved Justin towards the dresser, where the water splashed out of the bowl sitting on top. Trapped against it, Justin used his free hand to splash water into Walton’s face. While he stuttered, Justin moved backwards to the free side of the bed, opposite of the door, where his crew member still stood.

“Get Dabria out of here!” He shouted the command.

The crew member moved forward, but before he could reach Dabria, Walton produced a dagger and threw it at the unsuspecting crew member. He had no time to react and the dagger buried deep, dropping the man to the floor dead.

“There will be no help, flea. My superiority is unchallenged. I have bested the best and laid him low. You are not worthy of my time. However, you did provide me with my beautiful damsel here.” Walton laughed. “We have had a good time.”

Justin’s grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. “She doesn’t look like she’s had anything but trouble.”

Walton grimaced slightly, but then smiled cockily. “She has not been feeling well. But when she does, she yells my name in passion!”

“Never!” Justin roared, lunging low.

Walton blocked, just before Justin’s sword would have met his gut, and parried expertly. Flicking his wrist around, his sword made circles around Justin’s effectively moving it out of the way for a moment. Walton lunged and a huge red slash appeared on Justin’s right arm.

“Ah!” Justin grabbed his arm with his free hand.

“Come now! It is the first of many!” Walton slashed first right, then left, and then high.

Justin barely had time to block, his reactions slower than they should be with his sword arm damaged. He grimaced. It had taken too long to get to this point. He wasn’t going to lose control now. “Bring it on,” Justin muttered fiercely.

Walton grinned. “As you wish.”

The dance began again, but this time, Walton had a clear advantage. Justin had to focus on defensive moves, spinning and dodging to avoid the cuts that came far to close. He was weakening with each move, if Justin was going to win, he would have to finish this fast. Walton parried high and Justin swung low, but Walton jumped back and then pressed forward. He caught Justin’s sword with his own hilt and held it there. With their bodies pushed up close against each other, Justin never saw the punch that landed his gut. He doubled over and dropped his sword.

Walton’s booming laugh filled the room. “You fool! You were never good enough to defeat me! I outsmarted you all. I will enjoy killing you.”

His sword come up high and fell quickly. Justin barely rolled out of the way, but his back hit the bed. He was trapped now. Walton growled, but simply raised his sword again.

“Stop!” The voice shouted from the opposite side of the bed.

Justin couldn’t see from the floor who it was, but he knew the voice all the same. Walton frowned at the interruption.

“Let’s see how you deal with me,” Tristen’s voice challenged. “Face it, you’re though. We’ve cleared out your crew and your servants have deserted you.”

“Liar!” Walton spat.

Justin heard Tristen take a step forward. “Maybe. The battle could very well be raging on. Too bad it’s too dark outside for you tell. Regardless, your problem is right here.”

While Walton focused on Tristen, Justin rolled under the bed and scooted to the other side.

“Right after I kill this one,” Walton replied, only to yell seconds later, “Argh! You fool! You will pay for interfering.”

“Let’s have it then,” Tristen replied, crossing the room, weapon raised.

Justin moved from under the bed in time to see Walton lung. Tristen parried down twice, and then countered riding his sword down to Walton’s hilt. He pushed back and the two turned around before breaking apart. Walton attacked again, four short parries and a long, the duel continued, fast and furious. Tristen countered and started his own attack, back and forth. The pace slowed only for a moment, but never stopped, and both caught their breath. Immediately, Tristen pressed again. His attack was fast, hitting high three times, then down low and high again. Walton back up slightly under the barrage, but parried each time. Tristen hit high again twice then suddenly dropped to the ground in a low crouch and thrust upward. His sword caught Walton in the middle of his chest. Walton gasped and fell forwards, eyes glazed, forcing Tristen to roll sideways.

Tristen stood and used his foot to roll the dead captain on his side. “He’s gone. Grab the girl and let’s go.”

Justin nodded, tearing his gaze away from the man on the floor. Dabria watched him with shadowed eyes. She didn’t move or even appear to recognize him.

“Dabria? I’m going to pick you up.”

“Walton?” She whispered.

Despite the man being dead, anger welled up in him. “Walton’s gone.”

“Oh,” Dabria whispered, looking sad and confused.

“What did he do to you?” Justin questioned, angrily.

Dabria shrunk further into the cushions around her at the harsh tone.

“Justin, calm down. You’re scaring her. We need to get moving,” Tristen spoke quietly.

“I thought the battle was over,” Justin replied.

“It is… mostly. Let’s go.”

He nodded and turned back to Dabria. “I’m going to pick you up now.” She barely moved as he picked her up into his arms, shifting her so most of her weight was on his good shoulder. Still, she was so light, he wondered if it even mattered.

He turned to the door and started in surprise. “Asha.”

“She led me right to you,” Tristen spoke as Asha nodded to Justin. “When the rest returned without you, I decided to come in. Asha agreed to lead me.” He moved past Justin to her side. “Let’s get you out of here as promised.”

The girl nodded again and turned to head down the hallway. Tristen and Justin, carrying a quiet Dabria, followed. Once they were out of the house, Tristen moved Asha to behind him and the four crossed to where the ship waited. The battle was still going, however, it did not range over the whole area, but smaller spots where Walton’s crew members refused to put down arms. The four were able to move safely around them. Tristen quickly led them onto his ship. Once on board, Justin immediately took Dabria to a smaller room, with a solid bed. Asha followed and agreed to take care of the sick girl.

Justin closed the door behind him and felt the adrenaline of the moment leave him and a weariness seep into every part of his being. He sighed heavily, not yet able to focus on working through all that had just happened. His feet carried him to the Great Cabin and Tristen opened the door to his knock.

“You look beat,” Tristen said, admitting him.

Justin grunted and dropped into a chair. “The others?”

Tristen leaned on the edge of his desk. “Tommy and his family were all found and escorted to Conlan’s ship. They are haggard and look like they haven’t eaten or slept right since they were taken.”

“Walton said he destroyed him,” Justin responded.

Tristen grimaced. “He’s been telling Tommy lies since they were separated, torturing him about what he was doing to their family. I haven’t gotten to talk to all of them. But I’m pretty sure he didn’t do that much to either Kiliki or Adem. He seemed fine and while Kiliki is going to need real food soon, I think she and the baby are doing okay. She looks ready to give birth at any time.”

“A birth on board?” Justin asked, with a slight smile.

Tristen laughed. “Let’s hope not. Are you going to tell me what is going on?”

“What do you mean?” Justin asked, uncomfortably at the personal and surprise question.

“We got the family back. Walton is gone. Shouldn’t you be happy about this? You look like you lost it all, rather than gaining it,” Tristen observed, crossing his arms.

Justin shrugged. “Just tired. It has been a long time coming.”

“Not the way you expected though, I’d imagine,” Tristen commented.

“If you mean you coming in to finish the job, then no,” Justin’s voice was hard.

“You looked like you needed a hand,” Tristen admitted. “Didn’t mean to steal your thunder, but better to have you alive to enjoy the victory.”

“True, though I’m not happy about it.”

Tristen smiled wryly. “You don’t have to be. You’ll thank me one day.”

“Probably,” Justin agreed. The two shared a laugh and shook hands, before Justin headed below. The ships were due to meet up with each other back at the cove. Meanwhile, Justin needed to get his arm wrapped and get some sleep of his own. The physician that had begged to be part of his crew would get to earn his keep once Justin got back to his own ship.