Mac groaned, rubbing his aching head as he took stock of the bed he lay on. Knowing that resting would get him nowhere closer to saving Alice, he finally rose with another groan and stood before sinking to a knee. He was still weak from the near drowning he suffered earlier it seemed.

Don’t matter, he thought. Get yer damn ass up an’ get ta lookin’ fer yer girl.

That spurred his movements. Rising, he looked over to the side of the bed and donned his shirt, then, glanced over at the pistol that had been laid out for him. He grabbed it and unloaded the magazine, checking to make sure the object was free of dirt and grime, before loading it again and pulling the slide back.

Mac knew he didn’t have the experience of Lew, Luna, or, judging by appearances, even the tribal woman Zecora. They all outshone him, but he knew he had to try. He knew Alice was counting on him. With that in mind he crammed the pistol and a few spare mags into his pockets and charged outside, determined to make it to the coast and hunt her down.

Although he hadn’t really seen the coastline himself, he had a general idea what to hunt for. He wasn’t completely helpless in that regard. He might of been a man of few words, but he did know a thing or two. Like tracking animals, hunting, finding his way around rough terrain. Finding a coast would be a breeze.

He plodded on in his slow, meandering way, briefly wishing for a dip. It had been forever since he had chewed, but man did one tempt him now. Jack used to get onto him about it, but, considering that she smoked, it wasn’t like she could call the kettle black.

Turning his body to the side, he scooted in between two gnarly trees and ducked under a thick wall of tree limbs.

He used to take Jack hunting. It was something they did when the deer were in season. He had went with their dad before he passed, tried to give her the same experience. Tried to step in and be a replacement to him. Sure, it didn’t work all that well, considering Jack ran off to Manhattan, but he had tried. And was trying to do the same for Alice. Him and Jack both. They weren’t the real deal by any means, but he tried to be as much of a father figure as he could to the girl. Isabelle helped too in that regard--that woman was mean when she had to be.

He stopped for a moment in the thick trees decorating his world, listening. Hearing nothing, he moved on, returning to his thoughts.

Mac had been a bit reluctant at first to Dash coming to live with them. Not outwardly hostile, by any means, but he had been guarded around her for a long while until his granny just about tore his ear off lecturing him.

Looking down at the ground, he briefly skirted his fingertips around a clear bootprint in the mud. Mac guessed Luna, judging by the foot width and length. That was good, meant he was on the right track.

A stiff upper lip was important to keep when you were head of a household. He was the only one that didn’t cry at their granny’s funeral. When Isabelle had gotten pissed off at him over that, well, he knew Jack and her would be alright together. What she didn’t know was when they got back home, he had locked the door to his room and bawled like a baby.

A hard roar snapped him away from his memories. He instantly threw himself behind a tree, drawing his pistol. The hard roar was followed by two more just like it, alongside screams in the distance.

Taking a chance, he quickly pressed on, coming to the outskirts of a treeline that lead to a sudden drop off down to the coastline, where burning wreckage and a small crater greeted him. Bodies lined the area, the scent filling the air reminding him of barbeque. That thought gagged him. As he observed the man-made hell, he saw a few men scrambling, guns drawn and pointing excitedly at the ship.

Mac held his own weapon close as he made his way down to the beach, creeping along as well as a big man could. Thankfully, most seemed distracted by the ship. As he neared, however, he stumbled on a rough patch of sand and fell with a grunt. That drew the attention of a pair of men. They turned around and seemed to realize Mac didn’t belong. Before they could shout any other alerts, Mac aimed and squeezed three rounds out. He wasn’t quite the sharpshooter his sis was, but it got the job done, sending two slugs through the stomach of one and the chest of another. Scrambling to his feet, Mac looked for more stragglers. Finding another cradling a wounded leg, he held no mercy, pulling the trigger once more into his back. He made his way down the beach, firing and engaging men from the flank. He wasn’t going to get his damn fool ass killed today. Now wasn’t the time to be a hero. Now was the time to make sure Alice had someone to go home with.

He ducked behind a tree and loaded another mag in, then popped back out, his gun at the ready as he continued to slink like dog down the way, slow, methodical, and lumbering.

Suddenly a voice cut through the sounds of shouting and panic, clear and authoritative. Mac recognized it as the princess’s. Despite the distance between the shore and the ship, she spoke strong and clearly.

“Enemy mine, surrender and disarm or face utter destruction!”

“Eyup. Sounds like the princess, alright,” he spoke under his breath. Holstering his gun, Mac rose from his hiding spot and headed towards the royal figures calling.

The demands continued. “I hereby claim this vessel under the authority of the crown of Torani. You will stand down and present yourselves for incarceration, to await trial and sentencing under a proper court. Elsewise, under my command and authority, Captain Shields will continue shelling this beach until naught remains.”

The remaining pirates Mac could see had stopped and were now looking to one another. It seemed no one wanted to be the one to reply, lest he overstep his bounds. After a moment, he sensed a shift in their attentions. A single man, his finer clothes marking him out as the captain most likely, was walking forward, a cutlass in his hand.

Quite deliberately, the man raised the sword high, then tossed it down. The men scattered about did the same quickly afterwards, throwing down swords, axes, guns, whatever type of weapon they had found in the chaos. The captain yelled, “I am no fool, nor do I seek to sacrifice my men’s lives in some vain hope to overcome you. That is not what Captain Alexander will be remembered for. I know when I am beat, and submit myself to your mercy, Princess.”

Mac crossed his arms, watching the scene. It amazed him how easily the princess could sway the peoples hearts, be it men like himself, or the scum that prostrated themselves before her.

“A wise decision, captain. It will be mentioned before the courts. Now, if you would be so kind as to pile what weapons you have, then gather your men twenty feet away. Captain Shields and his men will come to shore to detain you, but until then know this ship’s cannons are aimed and ready to fire at the slightest provocation.”

“Duly noted,” replied Alexander, who began shouting orders for his men to comply. In no time at all, they had gathered up the weapons near them into a single pile then, as one, they marched to a spot away from the pile where they sat, the captain at their head.

Mac continued to look over the men, scanning for Lew, the princess, anyone he would know, debating between calling attention to himself, or to silently hunt.

Finally, deciding to be bold, he cupped a hand to his mouth and shouted above the noise, “Lew!”

The pirates turned, some jumping to their feet in surprise. But just as quick came Luna’s voice. “Is that the eldest Apple I hear? Macintosh?”

“That’s he! Or, uh, me!” he called out in return. “Where y’all at?”

“The Captain will join you shortly, Sir Apple. If you will perhaps keep a guard on our captives? Though I advise you not to stand too close, lest we require the ship’s cannons again.” While her advice was serious, Mac could definitely hear an amused edge to her voice.

“Uh, as ya wish, yer highness,” he replied, moving over to the men and holding his gun at the ready.

There was a few moments of awkward silence as the pirates watched Mac cautiously, although they didn’t seem intent on causing anymore trouble. Looking at the ship, the farmer saw movement, four figures were lowering a smaller boat to the water. They climbed in and headed to the shore.

Alexander coughed gently, asking, “You’re with the princess, then?”

“Reckon I am,” Mac agreed, watching him carefully.

“You’re sure as hell no native, but you don’t look like any Guard I’ve ever seen,” the pirate said lightly. “But you got past my men, that much is obvious. Are they dead?”

“Some of ‘em,” Mac agreed. He stared evenly at Alexander. “I’m lookin’ fer a girl. She’s a young’n. I think she mighta been on yer ship. Was with a gal named… Gilly? Somethin’ like that.”

“Aren’t any girls on my ship, that’s for certain. Any of these lads tried something like that…” He shook his head. “You’ll have to try elsewhere, I’m afraid.”

“Captain,” said one of the men quietly. “He might mean that bitch, Gilda. She’s soft enough in the head for such things.”

Alexander rubbed at his pristine and finely trimmed beard. “That’s true. If so, heaven help you, lad. She won’t last long at the rate she’s going.”

“My gal, or Gilda? ‘Cause there’s a bullet waitin’ fer her if anythin’ has happend ta Alice.”

That last got some laughs amongst the pirates, though they shrank under Mac’s hard stare. Alexander said, “It’ll mean both, as the Admiral won’t rest until her ship docks with the deeps. It’s only a matter of time, the mouth that woman has on her.”

“The Admiral?” Mac repeated, furrowing his brow.

With a widening of his eyes, Alexander’s face showed he felt he had said too much. “I’ll say this, if you want to save the girl, you had best be quick about it, lad. If Captain Gilda gets on the Admiral’s bad side...” He trailed off, letting Mac’s imagination fill in the blanks.

Mac considered his words, then slowly nodded. “I’ll do it. Jus’ you wait.”

“Mmm,” was all the reply he got. “We’ve got company--your Captain Shields.”

Mac looked and saw he was right--the young man was instructing two guard to tie up the rowboat, before he and Zecora walked over to the pirates. Lew had his rifle readied and, after they had finished with the boat, the two guards drew mismatched weapons of their own.

Lew’s face was impassive, but he gave Mac a nod of recognition. “Glad to see you’re up and about. Surprised, but glad.”

“Ya can’t keep a good man down,” Mac replied. “So I have no damn clue how I’m up.” He cocked a meaty thumb at Alexander. “Ya know anythin’ ‘bout an Admiral?”

Lew turned to the captive, curiosity on his face. “Admiral? What’s he talking about?”

“I might tell you,” offered Alexander, “but I want fair shakes for my men. Let us tend to the casualties…?”

With a wave of a hand, Lew replied, “We were going to do that anyway. Now, speak.”

With a long sigh, the captain asked, “Did you not have any suspicions? Several different pirate crews--a kind of man notorious for not playing well with others--working for the same goal?”

“I had my theories.” Lew nodded. “So the Admiral is taking the title literally. He’s your leader.” When Alexander nodded, he asked, “How many ships?”

“Admiral Forthright had convinced nearly fifteen different captains, initially. Though that number has been cut some, between those you’ve killed and a couple of cowards. Maybe ten? Give or take a couple.”

“Sounds like we’re really outnumbered,” Mac said to himself.

“Nothing we weren’t expecting,” Lew replied, too calmly.

“I don’t know what you were expecting, lad, but the Admiral wasn’t it. You want my advice, you take the Ire Wind and leave, quick as you can. There aren’t many places for your sort to go, wanted by the most powerful woman in the North as you are, but still. Best chances.”

“It all depends, really,” replied Lew. “And you’ve already seen how badly you underestimate us. Now, my men will be watching--no one goes out of our line of sight, or you’ll be disabled, no warnings. Let’s see who needs help. No one else needs to die today.”

“Fair enough, Captain Shields,” replied Alexander. “You heard the man, lads. Don’t try to be cute, we’ve lost fair and square.” To Lew, he said, “I tip my hat to you, Captain. Your Guard would make fine pirates, it seems.” With that, he took to instructing his men.

Lew went over to the two Guardsmen he had with him--one of whom was a woman, Mac noticed--and whispered his orders, leaving Mac and Zecora alone.

“So, now what?” Mac asked Zecora. The tribal woman shrugged.

“We need to go, and hurry soon. Let us hear the orders from the princess of the moon.”

Several hours later found an exhausted Lew alone with Luna inside the previous captain’s cabin. He stood to attention despite his aching back--several of the pirates had thankfully lived from their bombardment, but had needed to be carried--and gave her a salute. “My lady, the prisoners have all been seen to and placed in the ship’s brig. It is a bit of a tight fit, but should do.”

“And the injured?”

“The unit’s medics are tending to them, beyond our initial field dressings.”

“How many dead?”

“Thankfully few. The crew numbered around thirty, and we’ve dug five graves today.”

“Mmm,” replied the princess, cradling her head on her hands in thought. “And of this Admiral--it is likely?”

“More than likely,” Lew replied. “While I’m not particularly familiar with the Royal Navy, I believe there was a Forthright who mutinied, commandeering his ship to pirate the Kvaat waters.”

“He has a Torani warship?” Luna asked.

“Unfortunately, but a light one, thank Elondrie. It’s no battleship, but a step above these pirate ships, that’s for sure.”

“What do you propose we do about that?”

Like it’s nothing out of the ordinary, Lew thought with a mental laugh. It was occasionally frustrating, but one had to admire her sheer confidence, both in herself and her subordinates such as Lew.

“Deception and targeted assault. We utilize this ship to get close to the Admiral’s, storm it, and take out the pirate leadership. While it’s impressive he’s managed to sway them under his banner, without him, they’re still just pirates. And with a proper warship in our hands, with my men’s training, they won’t be able to touch us.”

The warrior princess nodded. “It seems sound, although it is a risky proposition. I quite like it, Captain. Has Alexander spoken anymore of their plans?”

Lew nodded. “A little. It’s slow going, but we’ve worked out the basic details. It seems the more he’s given to think on it, the more cooperative he becomes. I think the Admiral does not tolerate failure well.”

Luna laughed. “He is a traitor and a coward. Fear is the only tool he has to keep his followers in line. It is rather disgusting.” She tapped an absentminded finger on the desk. “I’ll leave the preparations to you, Captain. I expect a harsh battle, so I must prepare.”

“Thank you, Princess,” replied Lew, bowing slightly. “I’ll see to it the men are readied.” He turned to leave, then stopped. A thought had occurred to him. “My lady?”

“Yes, Captain?”

“What about Macintosh’s sister?”

“Have you taken into account her rescue in your plan?” she asked, one corner of her lips angling slightly in a held back smile.

“Well… Yes,” he admitted.

“Then all is right with the world. Dismissed, Captain.”

Giving a deeper bow, Lew thanked her and headed back to the lower levels of the ship. He had much to do that night, and the first thing on his list was yet another chat with the ex-Captain Alexander.