Chronicles of the Dragon Pirate by David Talon Read Free Book Online

manner.”
    General Montejo walked up beside Alfonzo. “Tomas is not going to be press-ganged into service like an English sailor. He will be offered a choice as his own man; I swear it to you both as an officer of the order, and a gentleman of the Spanish court. Now I ask you to stand with me, beside the other gentlemen. If you please, sir?”
    For a moment I thought Alfonzo would try to fight anyway. But then he bowed his head, and Captain Cholula removed her dagger from his throat, while Karl released his arm. But I noticed neither one of them relaxed until General Montejo had led Alfonzo away to stand beside him. Lord Marcus then motioned for Captain Cholula to take a seat in front of me. “Pray explain to young Tomas the choice he must make tonight.”
    “With pleasure,” Cholula said as she pulled the bench closer to me and sat with her back to the altar, and her knees pressed against mine. The tang of dried sweat and steel off her armor touched my nose, her breath still smelling of rum as she leaned in close. “You do realize your Belle-M’ere has a serious problem with the church, don’t you?”
    I felt a stab of fear. “Belle-M’ere’s not a heretic; she’s a good catholic.” I turned to Lord Marcus. “Sir, I swear to you she is.”
    Lord Marcus only sighed. “Your devotion to Johanna Rios is touching, but it cannot alter the facts. Her birth parents were both part of the heretical Huguenot cult, and there is no record of her ever being baptized into the true faith. The Elders” and he motioned toward the three men standing around the baptismal font, “have diligently checked. To make matters worse, Johanna has been carrying on a long-term affair with a married man.” And he pointed at Alfonzo.
    My mouth opened in shock as Alfonzo said urgently, “Tomas, let me explain. It was an arranged marriage for the sake of a political union between our families, nothing more. The woman lives in Toledo with her own lover.” I felt a stab of betrayal, like a knife in my chest, which Alfonzo saw reflected on my face. “Tomas, Johanna knows; I told her at the beginning of our friendship. She’s always known I’d divorce that woman if I could and marry her.”
    Captain Cholula squeezed my knees with her hands, regaining my attention. “Do you see what he just did? By admitting Belle-M’ere already knew he was married, it can be shown that a heretic led a good catholic to throw over his marriage vows, showing she’s an unrepentant sinner. That’s a death sentence.” At the look of fear on my face Captain Cholula’s became sympathetic. “I don’t want to see it happen either; I grew quite fond of your foster-mother in the time I spent with her. But only you have the power to save her.”
    I felt like I’d stepped into a marsh pool sucking me down into black water. “If I join the order.”
    To my surprise she shook her head. “You’d be miserable there; anyone can see it. No, I want you to become my apprentice. You see, I’m what they call a lay-sister, technically part of the order, but also independent, answering to Lord Marcus alone. I gladly follow his orders, but my life’s my own, to live as I choose. Just as yours will be. Johanna said you like to sail, and I know you like to fight, am I right?” I gave her a wary nod. “So as my apprentice,” she went on, “I’ll teach you to sail, to lead men into battle and fight in a way that you’ll come out alive when the killing’s done. Most of all, I’ll teach you how to think for yourself, while always having respect for your captain, or your Knight-Abbott.”
    “That isn’t all you’ll teach him,” Alfonzo snarled behind me. “I’ve heard tales of you, Captain Cholula, of how you take innocent young boys and corrupt them with your foul ways.”
    Her smile became hungry again. “I do far more than corrupt them, good captain; I break them like wild horses, until they’ll do anything I want. But Tomas will be different.” Captain