The DeCadia Code (The DeCadia Series Book 1) by Apryl Baker, Jonathan Yanez Read Free Book Online Page B

gave him a quick salute. Her eyes were full of respect and admiration for him, but this wasn’t the time to voice any of this. Now, she ran back across the deck to grab another round for the cannons.
    Stephen looked around the deck of The Dragoon . His ship was taking more damage than he would have liked. They were gaining on the pirate ship with a steady pace. Marm was doing a fantastic job behind the helm as usual. But if they were going to save the merchant ship from complete annihilation, they needed to move faster. The option of boarding the ship would come soon. Boarding meant possible casualties on his side.
    Stephen’s blue eyes sorted out the mayhem across the deck until they landed on Amil. “Amil,” Stephen shouted.
    His friend looked to him with a question across his face. “It’s boom time!” Stephen shouted over the roar of war on the wind. Amil gave him a thumbs-up and ran to a loaded cannon.
    Amil was one of the best marksmen to have ever graduated from the Royal Navy Academy. He was proficient with knives, firearms, and cannons.
    Stephen turned back to look at where Marm still fought the helm side to side. He waved both hands high in the air. In turn, the woman waved a hand back. Stephen felt the ship turn, allowing Amil a clear shot at the pirate ship’s rear right side. It was the location were all ships of that make and size held their engine room.
    They were close enough now for Stephen to make out figures across the pirate ship’s deck. The ship itself was made from dark oak. It was evident the captain of the vessel intended to intimidate anyone who crossed its path. Black sails unfurled from every post. The ship’s identifying flag, a blood-red skull over an inky black field, waved in the breeze.
    Then Amil fired, sending the shot through the air like a thunderbolt. The cannonball struck true. Seconds after the cannonball hit, another explosion erupted from the vessel. Stephen allowed himself a brief smile; Amil’s shot had crippled the enemy ship.
    A roar erupted from the throats of his men as they witnessed the pirate ship turn from predator to prey. A quick look told Stephen their victory wasn’t total. The merchant ship they were trying to save had already taken too much damage by the time they intervened. Both merchant and pirate ships were now making their way to the island below.
    Both vessels crashed into the densely foliaged island landscape with tremendous force. If Stephen moved quickly, the survivors on the pirate ship would be in no condition to fight. Those aboard the merchant ship would also be in need of assistance. “Marm, bring us down. Amil, short range and skirmish weapons ready.”
    Both soldiers reacted without a word. Marm slowed the forward progress of The Dragoon and began to descend to the lush green island floor. Amil began shouting orders to his sailors. “Weapons ready. I want three squads formed. One will stay here with Marm to guard the ship. The other two will report to Captain Cross and myself. Move let’s go: I’m getting old here.”
    The Dragoon found a resting place a quarter mile from the downed ships. Landing any closer could be dangerous if either ship blew before they were clear. They would have to make their way by foot through the dense, green foliage. Their guides would be the twin pillars of smoke rising from the downed pirate and merchant ships.
    Stephen was consulting a map on the deck of The Dragoon . The soldiers that were to accompany he and Amil on the journey formed up in rows behind them. Their current location was a small island off the coast of DeCadia named Roanoke. Stephen had heard the rumors surrounding the island, but had never given them any weight. They were stories, that was all.
    Apparently, he wasn’t the only one recalling what he knew of the island. He turned ever so slightly to pick up the conversation behind him. Two male sailors were speaking in voices they deemed low enough to avoid being heard. “They’re not