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bowels of the Obsidian. Under normal circumstances I would have him gutted for his deeds, but he’s the leverage in my plan. Now you two are leverage as well.” The sword glimmered and flashed as L’Ollon paced about the room. “I shall offer you a choice. You can either do as I instruct henceforth, or die by my blade.”
    Grant looked squarely at L’Ollon. “We will serve you, Captain, loyally and without fail.”
    L’Ollon smiled at me. His rotted teeth looked like kernels of corn caked with soil. “It seems that there is more to you than I thought. A real bargain. I should thank your father next time I dock in Santiago. Tell me, where did you learn to wield a sword?”
    “With the boatswain was my first time, Captain.”
    His rancid breath puffed in my face. “Well, your talent will be put to the test in due time. As for you, Cooper Grant, your thieving days have just begun. Sit, I shall tell you what lies ahead.” Captain L’Ollon pointed to a small bench not far from the desk.
    We sat down. I watched his sword. Christoff sat in a plush chair near the doorway. He reached for a nearby carafe of ale and poured some into a silver mug. He relaxed in the chair with his drink and listened intently as L’Ollon spoke.
    “We make for the island of Curacao. We will dock in Willemstad. That town is home to a fellow pirate, Captain Shanley. He is a floggin’ traitor and a lying, backstabbing thief.” A deep distance formed in his eyes. His brow dipped in anger and his lower lip curled. He was remembering something, and Grant and I knew what.
    “You see, a few years ago, he and I arranged a deal. I paid him a heap of gold and gave him a copy of my sea chart; he was to keep my voyage free of followers. Not long after I set sail, my fleet met a terrible storm. I lost my fleet in that tempest.” L’Ollon looked away and set his gaze toward the window. Deep in thought, he looked out at the rolling waves. “The Obsidian is all I have left.”
    I watched L’Ollon stare out the window. Are the Water People out there, somewhere in that beautiful blue water, following, watching, and listening?
    “My gold fell to the bottom of the sea, and it was Shanley who set out to comb the ocean floor. He still has my sea chart. I need it so I can return to the place of my ruin. Curse that galley-rat. He has made several voyages and has recovered much of my fortune. It is my gold that he spends. My father’s gold. My grandfather’s gold!” He slammed his fists on the desk. “I will get that chart and reclaim the empire built by my forefathers. Shanley will pay with his blood, and once in Curacao, we will not leave until he is dead and his ill-gotten fleet destroyed.”
    The sunlight spilled through the window, creating a bright red square on the carpet. L’Ollon stepped into the sunbeam, his black boots shining like wet coal.
    “The two of you will play a critical role in my game. Willemstad is riddled with Shanley’s crew. I will send Christoff into town, as Shanley’s men do not know him. You two will go with Christoff to Shanley’s guarded villa. Christoff will pretend that he is interested in purchasing one of Shanley’s smaller ships, a sloop. While he deals with the rat, you, Grant, will sneak into the villa through the rear entrance. Your orders are to steal the chart bearing my signature. Do not be discovered. Jacob will be with you throughout and if you are seen, he will utilize his new-found talent in swordplay with orders to kill.”
    “I don’t understand, Captain,” I uttered.
    L’Ollon loomed over me. Strands of oily black hair fell into his face. “I will give you a sword, Jacob. You will protect Grant’s life. You will kill anyone who hinders the success of your mission. Just remember what you learned in Santiago when that man tried to take you from me. Remember what you did to Beelo.” He smirked. “Death just seems to follow you, doesn’t it, lad?” He stepped away from me and motioned for