Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

soldiers. The captain was supposed to send him to us, mistress. He must have forgot to do it. And now that the pirates are attacking, he won’t be coming, now will he?”

Douglas, who had finally bathed and found a clean shirt, pushed his way to the front.

“The old one who served the village was killed last year. Damned pirates have taken everything from us. We got to stop ’em this time!” He was followed by a crowd of locals who shouted and brandished makeshift weapons. I didn’t doubt their heart, but wondered if they could do much harm with axes, crude spears and the kind of swords that Jeremiah’s soldiers would have discarded as too worn to keep.

“That downed bridge leaves us wide open to attack.” I frowned. “We must set a strong guard here and lads with bows and arrows should be ready on the battlements.” I realized Lady Anne had stopped inside, at the doorway, afraid to come out. I walked up to where she stood under the lintel.

“Lady Anne, we need a lookout. Someone to go up to the tower room and watch for the pirates. If they make it past the king’s soldiers, we will surely need warning. Can you be our lookout? You must have good eyesight. I’ve seen how you can make the tiniest of stitches.”

“Yes, yes, I am blessed with very strong eyesight.” Anne picked up her skirts. “I can’t be heard from up there, but I will see them from far away. Send a boy with me to run down with the word if I see them coming. I will heat water in the kettle there. If they try to sneak close to the walls, I will greet them with boiling water on their heads.”

“Excellent!” I gestured for one of the local boys to follow her. I hoped and prayed we wouldn’t have need for this, but at least she was moving and not still standing there weeping and useless. She’d left me with my knife as well.

“Go with her, Gloriana. You know Jeremiah is not going to stand for you leading the lads like this.” Valdez stood at my elbow, trying to urge me back inside the castle.

“You’re mad. I’m ready to fire on whoever crosses that drawbridge. If I didn’t think I’d distract him, I’d go down to the sea and offer to help Jeremiah there.” I jerked away from Valdez’s hand on my sleeve. I knew every eye in the castle was on us.

“You forget your place, sir.” I said it quietly but I was sure he heard me.

“My place is to protect you. Standing here in the middle of what could be a pitched battle is the last thing Jeremiah would want. He would have my head for allowing it.” Valdez pulled his own sword. “You’d better hope to God no pirates make it this far.”

Just then the boy Anne had taken with her burst through the door. “Pirates are sneakin’ up the path from the beach. “Taint many of ’em but they’re armed. They musta got away from the rest.”

I drew a sharp breath. It was one thing to issue orders to my dozen or so men who were armed with bows and a few knives. Quite another to actually have to face what the locals claimed were fearsome pirates. Claimed? I’d seen the evidence of their raids and knew they’d left behind a trail of dead bodies and stolen girls.

“We’ll fight with ye. No hiding this time. Let them try to take one of my girls and they’ll see what happens.” Holly held her biggest iron skillet and a butcher knife. Her scullery maids were armed with brooms and mops. One had even brought a poker from the fireplace. Mercy waved a rolling pin, her face grim though she kept one hand on her stomach.

I wanted to send my pretty maid into the castle to protect the babe she was carrying, but I saw her resolve. I would keep my eye on her. There was no way I would let a pirate take her anywhere.

“Aye, Holly. No more hiding from ’em, I say as well. Or running like scared sheep. If a lady like yourself can stand up to those bastards, Mistress Gloriana, then so can we.” Douglas held what looked like one of the ancient spears that had come from a display on the wall of the great hall. Stable lads stood behind him, their weapons the tools they used to muck out the horse stalls. They gave rallying cries of agreement and waved their makeshift weapons in the air.

“Then get ready.” Valdez tried to put me behind him. “I hear them coming.” He leaned closer. “Smell them too. You’ve proved you can hit what you aim for, so notch an arrow, Gloriana, and try to shoot the leader. That should send them running back to their ship.”

It was good advice. I did as he said. I wasn’t surprised to find my own hands shaking. How many pirates could there be? I heard Valdez ask the boy who’d come down from the tower.

“Didn’t think to ask, sir. Lady Anne was screaming at the lot, telling me to hurry down to spread the word. She was pouring hot water out the arrow slit. Never saw her like that. No, sir, never did. Was wild with hate, she was. Out of her mind, I’m thinkin’. Wasn’t hittin’ anyone with the water. Just wanted to throw somethin’. Know what I mean?” The boy shifted from foot to foot, tripping and tangling in my skirt.

“Yes. You did well. Run back up to the lady. Tell her we are ready and to stay there. She can look for the king’s men to come to our aid. Bring us word when they are on their way.” Valdez spoke kindly to the lad and even pressed a coin in his hand before swatting him on the backside and sending him back to the tower room.

I noticed all this while I was trying