976. Chapter 976

After Captain Kate and the Sorceress

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Je ne regret rein, except not owning Castle. Rating: M, here and there. Time: 18th Century

Kate thought furiously. "The Texel isn't built for speed, so the Maratha pirates will catch up to her long before we reach Malabar. The only thing to do is to close up on the Dutchman and sink any pirate ship that comes near her." She quickly gave orders to her ships.

The Lady Kate, being both the fastest, but the least powerful of the ships, took station ahead of the Texel. The Sorceress was to the Texel's port and the Witch of Endor was to the starboard.

"The bastards are gaining on us, Captain." Esposito growled.

"Let them. I have an idea."

The Sorceress used her signal flags to tell the other ships of Kate's idea. Once the ships had acknowledged her signal, Kate walked to the stern of the ship and kept a very close eye on the pirates chasing them and how close they were getting. Finally she smiled.

"Epsosito, run up the preparatory signal."

A single signal flag was sent up the halyard. Kate waited until it was acknowledged, then glanced at the pirates chasing them who were getting nearer and nearer. "Give them the signal to execute."

No sooner had she spoken than the Sorceress quickly turned to port, coming about to be able to tack into the wind. Then the Sorceress was headed straight for the pirates. The pirate ships were in a long straggling mass of several dozen ships. The various pirate captains now saw that a very large and well- armed warship was headed for them. Then the Witch of Endor turned to starboard and also headed for the pirate craft.

A few of the pirates were determined to get their loot back from the Texel and kept on going. The majority, however, had no desire to fight two large warships that were now headed their way. But without any centralized command, each ship's captain turned his ship as best he could without any thought to the ships about his. That led to numerous near collisions and two actual collisions. As captains screamed at each other and tried to get back on course, or in two cases, tried to disentangle themselves from another ship, the two warships bore down on them.

"How many are still going after the Texel? Kate asked, her eyes on the ships ahead of her.

"Three, Mother." Alexis said. Then, "No, two. One is disengaging and running for it. The Lady Kate is coming back to lend a hand."

The Sorceress cut through the mass of ships at about the midpoint in the gaggle. Kate called to Ryan, her gunnery officer. "Stand by. Both broadsides will bear, but we can't dawdle. We need to get back to protect the Texel. Two broadside from each side and then we sail back. Understand?"

"Aye, aye, Captain."

The Sorceress almost rammed two pirate ships that had collided with each other but the starboard broadside was able to wreck them from stem to stern. Another ship that was broadside to the Sorceress tried to man her guns, but was too late. Both of her masts went down and the gunners could see several gaping holes in her hull.

The port broadside fired into the sterns of two ships that were a hundred yards away, seriously damaging them, but apparently leaving them in no danger of sinking.

By the time all the guns were loaded and run out again, the pirates who still could were fleeing in all directions. The Sorceress fired at long range at two ships and did some damage.

Meanwhile, the Witch of Endor, was sailing very slowly through the wrecked pirate fleet, making sure that few would ever return to port. When both ships turned to go back to protect the Texel, the pirates had left her and were well on their way to safety.

"Should we go back for a few more broadsides?" Sorenson called over to Kate as the ships passed.

"No. We need to get our prize back to Malabar. We don't want to take any chances."

Once back at the port of Mahe, Kate met with the senior surviving Dutch officer, Lieutenant de Ruyter and the only other officer, a young midshipman. With Kate were her husband, her two children, Captain Sorenson, Princess Jasmine and Ambassador Sassani of Persia.

"Lieutenant, we saved your ship from pirates. Under salvage law, we are entitled to recompense. Usually, that amounts to half the value of the ship and of the ship's cargo. I understand that you cannot speak for the Dutch East Indies Company, but do you believe the company will accept such a proposal from me?"

De Ruyter nodded. "You rescued the ship and you now control her. In addition, you represent France, and have several powerful local allies. They will agree."

Kate took a quick look at Sassani who did not seem at all upset as being referred to as an ally of France, or of Kate herself. She continued. "The loot that the other pirates loaded on your ship is a prize of war and will be shared equally between my squadron and the Sultanate of Malabar who joined in this enterprise." That got a quick, surprised smile from Jasmine. Kate continued. "Your ship's papers were left by the pirates so I imagine there will be no disputation over which cargo belongs to who, however, I would like you to observe the process as we unload the pirates' treasure."

"Of course, Captain. My pleasure. I should note that the monsoon will soon be blowing to the East and will prevent us from sailing back to Holland until the fall. In the meantime, I will be glad to be of any assistance I can be to you, consistent with the requirements of my company and of Holland." De Ruyter smiled. "In fact, I think I can be of assistance to you right now. The Marathas were indeed planning to buy weapons from the Portuguese in Goa. There are documents, written in Portuguese that show that they did not intend to purchase weapons from private sources, but from the government in Goa itself. Several documents are signed by Governor Cabral himself."

Princess Jasmine was outraged. "How dare he sell weapons to our enemies? Why?"

De Ruyter shrugged. "The Portuguese were in Asia for a century before the other European countries came here. They had quite an empire in those days. They held parts of Africa, India, the Persian Gulf, and as far as the Spice Islands, which is now the Dutch East Indies. But larger, richer and more powerful European countries have taken over much of their Asian empire. One might expect they'd be unhappy about it and might want to injure France and her local friends."

Jasmine grasped the hilt of her sword. "I'll make them pay. I'll see that swine Cabral beheaded. I'll…."

Kate held up her hand. "Perhaps we should think of this as an opportunity?"

"What kind of an opportunity?"

"One that our enemies will pay for."

"I think they may already be paying for an opportunity." Jasmine said, mysteriously.

"Already?" Kate asked.

She nodded. "As I said, we have no navy. With my father too ill to give orders, the sailors have left their ships since they weren't being paid. Even the officers have gone into merchant ships. Most of our ships were very much like the ships our Maratha enemies use. But we have a very nice European designed brig of fourteen guns. She's built of teak as is common is India, but is a very good ship. The money that the Sultan gets from the sale of the pirates' loot I plan to use to put the Tulwar back in service and man her."

"Tulwar?" Sorenson asked.

"It's our name for your saber. Kate, could you and some of your people come with me tomorrow to look over the ship? I know the officers and many of the sailors I want to crew her, but I know little of ships."

The next day Kate, Rick, Alexis, Priscilla, Sorenson, Ryan, L'Anie, Esposito and specialists from all three of Kate's ships swarmed over the Tulwar.

After consulting with the warrant officers, Espo went to talk to his captain and the rest. "She's sound, Captain Kate. She's got copper sheathing and the teak is quite sturdy. The carpenter says there's a bit of rot, but naught that can't be easily repaired. The ropes and sails, however, need to be replaced. A bit of paint to spruce her up and she'll be fine."

Ryan was next. "The cannons are ten six pounders and four twelve pounders for the broadside. There are no bow or stern chasers, but I think we can mount some six pounders fore and aft with no trouble. The guns themselves are Royal Navy brass cannons, quite good weapons. However, we'll need to outfit her with muskets, pistols, cutlasses, boarding pikes and the other small arms. Apparently the crew felt they could sell them for the money they were owed."

"Mr. Ryan, "Jasmine asked, "may I borrow some of your Irish soldiers to train my marines and would you allow me to dress my troops in the red coats the Irish wear?"

Ryan bowed. "I'd be honored, Your Highness."

A month later, a small squadron flying the flag of France sailed into the Portuguese port of Goa. The largest ship alone could have destroyed the local defenses. The only ship available was a small thing that the governor used to hold parties for the ladies and gentlemen of the city. On more than one occasion he'd taken women who would not qualify as ladies out as well. It was possible that the little ship could be mounted with guns, if someone could find them and gunners could be found to man them. The landward defenses were in equally bad shape. The forts themselves were crumbling and poorly manned. They were short, very short, of both powder and shot. The guns themselves, alas, were old and worn and in no condition to fight off a powerful squadron as the fort's commander explained to the panic stricken governor.

As soon as they had anchored, a small boat left the largest ship and landed a messenger. The messenger went at once to the governor's mansion to deliver a letter. The governor read it and explained its contents to his staff who were clustered around his desk.

"Lord Richard Rodgers, the special ambassador to the court of the Sultan of Malabar from His Most Christian Majesty, the King of France, has asked for my presence aboard his flagship, the Magicienne, to have dinner and to discuss…"The governor looked down at the parchment in his hand and quoted, "matters of mutual interest concerning the relationship of Portugal and France."

Everyone in the room knew that their idiotic Maratha friends had not only lost the ship carrying the loot that they would use to pay for modern weapons and ammunition, but they had left incriminating documents on the Texel.

"They're not beginning with a cannonade." Said the fort's commander. "That's a good sign."

"Unless they plan to start by hanging me." The Governor snarled. Then he sighed. "There's nothing to do but go see what he wants. Perhaps the food will be good."

Later the governor was met at the wharf by a smart captain's gig manned by well-dressed, disciplined and trained sailors.

One aboard the Magicienne, he was led below by a red uniformed European marine. He was escorted to the great cabin where he found a sight that relieved his worried mind. Lord Rodgers and his party were well dressed and gathered around a long table, covered with a snowy white table cloth upon which sat a set of crystal goblets and some very fine French wines.

A tall, blue eyed man approached him, holding out his hand. "Governor Cabral. I'm so happy you could make it. I'm Lord Richard Rodgers, an Englishman, but in the service of France now. Allow me to introduce you to everyone."

Cabral was first introduced to Lord Rodger's wife, Lady Katherine. She was a beautiful as the rumors had made her out to be. More importantly, from Cabral's perspective, was the emerald necklace, earrings and bracelet she wore. Cabral estimated that he could leave this Asian hell hole and retire in luxury to Europe with the money those jewels would bring. If only they were his.